NXT, Lucha Underground, and Indy Wrestling Minute - Your Weekly Source for Independent Wrestling News

NXT, 4/22

Finn Balor opens NXT this week. It’s just a matter of time before he’s on the main roster. He doesn’t even need an NXT Title run like most call ups get, he’s already that good.

Balor takes on Tye Dillinger who the crowd is almost completely indifferent toward. He’s also wearing some sort of weird long scarf.

Start off trading arm locks and head locks. Balor hits a big drop kick and tries to take control but Dillinger hits some chops. Balor hits a few of his own and a few forearms and a Pele kick. Crowd being really disrespectful to Dillinger, chanting “Still a jobber” at him.

Balor hits a Slingblade followed by a shotgun dropkick into the corner, finishing Dillinger off with the Coup de Grace double stomp to win.

After the match, Tyler Breeze shows up on the screen and mocks Balor. Says everyone loves Finn Balor but you know who doesn’t? Me. Breeze says Balor is just the flavor of the month and it’s time he meets someone who has been dominating NXT.

Devin Taylor talking to Dana Brooke backstage and Dana being a jerk to Devin. She says last week wasn’t a debut, it was a rebirth of the NXT Women’s Division. She says it’s being molded by the most beautiful and the strongest, meaning herself, and that NXT is Dana’s playground and playtime is over. But if…NXT is her playground, why would she want play time to be over?

Devin talks to Kevin Owens but he’s basically ignoring her (Are you cold? I feel a draft). Owens says he gives Alex Riley credit. A few weeks ago he gave Owens a good fight, but Owens still won. And tonight is going to be the exact same thing because he’s better than Riley.

Up now, a triple threat for Women’s title number one contender. Bayley vs. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte.

Charlotte and Bayley teaming up on Becky to start. Not working together but both targeting Becky on their own and breaking up each other’s covers but still, not attacking each other until Bayley sends Becky outside.

Bayley and Charlotte fight for a while until Becky makes her way back in and sends Charlotte out. Becky controls the match against Bayley, keeping her grounded and working her knee before locking in a submission in the center of the ring. But it isn’t long before Charlotte runs in and breaks it up with the Natural Selection on Becky and Bayley breaks up the pin.

Charlotte puts Bayley on the top rope but Becky pulls her down to a chant of “Better than Divas.” Becky heads up top with Bayley, setting up for a superplex but can’t get her over. Charlotte comes in and pulls Becky out in a power bomb but holds her there as Bayley comes off the top hitting Becky with a back elbow, followed by a power bomb from Charlotte! Bayley suplexes Charlotte and then Belly to Bayley on Becky but Charlotte breaks up the pin.

Charlotte locks in the Figure Four on Bayley but she pulls herself to the rope. Charlotte pulls Bayley back in and locks in the move again, bridging up with it in what she calls the Figure 8 (because it’s twice as good as her dad’s). But Becky Lynch pulls herself to Bayley and covers her and gets the pin because Charlotte was bridging up and didn’t notice the cover.

CJ Parker takes on Hideo Itami. I guess there still may be some more Parker appearances after he was released from his contract.

Parker spending a surprising amount of time in control. Itami trying to lock up and hit kicks but Parker retreating to the ropes and the ref breaking them up and Parker surprises Itami.

Itami reverses a suplex and hits a combo of punches and kicks, sending Parker into the corner and Itami lands a big corner dropkick. Parker staggers out and Itami puts him down with a single leg running dropkick.

Sasha Banks sarcastically congratulates Becky Lynch on becoming number one contender in the locker room. Becky says silver isn’t her color and the belt is gonna look better around her waist as Sasha makes fun of her accent. Sasha says she made Becky Lynch but Becky says she made herself and says she doesn’t know how to put this, but she’s kind of a big deal. But Sasha says she’s the NXT Women’s Champion – that’s a big deal.

Rhyno returns to the NXT Zone. He takes on some dude I don’t recognize. The crowd chanting “Rhyno’s gonna kill you.” Rhyno runs him over with a clothes line and Rhyno tosses him with a belly to belly then slams him with a Gore for the win.

Blake and Murphy approach Carmella, serenading her with their terrible voices. Enzo and Cass come in and Blake and The Murph take off. Cass and Enzo are annoyed Carmella is wearing the jewelry they gave her and say it’s garbage, fugazi, middle of the mall stuff.

Main event time – Alex “Rage” Riley takes on NXT Champ Kevin Owens.

Riley hits a few moves to start, including a dropkick that sends Owens outside. Owens stays on the outside and lures Riley out then slams him onto the entrance ramp back first. Owens start controlling the  match from there on out, gets a 2 count from a standing senton.

But Riley won’t stay down. He keeps trying to mount a comeback but Owens a step ahead. After a cannonball in the corner, Owens hits a pop up powerbomb for the win.

After the match, Owens acts like he’s going to leave but continues to attack Riley and throws him out of the ring. Again, he grabs his title and acts like he’s going to leave but drops it and grabs Riley and sets up to power bomb him onto the apron but Sami Zayn shows up and attacks Owens and they fight around the ring.

Refs show up to separate them but they can’t keep them apart. Wrestlers head out from the back and finally end the brawl. Zayn gets in the ring and tope con hilo onto Owens and the mass of refs and wrestlers from the top rope to the floor. Owens scurries away and gets to the stage as Zayn stares him down from the ring.

NXT tour dates

For the first time, the NXT brand is going on tour. They’ve done a show in Columbus before and the show WrestleMania weekend but outside of random live events in Florida, NXT usually only runs tapings at Full Sail University. But now, they are taking the show on the road and I wouldn’t be surprised to see many more tours in the future.

