WWE Raw video highlights: Raw's final build to Money in the Bank

London hosted Raw’s final build to Money in the Bank last night.

Becky Lynch’s Money in the Bank opponents stood tall over her heading into Sunday’s pay-per-view. Lynch, Charlotte Flair, and Lacey Evans all took part in a double contract signing, with Charlotte and Evans powerbombing Lynch through a table to end the segment.

Lynch will defend the Raw Women’s Championship against Evans and the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Charlotte in separate matches on Sunday.

The main event of last night’s Raw saw a change to the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match. With the help of Baron Corbin and Drew McIntyre, Sami Zayn defeated Braun Strowman in a falls count anywhere match and will take Strowman’s spot at Money in the Bank. Last night’s show ended with Strowman chokeslamming Zayn through the announce table.

Also on Raw, Shane McMahon made a tag match between Roman Reigns & The Miz and Bobby Lashley & Elias, Nikki Cross filled in for Alexa Bliss in a fatal four-way match, and Bray Wyatt debuted a new look on Firefly Fun House.

More coverage from last night —
WOR: Hart vs. Magee, Money in the Bank, AEW, Saudi Arabia, more! 5/14
Bret Hart vs. Tom Magee ‘Holy Grail’ results and recap
Sami Zayn replacing Braun Strowman at WWE Money in the Bank
WWE Raw live results: Money in the Bank go-home show
WWE Raw video highlights —

Roman Reigns appears on Miz TV, Bobby Lashley and Elias attack

Roman Reigns & The Miz vs. Bobby Lashley & Elias

A video package looks at Seth Rollins and AJ Styles’ rivalry

Braun Strowman will put his Money in the Bank spot on the line against Sami Zayn

Mojo Rawley vs. Apollo Crews

Nikki Cross is replacing Alexa Bliss in the fatal four-way match later in the show

Charlotte Flair and Lacey Evans powerbomb Becky Lynch through a table

Ricochet vs. Baron Corbin

Cesaro says Dominick looks a lot more like Samoa Joe than Rey Mysterio

AJ Styles vows to walk out of Money in the Bank as the new Universal Champion

Natalya vs. Naomi vs. Nikki Cross vs. Dana Brooke

Samoa Joe says someone has to teach Dominick how to be a man

Rey Mysterio vs. Cesaro

The Revival call out The Usos, say the embarrassment of them stops right now

Bray Wyatt debuts a new look on Firefly Fun House

Seth Rollins believes AJ Styles will be the one looking up to him on Sunday

Strowman vs. Zayn in a falls count anywhere match (Strowman’s MITB spot on the line)

Raw fallout: Sami Zayn isn’t a big wins and losses guy anymore

Raw fallout: Nikki Cross reacts to getting a win for Alexa Bliss

Raw fallout: Ricochet is still confident heading into Money in the Bank

Raw fallout: Mojo Rawley tells himself not to get complacent after defeating Apollo Crews

8/28 “Ballers” TV viewership down 23 percent to series low

>


PWTorch editor Wade Keller presents a special Thursday Flagship edition of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast featuring a WrestleMania 36 Preview with ex-WWE Creative Team member and professional stand-up comedian Matt McCarthy.

(Search “wade keller” to subscribe in podcast app or CLICK HERE to subscribe in Apple Podcasts.)


“The Rock” Dwayne Johnson’s “Ballers” HBO show gained 100,000 viewers last week against Summerslam. However, the latest episode fell 300,000 viewers against the VMAs, capturing Ballers’s TV audience being more of a mainstream TV fanbase than a wrestling audience.

Ballers Viewership Tracking

August 28: Week 7 of “Ballers” drew 1.014 million viewers, reports TVBytheNumbers.com, down more than 300,000 viewers (23 percent) from last week’s audience.

It was a season and series low for Ballers on a competitive Sunday night.

Ballers has now averaged 1.260 million viewers in Season 2, down 28 percent from the first seven weeks of Season 1 last summer.

Season 2 Viewership Trend

July 17: 1.585 million first-run viewers
July 24: 1.278 million
July 31: 1.266 million
Aug. 7: 1.146 million
Aug. 14: 1.210 million
Aug. 21: 1.324 million
Aug. 28: 1.014 million

ballershbohbo ballersthe rockthe rock dwayne johnson

Great Muta teaming with Dreamer at Impact A Night You Can't Mist

Impact Wrestling has announced the main event of their next Impact Plus live special.

The Great Muta will team with Tommy Dreamer against Johnny Impact & Michael Elgin at “A Night You Can’t Mist.” The show is named after Muta and is taking place at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Saturday, June 8.

Former ECW World Champion Jerry Lynn, who works as a coach/producer for All Elite Wrestling, will be the special guest referee for the match.

Muta most recently wrestled in the United States over WrestleMania weekend in New York City last month. He was a surprise entrant in the Honor Rumble match on the ROH/NJPW G1 Supercard pre-show and teamed with Pentagon Jr. & Tajiri against Low Ki & LAX for House of Glory Wrestling.

Impact Plus launched at the beginning of this month, replacing the Global Wrestling Network and serving as a rebranded version of it.

A Night You Can’t Mist is in partnership with Dreamer’s House of Hardcore promotion.

Former MMA fighter/NXT strike coach training for pro wrestling debut

>


PWTorch editor Wade Keller presents a special Thursday Flagship edition of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast featuring a WrestleMania 36 Preview with ex-WWE Creative Team member and professional stand-up comedian Matt McCarthy.

(Search “wade keller” to subscribe in podcast app or CLICK HERE to subscribe in Apple Podcasts.)


MMA fighter/NXT striking coach Seth Petruzelli is training for a potential pro wrestling debut.

Petruzelli is working at the Team Vision Dojo in Orlando and appeared at last weekend’s “I Believe in Wrestling” show in Orlando to hype his potential debut.

Petruzelli talked to I Believe matchmaker MSL at Saturday’s I Believe show to discuss his intentions.

i believe in wrestlingnxtseth petruzelli

Daily Pro Wrestling History (06/07): CM Punk wins World title at Extreme Rules 2009

1933 

Kansas City, Missouri:

– NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jim Londos beat Everette Marshall by a third fall DQ

– Charlie Fischer beat Joe Wilson

– Johnny Shoop defeated Joe Ferguson

1951

Kansas City, Kansas:

– Gorgeous George beat Heart of America Heavyweight Champion Dennis Clary by DQ 

– Ray Eckert and Ronnie Etchison went to a 45 minute time limit draw 

1956 

Amarillo, Texas:

– Dizzy Davs and Sonny Myers defeated Art Nelson and Rip Rogers for the NWA Southwest Tag Team Titles

1960 

Osaka, Japan:

– Rikidozan and Toyonobori defeated Dan Miller and Frank Valois to win the JWA All Asia Tag Team Titles

1962 

Amarillo, Texas:

– Dory Funk, Sr. won the NWA North American Heavyweight Title (Amarillo version) by defeating Fritz Von Erich 

Chattanooga, Tennessee:

– Joe Lanza defeated Taro Sakuro for the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Title

1966 

Quebec City, Quebec, Canada:

– Edouard Carpentier defeated Hans Schmidt to win the International Wrestling Association International Heavyweight Title

1969

San Antonio, Texas:

– Jose Lothario defeated Johnny Valentine to win the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title 

San Francisco, California: 

– Ray Stevens defeated King Curtis Iaukea for the San Francisco version of the NWA United States Heavyweight Title 

1972

Mobile, Alabama:

– Gorgeous George, Jr. defeated Bob Kelly to win the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title 

1976

Fukuyama, Japan:

– Rip Tyler and Eddie Sullivan defeated The Great Kusatsu and Mighty Inoue to win the International Wrestling Enterprise (International Wrestling Alliance) World Tag Team Titles

1978

Raleigh, North Carolina:

– Paul Jones defeated Baron Von Raschke for the NWA TV Title

1979

Tokyo, Japan:

– Antonio Inoki pinned Stan Hansen in the finals of the New Japan MSG League

1980 

San Francisco, California:

– Ed Wiskoski defeated George Wells for the San Francisco version of the NWA United States Heavyweight Title 

1981 

Roanoke, Virginia:

– Terry Taylor defeated Les Thornton for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title 

Kansas City, Kansas:

– Bob Sweetan defeated Buzz Tyler to win the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title

1982 

Greenville, South Carolina:

– Sgt. Slaughter defeated Wahoo McDaniel to win the NWA United States Heavyweight Title

1983

Croydon, England:

– Marty Jones defeated Dave Finlay to win the World Mid-Heavyweight Title

1984

Bayamon, Puerto Rico:

– The Medics defeated Invader III and Toru Tanaka for the vacant WWC North American Tag Team Titles

1987 

Orlando, Florida:

– Mike Rotunda defeated Dory Funk, Jr. to win the held up NWA Florida Heavyweight Title

1990

Tokyo, Japan:

– El Hijo del Santo defeated Fuerza Guerrera for the World Wrestling Association World Welterweight Title 

1991

Dallas, Texas:

– Tom Prichard defeated Bill Dundee to win the WCWA Texas Heavyweight Title

Baltimore, Maryland:

– Black Blood pinned Tim Horner

– Ricky Morton & Dustin Rhodes defeated Dutch Mantell & Moondog Rex 

– The Angel of Death pinned Sam Houston

– Bobby Eaton pinned Terrance Taylor

– WCW World Champion Ric Flair defeated El Gigante via count-out in a No DQ match

– Missy Hyatt defeated Paul E. Dangerously in an arm wrestling contest 

– Barry Windham pinned Brian Pillman in a taped fist match 

– WCW Tag Team Champions Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Arn Anderson & the One Man Gang in a No DQ match

Green Bay, Wisconsin:

– Steve Austin defeated Tommy Angel

– Mike Graham defeated Black Bart

– Oz defeated Tommy Rich

– Tom Zenk defeated the Diamond Studd via disqualification 

– The Junkyard Dog defeated Rip Rogers

– Tracey Smothers & Steve Armstrong defeated WCW US Tag Team Champion Michael Hayes & Badstreet (sub. for WCW US Tag Team Champion Jimmy Garvin)

– WCW US Champion Lex Luger fought Nikita Koloff to a double count-out

1992

Atlanta, Georgia:

– Ron Simmons won a 20-man battle royal 

– Barry Windham pinned Big Josh

– The Super Invader pinned Jimmy Garvin

– Dustin Rhodes pinned Bobby Eaton 

– WCW Tag Team Champion Scott Steiner pinned the Great Muta 

– Nikita Koloff pinned Vinnie Vegas

– WCW US Champion Rick Rude pinned Ricky Steamboat 

– Ron Simmons pinned Arn Anderson 

– WCW World Champion Sting pinned WCW TV Champion Steve Austin

1993 

Cumberland, Kentucky:

– Bobby Blaze defeated Tony Anthony for the vacant SMW Television Title 

1994

Loudon, Tennessee:

– Tracy Smothers defeated Kendo the Samurai to win the SMW Television Title 

1996

Sapporo, Japan:

– Hiromichi Fuyuki, Gedo and Jado won the WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Titles by defeating Youji Anjoh, Yoshihiro Takayama and Kenichi Yamamoto

1997

ECW Wrestlepalooza: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:

– The Pitbulls (Pitbull #1 and Pitbull #2) defeated The F.B.I. (Little Guido and Tracy Smothers) (with Tommy Rich)

– The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray and D-Von) (with Joel Gertner, Sign Guy and Big Dick) defeated The Sandman and Balls Mahoney

– Terry Funk defeated Chris Candido

– Tommy Dreamer (with Beulah McGillicutty) defeated Raven (with Chastity and Lupus) in a Loser Leaves Town match

– Sabu (with Bill Alfonso) defeated Taz

– Taz defeated Shane Douglas with Francine to win the ECW World Television Championship

– The Eliminators (John Kronus and Perry Saturn) defeated The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray and D-Von) (with Joel Gertner, Sign Guy and Big Dick) to retain the ECW World Tag Team Championship

1998

Chihuahua, Mexico:

– Perro Aguayo, Sr. and Perro Aguayo, Jr. defeated Fuerza Guerrera and Mosco de la Merced for the Mexico National Tag Team Titles 

2003 

Cayey, Puerto Rico:

– Chris Candido defeated Fidel Sierra to win the WWC Television Title

– Dominican Boy defeated Eddie Colon for the WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title

– Broncos II and III won the WWC World Tag Team Title by defeating Thunder and Lightning

2009 

WWE Extreme Rules: New Orleans, Louisiana:

– Chris Jericho defeated Rey Mysterio to win the WWE Intercontinental Title 

– Tommy Dreamer won the ECW Title by defeating Jack Swagger and Christian in an extreme rules match

– Batista defeated Randy Orton to win the WWE Championship in a steel cage match 

– Jeff Hardy defeated World Champion Edge in a Ladder Match to win the title 

– CM Punk cashed in the Money in the Bank briefcase and defeated Jeff Hardy to win title

Smackdown ratings up from last week but down from eight week average (w/Keller’s Analysis)

>


PWTorch editor Wade Keller presents a special Thursday Flagship edition of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast featuring a WrestleMania 36 Preview with ex-WWE Creative Team member and professional stand-up comedian Matt McCarthy.

(Search “wade keller” to subscribe in podcast app or CLICK HERE to subscribe in Apple Podcasts.)


Smackdown drew a 1.72 rating last night, up from last week’s rating of 1.58, and more in line with the previous two weeks of 1.69 and 1.70. The bump from last week could be attributed to being the first show after a PPV event, although it’s not above the average of the previous eight weeks, which was 1.77.

Keller’s Analysis: This at least prevents last week’s rating from appearing to be the start of a new normal below 1.60. The fact that it’s still lower than the prior eight week average just two days after No Mercy shows the “PPV bump” might not apply to single-brand PPVs like No Mercy that, frankly, a lot of people forgot was even occurring. Smackdown still can’t beat Raw, but that 0.19 gap is something that over time could narrow if Smackdown’s two hour show over time can win over people who are skipping most or some of Raw due to Monday Night Football, but are still looking for their “WWE fix.”

no mercyratingssmackdown

Daily Pro Wrestling History (06/21): Dusty Rhodes wins NWA World title

1918 

– Earl Caddock defeated Ed “Strangler” Lewis by decision to unify his claim to the World Heavyweight Title (no falls in a 2 out of 3 falls match that lasted 2 hours and 30 minutes. Referee Ed Smith awarded the match to Caddock on points.)

1934

Mexico City, Mexico:

– Francisco Aguayo defeated Martinez Larrea for the Mexico National Heavyweight Title

1942

– Ciclon Veloz defeated Jack O’Brien to win the Mexico National Welterweight Title

1946

St. Joseph, Missouri:

– Ray Villmer & Bobby Bruns beat Bill Lee & Orville Brown 2 falls to 1 to win the St. Joseph tag team titles 

1955 

Minneapolis, Minnesota:

– Leo Nomellini & Bronko Nagurski beat Kinji Shibuya & Ike Eakins in 2 out of 3 falls
– Red Bastien beat Pedro Escobar
– Dick the Bruiser (as Bruiser Afflis) beat Ovila Asselin (as Guy LaRose) 
– Ilio DiPaolo beat Jack Pesek

1957

Houston, Texas:

– Pepper Gomez & El Medico defeated Duke Keomuka & Tokyo Joe for the NWA Texas Tag Team Titles

1961 

Duluth, Minnesota:

– AWA Champion Verne Gagne no contest Wilbur Snyder
– AWA US Champion Gene Kiniski beat Jack Pesek
– Bob Geigel beat Tony Bailargeon 
– George Scott beat Marquie DeParee

1963

Houston, Texas:

– Pepper Gomez defeated Bill Watts to win the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title 

1965

Portland, Oregon:

– Stan Stasiak & Haru Sasaki defeated Pepper Martin & Shag Thomas for the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Titles

1966 

Birmingham, Alabama:

– Tojo Yamamoto & Great Higami defeated Len Rossi & Mario Milano to win the Mid-America version of the NWA Southern Tag Team Titles 

1967 

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada:

– Bill Watts beat Harley Race
– Larry Hennig beat Rene Goulet
– Dr. X beat Dutch Savage 
– George Gordienko beat Bobby Jones

1969

Atlanta, Georgia:

– Paul DeMarco defeated The Professional (Doug Gilbert) for the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title 

Chattanooga, Tennessee:

– Johnny Walker & Bearcat Brown defeated The Great Mephisto & Dante to win the Mid-America version of the NWA World Tag Team Titles 

1971 

Memphis, Tennessee:

– Don & Al Greene win the Mid-America version of the NWA Southern Tag Team Titles by defeating Tojo Yamamoto & Jerry Jarrett 

