Cauliflower Alley Club 2016<\/u><\/p>\n
I just got back from Las Vegas for the Cauliflower Alley Club banquet last night.\u00a0I had a great time meeting everyone.\u00a0They honored Arn Anderson,\u00a0Trish Stratus (first woman to ever receive the Iron Mike Mazurki Award), Lance Russell, Paul Orndorff, Ken Patera, Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell, WWE’s Sue Aitchison and Pepper Martin.\u00a0Tons of both past and present stars were there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
J.J. Dillon did a great speech on Arn Anderson talking about how he refused to miss any time when he started suffering nerve problems and kept performing at a high level, even though at the end it cost him years off his career.\u00a0Stratus talked about her career in wrestling and growing up and watching Wendi Richter and doing mock wrestling matches with her relatives.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jerry Lawler told the story about how Lance Russell basically made his career in wrestling when he made some drawings of Jackie Fargo and Tojo Yamamoto and others and sent them to the local TV studio and Russell liked them so much he not only showed them on the air, but as soon as the show was over, called him at home and eventually invited him as his guest to one of the tapings where Lawler met Fargo and started making the connections to get into the business.\u00a0Russell brought his family to Las Vegas and I got to meet his three kids and I thank them for the nice stuff they said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Paul Orndorff’s son Travis\u00a0did a great speech about Growing up an Orndorff and his father.\u00a0Paul Orndorff put over Ric Flair Arn Anderson, Ricky Steamboat and Bobby Heenan and said they were the best wrestlers the business had ever seen.\u00a0He said that he started out doing legitimate fights for $200 or $500 a pop on weekends before pro wrestling and noted that he retired after the fourth time he broke his neck, but said he still trains.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ken Patera went in a million different directions including talking about the Munich Massacre at the 1972 Olympics which he witnessed first hand.\u00a0John Layfield did a very nice tribute to Beard, who helped him in his formative years\u00a0in the business and the two are close friends.\u00a0Layfield made some jokes about his own announcing, joking that people who watch the WWE Network and see people like Bobby Heenan make him look bad in comparison and he just takes solace that “At least I’m better than Byron.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Steamboat was not scheduled to make a speech, but did so for Aichison talking about her being an unsung person behind the scenes in WWE over the last 30 years.\u00a0There were countless readers and listeners and I do think this is something every ardent fan should attend at least once.<\/p>\n
We’re looking for reports on today’s WWE house shows in Florence, Italy and Dubai at newstips@wrestlingobserver.com<\/p>\n
We’re also looking for reports on all the European tour and Dubai dates.\u00a0Tomorrow\u00a0has WWE shows in Amsterdam, Holland, Dubai as well as an NXT show in Orlando.<\/p>\n
SMACKDOWN\u00a0TONIGHT\u00a0ON USA AT\u00a08 P.M.<\/p>\n
Zack Ryder vs. Baron Corbin
\nEnzo Amore & Big Cass vs. The Ascension
\nA.J. Styles vs. Alberto Del Rio
\nGoldust & Fandango vs. The Vaudevillains
\nSami Zayn vs. Chris Jericho<\/p>\n
THE ROUNDUP<\/p>\n
Banned substance knocks Lyoto Machida out of Dan Henderson rematch
\nUFC announces November 12 Madison Square Garden debut date
\nUFC On FOX 19 DFS Playbook: value picks, who to avoid
\nBray Wyatt injured at WWE Milan house show\u00a0
\nECW favorite Balls Mahoney passes away at 44 years old<\/p>\n
If you’ve ever wanted to WATCH our\u00a0radio shows\u00a0here on the site,\u00a0check out our new Youtube page! No full video shows, but lots of video clips, full free audio shows that you can tell your friends about, and much more to come! Make sure you\u00a0subscribe today!\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Figure Four Weekly 4\/11\/2016: Rene Dupree files lawsuit against WWE for Network royalties, then dismisses lawsuit\u00a0– All the inside information you would ever want to know about how NOT to sue WWE.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Wrestling Observer Newsletter<\/u><\/p>\n
READ IT HERE: April 11, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: A look at a historic Wrestlemania weekend, NXT Takeover\u00a0<\/p>\n
During the 70s and 80s, Blackjack Mulligan was one of the legendary characters in pro wrestling, a man whose life and career had major ups and just as legendary downs.<\/p>\n
Robert Deroy Windham played the character and later became the patriarch of one of the most significant modern wrestling families. He went from being a John Wayne-like figure as one of the most memorable characters in the heyday of Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling, to a wrestler known for no-shows and walking out on promotions, and later spent two years in prison for counterfeiting.<\/p>\n
He returned to wrestling after being in prison, but he was a guy who was quick to throw down, and quick to leave when he was unhappy. The business was changing where there weren\u2019t the options to go somewhere and always have a job like in his heyday.<\/p>\n
CLICK HERE FOR A FULL PREVIEW<\/p>\n
Current subscribers click here to continue reading.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
You can also order the print Observer right now and get it delivered to your door via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to\u00a0Dave Meltzer.<\/p>\n
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Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.<\/p>\n
If you wanted to know just how big Giant Baba was to people who grew up in the 60s and 70s, the latest back issue will explain.
\nCheck out the latest Online Wrestling Observer\u00a0BACK ISSUE:\u00a0February 15, 1999 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Reaction to the death of Giant Baba, 2 wrestlers have heart scares, plus tons more\u00a0\u00a0A look at the surprising public reaction to the death of Giant Baba, 2 wrestlers have heart attack scares, plus tons of news and notes.<\/p>\n
THURSDAY\u00a0NEWS UPDATE<\/u><\/p>\n
Here is an\u00a0article on Hulk Hogan’s racist rant in context and with the actual audio released.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next ROH PPV show on 5\/8 from Chicago will be headlined by Jay Lethal vs. Colt Cabana for the ROH title, IWGP champion Tetsuya Naito vs. Kyle O’Reilly, TV champion Tomohiro Ishii vs. Bobby Fish and tag champs War Machine vs. Mark & Jay Briscoe.\u00a0The holdup on the complete card is they are still hoping that Katsuyori Shibata and Kenny Omega will get their visas in time for the show, but the odds are against that happening.\u00a0Omega will be working for ROH when they run in May in Toronto.<\/p>\n
Funeral services for John Rechner (Balls Mahoney) will be on 4\/30 from\u00a02-5 p.m.\u00a0at O’Brien’s Funeral Home in Wall, NJ.<\/p>\n
The only update on Bray Wyatt is a right calf injury.\u00a0He didn’t work today’s show in Florence, Italy.\u00a0Results were Cesaro\u00a0b Goldust, Sin Cara b Tyler Breeze, Jack Swagger b Tyler Breeze, Kane b Rusev, New Day b Erick Rowan & Braun Strowman\u00a0in a tag title match, Charlotte won a three-way over Sasha\u00a0Banks and Becky Lynch (said to be the best match), Usos b Dudleys, Roman Reigns b\u00a0Sheamus.\u00a0Much of the card advertised wasn’t there including Wyatt, Ryback, Dean Ambrose, Big Show, Paige and Natalya.\u00a0Most of them were on the other show in Dubai. (thanks to Liam Francis Boyle)<\/p>\n
Josh Burgess, who used the name Christian Abel as a Midwest based independent wrestler, passed away yesterday.\u00a0Jimmy Jacobs on Twitter wrote, “Absolutely gutted to hear of the passing of my closest friend, Josh Burgess, who wrestled as Christian Abel.”<\/p>\n
There was a shooting outside Arena Mexico last night right after the Elite show ended.\u00a0Two men and one woman were injured.\u00a0The shooting took place at Bar El Buho which is right outside the arena.\u00a0The people involved were drunken patrons who were not at the show but just people hanging out at the bar.\u00a0Fans were filing out of the arena when this was happening and many ran back into the arena when they heard the shots.\u00a0CMLL pushed that it had nothing to do with wrestling fans because their tourist bus business has been booming and the last thing they want is for tourists to think it’s dangerous to come to shows.<\/p>\n
WWE & Professional Wrestling<\/p>\n
The John Cena reality competition TV show “American Grit” debuts\u00a0tonight\u00a0on FOX at\u00a09 p.m.\u00a0Eastern.
\nBig Show went very strong about a match with Shaquille O’Neal for next year’s WrestleMania.
\nTitus O’Neil will be on the show “Tanked” on Animal Planet\u00a0tomorrow\u00a0night at\u00a010 p.m.\u00a0Eastern.
\nThe WWE has announced 104 new episodes of Raw have been put up on the network from the 2002-04 era.
\nWWE stock closed down seven cents per share at $16.21.
\nHere is a\u00a0story comparing WWE women wrestlers to characters in the old TV show “Jem.”
\nHere is an article on the drop at the USA Network. It’s\u00a0an\u00a0interesting time at USA Network.
\nESPN in Italy has a note on Mauro Icardi of Inter-Milan meeting WWE talent.
\nHere is a\u00a0story on NXT coming to Poughkeepsie.
\nHere is a story on one of WWE’s new signings.
\nImpact did 286,000 viewers\u00a0Tuesday\u00a0night on the show with no replay, which is what the show had been doing in the time slot with a replay of late.\u00a0So warning people no second airing really didn’t help the numbers.<\/p>\n
UFC<\/p>\n
Georges St-Pierre will be hosting a show on The History Channel in Canada called “The Boneyard” which will be St-Pierre going around the world to learn about prehistoric animals like dinosaurs.\u00a0St-Pierre is a big paleontology buff.\u00a0The show debuts\u00a0tonight\u00a0at\u00a09 p.m.\u00a0with another episode at\u00a09:30 p.m.\u00a0with an episode of St-Pierre going to Argentina to look for dinosaurs.
\nIn a follow-up on the\u00a0death of Joao Carvalho in Ireland, which was covered as a lead story on almost every daily national newspaper in that country, as well as on TV and radio, the acting Minister for Sport, Michael Ring was on RTE saying that he saw things coming when he wrote to MMA organizations two years ago asking them to make sure they follow proper safety procedures.\u00a0He said there needs to be regulation.\u00a0He’s saying he needs to speak to Sport Ireland about regulating it.\u00a0The referee has defended the point at which he stopped the fight (thanks to Andrew Ryan).
\nMark Hunt has signed a new multi-fight deal with the promotion.\u00a0 It was reported in his native New Zealand that it is a six fight contract over the next 30 months and worth “multi-millions.”
\nWith the Lyoto Machida vs. Dan Henderson fight pulled from\u00a0Saturday’s\u00a0UFC show in Tampa due to Machida admitting usage of a banned substance, DHEA,\u00a0the main card at\u00a08 p.m.\u00a0on FOX will be:<\/p>\n
*Hacran Dias vs. Cub Swanson<\/p>\n
*Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Darrell Horcher<\/p>\n
*Rose Namajunas vs. Tecia Torres<\/p>\n
*Rashad Evans vs. Glover Teixiera five rounds<\/p>\n
Clay Guida returns to action on the 6\/4 show in Los Angeles against Brian Ortega.
\nUFC did about 30,000 viewers in Holland\u00a0on Sunday.\u00a0Bob Schreiber, a star with RINGS in the 90s did the color and was very entertaining.\u00a0Marijn de Jong also worked with lead announcer Sander Schrik.\u00a0The week before the 5\/10 show in Rotterdam, Holland, FOX in Holland will have a live preview show every day. (thanks to Hank Mulder)
\nTim\u00a0Kennedy talks about being yelled at by Dana White and not getting fights.<\/p>\n
MISCELLANEOUS<\/p>\n
Deadspin did an article on Johnny Rodz and his wrestling training in Brooklyn.
\nElite on Azteca 7 in Mexico starting\u00a0tomorrow\u00a0has been moved from 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., which is never a good sign in only the third week of the show.\u00a0House of Hardcore lineups for this weekend… on\u00a0Friday\u00a0night in Corona, NY:<\/p>\n
Rob Van Dam vs. Chris Hero<\/p>\n
Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Archer vs. Rhino & Tommy Dreamer<\/p>\n
Billy Gunn vs. Sami Callihan<\/p>\n
Eddie Kingston vs. Bull James (Bull Dempsey)<\/p>\n
Pepper Parks vs. Colt Cabana<\/p>\n
Deonna Purrazzo vs. Thea Trinidad<\/p>\n
Saturday\u00a0night in Philadelphia at the 2300 Arena<\/p>\n
Rob Van Dam vs. Rhino<\/p>\n
Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Chris Hero & Colt Cabana<\/p>\n
Brian Cage vs. Sami Callihan<\/p>\n
Billy Gunn vs. Bull James<\/p>\n
Tommy Dreamer vs. Pepper Parks<\/p>\n
Jade vs Thea Trinidad<\/p>\n
House of Hardcore has also announced\u00a0a 6\/24 date in Australia.\u00a0
\nNortheast Wrestling on 8\/27 in Pittsfield, MA has Jushin Liger and Kamaitachi appearing.\u00a0
\nBill Goldberg will be pre-race host for\u00a0Sunday’s\u00a0Food City 500 race in Bristol, TN.\u00a0This is his second straight year with that role in the race (thanks to James Combs II)\u00a0
\nPro Wrestling Sheet announced that Kevin Martenson (Johnny Goodtime on Southern California indies) has signed a contract with Lucha Underground.
