Month: July 2020

The Week In British Wrestling: WWE tapes UK TV show

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Here are five things you need to know about British wrestling this week:

1) WWE taped two days of TV in Norwich

The classic British game show, Sale Of The Century, began every episode with the catchphrase, “From Norwich, it’s the quiz of the week,” and while there was only one prize on offer during last weekend’s WWE UK tapings at the city’s Epic Studios — Tyler Bate’s WWE United Kingdom Championship — there was plenty of action taped for the WWE Network.

The principal members of the WWE UK roster had been added to WWE’s twice-yearly house show tour of the UK, and they were joined in Norwich by much of the rest of the 16-man field from the Blackpool tournament in January, as well as a sprinkling of cruiserweights from the 205 Live show.

Dunne comes out, carrying the PROGRESS title

Bate headlined both nights of the tapings, beating Joseph Conners on Saturday and Mark Andrews on Sunday, and it was announced that he would also defend the title on the NXT TakeOver event on May 20th in Chicago, against the winner of a clash on night two of the tapings between Trent Seven and Pete Dunne.

Dunne, who came out carrying the PROGRESS Championship (try to sort out the storyline implications of that at your peril!), won out.

The wins were shared around the roster, with only Dunne, Bate, and Tyson T-Bone undefeated all weekend, and other talent featured included Roy Johnson, HC Dyer, James Drake, Saxon Huxley, Sam Gradwell, Dan Moloney, and Wolfgang.

The tapings will begin airing this month on the WWE Network, as a taster for a regular show. That show may eventually include some of the talent who attended the tryouts held this week, which included TK Cooper, Travis Banks, Chris Brookes, Big Grizzly, Jurn Simmons, and Stevie Xavier, among others.

2) Dijak and Bodom KILLED IT again at the Cockpit

Early last year at one of Revolution Pro Wrestling’s regular Live At The Cockpit sessions in Marylebone, London, an under-the-radar Donovan Dijak took on an underrated Josh Bodom in a match that looked every bit disposable card-filler. They engaged in a furious battle, which went all over the auditorium, and then got into a post-show brawl which resulted in a rematch being made for one of RevPro’s big shows in Reading.

The two, with reputations enhanced since that time, faced off again last Sunday, as part of Live At The Cockpit 16, and again tore it apart, with Dijak bleeding from the first minute but eventually picking up the win over RevPro British Cruiserweight Champion Bodom when Ashley Dunn distracted the title holder.

Scurll and O’Reilly clash

Dunn had earlier made his RevPro debut, in an impressive six-man opener in which he teamed with Portsmouth School of Wrestling graduates Josh Wall & Kurtis Chapman against Ash Draven, Cara Noir & Malik, the latter two graduates of the London School of Lucha Libre, and all three highly recommended by Will Ospreay.

The show was main evented by a clash between Marty Scurll and Kyle O’Reilly, which resulted in a politically-pleasing win for the Ring of Honor TV Champion, after which O’Reilly announced himself as the third entrant in this summer’s British J Cup, alongside Jushin Thunder Liger and KUSHIDA, who O’Reilly will face in the first round.

The show also featured wins for Zack Gibson, Jinny, RevPro British Tag Team Champions CCK, and Lord Gideon Grey, and is already up to watch on RevPro On Demand. RevPro returns on May 28th in Portsmouth with Michael Elgin vs. Dave Mastiff as the headline attraction.

3) Matt Riddle has OTT Champion Ryan Smile in his sights

After defeating Kyle O’Reilly in a battle of MMA-style top contenders at Over The Top Wrestling’s Marble Zone Act 1 last Saturday, at the Tivoli in Dublin, Matt Riddle challenged the promotion’s No Limits Champion, Ryan Smile, to a title match on June 4th.

Matt Riddle is welcomed by the Tivoli crowd — photo by John Morrissey

Smile had just teamed with the Commonwealth Catch Kings — Chris Brookes & Travis Banks — to beat the Kings of the North in the show’s main event, and as a result of claiming the “Golden Ring” CCK will get a chance to add the OTT titles to their RevPro British Tag Team Championship down the line, possibly also on that June 4th show, Stranger Things II, which again takes place at the Tivoli.

Riddle also appeared in Scotland over the weekend, stepping out for Discovery Wrestling at the Corn Exchange in Edinburgh, where he lost to Mikey Whiplash.

That show was headlined by a four-way elimination match for the Discovery Y Division Championship, won by champion Lewis Girvan over Lucha DS, Joe Hendry, and Danny Boy Rogers.

The Bakewells fly into Scotland — photo by David J Wilson

The show featured the Scottish debut of the Fabulous Bakewell Boys, who lost in the opener to Dave Conrad & Deviation, and also featured two tournament matches — for two different tournaments!

Chris Ridgeway beat Mark Coffey to progress in the Hotter Than Hell tournament, and a Discovery Women’s Championship tournament qualifier was won by Nina Samuels over Debbie Sharp. Discovery are back in Edinburgh on June 23rd.

4) Bubblegum finally won the Speed King tournament

Although he’s held the belt that comes with it (a belt that is defended year-round, outside of the yearly tournament which resets the title), and despite having entered the very first one, Bubblegum had never won Southside Wrestling Entertainment’s 12-man Speed King tournament — an anomaly he put right last Saturday when he triumphed in the latest edition, held at the Rushcliffe Arena in Nottingham.

‘Gum triumphed in the six-man final, pinning Robbie X after Dezmond Xavier, Zachary Wentz, Suicide, and Chris Tyler had been eliminated, and joins an honor roll which also includes Jay Lethal, Mark Haskins, and Marty Scurll.

The tournament also featured Kay Lee Ray, Kenny Williams, Angelico, Flash Morgan Webster, Shane Strickland, and the reigning Speed King Champion Damian Dunne, who forfeited his title upon losing his first round match to Bubblegum.

