Wednesday Wrestling Minutes - Your Weekly Source for NXT, Lucha Underground, Ring of Honor and Independent Wrestling News

NXT, 12/9

Enzo Amore and Big Cass with Carmella open NXT TV this week and they are uncharacteristically silent and serious on their walk down to the ring. They take on Corey Hollis and John Skylar, who actually get an entrance with music and everything. They are wearing torn up denim vests, sorta like what Scott Dawson used to wear when they were known as The Mechanics. Graves makes the same observation a moment later.

Big Cass in first and wearing down Skylar in the corner. Enzo tags in and does much of the same with a big forearm and then a standing dropkick. Cass big boots Skylar off the apron and then rocket launcher Enzo onto him for the win. After, Enzo cuts a promo about how he and Big Cass have been teaming for longer than anyone else in NXT and that Cass is family to him. Dash and Dawson tried to take them out, and stop them from putting food on the table for their families and the only people who determine their future are in the ring now. It’s a very good, impassioned promo from Enzo with a lot of real feeling and not just his usual lines and funny rhymes. Cass cuts a promo and it’s much of the same, not quite as good as Enzo but still good and says they’re walking out of Takeover as the new champs.

Tom Phillips talks to Dana Brooke and Emma about Emma facing Asuka in London. Emma says she isn’t worried. She knows Asuka was a big deal in Japan, so what. This is NXT and Emma has been there since before anyone heard of Bayley, Sasha or Charlotte. Before there was a Divas Revolution, there was an Emma-lution. Then Dana says they might check out Asuka’s match later, just cause they can.

Asuka out next. She takes on Deonna Purazzo, who actually gets a last name this time. Deonna is doing all she can to try and stay away from Asuka but it’s no use. Asuka is easily controlling the match, fluidly transitioning into a cross arm breaker, but Deonna shows a lot of heart and fights to get her feet on the ropes.

Not long after that, Emma’s music hit and Emma and Dana Brooke head to the stage. Asuka turns her back on Deonna to look at them, then as Deonna moves on in, Asuka spins around with a huge roundhouse kick, knocking out Deonna. Emma and Dana look pretty concerned and the ref calls the match because Deonna is out cold.

Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley backstage promo. Rawley does most of the talking and it seems like their gimmick is just what they do on Breaking Ground, Ryder tries to explain things to Mojo, who is far too hype to care. I don’t remember what they were talking about and it kinda doesn’t matter. Blake and Murphy, I think?

Alexa Bliss, Blake and Murphy backstage promo. Alexa says Blake and Murphy embarrassed her when they lost to the Hype Bros. And that Blake and the Murph are the reason she didn’t beat Bayley for the Women’s title because their failure threw her off. They’re pretty upset but the sudden accusations but say they’ll beat the Hype Bros to get back in her good graces.

Alexa Bliss, Blake and Murphy are also wearing green and red, Christmas-esque colors. And Alexa and Blake have ripped sweaters on that make them look like Christmas Freddy Krueger. They take on the Hype Bros, who came out first, but whatever.

The Hype Bros easily control the match early on, keeping one or the other guy isolated and wearing him down. Ryder hits the Broski Boot on Blake but then Murphy hits him in the back and the tide starts to turn. Blake picks up Alexa and rams her foot into Ryder’s face. Blake and the Murph are working over Ryder in their corner and giving him no chance to tag. Mojo is trying to rile up the crowd and they are really responding, but it doesn’t really help Ryder too much.

Ryder counters the numbers game and Mojo takes out everyone. Blake and Murphy rake Mojo’s eyes and superkick to nearly get a 3 but Ryder breaks it up. Then the Hype Bros hit the Hype Ryder for the win.

Samoa Joe and Baron Corbin talk about how they might not like each other but like their opponents less. Corbin says he doesn’t like where Apollo Crews comes from and what he represents and calls him a rookie. Joe says that Finn Balor claims Joe betrayed him, but Joe says Balor betrayed him by not giving him a title shot. Corbin finishes with they’re gonna beat them so bad they won’t make it to Takeover.