Montreal, Quebec, Canada:

– Tarzan Zorra defeated Jos LeDuc to win the International Wrestling Association International Heavyweight Title 

1973 

Kansas City, Kansas:

– Roger Kirby defeated Mike George
– World Tag Team Champions; Togo the Great & Tokyo Joe beat Bobo Brazil & Omar Atlas 
– Harley Race & Bob Brown wrestled Dory Funk, Jr. & Terry Funk to a double DQ 

1975 

Milwaukee, Wisconsin:

– Dusty Rhodes & Dick Murdoch beat Baron Von Raschke & Kurt Von Brawner (sub Horst Hoffman)
– Billy Robinson beat Ray Stevens dq
– Chris Taylor beat Buddy Wolff 
– Khosrow Vaziri drew Jim Brunzell

1978 

Knoxville, Tennessee:

– Mongolian Stomper won an elimination match to win the vacant NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Title

1980 

Kansas City, Kansas:

– Takachiho (The Great Kabuki) & Killer Karl Kox defeated Bob Brown & Pat O’Connor to win the NWA Central States Tag Team Titles

1981 

Atlanta, Georgia:

– Dusty Rhodes defeated Harley Race for the NWA World Heavyweight title

1982 

New Orleans, Louisiana:

– Junkyard Dog defeated Bob Roop for the Mid-South North American Heavyweight Title 

1984

Kansas City, Kansas:

– The Uptown Boys (Marty Janetty & Tommy Rogers) defeated The Grapplers (Len Denton & Tony Anthony) for the NWA Central States Tag Team Titles 
– Ted Oates defeated Luke Graham to win the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title

Malvern, England:

– Steve Grey defeated Danny Collins for the British Welterweight Title 

Salt Lake City, Utah:

– Fabulous Ones beat King Kong Brody & Larry Zbyszko
– Abdullah The Butcher ddq The Crusher
– Nick Bockwinkel beat Billy Robinson
– Curt Hennig drew Steve Regal 
– Steve O beat Chris Markoff

1985 

Chicago, Illinois:

– Sgt. Slaughter defeated Larry Zbyszko to win the AWA America’s Heavyweight Title 
– Michael Hayes beat AWA Champion Rick Martel in a non title match
– Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts & Butch Reed beat Dick The Bruiser & The Crusher & Baron Von Raschke
– Greg Gagne drew Nick Bockwinkel
– Ray Stevens beat Steve O 
– Brad Rheingans drew Billy Robinson 

Mexico City, Mexico:

– Rayo de Jalisco, Jr. defeated MS-1 to win the NWA World Light Heavyweight Title 

St. Louis, Missouri:

– Kerry Von Erich beat NWA Champion Ric Flair dq
– Harley Race beat Bobby Duncum
– Blackjack Lanza (sub Dick the Bruiser) & Bulldog Bob Brown & Iceman Parsons beat Mr Pogo & Starship Coyote & Gary Royal 
– Larry Hennig & Curt Hennig beat Super Destroyer & Sheik Abdullah

1986 

Tokyo, Japan:

– Mika Komatsu and Kanako Nagatomo defeated The Red Typhoons (Kazue Nagahori and Yumi Ogura) for the AJW Tag Team Titles 

1987

Puerto Rico:

– Al Perez defeats The Dingo (Ultimate) Warrior for the World Class Texas Heavyweight Title

Rockford, Illinois:

– Curt Hennig & Larry Zbyszko beat Nick Bockwinkel & Greg Gagne dq
– Wahoo McDaniel beat Boris Zhukov
– Sherri Martel beat Candi Divine dq
– Kevin Kelly drew DJ Peterson 
– Mitch Snow & Ray Stevens beat Nasty Boys

1991

Greensboro, North Carolina:

– Big Josh pinned Dutch Mantell
– The Junkyard Dog & Tom Zenk defeated Jack Victory & Rip Morgan
– Steve Austin pinned Tommy Angel
– Mr. Hughes pinned Bobby Eaton
– PN News defeated the Angel of Death
– Dustin Rhodes pinned Black Bart
– Stan Hansen pinned Sting 
– WCW US Champion Lex Luger defeated Nikita Koloff in a Russian chain match

1992 

Tokyo, Japan:

– Punish (Keiti Takayami) and Crush (Shoji Akiyoshi) defeated Scorpio, Jr. and Shu El Guerrero to win Michinoku Pro Wrestling’s UWA/UWF Intercontinental Tag Team Titles

Naucalpan, Mexico:

– Villano III defeated The Killer for the UWA World Junior Heavyweight Title 

Beckley, West Virginia:

– Brad & Bart Batten defeated Joe Cazana & Killer Kyle
– Jimmy Golden pinned Robert Gibson
– The Dirty White Boy pinned Dixie Dynamite
– Tim Horner defeated Buddy Landel via countout
– SMW Tag Team Champions Stan Lane & Tom Pritchard defeated Bobby & Jackie Fulton
– SMW Heavyweight Champion Brian Lee defeated Paul Orndorff via disqualification

Tallahassee, Florida:

– Super Invader pinned Marcus Alexander Bagwell
– Johnny B. Badd pinned WCW Light Heavyweight Champion Scotty Flamingo in a non-title match
– Greg Valentine & Terry Taylor defeated WCW US Tag Team Champions Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin in a non-title match
– Dustin Rhodes pinned Richard Morton
– Steve Williams & Terry Gordy defeated Brian Pillman & Tom Zenk
– Ron Simmons pinned Bobby Eaton
– WCW World Champion Sting & Ricky Steamboat defeated WCW US Champion Rick Rude & WCW TV Champion Steve Austin

1993

Memphis, Tennessee:

– Owen Hart defeated Papa Shango for the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Title 
– New Jack & Homeboy defeated Rex King & Steve Doll for the USWA Tag Team Titles

Raleigh, North Carolina:

– Johnny Gunn defeated Tommy Angel (sub. for Maxx Payne)
– Marcus Alexander Bagwell defeated Tex Slazenger
– 2 Cold Scorpio defeated Shanghai Pierce
– Arn Anderson & Dustin Rhodes fought WCW/NWA Tag Team Champions Steve Austin & Brian Pillman to a double disqualification
– Rick Rude defeated Van Hammer
– Sting, Ric Flair, & Davey Boy Smith defeated NWA World Champion Barry Windham, Sid Vicious, & Maxx Payne (sub. for WCW World Champion Big Van Vader)

1994 

Savannah, Georgia:

– Arn Anderson fought Brian Pillman to a 15-minute time-limit draw
– Dustin Rhodes pinned Bunkhouse Buck in a bullrope match 
– WCW Tag Team Champions Cactus Jack & Kevin Sullivan defeated the Nasty Boys via disqualification in a non-title match
– WCW International World Champion Sting defeated WCW US Champion Steve Austin via disqualification 
– WCW World Champion Ric Flair pinned Ricky Steamboat

Cuernavaca, Mexico:

– El Pantera defeated Felino to win the CMLL World Welterweight Title

2000 

Memphis, Tennessee:

– Steven Regal defeated Jerry Lawler for the MCW Southern Heavyweight Title
– The Fabulous Rocker defeated Spanky to win the MCW Light Heavyweight Championship 

Tokyo, Japan: 

– The Samoans (Eddie Fatu and Matty Samu) defeated Hideki Hosaka and Yoshinori Sasaki to win the FMW/WEW Hardcore Tag Team Titles

2001 

Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada:

– Michael Modest defeated Bruce Hart for the Stampede North American Heavyweight Title 

2003 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:

– Terry Funk defeated The Sandman and “Pitbull” Gary Wolfe (subbing for then-champion Sabu) to win the vacant 3PW Heavyweight Title

2009

TNA Slammiversary | Auburn Hills, Michigan:

– Beer Money, Inc defeated Team 3-D for the TNA Tag Team Titles 
– Kurt Angle won the TNA Heavyweight Title in a King of the Mountain match over Mick Foley, Jeff Jarrett, Samoa Joe and AJ Styles 
– Suicide defeated Jay Lethal, Consequences Creed, Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley in a King of the Mountain match to retain the TNA X  Division Championship
– Daniels defeated Shane Douglas
– Angelina Love (with Velvet Sky and Madison Rayne) defeated Tara to retain the TNA Women’s Knockout Championship
– Abyss and Taylor Wilde defeated Raven and Daffney (with Dr. Stevie) in a Monster’s Ball mixed tag team match
– Sting defeated Matt Morgan

