Tessa Blanchard will be appearing at the CMLL Women’s Grand Prix.
CMLL took to Twitter on Wednesday to announce that Blanchard will be teaming up with Stephanie Vaquer, Zeuxis, La Catalina, Johnnie Robbie, Makoto, Sumie Sakai, and Mei Suruga on Team World for the Grand Prix.
The team will face off against Marcela, Lluvia, La Jarochita, Reyna Isis, Dark Silueta, Skadi, Hera, and Sanley in Team Mexico.
It was reported earlier this summer, via the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, that WWE officials were having some sort of talks with the legendary CMLL (Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre) wrestling promotion of Mexico.
The original reports led to speculation on a possible talent exchange between WWE and CMLL, but the talks are actually for CMLL content to be featured on the WWE Network, according to Planeta Wrestling. WWE has reportedly approached CMLL about purchasing access to their video library.
The report from Planeta Wrestling noted that CMLL content would potentially be available under the tiered pricing system (details here and here) that will be introduced in the near future. It’s been reported that WWE will likely offer various indie wrestling content from other promotions under the tiered pricing system.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Ring of Honor announced that Mark Briscoe will be out of tonight’s CMLL’s Grand Prix tournament because of a knee injury. The injury happened during an ROH live event last weekend.
Delirious will be replacing Briscoe on Team Resto del Mundo. The other team members include ROH World Champion Matt Taven, Jay Briscoe, Kenny King, Big Daddy, Luke Hawx, Mecha Wolf 450, and Oraculo.
During CMLL’s Grand Prix press conference, Jay Briscoe commented about his brother’s injury, “It sucks that he’s hurt. We do double-team moves like no other tag team in this world, so that was definitely going to be a blow to the Mexican team, but it ain’t going to matter. We still gonna win.”
Mark Briscoe is scheduled to undergo an MRI exam.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
CMLL owner Francisco “Paco” Alonso Lutteroth passed away last week at the age of 67. CMLL announced that Paco’s daughter, Sofia Alonso, will be taking over the company. Sofia said that the cause of her daughter’s passing was cardiorespiratory arrest and that the news of his passing was kept quiet for nearly an entire day to respect his memory.
“Unfortunately, this is the way I present taking from my father, the company has appointed me as the director of CMLL,” Sofia said, via Media Tiempo. “It’s the worst way that I would have liked to get this position. I think I paid for this position in advance, and what cost it me is the most in life, which is the love of my father.”
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Jushin Thunder Liger will be making a very special appearance for CMLL on July 19 as part of his his retirement tour.
In his final bout with the promotion, Liger will face off against Negro Casas, Ultimo Guerrero and Caristico in a traditional fatal four-way match. The rules of the match are that only two men will be allowed in the ring at once, with competitors tagging in and out to enter and exit the match.
https://twitter.com/CMLL_OFICIAL/status/1144013368358948864
Liger made a few appearances for CMLL starting in 2007. He ended up becoming CMLL Universal Champion, World Middleweight Champion and a World Tag Team Champion with Hiroshi Tanahashi. He held onto the Middleweight Championship for 564 days.
The 54-year-old Liger is set to retire from pro wrestling following the NJPW Tokyo Dome shows in January 2020.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
For the first time since 2016, the Super-J Cup will be making its return. New Japan Pro Wrestling announced the junior heavyweight tournament will be held in August, with three shows taking place in the United States for the first time. Talent from New Japan, CMLL, Ring of Honor and various other organizations will be involved.
The first round of the Super-J Cup will be held inside the Temple Theater in Tacoma, Washington on Thursday, August 22. On Saturday, August 24 the second round takes place inside the San Francisco State University Student Life Event Center in California. Long Beach will be the last stop of the tour, as the semifinals and finals will take place inside the Walter Pyramid on Sunday, August 25. Tickets for all three shows go on sale Monday, June 24.
The Super-J Cup was created by Jushin Thunder Liger in 1994. Wrestlers from AAA and ECW were involved during its inception and it has become a true platform for talented wrestlers. Winners of the tournament include Chris Benoit (1994), Jushin Thunder Liger (1995, 2000), Naomichi Marufuji (2004, 2009) and Kushida (2016).
