@twf87
This week saw lot of pieces being moved into place ahead of Wrestlemania week, starting with New Japan and ROH announcing the full card for the G1 Supercard. Kazuchika Okada secured his place in the main event by winning the New Japan Cup, while a number of big matches were announced. Tetsuya Naito vs. Kota Ibushi should be great, ZSJ vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi has the potential to be excellent, and the triple threat between Taiji Ishimori, Dragon Lee, and Bandido should be strong too. I’m particularly excited to see Mayu Iwatani and the Women of Honor title get a big stage at MSG. Some of the matches are a little eyebrow raising – Bully Ray open challenge – but overall it’s a strong card. After NJPW’s reported struggles to sell out their G1 show in Dallas, MSG needs to be a strong show, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see some big things happen. Announcement of the G1 participants could well be on the card, and maybe even the return of Hiromu Takahashi? I’m a lot more excited now that I know the card than I was a week ago.
Stardom also ran a show at Korakuen Hall, which had some implications for their show in New York. Hazuki defeated Xia Brookside in a High Speed match, and then the first match announced for the card in New York was another High Speed defence for Hazuki against Rise wrestler Dust. Mayu defeated Natsuko Tora in an excellent WOH title match to confirm her spot at MSG. Momo Watanabe defeated Andras Miyagi in another Wonder of Stardom title defence, and then was challenged by her stablemate Utami Hayashishita. Nothing has been announced regarding this match so far, but I doubt we will see it in New York. More likely is a tag title match for Momo and Utami, which should give them an opportunity to develop the pre title match cracks in their relationship. This is Stardom’s most protected match up right now, and it should be great.
Finally, watch the most recent Seadlinnng Korakuen Hall show! I watched it this week, and it’s a very strong card, topped off by an excellent match between Beyond the Sea champion Nanae Takahashi and ASUKA. Don’t sleep on the high speed division in Seadlinnng either, the matches are consistently excellent.
@Iwanmack
My week started off with Pro Wrestling
SOUL in Wimbledon on Friday night, like a lot of the shows I go to, I have
reviewed it in full but it was a really fun night spent with good friends and I
got to see a dream match in Scotty Davis vs Jordan Breaks.
During the week, I decided to purchase OTT on Demand and since have got
acquainted with the stars of the promotions. I’m a big fan of More Than Hype,
their trios matches are tremendously entertaining.
And finally on Thursday I took myself down to UK wrestling’s resident venue:
The ResGal for IWL’s Kingdom Come (review coming soon). Great show overall with
an excellent triple threat match against Chris Brookes, The OJMO and Buffalo
Soldier.
@TheCiaranJames
My week started with me publishing my review of Pro Wrestling Chaos from 23/3. The show itself was good, however it was an example of how a venue can upset the balance of the show. The evening was also harmed by the injury in the main event to Eddie Dennis, it was a sad sight seeing Dennis leave at ringside, not nice for any performer.
The show was saved by the reappearance of current WWE NXT Tag Team Champion James Drake, who after leaving in November returned to cash in his HTTT briefcase. The audience were in shock after Drake gatecrashed to dethrone Dick Riley, who then because of losing had to leave the promotion.
The other big story in wrestling was the Kofi Kingston controversy on SDLive, this which has now thankfully moved away from the racial overtones and looks to finally be settled. Other than that one can only laugh at WWE’s mediocre WrestleMania buildup, it has been the worse I’ve ever witnessed.
Aside from that I am very much looking forward to next weekends events, most notably NXT TakeOver and the joint ROH/NJPW G1 Supercard, I will also try to watch some more events via the FITE app.
@codytweetsstuff
My week in wrestling started with Monday Night Raw… I remember absolutely none of it. I then watched Smackdown Live which was far more eventful. Charlotte took on Asuka for the Smackdown Women’s Championship and the New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods) took on the Smackdown Tag Team Division in a gauntlet match to give Kofi a shot at the WWE Champion at KofiMania.
Next, I watched 205 Live. Gran Metalik, Kalisto & Lince Dorado faced off against Humberto Carrillo, Drew Gulak and ‘Gentleman’ Jack Gallagher. The show was main evented by a solid match between former Cruiserweight Champion, Cedric Alexander & Ariya Daivari.
Finally, I finished my week in wrestling with NXT. Main evented by the final of the Dusty Rhodes Classic, the newly formed tag team of Ricochet & Aleister Black (who have been working triple time on RAW, sometimes Smackdown Live & NXT) battled with The Forgotten Sons (Blake & Cutler) in a really good end to a brilliant tournament.
Overall, my week in wrestling was great. Nothing too eventful but everything I watched was entertaining and that’s all that matters in my mind.
@JakeCCK
My week in wrestling began on Sunday when I attended my first RevPro show in Northampton. A very fun show to say the least and you can find my review of that on the website. Of course, I do have to say watch Chris Brookes vs PAC from this show, it is really great.
I then found myself re-subscribing to Progress on demand during the week and catching up on the most recent chapter shows as we approach Super Strong Style. The lineup for Super Strong Style this year is different to say the least. Of course, I’m happy that they are bringing over new talent such as Artemis Spencer and Darby Allin and giving people like Chris Ridgeway and Paul Robinson chances but it just has a weird feel to it.
I’ve also been working on some new projects that will hopefully be done and released within the next week or two.
So yeah. Quite eventful.
@WynterStorm24
A couple of cool things happened this week. My Charlotte Flair Pop figure arrived and she’s absolutely gorgeous. I practically tore up her packaging but she’s now sitting pretty on my dresser. They did a really good job with her. I also got a Jeff Hardy figure and a Bayley figure so I need to rearrange everyone on the dresser. I haven’t quite decided how I want to set them up yet though. I’m still annoyed that there’s no replica Charlotte Flair robe on WWE Shop. I would wear her pink one all the time.
Seth Rollins really got my emotions up for his match against Brock Lesnar with his promo on Monday Night Raw. I’m ready to fight, I’m ready to burn Suplex City to the ground. I’m tired of this absent champion and I want that Beastslayer shirt! Speaking of Seth Rollins, we discovered that his theme music makes my friend’s unborn baby move about. It’s super cute!
I went to see Dolph Ziggler do his stand-up show. He was so funny! He even had a meet and greet and a Q&A which was cool. The particular club he was at is kinda cozy and intimate, which made for great conversation with him as well. I got a great picture and an autograph and all around it was a great night.
In other news, I might be getting into interviewing and managing soon so stay tuned for that!
@RoxBlackburn
I read a really great article this week about the longer term business benefits of Brock Lesnar defeating Seth Rollins at Wrestlemania – written by @mariaelisa721and found here https://talkingsportswithwomen.wordpress.com/2019/03/26/lets-play-devils-advocate-why-seth-rollins-should-lose-to-brock-lesnar-at-wrestlemania-35/.We’re obviously emotionally invested in Rollins winning, but in reality, there is a strong possibility he won’t. What are your thoughts around the future of the Universal Championship? We’d love to hear them.
The Wrestlemania card is nearing completion and this week I would expect the addition of a tag team match and a further fill up of the mens and womens battle royals.
I still don’t know if we’ll see Demon Balor and unless something happens on Raw to develop this story, I feel it highly unlikely.
I delved into the WWE Network this week and watched the following-
Roman Reigns Chronicle. I was enamoured with it if I’m totally honest. I’m so pleased he’s fought through his illness and his return speech on Raw was poignant and beautiful. I’m not sure it needed this ‘Chronicle’ given how raw everything is
Mark Henry Story. I forgot how brilliant his ‘Hall of Pain’ gimmick was. I also wasn’t aware how much of a strong, determined man he is. I certainly have a new level of respect for him.
Matt Riddle arrival. Still don’t like him. Sorry.
House Hardy Halloween. Anyone else used to watch The Hardy Show? It was ridiculous and hilarious and just Matt and Jeff mucking about with their friends, having fun. This was WWE’s version of it and it sucked but in a good way. I think you needed to have watched their old show to relate to some of the bizarre stuff going on.
This next week, it’s all about Wrestlemania. I’m excited, not just for the event but for the unfolding of new storylines and the shake-up that’s coming afterwards
A slow week for me really. Everything has been centred around either Memphis, the Freebirds or WCW 1998, as random as that might all sound.
In particular, I watched a one hour time limit draw between Harley Race and Jerry Lawler from 1977. This was typical NWA touring champion work as Race made Lawler look like he was going to win the title many, many time, only for Lawler not to be able to get that final three count. This was an interesting bout more because Lawler didn’t seem like someone renowned for going broadway, but he was capable of it when needed.
For another project, I’ve watched a lot of the aftermath of WCW following Starrcade 1997 and the botched Hogan/Sting finish. Things only seem to get worse from there and within three to four months the belt goes from Hogan to Sting to Macho Man and back to Hogan again. What should have been the nail in the coffin for the NWO and allow WCW to move on instead just created a gigantic mess. The crowd are hot for lots of it, but plodding Hogan in 98 is really not worth watching.
