Exclusive Ring Rust Radio interview with ECW, WCW and WWE legend Rey Mysterio Jr. as he heads into AAA's Triplemania 23

The hosts of Ring Rust Radio – Donald Wood, Mike Chiari and Brandon Galvin – were recently able to speak with pro wrestling legend, Rey Mysterio Jr.! In this interview, they talk with Mysterio about his upcoming match with Myzteziz at AAA’s Triplemania 23, his legacy in the business, his storied career having worked for ECW, WCW and WWE and much more. You can listen to the interview on the YouTube link below or continue past it to read the entire interview here.

Donald Wood: The biggest news for wrestling fans is that you will be main-eventing AAA’s Triplemanía 23 against Myzteziz (formerly Sin Cara) in a dream match on Sunday, August 9th on PPV. For fans watching Triple A for the first time thanks to the English commentary, what can they expect from the show overall and from the main event between you and Myzteziz?

Rey Mysterio: Well that match between us is going to a legacy defining match.  There is a lot of animosity and egos that are going to come into play that night.  I have to point out that this match was made for the fans by the fans.  The fans were the number one critiques on who is better?  Rey Mysterio or Myzteziz.  At one point I left Mexico to continue my career globally and a new star came about.  He is known now as Myzteziz, but back then he was known as Mistico and then Sin Cara when he joined WWE.  I would have to say the fans in their eyes see a lot of similarities between us.  We even tagged at one point in the WWE and now here we are against each other thanks to the fans.

Mike Chiari: You and Myzteziz teamed together in WWE and it seemed as though there were always rumors about the two of you facing each other, and that match possibly happening at WrestleMania. How close did that match come to happening in WWE, and why do you think it never did?

Rey Mysterio: Due to the fact that I had already previous injuries on top of my knee benched me for quite some time.  When I came back we started teaming up and we were heading somewhere.  There wasn’t a concrete story line, but we were going out there and putting on one hell of a show for the fans.  We were barely at the stage of getting the fans acclimated with our style and who Myzteziz was.  His injuries came into play as well and then of course he was released.  Then of course later on my release with me not wanting to re-sign with the WWE so it didn’t happen and we parted ways.  We didn’t give the WWE the time to invest in both names and the product.  Now it is happening at last here in Triple A.

Brandon Galvin: You're often credited by fans as being one of the most influential luchadores in wrestling history, especially when it comes to your impact on pro wrestling in America. I know this was a long time ago, but do you recall getting that sense when you were first working ECW and WCW or do you look back now and feel that you were a pioneer of sorts?

Rey Mysterio: I think I look back now and feel blessed that I was a pioneer for that style.  I want to pause a second and mention the one person that opened the doors for us and that was Eddie Guerrero.  He was the first runner up with ECW and he was having great matches with Dean Malenko and Chris Benoit.  Then of course when Eddie signed with WCW, Pauly talked to Konnan and brought him in, then Konnan brought us in:  Psychosis, Juventud, Parka, and myself.  We kind of replaced Eddie’s style and gave the fans a treat of lucha libre.  Now I go back and think that, “wow, we really opened the eyes of the American audience to what lucha libre is, that it’s not just a style, it’s part of our culture.

Donald Wood: There were plenty of rumors surrounding why and how you departed WWE, including that the company flew you into Buffalo for a special meeting and extended your deal without your approval. Can you address the validity of these reports and why you decided it was time to leave WWE earlier this year?

Rey Mysterio: The initial meeting in Buffalo went well.  Both parties, they agreed to continue to move forward on the Rey Mysterio brand.  There was no rumors, no animosity, no bad feelings between us.  I feel like resigning with the company due to the fact that I had a large amount of injuries on my body.  That was the number one reason why I was on the bench so long.  So when it came around to resigning, they were ok with me wanting to depart and do my own thing.  There was no hard feelings and we departed in an amicable way.  It was my time to think for myself and act upon myself and that was the best thing I had done for myself in years.  I have had time to rest and my body feels a thousand times better.  I’m calling my own shots and doing things I have never been able to do in my career.  I never had the freedom to do them but now I do.

Donald Wood: Would you ever be open to returning to WWE later in your career?

Rey Mysterio: Yes of course.  I think that’s what every wrestler would want, there’s nothing better than dictating your own future and not over working your body.  You can’t keep running on fumes constantly when you are older.  You don’t see the same Rey Mysterio you see when I was 25 years old.  I think it’s good to understand from both ends that I can’t deliver the way I used to when I first signed with the WWE.  To make sure talent last, you have to take care of it.

Mike Chiari: Lucha Underground is a promotion that's picked up a ton of steam over the past year, and it's a company that many fans have naturally linked you to since it has a good working relationship AAA. If and when the second season of Lucha Underground is green lighted, what are the odds we'll see you working with them? What's your level of interest there?

Rey Mysterio: I’m a big fan of their product and I watch it on occasion.  They are doing a wonderful job and I think it’s great that they give an opportunity to the future talent of AAA.  I sit down and think if we had that type of promotion going on when Triple was filled with Psychosis, Juventud, Parka, Pentagon, Konnan, then lucha libre would have been introduced years ago to the United States.  Unfortunately it didn’t happen but I think everything has its time to be exposed and now it has happened for Lucha Underground.  I think if the time is right and I am interested I don’t see why not.  If the opportunity came to come back to the WWE with a 50/50 terms base I would do that as well.  It’s good to know you have options and when the options come I will be the first to jump on it as long as it favors both parties involved.

Brandon Galvin: There's been so many exciting chapters so far in your career, but mine was when you made your debut in WWE and were working with the likes of Kurt Angle, Edge and Eddie Guerrero among others. Was that a special time for you from an in-ring perspective and is there a point in time where you feel like you were having your best matches?

Rey Mysterio: I definitely think that was probably a good phase that I was living.  I had so many great opponents and team mates around me that we were able to perform at a very high level.  I had Eddie, Edge, Kurt Angle, and Triple H was there doing his thing too and the Rock was still around too.  The roster in general for WWE, SmackDown, and Raw was so stacked,  it was definitely the funniest stage in my career and the most memorable stage for giving the best matches I had in me.

Donald Wood: One interesting note is that you worked for Paul Heyman in ECW, Eric Bischoff in WCW and Vince McMahon in WWE, so you’ve seen all different kinds of leadership types. Using your unique perspective, what are some of the differences between the three men and who did you enjoy working for the most?

Rey Mysterio: They all are very different and we left out Antonio Pena, the creator of AAA.  God rest his soul.  He was the first one to see what was behind Rey Mysterio and gave me the opportunity to be nationally known.  With all four of those bosses I have had, they are all very different.  Geniuses were Pena, Pauly, and Vince.  Marketing wise and character wise, they were just on top of their game and I think the fact that it was their company and obligation to take wrestling to another level and they have.  They all did at their time and I feel blessed to have worked with all three of them.  One is no longer around, I don’t know where Eric is, and Pena rest in peace.  I feel honor to have been a part of all four major companies at points in my career.

Mike Chiari: You're obviously one of the most accomplished and popular Superstars in WWE history, but unfortunately one of your last matches in WWE was the 2014 Royal Rumble and you were actually booed as the 30th entrant since fans so badly wanted to see Daniel Bryan. Do you feel like you were unfairly put in a no-win situation? Are there any hard feelings about the way that played out?

Rey Mysterio: No hard feelings at all.  One thing I have learned through the years is I have never been political about certain things and I take things lightly through my whole life.  At the moment, I couldn’t believe or understand what was going on.  After the match I was able to sit down and digest what was going on, and sure enough it was the fact that the fans weren’t given what they wanted.  At one point I remember talking to Konnan about it, thinking if they would of let me walk down to the ring, then when the fans were booing, let me go back into gorilla and give my spot to Daniel Bryan to be number 30.

Brandon Galvin: You've been a massively popular fan favorite throughout your WWE career, but was there ever a time that you wanted to turn heel and see how it would be to play a villain?

Rey Mysterio: I think that actually happened some sort of way after I lost my mask and the Filthy Animals were created.  That was the first time I was able to experiment what it felt like working without the mask.  In a way, it was not being a complete baby face, but somewhere in-between.  A cocky Rey Mysterio, a new stage in his career, no mask, so I was able to play with the fans a little more and interact with the fans in a different way.  I really enjoyed that phase of my life even though I thought working without my mask would have been a heart breaker.

Exclusive Ring Rust Radio interview with former WWE and current TNA star Jeff Hardy

The hosts of Ring Rust Radio – Donald Wood, Mike Chiari and Brandon Galvin – were recently able to interview for WWE and current TNA star Jeff Hardy. With Hardy returning to Impact Wrestling after missing several weeks because of an injury, Hardy looks to get revenge on James Storm as well as discussing the resurgence of tag team wrestling and the future of the Hardy Boys as a team in TNA.

Donald Wood: You make your return to Impact Wrestling Friday night at 9 p.m. on Destination America when you square off against James Storm in a Six Sides of Steel match. Are there any reservations for you in a match this dangerous after you suffered your most recent injury in a similar bout?

Jeff Hardy: None. With this one there is actually a roof on the cage.  It’s kinda like the Lethal Lockdown match, I don’t know if you’re familiar with the Lockdown pay-per-views from the past, but there’s a top on this cage.  So there is no escape whatsoever.  There are weapons hanging from the roof, we went in there and we tore it up as you will see this Friday.  The show is all about Hardy’s revenge.  I’ve been out for a month, James Storm knocked me out with the cowbell, I hit the stairs and was unconscious, and I get my revenge this Friday.

Mike Chiari: Your willingness to do high-risk spots and kind of throw caution to the wind is obviously a big reason why you became so popular in the first place. And you’re obviously still capable of doing those big spots as evidenced by falling on the steps against Storm, but as your career progresses do you have any thoughts of toning down your style, or do think that’s always going to be who you are as a performer?

Jeff Hardy: It’s always how I’m gonna be till I can’t do it anymore.  It’s kinda of a day by day, match by match process with me.  I’m pretty sure I know what my body is capable of doing and getting away with without getting seriously injured.  That’s the main thing is to avoid that big, serious injury.  I feel confident in whatever I come up with in my mind that I can pull it off.  I always go for it unless someone shuts me down.  As long as I am able to wrestle I will always be that Jeff Hardy style people know and love until I can’t.  

