Jimmy Sunna’s lawyer told the presiding judge yesterday that the WWE Hall of Famer is in a Florida hospice and has six months to live due to terminal cancer.
His lawyer was representing him at a hearing where the judge had to decide if to dismiss the homicide charges against him or schedule another hearing to assess his physical condition.
The Morning Call newspaper reported that his wife Carole, who appeared via FaceTime, said that doctors are no longer treating most of his conditions and they’re just making sure he’s “happy and not in pain.”
Judge Kelly L. Banach – who earlier this year ruled that Snuka was not competent to stand trial – did not make a ruling and wanted to see his medical records before completely dismissing the case. Snuka is also suffering from dementia.
Snuka, who also talked to the judge via FaceTime, did not recall ever talking to the judge and said that he spent Thanksgiving with his family, something that his wife denied and called a “figment of his imagination.”
Snuka told the judge that he still believed he could wrestle.
The Hall of Famer was charged in the death of his mistress Nancy Argentino, a crime that happened back in 1983. He was a suspect back then, but the case went cold, and was only reopened after some great investigative work by The Morning Call newspaper journalists.
It’s only been two weeks since the Survivor Series, but WWE’s back on pay-per-view, for the final SmackDown special of the year – TLC!
TLC Match for WWE World Championship: AJ Styles (c) vs. Dean Ambrose
After a feud that started before the brand split, and took a brief hiatus with the introduction of James Ellsworth, you could be forgiven for hoping that this is the going to be the blow-off… and with this being a TLC match, it bloody well should be! Depending on how WWE books the Royal Rumble, we’ll either get a SmackDown challenger for WrestleMania, or a new feud will blossom. Either way, I’m expecting this to be the blow-off, and we’ll hear no more of AJ and Ambrose for a while for the title. Prediction: AJ Styles
Tables Match for SmackDown Women’s Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Alexa Bliss
A rematch from SmackDown in Glasgow, this could well see a surprise title change, particularly with the addition of the tables stipulation. We saw it many years ago when Sheamus beat John Cena in a table match, and given how much of a surprise hit Alexa has been since since she moved up to SmackDown and ruined everyone’s Amazon Echo’s. Whether she keeps the title long term is another story, especially with Nikki Bella’s storyline conveniently coming to an end… Prediction: Alexa Bliss
WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship: Rhyno & Heath Slater (c) vs. Randy Orton & Bray Wyatt
I sense that time is running out for the feel-good story of Rhyno and Heath Slater. Particularly given how strong the Wyatts were made to look at the Survivor Series, I fully expect a title change here; but hopefully without killing the champions so much that they’re left with little choice but to split and return to midcard obscurity. Prediction: Randy Orton & Bray Wyatt
Ladder Match for WWE Intercontinental Championship: The Miz (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler
After many many matches between these two, including one for the sake of a chicken burger, this is the last time they’re doing it for the title. For now. They’ve only just switched it back to the Miz, and there’s no legs in anything with Ziggler right now – especially given that they’ve already done the title switch… so you could be cynical and say they’ll switch it back. I’m going to go with Miz retaining, and we’ll see where Dolph goes from here. Prediction: The Miz
Chairs Match: Kalisto vs. Baron Corbin
After wrecking SmackDown’s dreams of getting the Cruiserweight division, Baron’s punishment ended up being… a match with Kane. Which bled into this, a chairs match against Kalisto, since the former title challenger attacked Baron with a chair. This could go one of two ways: Kalisto gets his revenge with an equaliser, or he gets wiped off the face of the earth. Knowing WWE, I’m kinda wavering towards their usual… Prediction: Baron Corbin
No Disqualification: Carmella vs. Nikki Bella
Finally, we wrap up with the “secondary” women’s feud on SmackDown – and it’s another one that’s been building since the draft. A lot of people have Nikki pegged as being the next Women’s championship challenger, so there’s only one result that would get here here. It’s almost nailed on this… Prediction: Nikki Bella
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Ian Hamilton has been a wrestling fan since 1992, and when he’s not watching WWE, New Japan or his latest wrestling love, PROGRESS, he’s usually suffering through Sunderland AFC and the New York Jets. He’s got a couple of books out on Amazon – “Wrestling’s Sinking Ship” and “Gone Too Soon”, and can be reached via his website, BackBodyDrop.com, or on Twitter @theianhamilton
Episode three of this season of Total Divas seemed to be more like an episode of Girls Gone Wild. From bikini-clad photo shoots, to biker chick makeovers, the women of WWE seemed to be out to live dangerously in this episode.
The episode began by showcasing a new women’s superstar, Maryse, wife of WWE superstar The Miz. Maryse has a soft spot for all furry creatures, particularly cats and dogs. Apparently, The Miz shared her passion at first, but now he is not content with the number of furry occupants of his house. Maryse didn’t share her husband’s feelings though. She seemed to believe that all The Miz needed was to behold another furry face and need in his resolve would melt.
So, Maryse went out and adopted a stray pup named Luna. Call me crazy, but I believe that any additions to a couple’s household should be approved by both members of that couple! Apparently, one mistake wasn’t enough for Maryse.
She decided to take her new puppy out to an event just moments after getting her. To make matters worse, Luna chose to do her business in the middle of the red carpet. Here’s a tip Maryse, next time you take your pooch to an event make sure she’s potty trained first.