Bayley out next, she takes on Peyton Royce as we’re one week away from Takeover London. Peyton is actually getting the better of their exchanges early on and then knocks Bayley down with a running knee. Royce is looking a lot more calculated and deliberate in her offensive movements and showing an aggression we haven’t seen from her before.

Royce locks in a tight chinlock on the mat but Bayley works out of it and starts to work her way back into the match. Then almost out of nowhere, Bayley hits the Bayley to Belly for the win!

Then as Bayley is celebrating, Nia Jax’s music hits and she and Eva Marie make their way to the ring to be awful. So awful it makes my Network stream crash and I have to restart the app before the episode will play again. Eva has a mic and the crowd is incredibly loud before she can start talking. Eva is awful on the mic and Nia is only a hair better, so still pretty bad. Nia says Bayley is lucky that she didn’t get here sooner, or Bayley would never have won the title. She also says shes been destined for greatness since day one and it’s like, duh, The Rock, we know.

Apollo Crews talks to Finn Balor in the back about their match next. Crews says he’s been calling Balor all week and hasn’t heard back so he just wanted to make sure their minds were in the right place and Balor says Crews doesn’t need to worry about him, just the match tonight. Crews likes that but also says that once they take of business in London, Crews is coming after the NXT Title. Crews picks up the belt and puts it on Balor’s shoulder before he walks out and Balor looks kinda upset that Crews put his hands on the belt.

Ever since Joe turned on him, Balor’s attitude has kinda changed and he’s seemed a little more standoffish than he was before. At first, he seemed like an easy-go-lucky kind of guy and easy-going champ but now he seems different.

Main event time now – Apollo Crews out first followed by the champ Finn Balor. Corbin and Balor in first but when Crews tags in, Corbin wants nothing to do with him and he tags in Joe. Crews taking care of Joe and he wants Corbin, but neither Joe or Corbin seem willing to oblige.

Back from a break, Joe is helping Corbin beat down Crews in their corner. They are both working over Crews for a while, surprisingly. But then Crews starts to make a comeback and he and Corbin tag out and Balor goes right at Joe. Joe nearly gets the Muscle Buster but Balor gets out and nearly gets to the top for the double stomp but Corbin knocks him off into Joe’s arms, who plants Balor and then chokes him out with the Kokina Clutch and the ref calls for the bell. Joe stands over the still out cold Balor with the title belt as the episode ends.

NXT hosting Takeover: Dallas on April 1. Tix on sale 12/19

Lucha Underground

Saw on Ivelisse’s Facebook that LU will return to El Rey Network on January 27!

As you may know, I attended Lucha Underground’s tapings last weekend and there is a small write up about it at the end of this article.

Ring of Honor

ROH, 12/9

Opening this episode, Silas Young, the Beer City Bruiser and the Boys head to the ring first to take on reDRagon. It seems like the Boys may be being indoctrinated by Silas. One of them anyway, the other seems resolute. 

The crowd starts a Dalton Castle chant and Silas looks annoyed. Fish starts with Bruiser but gives up a lot of size. It's not long before the team experience of reDRagon takes over. Silas and the Bruiser actually start to gain some momentun, hitting a series of moves on O'Reilly in their corner, and the Boys are celebrating! What? Are they actually cheering for Silas and BCB? Stockholm Syndrome? 

Just about then, Adam Cole walks to ringside to join commentary, to watch O'Reilly get beat down. Kyle creates separation and makes the tag to Fish who beats up Silas and locks in the Fish Hook but Bruiser makes the save. Kyle takes out Bruiser and a Boy with a plancha and as Silas hits Misery on Fish, the other Boy distracts the ref from making the count. 

ReDRagon comes back and O'Reilly has a deep guillotine choke on BCB but Silas breaks it up. ReDRagon Two Man Smash Machine on BCB then Chasing the Dragon for the win. Cole is pissed that reDRagon won and O'Reilly gets in his face and they push and shove to the back.
Match was good, little bit of progression for the Boys. Ending was a little sloppy cause Bruiser is alot to handle but nothing glaring.