2014

NJPW Dominion | Osaka, Japan:

– The Time Splitters (Alex Shelley & Kushida) beat The Young Bucks to win the IWGP Jr. Tag Tam Titles
– Tetsuya Naito defeated Tama Tonga
– Meiyu Tag (Hirooki Goto and Katsuyori Shibata) defeated Tomoaki Honma and Yuji Nagata
– Tencozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima)  defeated K.E.S. (Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Lance Archer) (with Taka Michinoku) to retain the NWA World Tag Team Championship
– Kota Ibushi (with El Desperado) defeated Ricochet (with Masaaki Mochizuki) to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
– Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki and Takashi Iizuka) (with Taka Michinoku) defeated Kazushi Sakuraba and Toru Yano
– Bullet Club (A.J. Styles and Yujiro Takahashi) defeated Chaos (Kazuchika Okada and Tomohiro Ishii) (with Gedo)
– Bullet Club (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) defeated Ace to King (Hiroshi Tanahashi and Togi Makabe) to retain the IWGP Tag Team Championship
– Bad Luck Fale (with Tama Tonga) defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to win the IWGP Intercontinental Championship

Interview Highlights: DJ Z talks about TNA’s X Division, what’s next for TNA in 2017, working outside of the X Division

>


PWTorch editor Wade Keller presents a special Thursday Flagship edition of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast featuring a WrestleMania 36 Preview with ex-WWE Creative Team member and professional stand-up comedian Matt McCarthy.

(Search “wade keller” to subscribe in podcast app or CLICK HERE to subscribe in Apple Podcasts.)


TNA X Division Champion DJ Z joined Ryan Rider on Main Event Radio this week to discuss wanting to revitalize the division, goals that he would like to accomplish, and the new direction for TNA going into 2017. DOWNLOAD LINK

Q: In the early days of TNA, the X Division is what put the company on the map. Today, the “X Division” style is wrestling. What can be done to innovate and differentiate the championship from the rest of the company and bring it back to prominence?

A: I think the X Division is actually really strong right now. The work that myself, Eddie Edwards, Trevor Lee, Andrew Everett, Mark Andrews has been reminiscent of the X division of old that people like to remember and reminisce about. Maybe there’s not as many eyes watching it as back in the day with A.J. Styles, Christopher Daniels, but the quality of work is still really high. Hopefully people will give it a chance by watching Impact tomorrow [on POPTV/Fight Network] or looking back at some of our other matches. You talk about those glory days of the X division. One goal is to revitalize the X Division. Get people talking about it again, having the craziest matches I can have. Putting the attention back on the X Division, back on TNA; just like it used to be.

Q: Are you eager for the next set of tapings in January?

A: Looking forward to it. I’ve got so many more things that I’ve got to accomplish in wrestling. I’ve had the most successful year of my career in 2016. It’s probably because I’ve been so focused and committed to wrestling. Before I had good matches, but I also had my hands on the DJ-ing world and the music world. I was always trying to juggle the two. I’ve never been as fully committed to just professional wrestling as I have been this year. Now that I’ve kind of rediscovered my love for wrestling, there’s so many more opportunities and cool things that I have left to do and I’m really looking forward to the future.

Q: How do you feel about getting in there with guys outside of the X Division?

A: I’ve proven this year that you could put me in the ring with [Bobby] Lashley, put me in the ring with Mike Bennett. You could put me in the ring with top guys and I could hold my own. I’d like to get more experience with the top guys and show TNA and show the world that I’m a top guy too.

Q: How do you feel about TNA headed into 2017?

A: It’s exciting. We’ve got some new people in charge. There’s some new creative energy. I think it’s going to be great for the wrestlers and for the fans. I encourage everyone to give it a chance and keep tuning in. I’m really looking forward to it. I hope that we go back on the road. From what I’ve heard and what fans have told me, it’s a really fun experience, a very crowd-interactive show. TNA live events are some of the most fun I’ve had in wrestling.


NOW CHECK OUT THIS ARTICLE: Interview Highlights: Brian Kendrick talks to SI about 205 Live, his rise to centerpiece of Cruiserweight Division, Vince’s role, more (w/Keller’s Analysis)

dj zimpact wrestlingtnax divisionzema ion

Tag match, two segments set for WWE SmackDown

WWE has made their first match and segment announcements for tomorrow’s SmackDown.