However, Maryse wasn’t done deceiving her husband. After the Miz begrudgingly accepted the new member of the family, he got another surprise from his wife.
Obviously, Maryse is comfortable making all kinds of purchases without consulting her husband, because not only did she buy a new dog, but she also purchased a house without telling The Miz first. Here are some best murale design to renovate your home wall. I understand that the couple had previously renovated old houses, and resold them turning a profit, but I still feel as though any kind of real estate should be purchased with the consent of one’s husband. I didn’t blame The Miz for his angry reaction when Maryse showed him their new property. I understand his reaction even more when I consider the fact that he was getting ready to leave his wife alone in the home for a month while shooting a film in Vancouver Canada.
The Miz didn’t want to come home and find out that he owned half the valley in California without realizing it.
Maryse wasn’t the only Diva who made big decisions on this episode. Brie Bella decided that it was time for a girls weekend. On this girls weekend, Brie was determined to fulfill every crazy fantasy that she had before becoming pregnant with her husband, WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan.
For Brie, her crazy girls weekend to do list included a bikini-clad photo shoot in LA with fellow WWE stars Renée Young, Paige, and of course her sister Nikki. Since marrying Daniel Bryan, Brie has tried to stifle her inclinations to drink and party in favor of a calm environmentally friendly lifestyle. However, on the particular weekend shown, Brie had a little risk in mind.
She wanted to get a tattoo without even conferring with her husband. Also, she wanted to stroll around the pool area wearing a thong bikini. While I understand Brie wanting to have what she saw as one crazy last night of fun, maybe she should have considered the fact that her future child might have access to the WWE Network and be able to witness all her mother’s naughty escapades. Another Diva spent this episode trying to make bad girls look good.
WWE Superstar Naomi received some good news from WWE’s creative director at the beginning of this episode of Total Divas. She had been chosen to star as Murphy, a gun wielding biker chick. The only problem was that Naomi had a huge fear of motorcycles. Her only consolation was that her husband Jay Uso would be there to support her, however, Jay insisted that he couldn’t be in Toronto with Naomi because of his own work commitments.
In an effort to calm his wife’s fears, Jay brought Naomi to a motorcycle shop so that she could select gear for herself to wear while she was in character. He also wanted her to try sitting on and starting a motorcycle in order to allay her fears.
However, when she started the motorcycle she only became more frightened. After the disastrous trip to the motorcycle shop, Jay decided to let his wife test out a moped so that she would feel more comfortable with a large motorcycle, but this backfired because no sooner had Naomi mounted the moped, she crashed it, making her more frightened than ever.
She was even more enraged when her husband didn’t seem to take her fear seriously. To Jey’s credit, he did apologize to his wife by bringing her flowers and promising to visit her on the side of her new movie.
I can’t wait to see what adventures the Divas are up to next week.
The TNA Knockouts Rosemary and Jade main evented Impact on POP last night, participating in the first female Six Sides of Steel match for the Knockouts title.
The TNA Knockouts title was vacated by Gail Kim on the October 9 Impact after she suffered an injury. She had won the title a week earlier at the Bound For Glory pay-per-view the night after she was inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame.
Kim watched the cage match from ringside and saw Rosemary win the Knockouts title following her Red Wedding finisher.
Rosemary, the 33-year-old Canadian, is in her first year with TNA after signing a deal with the company back in January.
Episode three of season six of Total Divas did a total of 595,000 viewers, up from last week’s Thanksgiving eve episode which did 461,000 viewers. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
We just had this year’s Survivor Series but WWE is looking ahead and already planning to sell Survivor Series travel packages for next year starting next week.
The 30th anniversary of the Survivor Series will be held in Houston, Texas and will include an NXT Takeover, the pay-per-view, Raw, and Smackdown all in the same city.
Each travel package will include a Survivor Series, NXT, Raw, and Smackdown ticket at the Toyota Center, a Sunday breakfast with exclusive autograph sessions with WWE Superstars, and either 3 or 4 night accommodation depending if you’re staying for Smackdown.
Only Gold and VIP packages are available and will be on sale at SurvivorSeriesTravel.com beginning Tuesday, December 6 at Noon EST.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is taking his Ballers from Florida and he’s moving out!
Earlier this year there were concerns from the city of Miami that production for season 3 of HBO’s Ballers might move away due to lack of credits from the state. Variety reports that the state of California is giving production $8.3 million in tax credit to start filming there.
The 10 episodes of season 3 of Ballers will employ 135 cast, 209 base crew and nearly 6,000 extras. Production is expected to generate $33.5 million to the state.
“I’m excited to bring our @BallersHBO to California. It’s smart $business for us, but also generates thousands of jobs for people,” Johnson wrote on his Twitter today.
The NXT stars and crew will be heading to Japan and Australia today to kick off their tour.
There will be six events held over a period of ten days, with one event in Japan and five in Australia. There was supposed to be a stop in New Zealand as well but those events were canceled.
The tour starts on Saturday, December 3 at the Edion Arena in Osaka, Japan with the return of Shinsuke Nakamura and Asuka, who will be wrestling in Japan for the first time since signing with NXT.
The tour resumes on Wednesday, December 7 with a stop at the AIS Arena in Canberra, then another show the next day in Melbourne at the Margaret Court Arena.