The Speed King 2017 field — photo by Brett Hadley

Outside the tournament, the big news of the day was a shenanigan-filled no DQ Southside Heavyweight title match between El Ligero and BT Gunn, which saw the Scot upset the champion to take the belt north of the border. Former champion Joseph Conners, who was in Norwich with WWE, maintains he never lost the belt, and has promised to hunt down Gunn.

The show was part of an all-day event, which kicked off with Day Of Reckoning 16, and also saw former WWE and current New Japan star Davey Boy Smith Jr. in attendance. Southside are back on June 18th in Bedford.

5) True Grit resurfaced in Yorkshire (and other stuff)

Although Target Wrestling Heavyweight Champion Shady Nattrass wasn’t there to defend his title at the promotion’s latest outing in Haltwhistle last Saturday, the latest entrant into an elimination four-way for the belt on May 20th was decided, when Karnage beat Jason Prime to join Nattrass, Joseph Conners, and one more still to be announced.

Also in Haltwhistle, there were wins for The Coyote Kid, the Tyne & Wear Wolves, Ryan Hunter, and the team of Sami Sparx & E-Bomb, and that May 20th show is in Target’s hometown of Carlisle.

As part of an alliance with Grapple Wrestling, True Grit Wrestling resurfaced last Saturday with the aptly-titled The Return at Fibbers in York. The show was main evented by a Grapple Championship match which saw Martin Kirby dethrone David Graves, and also saw the Grapple Tag Team Champions Sean Only & BA Rose in action.

CJ Banks beat Grapple Velocity title holder Jack Bandicoot in a non-title match, and there were also wins for Amir Jordan, Evee Black, and for Dom Black in that old staple of indie wrestling shows, the battle royal. No return date has been announced for True Grit, although Grapple return on June 24th in Bradford.

Joe Hendry escapes with his title — photo by Warrior Fight Photography

Lastly for a very busy Saturday, Pro Wrestling Elite presented Even Odds at Ayr Town Hall, a show headlined by Joe Hendry successfully defending the PWE Heavyweight title against Iestyn Rees.

Polo Promotions were also victorious, beating Fight Club’s Liam Thomson & Kid Fite, and then announced they were coming for the New Age Kliq’s PWE Tag Team titles.

Charlie Sterling defeated Mikey Whiplash in the opener, and fans also got to see Davey Blaze beat TJ Rage, Viper pin Jamie Winters, and Joe Coffey win a four-way elimination match over Chris Renfrew, Jack Jester, and Rockstar Spud.

PWE announced that Alberto El Patron would face Kenny Williams this coming July on their 6th Anniversary weekender.

The Week In British Wrestling: SSS16 weekend was a hit

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Here are five things you need to know about British wrestling this week:

1) Travis Banks won SSS16

The field for the third edition of PROGRESS Wrestling’s Super Strong Style 16 was so strong that any one of half a dozen entrants could have walked away with the tournament, and the guaranteed shot at the PROGRESS Championship that comes with it.

The smart money, however, was always on Travis Banks, who duly completed his meteoric rise from third wheel in the South Pacific Power Trip to genuine title contender at the Electric Ballroom in Camden last weekend.

It mirrored a similar ascension from his Fight Club: PRO story, but while the emotion wasn’t as strong, the result was the same — a euphoric reception from a capacity crowd.

Banks beat Tyler Bate in a tournament final spotted with interference both from Bate’s British Strong Style stablemates and new darlings of the indie scene, #CCK Banks has already signaled his intention to go after champion Pete Dunne at the big PROGRESS show at Alexandra Palace in September, and #CCK will chase Trent Seven & Tyler Bate for the PROGRESS tag titles.

The tournament was strong on match quality, but with few upsets — not that it mattered to the sell-out crowd on all three days. PROGRESS debutantes Jeff Cobb, David Starr, and Flamita left with enhanced reputations among the British faithful, and there were also good performances by Mark Haskins, Matt Riddle, and Zack Sabre Jr.

Sabre Jr.’s weekend was also crowned by meeting Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the Labour Party, on Saturday night.

Toni Storm confronts Kay Lee Ray

Outside of the tournament, Toni Storm won the fourth Natural Progression Series to become the first PROGRESS Women’s Champion, beating Jinny and Laura di Matteo in a wild main-event on day two.

Kay Lee Ray faced Katey Harvey on day three to decide a number one contender, which KLR won, slapping Storm after the match to set up their inevitable title confrontation.

There were also wins for Trent Seven over Mark Haskins in a submission match, for Pete Dunne against Jeff Cobb in a PROGRESS Championship match, and for Flamita in a spectacular — and very funny at times — Wasteman Challenge, which also featured Roy Johnson, David Starr, “Pastor” William Eaver, Flash Morgan Webster, Mark Andrews, Jimmy Havoc, and Jack Sexsmith.

The shows will soon be available on Demand PROGRESS, and next up is the big chapter 50, I’ll Give It Six Months on June 25th.

2) ICW announced Noam Dar and Kevin Nash for big shows

To mark Friday Night Fight Club’s return to The Garage in Glasgow last Sunday, after a tour of England and Wales, Insane Championship Wrestling made two big announcements to go with the usual crazy action.

Firstly, as promised, they revealed that the guest commissioner for their annual Fear & Loathing spectacular at the Hydro in November would be Kevin Nash, following on the heels of 2015’s Mick Foley and last year’s Finn Balor. They also announced that former ICW Champion, and current WWE star, Noam Dar would return to the promotion for Shug’s Hoose Party in late July.

The show itself, which will soon be broadcast on ICW On Demand (as well as on the Fight Network), featured title matches and some unusual contests, bringing a unique flavor to the evening.