Charlotte Flair & Carmella will team up against SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley & Sasha Banks on the episode. WWE is also hyping that Daniel Bryan has agreed to meet with Roman Reigns to “clear the air” between them, and there will be a sit-down interview with WWE Champion Kofi Kingston ahead of his title defense against Brock Lesnar on SmackDown’s FOX premiere.

Carmella saved Charlotte from a two-on-one attack by Bayley and Banks on SmackDown last week. Charlotte had defeated Banks by disqualification prior to that, with Bayley attacking Charlotte as she had Banks in the figure four.

Bryan and Reigns were both laid out by Erick Rowan and Luke Harper last week. Bryan & Reigns are expected to face Rowan & Harper in a tag match at Hell in a Cell on October 6.

Lesnar appeared on SmackDown last Tuesday, challenged Kingston to a title match on the SmackDown on FOX debut, and laid Kingston out with an F-5. The Staples Center in Los Angeles, California is hosting SmackDown’s FOX premiere on Friday, October 4. The theme of the show is SmackDown’s 20th anniversary celebration.

Tomorrow’s SmackDown is the show’s final episode on USA Network.

Interview Highlights: Sean “X-Pac” Waltman talks about Ronda Rousey’s advantages coming into WWE, Conor McGregor incident, revised thoughts on Bruno, HOF speech length

>


PWTorch editor Wade Keller presents a special Thursday Flagship edition of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast featuring a WrestleMania 36 Preview with ex-WWE Creative Team member and professional stand-up comedian Matt McCarthy.

(Search “wade keller” to subscribe in podcast app or CLICK HERE to subscribe in Apple Podcasts.)


The following are highlights of Sean “X-Pac” Waltman’s interview on “The Tomorrow Show with kevin Undergaro” including hot topics from his advice to Ronda Rousey, the Conor McGregor bus attack, what his Hall of Fame speech will be like if he wins, and more. The quotes were supplied to PWTorch by The Tomorrow Show’s producers.


•On Ronda Rousey: “So you know, she [Ronda Rousey] has a ring out at her place so I might go out there and do some training with her… I wouldn’t say training, I would say teaching… In a classroom almost, not in the ring… I just said, the key for you is just to stay – keep yourself different from the rest… She’s a huge wrestling fan. That being said, when somebody comes in from the outside, say from MMA, and they are a huge wrestling fan, they wanna get in there and start doing, you know, all the pro wrestling spots. And it’s like she needs to shy away from a lot of that stuff because that’s what everyone else does… There are just certain things that are routine about wrestling matches that she needs to shy away from to keep her different… the match they had, that match was about as flawless as you get.”

•On what his WWE Hall of Fame speech would be like if he were to be inducted:  “I guarantee you if I’m ever inducted it’s gonna be under 10 [minutes]… It’s gonna be Scott Hall style… I would let the person inducting me talk about all the great things I’ve done. And then I’ll come out and I’ll thank everybody and all the proper people that need thanking and that’s it. No need to f—ing toot my own horn.”

•Why his opinion of Bruno Sammartino has changed: “I look at it different now when I watch a match. When I was younger I used to think what made a good match were like, cool moves, cool high spots, diving outside the ring, moonsault, sh– like that. And really what makes a good match is what makes the people f—ing come unglued. That’s the one thing. There’s nothing else that matters, except making the fucking people go crazy.”

•On whether the Conor McGregor incident was a publicity stunt: “No, it’s not [a publicity stunt]…it’s just not. I mean, everybody thinks everything’s fucking fake now and everything’s a work, you know what I mean? But it’s not. It’s just, his [Conor McGregor], you know, he’s used to being able to get away with fucking outlandish behavior like that and I’m sure he didn’t think it was, him throwing that shit up against the side of the bus was gonna do the damage it did… I think it might affect his being able to fight, though, in the United States.”

•On whether McGregor might have enough money to avoid jail time: “No, he faces a lot of time. People got f—ing hurt.”


The Tomorrow Show with Keven Undergaro is a late night talk show that airs live Mondays and Thursdays from 10-12 a.m. EST at www.thetomorrowshow.com and is available on iTunes.