SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…
NXT ON USA PRIMER
JUNE 2, 2020
TAPED IN ORLANDO, FLA. AT THE PERFORMANCE CENTER
AIRS LIVE ON USA NETWORK
A new Interim NXT Cruiserweight Champion will be crowned tonight as Drake Maverick faces El Hijo Del Fantasma in the finals. After exchanging heated words, Candice LeRae and Mia Yim will look to settle the score when they face off tonight. Also expect big features and looks into both the men’s and women’s championship matches with NXT Takeover: In Your House taking place this Sunday. It’s sure to be another action packed episode as Mauro Ranallo, Beth Phoenix and Tom Phillips are expected to have the call as NXT airs from Full Sail University on the USA Network. Let’s take a look at what’s currently advertised for tonight’s show.
El Hijo del Fantasma and Drake Maverick clash for Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship
Mia Yim and Candice LeRae take their hostilities to the ring
Prime Takeover: NXT Men’s and NXT Women’s Championship Matches
ADVERTISED MATCHES & SEGMENTS
El Hijo del Fantasma and Drake Maverick clash for Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship
The tournament began with eight of NXT’s finest cruiserweight wrestlers but we are now down to two as Drake Maverick will face El Hijo del Fantasma in the finals to crown a new Interim NXT Cruiserweight Champion. Maverick posted an emotional video noting he’s not going anywhere and will fight to become champion. Meanwhile, Fantasma, a newcomer to NXT has shown off some of his wrestling style to make it to the finals. The question now is can Maverick’s fairy tale journey end on a happy note or will Fantama claim championship gold a couple weeks after debuting in NXT?
One last time….
THIS WEDNESDAY @WWENXT #WWENXT #NXT pic.twitter.com/7lHOUvr30j
— Spud (@WWEMaverick) June 2, 2020
(Amin’s Analysis: I expect this to be a very solid wrestling match and my guess is Fantasma will win the NXT Cruiserweight Title. Maverick’s run throughout the tournament has been fun to watch and would be great to see him win. I would still like to see Maverick still get his spot on the NXT roster if he doesn’t win. The other interesting involvement is with the masked wrestlers and if Fantasma is revealed to be the leader of the group.)
Mia Yim and Candice LeRae take their hostilities to the ring
Candice LeRae has made some enemies since her recent change in character and Mia Yim is on the top of her list. During the Gargano’s Dinner, LeRae noted Yim dropped the ball in her match against Charlotte Flair and then called her out for pandering to the NXT fans. Yim responded by mocking Gargano’s Dinner noting LeRae was just in the shadow of her husband Johnny Gargano. Question is who will come out victorious when LeRae and Yim meet inside the ring?
Next week, I get to humble the pixie. #WWENXT #HBIC pic.twitter.com/mEQaRO9MWl
— The HBIC (@MiaYim) May 28, 2020
.@CandiceLeRae will see @MiaYim NEXT WEEK on #WWENXT!
Who ya got?! pic.twitter.com/ss8KzlyHmD
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) May 29, 2020
(Amin’s Analysis: This should be a good match as both LeRae and Yim are talented wrestlers. I liked the interaction leading into the match and LeRae has shined since turning heel. I would expect to see Gargano and Keith Lee in their partners’ respective corners and some post-match angle to build hype for the NXT North American Championship match.)
Prime Target: NXT Championship & NXT Women’s Championship Matches
NXT Takeover: In Your House takes place this Sunday as Adam Cole will defend the NXT Championship against Velveteen Dream. Plus, my favourite Io Shirai will face Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley in a Triple Threat Match for the NXT Women’s Championship. It was announced on last week’s show that NXT will air a special Prime Target feature focusing on both NXT Championship matches.
#WWENXT Champion @AdamColePro entered into negotiations with @RealKingRegal and found himself in a HIGH-STAKES #NXTTitle Match at #NXTTakeOver: IN YOUR HOUSE! pic.twitter.com/0x6oOBjwpK
(Amin’s Analysis: Most interested in the Triple Threat Match as I want to see my favourite Io Shirai win the NXT Women’s Championship at NXT Takeover: In Your House. NXT does great work with their video packages and this Prime Target features should be great hyping up both championship matches.)
Final build for NXT Takeover: In Your House
In recent week’s Karrion Kross has sent warnings to Tommaso Ciampa before their TakeOver match. Plus, Damian Priest has also done the same revealing it was him who attacked Finn Balor a couple weeks ago. You would expect both Balor and Ciampa to deliver some sort of response to their respective opponents at TakeOver: In Your House.
Get ready when two of the most intense competitors in #WWENXT go head-to-head as @FinnBalor battles @ArcherOfInfamy at #NXTTakeOver: IN YOUR HOUSE! pic.twitter.com/15qBxbxtIg
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) May 29, 2020
(Amin’s Analysis: The build for Ciampa vs. Kross match has been great with no sort of physical interaction. I would like to see this continue and have Ciampa deliver a strong promo before the match. I liked Priest’s reasoning for wanting a match with Balor who was one of NXT’s biggest stars before going to Raw. I’ve liked Balor’s presentation since returning to NXT as he’s showcased in a big program without the need of a title for now.)
The Big Takeaway From Last Week’s Show
Timothy Thatcher defeated Matt Riddle in the first-ever NXT Fight Cage with Kurt Angle as the special guest referee. Charlotte Flair & Chelsea Green defeated Rhea Ripley & Io Shirai in a tag team match. William Regal announced he will pick the location after Cole agreed to defend the NXT Title against Velveteen Dream at NXT TakeOver: In Your House.
Overall Thoughts
I would expect to see some big angles and promos on the show with TakeOver: In Your House taking place this Sunday. The wrestling should be solid as always and should continue tonight from the LeRae vs. Yim match and the finals of the Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship Tournament.
CATCH UP… 5/27 NXT ON USA REPORT: Wells’s report on Riddle vs. Thatcher cage match, Ripley & Shirai vs. Charlotte & mystery partner, Kushida vs. Atlas vs. Maverick
It was intended to be a creative way to announce a new baby’s sex to friends and family.
Instead a new father’s use of colourful explosives went horribly wrong, leading to a wildfire that burned through 47,000 acres and caused more than $8 million worth of damage.
Footage released by the US Forest Service on Tuesday shows how the gimmick led to a costly wildfire in southern Arizona in April 2017 that forced about 200 people from their homes.
The "gender reveal" party was thrown by Dennis Dickey, an off-duty border patrol agent, who fired a rifle at a homemade target placed in the middle of dry grassland near Green Valley, Arizona.
Gender reveal parties are intended to announce a baby’s sex to loved ones.
The damage and firefighting costs topped $8 million
In the video, a rectangular target with a diamond checkered design marked with "boy" or "girl" can be seen seconds before a gunshot is fired and the target explodes into a cloud of blue.
Immediately afterwards the surrounding grassland is covered in flames and a panicked male voice shouts "Start packing up!"
It is the first visual evidence of how the tall, dry grass on state land near Green Valley went up in flames and became the Sawmill Fire.
Firefighters from at least 20 agencies fought the blaze for about a week to bring it under control.
According to the Arizona Daily Star, the gender reveal was for Dickey’s pregnant wife.
"I feel absolutely horrible about it," Dickey told the newspaper. "It was probably one of the worst days of my life."
The border patrol agent pleaded guilty in September to a misdemeanour charge of starting a fire without a permit.
The 2017 fire near Green Valley burned 73 square miles
He was sentenced the following month to five years of probation. He also was ordered to make an initial payment of $100,000 in restitution and monthly payments of $500.
Exploding targets are prohibited on the Coronado National Forest, and recreational target shooting is not allowed on the state-owned land where the fire started, officials said.
Dickey told authorities he constructed the target with an explosive substance known as Tannerite. He reported the fire immediately to emergency services on April 23, 2017.
The fire burned about 73 square miles of mostly state land over less than two weeks, forcing evacuations and causing more than $8 million worth of damage and firefighting costs.
Land management agencies have seen wildfires spark from lightning, abandoned campfires and even a horse clipping its shoe on a rock – but fires starting from gender reveal parties are rare.
Fire officials said gusty winds and the broken topography helped push the growth of the southern Arizona fire.
"We pass that message on all the time – one spark is all it takes, one spark is all it takes," said Tiffany Davila, a spokeswoman for the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.
"It’s true. When you see that video, you see how quickly the grasses catch on fire and how quickly it moves."
The US Customs and Border Protection agency confirmed on Tuesday that Dickey still is employed with the its Tucson office.
Ring of Honor has announced the Tag Team title match for their WrestleMania weekend show.
It will be The Briscoes defending their titles against Hiroshi Tanahashi & Jay Lethal. This will be the first defense for The Briscoes since they defeated the Motor City Machine Guns at ROH’s 16th Anniversary pay-per-view earlier this month to begin their ninth reign with the belts.
Supercard of Honor will take place at the UNO Lakefront Arena in New Orleans on April 7th and has surpassed 5,000 tickets sold, topping the attendance record of 3,500 that was set during WrestleMania weekend last year.
Here’s the updated lineup for the show (which includes matches that have been officially announced and ones that were set up at ROH’s latest set of TV tapings):
Kenny Omega vs. Cody
ROH World Champion Dalton Castle defending against Marty Scurll
ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champions SoCal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky) defending against The Young Bucks & Flip Gordon
ROH Tag Team Champions The Briscoes defending against Hiroshi Tanahashi & Jay Lethal
Kota Ibushi vs. Hangman Page
The semifinals (Mayu Iwatani vs. Kelly Klein and Tenille Dashwood vs. Sumie Sakai) and finals of the Women of Honor Championship tournament
ROH TV Champion Kenny King defending against Silas Young in a last man standing match
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Punishment Martinez
A new report indicates that WWE and Hulk Hogan, at the very least, are talking to one another.
PWInsider reported this afternoon that conversations are currently going underway between Hulk Hogan and WWE that may lead to him returning to the company, either as a brand ambassador or perhaps in an on-air role.
When asked for a comment about the story, WWE replied “We have had discussions with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan) about how he can help others learn from his mistakes, however, he is not under any contract with WWE.”
Hogan has not appeared on WWE television since being fired in 2015 after the National Enquirer leaked tapes of Hogan using racist language, including the n-word. The recordings came to light during a trial against Gawker.com, who Hogan sued after they refused to take down the sex tape they posted on their site. Hogan won the trial and was awarded $115 million, which later was reduced to $31 million after a settlement, shutting down the website in the process.
Following the controversy regarding the Fabulous Moolah and the women’s WrestleMania Battle Royal that led to her name being dropped from the match, it is possible sponsors may not be keen to a Hulk Hogan return if it were to happen.
PWTorch editor Wade Keller presents a special Thursday Flagship edition of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast featuring a WrestleMania 36 Preview with ex-WWE Creative Team member and professional stand-up comedian Matt McCarthy.
(Search “wade keller” to subscribe in podcast app or CLICK HERE to subscribe in Apple Podcasts.)
Torch Today – Sunday, October 25
– After shifting Summerslam to Brooklyn, WWE returns to the Staples Center in Los Angeles for the Hell in a Cell PPV on Sunday night. All titles are on the line, Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker end their feud, and this might be John Cena’s last match for a while. It will be interesting to see how that aspect plays out.
After the PPV, join James Caldwell & Greg Parks for the HIAC PPV post-game show at 11:30 p.m. EST at PWTorchLivecast.com.’
– Before Hell in a Cell, WWE is releasing the series premiere of “Breaking Ground” on Sunday. The sneak-peek is scheduled for release on Facebook and YouTube at 12:00 p.m. EST before the start of the early slate of NFL games.
– TMZ talked to Booker T about training former NFL player Brennan Williams, who was cut by the New England Patriots this week. Williams, who was a high-end draft pick by the Houston Texans in 2013, is planning to start working with Booker in Houston soon. “I’m looking to get my feet wet while training with Booker and shooting for a contract with the WWE in January. That’s my plan,” Brennan said.
Booker added: “Brennan definitely fits the profile and athletic protocol of a WWE Wrestler. He fits the build perfectly. Most of the time with NFL players, wrestling is a sort of last resort but Brennan was actually a fan before anything. I’m more than glad to help him out.” (Full Interview on TMZ.com)
– Ric Flair and Harley Race are appearing together in St. Louis on Sunday morning from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The photo-op is set for the Double Tree Hilton at Westport.
– WrestleCade quickly announced a Gen-NXT Title match from the Global Force Wrestling promotion. After GFW determined their first champions Friday night in Las Vegas, WrestleCade announced P.J. Black vs. Sonjay Dutt for November 27 in Winston-Salem, N.C. WrestleCade is partnering with several promotions for this year’s event, including GFW and Booker T’s school.
– Roman Reigns answered a lingering question about his feud with Bray Wyatt in an interview on this week’s Sam Roberts Podcast. Asked what happened with his daughter’s involvement in the start of the feud, Reigns said said he wasn’t “super comfortable” with it, but he agreed to it because their father/daughter PSA was already out there. WWE ended up using a photo from the PSA simply to “spark the feud” before they brought the feud “back to the ring.” (READ THE FULL RECAP AT PWPODCASTS.COM)
– 3:00 p.m.: Live from MSG Special – Lesnar vs. Big Show.
– 5:20 pm.: Stone Cold & Lesnar Podcast.
– 6:30 p.m.: This Week in WWE.
– 7:00 p.m.: HIAC Pre-Show.
– 8:00 p.m.: HIAC Live PPV.
– 11:00 p.m.: Breaking Ground Episode #1 (in place of typical PPV Replay).
The ultra-conservative and anti-immigration Vox has stormed into the Andalucian assembly in Sunday’s regional election, marking the first time a far-Right party has achieved parliamentary representation on any level in Spain’s recent history as a democracy.
The party that favours the end of autonomy in Catalonia and the expulsion of all immigrants who entered Spain illegally won 12 out of 109 seats in Andalucia’s parliament with 11 per cent of the vote.
“Vox was the party that led the political debate,” said the party’s secretary general, Javier Ortega.
“We put on the table the need to control our borders and end illegal immigration, end abusive levels of taxation and the need to put an end to ideological laws relating to gender.”
Despite running out narrow winner in the region it has ruled continuously for 36 years, the PSOE Socialist party of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez suffered a hugely disappointing result in Andalucia. The party’s all-time low of 28 per cent and 33 seats mean it will not be able to govern with a majority, even with the support of the Left-wing coalition Adelante Andalucia, which includes Podemos.
Spain’s main conservative opposition force, the Popular Party (PP), also lost ground, sliding six percentage points to just under 21 per cent, while the liberal Ciudadanos was the night’s only winner among the established parties, doubling its share to 18 per cent.
Vox party leader Santiago Abascal delivers a speech next to regional candidate Francisco Serrano as they celebrate results in SevilleCredit:
REUTERS/Marcelo Del Pozo
Ahead of European and possibly a general election in 2019, Spain’s political scene appears more fractured than ever after the dramatic emergence of Vox on the extreme right of the spectrum.
Despite having seen its number of seats in the Andalucian parliament shorn from 33 to 26, the PP appeared to welcome the arrival of Vox on the political scene.
For the PP’s candidate for the presidency of the region, Juan Manuel Moreno, it was a “historic day” on which “Andalucia had chosen change”, saying he wants to lead a right-of-centre coalition including Vox and Ciudadanos.
“Ahead of this election we proposed change, now we guarantee change,” Mr Moreno told an ecstatic crowd of PP members in Seville.
Supporters of the far-Right Vox party celebrate their breakthrough in Andalucia's elections on Sunday nightCredit:
Marcelo Del Pozo/Reuters
Ciudadanos’ leader in Andalucia, Juan Marín, echoed the PP’s message. “There is a majority in the parliament for change; change has arrived in Andalucia,” Mr Marín said.
Ciudadanos’ national leader, Albert Rivera, challenged Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez to call national elections now that “the Andalucians have turned their back on you”.
The PP and Ciudadanos’ candidates have been careful not to describe Vox as far-Right, while also refusing to rule out accepting the support of the ultra-conservative grouping to remove the Socialists from power.
The result will increase pressure on Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish prime minister, to call a snap electionCredit:
Fernando Calvo/Pool via AP
Andalucian President Susana Díaz blamed a low turnout of 59 per cent for her Socialist party’s small margin of victory, and asked all other mainstream political forces to freeze out Vox from the political scene.
“This phenomenon we have seen in other European countries is now present in the Andalucian parliament. I call on all the other political parties who consider themselves defenders of our democratic constitution to brake the extreme right,” she said.
PWTorch editor Wade Keller presents a special Thursday Flagship edition of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast featuring a WrestleMania 36 Preview with ex-WWE Creative Team member and professional stand-up comedian Matt McCarthy.
(Search “wade keller” to subscribe in podcast app or CLICK HERE to subscribe in Apple Podcasts.)
TORCH TODAY – Sunday, November 29
– WWE wraps up the weekend with a live show in Huntington, West Virginia. The advertised main event is new WWE World Hvt. champion Sheamus vs. Roman Reigns. Plus, The Wyatts vs. The Usos & Kane, Dean Ambrose, Dolph Ziggler, and more in action. (We’re looking for results sent to [email protected].)
Additional Notes on the Huntington show: Dolph Ziggler talked to the Herald-Dispatch newspaper about his current WWE run promoting the show. Ziggler acknowledged “taking time to develop chemistry” with Lana when they were paired together on TV. He also said he “keeps thinking about” doing more comedy shows to balance the WWE schedule as he enters his 12th year in wrestling. “We’ll see where it goes,” he said of the comedy career.
Also, the Herald-Dispatch reports that there will be extra security at the event, including pat-downs and longer lines to get inside the building.
– Ring of Honor and PCW wrap up their four-show tour Sunday in Preston, England with a big singles match of ROH champion Jay Lethal vs. ROH TV champion Roderick Strong. (Full Line-up)
– WWE NETWORK HIGHLIGHTS: The Network has a Monday Night Wars marathon in the morning, then a Breaking Ground marathon throughout the afternoon, evening, and late-night.
– Did You Know: Great Khali was signed by WCW at one point? In a new interview promoting a talent search in India, Khali talked about nearly making it on WCW TV before the company was bought by WWE and then transitioning to New Japan very early in his career.
“After six months there (in the U.S.), I signed a contract with World Championship Wrestling. There I continued to learn the trade and to fight, but then Vince McMahon, chairman of WWE, bought the company. It left me disappointed because only in 7-8 months that I was there, the company was bought. I was not sure how things would transpire now and what would happen to my career,” he said.
“After training for a few more months, I got an offer from New Japan Pro Wrestling and I wrestled there for three years. And it should be noted that most of the famous WWE wrestlers have been involved in Japan at some point. I feel the Japanese wrestling is tougher in all respects including the physical aspect. It is tougher too and there is a lot more bloodshed.”
– TNA wrestler Rockstar Spud has signed an endorsement deal with Starlight Children’s Foundation to be the “charity ambassador” reaching sick children in the U.K. (Full Details reported by The Mirror)
– Texas independent wrestler Rudy Boy Gonzalez, who encountered Daniel Bryan when Bryan first started at Shawn Michaels’s wrestling school, commented on his first impressions of Bryan and chances of stardom in a new interview.
“You knew he was going to have a spot because Bryan was just ‘that guy’ and just a nice guy. He did everything that was asked of him and was always on time, trained hard, and did things without an excuse. He was always asking questions,” Gonzalez said on the “Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling” podcast. “But, to be very honest I never knew he would become THE guy in WWE and at that time it was ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, The Rock, Kane, The Godfather – I never thought I could see Raw and say I can see Bryan Danielson doing anything like that. But, watching him rise the way he has, I see him and I am proud of him, wish him the best with his health issues, and I hope he gets over it. Everything he was getting, he deserves.”
