Latest Wrestling Blogs

Survivor Series 2022
Date: November 26, 2022
Location: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Commentators: Kevin Patrick, Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Wade Barrett

It’s time for WarGames and no that still doesn’t feel right to say. We have a men’s and women’s version of the match here and that should make for a great core of the show. There are only five matches on the card but double WarGames is probably enough to carry things, especially with the Bloodline vs. Team Drew McIntyre as the likely headliner. Let’s get to it.

“Watch Yourself” – Seth Rollins Calls Out AEW Star

Seth Rollins has been in fighting mood, calling out one of the stars of All Elite Wrestling.

“The Two Biggest Stars In Professional Wrestling Right Now” – MJF Compares Himself To Roman Reigns 

MJF believes that he and Roman Reigns are a step above the rest of the wrestling world.

“I Almost Died” – AEW Star Discusses Life-Threatening Situation During Dynamite Match

AEW star claims they almost died during a recent match on AEW Dynamite.

The review of the Stampede episode of this show seemed to prove popular, so on this quiet weekend I thought I’d have a look at the latest episode, looking at World Class. A lot has been produced already about the Von Erich promotion in the epic Heroes of World Class and by WWE as well as Mickey Grant’s Gentleman’s Choice, so I’m not expecting a lot more, but let’s see.

Happy Stinky Saturday Everyone!

Today we’ve got one honker of a Stinker Review for you, as we take a look at one of the more infamous examples of multiple companies trying to work together and it all ending in tears. The companies in this case are the AWA from Minneapolis, World Class from Texas, Women’s company POWW and the CWA from Memphis.

Verne Gagne from the AWA was the main person putting this one together, with Jerry Lawler from the CWA winning the AWA World Title and then putting it up against the World Class Champion Kerry Von Erich. The show ended up doing a lousy buy rate of 45,000 and drew under 2000 people to the UIC Pavilion in Chicago.

If the commercial failure wasn’t bad enough, the show was generally considered to be a critical failure as well, and then Gagne ended up hoarding any money the show did make, thus angering the other companies and bringing their short-lived alliance to an end. Meanwhile, Vince McMahon and the WWF continued to crush all before them with only Ted Turner’s WCW remaining.

McMahon was doing some of his best promoting during this period and was ready to pit WWF Champ Randy Savage against Hulk Hogan in a feud that practically gave him a license to print money, so the failure of this show and the damage it did to the promotional alliance probably wouldn’t have delayed the inevitable, but it was another example of how everything seemed to just fall into place for Vinny Mac in the 80’s and why the chastening bum kicking he got in the early stages of the Monday Night War was rather satisfying for a lot of people.

However, has the commercial disaster that this show was ended up giving the show itself a worse reputation than it deserves? Viewed as just a wrestling event, is there enough good stuff on this show to make the event overall worthwhile? Let’s take a deep dive to see if SuperClash III really is a Stinker or not.

Becky Lynch Makes Return From Injury On WWE SmackDown

Almost four months after suffering a shoulder injury at SummerSlam, Becky Lynch is back on SmackDown and heading to Survivor Series!

Huge Injury Update On Randy Orton, Star Not Expected Back Anytime Soon

Things aren’t looking good for Randy Orton, as a new report reveals that it’s highly unlikely the star will be back in action any time soon.

“The Two Biggest Stars In Professional Wrestling Right Now” – MJF Compares Himself To Roman Reigns

AEW World Champion MJF has compared himself to Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and says he reveres The Tribal Chief.

The SmarK Rant for WCW Starrcade 1995

(I was asked by a reader to hold off on the Starrcade 85 repost until Monday, so we’ll move back to the 90s again with 1995 instead.  “Vox populi” or whatever the hell it is that Elon Musk is saying on Twitter.)

Live from Nashville, TN

Your hosts are Tony Schiavone, Bobby Heenan & Dusty Rhodes

Smackdown
Date: November 25, 2022
Location: Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, Rhode Island
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett

It’s the go home show for Survivor Series and we have a big time main event. This week it’s the Usos vs. Sheamus/Drew McIntyre for the WarGames advantage and what wouldn’t surprise me as a big preview for a future Tag Team Title match. Other than that, we’ll find out the final member of Team Belair, so let’s get to it.

The SmarK Rant for AEW Rampage – 11.25.22

“Black Friday”

Thanks to whoever recommended Tulsa King to go along with Yellowstone.  I didn’t realize it was part of the Taylor Sheridan Cinematic Universe and I flew through the first two episodes, and it was GREAT.  This is a role that Stallone is born to play.  Although I did try Mayor of Kingston and I found the first episode kind of slow and confusing and it didn’t hold my attention, but Tulsa King speaks to my two loves:  Westerns and gangsters.

Taped from Chicago, IL

Your hosts are Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone & Excalibur

Impact Wrestling
Date: November 24, 2022
Hosts: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

It’s Thanksgiving and that means we are in for a special Best Of show around here. That’s about as logical as you’re going to get for this time of year as there is no reason to believe that anyone is going to pay attention to a show on such a big holiday. You never know what you’ll see on something like this but let’s get to it.

Becky Lynch Makes Return From Injury On WWE SmackDown

After weeks of speculation, Becky Lynch has finally returned to WWE and she’s heading to Survivor Series!

Huge Injury Update On Randy Orton, Star Not Expected Back Anytime Soon 

A new report has given an update on the condition of Randy Orton as his injury-enforced absence continues.

Logan Paul Reveals How Long He’ll Be Out Of Action 

YouTube star Logan Paul has lifted the lid on when he’ll be back in the ring.

Rampage
Date: November 25, 2022
Location: Wintrust Arena, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Tony Schiavone, Jim Ross, Excalibur

It’s time for the other Chicago show of the week and we have a title match this time around. The Ring Of Honor Tag Team Titles are on the line as FTR defends against Top Flight, which has me wondering what is next for them at Final Battle. Speaking of Final Battle, it might be smart to announce something for the show. Let’s get to it.

Vince McMahon, Roddy Piper, and Randy Savage are in the booth, starting a new taping cycle in Worcester, Massachusetts.  According to thehistoryofwwe.com, the taping took place on July 29 and drew a heavily papered crowd of 14,221.

Jake Roberts tells the Ultimate Warrior that he needs to enter a dark room, where Lucifer awaits him in a coffin.  The Warrior goes inside, and Roberts locks the door behind him, turning the lights on to reveal snakes all over the floor.  The Warrior cautiously gets to the coffin and opens it.  When he does, Lucifer bites him in the face.  The Warrior begs Roberts to open the door as the snake’s poison takes effect, but Roberts refuses, laughing at how the Warrior is affected just like any common man.  Roberts welcomes a “man in black” to see his work, which is revealed to be the Undertaker, and Roberts tells the Warrior never to trust a snake as the Warrior loses consciousness.  Like all the segments to this point, Roberts knocked this one out of the park and his heel turn was shocking for many young fans that had only known him as a babyface.  According to Roberts, the Warrior was bitten several times by snakes when they filmed this segment because he did not shuffle his feet and kicked and antagonized the snakes he was working with.

This week we look back at an issue of Inside Wrestling that went to press on June 30, 1988 that sold for $1.75 in the U.S. and $2.50 in Canada. (I’ll also throw in bonus Wrestling Observer coverage from the same period.) Let’s go straight to the Ratings, where the NWA gets 6 in the Top 15, the WWF gets 4, and the AWA gets 3.

The SmarK Rant for NWA Starrcade 84 – 11.22.84

True story:  Some guy actually went to the trouble of finding my home number and called my house in 2004 asking me to review this show.  I didn’t have a copy of the tape back then, but now there’s the Network and I’ve been on an old school territorial kick anyway, so the time is right!

Live from Greensboro, NC, drawing 16,000 in the building and a shitload of people on closed circuit.

Your hosts are Gordon Solie & Bob Caudle

“Stay In Your Lane You Roided Up Leprechaun” – MJF Blasts Conor McGregor

As his one-man crusade against UFC fighters continues, MJF has now taken aim at Conor McGregor.

Rhea Ripley & Dominik Mysterio Attack Rey Mysterio At Thanksgiving Dinner [Video] 

Family drama at Thanksgiving might be nothing new, but Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio just took things to a whole new level.

Gabi Butler Of Netflix’s ‘Cheer’ Signs With WWE 

Fans of Netflix’s Cheer may already be familiar with one of WWE’s newest signees as Gabi Butler confirmed that she’s signed a deal with the company.

ECW On Sci Fi
Date: February 26, 2008
Location: Convention Center, Tuscon, Arizona
Attendance: 5,200
Commentators: Joey Styles, Tazz

We’re on the way to Wrestlemania and this week isn’t likely to have Ric Flair for a main event. Chavo Guerrero vs. CM Punk should be done for good but you never can tell with that feud. It feels like it could somehow keep going despite being long past its expiration date. If not Punk though, who else is supposed to go after the title? Let’s get to it.