After a day rest, it’s off to Newcastle at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre on Saturday, December 10. The next day on December 11 it’s one show in Queensland at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre before wrapping up the tour with one final show on Tuesday, December 13 at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.
It is believed that some stuff will be filmed for NXT television during this tour so some matches might make it on the NXT TV show.
PWInsider.com is reporting that Ric Flair has signed a new deal with WWE and will be appearing regularly on Monday Night Raw from next week.
Flair appeared on Raw earlier this week to congratulate Sasha Banks after she defeated his daughter Charlotte to win the WWE Raw Women’s title for the third time. Prior to Monday’s appearance, Flair last showed up at the end of May after he was “dumped” by Charlotte on Raw following a segment where she blamed him for not being there during her childhood.
The Nature Boy has been popping up on WWE television regularly since 2013.
The pre-sale for NXT Takeover: San Antonio kicks off this morning at 10 AM CST and will end at 10PM CST tonight on Ticketmaster.com.
Ticket prices range from $20 to $105 plus additional fees. The code needed to unlock the pre-sale is NXTLIVE. (Thanks to @TheMagnumDA for the code).
The general sale then kicks off tomorrow, December 2 at 10AM CST however the majority of the tickets are expected to be gone today during the pre-sale. NXT Takeover shows are usually the hottest selling tickets among wrestling fans during PPV weekends.
The show will be held at the Freeman Coliseum on Saturday, January 28 on the eve of the Royal Rumble.
Last night’s Smackdown drew 2,576,000 viewers, up 71,000 viewers from the previous week. The show was third in the 18-49 demographic among all cable shows. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
The Elimination Chamber will be returning to the WWE pay-per-view calendar in 2017 and will take place at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona.
The TSR Arena revealed the news on their Twitter account, attaching a photo of the logo of the Elimination Chamber with the words, “In 2017… the Chamber returns! Details coming soon.”
No date was given or any other details if it will be a Raw, Smackdown, or a combo pay-per-view. There was no Elimination Chamber last year, with 2015 being the last time the show took place. It was held at the end of May rather than the usual February timeframe.
Up until 2014, the Elimination Chamber was the February pay-per-view and the last big event stop before WrestleMania.
Season six of Total Divas returns on E! tonight with episode three titled A Big Flippin’ Deal.
The synopsis of tonight’s episode reads, “Maryse clashes with Mike when she makes big decisions without him, Brie panics after a pregnancy scare and Trinity is offered a role in Marine 5 but must face her fears of riding a motorcycle first.”
A quick background on this show: Most of the competitors in this division participated in the Cruiserweight Classic (CWC) that ran all summer on the WWE Network. The finals were held on a live broadcast, where Triple H declared that the winner of the tournament would become the first WWE Cruiserweight Champion.
In an incredible bout, TJ Perkins defeated Gran Metalik to win the title. TJ went on to hold the title until Hell in a Cell, where The Brian Kendrick made Perkins tap out with the Captain’s Hook. On the 11/22 Raw, Rich Swann defeated Noam Dar and TJ Perkins in a Triple Threat match to become the #1 contender for the Cruiserweight Championship. This gives us tonight’s main event, as Kendrick defends the title against Rich Swann.
We open with a video showing various clips of the Cruiserweight Classic. This is followed by a lead-in video showcasing the talent. The announcers for 205 Live are Mauro Ranallo, Corey Graves, and Austin Aries. Wait…Austin Aries?! Corey is enamored. Aries states that he wants a shot at the title.
They introduce the entire division at the top of the entrance ramp. Starting from the left, they introduce Rich Swann, TJ Perkins, Jack Gallagher, Ho Ho Lun, the Bollywood Boyz (Harv & Gurv Serha), Noam Dar, Tony Nese, Drew Gulak, Ariya Daivari, Cedric Alexander, Lince Dorado, Akira Tozawa, Mustafa Ali, Gran Metalik and the Cruiserweight Champion, The Brian Kendrick. Huge Carolina pop for Cedric Alexander! There’s a positive reception for Akira Tozawa, as well.
We then go to a video package introducing the Bollywood Boyz. Nice tribute to the Hollywood Blondes with the camera taunt. They tell a story about their vision-impaired Grandfather (aged 95) being able to hear their entrance, and how much it meant to him. This leads into our opening contest.
Match #1: The Bollywood Boyz (Harv & Gurv Serha) vs. Drew Gulak & Tony Nese
Nese jumps right in and lands some haymakers. Harv & Gurv hit some basic double-team maneuvers leading to a double drop-kick. Nese makes the tag while Aries knocks it out of the park with some hilarious insults (calling the Bollywood Boyz “Herp” & “Derp”). Gulak enters the match and hits a nasty drop kick, followed by stomps to the guts. A body slam into the ropes gets a two-count for Gulak. Tag into Nese, who gets a running forearm for 2. Bodyscissors as the crowd tries to rally Gurv. Eventually, the hot tag is made to Harv, who is a house of fire! He hits Gulak with a crossbody on the floor. This leads to the finish, where the Bollywood Boyz hit the double superkick for the win!
Winners: The Bollywood Boyz
They dance and celebrate with the crowd, while Tom Phillips goes to interview Gulak and Nese. They complain about the competition (Gulak calls Harv and Gurv the “Bollywood Bozos”), as well as the conditions within the ring.
Video package for Noam Dar. They showcase him as the youngest talent in the division. They show clips from the CWC, including his trademark kneebar. He declares himself a “Cool Cat” and a “Supernova”. Okay, then.
Tom Phillips is with The Brian Kendrick. The Cruiserweight Champion asks Tom if he’s a gambling man, because he should bet everything on Kendrick retaining the title. The interview is interrupted by TJ Perkins, who reminds Kendrick that he’s still owed a rematch. He then wishes Kendrick good luck. Foreshadowing…?
Video package for Gran Metalik. This dude is completely out of this world. If you got a chance to see him during the CWC, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Match #2: Ariya Daivari vs. Jack Gallagher
Handshake slapped away to start. Early chain wrestling between the two, leading to Gallagher tying Ariya into a pretzel and laying back on it for a two-count! Daivari takes the advantage with a headlock, but Gallagher uses a handstand to escape the hold. Even Aries doesn’t know what to say after seeing that move! An irish whip by Daivari leads to a headstand on the buckle by Gallagher. This leads to a series of near-falls, as Gallagher transitions into an armbar. Another pretzel twist and Daivari is tied to…himself? As Daivari is tied up, Gallagher hits him with a RUNNING KICK IN THE ARSE! Daivari recovers and throws Jack out of the ring. As he comes back in, Ariya meets him with a knee-drop to the back of the head for two. Daivari continues to work on Gallagher’s back and neck with knees. A reversal by Jack leads to a series of dropkicks and a flying press for two. Daivari hits the signature elbow, but Gallagher returns serve with a headbutt to the chest and a running dropkick into the corner for the three-count!
Winner: Jack Gallagher
Video package for Lince Dorado, including clips from WWN. They show his shooting star press, as well as a brief look into his Puerto Rican background. He says the people will remember his name.
Main Event: WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match
The Brian Kendrick (c) vs. Rich Swann
The Champion enters first. This is followed by a video package for Rich Swann. Swann lost his parents at a young age, and says that wrestling pulled him out of a bad place (joining a gang and cocaine addiction, though it’s not discussed on-air). Swann talks about going all over the world, and that he’s ready to be the best. Swann’s entire presentation is memorable: He’s a fantastic dancer, great entertainer, and that “Can you handle this?” theme music is so damn catchy.
They trade armbars and Kendrick takes the early advantage. Fans are really behind Swann. Swann gets a headlock that’s reversed into an irish whip. Swann turns that into a running front flip, hitting a crisp drop kick for two. Swann takes the headlock, which is reversed by Kendrick, followed by a mafia kick and running forearms. Chops by Swann get the “Whoo!” treatment from the crowd. Swann is reversed as Kendrick targets the neck with elbows. A Sliced Bread #2 attempt is reversed, and Kendrick escapes for a breather. Swann interrupts that with a diving drop kick through the ropes. Swann runs on the barricade and hits a somersault cannonball onto Kendrick. They trade blows, and Kendrick grabs a german suplex for two. Kendrick applies the Captain’s Hook, but Swann gets the ropes. Kendrick attempts a dragon suplex, but that’s reversed by Swann into a bridging belly-to-back suplex for two. Swann has the advantage as they go to the top rope, but Kendrick hits a neckbreaker onto the post! Sick move!
Swann is selling the neck, and is barely able to get into the ring before the ten-count. Kendrick picks him up and hits a snap suplex for a very close two-count! Kendrick tries another Dragon Suplex, and is able to hit it this time. Swann barely gets out at two, but Kendrick lunges into the Captain’s Hook out of the near-fall. Swann is able to get out, but not before Kendrick grabs both arms and wraps them around his own neck. Swann cuts him off with a kick to the head, and then he hits a spinning Michinoku Driver for another two-count! Kendrick runs into another vicious kick! Swann tries the standing 450, but Kendrick gets the knees up. Kendrick gets a two count, and tries the Captain’s Hook once more. Swann fights to the ropes and eventually makes it. Kendrick goes up to the top, but Swann is ready to meet him with an elbow. Swann gets Kendrick in a front face lock, but Kendrick bites him in the hand and gives him Sliced Bread #2 from the top rope! One, two….No! Swann is still alive! Swann comes back to hit three spinning back kicks in a row to get the THREE COUNT! We have a NEW WWE Cruiserweight Champion.
Winner: Rich Swann (New WWE Cruiserweight Champion)
Swann grabs the mic and says this victory is for “all of us”. He goes on to dedicate the match to his deceased mother, saying that she’s there in spirit. Mr. T would be so proud. In the aisle way, Tom Phillips interviews a distraught Brian Kendrick, who says that tonight was supposed to be his night. He closes by saying “Don’t get used to this, and don’t get used to him!” The camera returns to Swann, who continues to dance and celebrate as the show comes to a close. See you next week!
2016 was a great year for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and it’s ending in style too as he is featured on this week’s double issue of Sports Illustrated with the cover line, “Dwayne Johnson Owns Hollywood: How Football Helped Create the Ultimate Baller.”