Unsurprisingly, they are starting in Philly, since it’s been proven (by me) that Philadelphia is the best wrestling town in the world. The tickets only just went on sale this morning (I got mine) but only a few hours later, a second Philly show was added for May 15, also at The Tower.

That’s going to be a crazy week for wrestling, especially in Philly. Monday is Raw, Tuesday and Wednesday are Ring of Honor/New Japan joint shows at The Arena, Thursday and Friday are NXT shows at The Tower and Sunday is the Payback PPV.

May 14 – Tower Theater, Upper Darby, PA

May 15 – Tower Theater, Upper Darby, PA

May 16 – Washington Avenue Armory in Albany, NY

June 11 – Stage AE, Pittsburgh, PA

June 12 – Agora Theater, Cleveland OH

June 13 – LC Pavilion, Columbus OH

Ticket info can be found here:

http://www.wwe.com/events/all/wwenxt/all/all/all/3000/mi

Lucha Underground 4/22

The show opens with the Black Lotus writing a journal entry. She’s been with El Dragon Azteca for 8 weeks training but doesn’t know when he’ll let her fight. She knows she’s ready. He says her anger is her greatest weakness but she says it’s her greatest strength. He takes her to a big warehouse and has her fight four dudes at once in a cinematic fight. He then fights her himself and tells her “An opponent will not wait for you to catch your breath.” As she’s fighting she says she hates him and he easily reverses and tells her she isn’t ready.

Sexy Star opens the show and she takes on Pentagon Jr.

Melissa Santos is still pretty pissed about Pentagon attacking her. Looks like her ankle is injured too. Also saw Daviari in the crowd behind Pentagon as he entered. (Vamp says something on commentary to add weight to the RRR conspiracy theory. Vamp says that the way Pentagon refers to his master means someone like a priest or something and he’s mentioned before he’s been in vampire cults…so is Vamp his master?)

Dueling “Cero miedo” and “Sexy Star” chants. Star with the advantage early, stomping on Pentagon and chopping him after a big dropkick. But Pentagon takes control after hitting a few big kicks.

But Star refusing to relent, avoiding a corner dropkick and drop toe hold Pentagon into the corner and stomps on him a lot.

Star dives off the top into Pentagon but he catches her in a double underhook and sits out dropping her to the mat. He gets a 2 count and sets up to break her arm but she rolls out of it and rolls out of the ring.

Star goes for a hurricanrana but gets caught with a lung blower and then another and then another. But instead of going for the pin, Pentagon sets up to break her arm and she get away again. Pentagon taunts her as she gets up and whips her off the ropes, she satellite around and gets Pentagon’s back and drops him down with a lung blower and gets the win!

Johnny Mundo doing some crazy exercise in the Temple (lying under a bench bar on the ground, pulling himself up with one arm and pressing a dumbbell in the other arm). Alberto El Patron comes in and says “Hey Johnny, getting ready for your Trios title match? Oh wait that’s right, you lost last week!” Alberto says he’s shocked because Johnny is a hell of an athlete and admits that Mundo is one of the main reasons he came to Lucha Underground. And surprised Mundo couldn’t beat Prince Puma, but says that’s the story of his life – always so close to the brass ring but it’s always out of his grasp. Mundo asks if they have a problem and that he isn’t someone he can just slap around but Alberto tells him he needs to chill out.

The Trios Championship match happens now (is an elimination match too). King Cuerno’s team comes out first (Cage and Texano). Son of Havoc, Ivelisse and Angelico out next. And Big Ryck’s team, Killshot and The Mack are last.

One man from each team in the ring at a time – Killshot, Cage and Angelico start and Striker says they must tag out to a member of their team. Angelico and Killshot team up on Cage but Cage overwhelms them with his crazy strength and tags in Texano.

Texano and Cuerno tag in and out, keeping Killshot and Angelico on the mat and away from their teams.

Havoc and Mack get tagged in and take out Texano and Cuerno. Mack big dive onto Texano and Havoc goes to dive on Cuerno but he ducks. Havoc stops himself and flips back into the ring and Cage discus lariat him out of his boots but Ivelisse leaps onto Cuerno and takes him out.

Cage and Big Ryck slugging it out and Cage picks up Ryck and slams him! I doubt anyone has done that to Ryck in LU yet. Cage then ascends the turnbuckle and moonsault to the floor on Angelico, Havoc, Killshot and Mack. Cage throws Angelico back in.

Ivelisse on the floors seems to have hurt her knee or her ankle and still on the mat. (I think she did legitimately break her ankle on this episode)

Angelico evades Texano a few times and hits some kicks. He takes Texano to the outside and leaps off the apron with a knee into Texano’s face and sends Texano into Daviari, who looks pretty pissed and takes off his jacket and attacks Texano, throws him into the ringpost, hammers a few forearms and bitch slaps Texano! He clears out a few rows of people behind him and throws Texano into the chairs. He rips his shirt off and then leaves.

Back in the ring, Angelico leaps off the apron onto Ryck but gets leveled with a clothesline. Texano rolls into the ring but he’s still woozy from the Daviari attack. Killshot comes off the top rope with a double stomp onto Texano and eliminates the team of Texano, Cage and Cuerno.

Killshot and Ryck double team Angelico in the ring, who’s been getting worked over the whole match. Mack gets tagged in and hits some chops and a line. Ivelisse still clutching her leg and Havoc is nowhere to be seen. Killshot hits some kicks but only gets a 2.

Angelico avoiding all three guys trying to make his way to his corner but Killshot cuts him off. Angelico out of the ring and Havoc in going against Killshot. Killshot tries for a reverse rana off the top but Havoc holds on. Ivelisse up on that corner and dives onto Mack and Ryck but they catch her. Havoc hits the ropes and dives into her, knocking them all down.

Angelico back up now and hits a running crucifix power bomb into the corner on Killshot and pins him! Angelico, Ivelisse and Son of Havoc are the first LU Trios champions!

Dario Cueto comes out of his office and looks like he can’t believe what he just heard. Can’t believe the most dysfunctional Trios team in the world pulled it off and won the Trios titles. But then says actually, they haven’t won yet. He says there’s one more team in the tournament, personally selected by Cueto. And to spice it up, this match will be No DQ.

He introduces his team – The Crew!

The Crew rushes the winners on the floor and immediately starts beating them crap out of all them. Cisco beating down Angelico and Bael and Castro work over Havoc. They roll Ivelisse back in and Bael holds her arms back as Castro aims up a shot with the kendo stick but Havoc runs in a saves her. He tries to get something going but the much fresher Crew easily take control. Bael and Cisco hit two corner basement dropkicks and drag him out of the ring. Bael drags Angelico up the stairs, Cisco works over Havoc outside and Castro beating on Ivelisse in the ring even though she can barely stand.

Bael dumps Angelico over railing onto the top of Cueto’s office. Castro choking Ivelisse with the cane in the ring and Cisco working over Havoc in the crowd. Cisco suplexes Havoc over the railing but Havoc rolls out, throws Cisco into the railing and then hits a moonsault off the railing, using a fan’s head to steady himself. But Bael runs from the other side to jump Havoc.

Bael gets into the ring to continue the assault on Ivelisse with Castro but before they get to her Angelico leaps off the roof of the office onto both Bael and Castro!

Ivelisse pulls herself to the kendo stick and picks it up and starts hammering the Crew with it. She lays them out and Havoc hits a Shooting Star on Bael and Angelico hits a double stomp on Castro and they get the pin! And cement their championship win!

Lucha Libre World Cup

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucha_Libre_World_Cup

Last week, word began going around the internet that AAA is hosting a huge tournament of trios teams from all over the world.

AAA's "Dream Team" of Albert El Patron, Rey Mysterio, and Myzteziz was just announced as the latest team to join the world cup.

Also, TNA confirmed that Matt Hardy will be the first member of Team TNA to join the cup.

Dream Team: Alberto el Patron, Rey Misterio Jr., Myzteziz

Team Mexico 1 (AAA): Winner of Fenix/Electroshock/Fantasma, Winner of La Parka/Texano Jr./Cibernetico, Winner of Psycho Clown/Zorro/Averno

Team Mexico 2 (“Outsiders”): Blue Demon Jr., Dr. Wagner Jr., TBA

Team ROH: TBA

Team TNA: Matt Hardy, TBA

Team Pro Wrestling NOAH: Taiji Ishimori, Yoshihiro Takayama, Atsushi Kotoge

Team All Japan Pro Wrestling: Kenzo Suzuki, Tiger Mask III, Masamune

Rest of the World: TBA

The Ticketmaster info allegedly lists Johnny Mundo as participating, so perhaps he’s on the Rest of the World. The event will be taking place on May 24 at the 20,000-seat Palace of Sports in Mexico City.

Beyond Wrestling results

Beyond: ‘Scorned’

April 26

Providence, RI

-AR Fox defeated Speedball Bailey

-John Silver vs. Orange Cassidy went to a No Contest after Ryan Galeone interfered

-Alex Reynolds defeated Ryan Galeone

-Fluffy defeated Dave Cole, Gran Akuma, and Buxx Belmar to win the ISW Other Title

-Matt Tremont defeated Steve Corino

-Kimber Lee defeated Pinkie Sanchez

-Da Hoodz defeated The Colony

-Donovan Dijak defeated Jack Connor

-MOOSE & Black Baron defeated Worst Case Scenario

-JT Dunn defeated David Starr

Beyond: ‘When Satan Rules His World’

April 26

Providence, RI

-Team PAZUZU defeated The Nation of Intoxication

-Tracy Williams defeated Conor Claxton

-M1nute Men defeated The Symbiote

-The Crusade for Changed defeated The Garden State Gods

-Brian Fury defeated Heidi Lovelace

-Chris Dickinson defeated Nick Gage in an Anything Goes Match

-War Machine defeated Team Tremendous

-The Hooligans defeated Tabernak de Team

-Eddie Kingston defeated Stockade

-The Young Bucks defeated Ninjas With Attitude

AIW results

AIW "Make Em Say Uhh”
April 24
Cleveland, Ohio
- Tyson Dux and Tracy Williams defeated The Beaver Boys
- Louis Lyndon defeated Brian Meyers (Curt Hawkins), Tommy Mercer (Crimson), and Eric Ryan
- Ethan Carter III defeated Johnny Gargano after D.J. Zema Ion interfered
- To Infinity and Beyond (Cheech & Colin Delaney) defeated The Young Bucks to retain the AIW Tag Titles
- Alex Daniels defeated Chris Sabin, Joshua Singh, Jerry, Tyler Thomas, and Alessandro Del Bruno.

- Davey Vega defeated Flip Kendrick to retain the AIW Intense Title.
- Veda Scott won the AIW Women's Title in a four-way match against Mickie James, Athena, and Candice LaRae. Veda won after Josh Alexander interfered with a spinning tombstone piledriver on Athena. Veda came up for the pin.  
- Raymond Rowe defeated Josh Prohibition with help from Matt Cross.
- Josh Alexander, B.J. Whitmer and Eddie Kingston defeated Dick Justice, Rickey Shane Page and Ethan Page in a six-man tag match

Exclusive Ring Rust Radio interview with former WWE and current Lucha Underground star Johnny Mundo

The hosts of Ring Rust Radio – Donald Wood, Mike Chiari and Brandon Galvin – recently had the opportunity to speak with former WWE and current Lucha Underground star, Johnny Mundo. As one of the top talents in Lucha Underground, Mundo speaks about his history in the wrestling business and what the future could hold for Lucha Underground.

Check out this exclusive interview at the YouTube link below or continue on and read the entire interview right here.

Donald Wood: For the wrestling fans who have not fallen in love with Lucha Underground yet, you can be found on every Wednesday at 8 p.m. on the El Rey Network. Since Day 1, you have been one of the top stars in the brand. What has the pressure been like on you to help take Lucha Underground to the next level and how much pride do you take in being a cornerstone of the brand?

Johnny Mundo: First of all, it feels really good to be in on something from day one and the ground floor.  Being a part of something that is finding its own identity as it evolves is exciting.  It’s in my hometown of Los Angeles, and it’s been awesome to be a part of it since day one.  That feel really good and I am proud of that.  As for pressure, it’s kind of nice to be an upstart since there wasn’t much expectation of Lucha Underground.  Wrestling promotions are kind of like new religions, nine out of ten fail in the first year.  So the bar was set low, and I think immediately we exceeded expectations.  Especially as soon as Lucha Underground started airing on TV and people started seeing what the product looked like, we started having to turn people away at the tapings.  Every taping especially toward the end of the season, we had to turn away 1,000 – 1,500 people.  The tickets are free to the tapings, so it wasn’t like you paid for a ticket and got turned away, still, it was a case where demand exceeded supply, and that’s always a good position to be in.    

Mike Chiari: Lucha Underground signing you was obviously a major coup because of your name recognition and what you bring to the table, but I'm sure there were other companies that showed interest in you as well. So, if you could, take us through your thought process leading up to signing with Lucha Underground and explain why you believe it's such a good fit.

Johnny Mundo: The first part was just logistics.  Los Angeles is my home town, it’s where I live, and so no travel that appeals to me.  Secondly, I was a little skeptical until I took a tour of the facility and the facility looked great.  It was in this dumpy warehouse in Boyle Heights, where I shot a movie with Danny Trejo two years prior.  Melina and I were sexy, underground mole people in the film and I remember we were killing time and hanging with Danny Trejo beneath the subways of New York in this warehouse.  So when I went to this warehouse I remembered how it looked two years ago versus how it looked with the Lucha Underground set built and I was blown away.  This is a production that cares about the art decoration and is running it like a movie instead of a TV show.  Then you add to that the names from WWE that I was familiar with like Chris Roach, Matt Stillman, and Eric Von Wagner from Tough Enough.  They started lining up other people that I knew of like Big Ryck, Chavo, and a lot of indie wrestlers that I have always been a fan of like Son of Havoc and Prince Puma.  Then they went and added huge stars from AAA that I was vaguely familiar with but now am very familiar with.  I thought it was a really cool combination of Lucha, which I have always been a fan of, and films with Robert Rodriguez thumbprint and vide.  Mix all that with American style pro-wrestling, like the story telling aspect of what we did in the WWE.  So adding the psychology of Lucha, with the production value of an action film, is pretty much combining all my worlds or “Mundos” in one wrestling promotion.

Brandon Galvin: We've been huge fans of Lucha Underground since the first episode and one of the biggest reasons outside the matches is because of the storylines and atmosphere presented. What do you believe has been the trigger for Lucha Underground's success so far and what is the atmosphere like backstage among the other wrestlers?

Johnny Mundo: Everybody gets criticized, and sometimes wrestling promotions start catering to the internet and fans.  From day one, Lucha Underground had this belief in itself, as an idea, a new promotion, and had a vision of what it was going to be.  Ya know, as a kid I was a huge fan of the Undertaker.  He rose from the dead, used the lightning, he was an undead force.  But now, a lot of the mysticism and mystery has left the WWE and now they are more reality based and going in a different direction.  Lucha Underground sees wrestling in that same way.  Drago is a fire breathing dragon, Muertes is raised from the dead, Phoenix has been reborn, and they are adding a layer of mystery to wrestling that is refreshing to me as a wrestling fan.  I think that is one thing that really added success about it.  Staying true to that vision despite criticism from wrestling fans.  I think some people criticism and some people enjoy it, but at the end of the day when things are done well, everybody enjoys it.  They put a lot of production value into the vignettes, and they hire talented people.

Donald Wood: Early on in your tenure with Lucha Underground, you began a rivalry with current world champion Prince Puma. While you have teamed up recently, many fans are clamoring for another battle between the company’s two top stars. How do you think Prince Puma has handled being the company’s first champion and what will it take for you to eventually defeat him for the title?

Johnny Mundo: I think it’s going to take me one more rematch.  I think he handled himself extremely well and like a champion.  He is somebody that the promotion can go to and represent Lucha Underground.  He is a perfect combination of lucha, acrobatics, and storytelling; he gets it so to speak.  It’s cool to see him really embracing his role as a champion of Lucha Underground and he has done great representing the company.  He is probably doing almost as good as a job as I would do as champion.

Mike Chiari: In addition to Prince Puma you've been interacting with Alberto El Patron a bit lately and you guys have had some interesting run-ins that lead many to believe that you could possibly lock horns in the near future. Alberto's hugely popular right now and he's the AAA Heavyweight Champion, so what's your interest level regarding a feud with Alberto and how do you think the crowd would react in terms of who they'd support?

Johnny Mundo: First of all, Alberto is extremely talented and I did wrestle him a few times in WWE, but we never had enough time to put on the kind of match that I am looking forward to with him in Lucha Underground.  It’s very interesting the way he left WWE I think represents what pro-wrestlers should represent.  He stood up for himself and the culture and that’s been resonating with me and the fans of Lucha Underground.  You can identify with somebody who stands up for who they are and what they believe in.  He is also a very talented wrestler and I am looking forward to getting in the ring with him because I think that people aren’t going to believe the type of match we are going to have.  As far as how the fans will respond?  I mean, Los Angeles is my hometown, and has been for Lucha Underground since day one, so I think a lot of fans that are going to see that and the hard work I have done, and chant “Mundo” until their faces melt.  There are also a lot of fans that will respect Alberto and where he comes from and the talent he has in the ring and chant for him.  The true winner is going to be the fans in the temple when Albert and I are in the ring.

Brandon Galvin: You've always been regarded as one of the top high-flyers and easily one of the most athletic wrestlers in the business. At Lucha Underground, high-risk maneuvers are seen in just about every match. How competitive is the locker room, is there a sense of one upsmanship heading into each match?

Johnny Mundo: Yes and I think that is one of things that is making it great.  It’s a company that is very young in its inception.  I have been pushed to new levels and doing things that I have never done in WWE.  I have been pushed hard and made to think outside of the box.  I think it’s a competitive environment but also supportive.  People are in the locker room rooting for each other, and when someone does something new and innovative people are happy.  People are hoping the move works out well and that everybody involved is safe, and when someone does something cool there will be a huge pop in the locker room when everybody watches it.  I think that’s the kind of environment that breeds the most creativity and it’s another reason why I enjoy being there.  It’s a family environment and everybody there is having a good time.

Donald Wood: One critique of your work while in the WWE was your promos. On the other hand, you have shined since making the jump to Lucha Underground and have become one of the better talkers in the company. Do you think your work as an actor has helped improve your mic skills and do you think you’d ever give any thought to another run with WWE?

Johnny Mundo: Yes and yes.  I think that my work as an actor has definitely helped.  As far as my work with the WWE goes, you can never predict the future with pro-wrestling, anything is possible.  I will say I am super happy with Lucha Underground.  I’m not planning on going anywhere in the near future except for wrestling for Lucha Underground season 2.  The crazy thing about wrestling is as soon as someone says you can cut a good promo, it means you can go cut a good promo.  Perception is reality.   I think I cut good promos while in the WWE and I cut some bad ones, so the perception was I couldn’t cut a good promo, then that became reality.  Now with Lucha Underground, I cut some good promos, and I cut a few that weren’t so good, but most of everything I have done has been top notch and some of my best work.  I feel like that has shone through and people identified that and have seen the improvement.  That’s why it all of a sudden is perceived differently.

Mike Chiari: Having done some work on the indie scene since WWE, is there anyone you worked with or admire that you would like see come to Lucha Underground?

Johnny Mundo: Right now, Lucha Underground almost has too much talent.  They have a packed roster, full of very talented wrestlers, and an hour of TV time to work with.  They can bring in whoever they want; it’s just a matter of how much time they have for them on their program.  I hope that we start going a little bit longer, like a 90 minute show to give people more time to showcase themselves and longer stories.  That is my hope and it’s ultimately not up to me. There is talk about everything right now.  There is so much talk about so many things.  Every organization goes through growing pains, especially when people are excited about a wrestling promotion, people talk about everything:  Action figures, games, endorsements, live tours, two hour wrestling shows.  The main thing Lucha Underground needs to do is focus on continuing to produce a very good, one hour show, and grow slowly.  Maintain the quality, so far everything I have seen is that, everyone’s head is in the right place, and everyone is excited for season two and everyone is excited about Lucha.  Because of all those ducks lining up in an awesome row, Lucha Underground is going to continue to grow and be successful. 

Brandon Galvin: What is your vision for yourself and Lucha Underground in the future, where are your sights set on taking the brand moving forward?

Johnny Mundo: I am excited to be along for this ride and to see where it goes.  I dig the vignettes; they come off like a gritty action film straight off an AMC TV show.  I’m thinking that I’d love to be in one of those and see that happen.  I really just am excited to be a part of what comes next.  I’m looking forward to it, and glad with the feedback I have gotten from friends in the business and fans and personal friends have been all extremely positive.  I am excited, everyone’s excited, and I am thankful for all the fans who are enjoying the product and without that, there would be no Johnny Mundo.

NXT, Lucha Underground, and Indy Wrestling Minute - Your Weekly Source for Independent Wrestling News

NXT, 4/15

CJ Parker opens NXT in what is his probably his final NXT appearance. (I was wrong – he’s on again next week) He takes on Solomon Crowe in what I think is Crowe’s second televised match.

Parker rushes Crowe early and backs him into the corner but Crowe turns the tables and rakes Parker’s face with his boot. Parker escapes the ring but Crowe levels him on the apron with a springboard clothesline followed by a low tope (a low-pe if you will).

Parker keeping Crowe on the mat with a reverse chinlock but Crowe fights back to his feet. Crowe tries to get momentum going but Parker levels with a big windmill kick.

Crowe staggers Parker with a huge forearm and then splashes Parker’s leg from the top and makes Parker tap with a stretch muffler.

After the win, Crowe gets on the mic and say stay tuned because the real show is just beginning.

Baron Corbin out next (who we haven’t seen in a while). Looks like he’s back to squashing jobbers since he takes on Steve Cutler. Crowd is doing a half-hearted count and I couldn’t hear what they got up to but Corbin makes short work of Cutler, winning with the End of Days.

Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady out next (and Carmella is there too). They do their usual smack talking coming down to the ring but keep talking in the ring too, saying Blake and Murphy have something they want and they’re gonna take it.

Enzo and Cass take on the team of Angelo Dawkins and Sawyer Fulton (aka Shoot Nation, even though they aren’t announced as such. I heard about that alleged team a long time ago and it’s a cool gimmick – just guys who are pure athletes and no nonsense. I don’t know why WWE won’t let them run with it though)

Enzo starts hotdogging to start the match which Fulton and Dawkins use to take advantage quickly, throwing him around with fireman’s carries. Enzo flips out of it and tags in Cass. Fulton and Dawkins working well together, using lots of double team maneuvers.

It isn’t long before Blake and The Murph make their way to the ring. They make their way straight to Carmella and both give her flowers they were holding behind their backs.

Enzo getting thrown around and stretched by Fulton but eventually makes the tag to Cass, who hits a sidewalk slam then throws Enzo into a splash for the win. I really like how Enzo and Cass’ double team moves mainly consist of Cass throwing Enzo at their opponents in some way.

Afterward, both Enzo and Cass seem annoyed that Carmella accepted the flowers from Blake and Murphy.

Alex Riley in the locker room. “Did you think that was gonna be it? Did you think I was just gonna go away?” Yeah, I kinda did. Riley says by Kevin Owens messing with him, he has a bullseye on his back for the rest of his career. Riley says he’s gonna tell him in the ring next week and Owens better be there (tell him what, I have no idea).

Blue Pants out next! It’s crazy how much she is over. She’ll no doubt be jobbing to Dana Brooke, however.

Dana Brooke comes out doing flips and flexing. Already she screams “All flash, no substance.” I hope I’m wrong but it kinda really feels like they’re shoving out in front of the crowd because of her look.

Blue Pants comes right at her and hits a few forearms. She runs in again but gets dropped on the top turnbuckle. Brooke starts throwing her around and shoves her to the mat. She catapults Blue Pants into the bottom rope and then mounts her and throws some really awkward punches followed by a two count. And already, Brooke is getting “You can’t wrestle” chants.

Brooke chokes Blue Pants on the ropes and in the corner but Bluey gets some offense in, throwing a few high kicks which knock down Brooke. But Brooke shakes off the shots and wins with a Samoan Driver, aka King Cuerno’s “Thrill of the Hunt.”

Brooke wasn’t all that bad. Nothing really stood out about her performance but she wasn’t terrible. She could be a good addition to the NXT Women’s roster if she works on developing her personality a little bit more and tightening up her in-ring stuff.

Next week – Charlotte vs Bayley vs Becky Lynch for the Women’s Championship #1 contender and also, Alex Riley vs Kevin Owens.

Next up, it’s main event time – Rhyno vs Sami Zayn.

Zayn tries to out quick Rhyno and lock in side headlocks but Rhyno is too strong and overpowers Zayn. Zayn tries to work back into it with forearms but they just seem to annoy Rhyno. Zayn takes him off his feet with a drop kick but Rhyno levels him with a clothesline.

Rhyno all over Zayn in this match. Rhyno drives the shoulder into his midsection numerous times in the corner and gets a “Better than Roman” chant. Zayn trying to fight back, unleashes a flurry of punches on Rhyno, ducks a back elbow and hits a Blue Thunder Bomb and gets a 2 count.

Sami goes up top and dives into a cross body but Rhyno catches him, transitions him to his shoulders and drops him with a TKO! That took crazy strength, it was Brock Lesnar-like. But Zayn kicks out at 2.

Rhyno sets up on the second rope but Zayn hits a forearm which sends Rhyno to the outside where Zayn lands a tope con hilo. Back in the ring, Rhyno pummels him in the corner, tosses him with a belly to belly suplex and sets up for a Gore but Zayn dodges it. As Rhyno pulls himself to his feet, Zayn hits the Helluva Kick for the win.

NXT tour dates

(Unsurprising they are starting in Philly since we are the best wrestling town in the world)

May 14 – Tower Theater, Upper Darby PA

May 16 – Washington Avenue Armory in Albany, NY

June 11 – Stage AE, Pittsburgh, PA

June 12 – Agora Theater, Cleveland OH

June 13 – LC Pavilion, Columbus OH

Tickets can be purchased here:

http://www.wwe.com/events/all/wwenxt/all/all/all/3000/mi

Lucha Underground, 4/15

Dario Cueto meets Aerostar on the roof of the Temple. Aero is looking at the stars and Cueto asks if that’s where he gets his inspiration. But Drago, he gets his inspiration from down below. He tells him if he sees a shooting star to make a wish but be careful, everything in the Temple has a price.

The first match is the final match in the Trios tournament. King Cuerno, Texano and Cage take on Prince Puma, Johnny Mundo and Hernandez.