Joe Coffey defended his ICW Heavyweight Championship against Jordan Devlin — returning to ICW after splitting his head open in Liverpool last month — and Kenny Williams was also successful in keeping his Zero-G title, after the referee DDT’d his opponent, Dickie Divers! Zack Gibson then attacked Williams to set up a street fight at the next tapings.

The Good Housekeeping match in full flow — photo by David J Wilson

The ICW Women’s title was up for grabs in a Scottish Rules match, which basically means lots of drinking alcohol. Fittingly, Martina the Session Moth was the challenger, but champion Kay Lee Ray walked away with the belt when the match was declared a no contest after Kasey Owens and Mikey Whiplash interfered.

Another unusual encounter was the Good Housekeeping match between Wolfgang and Liam Thomson, which had a washing machine in the ring for the duration!

There were also wins for Iestyn Rees, BT Gunn, Grado, Bram, and Sha Samuels, and for Polo Promotions over The Hunter Brothers, after which the winners were attacked by ICW Tag Team Champions The Marauders, who made an offer for Shug’s Hoose Party — win and you get a title shot, lose and you must disband.

ICW are back on June 18th with another FNFC taping at The Garage.

3) #CCK won US gold in Birmingham, England

With Sami Callihan now holding the creative reigns, things are becoming beautifully unpredictable at Combat Zone Wrestling, and this was brilliantly illustrated by #CCK — the team of Chris Brookes & the dirty wolf, Kid Lykos — beating the touring Scarlet & Graves (Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz) for the CZW Tag Team titles at Lucha Forever’s Catch Me Outside at the H Suite in Birmingham last Thursday.

New CZW Tag Team Champions, #CCK

The bout main evented over Travis Banks’ first defense of the Lucha Forever Championship, a hard-hitting encounter with Matt Riddle, which Banks won to set up his next challenge. That will be Mark Haskins, who won a number one contender’s match, beating Chris Ridgeway, Bubblegum, and WWE UK’s Dan Moloney.

Moloney wasn’t the only WWE-contracted talent on the show — Trent Seven beat Impact Wrestling’s Spud in a fun match that was not broadcast live on FloSlam (because “reasons”), and the live fans also got bonus action in a pre-show match won by The Hunter Brothers over Jimmy Havoc & Clint Margera, Ashley Dunn & Kelly Sixx, and Bowl-A-Rama.

The insanely-stacked show also saw three women’s matches, with Viper (newly recruited to the Anti-Fun Police by the injured Chief Deputy Dunne) beating Bea Priestley, Toni Storm pinning Jinny after a piledriver, and Kay Lee Ray submitting Alex Windsor.

Local favorite Omari beat David Starr, and Cara Noir won a Superbad Challenge thrown out by Kip Sabian, which also featured four El Ligeros (Los Ligeros?).

The show went out live on FloSlam, where it can be seen on catch-up, and Lucha Forever has launched an On Demand service. They return on June 18th for their Cardiff debut at Pryzm.

4) Bacon Jr. survived Cara Noir and Tengu

Piggy-backing on PROGRESS’ SSS16 weekender, and giving thirsty graps fans even more action, was London Lucha League’s Never Too Many Wrestlings on Sunday night at the resistance Gallery in Bethnal Green.

The promotion, which showcases the top talent of the London School of Lucha Libre run by Lucha Britannia promoters Garry Vanderhorne and Greg Burridge, crowned its first champion last month, and Bacon Jr. defended his title against Cara Noir in the main event.

The colorful cast of characters at LLL — photo by Roger Alarcon

Having overcome that considerable challenge, the champion was faced with Tengu, who cashed in his Money in the Teapot opportunity. Tengu was thwarted by “Vegan Activist” Mauro Chaves, who had earlier won the opening Lucha Chaos match. Some may say that a man dedicated to furthering the cause of “everything is better with Bacon!” and a confirmed vegan make an odd pairing, but we’ve seen stranger in wrestling.

LLL regulars Cassius, The Mine & Buffalo Soldier beat a team representing Spanish promotions White Wolf Wrestling (Madrid) and RIOT Wrestling (Barcelona), WWE UK’s “Body Guy” Roy Johnson defeated Roadfam, and the RCWA Tag Team titles were defended by Costa K & Malik.

LLL will be back soon, but Lucha Britannia run the third Friday of every month at the Resistance.

5) It was all round to Hendry’s for WCPW (and other stuff)

Shrewsbury’s Hive — previously a venue for the late, lamented VII-Pro’s Underground strain — played host to IronFist Wrestling last Friday night for a show headlined by IronFist Heavyweight Champion Mark Haskins taking on Joey Scott. Haskins was successful in his defense of the title, as was IronFist Flyweight Champion Chris Royals, who beat “Bronco” Brendan White.

#CCK defended their CZW tag titles, against Next Wave 5 (Killian Jacobs & IronFist Women’s Champion Millie McKenzie), and there were also wins for Sebastian Knight (in a four-way which also featured Mark Davis, Kyle Fletcher, and TJ Sky) and Kat Von Kaige, who beat Evelyn.

After that match, Evelyn was attacked by Domina, who called out McKenzie. IronFist return on June 10th in Evesham.

The blow from the loss of revenue due to YouTube’s reclassification of pro wrestling hasn’t dampened What Culture Pro Wrestling’s enthusiasm too much, and they rebounded with a solid outing in Edinburgh last Saturday, with HendryMania at the Meadowlands Centre.

The eponymous Joe Hendry defended his WCPW Heavyweight Championship against the man he won it from, Martin Kirby, and will carry the title into the promotion’s next series of shows.

He’ll be joined by WCPW Internet Champion Gabriel Kidd, who beat Kenny Williams, and there were also confidence-building wins for Drake, Prospect, Primate, Viper, and Rampage. “Speedball” Mike Bailey also won, beating El Ligero, and WCPW are back on Friday with Fight Back Live, at the Bowler’s Exhibition Centre in Manchester.

Daily Pro Wrestling History (06/20): WCW Beach Blast 1992

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1940 

Kansas City, Kansas:
– World Heavyweight Champion Orville Brown defeated Wladek Zbyszko 2 falls to 0

1947 

St. Joseph, Missouri:
– Tug Carlson & Ralph Garibaldi beat Orville Brown & Sockeye Jack McDonald
– Ras (Seelie) Samara beat Wally Dusek by DQ
– Sailor Fred Blassie beat Jack Page 
– Don Anderson drew Harry McGinnis

1953 

Mexico City, Mexico:
– Sugi Sito defeated Tarzan Lopez to win the NWA World Middleweight Title 

1960 

Birmingham, Alabama:
– Tor Yamata and Mr. Moto defeated Mike Clancy and Oni Wiki Wiki for the Mid-America version of the NWA World Tag Team Titles

1961 

Minneapolis, Minnesota:
– In non-title Death Match, Hard Boiled Haggerty & Gene Kiniski beat AWA Tag Team Champions Leo Nomellini & Wilbur Snyder
– Tiny Mill beat Roy McClarty
– Jack Pesek beat Marquis de Paree 
– Bob Geigel beat Tony Baillargeon

1963 

Kansas City, Kansas:
– In a match for the World Tag Team Titles, Masked Medic #1 and Masked Medic #2 drew Pat O’Connor and Tiny Mills
– In a match for the US Title, Larry Hamilton beat Rock Hunter via DQ
– Bob Orton drew Steve Bolus
– Steve Kovacs beat Joe Scarpello

1967 

Duluth, Minnesota:
– Harley Race beat The Crusher
– Larry Hennig beat Jack Lanza
– Johnny Powers beat Doug Gilbert 
– Rene Goulet beat Big K

1968 

Kansas City, Kansas:
– Bob Ellis defeated Bob Brown 
– Argentina Rocca defeated Roger Kirby in three falls

1969 

St. Joseph, Missouri:
– Pat O’Connor defeated Dick Murdoch to win the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title

Indianapolis, Indiana:
– The Chain Gang (Jack and Frank Dillinger) defeated Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher for the WWA World Tag Team Titles

1970

Portland, Oregon:
– Beauregard and The Claw defeated Moondog Mayne and Frankie Laine for the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Titles

1973 

Honolulu, Hawaii:
– In a stretcher match, Sam Steamboat beat Ed Francis
– North American Champion Billy Robinson double count out with Superstar Billy Graham in 3rd fall
– Ripper Collins beat Jimmy Snuka 
– Ken Patera beat The Alaskan

1975

Denver, Colorado:
– AWA Tag Team Champions Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens beat Dusty Rhodes & Larry Hennig in 2 out of 3 falls
– Billy Robinson beat Buddy Wolff
– Ivan Putski beat Bobby Heenan 
– Jim Brunzell drew Khosrow Vaziri (Iron Shiek)

1978

Pachuca, Mexico:
– Dos Caras defeated Canek for the Mexico National Light Heavyweight Title 

1979

– Ricky and Robert Gibson defeated The Twin Devils to win the NWA Americas Tag Team Title

1981

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
– Don Muraco defeated Pedro Morales to win the WWF Intercontinental Title

Richmond, Virginia:
 – Les Thornton defeated Terry Taylor for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title 

Chicago, Illinois:
– Dick The Bruiser & The Crusher beat Adrian Adonis & Jesse Ventura
– Bobo Brazil no contest Jerry Valiant
– Wilbur Snyder beat Johnny Valiant by DQ
– Spike Huber beat Johnny Starr
– Moose Cholak beat Dr. Jerry Graham Jr 
– Greg Wojokowski (The Great Wojo) beat Max Blue

1982

St. Paul, Minnesota:
– Hulk Hogan beat AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel by DQ
– Tito Santana & Rick Martel beat Ken Patera & Bobby Duncum by DQ
– Jerry Blackwell beat Ray Stevens
– Buck Zumhofe beat Jacques Goulet
– Brad Rheingans beat Sheik Adnan by DQ 
– Pat Patterson beat Tom Stone

Atlanta, Georgia:
 – Paul Orndorff defeated Buzz Sawyer for the Georgia National Heavyweight Title 

Guadalajara, Mexico:
– Halcon Ortiz defeated Herodes to win the Mexico National Heavyweight Title

1983 

Memphis, Tennessee:
– Man Mountain Link defeated Jerry Lawler for the AWA Southern Heavyweight Title

1986

Calgary, Alberta, Canada:
– Wayne Farris (Honky Tonk Man) defeated Bad News Allen to win the Stampede North American Heavyweight Title

1987 

Houston, Texas:
– Barry Windham defeated Black Bart to become the first NWA Western States Heritage Champion in a tournament final 

San Juan, Puerto Rico:
– The Hunters (Dale Veasey and Bob Brown) defeated Miguel Perez, Jr. and Tony Atlas to win the WWC North American Tag Team Titles

1988

Memphis, Tennessee:
– AWA Champion Jerry Lawler beat Iceman King Parsons
– Robert Fuller & Jimmy Golden beat Dutch Mantel & Great Senshi
– Brickhouse Brown beat Max Payne
– Southern Tag Title Match; Don Bass & Gary Young no contest Billy Travis & Scott Steiner

1991

Portland, Oregon:
– The Bruise Brothers (Ron and Don Harris) won the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Titles from Steve Doll and Jimmy Jack Funk

1992

Bluefield, West Virginia:
– Robert Gibson defeated Joe Cazana
– The Dirty White Boy defeated Dixie Dynamite
– Tim Horner pinned Buddy Landel
– SMW Tag Team Champions Stan Lane & Tom Pritchard defeated Brad & Bart Batten
– SMW Heavyweight Champion Brian Lee defeated Paul Orndorff via disqualification

WCW Beach Blast: Mobile, Alabama:
– The Junkyard Dog, Tom Zenk and Big Josh defeated Tracy Smothers, Richard Morton and Diamond Dallas Page
– Scotty Flamingo (Raven) defeated Brian Pillman to win the WCW Light Heavyweight Title 
– Ron Simmons defeated Terry Taylor
– Greg Valentine defeated Marcus Bagwell 
– Missy Hyatt defeated Madusa (with Paul E. Dangerously) in a Bikini contest
– Sting defeated Cactus Jack in a Falls Count Anywhere match
– Ricky Steamboat defeated Rick Rude 4 falls to 3 in a 30 Minute Iron Man Challenge
– Dustin Rhodes, Barry Windham and Nikita Koloff defeated The Dangerous Alliance (Arn Anderson, Steve Austin and Bobby Eaton) (with Paul E. Dangerously and Madusa) by disqualification
– The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott) fought Terry Gordy & Steve Williams to a time-limit draw in a match for the WCW World Tag Team Titles

1993

Asheville, North Carolina:
– 2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell defeated Shanghai Pierce & Tex Slazenger
– Maxx Payne defeated Johnny Gunn
– Van Hammer defeated Tommy Angel
– Dustin Rhodes defeated Rick Rude
– Davey Boy Smith defeated Sid Vicious
– Sting, Ric Flair, & Arn Anderson defeated NWA World Champion Barry Windham, WCW/NWA Tag Team Champions Steve Austin & Brian Pillman

1997

Waltham, Massachusetts:
– The Dudley Boyz (Buh-Buh Ray and D-Von Dudley) defeated The Eliminators (Perry Saturn and John Kronus) to win the ECW World Tag Team Titles

2000 

Memphis, Tennessee:
– Rikishi defeated Chris Benoit for the WWF Intercontinental Title

2003

Calgary, Alberta, Canada:
– Duke Durrango defeated Bruce Hart to win the Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Title

2010

WWE Fatal Four: Long Island, New York:
– Rey Mysterio won the WWE World Title in a fatal four way match involving Jack Swagger, CM Punk and The Big Show 
– Sheamus won the WWE Championship in a four way match involving John Cena, Randy Orton and Edge

AJ Styles wins WWE US title at Madison Square Garden house show

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In a rarity for WWE, one of the company’s titles changed hands at a house show tonight.

AJ Styles defeated Kevin Owens to become the new United States Champion at Madison Square Garden. WWE acknowledged the title change with posts on Twitter and an article on their website.

WWE’s house shows at Madison Square Garden are among the biggest non-televised events that they put on all year. Tonight’s show mostly consisted of matches from the Raw roster, but Owens vs. Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura making his MSG debut against Dolph Ziggler took place as well.

Styles won a battle royal in the main event of the Fourth of July edition of SmackDown to earn a title shot against Owens at Battleground. We’ll see if Styles makes it to next week’s SmackDown as champion and how WWE will explain the switch if he does.

The last major house show title changes that WWE did were both in NXT. Nakamura regained the NXT Championship in a match against Samoa Joe in Osaka, Japan last December. Joe also defeated Finn Balor to win the NXT title for the first time at a live event in Lowell, Massachusetts in April of last year.

Indonesia tsunami: How Palu became a death trap – and why the magnitude of waves was ‘surprising’

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Perched on an arc of volcanoes and fault lines called the "Ring of Fire", Indonesia is used to earthquakes.

But nothing had prepared the hundreds of festival-goers on the beach of Palu for the ever-growing wall of water that swept down the bay on Friday, triggered by the 7.5 magnitude quake.

More than 850 have been confirmed dead already, but the death toll is feared to be in the thousands. Hundreds died in Palu while rescuers are still searching the ruins and wreckage for more bodies and survivors along the northeastern coast of Sulawesi island. 

Emergency services still haven’t even been able to make contact with the cities of Donggala and Mamuju. 

Amid the grief there is also anger and confusion…

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Daily Pro Wrestling History (08/12): Chris Jericho wins WCW Cruiserweight title

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1942 

Des Moines, Iowa:
– Orville Brown beat Wladek Zbyszko 2 falls to 0
– Tom Zaharias beat Gene Bowman in 2 out of 3 falls 
– Hans Schultz beat Johnny Seals

1965 

Kansas City, Kansas:
– Bob Geigel and Bob Brown beat Ronnie Etchison and Mongolian Stomper 2 falls to 1
– Pat O’Connor beat The Raider 
– The Ox (Ox Baker) beat Frank Hickey

1967 

Omaha, Nebraska:
– AWA Champion Verne Gagne beat Bob Orton by countout
– Midwest Tag Team Champions Doug Gilbert & Reggie Parks beat Mistu Arakawa & Dale Lewis
– Princess Little Cloud beat Laverne Bottoms 
– Reggie Parks beat Mitsu Arakawa

1972 

St. Petersburg, Florida:
– Florida Champion Paul Jones beat NWA Champion Dory Funk Jr.
– Mr. Wrestling Tim Woods beat Zodiac in overtime to win Southern Title and unmasked him as Bob Orton Sr.
– Jack Brisco beat Buddy Colt by DQ
– Florida Tag Team Champions Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens beat Ron & Robert Fuller
– Bob Griffin beat Taurus and Mike George beat George McCreary

1972 

NWF Superbowl of Wrestling: Cleveland, Ohio:
 -Manuel Soto & Victor Rivera DDQ Waldo Von Erich & Karl Von Stroheim
– Luis Martinez & Sal Dominguez beat Tex McKenzie & Abner Osborne
– Mashio Koma & Motoji Okuma beat Luis Martinez & Sal Dominguez
– Tony Marino & Tony Parisi beat Motoji Okuma & Mashio Koma to win the tag team tournament
– Sue Green & Lilly Thomas beat Tippy Wells & Peggy Patterson
– Joyce Grable & Tonya West beat Dottie Downs & Paula Kaye
– Sue Green & Lilly Thomas beat Joyce Grable & Tonya West to win the women’s tag team tournament
– Sky Low Low & Little Brutus beat Farmer Jerome & Sonny Boy Hayes
– Frenchy LaMonte & Haiti Kid beat Billy the Kid & Johnny the Red
– Sky Low Low & Little Brutus beat Haiti Kid & Frenchy Lamont to win the midget tag team tournament
– NWF Tag Champs Don & Johnny Fargo beat Wahoo McDaniel & Chief White Owl
– World Women’s Tag Champs Toni Rose & Donna Christanello beat Sandy Parker & Debbie Johnson
– World Women’s Champ Fabulous Moolah beat Vickie Williams
– United States Champion Bobo Brazil defeated Killer Tim Brooks
– Ernie Ladd vs. Abdullah the Butcher ended in a double disqualification 
– NWF North American Champion Johnny Powers defeated Johnny Valentine

1975

Macon, Georgia:
– Eddie Graham defeated Bob Orton Jr. to win the US Jr. Heavyweight Title 

1977 

Denver, Colorado:
– AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel beat Pedro Morales
– Angelo Mosca beat Larry Hennig by DQ
– Super Destroyer beat Billy Robinson by countout
– Greg Gagne beat Bobby Heenan 
– Jim Brunzell drew Roger Kirby 

St. Louis, Missouri:
– Dick Slater defeated Missouri State Champion Jack Brisco to win the title
– WWWF champion Superstar Graham defeated Jimmy Valiant 
– NWA World champion Harley Race fought Dory Funk Jr. to a draw

1982 

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada:
– AWA Tag Team Champions Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell beat Rick Martel & Dino Bravo by countout 
– Jesse Ventura & Bobby Duncum & Ken Patera beat Baron Von Raschke & Otto Wanz & Larry Hennig
– Ray Stevens & Pat Patterson beat Jerry Blackwell & Sheik Adnan by DQ 
– Brad Rheingans & Buck Zumhofe beat Sgt Jacques Goulet & Bobby Heenan

1983 

Denver, Colorado:
– AWA Tag Team Champions Ken Patera & Jerry Blackwell beat Mad Dog Vachon & Baron Von Raschke 
– AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel beat Brad Rheingans
– Jim Brunzell beat Sheik Adnan
– Rick Martel beat Mr. Saito by dq 
– David Shults beat Buck Zumhofe

1986 

Asbury Park, New Jersey:
– AWA Tag Team Champions Buddy Rose & Doug Somers beat Midnight Rockers
– In a Non Title match, Larry Zbyszko beat AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel
– Colonel DeBeers beat Scott Hall by dq 
– Jimmy Snuka beat Boris Zhukov

Tampa, Florida:
– Sean Royal defeated Chris Champion
– The White Ninja defeated Mark Starr
– Kendo Nagasaki defeated Tyree Pride
– Kendall Windham defeated Ron Bass via disqualification
– Stan Lane & Steve Keirn defeated Tatsumi Fujinami & Kendo Kimura
– Southern Champion Lex Luger defeated Ed Ganter via disqualification
– NWA World Champion Ric Flair defeated Barry Windham via disqualification

1987

Los Angeles, California:
– Chris Adams defeated Terry Taylor
– Buddy Roberts defeated Tau Lugo
– Ron Simmons defeated Rodney Anoia
– NWA Tag Team Champions Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson defeated Big Bubba & Black Bart via disqualification
– Michael Hayes fought NWA TV Champion Tully Blanchard to a draw
– Shaska Whatley defeated Tim Patterson
– Terry Taylor & Eddie Gilbert defeated Harry Hell & Billy Anderson
– Arn Anderson defeated Brad Armstrong
– Tim Horner defeated the Terminator
– Eddie Gilbert & Dick Murdoch defeated UWF Heavyweight Champion Steve Williams & Terry Gordy
– Nikita Koloff defeated NWA US Champion Lex Luger via disqualification

1989

Norfolk, Virginia:
– The Ding Dongs defeated Al Greene & Lee Scott
– Brian Pillman pinned Norman
– Sid Vicious pinned Scott Hall
– Ron Simmons pinned Curtis Thompson (White Angel in Puerto Rico)
– Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Jack Victory & Rip Morgan
– Sting fought the Great Muta to a draw
– The Road Warriors defeated the Samoan Swat Team
– NWA US Champion Lex Luger pinned Tommy Rich
– NWA World Champion Ric Flair pinned Terry Funk

1990

Canton, Ohio:
– Buddy Landell defeated Wendell Cooley 
– Bam Bam Bigelow pinned David Sierra 
– El Gigante pinned Dr. X with a boot to the face 
– NWA US Tag Team Champions Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane defeated Brad Armstrong & Brad Anderson 
– Robert Gibson & Brian Pillman (sub. for Ricky Morton) defeated Ivan Koloff (sub. for NWA Tag Team Champion Butch Reed) & NWA Tag Team Champion Ron Simmons
– Rick & Scott Steiner defeated the Samoan Swat Team 
– NWA US Champion Lex Luger defeated Mark Callous via disqualification

1991

Memphis, Tennessee:
– Jerry Lawler defeated Awesome Kong to win the USWA Unified Heavyweight Title