SI’s Senior Writer Alan Shipnuck digs deep with Johnson about his past football career and how failing to make it to the NFL forced him into wrestling, which sent him down his path to stardom. SI spoke to everyone including Michael Strahan, business manager Danny Garcia and his former football coach at LSU Ed Orgeron among others. SI explores Johnson’s ventures and Hollywood success and Johnson opens up about his relatable life experience through his character on HBO’s Ballers as well as what his future holds.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SI COVER STORY:
Johnson opens up to SI about the time he realized football was his chance to make a difference: “I fell in love with the game..it was more than that, actually. It gave my life a purpose. Coach Cwik sat me down and said, ‘Listen, your family doesn’t have any money. Your grades are average. If you’re going to get out of this town and make a different life for yourself, football is the vehicle.’ He explained how I could get a scholarship, and that was a whole shift in my psychology. Suddenly I had a chance to become the first person in my family to go to college. I became obsessed with making it.”
Johnson on how his failed football career set him up for stardom: “I’d always had a very specific vision of my future. I was going to be Michael Strahan: I would win a Super Bowl with the Giants. I’d have the beautiful wife, the big house . . . strangely, that house was in New Jersey. I think about it all the time: What if I had been a little better at football? Maybe I would’ve had that success and become complacent. But I didn’t get to walk away [from football] on my terms, and that lit a fire that still burns. I wanted that life I had envisioned, but I had to find another way.”
Johnson on comparing his failure of football to that of his mentor, actor Kurt Russell, who was a second baseman in the Angel’s minor league system: “So much of his drive comes from failing as a baseball player…he had one goal, to make it to the big leagues. We’ve had great philosophical conversations about how you make sense of your failures. And you know what the simple answer is? I was in the wrong game. And now I’m in the right one.”
Michael Strahan reacts to being Johnson’s longtime fantasy: “Man, I’d gladly trade lives with him right now! O.K., he didn’t quite have the football career he wanted, but most guys don’t. And those who do pay a steep price physically. I think it’s pretty clear Dwayne got the last laugh.”
Toby Emmerich, executive producer of this year’s Central Intelligence speaks to Johnson’s acting career: “Dwayne is now everyone’s first choice for any big role,” says Toby Emmerich, an executive producer of this year’s Central Intelligence, a spy caper in which Johnson sprays bullets and one-liners with equal aplomb alongside his little buddy Kevin Hart. “Maybe once in a generation you get a performer with this kind of versatility and range and likability. It’s rarified air. And for him to have come from a sports background? The odds of that happening are one in a hundred million. Every athlete in every sport wants to try to be an actor, but how many make it?”
This issue hits newsstands Thursday, December 1. You can see the cover of the magazine with The Rock below.
There’s a new cruiserweight show in town and also a new Cruiserweight champion in town as well as last night Rich Swann defeated The Brian Kendrick on the premiere episode of 205 Live to capture the title.
The one-hour WWE Network weekly series had the title match as its main event which lasted nearly 20 minutes and ended when Swann delivered three spinning heel kicks in succession before pinning Kendrick.
After the match, Swann was interviewed in the ring. “WWE Universe, this is us right here baby,” Swann said as he held his title up. Swann thanked his mom, saying that she’s looking down on him right now and while she’s not physically there, she’s there in spirit. “This one is for you, mom.”
Joining Mauro Ranallo and Corey Graves on the commentary table was NXT’s Austin Aries, currently sidelined with an eye injury. He said he’s bringing star power to the show and eventually he would capture the WWE Cruiserweight title.
Monday Night Raw this week drew 3,110,000 viewers, an increase of 108,000 viewers from last week’s broadcast.
Hour one drew 3,163,000 viewers, followed by 3,130,000 in the second hour, and then 3,039,000 in the third and final hour with the strong women’s main event.
This was the first time since October 17 that Raw delivered over 3 million viewers in each hour and it was the second best number since August 29. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
W-O reader Liam Johnson attended last night’s show at the Comedy Store in Manchester, England which featured a Q&A show with TNA’s Broken Matt Hardy. Below is his report.
Inside the Ropes’ Kenny McIntosh opened the show and asked if anyone had heard of What Culture Pro Wrestling.
This lead to Kenny spoofing their drawings by showing a photo on the big screen of him which then became a drawing (if you’ve seen What Culture promo material, you’ll know what I mean).
Reby Hardy was then introduced by Kenny who proceeded to play Matt Hardy’s theme tune on an electronic keyboard (with a piano sound effect). As displayed on Impact Wrestling, Reby is great on piano.
Senor Benjamin then appeared on the big screen (to a great ovation from the crowd) followed by a video compilation with excerpts from Matt’s recent movies that have appeared during Impact Wrestling.
A scene with Matt fighting “Smokin” Joe Frazier the Kangaroo got a particularly strong reaction (as you can imagine). This was actually a really good introduction video and showed footage of the Drone Vanguard 1 targeting an absolute mule (in a field) and Vince McMahon (in Titan Towers) for deletion. This then proceeded to an overheard view of Manchester and then then arriving at the Comedy Store with the message “Target Acquired” on the screen.
Matt then got onto the stage and said the screen behind was obsolete. Matt then asked everyone to sing along with him the words, “you’ll fade away and classify and declare yourself as obsolete” as the screen rolled up.
Matt then mentioned a man in the audience called Joe who was in a wheelchair. Matt mentioned an incident during the meet and greet earlier where Joe got out of his wheelchair and Matt sat in there instead for photos. I saw it happen and it was pretty funny and got a good reaction.
