February 2021 – bamdj.com

DAILY UPDATE

Latest News:

WWE employees upset after learning of no bonuses, raises or promotions
WWE Main Event results: Carrillo vs. Ricochet, Brooke vs. Royce
Join the Mat Men NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day watch along tonight
Kamaru Usman calls out Jorge Masvidal after UFC 258 title defense
NXT’s Kacy Catanzaro deletes Twitter account after mask controversy
NJPW Road to Castle Attack results: CHAOS vs. Bullet Club
NJPW’s Juice Robinson & David Finlay to appear on Impact
Alexander becomes number one contender to Impact X-Division title
NXT’s Kacy Catanzaro addresses non-mask wearing controversy
Jon Moxley vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr. set for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 5
UFC 258 live results: Kamaru Usman vs. Gilbert Burns

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WOR: UFC, Smackdown, Tom Cole, Impact PPV, Vengeance Day, more!

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WON NEWSLETTER: February 15, 2021 Observer Newsletter: Butch Reed bio, Bellator to Showtime

A look at the career of 80s star Hacksaw Butch Reed, who passed away this past week, is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

We look at all of his titles won, sports career before wrestling, what was and wasn’t exaggerated about him, how he got started in wrestling, how fast it was that he was moved to star status, including main eventing at the key wrestling arenas in the country very early, the role Dory Funk Jr, made in his career, how he was booked, a super tag team with Skip Young that few outside of Florida ever saw, feuding with the biggest names on top, his matches with Ric Flair up and down the state of Florida, his sellout with Flair in St. Louis, runs in Georgia and his move to Mid South, his Mid South runs, the high point of his career, his feud with JYD, his Superdome main events, his face and heel turns, his biggest angles, his fight with John Nord and his departure from Mid South, his meeting with Slick, heading to WWF as The Natural Butch Reed, and his WCW run as part of the tag team of Doom with Ron Simmons, life after wrestling and his feelings on Will Hobbs.

Also in this issue:

Nick Khan’s talk about things WWE is doing to try and get new fans, a look at the aging of the sports audience and how wrestling fits in, update on Braun Strowman, update on John Cena TV series, son of 90s star starting in WWE camp, WWE star talks having a stroke, WWE star gets stalked, experience of being in the Thunderdome and what they look for, how WWE & AEW did compared to sports this past week, international rtings news, more on COVID’s effect onWWE, big matches coming on upcoming shows, WWE market value and most-watched shows on the WWE Network this past week.

Bellator’s new broadcast deals in the U.S. and the U.K., as well as main events for the first shows in April, and look at the light heavyweight tournament.

New Beginning in Hiroshima and the Castle Attack cards for New Japan.

Most-watched televised pro wrestling matches in history, including Hogan vs. Andre and Rikidozan vs. Destroyer.

Preview the next two WWE major shows.

Saturday’s UFC event with the potential knockout of the year.

Gina Carano losing her job in “The Mandalorian” on the anniversary of her landmark fight with Julie Kedzie.

A feature looking at the best matches of top wrestlers of 2020.

Television ratings of the past week, including segment-by-segment numbers for the past two weeks on Wednesday, who was watching in different age groups, how different segments did on Raw & Smackdown and more.

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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight talking NXT Takeover and the rest of the news. You can send questions to the show to [email protected]

NXT Takeover is tonight at 7 p.m. Eastern for a show slated on the WWE Network:

MSK (formerly the Rascalz) vs. Grizzled Young Veterans for the Dusty Rhodes tournament and likely a title shot at Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch. Should be a good mach. GYV are very solid workers and MSK are very good in a different way. MSK were listed as -200 favorites, which makes sense.
Ember Moon & Shotzi Blackheart vs. Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai for the women’s Dusty Rhodes tournament. The winning team faces Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax soon. Moon & Blackheart are the -200 favorites.
Johnny Gargano vs. Kushida for the North American title. On paper, this match should be excellent. It’s Kushida’s first real major match and against a guy who always delivers on the big shows. Gargano is listed as a -275 favorite.
Io Shirai vs. Mercedes Martinez vs. Toni Storm for the women’s title. Also should be good. Shirai is -300 while Storm is +260 and Martinez is +525 in the odds.
Finn Balor vs Pete Dunne for the NXT title. This could be another main event classic and will probably be a long match. Balor is a -500 favorite to retain

51-year-old Hall of Famer Jun Akiyama becomes the second 50-plus year old Hall of Famer (Keiji Muto on Friday being the other) to win a Japanese major title. Akiyama beat Tetsuya Endo on today ‘s DDT show in Kawasaki to win the KO-D title

Raw tomorrow will have a gauntlet match with Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, Jeff Hardy, Miz, A.J. Styles and Randy Orton.

Regarding the suicide death of Tom Cole on Friday, his older brother Lee Cole has an interview.

Regarding Google searches, last night’s UFC PPV did 700,000, which is low end for a PPV show. It was the most searched topic on the Internet yesterday that didn’t involve Valentine’s Day or the Trump impeachment. Searches were heaviest for the main event, as well as for Kelvin Gastelum, Alexa Grasso and Maycee Barber. The only other combat sports related item to crack the top 20 on any dates this week was Gina Carano at No. 1 on Wednesday with 2 million searches.

NY Mag compares the firing of Gina Carano by Lucasfilm to McCarthyism in the 50s. You knew somebody would do that. (thanks to Gary Collins)

We spoke about the Ariel Helwani/Dana White stuff on today’s show.

Chigusa Nagayo, the most popular Japanese woman wrestler of all-time, along with Kyoko Inoue and Mima Shimoda are all booked in a Rumble style Battle Royal in Stardom’s 3/3 show at Budokan Hall.

UFC
Last night after his PPV win over Maki Pitolo, Julian Marquez in his post-match interview asked Miley Cyrus to be his Valentine. She then wrote,”Shave an MC into your chest and I am yours. Happy VDay and congrats my love.”
AEW
Fulham, the U.K. soccer team Tony Khan is in management of, beat Everton today at Goodison Park, Everton’s home field. The key to that is Everton had won 22 straight home games over Fulham and had 23 wins and four ties in the previous 27 games on Everton’s field The last time Fulham won on Everton’s field was in 1961.
Miro was in the booth Friday night for the debut of his Fan Controlled Football team
OTHER NOTES
Two different NWA world title matches with Ric Flair vs. Butch Reed. One was the Florida television match which saw Reed as a guy not thought of at that level and then beating Flair on TV which set up all the house show title matches. The other was from 1985 Mid South Wrestling. (thanks to Paul Sosnowski and Ross Blair)
Dan Lambert, the ATT owner who did angles with Bobby Lashley for TNA a few years back and was a top level heel manager, will be on Wednesday’s MLW show doing fight analysis. The idea is he’ll be a heel announcer for Team Filthy and will manage King Mo in his match with Low Ki also on Wednesday.
Stardom results from yesterday at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo: Utami Hayashishita & Momo Watanabe won three-way elimination mach over Saya Iida & Ruaka and Lady C & Gokigen Death, Maika & Natsupoi & Himeka b Konami & Natsuko Tora & Saki Kashima, Bea Priestley d Saya Kamitani 15:00, Mayu Iwatani & Rin Kadokua b Tam Nakano & Unagi Sayaka, Syuri b AZM to keep the SWA title, Giulia b Starlight Kid to retain the Wonder of Stardom title
Stardom results from today at Korakuen Hall: Gokigen Death b Lady C, Momo Watanabe b Ruaka, Saki Kashia & Natsuko Tora b Syuri & Natsupoi, Mayu Iwatani b Unagi Sayaka, AZM & Mei Hoshizuki b Starlight Kid & Saya Iida,Saya Kamitani won four-way over Utami Hayashishita,Giulia and Tam Nakano, Himeka & Maika won the Goddesses of Stardom titles over Bea Priestley & Konami) (thanks to Tomi Yamada and Shannon Walsh and wrestlingwithdemons.net)
Pro Wrestling Australia from Friday night on FITE TV from Sydney before a sellout crowd: Robbie Eagles b Jessica Troy-DQ, Unsocial Jordan & Belinda Pierce b Shazza McKenzie & Big Fudge, Sam Osborne b Steph De Lander, Kingley b Jack Bonza, Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis b Matty Walhberg & Ricky South, Lyrebird Luchi b Mick Moretti, Charlie Evans own over Will Kiedis, The Rhys Angel and Matt Diamond, Paris Da Silva & Jude London b Michael Spencer & Kia Drake in a ladder match to keep the tag titles. Next shows are 2/27, Black Label on 3/12 featuring Caveman Ugg defending the PWA tile against Ricky South. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
Pale Pro Wrestling from Friday night in Arlington, TX on the Title Match Network: Prince Ahmed & Gideon Vain b Adorable Eddie & Wildcard, Chandler Hopkins b Mecha Wolf 450, Gino Medina b Isaiah Broner, Will Allday b Icon Lee, Magnificent Malico b Niles Plonk in a beer chugging contest, Nobe Bryant b Beastman Husk, Aski the Mayan Warrior b Justin Taylor, Myron Reed b Ryan Justice, Cam Cole b Mike Bennett to keep the Reality of Wrestling title, Sam Adonis b Psycho Clown in a no DQ match using a low blow.
Fox 19 in Cincinnati aired a segment Friday about the Northern Wrestling Federation Bonekrushers wrestling camp. (thanks to Brian Henke)
Tokyo Joshi Pro had a lottery on YouTube to determine the first round of its tag team tournament which took place on 2/20 at Narimasu Act Hall in Tokyo and aired on DDT Universe.
Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe vs. Pom Harajuku & Haruna Neko
Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu vs. Moka Miyamoto & Arisu Endo
Yuki Aino & Nodoka Tenma vs. Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki
Sakisama Mei Saint-Michel vs. Raku & Marika Kobashi

On 2//21 at the same venue
Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh face the winners of the first match
Hikari Noa & Sena Shiori meet the winners of the second match
Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao meet the winners of the third match
Suzume & Mirai Maiumi meet the winners of the fourth match (thanks to Shannon Walsh)

Ron Simmons was announced as a guest of WrestleCon.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Austin vs. McMahon at Valentine’s Day Massacre

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Source: PWInsider.com

– John Cena vs. The Great Khali Falls Count Anywhere match for One Night Stand has been officially added to WWE.com.

– WWE is promoting Carlito vs. Sylvan Grenier for the RAW house show in Montreal this weekend on May 27th. Grenier will have Bruny Surin, a former Montreal runner and Olympic gold medalist, in his corner. Grenier is referring to Surin as his “manager and trainer.”

– *Spoiler Warning:* The following tidbit contains a SmackDown spoiler, if you want to be surprised, stop reading now: Batista defeated Kane, Mark Henry, and Finlay for the right to face WWE World Heavyweight Champion Edge at WWE’s upcoming One Night Stand pay-per-view.

Outcome To Cena/Great Khali Match **REVEALED** Cena’s FURIOUS, Threatens To QUIT WWE?! >>

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

– With his current run with the WWE Heavyweight Title, John Cena has now passed Bret Hart for the 6th longest WWE Champion of all time. Cena, who just recently turned 30 years old, is way ahead of Hart who didn’t even get his first reign as Champ until the age of 35. The only people that have held the strap longer than Cena are Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, Triple H, Pedro Morales, and Bob Backlund.

– Sabu being released from WWE is certainly no surprise. As we’ve been noting for weeks now he has been on thin ice and had his job saved on at least one occasion by Paul Heyman. With Heyman no longer with the company and RVD on his way out the feeling backstage was that Sabu would be let go. After he showed up late and a mess at last week’s tapings in Baltimore, WWE officials had enough and decided to make the cut then.

– Incase you are having trouble keeping track, here’s a full list of recently released superstars: Sabu, Too Scold Scorpio, Vito, Rob Conway, Ariel, and Henry Godwin.

Edge Confirmed To Drop The World Title This Week To Ken Kennedy + Batista FIGHTS A Diva Backstage (NO LIE, SHOCKING STORY)

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

– Preliminary plans for Sunday’s Randy Orton vs. Rob Van Dam match at One Night Stand were for Orton to squash the ECW “legend.” However, after Vince McMahon learned that it had become public knowledge that this was Van Dam’s last match with the company there have been whispers that McMahon intends to keep RVD around for another week or two to outsmart the “smart” fans. Furthermore, do not be surprised if RVD walks out the winner at Sunday’s PPV and even remains with the company for a couple more television appearances.

– Expect John Cena vs. The Great Khali at Sunday’s One Night Stand PPV to go a lot longer than previous contests. Given the fact that Cena can use weapons and brawl outside of the ring, he will not have to rely solely on trying to sale Khali’s lack of wrestling ability. The WWE creative team does not feel comfortable booking Khali in long wrestling matches due to his lack of skill inside of the ring.

~~UNREAL~~ Photos Of Stephanie McMahon When She Was 18 Years OLD!!! **MUST SEE**

Source: PWInsider.com

The Newbury News out of Massachusetts recently conducted an interview with WWE Heavyweight Champion John Cena. In it, the Champ discusses the recent charity event that he worked for Chaotic Wrestling to help raise awareness of drunk driving. Cena’s brother, a police officer, was recently injured by a drunk driver while he was on duty.

Cena commented on the smaller scale event by saying, “These events are great because you get to be involved with guys on an entry level in this business. I still have the same amount of hunger that I had when I first stepped in the ring, but it’s good to see that the hunger is not dead with these guys.”

Click here for the full interview.

Another Big Return On RAW Tonight **SPOILER** + John Cena To SMACKDOWN!?! >

The Wrestling Observer and Pro Wrestling Torch are reporting that both Konnan and Ron Killings quit TNA before tonight’s Impact tapings.

Konnan had been upset for a number of months because TNA wasn’t giving him much financial support for his health problems. He pretty much stayed with the company as long as he did because LAX was a hot act and he didn’t want bail on them. There were some rumblings going into Sunday’s PPV that Konnan was going to quit the company sooner or later. That may have been the reason for LAX jobbing and not being featured much on the fifth anniversary pay-per-view. Ron Killings, who is friends with Konnan, has been unhappy for quite some time with his pay and status in the company. He has been out of action with an injury for several months.

Konnan will just return to Mexico to work for the AAA promotion. Killings also has a deal lined up with AAA, so he’ll resume his wrestling career there. Their friend Sean Waltman is also a regular for AAA. Both he and his girlfriend Alicia ‘Ryan Shamrock’ Webb recently moved down to Mexico.

Check out new pics of Madusa, Amy Zidian, Kimberly Page & more! (>>)

sources: Wrestling Observer Newsletter, www.f4wonline.com

Samoa Joe was offered a three-year contract extension from TNA but didn’t sign it.

Manuel González of the Puerto Rican based wrestling website PRWNEWS is reporting that former TNA star Apollo (real name Germán Figueroa), was arrested on 6/22 with domestic charges after having a altercation with his wife Veronica Pollera Tranchetti, who is known in wrestling as Habana. Figueroa twisted one of her arms and squeezed her neck while traveling in a car at a rural route in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. She went to a nearby police station, and Apollo was arrested. The prosecutor in the case said that Veronica had bruises in her neck. He was let go after paying $8,000 bail. He will go before a judge on 7/11.

Figueroa has been in news quite a bit as of late. Figueroa was also arrested on 5/22 for missing a child support payment, but was released eight days later 5/30 after part of the alimony money was lent by World Wrestling Council. During a match on 6/3, a kick to the throat from Figueroa severely injured Scott Steiner’s trachea. Steiner confronted respiratory problems and he was hospitalized with serious, nearly life-threatening injuries. He underwent surgery on his trachea and was in the hospital for about as long as Paris Hilton was in jail in California, which was about three weeks. After his hospital release, he was forced to take a boat back to the mainland since they wouldn’t allow him to fly. At last word, he won’t be able to return for probably close to a year.

Booker T trying to get back at WWE with TNA? (>>)

Source: PWInsider.com

– Ric Flair did not work last night’s SmackDown tapings due to the chronic problems that he has had with his inner ear. Flair missed time last week due to some personal problems that are still ongoing and could keep him out of action for the next two weeks. There is a chance that he could work the July 31st SmackDown tapings but at this point Flair is said to be off of the road dealing with some personal family matters until further notice.

– WWE does plan to another Diva Search competition again this year. The first casting call for the contest will be held on August 16th in Los Angeles, CA.

McMahon To Fire Umaga For Secretly Working A TNA Event?!? Recent Photo Of Umaga Holding A TNA Belt >>

— WWE has released the poster for October’s PPV, No Mercy. It features Randy Orton holding a dove in the palms of his hands. It will be the first No Mercy PPV to feature non-SmackDown matches since 2002. The event will be held on October 7th from Chicago, Illinois.

— Four WWE stars will be appearing at a UWF show September 21st at the Alltel Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Center on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. Those stars are Sgt Slaughter, Ron Simmons, John Bradshaw Layfield and Ricky Steamboat. Some TNA talent such as AJ Styles and Abyss will be appearing at the event as well. All proceeds for the event will benefit the Commonwealth Autism Service.

— WWE reclaimed the top spot on Billboard’s top selling sports/recreational DVD List for the week of August 18. The Vengeance DVD is in the top spot followed by the Ladder matches DVD at No. 2. Wrestlemania 23 and One Night Stand 2007 also made the list.

Click here to the CREEPY No Mercy poster featuring Randy Orton! (>>)

Source: PWInsider.com

World Wrestling Entertainment has come to terms on a developmental contract with Ring of Honor/Wrestling Society X star Matt Sydal. It is still unknown as to when he will report to one of WWE’s developmental territories as he is expected to fulfill all of his independent contractual obligations.

Sydal has been somewhat of a hot commodity since the demise of WSX as both TNA and ROH made major plays for him. Dragon Gate in Japan was also said to be very interested in him. WWE contact Sydal with the offer several weeks back.

CONFIRMED: Cena Heading To SD! After SummerSlam (HE’S NOT HAPPY) *FULL DETAILS*