1992 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
– Johnny Hot Body defeated Larry Winters to become the first ECW Television Champion

Tokyo, Japan: 
– Masahiro Chono defeated Rick Rude in the finals of the G1 Climax tournament (Chono also won the NWA World Heavyweight Title in the match)
– IWGP Tag Team Champions Rick & Scott Steiner defeated the Great Muta & Kensuke Sasaki 
– The Pegasus Kid (Chris Benoit) pinned Jushin Liger

1993

Florence, Alabama:
– Erik Watts defeated Chris Benoit
– Yoshi Kwan defeated Frankie Lancaster
– Mark Starr defeated Big Sky
– 2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell defeated Harlem Heat
– Johnny B. Badd defeated Maxx Payne

Columbia, South Carolina:
– Brad Armstrong defeated Bobby Eaton
– The Nasty Boys defeated Arn Anderson & Paul Roma
– Ricky Steamboat defeated Lord Steven Regal via disqualification
– Sting & Dustin Rhodes defeated Rick Rude & the Equalizer
– Davey Boy Smith defeated Sid Vicious via disqualification
– NWA World Champion Ric Flair defeated WCW TV Champion Paul Orndorff

1994

Fayetteville, North Carolina:
– Brian Pillman pinned Bobby Eaton
– WCW TV Champion Lord Steven Regal pinned Brad Armstrong
– The Guardian Angel defeated Vader via disqualification when Harley Race interfered
– The Patriot (didn’t appear to be Del Wilkes) & Marcus Alexander Bagwell defeated WCW Tag Team Champions Paul Orndorff & Paul Roma in a non-title match
– WCW US Champion Steve Austin pinned Ricky Steamboat 
– Dustin Rhodes defeated Arn Anderson via disqualification 
– Sting pinned Ric Flair 

1997 

Colorado Springs, Colorado:
– Chris Jericho defeated Alex Wright for the WCW Cruiserweight Title 

2007 

TNA Hardcore Justice: Orlando, Florida:
– Kurt Angle defeated Samoa Joe to win the TNA X Division and Tag Team Titles 
– Steiner Brothers defeated Team 3-D 

2010 

TNA Impact:
– Angelina Love defeated Madison Rayne to win the TNA Knockouts Title 
– in a non title match, Kurt Angle defeated TV Champion AJ Styles

2012 

TNA Hardcore Justice: Orlando, Florida:
– Madison Rayne defeated Miss Tessmacher to win the Knockouts title
– Kenny King retained the TNA X Division Title over Zema Ion 
– Austin Aries defeated Bobby Roode to retain the TNA World Title

Vegan activists banned from organic chain Whole Foods amid animal welfare claims

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A Whole Foods store in California has taken out a restraining order against vegan activists who planned to "occupy" the premises. 

The store in Berkeley, California, has been locked in a bitter battle with the group Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), which has accused the organic chain of animal welfare violations.

Whole Foods, which is owned by Amazon, accused 150 members of the group of illegally trespassing in its complaint. 

DxE, had planned to camp out in and around the chain’s Berkeley shop in protest against alleged animal welfare violations by some of Amazon’s suppliers.

“DxE members have repeatedly entered our stores and property to conduct demonstrations that disrupt customers and team members by blocking access to our aisles, departments, and cash registers, interfering with our business and putting the safety of both customers and team members at risk,” Betsy Harden, a spokesperson for Whole Foods told the Daily Californian.

The activists have previously entered stores to engage shoppersCredit:
AP

The restraining order marks the latest in an on-going tussle. DxE, which advocates "total animal liberation", has staged demonstrations at outside Whole Foods’ Berkeley shop for several years, calling for greater transparency in the company’s supply chain.

The activists have employed tactics such as chanting in stores to covering eggs in fake blood and brandishing graphic photos of animal slaughter.

It had planned to "occupy" the high-end grocery store for a week, saying that the all-natural food chain’s “organic” label doesn’t necessarily guarantee their suppliers are treating their farm animals “humanely.” 

The group claims that some suppliers to Whole Foods keep chickens in crowded sheds and do not allow the animals to go outside, even when they are labelled as free-range. 

On its website, Whole Foods states that it has "true partnerships with farmers, ranchers and animal-welfare experts to ensure the treatment of animals is guided by care, responsibility and respect".

The company also has a five-tier animal welfare rating system to allow customers to "make informed food choices".

In its court filing, Whole Foods said protesters have prevented customers from completing their purchases and posed a danger to shoppers and staff.

Last week’s court ruling grants the shop a temporary restraining order on its Berkeley premises, but the grocery chain has attempted to block DxE from accessing any of its stores across California

A judge will rule on the request on October 26.

WWE Raw video highlights: Nia Jax taunts Ronda Rousey

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A gauntlet qualifier for the final spot in the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match, an Intercontinental title defense, and the next step in the Nia Jax-Ronda Rousey storyline took place on the Memorial Day edition of Raw.

The last chance qualifier headlined the show, with Sasha Banks coming in last and submitting Ruby Riott. Bayley started the match off and eliminated Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan, but she was attacked by the two Riott Squad members before Riott entered. Riott eliminated Bayley, Dana Brooke, and Mickie James until being tapped out by Banks.

Seth Rollins vs. Jinder Mahal ended in a disqualification as Rollins got retribution for Mahal using a chair behind the referee’s back. Rollins’ entrance had interrupted an attempted performance by Elias, and Elias laid him out with a guitar shot following the match.

Jax taunted Rousey by holding an exhibition where she dominated a supposed judo champion, then went face-to-face with Rousey and said she isn’t intimidated by her.

The build to the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match also continued, with another Braun Strowman vs. Finn Balor match and Kevin Owens vs. Bobby Roode.