Matt mentioned how Vince McMahon (or as he pronounced it, “Meekman”) “deserved deletion”. Matt put over another one of his short films that will air on Impact Wrestling. This one will end on 15th December and is called Apocolypto. Matt said he’d become the sole promoter of TNA and that the TNA name would be no more. The name would be Total Non-stop Deletion instead.
Kenny asked Matt about “Smokin’” Joe Frazier (the boxing kangaroo). Matt said that a dream match would be between Frazier and Grado. Matt said Frazier would hit Grado so hard, Matt would then be able to understand his Scottish accent.
Matt mentioned how he was talking to George Washington the Giraffe and how when he did a podcast with Jericho (who he referred to as “Brother Keith”), he said that Jericho’s list was George the Giraffe’s idea. As you can guess, Matt was kayfabing parts of this.
Kenny asked about the video segments that have aired on Impact Wrestling over recent months. Matt said that pro wrestling is meant to be fun. Matt out over the Apocalypto match that will be shown in mid-December. Matt said there’d be cameos and that it would change the perception of professional wrestling.
Matt mentioned his jobber days in WWE and said that Jeff and himself were there to be team players. Matt said they were told that the WWF wanted to do something with them in 1997 but they knew they’d arrived after the tag ladder match in 1999.
Kenny asked about Michael Hayes’ involvement with the Hardys. Matt said he learned more from Hayes than anyone else in the wrestling business. The first two weeks with Hayes were fine but they were ready to kill him by week three. Hayes always wanted to eat at places that had a bar. Kenny asked about the tag ladder match and how the old schoolers backstage perceived it. Matt said Steve Austin in particular liked it. Matt didn’t really mention who disliked it.
Matt said that sinking his teeth into “Meekman” would make him ejaculate with joy. Matt then summoned Vanguard 1 (the drone) to get the coordinates of Vince at once. Some crazy random stuff happened in this show!
Matt made the point that professional wrestling has leaned too far to the right of athleticism. Matt said once you’re a spot money, that’s it for you in his opinion.
Matt kept grinning when Kenny tried to ask him a question about Vince’s purchase of WCW. Kenny eventually asked whether everyone in the WWF at the time was interested or excited about the purchase. Matt said it was a dark day in wrestling and that he never thought McMahon ever wanted to run WCW as a separate entity. Matt also said that if you weren’t a WWF creation, you likely wouldn’t have much of a run there.
Kenny asked if there was an “us vs them” mentality. Matt never thought it was that bad. Matt said the moment he knew things would be different was when an arena in Vancouver was half empty. Matt said that with WCW going out of business and 9/11 harming the economy, both hurt wrestling at the time.
Matt was asked whose idea it was to split up. It sounded like it was Vince’s idea. Matt said that Jeff came off well against the Undertaker in a great ladder match and was drafted to Raw. Matt was drafted to Smackdown.
Matt went into the crowd asking for Matt facts. One of the crowd got one of the facts wrong. Matt asked what his punishment should be to which one of the crowd shouted “anal”. Matt said he’d delete the person who got the fact wrong later on.
Matt talked about his match at Mania 19 against Rey Mysterio. Kenny asked who wore more stylish clothes, Hardy or Rey. Matt came up with the fairly diplomatic answer of for more modern fashion, it’s Rey and for older fashion, it’s Matt.
Matt said he was able to get away with a lot more on Smackdown and that Raw was watched by Vince like a hawk.
Kenny asked whether the “Bucks of Youth” (the Young Bucks) would make a cameo in the Apocalypto movie. Matt asked if anyone had seen the “Bucks of Youth” recently in the UK (some people had). Matt said in reality, he liked the Young Bucks and thought they’d done well to make a name for themselves without being in WWE.
Kenny asked which crazy idea from Vince McMahon shouldn’t have been used. Matt answered with “ancient mule” Mae Young giving birth to a hand.
Matt talked about a flight during his WWE days where Vince kept trying to take down Kurt Angle in an amateur style wrestling match. Matt said Vince kept trying but Kurt kept winning. McMahon tried to get Matt to help him cheat but it still didn’t work. Kurt won again!
Matt was asked about working with Edge. Matt said he went out there and was professional at all times (Edge stole Matt’s then-girlfriend Lita aka Amy Dumas and it was a shoot). Matt mentioned how everyone gets put through good and bad experiences but what defines you is how you deal with them.
Kenny asked whether WWE missed the boat with not letting Matt be champion. Matt said that he’ll meet McMahon again and that he was invited to Apocalypto. Matt talked about maybe bring out a cook book just for the hell of it with recipes from his recent film on Impact Wrestling. Matt then had a “powerful premonition” of sitting at a dinner table and eating green beans. To which the audience laughed like crazy.
Matt was asked about Evander Holyfield and said he was more intimidated boxing “Smokin’” Joe Frazier. Matt said that JBL did commentary on Saturday Night’s Main Event. Bradshaw thought he was off the air but mentioned how Evander heard a line from JBL talking about how he wouldn’t trust Evander near his wife (having being married several times with several kids). Evander nearly walked off and no-showed the match.
Matt said it’s important to keep strong continuity and not to insult the fan’s intelligence in professional wrestling.
