IMPACT Wrestling and Major League Wrestling Announce Collaboration for April 4 Events

Impact Wrestling issued the following on their website on Wednesday:

TORONTO | NEW YORK CITY – IMPACT Wrestling, a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp., and Major League Wrestling (MLW), announced today that they will be collaborating for their events on April 4 by coordinating talent and schedules to ensure that fans can attend live events presented by both organizations when virtually the entire professional wrestling world descends upon the New York metropolitan area.

April 4 show details for both organizations are below:

Major League Wrestling
MLW will host “Rise of the Renegades” tapings on April 4 at 7:00 p.m. ET for its weekly television program “Fusion” airing on beIN Sports. Tickets start at $20 and are already on sale at MLWTickets.com. The live event will take place at Melrose Ballroom (36-08 33rd St.) in Long Island City, NY.

IMPACT Wrestling
IMPACT Wrestling presents “United We Stand” on Thursday, April 4 at Rahway Recreation Centre (275 E. Milton Ave.) in Rahway, NJ. The event, in partnership with WrestlePro, begins at 11:00 p.m. ET and streams live on Twitch. Tickets are on sale at www.IMPACTWrestling.com and start at $40. The event will stream live on IMPACT Wrestling’s official Twitch channel – www.twitch.tv/impactwrestling – which also features the flagship weekly show IMPACT!, simulcasting on Pursuit Channel across the U.S. on Fridays at 10:00 p.m. ET.

 

“This arrangement eliminates talent booking conflicts and ensures that loyal and passionate fans of both IMPACT Wrestling and MLW are able to attend our respective live events on April 4th,” said Ed Nordholm, president of IMPACT Wrestling.

“Both promotions believe in putting the fans first,” said MLW COO Jared St. Laurent. “Fans will be traveling from all over the world in hopes of seeing the best of the best. MLW and IMPACT Wrestling agreed without hesitation that the fans deserved to be able to see both of these amazing events without having to choose one over the other.”

IMPACT Wrestling executive vice-president Scott D’Amore added: “Due to the New York curfew preventing us from starting at 11:00 p.m. ET, we have moved our live event to New Jersey. We want to thank our partners at WrestlePro for facilitating this collaboration on April 4th and also thank House of Glory and stress that we couldn’t make this happen for our great fans without their cooperation. We look forward to working with House of Glory in the near future and will have an announcement coming soon about a future event together.”

The two venues are roughly 30 miles apart and travel time between the two is generally about an hour.

Directions from Melrose Ballroom to Rahway Recreation Center can be found below:

By Transit or Subway
• Walk approximately 3 minutes from Melrose Ballroom to 31st & 36th Ave. to the W Train
• Take train approximately 17 minutes to 34th St. – Penn Station.
• Alternate route: N Train also goes direct to 34th St. – Penn Station.
• Take NJ Transit 7 stops approximately 35 minutes to Rahway, NJ.
• Cross the street and enter Rahway Recreation Center on 275 E. Milton Ave.

By Car
• Drive through Manhattan via Lincoln Tunnel or Holland Tunnel.
• Drive through Staten Island via Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.
• Both routes will bring you to NJ Turnpike South to Rahway, NJ.

Impact Wrestling Preview 2/1/19

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Impact tonight on Pursuit Channel and on Twitch – 10/9c

* Lucha Bros & Taurus vs. LAX & Daga

* Psycho Clown vs. Fallah Bahh

* Su Yung & Dark Allie vs. Kiera Hogan & Jordynne Grace

* Update on the suspended Tessa Blanchard

* Rascalz vs. Eddie Edwards & Eli Drake

* Friend or Foe? What is the history between Sami Callihan and Rich Swann? Will we ever know the real story? What will happen when the truth comes out?

* Killer Kross & Moose vs. Brian Cage &  Impact World Champion Johnny Impact

MLW Fusion Preview 2/1/19

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!