Afterward, Silas makes the Boys kick the ref and DDT him. One looks pumped  about it but the other, not so much. Silas tells them to be proud of themselves and shakes their hands. Then Dalton Castle hits the ring out of nowhere! He says Silas has something that belongs with him! Silas sicks Bruiser on Castle but he easily sidesteps Bruiser and knocks him down with the mic. Dalton motions for the Boys to join him, and they almost do, but for some reason they decide to stay with Silas (remember the one being more influenced by Silas than the other) and Dalton can't believe it.

Chris Sabin in the ring, complaining that someone stole their gimmick (the KRD guy distracting them) and mentions several times that it's a member of the ROH lockerroom, meaning you know it isn't  (it's Alex Shelley). That this person has cost his friends The Addiction the titles, and are in the WTL at the moment, and also has been doing Sabin's moves. Hmm...who could it be? (It's Alex Shelley)

Sabin is pissed this person has framed him and calls him out. He's hijacking the show until they show themselves, but he doesn't have to wait long. The guy shows up almost immediately, gets in the ring and takes off his mask and it's Alex Shelley! Sabin can't believe it's his old MCMG tag partner and Sabin walks out with his hands on his head.

Next up, Samson Walker takes on Roderick Strong for the TV title. Sounds familiar. Kevin Kelly says he's won gold in Puerto Rico and been around the world. Dude is jacked so he may give Roddy some problems. Bobby Fish on commentary since he has a TV title shot at Final Battle. Roddy tries to start fast but Walker uses his size to weather the initial attack and overpower Roddy, slamming him into the posts and the guardrail. Walker has a bear hug and Roddy fights out but then get put down with a spine buster and Walker gets a 2 count. 

But Roddy won't stay down. He hits a series of forearms and an Olympic Slam for 2. Fish grabs the TV title belt and sits with it at the table, saying he just wants a closer look.  After a double knee gut buster and a Sick Kick, Roddy gets the win. Commentary keeps talking about Roddy vs the World so it seems like he's gonna be defending the TV title against all comers.
Afterward, Fish gets in the ring and he has the TV title belt on and Roddy is pretty pissed. He takes his belt back and things start escalating until refs separate them.

Mandy Leon does a recap of the Survival of the Fittest, where Michael Elgin pinned Jay Briscoe with a Burning Hammer. And Elgin says he wants his title shot in Japan.

Main event time, the Young Bucks out first to take on the Briscoes. All Night Express on commentary for this one. Handshakes all around beforehand, but it isn't long into the match before egos take over and they're all pushing and shoving. The Bucks throw a Superkick Party for both Mark and Jay and level them with topes. Matt gets in the faces of ANX so it seems like tempers are rising all around. 

Back in the ring, the Briscoes are in control. ANX talks about being apart for so long but not missing a step and that they were never pinned to lose the tag titles years ago. Also that they had the Bucks pinned in a match before, for 14 seconds, but the ref didn't see, for 14 seconds, and neither kicked out, for 14 seconds. Even though the Bucks won that match.

Briscoes nearly get the win after a Froggy Bow from Mark then they set up for a Doomsday Device. Mark hits the clothesline but Matt flips out and lands on his feet! Nick back in and superkick Jay then both superkick Mark. Bucks Indytaker Mark but Jay breaks it up at 2.99. (Hmm seemed kinda like a Briscoe botch and didn't quite get there in time). Evade Jay and take him out and More Bang on Mark for the win!

ANX gets in the ring, telling Nigel they just want to congratulate the Bucks, but all 3 teams start shoving then brawling. Security and refs try to break them up but they're all getting taken out. 

Next week, RPG Vice vs ACH and Matt Sydal and an appearance by former ROH champ Jerry Lynn.

