July 2020 – Page 18

WWE Announcer Responds To Harsh Criticism Against Him

Corey Graves is one of the most successful and controversial color commentators in recent history. Graves started out as an NXT Superstar and he even captured the NXT Tag Team Titles with his former partner Neville. Graves transitioned from an NXT Superstar to an NXT Color Commentator when he had a career ending injury that sidelined him from his wrestling career. Aside from NXT, he was also the Color Commentator for Main Event & 205 Live.
He got better and better as days and weeks and years passed by. He was then given bigger and better responsibilities as he is now a Color Commentator for RAW, SmackDown Live and Mixed Match Challenge. Graves has also had his fair share of success and failures but despite that, he has worked through those and he has made himself better and better. His success doesn’t come without any criticisms as he has had several criticisms throughout his career. Just recently, a fan took to Twitter and criticized him for “defecating all over” 5 hours of WWE programming each week. Not shortly after, Graves also took to Twitter and responded to that fan. You can see the exchange below:

The most terrifying thing I’ve ever watched is the 5 hours of televised programming that you deficate all over every week. Your in-ring performance was somehow better than your commentary, and we all know how that went.
— Brad McNeill (@McDealWithIt) March 16, 2018

I’m terribly sorry that your parents didn’t love you enough. Here is some of the attention you so desperately seek. (Just make sure you send me a card on Father’s Day.)
And the word is ‘defecate,’ son. https://t.co/94i6BW2e6X
— Corey Graves (@WWEGraves) March 16, 2018

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Backstage News From WWE’s MSG Live Event From This Past Weekend

WWE had their MSG live event this past weekend with a couple of big names making an appearance. Those names included WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar and 16-time World Heavyweight Champion John Cena. Despite WWE’s efforts to turn Brock Lesnar heel by virtue of having him miss the last couple of RAW shows and portraying him as someone who doesn’t care about the business, he was in fact loudly cheered at the Madison Square Garden live event this past weekend. WWE usually categorizes the MSG crowd as a group of people who are ahead of the curve so the belief is that if MSG fans are cheering Lesnar, that is likely going to happen at WrestleMania 34 as well.
Sonya Deville replaced Bayley in a mixed tag team match with Elias against John Cena and Nikki Bella. While Bayley is expected to be a heel going into her program against Sasha Banks, it is happening much slower than originally expected and so that is why they had to pull her from the match as it wouldn’t have made any sense.

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'Undertaker: The Last Ride' to be five-part WWE Network series

Update —

WWE has confirmed that “Undertaker: The Last Ride” will be a five-part series. Episode one will be uploaded to the WWE Network on demand at 10 a.m. Eastern time this Sunday (May 10) and will also air after Money in the Bank later that night.

**********

The WWE Network’s limited series on The Undertaker has its premiere date.

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WWE Network News reported today that episode one of “Undertaker: The Last Ride” will premiere on the WWE Network on Sunday, May 10. That’s the day of this year’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view.

The debut episode is titled “Chapter 1: The Greatest Fear.” It will follow The Undertaker as he prepares for his match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 33 in 2017. At the time, that had been set to be Undertaker’s final match.

Here’s the description for the episode: “Get a rare and revealing look at Mark Calaway, the man behind The Undertaker, as he prepares for the final match of his storied WWE career against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 33.”

The Undertaker limited series was announced via a trailer that aired on night one of WrestleMania 36 last month. A first look at the series then aired after WrestleMania 36 night two. During the first look, it was noted that the series takes place between 2017 and 2020.

Night one of this year’s WrestleMania was headlined by The Undertaker defeating AJ Styles in their cinematic-style boneyard match.

WWE Network News also reported that a WWE Chronicle episode focused on Shayna Baszler will premiere on Saturday, May 9.

Daily Update: WWE stock, After Dark, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane

DAILY UPDATE

Daily Pro Wrestling History (04/17): WCW Spring Stampede 1994

1941

Kansas City, Kansas:

– Lee Wyckoff defeated Orville Brown in 2 out of 3 falls to win the Midwest Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title

– Jay Steele beat Al Lafoon

– Mysterious Mr. S beat Dobie Osborne

– Abe Coleman and Rudy Strongberg drew (30:00)

1952

Chattanooga, Tennessee:

– Golden Hawk and Johnny Kostas defeated Henry Harrell and Rex Mobley for the Mid-America NWA Southern Tag Team Titles

1959

Toronto, Ontario, Canada:

– Gene Kiniski defeated Whipper Billy Watson for the Toronto NWA British Empire Heavyweight Title

Atlanta, Georgia:

– Dick Gunkel (Dick Steinborn) defeated Fred Blassie to win the Georgia NWA Southern Heavyweight Title

1965

San Francisco, California:

– Pat Patterson and Ray Stevens defeated The Destroyer and Billy Red Lyons to win the American Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Titles

1969

Jacksonville, Florida:

– Boris Malenko defeated The Gladiator (Rick Hunter) for the NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Title

Hattiesburg, Mississippi:

– Mitsu Sito defeated Bob Kelly to win the NWA Mississippi Heavyweight Title

1970

Atlanta, Georgia:

– Nick Bockwinkel defeated Assassin #1 (Tom Renesto) for the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title

1972

Memphis, Tennessee:

– Jackie Fargo and Jerry Jarrett defeated The Interns in a hair vs. title match to win the Mid-America NWA Southern Tag Team Title

Portland, Oregon:

– Tony Borne and Moondog Mayne won the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title from The Royal Kangaroos (Jonathan Boyd and Norman Frederick Charles)

1974

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada:

– Gene Kiniski and Mr. X (Guy Mitchell) defeated Flash Gordon (George Gordienko) and Leo Madril to win the Vancouver NWA Canadian Tag Team Titles

Nashville, Tennessee:

– Mr. Kamikaze and Tojo Yamamoto defeated Nick DeCarlo and Frank Monte for the NWA Southeastern Tag Team Titles

1976

Caguas, Puerto Rico:

– Carlos Colón defeated Bob Ellis to win the WWC North American Heavyweight Title

St. Petersburg, Florida:

– Jack Brisco defeated Pak Song for the NWA Florida Heavyweight Title

Wichita, Kansas:

– Mike George defeated Bob Brown for the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title

1978

Augusta, Georgia:

– Dusty Rhodes ddq Abdullah the Butcher

– AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel beat Mr. Wrestling II

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– Stan Hansen beat Tommy Rich

– Helmut Schmidt & Wolfgang Schmidt beat Raymond Rougeau & Pez Whatley

– Paul Ellering beat Ken Dillinger

1979

Raleigh, North Carolina:

– US Champion Ric Flair beat Dino Bravo

– Non Title Match: Ricky Steamboat beat AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel

– Pedro Morales & Jay Youngblood beat Moose Morowski & Kim Duk by DQ

– John Studd beat Skip Young

– Leo Burke beat Mr X I

– Chris Colt, Dennis Condrey and Tojo Yamamoto defeated Bobby Eaton, George Gulas and Mexican Angel for the NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Titles

1980

Kansas City, Kansas:

– Takachiho (Great Kabuki) & Pak Song defeated Bulldog Bob Brown & Dick Murdoch to win Central States Tag Team Titles

1983

Nagasaki, Japan:

– Giant Baba and Jumbo Tsuruta won the NWA International Tag Team Title from Ron Bass and Stan Hansen

Racine, Wisconsin:

– Hulk Hogan defeated Jerry Blackwell by DQ

– Mad Dog Vachon pinned Sheik Adnan El Kassie

– Joyce Grable pinned Judy Martin

– Wahoo McDaniel defeated Tom Stone

– Rick Martel and Brad Rheingans wrestled to a draw

1984

Allentown, Pennsylvania:

– The North-South Connection (Adrian Adonis and Dick Murdoch) defeated Tony Atlas and Rocky Johnson to win the WWF Tag Team Titles

Tokyo, Japan:

– Gran Hamada defeated Perro Aguayo for the WWF World Light Heavyweight Title

1985

Barron, Wisconsin:

– Savannah Jack and Ed Roberts defeated The Terminators (Rigs and Wolf) to win the Pro Wrestling America Tag Team Titles

1987

Calgary, Alberta, Canada:

– Owen Hart defeated Mahkan Singh (Mike Shaw) to win the Stampede North American Heavyweight Title

Daytona Beach, Florida:

– Mike Graham and Steve Keirn defeated The MOD Squad (Basher and Spike) to win the NWA Florida Tag Team Titles

Kansas City, Kansas:

– Porkchops Cash & Ken Timbs beat AWA Tag Team Champions Midnight Rockers by DQ

– Lights Out Match: Earthquake Ferris beat Bulldog Bob Brown COR

– Rufus Jones beat Warlord by DQ

– Rip Rogers beat Stoney Burke

1991

Jacksonville, Florida:

– Brad Armstrong pinned Bill Irwin

– Tim Horner pinned Moondog Rex

– Bobby Eaton defeated Tom Zenk via disqualification

– WCW TV Champion Arn Anderson & Barry Windham defeated WCW Tag Team Champions Doom via disqualification

– NWA & WCW World Champion Ric Flair pinned Sting

1992

Yokohama, Japan:

– The Natural Disasters (Earthquake and Typhoon) defeated George and Shunji Takano for the Super World of Sports Tag Team Titles

Tokyo, Japan:

– Stan Hansen defeated Mitsuharu Misawa to win the annual AJPW’s Champion’s Carnival tournament

1993

Johnson City, Tennessee:

– Robbie Eagle pinned Joe Cazana

– Tim Horner pinned Bobby Eaton

– Brian Lee pinned Killer Kyle

– Kevin Sullivan defeated the Nightstalker via disqualification

– SMW Heavyweight Champion Tracy Smothers defeated the Dirty White Boy in a chain match

– Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson defeated Stan Lane & Tom Prichard and Robert Fuller & Jimmy Golden in an elimination streetfight

Detroit, Michigan:

– 2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell defeated Shanghai Pierce & Tex Slazenger

– Maxx Payne defeated Steve Regal

– Johnny B. Badd pinned Chris Benoit

– Van Hammer defeated Vinnie Vegas

– Rick Rude & WCW TV Champion Paul Orndorff defeated WCW US Champion Dustin Rhodes & Cactus Jack

– NWA World Champion Barry Windham pinned Ron Simmons

– Sting defeated WCW World Champion Big Van Vader in a non-title strap match

– WCW/NWA Tag Team Champion Steve Austin pinned Ricky Steamboat in a steel cage match

1994

WCW Spring Stampede: Chicago, Illinois:

– Johnny B. Badd pinned Diamond Dallas Page (with The Diamond Doll)

– WCW World Television Champion Lord Steven Regal (with Sir William) fought Brian Pillman to a 15-minute time-limit draw to retain the title

– WCW World Tag Team Champions The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags) defeated Cactus Jack and Maxx Payne in a Chicago Street Fight to retain the titles

– WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Steve Austin (with Col. Robert Parker) defeated The Great Muta by disqualification to retain the title

– Sting pinned WCW International World Heavyweight Champion Rick Rude to win the title

– Vader (with Harley Race) pinned The Boss

– WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat fought to a no contest due to a double pin (title was vacated due to the finish)

Knoxville, Tennessee:

– Mike Furnas defeated Larry Santo

– Tracy Smothers & Bobby Blaze defeated the Infernos

– The Dirty White Girl pinned Peggy Lee Leather

– SMW Heavyweight Champion the Dirty White Boy pinned Prince Kharis

– Bruiser Bedlam pinned Bob Armstrong

– SMW Tag Team Champions Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson defeated Brian Lee & Chris Candido via disqualification

1995

Memphis, Tennessee:

– Brian Lee defeated Brian Christopher to win the USWA Heavyweight Title

1999

Buffalo, New York:

– D-Von Dudley defeated ECW World Tag Team and Television Champion Rob Van Dam to win RVD and Sabu’s ECW World Tag Team Title for he and Bubba Ray Dudley

Guaynabo, Puerto Rico:

– Ray González defeated Pierroth, Jr. for the WWC Universal Heavyweight Title

Memphis, Tennessee:

– Jerry Lawler defeated Derrick King and Kid Wikkid in a handicap match to win the PPW Tag Team Title for he and Bill Dundee, who no-showed the event

Newport, Delaware:

– Mark Schrader and Christian York won the ECWA Tag Team Title from Ace Darling and Devon Storm

2000

State College, Pennsylvania:

– Chris Jericho pinned WWF Champion Triple H to win the title

– Scotty 2 Hotty pinned WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko to win the title

Osan, South Korea:

– Big Bubba Bain and L.A. Stephens defeat The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express (Robert Gibson and Ricky Morton) to win the NWA World Tag Team Titles

2001

Nashville, Tennessee:

– Kane and The Undertaker defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Edge and Christian in a no-disqualification match to win the titles

2004

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:

– Rockin’ Rebel and Jack Victory defeated The Blue Meanie and Roadkill

– Mike Kruel defeated Monsta Mack

– Ruckus defeated Damian Adams

– Jerry Lynn defeated Sabu

– Joey Matthews defeated 3PW Heavyweight Champion Raven to win the title

2005

Belleville, Michigan:

– Petey Williams defeated champion Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley in a three-way match to win the Border City Wrestling Can-Am Television Title

2007

Milan, Italy:

– Deuce and Domino defeated WWE Tag Team Champions Brian Kendrick and Paul London to win the titles

2009

ROH Caged Collision: Chicago, Illinois:

– Claudio Castagnoli defeated Kevin Steen

– Necro Butcher & Jerry Lynn defeated The Age of the Fall’s Delirious and Brodie Lee

– Tyler Black defeated Bryan Danielson, Jimmy Jacobs, Austin Aries

– ROH champ Nigel McGuinness defeated El Generico to win the title

– Steel Cage Warfare: Brent Albright & Ace Steel & Erick Stevens & Roderick Strong & Jay Briscoe defeated Sweet N Sour Inc

2011

TNA Lockdown: Cincinnati, Ohio:

– Brother Devon defeated Anarquia in a Steel Cage match

– Max Buck defeated Amazing Red, Brian Kendrick, Chris Sabin, Jay Lethal, Jeremy Buck, Robbie E (with Cookie) and Suicide in an escape match

– Ink Inc. (Jesse Neal and Shannon Moore) defeated The British Invasion (Douglas Williams and Magnus), Crimson and Scott Steiner and Eric Young and Orlando Jordan in a four-way tornado tag team steel cage match

– Mickie James defeated Madison Rayne in win the TNA Women’s Knockout Championship

– Samoa Joe defeated D’Angelo Dinero

– Matt Morgan defeated Hernandez (with Anarquia, Sarita and Rosita)

– Jeff Jarrett (with Karen Jarrett) defeated Kurt Angle “Ultra Male Rules” Two out of Three Falls Steel Cage match

– Sting defeated Rob Van Dam and Mr. Anderson in a three-way Steel Cage match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship

– Fortune (Christopher Daniels, Kazarian, Robert Roode and James Storm) defeated Immortal (Ric Flair, Abyss, Bully Ray and Matt Hardy) in a Lethal Lockdown match

XFL files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

After suspending operations last Friday, the XFL today filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The XFL issued a statement on the decision:

The XFL quickly captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of people who love football. Unfortunately, as a new enterprise, we were not insulated from the harsh economic impacts and uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 crisis. Accordingly, we have filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. This is a heartbreaking time for many, including our passionate fans, players and staff, and we are thankful to them, our television partners, and the many Americans who rallied to the XFL for the love of football.

The bankruptcy was filed for by Vince McMahon’s Alpha Entertainment. It lists that the league has both $10-50 million in estimated assets and estimated liabilities.

McMahon owns 100 percent of Class A shares and 76.5 percent of Class B shares, while WWE owns 23.5 percent of Class B shares.

Sports Business Journal’s Austin Karp tweeted: “An XFL source tells me the league is in fact for sale as part of bankruptcy process. XFL still intends to return all ticket funds to fans (as @BenFischerSBJ reported Friday).” ESPN also wrote that a source close to the bankruptcy filing said the XFL could be sold during the process.

TMZ Sports reported that sources told them the coronavirus pandemic caused the XFL to lose “tens of millions in revenue.” Their report also stated that XFL employees were paid their full wages up until April 12, along with any accrued vacation days.

XFL head coaches and general managers Bob Stoops ($1,083,333.33), Marc Trestman ($777,777.78), Jonathan Hayes ($633,333.33), Winston Moss ($583,333.33), Kevin Gilbride ($583,333.33), June Jones ($583,333.33), and Jim Zorn ($583,333.33) are listed among the league’s top 25 creditors with the largest unsecured claims.

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WWE Network announces WrestleMania week content schedule

WWE has announced its full slate of WrestleMania week programming for the WWE Network.