Tonight’s episode of MLW Fusion on BeIN Sports will feature an Empty Arena match between Tommy Dreamer and Brian Pillman Jr. It was taped a month ago in Miami.

Former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ronnie Garvin Says Dusty Rhodes Was ‘Overrated’

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WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes has been widely viewed as one of the best minds in pro wrestling history. Throughout his career, in addition to being a top name in the NWA, Rhodes was also a head booker for many years during his time with the company. Rhodes would go on following his retirement from full-time competition to be a head creative mind for both TNA, FCW, and NXT. Despite his highly acclaimed creative abilities, one person, former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ronnie Garvin, feels much different. Garvin shared his thoughts on the latest episode of Under the Mat Radio.

“Dusty Rhodes was overrated. He was the booker most places he went, Florida, Carolinas,” said Garvin. “I didn’t like what he done a lot of times. A lot of politics, he put himself in places he should’ve been, he didn’t draw the big of money. When he was in the main event, he booked 30 men on the card and had more gimmick matches. Rock n’ Roll Express, those kids were so over. So over, that they would sell out and Dusty Rhodes would book them in small towns because he didn’t want them on the same card as him because he wanted the thunder.”

Garvin reached the pinnacle of his career on September 25, 1987. In a steel cage match, Garvin defeated Ric Flair to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Although Garvin stated that he made more money in a short period of time than he ever had, he also admitted that he “didn’t go crazy” when he won the title.

“You know I’ve had a lot of title matches, I don’t want to diminish the World Title, it was great,” said Garvin. “But I guess with luck and staying healthy long enough, I got to the very top. To me, and I’m being honest, wrestling was a job, pure and simple. I didn’t go crazy because I was the world champion. I’ll tell you, the World Title is probably the most money I made in a short period of time.

“I was in wresting five years before Flair showed up. I don’t know the guy, I mean I know him (speaking as in working with him), but I never visited with the guy, never had a meal with the guy, never traveled with him. I ran into him a few times in the dressing with and said hi and [bye], but know nothing about the guy. We had two different lives. He had the party life which is fine and I don’t begrudge it. One thing about Flair no matter how I hard I hit him he never complained.”

Garvin also discussed Randy Orton using his signature stomps, and more. You can listen to the full interview here.

Source: WrestlingINC

Backstage News On WWE Trying To Lock Up Talent At This Week’s WWE SmackDown

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As we previously reported, WWE confirmed that Dean Ambrose will be leaving the company when his contract expires in April.

PWInsider is reporting at this week’s SmackDown, WWE officials were meeting backstage with any WWE Superstars who’s contracts where going to expire within the next two years in an attempt to sign them to new deals.

WWE has been looking to sign their Superstars for five-year deals for awhile now with Kevin Owens and The Miz as recent examples. At the moment, they obviously don’t want talent heading off to the newly formed All Elite Wrestling, which was partially set off by Ambrose’s deciding to exit from the company in April.

The report continued that many of the talent backstage “were in amazement” as they watched WWE officials try to lock up new deals.

Source: WrestlingINC

WWE Has Reportedly Decided On Their WrestleMania 35 Main Event

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According to Sports Illustrated, sources close to WWE have said the current plan is to have WWE RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey vs. Becky Lynch be the main event of WrestleMania 35. WWE’s biggest show of the year will go down on April 7 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The SI news does conflict with a report from two days ago on Wrestling Observer Radio that said the match would eventually become a triple threat with the addition of Charlotte somewhere down the line. Dave Meltzer did note the match could always be changed.

The only other announced match so far for WrestleMania 35 is WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar taking on Seth Rollins. Rollins won the Men’s Royal Rumble and chose Lesnar as his upcoming opponent.

Lynch replaced an injured Lana at #28 in the Women’s Royal Rumble match this past Sunday after losing a WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship Match to Asuka earlier in the night. Lynch would last eliminate Charlotte from the Rumble to guarantee herself a Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania 35.

Earlier this week on RAW, Lynch made an appearance and announced her opponent would be Rousey.

Source: WrestlingINC

AEW “Double Or Nothing” Ticket Announcement Party Details: Who Could Reportedly Show Up?

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On February 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, All Elite Wrestling will hold a Ticket Announcement Party for their next event, Double or Nothing, which will take place on May 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The party gets started at 6 pm PT and will be streamed on all of the promotion’s social media accounts.

In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, some more details have come out about who is expected to show up on February 7. A lot of talent is scheduled to be there, including some who weren’t at the AEW Jacksonville Rally. CIMA (who is involved with OWE) and Bea Priestley (who isn’t currently signed) were mentioned in the WON report.

Brandi Rhodes previously noted some more of the women’s division will be there and Dave Meltzer is reporting AEW is scouting Japan heavily for new talent.

The biggest name to possibly show is up Kenny Omega, who’s NJPW contract expires in early February. Although he has not officially signed, the feeling is there’s a “good shot” he’ll be at the upcoming event.

On the latest Being the Elite, Omega’s phone started a new countdown, which ends the same day as the Ticket Announcement Party.

Source: WrestlingINC

Update On The Death Of Brian Christopher, Subpoenas Issued

Brian Christopher passed away at the age of 46 on July 29 when he was found in a Hardeman County Tennessee jail cell after allegedly hanging himself while in isolation. Christopher’s father WWE Hall Of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler has remained steadfast that he doesn’t believe the story and that things aren’t adding up when comparing evidence to the jail’s version of events.

ABC-24 is reporting attorneys representing Lawler have now filed two subpoenas, which are demanding answers from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and The Hardeman County Sheriff’s Office with the ongoing investigation of Christopher’s death. The investigation was initially opened the same day Christopher passed away after being taken off life support. Attorney Jeff Rosenblum spoke to ABC-24 about wanting an explanation.

“We were tired of waiting,” Rosenblum said. “This family has waited for more than six months for the Hardeman County Sheriff’s Department to provide them with detailed explanation and the documentation as to what happened to their son and we decided that we would take this into our own hands.”

The report continued that no medical examiner’s report has been filed.

Back in August on his podcast, Dinner With The King, Lawler believed they may have to start up their own investigation to get to the truth.

“Once we see the results of that investigation, then we might have to launch an investigation of our own,” Lawler said. “This is not about a lawsuit or trying to sue the jail or sue the Sheriff or sue the county or anything. It’s not about that at all. It’s just about finding out what really happened here.”

Christopher was a one-time WWE Tag Team Champion alongside Scotty 2 Hotty.

Source: WrestlingINC

NJPW The New Beginning USA From Los Angeles Results 1/30/19

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NJPW The New Beginning USA tour began last night at the Globe Theatre in Los Angeles.

Results:

* Alex Coughlin vs. Clark Connors goes to a time-limit draw
* Jonathan Gresham defeated Tyler Bateman
* Colt Cabana defeated Shane Taylor
* KES (Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Archer) defeated Brody King & Marty Scurll
* Jeff Cobb defeated Karl Fredericks
* David Finlay defeated Chuck Taylor (No DQ Match)
* Juice Robinson & Tracy Williams defeated RPG Vice (Rocky Romero & Trent Baretta)

Sarah Logan Was One Of The Vikings In War Raiders Entrance At NXT TakeOver: Phoenix

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WWE shared a video on Wednesday confirming what many had already suspected — Sarah Logan was one of the Vikings in War Raiders’ entrance at TakeOver.

“I’m gonna be a Viking for my husband’s first-ever TakeOver title match,” an excited Logan says at the top of the Performance Center video.

Rowe later revealed in the video that the crew also included his brother and sister.

After their big title win at the event, the tag team were interviewed with Logan by their side. “They always say aim for the stars and you’re gonna be ok,” her husband Rowe explained in the video. “This was the stars. This was the impossible dream.”

Watch the full behind the scenes video below.