Hernandez and Cuero start the match. Hernandez easily overpowering Cuerno but getting overconfident and Cuerno using his speed to land big blows. Hernandez gorilla press slam and Cuerno tags in Texano.

During the match, they point out a dude in the crowd who looks vaguely Middle Eastern but has huge sunglasses on so it’s hard to tell. Striker doesn’t so who it is so I’m not sure, but he kinda looks like Daviari.

Cuerno, Texano and Cage isolate Puma in their corner and Texano and Cuerno start to double team him. But not for long as Puma uses impressive kicks to separate himself and tag in Mundo. Hernandez squashes Texano and Cuerno in the corner and pops up Mundo over him to land a big dropkick. The champ’s team working well together.

Some order restored and Texano starts working Mundo’s injured left knee with a single leg crab (the same leg Cuerno had been working on for weeks).

Mundo, Hernandez and Puma hit Cage with several moves, topped by a 450 from Puma but Cage still kicks out.

Cuerno goes for the Thrill of the Hunt but Puma reverses into a small package. Texano tries to break it up but gets pulled out by Mundo. Cuerno kicks out and Texano levels Mundo with the bull rope wrapped around his fist. Puma looks outside to see what happened and Texano hammers him with the bull rope fist too, leading Cuerno to hit the Thrill of the Hunt on Puma for the win. Cuerno, Texano and Cage move onto the Trios Championship match against Big Ryck, The Mack and Killshot and Son of Havoc, Ivelisse and Angelico.

After the match, Cueto comes out. He says he’s very excited to crown the first Trios Champions and can’t wait for the match next week and wants a preview tonight. A member from each qualifying team will be in a triple threat match and tells Cage, Cuerno and Texano to decide who will be in it because that match is next!

Cage representing his team. The Mack is out next. The final participant is Son of Havoc. This match should be amazing.

Despite having already wrestled, Cage is in control for most of the early going. Havoc hitting big moves but Mack showing off his impressive athleticism for a guy his size.  Havoc holding his own, using quick moves (high flying and submissions) to try and end the match.

Mack goes up to block Havoc on the top rope but Havoc knocks him to the mat. Havoc goes for the SSP but Mack roles out of the way and out of the ring. Cage throws him into the railing and gets in the ring, hits Weapon X on Havoc for the win. (So I’d be really surprised to see them win next week since they won twice tonight)

Cueto talks to Drago after the commercial break. Cueto tells him he remembers the first time he talked to Drago, in this very bathroom, and that Drago impressed him his first time out. Will he impress Cueto again or will Aerostar slay the dragon?

Pentagon Jr in the ring, telling Melissa Santos something, even though Striker says he’s not scheduled for a match. She says that Pentagon would to dedicate his next sacrifice to his master and as she goes to leave the ring, Pentagon attacks her! Melissa tries to break free and escape the ring but Pentagon is on her and drags her back in. Vampiro gets up and throws his headset off, saying there’s no way he’s gonna take this and as Pentagon sets up to break Melissa’s arm, Sexy Star shows up and drop kicks Pentagon in the back, and Vampiro just stands there. Star gets Melissa out of the ring and Star yells at Pentagon that he’s really crossed the line this time and enough is enough and that she isn’t afraid of him.

Cueto is doing the honors of announcing the main event since Melissa is shaken up. The winner gets a “unique opportunity”. Aerostar comes to the ring first in a pure white outfit that we haven’t seen before.

Very even at first, back and forth. Drago gets the first near fall with a sit out Dominator in the center of the ring. They hit each other with dual clotheslines and both are down.

Aero hits a few big splashes but can’t keep Drago down. Drago starts taking over and looks upset he can’t put  Aero away, hammering punches in the center of the ring and body slams him outside.

Drago then goes under the ring as Aero is down, and pull out a table. Drago lays Aero on the table and about to springboard on him but Aero stops him and pulls him down, punches him and lays Drago on the table. Aero back in the ring and springboard splash onto Drago from inside the ring! Daviari seems pretty happy about it.

Aero rolls him back in the ring and lands a springboard senton but Drago still kicks out!

They exchange strikes and near fall attempts. Drago hits the ropes and lands a crazy rolling DDT or a standing blockbuster or something crazy. He locks Aerostar into the Dragon’s Lair pin combo for the win! After the match, Drago helps Aero back to his feet and Aero raises the hand of Drago.

Cueto tells Drago he’s gonna give Drago the biggest prize he can offer - a shot at Prince Puma the Lucha Underground Championship! But if he loses, Drago is banned from the Temple forever!

Ring of Honor

Card announced for War of the Worlds Night One (5/12)

Jay Lethal vs Watanabe

Roderick Strong vs KUSHIDA

Delirious vs Gedo

The Addiction vs The Young Bucks vs The Kingdom

Michael Elgin vs Tetsuya Naito

reDRagon vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi and Jushin “Thunder” Liger

AJ Styles vs a mystery opponent (speculation is that it could be Samoa Joe or a returning Adam Cole)

The Briscoe Brothers vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and Kazuchika Okada

War of the Worlds Night Two (5/13)

Adam Page vs Watanabe

Michael Elgin vs KUSHIDA

Kyle O’Reilly vs. Tetsuya Naito

Roderick Strong vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

The Addiction vs Kazuchika Okada and Gedo

Four corner survival (Not sure if that means elimination or not. Probably not)

Jay Lethal vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Mark Briscoe vs. Jushin “Thunder” Liger

ROH World title

Jay Briscoe vs Bobby Fish

The Kingdom (Matt Taven, Michael Bennett and Adam Cole) vs Bullet Club (AJ Styles and the Young Bucks)