Brandon Galvin: Your fall onto the steel steps at Lockdown garnered mainstream attention, which s always a priority for any company, but how important is that for you as the performer knowing you created such a buzz for the product?

Jeff Hardy: It doesn’t even really matter to me.  Matt is more the social media guy.  He is the one that wants to get it everywhere.  I’m kinda stand behind the evolution of it all.  I don’t even tweet that much but I will tweet a picture after a match with my face paint and say thank you Orlando or wherever I am.  That’s really all I do, I’m pretty much an anti-social when it comes to that.  That stuff is more along Matt’s territory where he cares about all that stuff and I really don’t care about the impact it makes on others.  I just care if it was a great match and if the story is good.  This Friday on Impact at 9 p.m. on Destination America it is Hardy’s revenge.  You gotta tune in to check it out, I get so much revenge on him you just won’t know what to do.  It’s a great match, great show, and a flawless story.  TNA is doing great right now and we’re just gonna keep climbing. 

Donald Wood: While you are returning Friday to square off against Storm in a singles match, you are still very much part of The Hardys and the quest for tag team gold. You and your brother have yet to win the championships in TNA. What would winning the titles mean for you as an individual and as part of The Hardy Boys legacy?

Jeff Hardy: It’s all about the collection you know?  It’s something to add to the collection and naturally as a pro-wrestler you want to every title you possibly can.  From the lightweight championship, tag team championship, US title, intercontinental title, world heavyweight championship which is the metaphorical brass ring to grab they say.  Naturally you want to win them all to add to your collection.  To look back on your career and say that you did that, that is something Matt and I haven’t done yet.  We have had some killer matches in TNA with the Wolves, Team 3D, and we are going to continue to have those matches until we win those World titles.  It’s inevitable that we are and I am looking forward to it.   

Mike Chiari: You and Matt getting back together as a team is something that I think a lot of fans have enjoyed, especially since you’ve gotten to mix it up with some of the up-and-coming teams like The Wolves. The Hardys were instrumental in the resurgence of tag team wrestling in the late-1990s, so do you and Matt kind of view your reunion as an opportunity to do that again and restore the importance tag team wrestling?

Jeff Hardy: Kind of yea, I would think so.  I was always a believer of tag team ranks could be just as important as the world championship and singles matches.  I think we could see that down the road in some company where the world tag team titles are more important than the world heavyweight title.  Back in the day when we were just the Hardy Boyz before we went our solo ways, we just went out there and had the greatest matches ever.  We wanted to steal the show every night and I feel that way now with Matt every time we get together and have a match.  I always want to mention the Young Bucks, cause we have wrestled them several times and it is a blast getting together with those guys.  We always put together killer matches and tear it up.  This weekend we are wrestling RVD and Sabu at WrestleCon out on the West coast.  That will be another dream match for sure.  It’s just so cool later in life, especially with what I have been through and what Matt has been through, and to come out of the dark times on such a good note and be better than we ever have been in the ring at this age.  It’s a good feeling, and therefore the future is limitless as to what we can do and accomplish.

Brandon Galvin: As far as years in the business, you're one of the most experienced wrestlers at TNA. Do younger wrestlers come to you for advice and do you view yourself as a leader in TNA's locker room?

Jeff Hardy: I never view myself as a leader.  I compliment people when I see something I really like and tell them that was good, keep doing what you’re doing.  That’s as much as advice as you will get out of me.  Matt is more that trainer to help a young star be better.  If he ever opens a school I might pop in and my big claim to fame is selling and how to take a good butt whooping.  I never saw myself as a leader but Matt definitely is that guy.

Donald Wood: At the end of last month, you became the first OMEGA Heavyweight Champion since 2000. With so much family influence on this independent promotion, what has it been like creating something new and unique in the business?

Jeff Hardy: It’s extremely cool.  To capitalize on that like Shane Helms the Hurricane has, all the power and weight behind those shows and everything it takes to pull those off.  He was hanging at my house one weekend and we watched a show where the Hardy Boyz wrestled the Briscoe Brothers.  Just from beginning to end it was such a good show and all I could say was wow.  It was pay-per-view worthy and it was just a match at a high school.  All the way through it was built and built until the main event perfectly.  Now the possibilities are endless especially now that I have this alter ego Willow.  Now when I have these crazy ideas I run them by Shane and he says, “Oh wow, yeah that is cool.”  It’s a new day in pro-wrestling and with Omega we can and we will pull of anything.  Down the road with Jeff Hardy and Willow you are going to see some really cool, I almost want to say magic-like and special setups for some alter ego Willow stuff going on with Omega.   

Mike Chiari: Sting is a guy who you worked with pretty extensively during his time in TNA, and one of the biggest stories in professional wrestling right now is Sting making his WrestleMania debut on Sunday. What were you able to learn or pick up from Sting when you worked together, and how do you think he’ll perform on the big stage?

Jeff Hardy: I think it’s overdue and about time he gets that WrestleMania moment because he deserves it.  I saw the Wyatt promo on Raw, which I loved, then I saw the whole Vigilante vs. King promo for Triple H and Sting’s match.  I got goosebumps from it, I wasn’t even a wrestler at that point I’m just a fan.  Sting was one of my first and biggest influences.  One night in North Carolina when I reached out and touched his shoulder, he had the face paint on, and I didn’t know why but I loved it.  I wanted to be just like him and I was only 11 years old.  Now that he is going to be in a match at WrestleMania blows my mind.  I can’t wait to see how it turns out but I know it will be great I am sure.  Every time I was in the ring with him it was just a blessing for me to be in there with a role model and a guy I looked up to so much.  I can’t wait to see his moment in WrestleMania.

Brandon Galvin: Throughout your career you've competed in some of the most high-risk and ground-breaking matches. TNA is often looking to try new types of matches. Is there a different variation or completely new type of stipulation that you think fans would want to see in TNA?

Jeff Hardy: Stipulation as in match wise?  There’s always room for that.  I have an idea but I haven’t pushed it yet.  I asked the guy in TNA that does the ring work if there was a way to spin the ring like WCW did back in the Universal days.  It would spin around so I got to thinking, and I asked if he could put a ring on a thing that would spin to make it go around and around, make it go faster and slow it down.  A rotating match to pull off in the future, where you start the match and at a certain time it’s going to start to rotate and go faster and faster.  If you could pull off spots while the ring is rotating would be awesome in itself.  Anything is possible if people are willing to attempt to pull it off and get over the fear of trying.  I’m willing to try anything.

WrestleMania 31: The main event debacle

I’ve really tried to restrain myself from talking about the build to the Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar main event of WrestleMania 31 (aka WrestleMania Play Button). And I’ve held back from talking about it because it’s been so spectacularly bland, bordering on bad.

But after the end of the March 23 Raw, I can’t hold back anymore. And if you watched Raw, you know why. If you didn’t – check out this .gif from www.wrestlingwithtext.com.

That is how Raw ended last night, with Roman and Brock having a tug of war over the WWE Championship, like they’re two kids fighting over a toy they both want to play with.

Are you serious, WWE? THIS is how you present your two biggest badasses, the guys main-eventing the biggest show of the year, the guys who, by definition of being in the main event, should be the biggest draws on the card?

And it’s not just that the imagery was bad (because it was) but it didn’t fit with either guy’s character.

Paul Heyman (who has been carrying the whole feud since the Royal Rumble, speaking for Brock and trying to put over Reigns at the same time) had LITERALLY just finished talking about how much Lesnar loves being the champion and how he wouldn’t stand for anyone trying to take the title from him, likening taking the title from him to trying to take his wife, take food from his table or rename is children.

So what happens?

Reigns comes down, takes the title out of Lesnar’s hands and Lesnar does NOTHING. He looks bewildered and grabs the title and they both tug on it and the show ends. That’s it.

In keeping with Brock’s character, he should have been FURIOUS that Reigns had the gall to not only grab the title and hold it over his head. But to take it out of Brock’s hands and raise it over his head TO BROCK’S FACE? Lesnar should’ve have pummeled Reigns for that. Lesnar should have eviscerated Reigns for that. Lesnar should have suplexed Reigns through the ring for having the nerve to take the title out of his hands.

But none of that happened. Nothing at all interesting happened.

And it made Reigns look bad too because he’s supposed to be the face, the good guy you want to look up to. They’ve been trying to build him up as some unbeatable badass who doesn’t take crap from anyone and who wants to prove that he is the best. So what does he do? He snatches up another man’s property and tries to show off. Cause I guess that’s what faces do now?

Because let’s make it clear, if not for Vince and company’s undeniable love for Roman and need to make him their new top star, there’s no reason it would be believable he could compete with Brock Lesnar. Sure, he’s a muscular dude but that’s about where the positives for Roman ends.

Brock is a former NCAA Division I heavyweight wrestling champion. Brock is a multiple time WWE Champion. Brock is a former IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Brock is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion.

Roman? Roman played on the practice team for the Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars and Edmonton Eskimos before being release, is a former one-time WWE Tag Team Champion and won the most recent Royal Rumble after entering near the end of the match. That’s about it.

On what planet could Reigns conceivably contend with Brock in any shape or form? The answer is “Planet McMahon.”

Just for reference, this is how the final Raw before WrestleMania 30 ended:

Now that is excitement. Each guy looks like they are fired up to compete at WrestleMania and each guy looks like they have a legitimate shot at winning, especially Daniel Bryan who is beating the hell out of everyone after weeks of being humiliated by The Authority.  Whereas the final Raw before WrestleMania 31 ended with two guys having a tug of war over the championship belt.

What’s really upsetting is that the rest of Raw last night was pretty good. Dolph Ziggler had a great match with Daniel Bryan; every guy in the IC title ladder match looks like they have a chance at winning; Paige and Nikki Bella had a really good Divas title match; Bray Wyatt delivered another great promo while carrying the feud with The Undertaker. Almost everything about Raw was good – except for the last 30 seconds (and the chicken fry ad and El Torito pinning Natty).

People have been complaining about Reigns’ ultra-push for some time now and while I’ve tried not to hop on board the rage train, I can understand the sentiments. People don’t want another John Cena character who constantly wins and overcomes the odds despite situations where he shouldn’t possibly come out on top, yet this seems to be exactly what they’re doing with Reigns.

On top of that, several interviews have come out recently where Superstars basically say “Get over the Roman Reigns hate, he’s going to be here for a while” which makes fans feel ignored and disregarded – that the WWE already has their mind made up about a guy that a portion of their audience is not sold on at best or completely hates at worst.

On top of that, Reigns has been giving interviews that effectively say “I don’t care what the fans think, I’m going to make money regardless.” And that’s basically a direct quote (http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/548453-roman-reigns-talks-fan-backlash). When Reigns says things like that, it only makes the haters more upset because here’s a guy that WWE wants to be THE guy, the top face. The WWE’s argument for why you shouldn’t like Lesnar is “He’s a mercenary who only cares about the money!” While at the same time, Reigns is saying the EXACT. SAME. THING.

Really, this all comes back to a point I made in an earlier column – that the WWE still treats fans like clueless rubes who believe wrestling is real when in reality, fans are smarter and wiser to “the business” than ever. WWE acts like fans will love what they tell them to love despite the fact that there’s a growing contingent of fans who will likely soon be former fans because they feel like the WWE ignores them and their opinion.

People have made it clear they don’t want Roman Reigns at the top of the card and that they don’t want him to the championship at WrestleMania 31. If they had let his career grow organically, work his way up the card and gain momentum by creating a solid base of wins, undercard titles and exciting feuds, the fans would be a lot more willing to accept him at the top of the card. But that’s not what’s happened. He came out of The Shield angle where it was clear the other two members were more talented, yet he is pushed the hardest. He continued to win and win and win for some reason, bouncing in and out of feuds with no real beginning or end and within a year of going solo, he’s in the main event of WrestleMania.

If Roman Reigns actually wins at WrestleMania 31 and walks out with the championship, I just hope they’re ready for a reaction similar to, if not more vicious  than, what happened at the Royal Rumble. Which would look something like this…(from www.wrestlingwithtext.com)

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

NXT, 3/11

Enzo Amore and Colin Cassidy open NXT this week. Bada-boom, realest guys in the room – how you doin’?!

Enzo says the Lucha Dragons are more like lizards.

Sounds like the Lucha Dragons are getting booed a little bit. Followed by a loud “How you doin” chant from the crowd followed by a “Certified stud – bonafide G” chant. They’d do well to either break up the Dragons or bring them up to the main roster sooner rather than later to nip the booing in the bud.

Enzo starts with Kalisto, who easily out-quicks Enzo but Enzo catches him with a few stiff punches. Kalisto takes him over with an arm drag, tags in Sin Cara and get a 2 count after a wheelbarrow senton.

Cara and Kalisto are working over Enzo big time. Eventually Cass pushes Enzo out of the way of a double tope from the Dragons on the outside to save him from the damage. Cass crawls back around the ring as Enzo gets thrown in by the Dragons. Sin Cara powerbombs him and Kalisto sets up on top but Cass rushes them, big boot to Cara who hits the ropes which wipes out Kalisto on top. Cass drags Enzo to their corner and tags himself in and goes to work on Kalisto.

Cass hits a sit out sidewalk slam (The East River Crossing) on Kalisto, tags in Enzo and catapults him into a splash from the top rope onto Kalisto for the win.

Alex Riley has quit as an announcer to get back in the ring and get his hands on Kevin Owens. But first he needs to get past CJ Parker.

Video package for Alex Riley. I never heard his theme song before but apparently he innovated the “Say it to my face!” because his theme song yells it at you.

Followed by a video package for Kevin Owens, recounting his sudden rise to the top of NXT and highlights of his matches with Sami Zayn and Adrian Neville.

Carmella enters to an almost silent crowd. And once she starts talking, she only gets boos. She either needs to learn how to be a face or stay away from Enzo and Cass because they should not be associated while at opposite ends of the alignment spectrum. Carmella faces Alexa Bliss, who we haven’t seen in a while.

Bliss looking impressive in this match, using a lot of arm drags, cradles and ranas to get near falls on Carmella. Seems like her offense is really lucha inspired, which really works well with her quickness and smaller stature.

Carmella drop toe hold Bliss into the corner then starts putting the boots to her, choking her on the ropes and kicking it into Bliss’ throat. Carmella really heeling it up. Mounts Alexa and just punching away followed by a dropkick.

Alexa gets the win with a move she calls the Sparkle Splash from the top, a half spin into a splash from the top.

Alex Riley cuts a pretty good promo in the locker room about what drives him to get back in the ring. He says he never wanted to be away from the ring and compares it to being locked in a cage for two years, watching everyone around him eat while being told there’s nothing for him. And that now, it’s time to rage.

CJ Parker to the ring first with a sign that says “CJ Parker taking over the Takeovers”. Gets on the mic to talk about his world and how it isn’t fair but gets cut off by Alex Riley’s entrance music.

Albert name dropping Ring Rust Radio…well maybe not (talking about how ring rust must have set in on Alex Riley).

Riley in control for much of the match, Parker only getting in scattered offense. He hits a big spinning neckbreaker and hits a blockbuster from the top for the win.

But after he wins, Kevin Owens’ music interrupts Riley’s and the champ hits the stage. Says it’s a good thing he looks as good as he does because he’s the dumbest man in NXT. And if his horrible tattoo isn’t enough to prove that, the fact that he ended his commentary career to fight Owens sure does. Because now, Owens is gonna end his in-ring career too. And once he’s done with Riley, he’s gonna put an end to the rise of Finn Balor.

In the main event, Tyler Breeze faces Hideo Itami for what feels like the 10^th time. If Breeze isn’t on the main roster by the time the next Zoolander is coming out or announced, he definitely will be if only because of that movie. (And if Derek Zoolander and Hansel host Raw I’d lose my mind)

This is a weird match up. Because Itami is the face but he doesn’t have much in the way of personality of charisma. Whereas people really love Breeze, even though he’s the heel. It feels like people are cheering for Itami just because they’re supposed to.

Breeze jumps out of the ring to start the match, telling Itami it’s not gonna be like last time. But Itami goading him to get back in the ring.

Breeze takes the advantage early, surprising Itami with shoulder blocks in the corner and rolls outside when Itami hits a few punches. But Itami chases him out and lands a big line.

Itami tornado DDT on the top rope and sets up on top but Breeze hits the ropes to crotch him on top and stomps on him in the corner.

Itami off the top with a knee to the back of Breeze’s head who got front suplexed onto the top rope. The crowd starts chanting GTS and Itami hits a huge combo of punches and kicks and goes for a basement dropkick but Breeze rolls out of the way. As Itami collects himself, Breeze lands a Beauty Shot for the win.

-They announced a week or two ago that Kevin Steen will defend the NXT Title against Finn Balor at an upcoming live event, NXT Next Generation on March 25. But apparently, Owens underwent surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus recently and they haven’t talked about that title match since it was announced. I also had to have surgery on my meniscus when I was in high school and it put me out of action for an entire wrestling season so I’d be very surprised if Owens is back in the ring next week. According to WWE.com, he’s already off crutches and rehabbing at the Performance Center so we’ll have to see what happens but I’d be really surprised if they let him get back in the ring to work matches mere weeks after knee surgery.

- NXT next week will be from the Arnold Classic (Arnold Sports Festival) which took place in early March. Kevin Owens faces Alex Riley and Alexa Bliss faces Sasha Banks. They mentioned “fan tryouts” but who knows if that will be part of the show.

- Joey Ryan’s “cryptic” tweet about being threatened by lawyers

“It’s so quiet lately. Almost as if lawyers threatened to sue all of us if we kept telling the truth.”

- NXT WrestleMania weekend show at the San Jose State University event center sold out in under an hour. The venue can hold 5,000 which will be the largest show so far for the NXT brand.

 

Lucha Underground, 3/11

Opens with a video package recounting Pentagon destroying jobbers and talking about his master. Then Ivelisse/Son of Havoc/Angelico triangle. Finished by the King Cuerno/Johnny Mundo match that ended in a double count out leading to the cage match tonight, the first in Lucha Underground.

Clark Duke and Davis Shoemaker showcased prominently to start the show (but not mentioned by commentary). They mention later that NBA player AC Green is there as well. And they show former UFC champion Josh Barnett in the crowd too (though he doesn’t have front row seats for some reason).

Pentagon Jr out first, getting a big reaction. He faces Argenis. Definitely not a jobber like the last three Pentagon faced and injured, will be interesting to see if he can continue his dominance.

Argenis taking control early, using high flying to stay on top of Pentagon. He’s just one step ahead the whole time, hitting a big satellite tornado and a top rope rana. But Pentagon hits a nasty basement dropkick and takes control.

Pentagon showing big power, gorilla pressing Argenis over his head and slamming him into the corner. Picks him up in a torture rack and drives him into the turnbuckle and dropkick him in the back. Sends Argenis off the ropes and a big drop kick.

Pentagon shows he can fly too, hitting the ropes and a big tope con hilo onto Argenis on the outside.

Pentagon nails Argenis with the Package Piledriver and makes him tap with that arm submission and breaks Argenis’ arm as the crowd cheers him on “Zero miedo.”

Gets on the mic and says “Master, as you can see, no one can stop me. Because I am prepared, I am zero fear!”

I’m really interested to see where this whole Pentagon thing is going. At first I thought that his “master” might be Mil Muertes, since Pentagon was basically killing people and offering them up to his master. And as we all know, Mil deals in lives.

But on this show, Vampiro made a comment about the term that Pentagon uses doesn’t necessarily refer to a person, but a higher power, like a god or something. Plus, the crowd seems to be getting behind Pentagon Jr., despite him destroying people and breaking their arms.

Next, Fenix in the locker room and he’s approached by Catrina. She says Fenix may be the man of 1,000 lives, but Mil will not stop until he’s taken all of them. There’s only one thing he can do – he must bury Mil. And just like that, Catrina is gone.

Hilarious (well not supposed to be) video package of Konnan making a new cane out of metal in a shop, since he broke his last one over the back of Cage. Also something about how war is won before it’s ever fought. “Konnan: Revenge is coming”

These video packages that Lucha Underground produces rivals anything that WWE does. One could say that LU does “sports entertainment” better than WWE does.

Next match, Angelico already in the ring. He takes on Ivelisse with Son of Havoc as the special guest referee. Damn, Ivelisse looks like a total badass during her entrance.

Angelico motions for a knuckle lock but kisses Ivelisse’s hand and she kicks it away. Gets a waist lock on her, pulls her in then lifts her up and throws her down. But when he picks her up, she drops him with a lucha arm drag.

Ivelisse hits a few big arm drags, followed by a rana and a huge corkscrew from the top rope to the outside on Angelico. And Son of Havoc gives her a big high five back in the ring.

Angelico sidesteps a drop kick and she hits the ropes and lands awkwardly and Angelico takes control. Throws Ivelisse into the corner but Havoc pulls her out of the way as he rushes in for a knee. Ivelisse starts kicking away on his knee that he jammed into the corner and tries to go for a knee bar on a standing Angelico but can’t take him down.

Son of Havoc not counting numerous pins from both competitors so not really sure what his angle is. But then Ivelisse chops Angelico numerous times and tells Angelico to hit her and when he winds up for a big chop, Havoc gets in between them to block him.

Ivelisse on top, goes for a tornado DDT but Angelico blocks. Lifts her up in a stalling suplex but Ivelisse drops down into a hanging guillotine choke. Angelico starts caressing her back and she lets go and start punching him.

Angelico sets up for a crucifix bomb but Havoc pulls her down as he runs past. Ivelisse gets a 2 count off a rana as Angelico argues with Havoc. Angelico knocks out Ivelisse with a head kick meant for  Havoc and fast counts Angelico in the pin and pushes him out of the ring off Ivelisse.

Mil Muertes in the locker room, putting on his mask and Catrina enters and reminds him of the earthquake that buried him in a building collapse as a child and says that was the day they first met. She also calls him by his real name (Pasqualle Mendoza) and says that all things must come to an end. And next week, she will have Fenix send him back to the darkness he came from, in a casket match.

Main event match, cage match between Mundo and Cuerno. Striker makes a good point, both guys like to use the apron and the outside to hit big moves but that is negated in this match. And Mundo uses lots of parkour and crazy stuff that the cage doesn’t really allow for.

Both guys have chances to escape early but choose to stay in the ring and do damage to the other.

Cuerno using the cage as a weapon first, throwing Mundo into it, choking him on the top like a guillotine and raking Mundo’s face on the cage link. Cuerno has the advantage but misses a double knee into Mundo and bounces off the cage, allowing Mundo to hit numerous twisting splashes and leg drops.

Mundo slams Cuerno into the cage numerous times with him on his shoulders and makes the first attempt to climb out but Cuerno grabs his leg to stop him. Cuerno locks in a powerbomb and slams Mundo into the cage then sits out with it but only gets a 2.

Cuerno tries to escape but Mundo on him. Cuerno over the top and Mundo holding onto him by his mask and pulls him back in. On the top rope, they grapple for the advantage then crash to the mat and the ref starts the standing 10 count. They get back up and start trading punches and slamming each other into the cage.

In the corner with Cuerno’s deer head, they jockey for position, chopping each other and Mundo slams Cuerno’s head into the top of the cage and throws him to the mat. Mundo puts one leg over and looks like he can escape, but climbs back in for some reason. He sets up on top of the cage and lands a corkscrew moonsault on Cuerno and gets the pin.

Ring of Honor

Ring of Honor hosted two shows on the “Conquest Tour” shows this past weekend in Milwaukee and Chicago Ridge.

Saturday March 13

Milwaukee, WI

 -Roderick Strong defeated Arya  Daivari

-Will Ferrara defeated Silas Young via DQ. (This was Young’s first match back after a leg injury and got himself DQ’ed by low blowing Ferrara. I could see these guys continuing to feud going forward)

-Mark Briscoe defeated Beer City Bruiser (Cool that they’re continuing to use Bruiser. They brought him in for the Top Prospect tournament but he’s got a look you don’t see often in ROH and is a pretty good brawler.)

-RPG Vice (Rocky Romero and Trent Baretta) defeated The Decade (BJ Whitmer and Jimmy Jacobs) (Jacobs observed the code of honor and Whitmer wasn’t happy about it. Rumor has it that Jacobs is joining WWE Creative soon and retiring from in-ring competition)

-Matt Taven defeated Cheeseburger (Has Cheeseburger won ever?)

-Michael Elgin defeated Josh Alexander (Hopefully Monster Mafia is in ROH more often)

-Samoa Joe defeated ACH in what was said to be an awesome match

-reDRagon defeated Jay Briscoe and Jay Lethal. O’Reilly forced Jay Lethal to tap out (I’m sure it was a great match but I don’t know why you would pit your champions against one another.)