This week ROH TV
Adam Cole vs Corey Hollis
War Machine and Dalton Castle are in action
Kevin Kelly talks to former ROH champ Jerry Lynn about the World title match at Final Battle
And RPG Vice faces ACH and Matt Sydal

ROH Final Battle

Live on PPV

Philadelphia, PA

Dec. 18

ROH World Title

Jay Lethal (c) vs AJ Styles

ROH Tag Team Titles

The Kingdom (c) vs War Machine

ROH TV Title

Roderick Strong (c) vs Bobby Fish

Grudge Match

Adam Cole vs Kyle O’Reilly

Six man tag

Alex Shelley, ACH and Matt Sydal vs The Addiction and Chris Sabin

Dalton Castle vs Silas Young

Michael Elgin vs Moose

ROH Tag Title #1 Contender

The Briscoes vs The All Night Express vs The Young Bucks

YouTube Preshow

Cheeseburger vs Brutal Bob

ROH Final Battle PPV on PS4 (with a discount for Playstation Plus) members, through Live Event Viewer app

https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/3wk51g/psa_roh_final_battle_2015_will_be_available_on/

ROH’s biggest show of the year is now even easier to watch for fans with a Playstation 3 or Playstation 4 console.

The live PPV can be ordered and watched through the Live Event Viewer app for the cost of $34.95 and those who are Playstation Plus members get an additional 20% off, making the show a few cents below $28.

ROH enters agreement with PWG

http://www.rohwrestling.com/news/ring-honor-enters-agreement-pro-wrestling-guerrilla

Long story short, the agreement will allow for exclusive contracted ROH stars like Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly, the Young Bucks and others to "compete on a select number of PWG shows per year."

Honor Rising: Japan 2016

New Japan Pro Wrestling recently announced the official name for the events that they will co-promote with ROH in 2016. The shows will be titled “Honor Rising: Japan 2016” and will be held on Feb 19 and 20 at the legendary Korakuen Hall.

No matches have been announced yet, but I’m very excited for some prospective match ups between ROH guys and NJPW guys who don’t make the trip for the annual Global Wars/War of the Worlds shows. It’ll be great to finally see Shibata and Ishii get matched up against ROH guys, not to mention the great up-and-coming Young Lion talent like Jay White, David Finlay, Sho Tanaka and Yohei Komatsu who will no doubt get a chance to shine. 

New Japan Pro Wrestling

World Tag League finals results

-Yohei Komatsu and Sho Tanaka def. Juice Robinson and David Finlay Jr.

-Mascara Dorada def. Jay White

-Tiger Mask IV and Ryusuke Taguchi def. Jushin “Thunder” Liger and KUSHIDA

-TenKoji, Yuji Nagata and Manabu Nakanishi def. Bullet Club (Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows, Yujiro Takahashi and Tama Tonga)

(A video aired showing Truth Martini talking to Jay Lethal, about Lethal wanting to defend the ROH World title at Wrestle Kingdom 10 on January 4)

-The Kingdom def. The Addiction

-Shinsuke Nakamura and Toru Yano def. Bad Luck Fale and Cody Hall

-Hiroshi Tanahashi, Michael Elgin, Hirooki Goto and Katsuyori Shibata def. Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, Kazushi Sakuraba and Yoshi-Hashi

World Tag League finals

-Tomoaki Honma and Togi Makabe def. Los Ingobernables

(Honma won with the Kokeshi diving headbutt on EVIL and it seems they will challenge Bullet Club at WK10)

Kazuchika Okada is the MVP

Enuhito reported last week that IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada was voted the 2015 Tokyo Prowrestling MVP. Not only that, but voted the Kazuchika Okada vs Genichiro Tenryu from the Tenryu Retirement Show as Match of the Year. I didn’t watch that show, even though it is on World, but I heard it wasn’t great. It’s not surprising though, since Tenryu is 65 years old but it’s also not surprising it was voted MOTY because Tenryu was a pretty big deal and therefore so is his retirement (and saying he was a big deal is probably underselling his legacy a lot).

