In this interview Earl Hebner talks about reffing Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III: “Once the music hit (Hogan’s), the fans went crazy. He was over like no tomorrow. He could entertain them. He could wrestle, and he just brought light to the earth. I mean, he was like God almost, not quite as God, but he was the next thing to it. He was like the Pope of Rome. When they saw him, they went crazy.”
RAF (Real American Freestyle) released a statement: “Today we lost our Commissioner. We lost a friend. And the sport of wrestling lost one of its greatest champions, not just in the ring, but in spirit. Hulk Hogan believed wrestling was more than just entertainment. He saw it as a brotherhood, a proving ground and a platform for greatness. That’s what Real American Freestyle was built to be, a new stage for the toughest, most passionate athletes on Earth. And Hulk was at the center of it. From day one, he threw his weight behind this league. He met with athletes. He watched tape, shared stories and showed up like only he could. RAF was personal to him, something bigger than all of us. This league is part of his legacy, and we intend to honor it.”
Jazz has signed a new deal with TNA Wrestling to continue her backstage role as a producer and an agent. (FF)
This week’s Dynamite did 608,000 viewers and a 0.14 18-49 demo. That’s up from 588K last week but down from 0.15. (PI)
Here’s the updated card for CMLL’s 92nd Anniversary show. (CMLL)
- Hair vs. Hair Match: Rey Bucanero vs. El Felino
- Apuestas Eliminator: Último Guerrero & Averno vs. Dragón Rojo Jr. & Bárbaro Cavernario vs. Esfinge & El Valiente
- Apuestas Match: TBD vs. TBD
Vince McMahon reacts to Hulk Hogan’s death: “The world lost a treasure today. Hulk Hogan was the greatest WWE Superstar of ALL TIME, someone who was loved and admired around the world. He was a trailblazer, the first performer who transitioned from being a wrestling star into a global phenomenon. His grit and unbridled thirst for success were unparalleled – and made him the consummate performer. He gave everything he had to the audience whom he appreciated, respected and loved. He leaves us with one of his favorite expressions, ‘Train, take your vitamins and say your prayers.’ Today, we pray for him.”
Moose reportedly suffered a back injury at Slammiversary. (WO)
Six people have been confirmed for WWE tryouts at SummerSlam. (PWI)
- Maliq Carr: Former Michigan State football player.
- Ahmed Essam: Egyptian amateur wrestler who previously took part in WWE’s London tryouts in April; this marks his second invitation.
- Eduardo Godinho: Brazilian marathon runner and online fitness coach.
- Zoey Hines: Softball standout who played for Boston College and represented the French National Softball Team.
- Syd Langston: Canadian Instagram model with a hockey background.
- Ariana Wright: Miss Maryland 2023 and a University of Maryland track and field athlete.
Our Lady Peace has re-recorded “Whatever” and are giving the proceeds to suicide prevention: “It’s been 23 years since the tragic events surrounding WWE wrestler Chris Benoit and the theme song we wrote for him. We feel that enough time has passed that it was necessary to to re-record ‘Whatever’ to help shine a light on suicide prevention and mental health awareness. We’re donating all monies earned from streaming Whatever to suicide prevention initiatives across North America.”
Karrion Kross and Scarlett have contracts that expire in August and reportedly have not signed new deals with WWE yet. (FF)
Paul Heyman talks about the showcase mode in WWE 2K25: “I approached it with the respect for the history of the entire industry and for that family that anyone that understands or has studied the history should have. I approached it with great reverence, there are so many gamers now that are going to learn about an actual education within a video game. Imagine that! So if you want to go to a wrestling college, or you want to go to WWE University, your professor’s name is Paul Heyman.”
Glacier (Ray Lloyd) confirms he’s working backstage in AEW: “Of course, QT and I, we talk all the time. I go back and forth to help out with the camps and stuff as much as I could and it just came a point where the conversation started to where I said, ‘If there’s ever an opening for a coaching position, you know how much I love coaching and teaching and mentoring.’ And so the conversation started and then eventually, I end up talking to Sonjay – Sonjay Dutt – and Sonjay and I have been friends for about 20 years. We start talking and put the wheels in motion and actually, AEW has been so great to me on so many levels. It was able to work out where I was able to finish up the school year, and then I came on board right afterward. Like a week later, last June, and so it’s been about a year for me. I don’t know if I can put it into words how much I absolutely love going to work and doing this because I love being around wrestling, I love being around the next generation and anything that I can do to help in any way, I’m gladly willing to do so, it’s a great environment. Years ago, I didn’t know if I would be in wrestling again, especially at this level, back then, and it’s just to wake up every day and get to go have a week like we all just had, I’m a very, very fortunate person and I don’t take it for granted at all. I really, really relish this time I have and this opportunity and I’m just trying to give as much as I can to the company and everybody and just bring as much value as I can and then enjoy the ride on the way personally.”
Here are last night’s ROH on Honor Club results. (FF)
- The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum) def. The WorkHorsemen (Anthony Henry & JD Drake).
- The Beast Mortos def. Serpentico
- The Dark cut a promo where they vowed to come for the titles in ROH.
- Lee Johnson & Blake Christian def. David Ali & Isaiah Moore.
- A vignette hyping the Athena & Toni Storm feud.
- Trish Adora def. Aleah James
- The Premier Athletes cut a promo and called out the Sons of Texas
- ROH World TV Championship Proving Ground Match: Nick Wayne def. Gringo Loco
WWE employees are unhappy with the changes to the severance package, particularly given many of them are now pulling double duty following the TKO acquisition/merger. (WO)
Netflix had been “quietly” working on a Hulk Hogan documentary before his demise yesterday.
When Leyla Hirsch did her WWE tryout she expressed interest to the company in being a referee. (WO)
There has been “a complete falling out” between WWE and Travis Scott, which is why wrestlers like Drew McIntyre are now openly taking potshots at him. (WO) Unfortunately this means Cody Rhodes will never get payback for his busted eardrum.
Thunder Rosa is sidelined again with an undisclosed injury. (WO) Her last televised match was July 12th.
Leila Grey is releasing her first album next week.
The issues with Hulk Hogan’s health this year weren’t as bad as some of the rumors out there, but were also a lot worse than most people knew, with some of the closest people to him like Jimmy Hart downplaying it in public. Despite being on the outs with Hulk for many years, most of the information Bubba the Love Sponge had about Hogan’s health was closer to the truth than the rest. After Hogan had complications from neck surgery he basically had “a hospital in his home” so he could try to recover in a more comfortable setting. He had been treated at Tampa General Hospital for renal failure and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and was intubated for so long he was non-verbal by the time of his passing. The official cause of his death yesterday was and is cardiac arrest which can often be brought on by COPD which is what makes the condition so dangerous. (WO)
Here are G1 Climax 35 night five results. (FF)
- United Empire (Jakob Austin Young & Great-O-Khan) def. Shoma Kato & YOSHI-HASHI
- Jado & El Phantasmo def. T.M.D.K. (Hartley Jackson & Zack Sabre Jr.)
- HOUSE OF TORTURE (Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Ren Narita) def. Tomoaki Honma & Shota Umino
- Rocky Romero & Konosuke Takeshita def. Daiki Nagai & Shingo Takagi
- NJPW G1 Climax A Block: Oleg Boltin (6) def. SANADA (2)
- NJPW G1 Climax A Block: Yuya Uemura (4) def. Callum Newman (2)
- NJPW G1 Climax A Block: EVIL (6) def. Taichi (4)
- NJPW G1 Climax A Block: Yota Tsuji (6) def. Ryohei Oiwa (4)
- NJPW G1 Climax A Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi (4) def. David Finlay (2)
- Gabe Kidd forfeits the rest of his matches due to injury
SmackDown tonight will undoubtedly include many tributes to Hulk Hogan, but here’s what else we know. (WWE)
- WWE Tag Team Championships: The Wyatt Sicks (c) vs. Andrade & Rey Fenix
- Alexa Bliss vs. Roxanne Perez
- Jelly Roll, Logan Paul, Drew McIntyre & Randy Orton to appear
- Sgt. Slaughter, Gerald Brisco, Brian Blair, Ted DiBiase, Hacksaw Duggan and Jimmy Hart talk about Hogan
New Japan’s statement on Hulk Hogan: “New Japan Pro-Wrestling is saddened to learn of the passing of Terry Bollea, known to wrestling fans as Hulk Hogan, on July 24. He was 71. While Hogan’s status as a blockbuster attraction and pop culture icon in the US is well documented, he also left a significant mark on Japanese and New Japan Pro-Wrestling history. Trained by Hiro Matsuda, Hogan first came to Japan in 1980, participating in the third MSG (Madison Square Garden) League that brought names from America to battle NJPW’s top stars. In late spring of 1983, the International Wrestling Grand Prix League saw the IWGP letters known today first used in NJPW competition. A league tournament brought wrestlers from across the world from various member promotions to determine an IWGP Champion that would then defend their status in the next year’s tournament. The league boiled down to Hogan and Antonio Inoki in the final, and to massive shock, Hogan would upset Inoki, landing his Ax Bomber lariat to send Inoki off the apron and to count out defeat to be the first IWGP League winner. Later that year, Inoki teamed with Hogan, and the two won the MSG Tag League together. Hogan continued to compete in multiple in NJPW until 1985, and then returned to Japan in the early 1990s for the Genichiro Tenryu operated SWS. In 1993, Hogan created a stir when he targeted IWGP Heavyweight Champion Great Muta at Wrestling Dontaku while still carrying the WWF Championship; Hogan would defeat Muta in a non title bout in Fukuoka that May, and faced Tatsumi Fujinami the following January 4 in the Tokyo Dome before transitioning to WCW Stateside. Hogan’s last match in Japan came at Ultimate Crush in October 2003 with a victory over Masahiro Chono. The thoughts and sympathies of all at New Japan Pro-Wrestling go to Hogan’s family, friends and fans.”
Here’s an early lineup for Impact next week. (TNA)
- TNA Knockouts World Championship Match: Jacy Jane vs. Masha Slamovich
- TNA X-Division Championship Match: Leon Slater vs. Cedric Alexander vs. Jason Hotch
- Moose, Eddie Edwards & JDC vs. Trick Williams & First Class
- Zachary Wentz & Myron Reed vs. The Nemeths
- Dani Luna & Indi Hartwell vs. Jody Threat & Arianna Grace
Here’s the updated card for Bloodsport XIV.
- Nattie Neidhart vs. Masha Slamovich
- Jordan Blade vs. Janai Kai
- Charlie Dempsey vs. TBA
- Pete Dunne vs. TBA
- Slade vs. TBA
- Timothy Thatcher vs. TBA
- Jonathan Gresham vs. TBA
- Matt Mako vs. TBA
- Dominic Garrini vs. TBA
- Nick Comoroto vs. TBA
- Simon Gotch vs. TBA
And here’s the updated card for Collision on Saturday. (AEW)
- ROH Women’s Championship Match: Athena vs. Alex Windsor
- AEW TNT Championship Match: Dustin Rhodes vs. Lee Moriarty
