In this interview Will Ospreay talks about his Hayabusa inspired gear: “It was 2022, I really wanted to don the mask. I wanted to wear the mask because it hadn’t been donned on a wrestler in Japan for years. It was almost like, ‘We don’t want to talk about it because it brings up a bad memory.’ I sourced out where his daughter was and I found her on Instagram. I said, ‘I wrestle for New Japan Pro Wrestling, your dad inspired me. Could I take you out to dinner?’ I took her out for lunch in Japan and I asked for her blessing to wear the mask at one of these big stages. She was honored. She was like, ‘No one talks about my dad anymore.’ Not only that, she was like, ‘Thank you so much.’ It got around, and the guy who originally made his mask contacted me and was like, ‘Can I please make you one Hayabusa mask to wear?’ Goosebumps. He is one of the icons when it comes to high-flying wrestling. His name is the flying assassin, there is a connection because I was the Aerial Assassin, a connection came through that. Obviously, it came from Assassin’s Creed, but Hayabusa was the Flying Assassin and I wanted to combine that and pay homage. That’s why I went to the daughter first. A lot of wrestlers now will be like, ‘Today, I’m cosplaying as this wrestler,’ and I feel there might be some dark untold truths where when you pay homage to that, it brings up bad memories. I wanted to ensure it was okay to do that. I sold the mask and all the money I made, I sent over to the family.”
The reason WWE cancelled tonight’s NXT taping at the Yuengling Center is because they were having trouble selling tickets after multiple days of events there including SmackDown, Saturday Night’s Main Event and Battleground. Only 1,700 tickets were out before they cancelled the taping and decided they would rather have 200 people in a small venue that looks full like the Performance Center than 1,700 in a large arena that looks empty. (WO)
Speaking of tapings in Tampa though, here’s news from NWA: “LIVE Pro-Wrestling Returns to Tampa – Tuesday, July 1st! Experience the action up close as the NWA Powerrr TV tapings come to WEDU Studios in Tampa, FL. Join the stars of the National Wrestling Alliance and NWA President William Patrick Corgan on the road to NWA 77 for a night of thrilling matches. Bring the whole family and be part of the studio audience as old-school tradition meets modern intensity.”
The pre-sale code for Saturday Night’s Main Event and WWE Evolution 2 at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA is WWETIX. (PWI)
Rich Swann praises Lio Rush: “Lio Rush, I’d probably say one of the most innovative dudes, creative dudes I’ve ever been in a ring with and ever seen. Yo, he tops the charts with his speed. I’ve never seen anybody that fast.”
Jim Ross checked in for his cancer surgery today. Best wishes to him!
The IInspiration (Jess McKay and Cassie Lee) f/k/a The IIconics will reunite in Prestige Wrestling on July 13th.
Yuka Sakazaki and Konosuke Takeshita are now married. Congratulations!
Tonight’s Dark Side of the Ring is about Muhammad Hassan. “Just three years post-9/11, Marc Copani sees the highs and lows of wrestling when he’s given the chance to portray Muhammad Hassan, a villainous Arab-American character for the WWE.” (VICE) Here’s an interview Hassan (Marc Copani) did with the New York Post.
The advertised lineup for NXT tonight is below. (WWE)
- NXT North American Championship Match: Ricky Saints (c) vs. Ethan Page
- NXT Women’s Championship Match: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Jacy Jayne
- Jasper Troy vs. TBA
- Mike Santana vs. Tavion Heights
- Tatum Paxley vs. Jaida Parker
- TNA World Champion Trick Williams appears
And here’s the card being advertised for Worlds Collide on June 7th. (WWE)
- AAA Mega Championship Match: El Hijo Del Vikingo vs. Chad Gable
- Legado Del Fantasmo vs. El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr., Psycho Clown, and Pagano
There’s just one problem with that. WWE promoted the card on last night’s Raw and Vikingo was there (he lent Penta a hand as previously noted), but Vikingo is not CURRENTLY the champion. Alberto El Patron defends the title against Vikingo on May 31st. Whoops!!! (WWE)
Speaking of upcoming cards here’s Money in the Bank, also on June 7th. (WWE)
- Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Solo Sikoa vs. LA Knight vs. Seth Rollins vs. Penta vs. 2 Participants TBD
- Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Giulia vs. Roxanne Perez vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Alexa Bliss vs. 2 Participants TBD
- WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship Last Match Night: Lyra Valkyria vs. Becky Lynch
- Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso vs. Logan Paul & John Cena
Here are the latest NJPW Best of the Super Juniors results. (FF)
- Yota Tsuji & Titán def. Daiki Nagai & Nick Wayne
- Yujiro Takahashi & SHO def. Shoma Kato & MAO
- Toru Yano & El Desperado def. T.M.D.K. (Hartley Jackson & Robbie Eagles)
- YOH & Tiger Mask def. BULLET CLUB (Gedo & Taiji Ishimori)
- Best of the Super Juniors A Block: Ninja Mack (8) def. Dragon Dia (8)
- Best of the Super Juniors A Block: Francesco Akira (10) def. KUSHIDA (8)
- Best of the Super Juniors A Block: Yoshinobu Kanemaru (8) def. Master Wato (10)
- Best of the Super Juniors A Block: Kosei Fujita (10) def. Clark Connors (10)
- Best of the Super Juniors A Block: Robbie X (8) def. Hiromu Takahashi (10)
RevPro “Live In Sheffield” results are below. (FF)
- RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Title #1 Contendership Tournament Semi Final Match: TK Cooper def. Sha Samuels
- Young Guns (Ethan Allen & Luke Jacobs) def. Harry Milligan & Joshua James
- RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Title #1 Contendership Tournament Semi Final Match: Zozaya def. Ricky Knight Jr.
- Best Two Out Of Three Falls Match: Leon Cage def. Chris Ridgeway [2:1]
- Michael Oku def. Jay Joshua
- Lizzy Evo def. Charli Evans
- RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Title #1 Contendership Tournament Final Match: TK Cooper def. Zozaya
Here are CMLL Domingo Familiar results. (FF)
- Shockercito & Galaxy def. Pequeño Olímpico & Pequeño Violencia.
- Match Relámpago: Olympia def. Princesa Sugehit via Disqualification.
- 2/3 Falls Match: Dulce Gardenia, Volcano & Fuego def. Infarto & Los Hermanos Calavera (Calavera Jr. I & Calavera Jr. II) (2-1).
- 2/3 Falls Match: Magia Blanca, Brillante Jr. & Fugaz def. Vegas Depredador, Yutani & Raider (2-1).
- 2/3 Falls Match: Stuka Jr., El Valiente & Euforia def. Blue Panther, Panterita del Ring & El Pantera (2-1).
- 2/3 Falls Match: Místico & Templario def. Los Depredadores (Volador Jr. & Magnus) (2-1).
And here are CMLL Lunes Clasico results. (FF)
- Tiger Boy, Blue Shark & Meyer def. Rey Apocalipsis, Rencor & Dreyko.
- India Sioux, Lady Metal & La Catalina def. Reyna Isis, Hera & Olympia.
- El Elemental, Okumura & Yutani def. Brillante Jr. & Los Divinos Laguneros (Blue Panther Jr. & Dark Panther).
- Hijo de Stuka Jr. & Los Guerreros Laguneros (Stuka Jr. & Último Guerrero) def. Atlantis, Flip Gordon & Esfinge.
- Los Infernales (Averno, Euforia & Mephisto) def. Los Dragónes (Dragón de Fuego, Dragón Rojo Jr. & Dragón Legendario).
Even though he was found incompetent for his criminal trial proceedings, Billy Jack Haynes is still facing a civil lawsuit from Janette Becraft’s estate that says he “made Becraft end contact with her family, liquidate her retirement funds” and “introduced Becraft to heroin and meth” among other things. Yowza.
Cody Rhodes and John Cena have both been added to this week’s SmackDown. (WWE)
Conrad says J.R.’s cancer surgery was a success!
Zoey Stark has started rehab on her injured knee.
From MLW: “Major League Wrestling today announced Japanese super model Yuki Kamifuku vs J-pop idol Wakana Uehara at MLW Summer of the Beasts, presented live on YouTube for free from the Melrose Ballroom in New York City on Thursday, June 26.”
Freedom Ramsey has left the WWE ID program.
Rick Derringer of “Real American” entrance music fame has passed away at 77 years old. My condolences to his family, friends and fans.
Here’s the updated card for Impact this week. (TNA)
- TNA International Title Match: Steve Maclin (c) vs. Matt Cardona
- Arianna Grace & Santino Marella vs. Tessa Blanchard & Robert Stone
IWRG Funcion Espectacular results are below. (FF)
- Sacro & LCA def. Fly & Mascara de Hierro.
- Avisman def. Fauno.
- Relampago & Hysteriosis def. Principe Centauro & Super Boy.
- Strap Match: Big Strippers (Mr. Mike, Ovett Jr. & Big Chicoche) def. Las Shotas (Miss Gaviota, Jessy Ventura & Diva Salvaje).
- 2/3 Falls Match: Villanos (Rokambole Jr. & Villano V Jr.) def. Mexa Boys (Noisy Boy & Spider Fly) (2-1).
- Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Rey Mictlan, Emperador Azteca & Hijo de Silver King def. Puerquiza Extrema (Pig Destroyer, Pig Pool, Pig Decapitador & Pig Destroyer).
Here’s the current card for AAA TripleMania Regia on June 15th. (WWE)
- LA Parka, Laredo Kid, & Octagon Jr. vs. Abismo Negro, Taurus, & TBD
- WWE Superstars Los Garza (Angel & Berto) to appear
- TNA Wrestling’s Joe Hendry, Moose, and The Nemeths (Ryan Nemeth & Nic Nemeth) to appear
John Cena will be at San Diego Comic Con to promote season 2 of Peacemaker ahead of its August debut.
The May 19th Raw did 2.7 million viewers, consistent with the week before. (Wrestlenomics)
