Columnist Rob Pasbani previews the wrestling on TV this weekend, plus news on Kota Ibushi in AEW, Survivor Series’ location, and new matches for Summer Slam.
We are big fans of Circle6 here at Knotfest and Squared Circle Pit. I was fortunate enough to be a part of their WrestleMania festivities this past Spring, which saw me judging a karaoke contest with Minoru Suzuki. Oh, and there were many hardcore matches to be had. Circle6 seamlessly blend heavy metal and hardcore pro wrestling, and we had a hell of a time at their no-ring Barroom Blitz shows.
Circle6 has been putting on shows all over the country since, but they are returning to the scene of the WrestleMania crime next weekend for a double shot of shows in Los Angeles that they’re calling the Circle6 Wrestling Double Dose.
On Saturday July 15th, Barroom Blitz is back at Knucklehead Hollywood and will feature no-ring death matches with the following card:
Akira vs. Cassanova Valentine
AJ Gray vs. Tyler Bateman
DDT’s Mao vs. Bobby Beverly.
As the fights happen, there will be music from Dissociate & Jack Knife. (Sidenote: Jack Knife is a great name for a band!)
On Sunday, July 16th, Circle6 returns to 1720 Warehouse in Downtown LA for a wrestling show in a ring and the initial lineup looks really fun:
Matthew Justice vs Jacob Fatu
Akira vs Bobby Beverly (Ultraviolet Kumite)
South Pacific Savages vs Atticus Cogar/Eric Ryan (Tribal Warfare)
More matches will be added soon. Get your tickets here.
Here are some highlights from the last Barrom Blitz:
Host Rob Pasbani is joined by comedian and writer Pat Driscoll to recap the WWE Money in the Bank premium live event from this past weekend. We go through each match to offer analysis of the storylines and the results and we take a peek at the direction WWE is taking heading into SummerSlam next month.
WWE Smackdown is tonight at 8pm on Fox:
AEW Rampage airs on tonight at 10pm on TNT.
AEW Collision airs on Saturday at 8pm on TNT:
NBC Chicago reports that WWE Smackdown and Survivor Series are coming to the Allstate Arena (formerly the Rosemont Horizon) on Thanksgiving weekend, November 24th and 25th. AEW traditionally would run the NOW Arena or the nearby Wintrust Arena on the night before Thanksgiving, which would be November 22nd, so it will be interesting to see if they still plan on running that week with the extra competition. AEW have been to Chicago a lot this year.
Jon Moxley offered Sports Illustrated an entire dissertation on why bleeding is necessary in pro wrestling. An excerpt: “The point of the dissertation is that this is a combat sport,” says Moxley. “But we’re not allowed to have blood in a match unless it’s a personal grudge? We’re only allowed to have blood after a five-month grudge after someone slept with somebody’s wife or somebody ran over someone with a car? And then—and only then—are we allowed to have this dramatic crimson mask that looks the exact same every single time? For me, realism-wise, since this is a combat sport, that means there is the potential for blood in every match. Everything in wrestling is preposterous to some degree, but this helps with the suspension of disbelief.”
Another match has been added to the Summerslam lineup, albeit unofficially: Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Gonzalez for the Women’s World Championship. There is still no word on what Seth Rollins will be doing although I expect something with Judgment Day. On Tuesday, I reported the previously revealed matches of:
Roman Reigns vs. Jey Uso
Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar
Trish Stratus vs. Becky Lynch
Ronda Rousey vs. Shayna Bazler.
Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Bianca Belair
Gunther vs Drew McIntyre
Logan Paul vs. Ricochet
After the AEW tapings on Wednesday, Kenny Omega got on mic and hinted about who the mystery fifth man of their team would be. You can hear the tease below. Many fans assumed it would be Kota Ibushi, Omega’s longtime tag team partner in Japan. Fightful Select reports that discussions have taken place between Ibushi and AEW and many believe he will be joining the company shortly on a part-time basis.
The main event for the next Ring of Honor PPV, Death Before Dishonor, has been announced. Claudio Castignoli will defend the ROH title against Mark Briscoe on Friday, July 21st in Trenton, NJ. With only three weeks left until the show, the card should be taking shape quickly.
The AEW: Fight Forever video game has announced a really fun looking online mode called Stadium Stampede. It looks to be a 30 person battle royal in an empty stadium with weapons and the last person to avoid elimination wins, almost like Fortnite meets wrestling. It will be a free download for anybody who bought the game. Here is a teaser:
PWInsider reports that a third-party group is creating plans to launch a new promotion in the United States that will exclusively showcase Japanese women’s wrestling. They are investing significant resources to give the joshi feel of Japan while also making the product appealing to not just wrestling fans. It will be interesting to see how this develops. The first show is scheduled for September in New York City, although nothing has yet to be announced.
Canadian reporter Pat Laprade revealed that AEW has plans to run Montreal’s Belle Center on December 5th and 6th. Wednesday the 6th will be a live Dynamite and Pat assumes the Tuesday taping will be for Collision.
Big E offered a health update on the WWE podcast, After The Bell with Corey Graves, saying “Oh, I feel great, man. Unfortunately, I don’t have a timetable, but the great thing is, I feel 100%. I don’t even feel like someone who broke their neck. My mobility is incredible. It’s great. My strength is great. I have no issues whatsoever. So I wish I had some answers on returning to the ring. I got nothing, unfortunately, but the really beautiful thing is I feel great. My body feels great. I’m really thankful for that. So yeah, man, life is good. I’m blessed. I could walk around. I could touch my toes. I could go to the gym, all those things, so I’m really grateful.”
Jade Cargill is taking a bit of a hiatus from pro wrestling after losing the TBS Championship. Cargill has tweeted that it feels good to be out of “the wrestling bubble,” as she called it. No word on a return date yet.
Diamante has signed a full-time contract with AEW. She has been working part-time for years.
Matt Riddle is expecting a child with his girlfriend, adult film actress Misha Montana. She announced the news to him during a recent RAW show. Riddle has three children from a previous marriage.
Malakai Black revealed on Bobby Fish’s podcast that he asked to only appear on AEW Collision. “I requested to be strictly on Collision. Because I don’t want people to get the pick, it’s like, no, Saturday night I get to see The House of Black, that’s what I wanted. Because if I give you the option for Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, you’re going to go, ‘It doesn’t really matter.'”
There was a great match between Kenny Omega and Wheeler Yuta on AEW Dynamite this week. Yuta unfortunately suffered a hamstring injury during the match, but it was not a full tear. Yuta is expected to be able to compete in the Blood and Guts match in two weeks.
AEW’s Bandido had surgery for his broken wrist this week. The timetable for his return could be as long as six months.
New Japan Pro Wrestling revealed the logo for Wrestle Kingdom 18, happening January 4th at the Tokyo Dome.
The pro-wrestling-based dramatic series Heels returns to Starz on July 28th for season 2. Here is the trailer:
Fun fact: Today is the 27 year anniversary of WCW Bash at the Beach 1996, where Hulk Hogan officially joined the Outsiders, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, to form the New World Organization Order of wrestling, brother!
If you like Faith No More and MJF, this one is for you…
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