Matt talked about Roman Reigns and how he should turn heel (and then maybe make him a babyface once his heel run is up).
Matt said he was physically burnt out after leaving WWE in 2010 and should’ve taken a year off rather than join Impact Wrestling straight away.
Kenny talked about the “Fat Hardy” chants that Ring Of Honor fans made towards him and how Matt responded with videos of him bathing in his own money. Matt said that ROH’s (or “The Honorable Ring”) matches are usually good and the fans are so smart, the fans respect the wrestlers so much that they don’t boo either competitor. Matt changed that though at the time though.
Matt talked about having matches with Eddie Guerrero on the second match of the card every night at house shows after Steve Austin walked out. An announcement was made after the first match was made that Austin wouldn’t be there as advertised but if you wanted a refund, you’d have to get one at the end of the second match. To counteract this, Matt and Eddie put on some great matches. However, Matt said that Eddie’s time keeping was awful and the matches overran every time. Jack Lanza (who was an agent at the time) liked the matches but kept telling them off over how long they were going for. Matt said that Eddie was the most gifted crowd reader he’d ever been in the ring with.
Matt said that in TNA, if he’d kept the title longer as “Big Money Matt”, “Broken Matt” might not have happened. It’s funny how things turn out sometimes.
Matt was asked if he’d go back to WWE. Matt said that Apocalypto would bury anything more than the man with three Hs had buried. Matt then said his TNA contract is up in February. Matt said he’d delete McMahon, HHH and Bray Wyatt for trying to have a Wyatt compound (referring to the WWE rip-off of the Matt Hardy movies).
Matt talked about the TNA name and how the people in charge should change it. Matt said they need to change the branding for sponsors etc. as there are no longer strippers in cages like there were when the promotion first started. Matt said the UK should have a new television deal for TNA soon but didn’t elaborate on that (TNA recently lost their UK TV deal).
Matt talked about facing Bully Ray at What Culture Pro Wrestling. Matt said that Vince made Bully obsolete but that he’d delete him. Matt then cut a promo on Bully Ray and posted it on Facebook Live to close the show.
It was a good show. Matt did a good job of staying in character whilst still answering shoot-style questions. Glad I went!
Tuesday Night Smackdown! Live TV Report for November 29th, 2016 – “No ‘Tender, Loving, Care!’”
Introduction Segment: Video Promo and Welcoming
The regular Smackdown! Live video plays, the pyro blows in the arena, and we are live in Columbia, South Carolina! Mauro Ranallo greets us and we go to the ring.
Segment #2: Arena Promo
Renee Young brings out Alexa Bliss and Women’s Champion Becky Lynch. They will be signing their contract for their Women’s Championship Match this Sunday, at Tables, Ladders, and Chairs. Alexa dismisses Young right away and the two wrestlers get into it verbally. Lynch accuses Bliss of always “whining” to get what she wants, comparing Alexa to Becky’s four-year-old nephew.
Bliss throws Irish-clichés at Lynch until the Women’s Champion has enough and forearms Bliss. They brawl in the corner, and then Becky tears apart the contract table. (Both have signed by now.) She places Alexa atop the turnbuckle but can’t suplex her off onto the table; Bliss counters and pushes Becky through the wood apparatus.
Up next, Kalisto and Dolph Ziggler will face Baron Corbin and Intercontinental Champion The Miz!
Commercials.
Match #1: Tag-Team – Dolph Ziggler and Kalisto VS. Baron Corbin and Intercontinental Champion The Miz (with Maryse)
Dolph hits a dropkick on Baron as they begin, but Corbin hits back hard with a clothesline and mouths off at Kalisto.
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Corbin is still in control, chucking Dolph out of the ring. he switches with Miz, who pulls a ladder from under the ring. Ziggler fights back and leaps on to Miz, driving him to the floor mat with a DDT! Both make it in the ring just before ten, and then Dolph leaps to Kalisto for the hot-tag!
The Lucha Dragon flies around Miz but soon eats a boot as he ran off of the ropes. Miz runs through the ropes with a front-dropkick onto Ziggler and focuses on him. Kalisto dives through the ropes onto Baron, but Maryse takes out Dolph by dumping the ladder on him!
In the ring, Kalisto plants Miz with his Solida-Del-Sol, but Corbin slides in and whacks Kalisto with a chair, causing a dq!
Winners via Disqualification: Dolph Ziggler and Kalisto
Commercials.
Segment #3: Backstage Promo
Dasha interviews American Alpha about their main-event Tag-Team #1 Contender’s Match against The Wyatt Family. Jason Jordan and Chad Gable declare that they are ready and say Bray should abide by their own words to “run.”
Segment #4: Video Promo
“American Alpha is delusional. But if they truly want to prove that they are the greatest team on Smackdown! Live…” Bray starts. Randy interrupts, “I used to be just like American Alpha; I was naïve, close-minded, blind. But now, I see everything as if I truly belong.” Randy says he and Bray are ready to defeat Gable and Jordon, but inquires if Luke Harper is capable of detaching Kane; Bray orders Luke to “go send Kane back to hell.”
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Match #2: Single – Carmella VS. ?
Prior to the match, Carmella tells John Cena – who is in a relationship with her opponent, Nikki Bella – that she will decimate Nikki to the point of hospitalization. Nikki charges out and the two battle around the ring until Referee Andrew tries to pull them apart. Carmella retreats to the aisle, and she is not going to wrestle after all.