– Former WWF wrestler Navajo Warrior (Steve Islas) recently talked about working with John Cena very early in Cena’s career for UPW in California.
“John and I have had quite a few matches. When he was first starting, I met him at a promotion called Ultimate Pro Wrestling in Santa Ana, CA. He was brand-new, he was the ‘Prototype.’ Some reservation tours were coming up in Northern Arizona, and I approached John about ‘Would you be interested in coming along? It would be good experience.’ Of course, you could see something in this guy. He looked like he was chiseled out of granite, he had a real good look to him, a great attitude,” said Islas on the “Like Father Like Son” podcast with Jeramie & Sam McPeek.
“So he came along and we were wrestling each other almost every night on these tours. We’d have a singles match and then Mike Knox would interfere, and we’d come back and have a tag-team match later that night. It was a lot of fun and it was not the same people you would see at the UPW shows, so it was a good way for him to get that experience wrestling in front of all kinds of crowds.”
– Dennis Stamp, the Texas wrestler & referee made famous in the “Beyond the Mat” documentary, talked to the Amarillo Globe-News about his wrestling career, working with the Funk Brothers, and territory era memories. Stamp also talked about overcoming lymphoma four years ago and now being involved in amateur wrestler. “It’s the only time I’ve really ever been alive,” said Stamp of being in a wrestling match. “There’s no place I’d rather be to this day than in the ring.”
– Finally, the Sheet Sandwich has released its 2015 nominations for the best in pro wrestling reporting and coverage. Check out the list of PWTorch nominations HERE.
Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival also known as the Festival of Lights, see Jews around the world light one candle on a nine-branched menorah – or ‘hanukiah candelabrum’ – each day.
The holiday begins on the 25th day of Kislev, which is the ninth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. In the western calendar, Hanukkah is celebrated in November or December. This year it began on Sunday December 2nd and continues until Monday December 10th.
What is the history behind Hanukkah?
The word Hanukkah means ‘rededication’ and commemorates the Jews’ struggle for religious freedom, when the leaders of a Jewish rebel army called the Maccabees rose up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors…
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Ahead of TakeOver: New Orleans, WWE has unveiled the title belt for the NXT North American Championship.
Triple H debuted the title in a video that WWE put out today, with it featuring a red strap, a gold center plate with the countries of North America, and gold side plates with the NXT logo.
The inaugural NXT North American Champion will be decided in a ladder match at TakeOver: New Orleans on Saturday night. Ricochet, EC3, Adam Cole, Velveteen Dream, Killian Dain, and Lars Sullivan will be the six wrestlers vying for the title.
Whoever becomes champion will have their first defense at WrestleMania Axxess the morning after TakeOver. They’ll be facing the winner of an invitational tournament that’s scheduled for the first three days of Axxess.
Though there have been other North American Championships in the past, Triple H said on last week’s pre-TakeOver conference call that he doesn’t see this title as continuing any of those lineages.
Click play below to watch the title being unveiled:
Three more wrestlers have been confirmed for the Bullet Club’s All In show.
Joey Janela & Penelope Ford and Chelsea Green were added to the lineup for All In today. They join Cody Rhodes, The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, Stephen Amell, Hangman Page, Marty Scurll, Tessa Blanchard, Penta El Zero M, Rey Fenix, Kazuchika Okada, and Deonna Purrazzo as names that have been announced for the show.
Janela is coming off his Spring Break II event with Game Changer Wrestling in New Orleans over WrestleMania weekend. He and Ford regularly team together in intergender tag matches, but their role for All In has yet to be revealed. Green departed Impact Wrestling (where she wrestled as Laurel Van Ness) in January.
Two more people will be confirmed for All In this Wednesday. A press conference for the show, which will include talent/match announcements and ticket information, is taking place at Pro Wrestling Tees’ store in Chicago on May 13th. The press conference will stream live on Facebook and Twitch.
The Sears Centre Arena in the Chicago area is set to host All In on September 1st.