Global Wars, Night One (5/15), being broadcast live on iPPV

ACH vs Shinsuke Nakamura

Moose and Gedo vs Silas Young and Watanabe

Chris Sabin vs KUSHIDA

The Kingdom (Matt Taven and Michael Bennett) vs Jushin “Thunder” Liger and Matt Sydal

4 Corner Survival

RPG Vice (Trent? and Rocky Romero) vs The Addiction (Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian) vs The Decade (BJ Whitmer and Adam Page) vs reDRagon (Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish)

Cedric Alexander vs Kazuchika Okada

Michael Elgin vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Jay Lethal vs Tetsuya Naito

Team ROH vs Bullet Club (Briscoes, War Machine and Roderick Strong vs AJ Styles, Young Bucks, Karl “Machine Gun” Anderson and Doc Gallows)

Global Wars, Night Two (5/16)

KUSHIDA vs Will Ferrara

Michael Elgin vs Gedo

Jushin “Thunder” Liger vs. Dalton Castle

The Kingdom (Taven and Bennett) vs Bullet Club (Gallows and Machine Gun)

Tetsuya Naito and Hiroshi Tanahashi vs ACH and Matt Sydal

Shinsuke Nakamura vs Roderick Strong

AJ Styles and Young Bucks vs Kazuchika Okada and RPG Vice

These ROH/NJPW shows are absolutely jacked. I’ve got tickets to the 5/13 show and am really excited. I was thinking about getting tickets to the Tuesday show (there’s still standing room only tickets left) but with the announcement of NXT on Thursday at The Tower, I decided against going to three wrestling shows, three days in a rwo.

Of the matches on 5/13, the four way with Lethal, Nakamura, Liger and Briscoe is the one I want to see most, mainly because I really want to see Nakamura live. But Strong/Tanahashi and O’Reilly/Naito will be awesome as well.

But the first night of Global Wars in Toronto, which is also an iPPV, looks like the most stacked card of the joint shows. The four corner tag match, ACH/Nakamura, the 10 man tag, practically everything on that card looks awesome.

I’ll definitely be looking to purchase each of these shows once they become available.

House of Hardcore gets international TV deal with Fight Network

Tommy Dreamer’s House of Hardcore recently announced an 8-episode deal with Canadian TV channel The Fight Network. The series will begin on Tuesday, May 12 at 9 p.m. and highlight matches from all HOH events so far leading up to HOH 9 on July 18 in Toronto.

http://fightnetwork.com/news/55362:tommy-dreamers-house-of-hardcore-coming-to-fight-network/

Evolve

Evolve 42 results, April 18, Orlando FL

Shine Championship

Santana Garrett (c) defeated Andrea w/So Cal Val and Su Yung

Ethan Page defeated Martin Stone

Rey Horus defeated Andrew Everett

Timothy Thatcher defeated TJ Perkins

Biff Busick defeated Roderick Strong

Davey Richards defeated Trevor Lee

Open The United Gate Titles, Street Fight

Johnny Gargano and Rich Swann defeated The Premier Athlete Brand (Caleb Konley and Anthony Nese) (c) w/So Cal Val and Andrea to win the titles

Evolve 43 will be May 30 in Queens, NY

Beyond Wrestling

Beyond Wrestling is hosting two shows on Sunday, April 26 at Fete Music in Providence, RI.

“Scorned”
2 p.m., Sunday, April 26th, 2015

*Hardcore Icons Collide*
Steve Corino vs. Matt Tremont

*Flips vs. Kicks*
AR Fox vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey

*Hell Hath No Fury*
Kimber Lee vs. Pinkie Sanchez

*The Juicy Product Implodes*
JT Dunn vs. David Starr

*First Time Ever*
The Colony (Silver Ant & Fire Ant) vs. Da Hoodz (Kris Pyro & Davey Cash)

*Out For Revenge*
Ryan “Rush” Galeone with Jimmy Preston vs. Alex Reynolds with John Silver

*Inter Species Wrestling Four-Way Title Match*
Izzie Deadyet (c) vs. Fluffy vs. Dave Cole vs. Buxx Belmar

*WWA4 Showcase*
Moose & Black Baron vs. Worst Case Scenario (Ethan Case & Eli Evans)

Plus Donovan Dijak!

“When Satan Rules His World”
6 p.m., Sunday, April 26th, 2015
*Match Of The Year*
Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) vs. Ninjas With Altitude (Shynron & Kitsune)

*Anything Goes*
Nick Gage vs. Chris Dickinson

*The Fucking Tag Team Match*
War Machine (Hanson & Raymond Rowe) vs. Team Tremendous (Dan Barry & Bill Carr)

*Six Man Mayhem*
Nation Of Intoxication (Danny Havoc, Devon Moore, Lucky 13) vs. Team Pazuzu (Jaka, Mike Draztik, Angel Ortiz)

*Old School Showdown*
Eddie Kingston vs. Stockade

*Hoss Fight*
Hooligans (Devin Cutter & Mason Cutter) vs. Tabarnak De Team (Mathieu St-Jacques & Thomas Dubois)

*This One Is Personal*
Crusade For Change (Darius Carter & TJ Marconi) vs. Garden State Gods (Eric Corvis & Myke Quest)

*Grudge Match*
M1nute Men (Tommy Trainwreck & Devin Blaze) vs. Rickey Shane Page & Davey Vega

*Intergender Action*
Heidi Lovelace vs. Brian Fury

Plus "Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams!