Week in Wrestling - Sunday May 13, 2018
WWE NEWS
The Backlash to Backlash
As I stated last week in my review of the WWE Backlash PPV (which you can read here), I absolutely hated the show, and thought it may have been the worst booked WWE PPV I have ever seen. I know that sounds like a knee jerk reaction, but I can't think of another full roster WWE show, that presented that much talent, in such a horrible way. They killed the live crowd, and the reaction online was pretty much universally in line with my personal opinion.
And if you look at the Raw and Smackdown TV numbers coming off the show, enough people reacted to the shitty PPV, by not tuning in the rest of the week. Raw dropped 12% amd Smackdown 6%, which is significant, even with competition from the NBA Playoffs. If it wasn't my job, I would have taken a week off after that horrible PPV myself.
And if you look at the Raw and Smackdown TV numbers coming off the show, enough people reacted to the shitty PPV, by not tuning in the rest of the week. Raw dropped 12% amd Smackdown 6%, which is significant, even with competition from the NBA Playoffs. If it wasn't my job, I would have taken a week off after that horrible PPV myself.
TMZ Update on Hogan
TMZ reported that Hulk Hogan’s return to the company is imminent. There has been talk of that since before the 2017 WrestleMania, and it’s always been when WWE felt they could bring him back without it being controversial. Apparently the Saudi leaders asked for Hogan on the show, which makes sense, given the other names they wanted and if they wanted Yokozuna and Ultimate Warrior it would make sense they asked for Hogan. For whatever reason, perhaps risking controversy, they didn’t make that move.
As far as a P.R. position goes, as long as they feel he won’t be attacked, given his statements were very public and hard to defend, it’s been in talks for a long time. WWE did release a statement about Hogan, saying, “WWE applauds the work Hulk Hogan is doing with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to turn what was a negative into a positive by helping young people learn from his mistake. While he has taken many steps in he right direction since we parted ways, Hogan’ is not currently under contract to WWE.” That statement alone tells you they are close to a deal.
As far as a P.R. position goes, as long as they feel he won’t be attacked, given his statements were very public and hard to defend, it’s been in talks for a long time. WWE did release a statement about Hogan, saying, “WWE applauds the work Hulk Hogan is doing with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to turn what was a negative into a positive by helping young people learn from his mistake. While he has taken many steps in he right direction since we parted ways, Hogan’ is not currently under contract to WWE.” That statement alone tells you they are close to a deal.
Money in the Bank Update
The next show for the company to redeem themselves is Money in the Bank on 6/17 at the Allstate Arena in Chicago. With six weeks to go, there is little obvious direction other than Styles vs. Nakamura for the fourth straight big show. Brock Lesnar isn’t booked on this show. There will be two, or perhaps three Money in the Bank matches. There will be a men’s match and women’s match, each with eight people, four from Raw and four from Smackdown. The men’s has Strowman, Miz, Rusev and Balor in so far. The women’s has Charlotte Flair and Ember Moon. There have been a lot of promos on the shows from tag teams, and the idea of a tag team Money in the Bank match has been floated around. But thus far it has not been announced.
Charlotte Hurt Again
Charlotte Flair flew back home from the European tour after getting her teeth knocked out in a match on her first night on tour on Thursday in Oberhausen, Germany. She was in a SmackDown Women's Championship match with Carmella when the accident happened. She interacted with fans after the match and said that she couldn't take a picture due to losing teeth. She will be getting dental work done back home and is expected to return to the tour sometime after the weekend.
She had been working with a ruptured implant as well, but that isn't scheduled to be taken care of until after the European tour. The implant actually ruptured before WrestleMania. She didn’t get the surgery at first because she didn’t want to miss the match with Asuka. The company wanted her to work the Carmella match on the PPV and she then wanted to work the European tour first because it’s a good money tour, but she wants it taken care of after that so she doesn’t miss SummerSlam. She kept it hidden and even did an ESPN: The Body Issue photo shoot and they shot around it.
She had been working with a ruptured implant as well, but that isn't scheduled to be taken care of until after the European tour. The implant actually ruptured before WrestleMania. She didn’t get the surgery at first because she didn’t want to miss the match with Asuka. The company wanted her to work the Carmella match on the PPV and she then wanted to work the European tour first because it’s a good money tour, but she wants it taken care of after that so she doesn’t miss SummerSlam. She kept it hidden and even did an ESPN: The Body Issue photo shoot and they shot around it.