More coverage from last night —
Matches announced for WWE Raw next week
WWE rounds out lineup for women’s MITB ladder match
Bobby Lashley vs. Sami Zayn set for WWE Money in the Bank
WWE Raw live results: Gauntlet match for MITB spot
WWE Raw video highlights —

Finn Balor slaps Braun Strowman, Kurt Angle makes another Balor vs. Strowman match

Kevin Owens interrupts Finn Balor vs. Braun Strowman

Seth Rollins puts a stop to Elias’ attempted performance

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Seth Rollins vs. Jinder Mahal for the IC title, Elias hits Rollins with a guitar shot

Seth Rollins is helped to the back after Elias’ attack

Nia Jax says she isn’t intimidated by Ronda Rousey

Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt vs. The Ascension

Kevin Owens vs. Bobby Roode

Sami Zayn issues a “public apology” for insulting Bobby Lashley last week

Drew McIntyre vs. Chad Gable

The B-Team hosts a Memorial Day BBQ

Gauntlet for final spot in women’s Money in the Bank ladder match

Raw fallout: Sasha Banks reacts to main eventing Raw and qualifying for MITB

Raw fallout: Elias gave Seth Rollins a birthday gift that he won’t forget

Raw fallout: The Revival are ready to get their shot in the tag team division

Raw fallout: Titus O’Neil & Apollo Crews want to bring tag team gold to Titus Worldwide

Melania Trump says she is ‘most bullied person in the world’

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Melania Trump has called herself the "most bullied person in the world," saying that it led her to setting up her anti-bullying campaign.

In a rare television interview the first lady indicated she had been affected by "what people are saying about me" on social media and the internet.

She told ABC News’s Good Morning America: "I could say I’m the most bullied person in the world,"

The interviewer asked her: "You’re really the most bullied person in the world?"

Mrs Trump replied: "One of them, if you really see what people saying about me."

She said her Be Best campaign was targeted at social media because of that.

The first lady added: "We need to educate the children about social emotional behaviour, so when they grow up they know how to deal with those issues."

The first lady arriving back in Washington after her tripCredit:
AFP

The interview was recorded during Mrs Trump’s recent first major solo trip abroad to Africa.

She also said there were people in the White House whom she and the president cannot trust.

Mrs Trump did not identify the people, but said she let her husband know about them.

The first lady said: "I give him my honest advice and honest opinions, and then he does what he wants to do. Some people, they don’t work there anymore."

Asked if some untrusted officials were still working in the White House, she replied "Yes".

Her comments followed the recent publication, by a senior administration official, of an anonymous newspaper op-ed that was highly critical of the president.

Asked about his wife’s comments Donald Trump told Fox News: "I didn’t know people in Washington, and now I know everybody. I know some that I wish I didn’t know.

"Are there some that I’m not in love with? Yes. And we’ll weed them out slowly but surely."

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Romans to hold mass sit-in to protest at the sorry state of the Eternal City

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Fed up with seeing wild boars trotting down busy streets, giant seagulls dismembering dead rats and perilous potholes in the roads, Romans are to stage a mass protest against the parlous state of the Eternal City. 

Under the hashtag #romadicebasta – “Rome says enough” – residents’ associations, civil society groups and ordinary Romans will come together for a sit-in outside the city’s Renaissance town hall later this month.

Many Romans are bitterly disappointed with the administration of Virginia Raggi, the mayor, who was elected in 2016 promising a fresh start for the capital and an end to the days of cronyism and corruption.

Ordinary people say the city has got worse, not better, under the administration of Ms Raggi, a leading member of the Five Star Movement, which governs at the national level in partnership with the far-Right League party.

“This city is now unlivable,” said Marco, a 33-year-old taxi driver, as he negotiated gridlocked traffic and roadworks near the Basilica of St John in Lateran, near the British embassy. “We can’t go on like this.”

Wild boar are routinely seen on the street and in urban areas in Rome, where they feast on uncollected rubbishCredit:
Repubblica

Playgrounds are falling to bits, public parks resemble unkempt jungles, trees drop their branches on top of cars and occasionally on the heads of pedestrians and motorcyclists have to negotiate a slalom of potholes on battered roads.

The sorry state of the city is portrayed in a video that has gone viral online, in which wild boar root through overflowing sacks of rubbish and a large plastic skip gently floats away on floodwaters during a rainstorm.

One clip shows a public bus on fire about 200 yards from the Trevi Fountain – one of 21 buses that have spontaneously burst into flames so far this year because of a lack of maintenance.

This bus exploded on the street, 200 yards from the Trevi Fountain in central Rome, in May this yearCredit:
 Morandi/Tre/IPA/REX/Shutterstock

“Rome has been abandoned to itself,” said Emma Amiconi, one of the organisers of the protest on October 27.

“Many people who voted for Five Star are disappointed. It is true that the administration inherited a difficult situation but 28 months after what was hailed as ‘the victory of the citizens’, the city is worse than ever,” she told La Repubblica newspaper.

Business leaders are also alarmed at the state of the capital.

“The status quo is very worrying to us,” said Filippo Tortoriello, the president of a business association called Unindustria. “We’ve not heard anything about how Rome should move forward over the next 20 or 30 years. There’s no vision.”

Overflowing bins in a suburb of RomeCredit:
Simona Granati/Corbis

The shabby state of Rome may explain why tourists tend to visit once and never come back.

Rome has a much lower rate of “repeaters” – visitors who return again – than London and Paris, according to Federalberghi, an Italian association of hoteliers.

“Fifty per cent of tourists who choose to come to Rome do it just one time,” said Giuseppe Roscioli, the president of the association.

Roberto Necci, a researcher from the association, said: “All our studies point to the same conclusion – people come to Rome just once, while they go three or four times to other European capitals such as Paris and London.”

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