The final inductee of Ring of Honor’s inaugural Hall of Fame class will be none other than CM Punk. The current AEW star was announced as the last inductee on Monday morning in a press release available on ROH’s website. He joins fellow AEW star Bryan Danielson, Samoa Joe and Ring of Honor Tag Team Champions The Briscoes (Jay and Mark Briscoe) in ROH’s inaugural class.
“Ring of Honor is proud to welcome CM Punk, one of the most charismatic and compelling performers in ROH history, into the ROH Hall of Fame,” the statement read. “Punk is the final member of the inaugural class, joining the Briscoes, Bryan Danielson and Samoa Joe. Punk made his ROH debut in 2002 and experienced a meteoric rise thanks to his in-ring ability, mic skills and brash attitude. He incited fans by proclaiming that his straight edge lifestyle ‘means I’m better than you.’ Punk had many memorable moments in ROH, including the iconic ‘Summer of Punk’, which began when he won the ROH World Championship in June 2005 right after accepting a deal with WWE. Throughout the summer, Punk taunted ROH fans by repeatedly threatening to take the ROH World Title with him to WWE. He lost the title that August.
“In 2004, Punk engaged in an epic trilogy of matches with then-ROH World Champion Samoa Joe that have become legendary. They wrestled to two 60-minute draws before Joe prevailed in their final meeting. Punk also had a heated rivalry with Raven that is regarded as one of the greatest feuds in ROH history. They waged war against each other in unforgettable dog collar and steel cage matches. In addition to his ROH World Title reign, Punk also won the ROH World Tag Team Championship on two occasions as a member of The Second City Saints. After leaving ROH, Punk became one of the biggest stars in the industry in WWE. He wrestled in main events against the likes of The Rock and John Cena, and his 434-day reign as WWE Champion is the sixth-longest in company history. After stepping away from pro wrestling for more than seven years, Punk made his return last year in AEW, where he continues to be one of the promotion’s top stars.”
As with the Briscoes, Danielson and Samoa Joe, Ring of Honor also announced that a career retrospective on CM Punk would air on the next episode of Ring of Honor television, with a YouTube special focusing on Punk airing on ROH’s YouTube next Monday. As of this writing, CM Punk has yet to comment on his induction. There is no word on who will induct him.
The Ring of Honor Hall of Fame special, which will feature CM Punk, Samoa Joe, Bryan Danielson and The Briscoe Brothers, will air on TV on March 5th, one day prior to AEW Revolution in Orlando. Punk is currently scheduled to wrestle MJF at AEW Revolution in a Dog Collar match.
#1 CONTENDER FOR IMPACT X-DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH Jake Something defeated Ace Austin, Mike Bailey, and Chris Bey
JONAH defeated Black Taurus
Jay White defeated Eric Young
AAA CHAMPIONSHIP OPEN CHALLENGE Deonna Purrazzo (c) defeated Miranda Alize
IMPACT DIGITAL MEDIA CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH Matt Cardona (c) defeated Jordynne Grace
IMPACT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson) (c) defeated Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa)
Bullet Club leader turned on G.O.D., White dropped Loa with a Blade Runner finishing move, allowing The Good Brothers to pick up the victory and retain the belts. After the match finished, White and Chris Bey did a Too Sweet with Good Brothers, seemingly bringing them back into the group.
IMPACT KNOCKOUTS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH Mickie James (c) defeated Tasha Steelz
IMPACT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH Moose (c) defeated W. Morrissey
Honor No More (Matt Taven, PCO, Vincent, Mike Bennett, Kenny King with Maria Kanellis) defeated Team IMPACT (Chris Sabin, Steve Maclin, Rhino, Rich Swann, and Willie Mack)
Eddie Edwards betrayed his teammates and Impact Wrestling by attacking Rhino, helping Honor No More get the win. It looks like Edwards will be a major player in the Honor No More stable going forward.