Winner: No Contest due to no official start
After the break, The Ambrose Asylum with Dean and James Ellsworth!
Commercials.
Segment #5: Arena Promo
Dean Ambrose is out, with the ring decorated in a carpet, a sign, and Tables, Ladders, and Chairs. He brings out his friend, James Ellsworth, who receives chants of “Ellsworth” ala Goldberg. Ambrose pokes fun at James’ boots, and then asks him if he thought that he’d be a WWE wrestler.
Ellsworth concurs that he didn’t, but is happy to be now, and promises to be there for Dean. “The Lunatic Fringe” takes him up on his offer, getting James to run some errands, and then questions who Ellsworth is picking to win the WWE World Championship TLC Match between Ambrose and Champion A.J. Styles. James says “it would be an honor” to face Dean for the WWE World Championship, but wants to take on A.J., since he already beat him “three times!”
“The Phenomenal One” saunters out and is not pleased with James or Dean. The #1 Contender for the WWE World Championship vows to regain the gold. A.J. shoves Ellsworth into Ambrose into the ladder. Styles slings Dean chest-first into the steel steps and assaults James. He hits him in the back with a steel chair, and then gives him a Styles Clash from the steel steps onto the floor!
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Segment #6: Backstage Promo
Ellsworth is strapped to a stretcher and placed in the ambulance; Dean goes with him, saying “it’s my fault; we’ll fix it.”
Match #3: Single – Kane VS. Luke Harper
They lockup and Kane shoves Harper to the mat. Luke clamps on a standing side-headlock and then shoulder-blocks, but Kane does not fall. He tries again, but Kane doesn’t budge. Kane hits back with a shoulder-tackle, but is slapped and kicked. He still doesn’t move much, and then both taunt each other. Kane uppercuts Luke, and then Harper slides to the outside and then jawbreaks with the ropes. Kane hits back with a clothesline, tumbling Luke to the floor!
Commercials.
Harper now has a grounding rear-chinlock on Kane, but “The Big Red Machine” counters with a jawbreaker. Luke hits a couple of more moves, but Kane counters off of the ropes with a DDT! Kane follows with a couple of clotheslines and then planting him with a sidewalk slam! 1 – 2 – Harper kicks out!
Luke regains dominance in the corner, but he is slammed to the canvas with a powerbomb out of the corner! 1 – 2 – Harper still raises his shoulder! Kane tries a chokeslam, but Harper elbows out of it and slams Kane with a Bossman-slam (R.I.P.). He goes for the Gator Roll, but Kane reverses into a backdrop!
“The devil’s favorite demon” climbs the turnbuckle, but Luke moves from the dive and superkicks Kane for a near-fall! Harper climbs the turnbuckle but Kane counters with an uppercut! He follows with a super-plex and then they both slug away! Kane manages a chokeslam and covers for the victory!
Winner via Pinfall: Kane
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Segment #7: Backstage Promo
Rene Young interviews Women’s Champion Beck Lynch about defending her title at TLC Lynch affirms, despite a spinal-bruise, that she will wrestle Alexa Bliss at TLC, in a TABLES Match!
The Wyatt Family and American Alpha make their entrances for the main-event!
Commercials.
Match #4: Tag Team – The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton) VS. American Alpha (Chad Gable and Jason Jordan)
(Stipulation: #1 Contender’s Match for the Tag-Team Championship at T.L.C.)
Jason and Randy waistlock each other to start, and then Orton elbows Jordan. He switches with Bray, who is waistlock-slammed by Jason, and then shoulder-rammed by Chad. American double-dropkick Wyatt, infuriating him to rip apart the announcers’ table.
Bray goes back into the ring and tosses Jordan onto the top rope. The Family dominate for a bit with roughness, dumping Gable to the floor.
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Bray and Chad fight on the apron and then Bray drops him with a DDT! Orton is back in, punching Gable and then wearing him down with a grounding rear-chinlock. Bray is back in and stops Chad from making the hot-tag, and then slams him down hard on the mat! He mount-punches Gable, and then slaps-hands with Randy.
“The Viper” sets up Chad on the top turnbuckle, delays a tick, and then superplexes! Both crawl for tags and make them! Jordan lights up Wyatt and Randy, and is fired up! He runs at Bray in the corner, and then Saito-suplex him! (Thanks, J.B.L.!) He soon psyches up for the finish, but The Wyatt Family’s video plays and Luke Harper appears at ringside!
Harper pulls Bray out of the way from a running Jason, right after Orton RKO’ed Gable! Bray gives Sister Abigail to Jordan and covers for the victory!
Winners and #1 Contenders to the Tag-Team Championship: The Wyatt Family
Post-match, Tag-Team Champions Heath Slater and Rhyno are asked about their new challengers; they say The Wyatt Family better be ready. WWE World Champion A.J. Styles walks in and degrades the Tag Team champions, saying that he is more important. Dean Ambrose runs in and they scuffle around the locker room, with Rhyno and Slater not helping A.J., to close the show.
Impact on POP TV last week drew a total of 165,000 viewers, a drop of 170,000 viewers from the prior week. The drop was expected as the show happened to be on Thanksgiving day where everything was down. Ratings were delayed due to the holiday. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
