Wrestling News Blog Podcast Episode Four – Wrestling Landscape Outside of the WWE, Austin Idol And More

Wrestling News Blog Podcast Episode Four

It’s a great time to be a fan of pro wrestling. While WWE remains the industry leader there are wrestling promotions out there who keep on going and much like in the past we are witnessing partnerships between companies that are good for the industry. Join Ed as he discusses all of this and much more on this week’s Wrestling News Blog Podcast!

Segment One – Wrestling Landscape Outside of the WWE

Segment Two – This Week in Wrestling News

Segment Three – Wrestling Throwback: Austin Idol

Wrestling News Blog Podcast is available on all major podcast apps such as Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts and Stitcher.

WWE RAW Preview 3/25/19

Tonight’s WWE RAW takes place from the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts as The Road to WrestleMania 35 continues.

* Fight or flight – how will Roman Reigns respond?

* The Phoenix Saga

* Kurt Angle’s farewell tour continues

* Family affair – Ronda Rousey and Travis Browne

* One “Giant” leap – who will announce their spots for the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal?

* It’s been one week – has Alexa Bliss brokered peace between Braun Strowman and the WrestleMania Special Guest Correspondents?

The Hart Foundation To Be Inducted Into The WWE Hall Of Fame Class Of 2019

WWE has announced The Hart Foundation’s Bret Hart and Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart for the 2019 WWE Hall of Fame class. This makes Bret a two-time Hall of Famer.

Hart and Neidhart join headliners DX (Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Chyna, Billy Gunn, “Road Dogg” BG James, Sean “X-Pac” Waltman), Torrie Wilson, Harlem Heat and The Honky Tonk Man as confirmed inductees for the 2019 class. Veteran WWE employee Sue Aitchison will receive The Warrior Award.

Below is WWE’s full announcement on The Hart Foundation’s induction:

The Hart Foundation to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2019

Bret “Hit Man” Hart & the late Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart symbolized tag team excellence in WWE in the 1980s and early 1990s. Now, the three-time WWE Tag Team Champions will be forever immortalized in sports-entertainment history.

The Hart Foundation are the latest inductees announced for WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019. They’ll take their place in the hallowed hall during the 2019 Induction Ceremony on Saturday, April 6, the eve of WrestleMania 35, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Tickets for the ceremony are available now. The news was first reported by Yahoo Sports. With this induction, Bret Hart will become a two-time WWE Hall of Fame Inductee, joining Ric Flair and fellow 2019 Inductees Shawn Michaels of D-Generation X and Harlem Heat’s Booker T.

Hart and Neidhart were no strangers to each other before joining forces. In fact, they’re family: “The Anvil” and “Hit Man” were brothers-in-law. That close connection made them gel almost instantly when they joined WWE’s tag team ranks in 1985, guided by “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart. Hart’s technical prowess and Neidhart’s raw power made them a team to be reckoned with from the moment they debuted.

In early 1987, The Hart Foundation finally set their sights on the World Tag Team Titles, held by The British Bulldogs, comprised of Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid. With the help of Jimmy Hart and crooked official Danny Davis, Hart & Neidhart captured their first World Tag Team Championship.

Though they had reached the top of the tag team mountain, The Hart Foundation soon became disillusioned with Jimmy Hart’s nefarious ways. When they split from their manager, Hart & Neidhart soon found themselves the target of “The Mouth of The South’s” new charges, whether it was The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers or The Honky Tonk Man & Greg Valentine. Hart even enlisted tag teams outside his stable of Superstars, like Demolition, to take out The Hart Foundation.

By 1990, “Hit Man” & “The Anvil” had fought off Jimmy Hart’s attempts to tear them down, and turned their attention back to WWE’s top tag team prize. After bulldozing over The Bolsheviks in seconds at WrestleMania VI, The Hart Foundation made it clear they were coming for the World Tag Team Titles. It would take a few months, but at SummerSlam 1990, Hart & Neidhart defeated Demolition in a grueling 2-out-of-3 Falls Match to claim their second World Tag Team Championship.

Though they split up by the summer of 1991, The Hart Foundation left an indelible mark on WWE’s tag team division and created many lasting memories for the WWE Universe. That’s why there’s no greater honor for this legendary tag team than induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Don’t miss seeing The Hart Foundation take their place in sports-entertainment history during the 2019 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, April 6, the eve of WrestleMania 35. Tickets for the ceremony at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., are available now. The historic evening will also stream live on WWE Network at 7 ET/4 PT.

Tony Schiavone Discusses How He Blew His Chance To Work With AEW

So many wrestlers, announcers and producers have had their names linked to AEW and Tony Schiavone is the latest. It doesn’t hurt that he hosts a podcast with Conrad Thompson who is good friends with AEW owner Tony Khan, and Schiavone talked about the promotion’s launch when he spoke to Wrestling Inc. on the WINCLY podcast recently.

“I think it’s come out of the love of independent wrestling and the love that people want from something other than just the WWE,” stated Schiavone.

“I think what happened with Starrcast and how well it was received, it opened everyone’s eyes to a niche for something that has great talent, can be promoted and doesn’t have a boss that’s an idiot.

“It opened everyone’s eyes that we can do something big.”

The next big step for AEW is to land a television deal and Schiavone says that MLW ending up on BeIN Sports is a positive and shows that there’s a want out there. He also says that a lot of people who grew up pro wrestling fans are now television executives and that’s only helping the business.

From Schiavone’s history with Dusty Rhodes in WCW, he’s known Cody since he was a kid and he praised Cody for his business mind.

“Cody is…I’m not going to use the word “brilliant” because I haven’t worked with him that long and I think brilliant is an overused term. But Cody is a smart kid and has a great business head on his shoulders,” said Schiavone.

“[AEW has] a pretty good list of talent that is going to be very good. I just hope they can put it together and put together a TV show.”

Schiavone then went into detail about his memories of Cody has a kid growing up in Georgia.

“I had a son who wrestled in Cobb County [Georgia]…and he wrestled about five miles away from where Cody wrestled and Cody was state champion. Amongst parents and kids in Georgia, Cody was kinda like the big guy,” revealed Schiavone.

Schiavone said that Cody’s parents would always help out at the wrestling meets just like any other parents and Dusty often served as a voluntary usher.

“Dusty was helping people find their seats. He was just another parent,” stated Schiavone.

As for him working with AEW, Schiavone says he’s not currently involved but had an opportunity to get in AEW’s inner circle. However, he “Schiavonied” himself at an AEW mingling event by declining an invitation to go to Cody’s house for a party in which he could have met AEW president Tony Shan.

“Conrad Thompson said, ‘I set it up where you can meet Tony Khan and you did a no-show. You Schiavonied,'” stated Schiavone before mentioning that Schiavonied is now in Urban Dictionary and is defined as “To squander opportunity by putting in minimal effort.”

AEW has reached out to lots of people, but to date Tony Schiavone is not yet one of them.

“I have not talked to them,” revealed Schiavone. “I signed a three-year deal with MLW. I know they’re not using me right now but I do intend to honor my contract.

“I know [Jim Ross’] contract is coming up to an end at the end of the month. The feeling is that he’ll end up there, but I don’t know if that’s the case.”

Schiavone doesn’t know if he’ll ever end up in AEW as he is staying busy with all of his other projects.

“I have a lot on my plate. This podcast is taking up a lot of time and now I’m making appearances.…There’s a lot going on and we’ll just see. The older I get, the busier I get and it’s a great way to end your life,” said Schiavone.

The full audio from Wrestling Inc.‘s exclusive interview with Tony was included in a recent episode of their WINCLY podcast. It can be heard by clicking on this link. During the full interview Tony discusses working with Eric Bischoff, Bruce Prichard re-signing with WWE, his memories of Cody Rhodes as a child, how WrestleMania compares to Starrcade and more.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Multiple Title Matches Announced For ROH NJPW G1 Supercard

We are just a few weeks away from Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling taking over Madison Square Garden for the G1 Supercard. The collaboration between both organizations on April 6 has been months in the making. One of the main title matches includes Jay White defending his IWGP Heavyweight Championship against New Japan Cup winner Kazuchika Okada. The Ring of Honor World Title is also on the line as Jay Lethal defends it in a ladder match against Matt Taven and Marty Scurll.

The entire main card was announced late last night, with a total of eight titles on the line. Zack Sabre Jr. will be defending his RPW British Heavyweight Championship against Hiroshi Tanahashiwhile Tetsuya Naito will defend the IWGP Intercontinental Title against Kota Ibushi. Additionally, Mayu Iwatani will defend the Women of Honor World Championship in a rematch against former champion Kelly Klein. Jushin Thunder Liger has been confirmed for the Honor Rumble match.

There was a significant change to one match, as the title v. title bout between the Guerrillas of Destiny and Villain Enterprises’ PCO and Brody King is now a fatal four-way. The Briscoes and the team of EVIL and SANADA have been added to the match for the IWGP and Ring of Honor World Tag Team Titles.

Below is the updated and potentially final match card:

* Jay White (c) v. Kazuchika Okada – IWGP Heavyweight Championship
* Jay Lethal (c) v. Marty Scurll v. Matt Taven – Ladder Match for the ROH World Championship
* Tetsuya Naito (c) v. Kota Ibushi – IWGP Intercontinental Championship
* Will Ospreay (c) v. Jeff Cobb (c) – Winner Takes All match for the NEVER Openweight and ROH TV TItle
* Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa (c) v. Brody King and PCO (c) v. EVIL and SANADA v. The Briscoes – Winner Takes All match for the IWGP and ROH World Tag Team Titles
* Taiji Ishimori (c) v. Dragon Lee v. Bandido – IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
* Zack Sabre Jr. (c) v. Hiroshi Tanahashi – RPW British Heavyweight Championship
* Mayu Iwatani (c) v. Kelly Klein – Women of Honor World Championship
* Bully Ray v. TBA – New York Street Fight Open Challenge
* Rush v. Dalton Castle
* Honor Rumble (Pre-Show) – Jushin Thunder Liger

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Ivelisse Comments On Not Getting To Wrestle On Impact Events, Possible Reason Why

Lucha Underground and indie wrestling star, Ivelisse, has been using Twitter as of late to express her frustration with her contracted employer. The former two-time Trios Champion previously said that she has asked for her release from the company but continues to be denied, even claiming that she’s being “held hostage” by LU.

In Ivelisse’s most recent tweet of the situation, she questions why she is unable to work for Impact Wrestling if the two companies have been producing joint projects together. Casey Michael, owner of Squared Circle Sirens responded to Ivelisse’s tweet, calling her out for a previous statement she made about Tessa Blanchard.

Blanchard would actually add herself to the mix of messages, explaining to readers that Ivelisse once implied that a part of Blanchard’s success is her father’s doing.

Ivelisse began by writing, “Since the collaboration between brands, not once included in any of these joint projects, and when they did contact me out of the blue for a program, they canceled the night before I flew out for no reason whatsoever. Soooo uummmm, again, let me GO.”

Casey would then respond with: “Maybe it’s cause you s–t talked Tessa big time on an IG comment. I fail to see how everyone else on LU can work anywhere but they are “holding” Ivelisse.”

Lastly, Tessa would add: “Her exact words to me were “I never had a family name, I had to work for everything I have from the streets.”

I have dealt with people like that since I started and I am much stronger than those people.”

You can read the full tweets below:

https://twitter.com/Tess_Blanchard/status/1109871514948636672

Another Lucha Underground star, King Cuerno (aka El Hijo del Fantasma), previously took the time to file documents in Los Angeles against the El Rey Network and Lucha Underground’s production Baba-G Productions. In it, Cuerno’s lawyers claimed that LU’s contracts “illegally restricting” wrestlers from finding work in wrestling is in violation of California law.

Documents sent to Pro Wrestling Sheet detailed how wrestlers under contract make money based on the shows they appear on, and it doesn’t add up to much. You can see that statement below:

By contrast, Lucha Underground broadcasts between 22 and 40 television episodes per year, with no live events like the other described wrestling promotions. If a wrestler appears on a show, it is usually just a couple. The payment per episode is usually less than $1,000.
The current contract that wrestlers signed with Lucha Underground require that wrestlers not perform services for other wrestling companies anywhere in the world without Defendants permission, but does not require Defendants to use Plaintiffs in their wrestling-theme television show.While Plaintiffs are obligated to restrict their trade under the contract (which is illegal), Defendants are not required to use or pay Plaintiffs. Defendants have the option to use Plaintiffs, and IF Defendants use Plaintiffs, Defendants will pay Plaintiffs. IF Defendants chose not to use Plaintiffs, Plaintiffs are prohibited for working for years, are not paid, but still under the restrictive contract until it expires.

Most wrestlers under a Lucha Underground contract make less than $4,000 a year. Wrestlers working for other wrestling promotions make a living wage, usually starting around $50,000 a year and entering either 6 or 7 figures.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Nikki Bella Announces In-Ring Retirement (Video)

The Bella Twins are officially retired, as Nikki Bella has announced she’s also hanging up her boots and ending her in-ring career.

On the season finale of Total Bellas, Nikki talked to her family about the decision and said her last European tour made her realize it was time to call it quits.

As we previously reported, Brie made the same decision following her run in WWE around Evolution because she wanted to go back to focusing on her family.

The Bella Twins signed with WWE in June 2007. They left the company in 2011, but returned two years later and shortly after Total Divas began airing.

Nikki is a two-time Divas champion and the longest reigning champion to hold that belt.

WWE Announces Main Event Of WrestleMania 35

WWE has confirmed that the RAW Women’s Title Triple Threat between champion Ronda Rousey, Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair will be the main event of WrestleMania 35.

Below is the full announcement on the first-ever women’s WrestleMania main event:

WrestleMania to feature first-ever women’s main event

For the first time in WWE history, a women’s match will be the main event of WrestleMania as the Raw Women’s Championship Match featuring Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch will take place on Sunday, April 7, in front of a capacity crowd at MetLife Stadium and streaming live on WWE Network around the world.

Ronda Rousey is the current Raw Women’s Champion, Olympic medalist, the first female UFC Champion and the first woman to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. She is also an actress and New York Times bestselling author. Charlotte Flair is a seven-time Champion in WWE, a former Division 1 volleyball player, philanthropist and author. She is the daughter of two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair. Becky Lynch is the 2019 Women’s Royal Rumble winner, a two-time SmackDown Women’s Champion and was named Wrestler of the Year by both Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports in 2018. She was also the first woman ever to top ESPN’s WWE Power Rankings.

At WrestleMania 32 in 2016, WWE re-branded the Divas Division the Women’s Division and unveiled a new Women’s Championship title. Since that time, the women’s evolution has placed a greater spotlight on WWE’s female Superstars, including more prominent storylines and deeper character development that showcases their athleticism, charisma and star power.

Last October, WWE held it’s first-ever all-women’s pay-per-view event, Evolution, in front of a sold-crowd and millions more watching on WWE Network.

Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey responds to the historic news:

https://twitter.com/BeckyLynchWWE/status/1110206135330631681

Triple H took to Twitter today and congratulated Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair and RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey on earning the main event of WrestleMania 35.

He wrote, “The main event of #WrestleMania… For all the dreams, the hopes, the struggles, the work. Where they belong. Where they deserve to be. Congratulations. #EarnedNotGiven”

You can see Triple H’s full tweet below:

PAC No Longer Appearing At Upcoming WrestleCon Due To Visa Issues

WrestleCon has announced PAC will no longer be appearing at their WrestleMania weekend event due to visa issues.

The company released a statement saying:

We regret to inform you that PAC will not be at WrestleCon. We worked diligently over the past several months with our attorneys to ensure that he successfully received a Visa to travel into the United States. Our Visa application was filed in a timely manner, all fees were paid to attorneys, and all required information was disclosed to government officials. Our attorneys were confident there would be no issue and based on their experience and expectation, we advertised PAC on the assumption there would be no problem obtaining a Visa. However, after exhausting all efforts, we were unable to provide PAC the appropriate Visa to travel and work in the United States. We understand and share your disappointment of this unanticipated outcome, as does PAC.

Further, we would like to clarify that in no way will this unfortunate incident have any impact on his future with AEW. This issue is isolated to WrestleCon only.

According to WrestleCon, refunds will be issued to everyone who purchased photo ops and autographs with PAC. They’ll also be changing all the advertisements so he’s no longer shown.

Jerry”The King” Lawler & Rikishi Dance At NBA Game, Wrestle In A Tag Match Against Steiner Brothers With Buff Bagwell

Last night at a Memphis Grizzlies game, WWE Hall of Famers Jerry “The King” Lawler and Rikishi wrestled against The Steiner Brothers (Scott & Rick) with Buff Bagwell to become the new Grind City Tag Team Champions.

Buff Bagwell attempted to crack Lawler with a foreign object during the match, he missed and hit Steiner, allowing Lawler to pick up the win.

In the video below, Lawler and Rikishi would come out during the third quarter of the game to dance with the Memphis Grizzlies’ Grizz Girls. The group danced to Too Cool’s theme and Lawler wore a “Grandmaster Sexay” vest to honor his late son, Brian Christopher.