WWE UNIVERSAL TITLE MATCH Roman Reigns (c) defeated Bill Goldberg by submission
ELIMINATION CHAMBER MATCH FOR A RAW WOMEN’S TITLE SHOT (Winner will receive a WrestleMania 38 title match for the RAW Women’s Title) Bianca Belair defeated Doudrop vs. Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Nikki A.S.H. vs. Alexa Bliss
Ronda Rousey and Naomi defeated Sonya Deville and SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair by submission (Rousey had to compete with one arm tied behind her back)
RAW WOMEN’S TITLE MATCH Becky Lynch (c) defeated Lita
SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM TITLES MATCH The Viking Raiders vs. The Usos (c)
The Usos attacked Viking Raiders during ring entrance, match never started
ELIMINATION CHAMBER MATCH FOR THE WWE TITLE Brock Lesnar defeated Seth Rollins vs. Austin Theory vs. Riddle vs. AJ Styles vs. Bobby Lashley (c)
Seth Rollins tossed Theory into Lashley’s pod with a Buckle Bomb, knocking Lashley out. Lashley never entered the match, he was placed in a concussion protocol for testing
Brock Lesnar is the new WWE Champion
Lesnar is set to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 38 in a Title vs. Title match.
IMPACT WORLD TITLE MATCH W. Morrissey vs. Moose (c)
IMPACT KNOCKOUTS TITLE MATCH Tasha Steelz vs. Mickie James (c)
IMPACT WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES MATCH The Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) vs. The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson) (c) (Violent By Design banned from ringside)
IMPACT DIGITAL MEDIA CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH Matt Cardona (c) vs. Jordynne Grace
X-DIVISION #1 CONTENDER’S MATCH Ace Austin vs. Chris Bey vs. Jake Something vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey
OPEN CHALLENGE FOR EITHER THE ROH WOMEN’S WORLD TITLE OR THE AAA REINA DE REINAS TITLE Deonna Purrazzo (c) vs. TBA
Jay White vs. Eric Young
Honor No More (PCO, Vincent, Mike Bennett, Matt Taven & Kenny King) vs. Team Impact (Eddie Edwards, Steve Maclin, Rich Swann, Rhino & Chris Sabin) (If Honor No More wins, they are allowed to stay in Impact Wrestling. If they lose, they must leave for good)
JONAH vs. Black Taurus
COUNTDOWN TO NO SURRENDER PRE-SHOW X-Division Champion Trey Miguel vs. John Skyler
COUNTDOWN TO NO SURRENDER PRE-SHOW Tenille Dashwood vs. Havok
ELIMINATION CHAMBER MATCH FOR THE WWE TITLE Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins vs. Austin Theory vs. Riddle vs. AJ Styles vs. Bobby Lashley (c)
ELIMINATION CHAMBER MATCH FOR A RAW WOMEN’S TITLE SHOT Doudrop vs. Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Nikki A.S.H. vs. Bianca Belair vs. Alexa Bliss Winner will receive a WrestleMania 38 title match for the RAW Women’s Title.
WWE UNIVERSAL TITLE MATCH WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg vs. Roman Reigns (c)
RAW WOMEN’S TITLE MATCH WWE Hall of Famer Lita vs. Becky Lynch (c)
SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM TITLES MATCH The Viking Raiders vs. The Usos (c)
FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE MATCH Madcap Moss vs. Drew McIntyre
Ronda Rousey and Naomi vs. Sonya Deville and SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair
Tonight’s AEW Rampage episode on TNT will be a special Slam Dunk edition, with an early start time of 7pm ET instead of 10pm ET. The show is airing early due to NBA All-Star Weekend coverage on TNT.
Rampage was taped earlier this week from the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, after Dynamite went off the air.
* Adam Cole vs. 10 of The Dark Order
* Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Dante Martin in a Face of The Revolution Ladder Match qualifier
* Serena Deeb hosts another edition of The Professor’s 5 Minute Rookie Challenge
EC3 and Adam Scherr (fka WWE’s Braun Strowman) have announced that their Control Your Narrative brand is launching as a new pro wrestling company.
Wrestling Inc. noted a few weeks back how Scherr and EC3 announced their “Control Your Narrative: Live” shows for Orlando and Dallas in March. Killer Kross is also working with the brand, and more names were to be announced in the coming weeks.
In an update, an additional announcement was issued today for the launch of the new pro wrestling company. It was also said that an announcement on a “CYN: Live” TV deal is imminent.
EC3’s original partner, Jedediah Koszewski, noted in today’s announcement that CYN has a new partner, and network distribution.
“The Whisper Campaign has begun. Yes, CYN has a new partner. Yes, CYN has network distribution. Yes, we are very excited to take CYN to the next level,” Koszewski said.
It was noted in today’s press release that the March 31 live event in Dallas is now a TV taping. The Dallas show is also where Kross will make his CYN debut.
Scherr noted that everything will be revealed at the Dallas event.
“No, we will not tell you anything further. You will learn everything you want to know at CYN: Dallas on 3/31,” Scherr said.
EC3 added, “In Control Your Narrative I speak about finding your purpose. This idea and this company will be bigger than any one person. I can’t promise anything other than my undying effort to create a platform for the right wrestlers to do what they love and provide the freedom they crave. For fans to have an intimate, unforgettable LIVE experience along with an artistic, action packed, emotional TV presentation. Control Your Narrative is my purpose.”
The names working with CYN mentioned in today’s press release include Impact World Champion Moose, Impact Digital Media Champion Matt Cardona, Jon Skyler, Matt Sydal, Marina Shafir, Westin Blake, and Matt Taven.
There’s no word yet on which network is set to carry the CYN product.
You can see CYN’s full announcement below, along with EC3’s related Instagram post:
“Now that I have your attention, here’s the truth.” – ec3
The “Control Your Narrative” concept has manifested itself from an idea, to a movement, to a live touring/televised wrestling company.
“We, collectively as wrestlers, can no longer wait. We can not wait on companies that answer only to share holders. Companies where billionaires collect talent as “toys.” Companies that fire their entire roster for the mistakes their office made. Companies that are complacent in presentation.
Companies where talent sit in the back, and say “nothing matters.”
To create true change, you have to be bold. You have to bet on yourself. With CYN, talent bet on themselves.” -ec3
What has started as a self produced, independently crafted concept focused on character development/wrestling through a “cinematic lens,” Control Your Narrative and their “Free The Narrative” series was created by ec3 and his partner Jedediah Koszewski in April of 2020.
“The world was changing and everyone felt fear and anxiety. When you only have questions, and there are no answers, the best therapy is to create.” – Koszewski
“The talent that has reached out, wanting to create with us, wanting to control their narrative has been humbling. It’s an honor to be able to help tell their story.”
One of these talent is the former Universal Champion “Braun Strowman,” now known by his birth name Adam Scherr.
“I was so impressed with what Control Your Narrative was creating, that I told ec3 and JC how much it inspired me. How much I would like to create with them one day.
The next day I was released from my contract. Things happen for a reason. Preproduction of “Free The Narrative II: The Monster in us All” began immediately.
This is what’s next.” – Scherr
All talent featured in CYN have asked to be a part of the project. These competitors range from known to unknown and include names like Matt Cardona, Moose, Jon Skyler, Matt Sydal, Marina Shafir, Westin Blake, Matt Taven and more.
Opportunity awaits for up and comers through CYN’s “Project Initiation” (seminars hosted prior to CYN Live Events.)
On 3/31 CYN: Dallas, the much anticipated debut of Killer Kross takes place.
“If you want to Control Your Narrative, all you have to do is knock.” – ec3
At CYN there is no corporate hierarchy. There are no deep-pocketed investors wanting to use the sport simply to profit. There are no contracts, or political agendas. There is only passion to create with the platform for a talent to “become who they are supposed to be.”
The one thing missing for CYN to “become who they are supposed to be” was a proper platform and network distribution. That has been achieved.
“The Whisper Campaign has begun. Yes, CYN has a new partner. Yes, CYN has network distribution. Yes, we are very excited to take CYN to the next level.” – Koszewski
“No, we will not tell you anything further. You will learn everything you want to know at CYN: Dallas on 3/31” – Scherr
“In Control Your Narrative I speak about finding your purpose. This idea and this company will be bigger than any one person. I can’t promise anything other than my undying effort to create a platform for the right wrestlers to do what they love and provide the freedom they crave. For fans to have an intimate, unforgettable LIVE experience along with an artistic, action packed, emotional TV presentation.
Control Your Narrative is my purpose.” – ec3
For more information http://www.controlyournarrative.co Instagram- @controlyournarrative For tickets 3/05/22 CYN: Orlando Control Your Narrative | Tin Roof – Orlando | Outhouse Tickets For tickets 3/31/22 CYN: Dallas Control Your Narrative | Southside Music Hall at Gilley’s | Outhouse Tickets For more from Jedediah Koszewski @freethenarrator For more from ec3 @therealec3 For more from Adam Scherr @adamscherr99 For business inquiries office@controlyournarrative.co
As expected, since WrestleMania is in Dallas and he finally retired for real this time, WWE has revealed The Undertaker will become a Hall of Famer this year.
WWE tweeted the news below shortly after it was broken by The New York Post. The company has given the chance to unveil Hall of Famers to various publications in recent years, and it obviously needed a big one to break that The Deadman will become a Hall of Famer.
As mentioned above, WrestleMania will take place in Dallas this year. Despite being billed from Death Valley, in keeping with The Phenom’s gimmick, Texas is The Undertaker’s home state, so fitting that this where will be where he is inducted. Next year WrestleMania goes Hollywood, and it might be a while before The Show of Shows returns to Texas, so it really had to be this year if WWE wanted it to happen as close to his hometown as possible.
The Deadman wrestled his final match almost two years ago. A Boneyard Match against AJ Styles at WrestleMania 36. Since Taker appeared to retire on a number of occasions before that, many fans weren’t convinced he was done for good. Later that year, he appeared at Survivor Series in a segment that was dubbed his farewell ceremony. The event marked almost exactly 30 years since his very first night in WWE.
WWE issued the following announcement on The Undertaker induction into the 2022 Hall of Fame.
The Undertaker just became the first inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022, as first announced by the New York Post. The Deadman will be enshrined in the hallowed hall during the 2022 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony as part of WrestleMania Week.
The WWE Hall of Fame at a ceremony will take place Friday, April 1 at American Airlines Center in Dallas as part of WrestleMania Week. The event will stream live exclusively on Peacock in the U.S. and WWE Network everywhere else. In addition, for the first time in history, WWE will present both Friday Night SmackDown and the 2022 WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony live on the same night at American Airlines Center, giving all fans in attendance an unprecedented opportunity to witness both events for one price. Tickets for the special 2-for-1 SmackDown + Hall of Famego on sale this Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. CT via Ticketmaster.
Also, don’t miss The Undertaker’s first comments on his monumental Hall of Fame induction when he joins The TODAY Show tomorrow morning on NBC.
In an extraordinary career that spanned three decades, The Undertaker loomed over the WWE landscape like a menacing shadow, spelling out doom for those who dared cross him. Imbued with seemingly mystical abilities and preternatural in-ring skill, the legendary Phenom operated on his own level.
First introduced at 1990’s Survivor Series, The Demon of Death Valley was soon battling with Hulk Hogan, then at the top of the food chain in WWE. This clash set the tone for Undertaker’s dominant career. No one was too big, and no one was safe from his gloved grip.
A multi-time WWE and World Heavyweight Champion, a seven-time tag team titleholder and a Royal Rumble Match winner in 2007, Undertaker has cemented his place among the greatest in the game. A true in-ring pioneer, he was part of many WWE firsts, including the first-ever Casket Match at Survivor Series 1992, the first-ever Buried Alive Match in 1996 and the inaugural Hell in a Cell Match in 1997.
But there was one achievement that stood out above all others that is unlikely to ever be topped. Since WrestleMania VII in 1991, The Undertaker maintained a winning streak on The Grandest Stage of Them All that grew to an astounding 21-0, with milestone victories over the likes of Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Randy Orton, Diesel, Kane and so many more. Only Brock Lesnar proved capable of upending The Last Outlaw in his yard, snapping The Streak in an earth-shocking upset at WrestleMania 30. The iconic Superstar closed the book on his Showcase of the Immortals career with an astonishing 25-2 record, most recently scoring an incredible victory over AJ Styles in a Boneyard Match.
Undertaker’s incomparable career concluded at Survivor Series on Nov. 22, 2020 when The Deadman retired, fittingly at the same event he debuted and exactly 30 years to the day he first stepped into a WWE ring.
In the face of all challenges, The Deadman would rise time and time again, stronger and mightier than ever to serve as sports-entertainment’s grim reaper of justice with his name permanently etched like an epitaph on the history books of WWE. No grave could hold him, no god could claim him and no devil would have him. In the end, there would only be one suitable resting place for the almighty Deadman: the WWE Hall of Fame.
Don’t miss The Undertaker take his place in sports-entertainment history during the 2022 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday, April 1, streaming live exclusively on Peacock in the U.S. and WWE Network everywhere else.
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