Bobby Lashley, SMH
WWE decided to finally spotlight Bobby Lashley on Raw last week with a video package that should have aired a month ago. After it aired, I thought finally, that was good now that should help give new fans some background on him, since he's been gone from the WWE for 11 years. Well, instead of leaving well enough alone after the good video package, they decided to air a sit-down interview with Renee Young, in hopes of shining a light on Lashley's personality. And shit fell off the cliff.
After answering a few simple questions from Renee, things got awkward when Lashley rambled on about how important family is to him, then told us how his sisters tortured him as a youth. What?!?! I swear I couldn't come up with something so stupid if I tried really hard to an idiot.
“My sisters used to take me out to the woods and they used to tie me up and leave me there for hours. They thought that was the funniest thing in the world.” This was an actual line he recited, in the most matter of fact way. Then he went on and on about their torture methods, which made no sense. Then he stared into the camera and told them he loved them. What the hell did any of this have to do with wrestling, or how he was in the WWE to dominate and win the championship. This died a miserable death. Like Lashley's chances of being a star.
After answering a few simple questions from Renee, things got awkward when Lashley rambled on about how important family is to him, then told us how his sisters tortured him as a youth. What?!?! I swear I couldn't come up with something so stupid if I tried really hard to an idiot.
“My sisters used to take me out to the woods and they used to tie me up and leave me there for hours. They thought that was the funniest thing in the world.” This was an actual line he recited, in the most matter of fact way. Then he went on and on about their torture methods, which made no sense. Then he stared into the camera and told them he loved them. What the hell did any of this have to do with wrestling, or how he was in the WWE to dominate and win the championship. This died a miserable death. Like Lashley's chances of being a star.
NXT NEWS
Takeover Chicago
Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa in a street fight was officially announced for TakeOver, along with NXT Champion Aleister Black defending against Lars Sullivan. Following their unsanctioned match in New Orleans last month, this will be the second straight TakeOver special where Gargano has faced Ciampa. Shayna Baszler defending against Nikki Cross looks to be the Women's Championship match for TakeOver. Cross made the save for Dakota Kai and posed with the title after Kai lost to Baszler last night. Ricochet vs. Velveteen Dream looks likely for the show as well.
The Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois is hosting TakeOver: Chicago on June 16th as part of Money in the Bank weekend. It's the same venue where Ciampa turned against Gargano.
The Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois is hosting TakeOver: Chicago on June 16th as part of Money in the Bank weekend. It's the same venue where Ciampa turned against Gargano.
New Japan Pro Wrestling News
NJPW Dominion show
Kazuchika Okada defending the IWGP title against Kenny Omega in a no time limit, 2/3 falls match was announced as the main event of the 6/9 Dominion show at Osaka Jo Hall, which is one of the company’s big three events of the year along with Wrestle Kingdom at the Tokyo Dome and the G-1 final. The other big match on that show will be Chris Jericho vs Tetsuya Naito for the IC title. Other matches announced for the show are Evil & Sanada vs. Young Bucks for the IWGP tag titles, and a three-way for the Never title with Hirooki Goto vs. Michael Elgin vs. Taichi. They also announced Rey Mysterio Jr. on the show.
Ring of Honor News
Castle Injured
ROH Champion Dalton Castle has been really hurting, with back problems and a hand issue as well, which is possibly a break. During the War of the Worlds event in Lowell, Massachusetts, Castle came out and said that due to accumulating injuries, he would be unable to defend the ROH championship tonight. He reiterated that he was not relinquishing the title, but would instead take time off to heal injuries.
IMPACT News
Johnny Impact on Survivor
The reason Johnny Impact/Mundo/Morrison hasn’t been around is that it is rumored he was on he coast for the next season of “Survivor.” Survivor web sites reported John Morrison as one of the stars for the just-completed season that was filmed in Fiji.
INDEPENDENT NEWS
Is Punk All In?
With him scheduled for a meet and greet at Pro Wrestling Tees' store in Chicago, CM Punk will at least be playing a small part in All In weekend. Pro Wrestling Tees announced that Punk will be appearing at their store on Friday, August 31st. There are only 200 tickets available, with them set to go on sale on May 23rd at noon Central time. Autographs will cost $50, professional photo opportunities are the same price, and autograph/photo combos with an exclusive T-shirt will cost $90.
The meet and greet being the day before All In is bound to increase speculation that Punk will play a further role that weekend, though he lives in Chicago and already partners with Pro Wrestling Tees for his online merchandise store.
The meet and greet being the day before All In is bound to increase speculation that Punk will play a further role that weekend, though he lives in Chicago and already partners with Pro Wrestling Tees for his online merchandise store.
By: Larry Causion Jr. CausionCreations.com
Posted: Sunday, May 13, 2018
Credit: Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Posted: Sunday, May 13, 2018
Credit: Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter