Jade Cargill crossed the 500 days as TBS champion today and is currently the longest-reigning champion in AEW history so far.
Cargill, who remains undefeated in AEW since her debut, won the title on the January 5, 2022 Dynamite against Ruby Soho during Dynamite’s debut on TBS.
During the Warner Bros. Discovery upfronts earlier this week, Cargill’s photo was used to promote TBS, the only one from AEW to be featured like that in the event.
The 30-year-old from Florida made her AEW debut in November 2020.
Former NXT Women’s champion Mandy Rose has teamed up popular MMA and former AEW star Paige VanZant for a collaboration on her FanTime page.
“Hottest collab Evaaa,” Mandy wrote in a post on Instagram, giving fans a streamy sneak peek of what’s to come.
All the photos will be uploaded on Mandy’s paywalled page, the same page which eventually got her fired from WWE several months ago for containing photos that WWE thought crossed the line.
VanZant is super popular on social media as well for obvious reasons with 3.2 million followers on her Instagram.
Mandy’s FanTime access is available for $7.99 for one month.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Wrestling is reporting that the AEW video game titled Fight Forever is finally scheduled to be released on June 27.
The game has been in production for two and a half years already and was originally set to go on sale sometime in 2022. That was however delayed as the company had issues with the ESRB obtaining a teen rating.
In March of this year, Game Changer Wrestling also opposed the trademark application of Fight Forever, a name which they have used before as an event. GCW owner Brett Lauderdale tweeted that GCW has never, and will never ask for a dollar of Tony Khan’s money and just wants assurances that he could use the name again for another event in the future.
Tony Khan has said in the past that he poured in an eight-figure sum to make this game, developed by Yukes and published by THQ Nordic. It will be available on Playstation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X, Microsoft Windows, and Nintendo Switch.
The WWE Women’s Tag Team titles have been vacated…again, this time due to Liv Morgan’s injury.
Morgan suffered an injury on last week’s Smackdown when she and Rodriguez successfully defended their titles against Damage CTRL. Their planned match against Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville on Raw this week was scrapped and now it looks like Morgan’s injury will keep her away longer than expected.
New WWE Women’s Tag Team champions will be crowned on the May 29 episode of Monday Night Raw, with Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler vs Bayley and IYO SKY vs Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville vs Raquel Rodriguez and a partner of her choosing in a fatal four-way match.
Morgan and Rodriguez had been champions since the April 10 episode of Raw, winning the titles from Becky Lynch and Trish Stratus, who replaced Lita.
Paul Heyman, Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa open Smackdown and are quickly joined by Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Roman said he only regrets the time he wasted with Sami and Sami said he wishes he would have hit him with that chair sooner and he is not going to win the tag titles.
Sami tells Roman he isn’t even as good as the Usos and then the Usos attack Sami and Kevin. Roman then yells at the Usos and says this is my ring and I didn’t tell you to come out here. He walks out in the ring but shoulder bumps Sikoa on his way out.
Back in the locker room Roman is yelling at the Usos and tells them to get out.
Pretty Deadly VS. Butch & Ridge Holland
While the referee was distracted getting Butch back out of the ring, Pretty Deadly double-teamed Ridge and the referee turns around and they got the pin.
Winners: Pretty Deadly
A video package was shown with multiple Superstars talking about a former WWWF Champion who passed away this week, Superstar Billy Graham. RIP 1943-2023
Asuka VS. Zelina Vega
Asuka locked in the Asuka lock and Zelina had to give up.
Winner: Asuka
After the match, Asuka refused to break the hold but Bianca Belair comes out and makes the save. Asuka then tried to sneak attack Belair, but Belair sees her and then Asuka tried the mist, but Belair moves just in time.
Grayson Waller makes his Smackdown debut with the Grayson Waller Effect show with guest AJ Styles. Grayson first says AJ is a first-round Hall of Famer and then asks AJ what winning the new World Title would mean to him.
AJ said he sat home with an injury, and it was the longest he has been away from the ring in his entire career and when he got cleared, he got on it and he knew there would be an opportunity and here it is, and he want this new championship more than the air that he breathes.
They then talk about Seth “Freakin” Rollins being on a movie set and AJ said he is happy for him. Grayson stands up and says he is ready for the end of the match when they announce the new World Heavyweight champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins. This led to a stare down and words exchanged off mic between the two.
In the back, the L.W.O. are talking about their match tonight.
The Street Profits VS. L.A. Knight & Rick Boogs
After a fast start by Knight and Boogs, it was Dawkins with the Sky High on Boogs then Ford with the frog splash for the win.
Winners: The Street Profits
After the match, Knight and Boogs shake hands and hug, then Knight hit Boogs with his finisher and leaves Boogs lying in the ring.
In the back, Megan Morant interviews Cameron Grimes. Grimes said he is excited to be on Smackdown and wants to go to the moon.
Karrion Kross and Scarlett are shown with Scarlett holding a card with AJ Styles on it and Kross says Tick Tock.
Isla Dawn & Alba Fyre VS. Valentina Feroz & Yulisa Leon
Dawn and Fyre hit their tag finisher and got the win.
Winners: The NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn
It is announced there will be a fatal four way for the WWE Women’s Tag Team championships on the May 29 episode of Raw and with Liv Morgan’s injury, the titles are vacant. Raquel Rodriguez will be looking for a new partner to compete in the match.
Austin Theory is out to the ring next. Austin says Lashley and Sheamus double teamed him and Lashley is following him. Sheamus comes out and Austin says you have something to say and Sheamus gave him a Brogue Kick and left the ring.
The Usos are in the back getting ready and Paul Heyman comes and says the Tribal Chief forgives you. Paul tells them the Tribal Chief will not be with them tonight, but they don’t need him, it’s the L.W.O. and you’re the Usos you can beat them and don’t make that a prediction, make that a spoiler.
Rey Mysterio & Santos Escobar VS. The Usos
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn come out and Kevin gets the referee’s attention while Sami shoves Jey off the top rope and Rey and Santos were able to score the win.
AEW Rampage tonight comes to us from the Moody Center in Austin, Tx. After last week drawing 284,000 & 0.07 in the 18-49 demo. Lowest ever audience; joint-lowest demo. Out of timeslot yes, but there was nothing on that show to draw viewers in. Dave Meltzer noted that the show started at 388,000 and lost over 100,000 viewers during the second segment.
Quick update – per Fightful Select, AEW Fight Forever apparently has a June 27th release date.
*****
BCC (Mox, Yuta, Claudio) vs Best Friends & Bandido
Backstory: None
Already in the ring – of course – Bandido faced off with Mox, things going badly as the former champ stomped away. Before Bandido ducked and dodged until hitting a dropkick then tagging Trent as Yuta came in on the other side.
A fistfight ensued, Trent hit a nice armdrag to counter a hiptoss then a lariat as Yuta bailed outside. Where Chuck stomped away like a heel before receiving a deserved chopblock from Yuta for cheating. Quick tags from the BCC: Claudio in, the Swiss dropping Taylor via delayed suplex, Mox in again to boot the gut, grab a cravate then tag Yuta.
The youngster missing an attack in the corner – Mox and Trent back in, chops and strikes, half-and-half suplex, another, a third as Mox kept popping up for more until collapsing. The heels outside where the good guy trio hit stereo dives. Things going well until Claudio blocked a Trent springboard via uppercut, Beretta in the wrong corner.
You know what comes next. Ads.
Desperate to tag, Trent bagged two out of a backslide, Mox in – kicks in the corner, big lariat, Trent in trouble until avoiding a rushing Mox and landing a tornado ddt off the ropes. Bandido in, just gaining his balance to hit a tornijo and hurracanrana to Claudio – crowd loud – the luchador to the apron – Rey-style hurracanrana into a pin for two.
A pretty weak chop/fist fight ensured before Bandido looked for his delayed suplex, Claudio slipped free but ate a pumpkick – Yuta in but caught off the top right into the delayed suplex before the Friends came in to hit a double team then the stupid hug.
Taylor hit a piledriver and seatbelt for close counts, Mox blasted Bandido via clothesline, Beretta took him out via running knee, he was taken out by Claudio as Yuta rolled Chuck up for two. Claudio back in to block awful waffle, Mox Death Rider, Castagnoli propelled Yuta onto Taylor as the youngster bagged the win.
Very fast lucha-style match. A little spot-heavy but non-stop action.
No proper follow-up on the big show-closing angle from Wednesday – no promos, no Elite appearance, nothing.
Winner: BCC
Kyle Fletcher promo, objecting to Orange Cassidy being the International Champ when he’s not international. I suppose it is a reason at least.
Jade Cargill vs Dani B, TBS Title open challenge
Backstory: None
JR was a little too honest about Cargill stepping up her level of competition.
As they bothered to tell us that Taya Valkyrie was suspended for going after officials. This is why they suck at storytelling. You’re supposed to tell us that immediately so we anticipate her return.
Jade won quickly
Afterward, Mark Sterling made another open challenge…
Jade Cargill vs Jennasis, TBS Title open challenge
Backstory: None
Jericho told us Jennasis was paralyzed and had to learn how to walk and talk again. Jesus. Poor girl.
This win made Jade 59-0, Sterling made another challenge: Taya Valkyrie returned to lay out the third challenger then Jade with Road to Valhalla. ‘Now, who’s that bitch? I’ll see you at Double or Nothing.’
They made the match official immediately.
Winner: Jade Cargill
Acclaimed & Daddy Ass vs Varsity Athletes & Ari Daivari
Backstory: None
As very bad editing made Taya and Jade immediately transform into the Acclaimed. Who remain popular with crowds.
Caster got the better of Josh Woods, then a t-shirted Billy Gunn ran through Woods via shoulder block as Jericho wondered if this was the best run of his career. 1998 might disagree but otherwise it’s hard to argue he’s ever been more popular.
I could write all this because there was a lot of posing and no action. Culminating in Billy removing his t-shirt. Before snatching Tony Nese into a side slam for two.
Ads.
Caster in trouble in-ring as Gunn destroyed Daivari outside, Bowens ran through the other two via chops and an elbow strike, kick to the gut, over the shoulder fameasser, count of two. Broken up by Woods.
Who was flung into the barricade by Gunn who remained outside. As Nese nailed Bowens with a crisp spinkick, but ate a thrust kick, then the Arrival, then the Mic Drop. As the Acclaimed won.
Keeping the #1 contenders hot as we build to the culmination of this scorching trios titles feud.
Winner: Acclaimed & Daddy Ass
Deep breath, QTV time. QT signed them up for the International Title Battle Royal. Then remembered Will Hobbs is supposed to be the star as they mentioned he was on the poster for Collision. They talked about who Hobbs could beat on the show, immediately turning it into ‘comedy’ by naming Buff Bagwell and the Blue Meanie.
‘On June 17th, the real story begins.’ Of course, that line was said not by Hobbs but the real star of the show – QT Marshall.
*****
The Hardys & Isiah Kassidy came out to the ring, Ethan Page interrupted and was very entertaining here. Asking who confirmed to Isiah that ‘those girls were cute’ or told him moaning was a marketable gimmick. In fact they were going to become a team – the Moan Event. I love Ethan.
Distracting them as the Gunns attacked from behind because babyfaces are dumb and fall for the same thing multiple times. They trapped Kassidy’s neck in a chair and hit a stomp off the top. If it stops the moaning, that makes them babyfaces to me. A six-man was then added to DoN. I yelled ‘OH NO’ out loud.
All this young talent and we have to cram the Hardys on the show. Jeff also talked about getting the tag titles so presumably that’ll happen at Wembley.
*****
Jericho demanded time to address Adam Cole. Reiterating that Cole’s a coward and not a man of his word. If Cole were here, he’d ‘beat his ass’. As Cole appeared on the big screen – promising to beat Jericho’s ass every week.
The Ocho then removed Cole’s ban before challenging him to an unsanctioned match. He ripped up the document, only to find Cole was right outside the building, he came in to go after Jericho.
Back from break, Cole’s music played as he marched down through the fans. As Jericho ran to meet him. Shouldn’t he be fleeing since he was so scared of him he had Cole banned?
Shouldn’t the good guy whose girl got attacked in front of him make that unsactioned challenge? Why did Jericho suddenly rip-up the ban? Yet another story which is all over the place.
Your stereotypical wild brawl was quickly broken up by security.
At least they carried something from the ‘A’ show over to Rampage I suppose.
And presumably skipping right to unsactioned means Cole and Jericho aren’t continuing past the ppv (on Weds an angle was cut where Britt was going to interrupt Max and insinuate Cole was his next challenger).
Bishop Kaun vs Dustin Rhodes
Backstory: Rhodes & Keith Lee saved Dark Order from a Mogul Embassy beatdown last week
So two or three weeks ago Dustin had promo time devoted to plugging big things when AEW reached his home state. This is the result.
Kaun jumped Rhodes as he came through the ropes, before Rhodes sent him outside via lariat, chopping him around ringside and hurling him into the barricade.
By the time I looked up again from noting all the matches announced for Dynamite, Rhodes was bleeding from the head and Kaun was on top. As we went to break.
A Samoan drop bought only one for Kaun as Dustin fired-up, firing rights, lariats, kick to the gut, drop-down uppercut, snap powerslam, Rhodes absolutely pouring blood. Ten punches in the corner, code red, count of two. Piledriver, same result.
Kaun blocked a suplex, setup a pedigree, Rhodes backdropped out, Kaun held on into a sunset flip for two. Shotgun dropkick pushed Rhodes to the corner, Kaun missed a splash, ate a bulldog, Final Reckoning, pin.
Very good after we returned from break, though only had a few mins.
Immediately it’d finished, Bryan Cage dismantled Dustin. Swerve joined to observe, as Keith Lee finally decided to show up. Quickly destroying Cage and Kaun in the aisle, he headed for Swerve in the ring, again very slowly, Swerve smiling as his minions returned to attack Lee from behind.
Kaun hit a chair shot to the back, Cage – just about – hauled Lee up onto his back before dumping him onto the chair. Then positioning him in a seated position on another chair for a Swerve Stomp. Since Excalibur told us right before this that they’d previously broken a cinder block over his head, why should we be concerned?
Heel attacks are supposed to scale up in intensity, as are matches – which is why you shouldn’t start with a cinderblock or an unsanctioned match.
With another two hours of weekly tv coming, Tony Khan really needs help creatively.
A face-to-face encounter between the Undisputed WWE Tag Team champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn and their Night of Champions opponents Solo Sikoa and the Undisputed WWE Universal champion Roman Reigns will headline tonight’s Friday Night Smackdown live on FOX.
Reigns will make it two TV Fridays in a row, something very rare these days, and might even appear in next week’s episode as next week’s show is being taped tonight. The WWE crew will be off to Saudi Arabia next week so a live Smackdown on Friday was going to be impossible to pull.
Also set for tonight are The Usos vs Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar of the LWO, The Brawling Brutes take on Pretty Deadly, LA Knight and Rick Boogs battle The Street Profits, and The Grayson Waller Effect debuts with AJ Styles as his first guest.
WWE today announced that Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns will appear live at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City, on Saturday, July 22 for the WWE SuperShow non-televised live event.
This will be Reigns’ first time in Mexico City since late December 2019 and WWE is loading up the card with the likes of Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Rey Mysterio, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, and others.
Charlotte Flair, who has been out since WrestleMania, is also being advertised for the show.
Tickets are available at www.superboletos.com.
Speaking of Reigns, the champ was recently part of promotional material for the WWE live event in Fayetteville, North Carolina tomorrow but WWE acknowledged that it was a mistake and Reigns would not be appearing at the show. Fans who purchased a ticket to go see The Tribal Chief can request a refund at the point of purchase until 7:30PM ET tomorrow.
In a 13-minute interview with Apple Music, global music superstar Bad Bunny described how he felt he was going to die after the Puerto Rico street fight at Backlash earlier this month.
Bunny impressed the fans with a fantastic display against Damian Priest, took some wicked bumps, and held his own against a seasoned professional. With the help of the LWO and two Puerto Rican legends, Carlito and Savio Vega, he also won the match.
“I suffered. I got hurt. My back. My whole body, bro, my whole body,” Bunny told Zane Lowe. “I felt that I was going to die after that match. I was really scared about it. I was, ‘Oh no, I’m going to die.’ I really thought that I was going to die after that match but it’s part of it.”
Bunny said that he thought his WrestleMania involvement was his favorite moment of his life but the Backlash fight in Puerto Rico was another level.
“It was really one of the biggest and best moments of my life. I really enjoyed the fight,” he said.
He described the whole night at Backlash as insane and crazy, adding, “What happened that night, I’m never going to forget it.”
The Hulk Hogan vs Gawker episode of Rich & Shameless on TNT this past Wednesday drew 854,000 viewers, way more than anyone ever expected.
The show did have the lead-in of the NBA Playoffs so that helped boost up the numbers, at least in the first quarter hour, but whatever the reason, viewers stayed tuned in despite the show starting at 11:45PM.
The episode ranked higher than Dynamite on the top 50 cable chart as the show did a 0.30 in the 18-49 demo.
The much-expected TV renewal rights for AEW programming which was rumored to be announced this past Wednesday at the WBD upfronts never came, ending a week of high hopes for AEW fans in a bit of a downer.
The only thing that was announced on Wednesday was the creation of Collision, the new Saturday night show which will kick off on June 17. Even that announcement came with a bit of issues as CM Punk was omitted from all marketing material in the 11th hour due to another disagreement with the company.
AEW is obviously getting additional money for Collision, but it looks like that it is a separate deal from the current Dynamite and Rampage one.
The current deal for Dynamite and Rampage expire at the end of this year but Warner Bros. Discovery have an option year they can pick up as well.
Rumors were floating around that the new TV deal would be in excess of $1 billion over a five-year period, giving AEW financial stability and power to negotiate better deals for want-away stars.
The Oceanic continent has produced some extraordinary wrestlers over the years. There are the Samoan dynasties such as the Anoa’i family, which has given us the likes of Rikishi, The Usos, Umaga and even Yokozuna, who was not the Japanese character he portrayed.
Oh, and then there are some guys called The Rock and Roman Reigns, who also have Samoan heritage.
Rhea Ripley is another Oceanic talent in the WWE, hailing from Adelaide in Australia, but one country that isn’t talked about in terms of producing in-ring stars is New Zealand.
Land of the Long White Cloud
Although there are fewer Kiwis that have made the grade in professional wrestling than Samoans, some famous faces in the WWE and the independent circuit have come from New Zealand.
The sport is popular with fans there, with the inaugural Smackdown Road to Wrestlemania event in Wellington back in 2006 drawing 23,000 spectators. Weekly WWE shows continue to air in New Zealand, while the legal sports betting industry even allows people to wager on the major PPVs like the Royal Rumble and Summerslam. You can get your bonus code for bet365 in NZ, a bookmaker that offers odds for many different TV shows and ‘special’ markets, if you want to bet on Reigns and co.
So who are the most famous wrestlers from New Zealand?
The Bushwhackers
Starting out life as The Kiwis, Bob Miller and Luke Williams would later become known famously for their ‘Bushwhackers’ gimmick in the WWE back in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
They became a comedic double act under the WWE umbrella, despite being renowned for their aggression and heavy-hitting matches in New Zealand and a number of independent organizations in the United States.
The Bushwhackers would enjoy a couple of tag team championship title shots without winning the gold, although they would later be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015.
Bad Luck Fale
Simi Taitoko Fale, better known by his ‘bad luck’ moniker, has enjoyed more than ten years on the roster at New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
He’s a former IWGP Intercontinental champion, but perhaps his most famous days in professional wrestling have come as Rogue General of the Bullet Club – just months before they were joined by The Young Bucks and Doc Gallows.
Fale set up his own wrestling school in Auckland, with a handful of his alumni later being signed by NJPW.
Jay White
One of Fale’s proteges is Jay White, the Kiwi who spent his formative years in NJPW before being signed by AEW.
White is another former Bullet Club member who would go on to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. In April, it was confirmed that he would be joining AEW, where he may rekindle an old rivalry with Kenny Omega.
Back in the 1970s, the WWE was known as World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), and it was there that Tony Garea would establish himself as an outstanding tag team wrestler.
Younger viewers may remember Garea’s cameo at Vengeance: Night of Champions in 2007, where he and Martel came to the aid of Sgt. Slaughter and Jimmy Snuka.
So even though they can’t compete with Samoa as a producer of top Oceanic wrestling talent, there’s still been plenty of New Zealanders that have graced the biggest stages in the sport.
The buzz of a new television show announcement did nothing to help AEW this week with the NBA Eastern Conference finals leaving a small dent in the viewership. Dynamite drew 814,000 viewers this week, down 63,000 viewers from last week’s broadcast. This was the second least-watched Dynamite of 2023. In the 18-49 demo, Dynamite drew a 0.28, down 0.04 from last week and was #7 on the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
In her first match in a year, Trinity was victorious in her in-ring Impact Wrestling debut, defeating KiLynn King in the main event of last night’s Impact on AXS TV.
The former Smackdown and WWE Women’s Tag Team champion beat King via submission.
It was her first match since May 15, 2022, when she teamed up with Sasha Banks to successfully defend the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles against Natalya and Shayna Baszler at a non-televised event at Berglund Center in Roanoke, Virginia.
The next night on Raw, Trinity, then known as Naomi, and her partner walked out of WWE over creative differences.
Trinity’s second opponent has already been lined up as Gisele Shaw has answered Trinity’s open challenge for next week’s Under Siege Impact Plus streaming event.
WWE released very limited single tickets for Smackdown and Money In The Bank at the London’s O2 Arena this morning.
Only Official Platinum VIP tickets were available and as of this writing, only 17 tickets are left for Money In The Bank, with the cheapest ticket going for £460.75. Smackdown has similar prices as well, which is insane considering these are going for more than a two-night WrestleMania ticket.
The shows will happen on Friday, June 30 and Saturday, July 1 and for those willing to pay so much, the remaining tickets can be found at Ticketmaster.co.uk or AXS.com.
Speaking at the Moffett Nathanson’s Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference, WWE Chief Executive Officer Nick Khan confirmed that the company is going back to India in September of this year.
Khan did not elaborate on what kind of event it will be or if it will be a Network special.
WWE was scheduled to go to Hyderabad in January of this year but that show was postponed after India’s largest TV providers – Sony and Zee – announced they were merging late last year. During conference calls it was noted that they would be visiting the country after the merger was complete. Sony holds the TV rights for WWE in the country.
WWE taped a special for India during the pandemic titled Superstar Spectacle, showcasing most of the Indian talent they had on the roster, and the show aired on January 26, 2021 as part of India’s Republic Day celebrations. WWE later said that over 20 million people saw the broadcast on Sony.
The wrestling world was mourning the death of “Superstar” Billy Graham today after news came out that he passed out late in the evening yesterday.
WWE paid tribute to their former champion and Hall of Famer with a nice post on their website while also announcing his death on Twitter. “WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer ‘Superstar’ Billy Graham has passed away. We extend our condolences to Graham’s family, friends, and fans,” said the statement.
AEW also mentioned Graham’s passing during Dynamite last night and tweeted, “AEW joins the wrestling world in mourning the passing of Superstar Billy Graham. Our thoughts are with his family, his friends and his fans.”
The NWA wrote that it is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of the legendary Superstar Billy Graham. The statement described him as the person who singularly embodied a spirit that forever changed the sport and stood as a transcendental figure in all of media. “Our condolences to all who loved and revered him,” the NWA wrote.
Graham’s death was also picked up by the mainstream media, with CNN, New York Post, TMZ, USA Today, CBS, and many others picking up the story.
Other former colleagues of Billy Graham took to social media to remember him.
Jesse Ventura: “There wouldn’t be a Jesse “The Body” Ventura without the in-ring success and trailblazing showmanship of Superstar Billy Graham. One of my proudest wrestling memories was having the honor of being inducted into the same WWE Hall of Fame class as Graham. Rest In Power Superstar.”
Paul Heyman: “Before Billy Graham, performers in WWWF / WWF / WWE were known as professional wrestlers. After Billy Graham left his mark, Vincent Kennedy McMahon decided everyone would be a WWE Superstar. A most heartfelt RIP to the man of the hour, the man with the power, too sweet to be sour!”
The Iron Sheik: “SUPERSTAR BILLY GRAHAM. ONE OF MY FIRST TEACHERS OF THE HEAT. THE REAL LEGEND BUBBA. HE LOVE ME I LOVE HIM. TOGETHER WE HIT THE GYM AND SHOCK THE EARTH. I LOVE YOU FOREVER BROTHER. RIP”
Jake “The Snake” Roberts: Trendsetter, trailblazer, and icon. RIP Superstar. There will never be another like him.
Diamond Dallas Page: “Super bummed out to hear that one of teenage Hero’s one of the true “Towers of Power, Man of the Hour, too Sweet to be Sour” SUPERSTAR BILLY GRAHAM is on a ventilator. Much love and respect, bro! God Bless you brother.”
Sgt. Slaughter: “Eldridge Wayne Coleman. A master on the microphone & one of the “greatest” promo’s in our glorious business. R.I.P. Superstar Billy Graham.”
Honky Tonk Man: “Condolences go out to the Superstar Billy Graham family. HTM and Billy met in Memphis many years ago. We became friends. Such a nice guy to be around. God Bless you!”
[Las Vegas, NV] – The Cauliflower Alley Club, a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to assisting those in the professional wrestling industry that have fallen on difficult and challenging times, is proud to announce that CM Punk has been chosen as the 2023 recipient of it’s highly acclaimed Iron Mike Mazurki Award.
The Iron Mike Mazurki Award is bestowed upon individuals who have made exceptional contributions to professional wrestling and have exhibited outstanding dedication to the sport both inside and outside the ring. CM Punk, a trailblazing figure in the wrestling world, has undeniably left an indelible mark on the industry.
Throughout his illustrious career, CM Punk has captivated audiences worldwide with his remarkable in-ring skills, compelling character work, and unyielding passion for professional wrestling. Known for his charismatic personality and unparalleled mic skills, Punk has been instrumental in revolutionizing the industry and pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a professional wrestler.
In addition to his in-ring accomplishments, CM Punk has also utilized his platform to advocate for change within the wrestling community. He has fearlessly spoken out on social issues and has been a passionate voice for equality and justice. Punk’s courage in addressing important topics has earned him respect not only from his peers but also from fans around the globe.
Punk’s influence extends far beyond the squared circle and even into the MMA octagon, inspiring a new generation of wrestlers and leaving an enduring legacy in the sport.
The Cauliflower Alley Club will present the 2023 Iron Mike Mazurki Award to CM Punk at its annual awards banquet, which will take place at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada from Aug. 28-30, 20023. This event will bring together wrestling legends, industry professionals, and fans to celebrate our sport and those who have, positively, committed to it.
For more information about the Cauliflower Alley Club, to purchase your reunion ticket(s), become a member or donate to the cause, please visit www.caulifloweralleyclub.org.
AEW President Tony Khan announced that the location of the first Collision show will be revealed next week. The plan was the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, so if that changes next week, you will know that there’s really something going on with Punk and AEW.
Meanwhile, the locations of the following five weeks were revealed, with Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena hosting the June 24 show. The following week it will be taped on Thursday at the FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton. On July 8 it’s in Regina, Saskatchewan and on July 15 it’s at the Calgary Saddledome. The Prudential Center in Newark will then host the July 22 episode.
Collision will not always be live and will have occasional tapings on Thursday nights.
Tickets are available at Ticketmaster for all shows.
Collision was announced yesterday at the Warner Bros. Discovery upfronts and it will air weekly on Saturdays at 8PM ET.
This week’s episode of NXT on USA Network drew 564,000 viewers, down 37,000 viewers from the previous episode. The show did a 0.14 rating in the 18-49 demo, down 0.03 from last week and was #15 on the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