Saturday March 14

Chicago Ridge, IL

 -J. Diesel (with Truth Martini) defeated Will Ferrara

-ACH defeated Jimmy Jacobs (Jacobs again adhered to the code of honor which made Whitmer upset. Definitely angling for Jacobs and Whitmer clashing soon to put Jacobs out of the company)

-Silas Young defeated Mark Briscoe, Matt Taven and Roderick Strong in a fatal fourway

-Jay Lethal defeated Cliff Compton in a street fight (If Compton won, he’d get an instant shot at the TV Title)

-Beer City Bruiser defeated Cheeseburger

-Tommaso Ciampa addressed the fans about the injury he suffered in the main event of the 13^th Anniversary show and his issues with ROH management. But Silas Young interrupted him and told him to get over it but officials rushed out before the situation escalated. With Ciampa near the top of the card now, a feud between Young and Ciampa could be pretty good and would elevate both of them.

-Jay Briscoe defeated Silas Young. (If Young won, he would get an instant shot at the World title)

-RPG Vice defeated reDRagon to win an instant tag team title shot. RPG Vice seems like the next big time tag team in ROH and had the titles within their grasp but the champs came back to retain the titles.

-Samoa Joe defeated Michael Elgin via submission. They’re definitely building Joe up to be a big threat to Jay Briscoe. But if rumors can be believed, Joe is only in ROH for a select few dates and then going to NXT. 

There have been three big main events announced for ROH Supercard of Honor on March 27:

-Jay Briscoe defends the ROH Championship against Samoa Joe

-Jay Lethal defends the ROH TV Title against Jushin “Thunder” Liger

-reDRagon defends the ROH Tag Team Titles against The Kingdom (Matt Taven and Michael Bennett) 

New Japan Pro Wrestling

Kota Ibushi defeated Hirooki Goto in the finals of the New Japan Cup and will get a shot at AJ Styles and the IWGP Heavyweight championship at Invasion Attack PPV on April 5.

Also at that show, Young Bucks defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight tag team titles against RPG Vice (Trent Baretta and Rocky Romero), Kenny Omega defends the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title against Mascara Dorada and the Bullet Club (Karl “Machine Gun” Anderson and Doc Gallows) defend the IWGP Heavyweight tag team titles against The Kingdom, Matt Taven and Mike Bennett.

WWNLive Experience at WrestleMania 
Updated card for WWNLive Experience show over Wrestlemania weekend (which Icopy and pasted from this link because I don’t feel like retyping it all):

EVOLVE 39 - Thursday, March 26th - 8pm PST, 11pm EST -  www.WWNLive.com

JUST SIGNED: EVOLVE Title Match

EVOLVE Champion Drew Galloway vs. "Darewolf" PJ Black

These two will wrestle with no restrictions for the EVOLVE Title

Bonus Match Event

DGUSA Open The Freedom Gate Champion Johnny Gargano vs. AR Fox

Two of the top faces of the WWN Family finally square off in singles action

A Wrestling Odyssey Rematch

Timothy Thatcher vs. Drew Gulak

The rematch of their classic last year

Special Tag Team Attraction

Ricochet & Uhaa Nation vs. Caleb Konley & Brian Cage with So Cal Val

Can Ricochet & Nation build momentum towards 3/28 vs. a hungry, new Premiere Athlete Brand

First Time Ever Match

Chris Hero vs. Ethan Page

Page has been endorsed by Gargano, can he make an impact against the veteran Hero?

Pro Wrestling Clinic

Biff Busick vs. Tommy End

This is sure to be one no true pro wrestling fan can miss

EVOLVE 40 - Friday, March 27th- 3pm PST, 6pm EST - www.WWNLive.com

First Time Ever Dream Match

Ricochet vs. PJ Black

The premier high-flyer in the world vs. an aerial artist with something to prove

 Bonus Main Event - Non-Title

EVOLVE Champion Drew Galloway vs. Uhaa Nation

A first time battle of the big men

Grudge Tag Team Match

Johnny Gargano & Rich Swann vs. Caleb Konley & Brian Cage with So Cal Val

It's Ronin vs. The Premier Athlete Brand in San Jose

 Special Challenge Match #1

Chris Hero vs. Biff Busick

Hero and Busick will finally wrestle after their confrontation last August

Special Challenge Match #2

Timothy Thatcher vs. Tommy End

A potential classic

Special Attraction Match

AR Fox vs. Ethan Page

Another fresh match that could steal the entire show

 Plus Drew Gulak and others!!!

WWN Supershow - Saturday, March 28th - 4pm PST, 7pm EST - www.WWNLive.com

JUST  SIGNED: Champion vs. Champion

EVOLVE Champion Drew Galloway vs. DGUSA Champion Johnny Gargano

Which titles will be on the line?

 Generation Next vs. The New Generation

Austin Aries & Roderick Strong vs. Ricochet & Uhaa Nation

The men who changed the landscape ten years ago vs the men who changed Dragon Gate and WWN

Dareworlf vs. Daredevil

PJ Black vs. AR Fox

Two of the most extreme athletes on the planet face off for the first time

Grudge Match

Chris Hero vs. Timothy Thatcher

Hero ruined Thatcher's moment when he won Style Battle, now he must face him

JUST SIGNED: SHINE Presents A Six Woman Tag Team Match!

Plus more with Rich Swann, Biff Busick, Drew Gulak, Tommy End, Ethan Page and Premier Athlete Brand members Caleb Konley and Brian Cage with So Cal Val