A special ranking the 15 Greatest WrestleMania Title Matches of the Last 15 Years will be added to the WWE Network’s on-demand section at 10 a.m. Eastern time this Tuesday. It’s focused on matches for the WWE, Universal, and World Heavyweight Championships and the WWE, Raw, and SmackDown Women’s Championships.

“WWE Dream Match Mania” will stream at 1 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday. It will feature WWE wrestlers commentating over simulated video game dream matches on WWE 2K.

“WWE Untold: HBK vs. Angle” is being made available on demand at 10 a.m. Eastern on Friday. Here’s the description for it: “Learn the full story behind WrestleMania 21’s incredible showdown between Mr. WrestleMania and The Olympic Gold Medalist, featuring interviews with Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, Johnny Gargano and Michael Cole.”

WWE’s Chronicle episode on Drew McIntyre will be uploaded on demand at 10 a.m. Eastern on Saturday, while the WWE 24 episode on Edge’s return is being made available on demand at 10 a.m. Eastern on Sunday.

WrestleMania 36 is airing on the WWE Network on Saturday and Sunday. Both nights will have hour-long pre-shows starting at 6 p.m. Eastern time. New episodes of WWE’s The Bump previewing WrestleMania will also stream at 1 p.m. Eastern on both Saturday and Sunday.

Here’s the full schedule of new WWE Network programming for this week:

MONDAY, MARCH 30

Edge’s Best WrestleMania Matches – Available on demand at 3 pm. ET
Relive The Rated-R Superstar’s most amazing battles on The Grandest Stage of Them All.

TUESDAY, MARCH 31

The Broken Skull Sessions – Uncensored Versions (TV-MA) – Available on demand at 10 a.m. ET
For the first time ever, previously aired episodes of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s no-holds-barred interview show will be presented completely uncensored and unfiltered.

15 Greatest WrestleMania Title Matches of the Last 15 Years – Available on demand at 10 a.m. ET
Edge vs. The Undertaker, Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch, Batista vs. John Cena. See where these and other celebrated championship showdowns rank among the 15 greatest WrestleMania Title Matches of the last 15 years, presented by Snickers.

Shawn Michaels’ Best WrestleMania Matches – Available on demand at 3 pm. ET
They don’t call him “Mr. WrestleMania” for nothing. Witness the best of Shawn Michaels at The Show of Shows as the WWE Hall of Famer lives up to his moniker in these classic showdowns.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1

WWE’s The Bump – Streaming at 10 a.m. ET
AJ Styles and Humberto Carrillo join the gang on WWE’s The Bump.

Triple H’s Best WrestleMania Matches – Available on demand at 3 pm. ET
From clashes with The Undertaker to World Championship main events, watch The Game’s biggest hits at WrestleMania.

Charlotte Flair’s 8 Most Memorable Matches – Available on demand at 3 pm. ET
Experience The Queen’s eight greatest matches, featuring classic showdowns against Sasha Banks, Ronda Rousey and Asuka.

THURSDAY, APRIL 2

Where Are They Now?: Eva Marie & Snitsky – Available on demand at 10 a.m. ET
Find out what Eva Marie and Snitsky, two of WWE’s most unforgettable Superstars, are up to today on a new episode of Where Are They Now?

WWE Dream Match Mania – Streaming at 1 p.m. ET
WWE Superstars commentate over simulated dream matches, as played out in video-game form.

“Stone Cold’s” Best WrestleMania Matches – Available on demand at 3 pm. ET
No Superstar ruled The Attitude Era quite like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Watch The Texas Rattlesnake’s best WrestleMania clashes during one of sports-entertainment’s most beloved periods.

Best of WrestleMania Theater – Available on demand at 3 pm. ET
Experience your favorite WrestleMania matches like you’ve never seen them before with the Best of WrestleMania Theater.

WWE NXT UK – Available on demand at 3 p.m. ET/8 p.m. BST
Watch the United Kingdom’s top competitors on a new episode of NXT UK, featuring a 20-Man Battle Royal to determine the next challenger to NXT UK Champion WALTER.

This Week in WWE – Streaming at 7 p.m. ET
Scott Stanford and Alyse Ashton bring you up to speed on the latest goings-on in the WWE Universe.

WWE NXT – Available on demand at 10 p.m. ET
Catch up on the previous night’s episode of NXT, the final stop for the black-and-gold brand before WrestleMania.

FRIDAY, APRIL 3

WWE Untold: HBK vs. Angle – Available on demand at 10 a.m. ET
Learn the full story behind WrestleMania 21’s incredible showdown between Mr. WrestleMania and The Olympic Gold Medalist, featuring interviews with Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, Johnny Gargano and Michael Cole.

The Undertaker’s WrestleMania Streak – Available on demand at 3 pm. ET
Relive The Phenom’s greatest matches at The Show of Shows, including the most memorable battles from his fabled WrestleMania Streak.

Best WrestleMania Ladder Matches – Available on demand at 3 pm. ET
Superstars always raise their game at WrestleMania, but these thrilling and daredevil Ladder Matches take it to a new level.

205 Live – Streaming at 10 p.m. ET
The most exciting and fearless competitors under 205 pounds take the spotlight on WWE Network.

SATURDAY, APRIL 4

WWE Chronicle: Drew McIntyre – Available on demand at 10 a.m. ET
WWE Network cameras follow Drew McIntyre as he triumphs at WWE Royal Rumble and gets ready to challenge Universal Champion Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 36.

Randy Orton’s Best WrestleMania Matches – Available on demand at 3 pm. ET
Relive Randy Orton’s greatest WrestleMania matches — and some unforgettable RKOs out of nowhere — against WWE’s biggest names.

WWE’s The Bump – Streaming LIVE at 1 p.m. ET
The countdown to WrestleMania 36 continues on a new episode of WWE’s The Bump, featuring appearances by WWE Superstars.

WrestleMania 36 Kickoff Part 1 – Streaming at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT
A panel of experts will provide key analysis in the hour leading up to WrestleMania 36 Part 1.

WrestleMania 36 Part 1 – Streaming at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
The Showcase of the Immortals returns to WWE Network for the first part of an unprecedented two-night extravaganza. Emanating from the WWE Performance Center, this year’s WrestleMania will be hosted by former NFL great Rob Gronkowski.

SUNDAY, APRIL 5

WWE 24: Edge: The Second Mountain – Available on demand at 10 a.m. ET
This new installment of WWE Network’s popular docuseries brings you behind the scenes of WWE Hall of Famer Edge’s arduous, and once-unfathomable, journey back to the squared circle.

WWE’s The Bump – Streaming LIVE at 1 p.m. ET
WWE’s The Bump crew looks ahead to a second night of action on The Grandest Stage of Them All.

WrestleMania 36 Kickoff Part 2 – Streaming at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT
WWE experts join the Kickoff panel to break down the biggest matches of WrestleMania 36 Part 2.

WrestleMania 36 Part 2 – Streaming at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
The Only WrestleMania Too Big for Just One Night returns for night two, hosted by Rob Gronkowski and featuring heated grudge matches and title bouts.

This week's top prospects in MMA and other notes from smaller shows around the world including debut of a 17-year-old Canadian prodigy in Japan

By Jeremy Wall

PROSPECTS

Zebaztian Kadestam (7-1, 6’0″) PXC Welterweight Champion
Kadestam, of Sweden, successfully defended the PXC Welterweight title against Han Seul Kim (4-3) Friday night in Guam, stopping Kim in the second round in the card’s co-main event. Kadestam had defeated Josh Calvo (8-4) to win the vacant title last June. Kadestam’s seven pro wins includes a first round knockout of UFC veteran Ronald Jhun (24-25-2 at the time) and a first round knockout of Dream veteran Ross Ebanez (20-8 at the time), both in 2013. His sole loss was to Silas Maynard (1-1) via decision in July 2013. Maynard is an American who owns an MMA gym in Shanghai and previously trained with Stipe Miocic in Ohio. Even though Kadestam is from Sweden, all eight of his fights have taken place in Asia. “I came to Thailand 2010 because my grappling coach in Sweden sent me to Legacy Gym in Ubon Ratchathani to work on my Muay Thai and MMA game and I just loved it there and got accepted into the fight team and been around ever since,” Kadestam told Bloody Elbow last year. “The UFC is on my mind and I’m hoping to get the call. If I do, I will be ready.”

Alex Reyes (11-2, 31 years old, 5’11”) KOTC Lightweight Champion
Reyes defeated Josh Aveles (20-11-1) to win the King of the Cage Junior Welterweight title (160 pounds) on March 15th in San Jacinto. Reyes was moving up five pounds after defeating Vitor Meza (13-3) to win the KOTC Lightweight title in December. Reyes now holds both titles. Reyes had also previously competed in KOTC as a welterweight. Reyes has now won eleven straight after losing the first two fights of his career back in 2007. His brother Dominick Reyes also competes in KOTC. Alex owns Cage Combat Academy in Victorville.

Nick Patterson (16-4-1, 32 years old, 5’8″) Lightweight
Patterson defeated UFC veteran Ben Wall (7-2-1) in the main event of Hex Fight Series 2 in Melbourne on March 14th. It was the first MMA show to feature a cage since the ban against cages was lifted in the Australian state of Victoria, where Melbourne is located. It took place at the Melbourne Pavilion. Patterson beat Wall by majority decision after three rounds. It was Patterson’s fifth win in a row since losing a Lightweight title challenge in Australian FC to Daniel Hooker (9-4) by third round TKO in August 2013. Patterson also has two submission losses and a decision loss from earlier in his career. The judges scored the fight against Wall 29-29, 30-27 and 29-28. The decision was controversial. Patterson also failed to make weight for the bout. It was Patterson’s second victory against a former UFC fighter after beating Bernardo Magalhaes in February 2014.

Henry Corrales (12-0, 28 years old, 5’9″) KOTC Featherweight Champion
Corrales retained the KOTC 145 pound title by stopping Aaron Neveu (9-3) at 0:43 of the second round in the co-main of KOTC’s show in San Jacinto on March 15th. Corrales is undefeated in his pro career and has won eight fights in a row in KOTC. Seven of those eight wins have been against fighters with 50-50 records or better at the time of the fight. This was his fourth straight title defense after winning the vacant title in October 2013. “I started off with a jiu-jitsu base, but the school I was at was kind of limited, so the last six months I’ve been at All In MMA, which is a primarily striking school, and I’ve been evolving my game and have been keeping these recent fights standing and try to finish them on my feet,” Corrales told MMAWeekly.com last August.

Andy Main (10-2-1, 25 years old, 5’11”) Featherweight
Main, from New Jersey, became a top contender to the King of Pancrase Featherweight title when he became the first fighter to finish Japanese prospect Hiroyuki Oshiri (5-2-2) at Pancrase 265 on March 15th. Main submitted Oshiro with a choke in 57 seconds. Main called for a title shot against Nam Phan after the win. Main began his career in 2009 with Ring of Combat, going 4-1 in that promotion with a decision loss to Lester Caslow (5-3) in 2010. He began competing for both CFFC and Pancrase in 2013. He went to a majority draw in Pancrase with Akira Okada (7-3-2) in 2014 and lost a split-decision in CFFC to Kenny Foster (10-8) in 2014. He’s now won two straight since the loss to Foster. Main was a competitor on season twelve of TUF in 2010 losing by choke too Kyle Watson in the fourth episode. Nam Phan was also a contestant on that season, going to the semi-finals. “A lot happened quickly when I started fighting. I got on The Ultimate Fighter after fighting less than a year professionally so that threw me into veteran status,” Main told MMA-In-Asia.com. “I didn’t get to have what other guys go through being considered a prospect. I went from 0 to 100 in a lot of different things. I opened my gym because I didn’t want to have to rely on the money I was making fighting. I think that now I’ve reached another level in my training and everything and I think it’s starting to show in my fights. I’m only 25 and I think I haven’t reached my peak. I’m excited for everything that happens, but I’d rather have the title shot sooner than later, but we’ll see.”

TJ Laramie (1-0, 17 years old, 5’7″) Featherweight
Laramie, 17, made his pro debut by stopping 36-year-old Koshi Obata (12-12-4) in 2:33 at Pancrase 265 on March 15th. Laramie is considered something of an MMA prodigy in the north among people that know who he is, sort-of Canada’s version of Aaron Pico. He’s already been tabbed by some as the next GSP, which is obviously premature, but gives the sense of what people are expecting. His pro debut was in Pancrase as part of a Canadian reality series called Fight Xchange that is being filmed in Canada and Japan, where three Canadian MMA fighters compete in Pancrase and three Japanese fighters compete in Canada. The show will air on SuperChannel in Canada, which is a premium channel similar to HBO or Showtime. He debuted as featherweight, but wants to compete at bantamweight. Laramie is from Windsor, Ontario, and is a former three-time Grapplers Quest winner, two-time runner up in All-Ontario Wrestling, and former Under-17 153-pound IKF Kickboxing World Champion. He trains with Maximum Training in Windsor under coach Rino Belcastro. “Boxing was a huge part of my style and how I fight,” Laramie told MMADieHards.com in 2013. “All the old fights, Muhammad Ali is one of my greatest inspirations, I have one of his quotes tattooed on me. The old boxing is huge, huge to me.” On Rear Naked Choke Radio, Laramie said, “I know I’m not getting to the UFC right away, and I can’t be on The Ultimate Fighter until I’m 21, so I can’t take that route and I don’t think that route is an option because I plan on being there before I’m 21. The Bellator route would be [for] the money right now, but it also gives me an opportunity to fight for GLORY. I want to fight kickboxing, too. There’s a lot of money in the tournaments there. The beginning part of my career is about getting good fights, making some money and getting some good exposure and a name. Then, when I hit 20 years old, then I can start directing my eyes to the UFC.” Laramie added, “For me, it’s all about taking the right fights and working my way up so I can get the best opportunities possible,” Laramie explained. “I think a lot of people, especially like Jordan Mein, if you look at his record, he took a lot of losses early on. I’m not looking to do that; I’m looking to build my way up. I think Rory MacDonald kind of did the same thing, taking that Carlos Condit fight so early in his UFC career — it was kind of a bad option. I just want to take the right fights and build my way up. When the opportunity comes to make my way up and fight bigger competition, it’s going to happen.” The other two Canadian fighters who fought at Pancrase 265 as part of the Fight Xchange series were Lindsay Garbett (2-0), who stopped Shiori Hori (1-2) in 1:01; Vyron Phillips (4-2, actually American), who lost a decision to Takashi Sato (7-0). The fourth fighter that is part of the show is Jesse Gross (10-4), whose bout was cancelled.

Poliana Botelho (4-1, 26 years old, 5’8″) XFXI Women’s Flyweight Champion
Botelho beat Antonio Silvaneide (4-1) in the finals of a four-woman tournament to wiin the vacant XFCI Women’s Flyweight championship ni the co-main event of XFCI’s show in Sao Paulo on March 14th. Botelho stopped Silvaneide at 1:36 of the first round to win the title. She had previously defeated Karina Rodriguez (3-1) via third-round TKO in the tournament quarterfinals in September. Botelho’s sole loss was by decision to Viviane Pereira, back in June 2014 for the Bitetti Combat Flyweight title. Pereira also competed in the undercard of the XFCI event in Sao Paulo. Botelho is known for being a powerful striker, but with weak cardio.

Bruno Azevedo (13-2) XFCI Flyweight Champion
Azevedo won the vacant XFCI Flyweight title by beating Allan Nascimento (14-2) via unanimous decision after five rounds on March 14th in the main event of an XFCI show in Sao Paulo. It was Azevedo’s debut with XFCI and his third win in a row after suffering a TKO loss in May 2014. The only other loss of his career was by submission in Shoot Brasil in September 2010. Azevedo has finiished 12 of his 13 career victories with only this most recent win over Nascimento coming by way of decision. Azevedo was considering a heavy underdog going into the bout against Nascimento.

Adriano Moraes (13-1, 25 years old, 5’8″) One Flyweight Champion
Moraes successfully defended the One Flyweight title March 13th at One 25 in Kuala Lumpur. Moraes beat Asuka Mikami (12-3-2) by unanimous decision after five rounds. Moraes had a hard time tapping Mikami, trying to get Mikami into a choke with Mikami showing excellent submissions defense. It was Moraes’ first title defense after becoming One’s first Flyweight champioon by beating Geje Eustaquio (6-3) by submissiion to win the title in September. Moraes had two previous wins in One. Moraes was previously the Flyweight champion in Shooto Brasil before signing with One. His sole loss was in his One debut in November 2013, where he dropped a split-decision to Yusup Saadulaev (12-4-1) at bantamweight. Moraes moved back down to flyweight for all of his subsequent fights in One. “I see the Asian market growing every day, and I want to be part of this growth,” Moraes told MMA Fighting last September. “One FC reinvented high-level MMA after the end of Pride FC, and I feel honored to be part of this promotion. I don’t plan to fight in the North America market, although I already received some offers, because I’m really happy with everything that One FC offers me. I want to build my career at One FC.”

Viviane Pereira (9-0, 5’0″) Women’s Strawweght
Pereira defeated Liano Pirosin (3-0) in the semi-finals of a tournament to crown the first XFCI Women’s Strawweight champion at their event in Sao Paulo on March 14th. Pereira is undefeated in MMA and has finished six of her nine wins. She previously defeated Poliano Botelho for the vacant Bitetti Combat Flyweight title in June 2014. Botelho competed in the co-main of the XFCI card, winning the vacant XFCI Flyweight title in a tournament final. To reach the semis of the Women’s Strawweight title tournament, Pereira stopoped Fernanda Prisciila Barros (0-0) in 3:22 in November. She’ll face Vuokko Katainen (3-2-1) of Finland in the tournament finals for the title.

TNA Impact TV Report 3-20-15: Kurt Angle vs. Bobby Lashley

By Jeff Hamlin, Wrestling Observer

The Wolves retained the TNA Tag Team titles by winning an Ultimate X match over Manik and the Great Sanada and Bro Mans in 9:21

Robbie E. was AWOL, explained as being despondent over his loss to Brooke last week. During a backstage vignette a depressed
Robbie asked DJZ to replace him. Of course, this led to DJZ taking his patented hip toss
over the top rope onto two heels on the floor bump. Jessie Godderz gorilla pressed Eddie
Edwards and slammed him to the floor. Manik began directing traffic and tried to sucker
Godderz into holding Davey Richards while he went to the top rope, but Manik climbed
the Ultimate X instead, but Godderz jerked him down. Then the heel teams got into a
chicken fight with Manik and DJZ fighting on top of their partner’s shoulders, but the
Wolves came off the top with a double missile drop kick. Manik climbed up Richards’ back
in an attempt to get to the cables, but the Wolves caught him with a Backstabber.
Godderz and the Great Sanada ascended to the top rope, where Sanada blew mist in
Godderz’s face. Then Edwards crotched Sanada. Edwards climbed off the cable and gave
Sanada a huracanrana, followed by Richards with the Double Impact, which led to the
Wolves climbing the cables to get the belts. Edwards showed a lot of guts working on a
bad heel and he was clearly limping by the end.

Austin Aries came out without his briefcase after he was jumped by the Beat Down Clan.
Josh Matthews made it clear that Aries is still the briefcase holder despite not having it in
his possession. I know this is a little thing, but for TNA to attention to detail, it’s a small
positive step forward. Samoa Joe, in his company farewell after nearly ten years, came out
with Low Ki, who delivered the old possession is 9/10ths of the law line. Ki wasn’t giving the
briefcase back, so Aries challenged Ki to a match where he puts the X Division
championship and the briefcase in a match immediately. Joe decked Aries and Ki said Aries
would have to face Joe instead.

Austin Aries defeated Samoa Joe via DQ in 7:07

Joe took most of his final match. After
spending the first five minutes on offense, Joe missed a senton, and Aries caught a
neckbreaker onto the second rope along with a missile dropkick. Aries attempted the
brainbuster, but Joe reversed it into a Fujiwara armbar, but Aries made the ropes. Joe went
for the muscle buster, but Aries escaped and hit two Roaring Elbows, followed by a tope
under the middle rope. They told the story that Aries couldn’t take Joe down until he hit the
tope. Ki jumped Aries on the floor and Earl Hebner called for the bell. Postmatch, Ki tried to
hit Aries with the briefcase, but he hit Joe instead. Aries followed with a Roaring Elbow on Ki
and took his briefcase back.

As Aries left, a newly shaved Rockstar Spud came down the aisle with tape over his head
and the X Division briefcase in his hands and cashed it in.

3. Rockstar Spud pinned Low Ki to win the X Division title in :08. Spud pinned Ki with the
Underdog for a big pop to save face after losing the hair match last week.

In the back, Bram and Magnus brawled. Magnus put Bram on a cart and wheeled him into
some trash cans. This wound up in the ring where Magnus grabbed a chair and hit Bram
repeated across the back until several referees came out to separate them. Bram cut a
promo saying Bram had burned his hopes and dreams to the ground. Mickie James came
down to try and quell things, then she kicked Bram low and went wild on him until she had
to be restrained, as well. Then Magnus delivered a sick power bomb on the ramp which was
replayed several times, and even then it didn’t do it justice. Only fault here was Bram
should have done a stretcher job to get the power bomb over. Showing three replays in
rapid succession didn’t allow enough time to let it breathe. A real good segment to get
Magnus his heat back.

There was a show long buildup to the Bobby Lashley vs Kurt Angle. They showed Edwards,
Al Snow, EC3, Mike Tenay, Tommy Dreamer, and MVP all offering predictions for the match.
Too bad they didn’t build PPV main events in 2007 as well as they did this one. Otherwise,
maybe pro wrestling would still be a viable PPV entity.

4. Taryn Terrell defeated Gail Kim to retain the TNA Knockouts title in a three-way that also
included Awesome Kong in 6:13. The backwards psychology worked against the company as
Awesome Kong worked over Taryn Terrell and Gail Kim for so long, she came off like a face
against two heels. Sure enough, the fans cheered Kong. However, Terrell did get the fans
behind her for the comeback. Kong teased a splash off the second rope but missed. Terrell
hit the Taryn Cutter, but Kong kicked out. Terrell looked stunned Kong kicked out of her
finisher and freaked out. She sent Kong out of the ring with a dropkick, and Kim came back
with a plancha on Kong. Then Kim hit a sunset flip power bomb off the top on Terrell for a
two count. Kim tried Eat Defeat, but Terrell got a go behind and pinned Kim with a schoolgirl
cradle. Terrell acting like she lost her mind was perversely hilarious.

James Storm cut a promo for his no DQ match with Matt Hardy. Storm flipped a coin and
said heads wold mean he would beat Hardy to within an inch of his life. Tails, well, Matt
should just think of his brother in the hospital. Storm flipped a coin, looked at it, and said
he sure would like to tell Matt how it turns out. He didn’t tell. That line was straight from the
Wesley character from the film “Road House.” Wesley is one of the most underrated heels in
the last 30 years of films.

Angle, wearing his game face, did an interview backstage saying Lashley is the most
dominant champion in the history of the company. Angle said if he was lucky enough to win
tonight, he’s still one of the best in the business, which is what he came here to do.

James Storm defeated Matt Hardy in a No DQ match in 6:37

This was the ECW street
fight full of weapons and chairs. Storm delivered a superplex across the seats of two chairs.
Abyss handed Storm a bag of thumbtacks, which Storm teased superplexing Hardy onto.
Instead, Hardy head butted Storm off the top rope, and Storm took the bump onto the
tacks. Hardy then came off the second rope with an elbow, then followed with an Twist of
Fate. Then it got unintentionally funny. Brian Stiffler had to get in position for Abyss to pull
him out of the ring, but it took Stiffler forever to do it. Then Khoya interfered using a chair
that couldn’t fold. Hardy, who looked incredulous, had to take the chair out of Khoya’s hands
and work hard not to hit him with the chair while looking like he was. Hardy gave Manik a
Twist of Fate on the floor, as well. It ended when Abyss handed Storm a cowbell while
Sanada blew blue mist into Hardy’s eyes. Storm hit Hardy with the cowbell and two Last
Calls for the pin.

Postmatch, Storm cut a promo saying he was the reason why Jeff Hardy was out of
wrestling and now Matt could visit his brother. Storm hit Matt in the back of the head with
the cowbell and said there was always room in the Revolution for one more.

The presentation was similar to how WWE has presented past Wrestlemania main events
where the combatants walk from their locker rooms to Gorilla. Matthews was very good
listing Angle’s previous world championships, and it was similar to watching Jimmy Connors
play in the 1991 U.S. Open with one last chance at glory at the age of 42. Of course, Angle
is older, but this was a total sports buildup, not a sports entertainment buildup. Lashley was
introduced as the champion for 72 straight days during his second reign and has walked
alone. Matthews took a big step towards being a main event wresting announcer in this
match as opposed to someone who was just a faceless Vince McMahon clone trying to
springboard into a SportsCenter gig.

Kurt Angle recaptured the TNA World Title defeating Bobby Lashley via tapout in 20:19

Lashley started with a couple of tackles, but Angle hit three German Suplexes and got into ankle lock position within a few minutes, but Lashley got an easy escape. Lashley was hampered early and Angle clotheslined him over the top rope. On the floor, Lashley dropped
Angle onto the steel barricade. After several minutes on the defensive, Angle hit a shoulder block off the second rope. The two had a slugfest which led to three more Angle Germans.

Lashley escaped the Olympic Slam and caught a Spinebuster for a two count. Lashley attempted a spear, but Angle dodged it for another five Germans and the ankle lock, but Lashley kicked him off and immediately hit a powerslam for a near fall. For the third time in the match, Angle put Lashley in the ankle lock after Lashley missed a charge, but Lashley sent Angle into the turnbuckle. Lashley tried a spear, but Angle kicked him and delivered the Olympic Slam, but Lashley kicked out at two. Lashley, a heel to the fans by this point, hit a
vertical suplex and went for another spear and plowed over Angle, but Angle kicked out to a big pop. Angle looked like he got whiplashed on the bump and really sold it. Lashley went to the top rope but missed the frog splash. Angle hit a crossbody off the top, but Lashley rolled through.

In a twist that made the crowd incensed, Lashley put Angle in the ankle lock, but Angle got the ropes this time. Lashley missed a clothesline and Angle got another Olympic Slam for a two count. In the kickout, Lashley held onto the arm and put Angle in the cross armbreaker. Angle struggled but escaped and got the ankle lock. As Lashley reached for the ropes, Angle pulled Lashley back in the middle of the ring and grapevined the ankle lock. Lashley nearly passed out and finally tapped out to a huge ovation. Remember when people cried foul when Angle was voted into the WON Hall of Fame eight years into his career? That was fun. The two embraced afterwards and Angle got a standing ovation after a stellar performance. Angle looked shocked he won and put over winning the world title like it was a huge deal.

The Big News:

In the final European taping, it was another excellent show, maybe better than last week. Kurt Angle recaptured the TNA World Title back from Bobby Lashley in a excellent main event. It was a good show in terms of variety. A tag team Ultimate X match started things off. There was a solid three-way women’s match. James Storm continued to gain momentum with the Revolution heel group. I really hate to see these European tapings end because TNA comes off as a much bigger deal there.

SUMMARY:

The conclusion of eight very good weeks of television, and this was the best of the bunch. Not just for thee things you would expect, like the typical Angle superman performance or Lashley coming across as the monster world champion. Josh Matthews really upped his game. The production crew treated the main event like it was a combination of a major boxing event and 1970s St. Louis wrestling. I like the variety of TNA right now. Having said that, now they’ll return to the U.S. and Cinderella’s beautiful jeweled gown will turn into rags again. But it’s been fun while it lasted.