\nSonjay Dutt defends his GFW Nex Gen title against Matt Sydal on 7\/23 in Wilmington, DE for Masters of Ring Entertainment.
\nIWA East Coast\u00a0on Saturday\u00a0in Nitro, WV at the Kingsway Outreach Center headlined by B.J. Whitmer vs. Chance Prophet vs. Ron Mathis and Johnny Gargano vs. Gory.\u00a0 Gargano also has a\u00a0training seminar at\u00a02 p.m.for $25 that day.\u00a0One person from the seminar will work on the show.\u00a0You can also attend the seminar for $20 to observe but not train.\u00a0For info on that contract\u00a0iwaeastcoast@live.com
\nPro Wrestling Eclipse on 4\/17 in Oshawa, ONT.
\nAlpha 1 Wrestling on 5\/15 in Hamilton ONT at the Knights of Columbus.
\nWrestling Revolution Project from\u00a0Sunday\u00a0in Providence, RI:\u00a0Taeler Hendrix b Barbi Hayden, Sonya Strong over Davienne, Miranda Vionette and Willow Nightingale, Mistress Belmont b Sojo Darling, Alexxis Neveah b Raquel (TNA), Kimber Lee b LuFisto, Jonathan Gresham b Eddie Edwards, Jessicka Havok b Jenny Rose, Veda Scott b Jordynne Grace 2\/3 falls, Deonna Purrazzo b Santana Garrett (thanks to Chris Silva)
\nRight Coast Pro on 4\/23 in Newark, DE at the Greater Newark Boys & Girls Club.
\nGreat North Wrestling on 5\/6 in Ottawa at the Earl Armstrong Arena features Demolition Ax & Smash.
\nBig West Wrestling on 4\/15 in Kelowna, BC at the Lake City Bowling & Billiards.
\nRing of Combat on 6\/3 in Atlantic City, NJ at the Tropicana at 8:30 p.m.
\nFuture Stars of Wrestling\u00a0tomorrow\u00a0night in Las Vegas at the Silverton Casino with Timothy Thatcher vs. Kevin Kross, Funny Bone vs. Owen Travers, Eli Drake vs. Hammerstone plus Willie Mack and more.
\nAriel and Colt Toombs are coming out with a book they are co-writing about their father, Roddy Piper.
\nNWA Mid South Wrestling on 5\/7 at Resorts Casino in Tunica, MS headlined by Kevin Nash\u00a0
\nCurtis Hughes was replaced as head trainer by AR Fox at the WWA4 school in Atlanta.\u00a0 Hughes had been the head trainer and started out talent like Moose, Jonathan Gresham, Heath Slater, AR Fox, Apollo Crews, Samuel Shaw, Peter Kassa and others.
\nJim Duggan talks an altercation with Mickey Rourke.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Today in professional wrestling history:\u00a0Jerry Lawler wins WCWA Title; Strangler Lewis wins World Title<\/p>\n
Please send\u00a0feedback\u00a0to FeedBack@WrestlingObserver.com
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Cauliflower Alley Club 2016 I just got back from Las Vegas for the Cauliflower Alley Club banquet last night.\u00a0I had a great time meeting everyone.\u00a0They honored Arn Anderson,\u00a0Trish Stratus (first woman to ever receive the Iron Mike Mazurki Award), Lance Russell, Paul Orndorff, Ken Patera, Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell, WWE’s Sue Aitchison and Pepper…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5751","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5751"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5751\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5751"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5751"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5751"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}