WrestleKingdom10 card

http://www.njpw.co.jp/english/match/card.php?e=1065

-The annual big January 4 NJPW Tokyo Dome show is quickly approaching and many matches have been announced

IWGP Heavyweight Championship

Kazuchika Okada (c) vs G1 Climax 25 winner Hiroshi Tanahashi

IWGP Intercontinental Championship

Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs AJ Styles

NEVER Openweight Championship

Tomohiro Ishii (c) vs Katsuyori Shibata

Hirooki Goto vs Tetsuya Naito

IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship

Bullet Club (Karl “Machine Gun” Anderson and Doc Gallows) (c) vs 2015 World Tag League winners Tomoaki Honma and Togi Makabe

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship

Kenny Omega (c) vs KUSHIDA

ROH World Championship

(If Jay Lethal retains against AJ Styles)

Jay Lethal (c) vs Michael Elgin

Toru Yano, TBA and TBA vs Tama Tonga, Bad Luck Fale and Yujiro Takahashi

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship

reDRagon (c) vs Young Bucks vs RPG Vice vs Ricochet and Matt Sydal

Pre-show

Annual New Japan Rumble (a battle royal, usually just a fun way to start the show, using older vets to pop the crowd. Also on the NJPW site, this match is called the “New Japan Rambo”)

Indy wrestling

PWG 

Michael Elgin, Sami Callihan and ADAM COLE BAY BAY made returns at PWG ASW 11 N1. And N2, Kyle O'Reilly returned during the main event.

All Star Weekend Night 1 results

-Chuck Taylor def. Mark Andrews

-Ricochet def. Marty Scurll

-The Unbreakable F’n Machines def. The American Wolves

-Sami Callihan def. Drew Gulak

(Afterward, Callihan said he had been locked in a cage for the past 2 years but now he is back to prove he is the best in the world)

-Trevor Lee def. Will Ospreay

-Kenny Omega def. “Speedball” Mike Bailey

-Young Bucks retained the PWG tag titles against Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa

-Roderick Strong retained the PWG title against Matt Sydal

(After the main event, the Bucks joined Strong but they were attacked by Speedball and the World’s Cutest Tag Team. The lights went out and  Super Dragon appeared but he had a mic and yelled “SUCK MY DICK!” and did a brainbuster on his knee to Candice, then took off his mask to reveal himself as Adam Cole! Cole had not been seen in PWG since May of 2014 and it seems that he is aligning himself with Mt Rushmore 2.0. Though, Strong, the current leader and world champ, seems to be at odds with the returning former leader of the group.)

All Star Weekend Night 2 results

-Chuck Taylor def. Kikutaro

(This was only a few minutes, Kikutaro asks for another match, Chuck agrees because he is a gentleman)

-Chuck Taylor def. Kikutaro

(Mt. Rushmore 2.0 attacked Kikutaro afterward)

-Timothy Thatcher def. Marty Scurll

-Unbreakable F’n Machines def. Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano

-Ricochet def. Mark Andrews

-Trevor Lee def. Matt Sydal

-Kenny Omega def. Will Ospreay

-Chris Hero, “Speedball” Mike Bailey and the World’s Cutest Tag Team def. Mt Rushmore 2.0 in a Guerilla Warfare match

(Excalibur got involved, Kyle O’Reilly made his return to attack Mt. Rushmore and Hero got the pin on a Buck after a roaring elbow with a thumbtack elbow pad)

Next PWG show is Jan 2.

-Tix on sale Dec 16

-Angelico vs Brian Cage

-Drew Gulak vs Timothy Thatcher 

-Sami Callihan vs Trevor Lee 

-Drew Galloway vs Jack Evans

-Mike Bailey vs Adam Cole

-Zack Sabre Jr vs Akira Tozawa 

-Chris Hero vs Roderick Strong, PWG World title

PWG DVD news

-Two new compilations coming soon:

Young Bucks – Five Stars

http://www.prowrestlingguerrilla.com/merch/comps/dvd00BUCKS.html

Not Another Steen DVD

http://www.prowrestlingguerrilla.com/merch/comps/dvd00STEEN.html

Not only that - PWG Blu Rays coming!

https://twitter.com/Highspots/status/671467126234947584

Global Force Wrestling coming to NY/NJ

http://globalforcewrestling.com/global-force-wrestling-invade-new-york-new-jersey/