Liger is set to be a producer for the 2019 Super-J Cup.
https://twitter.com/njpwglobal/status/1137964355838980096
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Lucha legend Silver King passed away at age 51 on Saturday.
Before he passed, Silver King was competing against Juventud Guerrera at the Roundhouse Theatre in North London for the promotion Lucha Libre World. During the match, Silver King collapsed. After not getting up off the mat for a long time and having a defibrillator used on him, an ambulance was called and he was taken to the hospital. According to PWInsider, it was believed that he had suffered a heart attack while in the ring.
Silver King whose real name is Cesar Cuauhtemoc Gonzalez Barron, debuted in 1985 and was in many promotions like AAA, IWGR, and CMLL. From 1997 to 2000, he was in WCW and was a member of the Latino World Order. King also wrestled in NJPW as the Black Tiger character, which was adopted before by both Mark Rocco and Eddie Guerrero.
Silver King was in the film Nacho Libre as the villain Ramses.
https://twitter.com/luchablog/status/1127344428547440641
WWE issued a statement on his passing:
WWE is saddened to learn that Lucha Libre legend and former WCW star Silver King has passed away at age 51.
A champion luchador in his native Mexico, Silver King, real name César Cuauhtémoc González Barrón, entertained audiences across the globe, and was a standout in WCW’s Cruiserweight division in the late ’90s. Outside the ring, he appeared under a mask as the villainous Ramses in the popular 2006 comedy “Nacho Libre.”
WWE extends its deepest condolences to Silver King’s family, friends and fans.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Joe Galli, Jim Cornette, and Ian Riccaboni were the announce team.
Wild Card Tag Team Battle Royal (Winner is the 8th entrant into the Crockett Cup) – Winners: Royce Isaacs & Thom Latimer advance to the Crockett Cup tournament
Crockett Cup Tournament:
Flip Gordon & Bandido (ROH) vs. Stuka Jr. & Guerrera Maya Jr (CMLL) – Winners: Flip Gordon & Bandido
Royace Isaacs and Thom Latimer vs. (Crimson and Jax Dane) The War Kings (NWA) – Winners: Royce Isaacs & Thom Latimer
The Briscoes talk about the old Crockett Cup tournament and how the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express couldn’t make it past the first round. The Briscoes fully expect history to repeat itself. The Briscoes says they are going to win the tournament and put Rock ‘n’ Roll Express out to pasture.
Jim Cornette introduces The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express, before the match gets started he asks them if they know what they’ve gotten themselves into tonight against The Briscoes. They will feed off the fans support and winning the Crockett Cup is something they want to check off their bucket list. Cornette says it’s good to see The Briscoes, “Good to see you too, Jim, now hand me that microphone!” Cornette hands it over and bounces. They let their opponents decide if they want to head to the back and keep their body in check, or fight and get retired. Morton kicks Jay below the belt before the bell rings.
The Briscoes (ROH) vs. Rock ‘n’ Roll Express (NWA) – Winners: The Briscoes
Villain Enterprises PCO & Brody King (ROH) vs. Kojima & Nagata (New Japan Pro Wrestling) – Winners: PCO & Brody King
Madusa headed out to the ring with the NWA Women’s Championship. She will present it to the winner.
NWA Women’s Championship (Vacant): Allysin Kay vs. Santana Garrett – Winner and new NWA Women’s Champion: Allysin Kay
Crockett Cup Semi-Final Match: Flip Gordon and Bandido (RHO) vs. Royce Isaacs & Thom Latimer – Winner: Royce Isaacs & Thom Latimer
Crockett Cup Semi-Final Match: The Briscoes (ROH) vs. PCO & Brody King (ROH) – Winners: PCO & Brody King via DQ
NWA National Championship: (C) Willie Mack vs. Colt Cabana – Winner and new NWA National Champion: Colt Cabana
Post-match, James Storm headed to the ring and gets on the mic. He initially congratulates Cabana for winning the title, but then yells at management for not wanting a guy like him in the main event scene. He says to Cabana that’s why he came out here to challenge Cabana because they can’t stop him from doing that. He tells Cabana to be ready next time they meet.
Members of the Crockett Family, ROH COO Joe Koff, and NWA President Billy Corgan out with the Crockett Cup and NWA World Tag Team Titles. Caprice Coleman talks with Nikita Koloff who says it’s great to be back and he thanks the Crockett Family for giving him his opportunity. Coleman asks about Koloff losing his accent, and he says after 35 years his English is bound to get better. Magnum TA heads out, Koloff welcomes him. Magnum talks about when he was able to be involved in the very first Crockett Cup and how great the experience was. The two sit ringside for the upcoming finals match.
Crockett Cup Finals: PCO & Brody King (ROH) vs. Royce Isaacs & Thom Latimer – Winners of the 2019 Crockett Cup and new NWA World Tag Team Champions: PCO and Brody King
NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship: (C) Nick Aldis w/Kamilla vs. Marty Scurll – Winner: Nick Aldis via Submission
Post-match, Scurll and Aldis hug and raise each other’s hands up. Scurll gets on the mic and asks Aldis not to leave just yet. Scurll says 15 years ago he started his dream to be a wrestler and said Aldis was the won who took him under his wing and helped him become the man he is today. He says after the match they just had shows how far they both have come. He was hoping at this point he would be double champion, but the better man won. He says Aldis is the champ and nobody deserves it more than him. Aldis says Scurll is the biggest self-made star in wrestling. He then puts over the NWA’s resurgence and thanks the fans.
Transcript via Wrestling Inc.
NWA Crockett Cup will take place tomorrow from the Cabarrus Arena in Concord, North Carolina. Join us for full live beginning at 7 pm ET!
The event will stream live on FITE for $19.99, ROH HonorClub, and traditional PPV.
NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship: (C) Nick Aldis vs. Marty Scurll
NWA National Championship: (C) Willie Mack vs. Colt Cabana
NWA Women’s Championship (Vacant): Allysin Kay vs. Santana Garrett
Crockett Cup Tournament: Winners of Block A face Winners of Block B in Finals
Block A
The Briscoes (ROH) vs. Rock ‘n’ Roll Express (NWA)
Villain Enterprises PCO & Brody King (ROH) vs. Kojima & Nagata (New Japan Pro Wrestling)
Block B
Flip Gordon & Bandido (ROH) vs. Stuka Jr. & Guerrera Maya Jr (CMLL)
Crimson & Jax Dane (NWA) vs. Winner of Wild Card Battle Royal
Wild Card Tag Team Battle Royal (Winner is the 8th entrant into the Crockett Cup)
Also appearing the Legends of Jim Crockett Promotions including all three members of Jim Cornette’s Midnight Express, legendary NWA Ref Tommy Young, Nikita Koloff and Magnum TA.
NWA announced earlier today the Women’s Championship has been vacated by Jazz and a new champion will be decided at this weekend’s Crockett Cup event in Concord, North Carolina. Allysin Kay (fka Impact Wrestling’s Sienna) was originally scheduled to face Jazz, but will now go against an opponent to be named later this week for the vacant title.
Jazz won the championship back in September of 2016, holding it for 946 days, which is the third longest behind Debbie Combs and The Fabulous Moolah.
Below is the updated card this Saturday’s Crockett Cup.
* Nick Aldis (c) vs. Marty Scurll (NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship)
* Willie Mack (c) vs. Colt Cabana (NWA National Championship)
* Allysin Kay vs. Santana Garrett (For the vacant NWA Women’s Championship)
* The Briscoes vs. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express (Crockett Cup First Round)
* Villain Enterprises (PCO & Brody King) vs. Satoshi Kojima and Yugi Nagata (Crockett Cup First Round)
* Flip Gordon and Bandido vs. Guerrero Maya Jr. and Stuka Jr. (Crockett Cup First Round)
* The War Kings (Crimson and Jax Dane) vs. Winner of the Wild Card Tag Team Battle Royal (Crockett Cup First Round)
* Wild Card Tag Team Battle Royal (Winner is the 8th entrant into the Crockett Cup)
The event will stream live on FITE for $19.99, ROH HonorClub, and traditional PPV.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
UPDATE:
Jazz revealed on Twitter that she had to vacate the NWA World Women’s Championship due to medical and personal issues.
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