-Two shows

Jan 22 at Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, NY

Jan 23 at Rahway Rec Center in Rahway, NJ

CZW Cage of Death XVII results

-Desmond Xavier won a scramble match involving Poseidon, Chip Day, Eddie Smooth, Conor Claxton, Lucky 13 and Brittany Blake to earn a spot in Best of the Best

-Lio Rush def. Joey Janela to win the CZW Wired Championship

-The Amazing Gulaks def. Beaver Boys

-Greg Excellent def. Tony Nese

-George Gatton def. DJ Hype

-TV Ready (BLK Jeez and Pepper Parks) def. Team Tremendous to win the CZW Tag Team Titles

-Joe Gacy def. Tim Donst

(Donst said “I Quit” before Gacy threw him off a scaffold, but then Gacy threw him off anyway)

-Danny Havoc def. Ricky Shane Page

-Sami Callihan def. David Starr

-Matt Tremont retains the CZW World Title in the Cage of Death against AR Fox, Masada and Devon Moore

CZW vs Smash Jan 16 

Combat Zone Wrestling has a long history of working with other notable indy companies to help raise the profile of both companies. Back when I was going to CZW regularly in the mid-2000s, I had the chance to see CZW work with smaller companies like IWA-MS, Chikara, and IWS as well as PWG and Ring of Honor  before they became the massively popular promotions they are today.

CZW being an east coast showcase for the best indy wrestling talent on the scene today still hasn’t changed and in 2016, CZW will be teaming up with one of Canada’s most popular companies, Smash Wrestling.

Taking place on January 16 in Toronto, Canada (I’ll be REAL annoyed if they don’t do a joint show in Philly or at the Skate Zone), the event is advertised as Team Smash vs Team CZW. I haven’t been able to find a card yet (one probably doesn’t even exist yet, since CZW probably wanted to get through COD before looking to 2016) but I will be sure to pass it along once I find out.

Joe’s Journey to the West

I plan on doing a much more extensive write up about my trip to LA to see PWG and Lucha Underground, but for now, enjoy the short write up I did for Ring Rust Radio:

Last week, I took my first ever trip to Los Angeles to not only attend season 2 tapings of Lucha Underground, but also to attend my first PWG show, night one of All Star Weekend 11. – As fun as the Lucha tapings were, nothing could ever compare to the atmosphere at a PWG show. The crowd was raucous all night long, even as temperatures inside the American Legion Hall in Reseda neared triple digits. – Several wrestlers returned to PWG at ASW N1, including Michael Elgin, Kenny Omega, who was last in PWG for the 2014 Battle of Los Angeles, and the American Wolves, who hadn’t teamed in PWG since 2011. – There were also many surprise returns, like Sami Callihan, who defeated Drew Gulak and cut a promo saying that he has been locked in a cage for 2 years but now he’s back to prove why he’ the best in the world. –Adam Cole returned as well, who rejoined Mount Rushmore after dressing like Super Dragon to attack Candice LeRae. – Also, it was recently announced that ROH and PWG had reached an agreement that would allow contracted ROH stars such as Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly and the Young Bucks to work select PWG dates going forward.

The Lucha Underground taping was an experience completely unique from any other wrestling show I’ve ever attended. – El Rey Network creator Robert Rodriguez played music with his band during the taping, as well as even filming some of an episode. “Machete” star Danny Trejo and producer Mark Burnett were also in attendance. – After having been inside the Temple, the interior looks much bigger on TV than it is in real life. And since it is a television show and not a taped wrestling show, the production staff is much larger than any show I’ve seen, besides WWE. – Also, the “backstage areas” are scattered around nearby the ring area. For instance, the “gym” setting was right behind my seats, which were to the right of Cueto’s office. – And even though it may be obvious, Pentagon is easily the most over person in LU and he gave me perhaps the hardest high-five ever. – In terms of what I saw at the tapings, without getting into spoiler territory I saw:

-Several wrestlers brand new to season 2

-The return of a very popular character

-Title matches

-A title change

-And an Aztec Warfare match

Also, Lucha Underground now has a shop on ProWrestlingTees.com and it was announced last week that Lucha Underground Season 2 will begin on January 27.