Wrestling News and Rumors September 2020

This Day in WRESTLING HISTORY: RANDY ORTON WINS WWE CHAMPIONSHIP

https://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/daily-pro-wrestling-history-0919-randy-orton-wins-wwe-championship-320586

9/19 in wrestling history -

1956 

Mobile, Alabama:

- The Great Malenko defeated Herb Welch to win the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Title

1969 

Atlanta, Georgia:

- Joe Scarpa (aka Chief Jay Strongbow) defeated Paul DeMarco to win the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title

1975 

St. Louis, Missouri:

- Dick the Bruiser beat Missouri Champion Harley Race in a non-title Texas Death match

- Rocky Johnson and Jerry Oates defeated Jim and John Valiant 

- Pat O’Connor draw Dick Murdoch

- Red Bastien defeated Chuck O’Connor via DQ

- Stan Stasiak defeated Ronnie Etchison

- Bobby Heenan and Tank Patton defeated Prince Tapu and Don Wayt

1980 

Shreveport, Louisiana:

- The Grappler defeated Ted DiBiase to win the Mid-South North American Heavyweight Title

1981 

Landover, Maryland:

- WWF World Champion Bob Backlund defeated George Steele in a Texas Death match at the Capital Center

1982 

Charlotte, North Carolina:

- Jos LeDuc defeated Jimmy Valiant to win the NWA Mid-Atlantic Television Title

1985

Baltimore, Maryland:

- NWA Champion Ric Flair beat Magnum TA

- Rock & Roll Express beat Ivan Koloff & Krusher Khrushchev by dq

- Dusty Rhodes and Nikita Koloff went to a draw

- Larry Zbyszko & Nick Bockwinkel beat Sgt. Slaughter & Greg Gagne by dq

- Ronnie Garvin and Black Bart went to a no contest

- Brad Rheingans beat Kevin Kelly

Wally Karbo Tribute Card | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada:

- AWA Champion Rick Martel beat Boris Zhukov by dq

- Jerry Blackwell beat Michael Hayes

- Tom Zenk & Curt Hennig beat Bill Irwin & Scott Irwin

- Jim Garvin beat Buck Zumhofe

- Baron Von Raschke beat Buddy Roberts

1986 

Fukuoka, Japan: a

- Shiro Koshinaka defeated Nobuhiko Takada for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title 

Ponce, Puerto Rico:

- Ron Starr defeated Invader I to win the WWC Television champion

Minneapolis, Minnesota:

- NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion Ron Garvin defeated JJ Dillon

- Baron Von Raschke defeated Jimmy Garvin via disqualification

- Arn Anderson defeated Jimmy Valiant

- Dick Murdoch defeated Shaska Whatley

- Tully Blanchard defeated Magnum TA via disqualification

- NWA Tag Team Champions Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson defeated Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey

- NWA World Champion Ric Flair defeated NWA TV Champion Dusty Rhodes via disqualification

- The Road Warriors & Paul Ellering defeated NWA US Champion Nikita Koloff, Ivan Koloff, & Krusher Kruschev

1988

Memphis, Tennessee:

- AWA Champion Jerry Lawler and Kerry Von Erich went to a double DQ

- Samoan Swat Team beat Michael Hayes & Steve Cox to regain the Texas Tag titles

- Brickhouse Brown & Jeff Jarrett & Bill Dundee beat Robert Fuller & Jimmy Golden & Phil Hickerson

- AWA TV Champion Ronnie Garvin drew Robert Gibson

- AWA Tag Team Champions Badd Company Pat Tanaka & Paul Diamond beat RPMs

- Rock & Roll Express & Sgt. Slaughter beat Soldat Ustinov & Teijo Kahn & Colonel DeBeers

- Tommy Rich and Jimmy Valiant went to a double DQ

- AWA Women's Champion Madusa Meceli beat Magnificent Mimi by dq

1991

Nashville, Tennessee:

- Big Josh & Tracy Smothers defeated the Diamond Studd & Oz

- Richard Morton fought Brian Pillman to a draw

- Bobby Eaton defeated Johnny B. Badd via disqualification 

- Dustin Rhodes pinned Terrance Taylor

- Todd Champion & Firebreaker Chip defeated Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin

- PN News pinned Thomas Rich

- WCW Tag Team Champions Arn Anderson & Larry Zbyzsko fought Rick Steiner & Bill Kazmaier to a double countout

- WCW World Champion Lex Luger pinned Barry Windham

1992 

Johnson City, Tennessee:

- Mike Sampson pinned Pat Rose

- Tim Horner pinned Joe Cazana

- SMW Champ The Dirty White Boy pinned Dixie Dynamite

- Brian Lee beat Killer Kyle via DQ

- SMW Tag Champs The Heavenly Bodies (Lane & Pritchard) beat The Fantastics (Fultons) 

- The Rock-n-Roll Express beat Robert Fuller & Jimmy Golden in a stretcher match

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:

- Erik Watts defeated Mark Canterbury

- Van Hammer defeated Diamond Dallas Page

- Barry Windham defeated the Barbarian

- Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Greg Valentine & Dick Slater

- WCW TV Champion Ricky Steamboat defeated the Super Invader

- Dustin Rhodes defeated Vinnie Vegas

- Sting & Nikita Koloff defeated Jake Roberts & WCW US Champion Rick Rude

- WCW/NWA Tag Team Champions Steve Williams & Terry Gordy defeated Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton 

- WCW World Champion Ron Simmons defeated Steve Austin

Yokohama, Japan:

- Atsushi Onita defeated Tiger Jeet Singh for the WWA World Martial Arts Heavyweight Title 

1993 

WCW Fall Brawl | Houston, Texas:

- Erik Watts defeated Bobby Eaton 

- Lord Steven Regal (w/ Sir William) pinned WCW TV Champion Ricky Steamboat to win the title

- Charlie Norris pinned Big Sky 

- 2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell defeated Paul Orndorff & the Equalizer

- Ice Train pinned Shanghai Pierce (w/ Tex Slazenger)

- The Nasty Boys (w/ Missy Hyatt) defeated WCW Tag Team Champions Arn Anderson & Paul Roma to win the titles 

- Cactus Jack pinned Yoshi Kwan (w/ Harley Race) 

- Rick Rude defeated Ric Flair to win the WCW International World Heavyweight Title 

- Sting, Davey Boy Smith, Dustin Rhodes & The Shockmaster defeated Sid Vicious, Vader & Harlem Heat in a War Games match

1994

Cookville, Tennessee:

- Lance Storm pinned Killer Kyle

- Chris Candido pinned Brian Lee

- SMW Champ The Dirty White Boy beat Bruiser Bedlam via DQ

- SMW Tag Champs The Rock-n-Roll Express beat The Gangstas

- Brian Lee won a battle royal

1999

ECW Anarchy Rulz | Villa Park, Illinois:

- Danny Doring and Roadkill (with Miss Congeniality) defeated Billy Wiles and C.W. Anderson Tag team match

- Lance Storm (with Dawn Marie) defeated Jerry Lynn

- Jazz defeated Tom Marquez (with Simon Diamond) by disqualification

- Chris Chetti and Nova fought Simon Diamond and Tony DeVito to a no-contest

- Yoshihiro Tajiri defeated Super Crazy and Little Guido (with Sal E. Graziano)

- Justin Credible (with Jason) defeated Sabu (with Bill Alfonso)

- Mike Awesome (with Judge Jeff Jones) defeated Masato Tanaka and Taz in a Three-Way Dance to win the ECW World Heavyweight Championship

- Tommy Dreamer and Raven (with Francine) defeated Rhino and Steve Corino (with Jack Victory) to retain the ECW World Tag Team Championship

- Rob Van Dam (with Bill Alfonso) defeated Balls Mahoney to retain the ECW World Television Championship

2008

Boston, Massachusetts:

- Nigel McGuiness defeated Roderick Strong to retain the ROH World Title

- Kevin Steen & El Generico defeated Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black to win the ROH World Tag Team Titles

2010 

WWE Night of Champions | Chicago, Illinois:

- John Morrison pinned Ted Dibiase Jr. 

- WWE IC Champion Dolph Ziggler (w/ Vickie Guerrero) pinned Kofi Kingston 

- Big Show pinned CM Punk 

- Daniel Bryan defeated WWE US Champion Miz (w/ Alex Riley) via submission to win the title 

- WWE Women's Champion Michelle McCool pinned WWE Divas Champion Melina in a lumberjack unification match

- World Heavyweight Champion Kane pinned the Undertaker in a no holds barred match 

- Cody Rhodes & Drew McIntyre defeated WWE Tag Team Champions David Hart Smith & Tyson Kidd (w/ Natalya Neidhart), Jimmy & Jey Uso (w/Tamina), Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov, and Evan Bourne & Mark Henry to win the titles in tag team turmoil match 

- Randy Orton defeated WWE World Champion Sheamus, John Cena, Chris Jericho, Edge, and Wade Barrett in an elimination match to win the title

https://www.ringsidenews.com/2020/09/19/aew-files-new-trademark-for-possible-bloody-match-concept/

Recent filings indicate that AEW registered a trademark for “Blood Brothers” on September 15h. This wasn’t done through their usual trademark attorney Michael Dockins as Heel By Nature reports that attorney Bradley M Stohry was responsible for the filing.

The filing explicitly says that “Blood Brothers” is set to be used for “wrestling exhibits and performances by professional wrestlers.” Other wording in the uses indicates that this very well could be some sort of match concept.

https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/dick-bourne-s-new-wrestling-book-is-a-crown-jewel/article_52bd1d08-f9bc-11ea-bdf3-b38543d80390.html

Dick Bourne loves Mid-Atlantic wrestling with a passion.

As a lifelong follower of the popular Crockett Promotions that oversaw some of the top wrestling in the country for decades, the affable Mount Airy, N.C., native has embraced a particular fascination around the classic title belts and the lineages associated with them.

Author of multiple books on the various championship belts that made their way through the Mid-Atlantic territory, Bourne set his sights on something a little different with his latest effort.

“Crown Jewel: The NWA World Championship 1959-1973” explores the sport’s most revered title.

https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/tyler-breeze-patience-probably-biggest-key-not-only-wrestling-life-general

Tyler Breeze has been on WWE TV since 2014 and across all brands, has continued to display a strong work ethic making him a sought-after commodity in WWE.

Speaking with Comic Book, Breeze commented on finally winning gold alongside Fandango in NXT and how they didn't have too many matches as a team prior to returning to NXT even though they were a popular act.

http://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2005/07/07/rodgers-has-pacific-northwest-covered/

The recent passing of wrestler Johnny Kostas is yet another in a long string of wrestling deaths. Anyone wishing to remember Kostas’ career might turn to the Internet, but would be sorely disappointed. There is very little information on Kostas available online and what little there is requires some serious and time-consuming navigation.

Subscribers to Ring Around the Northwest — a monthly wrestling newsletter circulated in wrestling’s Pacific Northwest territory — are, however, provided with a detailed bio of Kostas and a moving reflection of his career that began nearly sixty years ago.

The Big Show Returning?

Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter

We reported earlier that The Wrestling Observer Newsletter had noted a big name of WWE's past - a multi-champion superstar was set to return with the company.

The January 14th edition of the Newsletter confirms that former multi-time WWE Champion Paul Wight - The Big Show - has either signed with the company or has agreed to a deal, and will be starting full-time very soon.

Big Show is down to 440 lbs after leaving pro wrestling to rest, and pursue a possible career in boxing, which obviously included boxing training that got him in quite a good shape. Dave Meltzer also mentions in the Observer that a part of his boxing deal was that Hulk Hogan was to be his "front man" acting like a manager in wrestling for him by doing promos and appearances. This was also the main reason many boxing promoters were actually interested in Big Show and paying him so much money to learn the sport. These plans, however, fell apart at some point, and Show realized that at his age, boxing might not be the right direction to go anyway. There have also been no recent updates or even talks of Hogan doing his own wrestling tour - a very discussed topic of the past. Hence with nothing on the horizon, Big Show is back with WWE.

No Mercy 2007 Report: "The Legend Killer" Randy Orton Becomes 2-Time WWE Champion In One Night

No Mercy began on an odd note with Vince McMahon coming to the ring and telling us once again about the WWE Title situation. He answered the question of who would rise up and take the reign's of RAW after John Cena was forced to give up the WWE Title. In the midst of a sea of Y2J chants Vince McMahon named of a new champion, and he handed the title over to him. The new WWE Champion is "The Legend Killer" Randy Orton.

Some people were upset that Randy Orton was just handed the title, but the same thing happened with HHH when the World Heavyweight Title was introduced after the draft split. Orton's first WWE title reign would go down in history as the 3rd shortest after HHH goated Vince McMahon into giving him a match. The Game won his 11th World title a short 11 mintues after Orton was awarded the title. HHH's victory would start on a sour noted after Vince forced him to defend the title against Umaga, HHH did just that and put the Samoan Bulldozer out of commission with a Pedigee. Once again HHH would not have time to rest because Orton already requested his rematch and Vince made it a last man standing match. After several close calls, HHH made one mistake, and that allowed Randy Orton the split second he needed to land the RKO and win his second WWE Title...in the same night he won his first.

In other title news, Beth Phoenix won her first WWE Womens title, in a match where she had to carry Candice Michelle 95% of the way. Also, "The Animal" Batista retained his World Title after a Spider-Man like leap in the Punjabi Prison Match, he is the lesser of two evils, so be thankful he won. Finlay vs Rey Mysterio as well as CM Punk vs Big Daddy V are two matches that should have never been booked on a PPV. Matt Hardy and MVP had another one of their contests in which Matt Hardy won...and hurled on MVP. I have to admit that made me laugh. In a match that happened just so the competitor could get a paycheck, Mr. Kennedy and The Rednecks defeated The Hooliganz and Jeff Hardy. As soon as Mr. Kennedy was introduced you knew who was going to win that match.

5 wrestlers that deserve gold, and never got it.

Im sure Im going to get comments on here about people bitching why their favorite wrestler isnt on here. Well its probably because either A. They did hold the WWF/WWE title and you never even thought about it. Or B. They suck and youre an idiot. Onward!

5. Jeff Hardy - He has held them all, the IC title, Hardcore title, European title, Tag Team title, Light Heavyweight title, seems like Im forgetting one... OH YEAH! The WWE title. We have seen him have one match for the title, in a ladder match against the Undertaker which to me is the best match that has ever been on Smackdown. No other WWE Superstar has put it all on the line and toughed it out as much as he has. True he is still in the company unlike the rest of the guys you will see on this list. But will he ever get his shot? I highly doubt it.

4. Ravishing Rick Rude - One of the best ring entrances there ever was. Val Venis tried to replicate it but, just wasnt the same. Rick Rude is probably the 2nd best to hold the IC title. He never held anything else but it. His feud with Jake the Snake was awesome. And of course who can forget Ricks tights?! When I was a kid having matches in the living room, that neckbreaker of his was one of the moves I kept in my arsenal.

3. Mr. Perfect - To me, the best IC champ ever. Bret Hart vs Mr Perfect at Summerslam for the IC title was probably one the best matches I have ever seen. Of course that Summerslam in my eyes is the best PPV there has ever been. When I was a kid. Mr. Perfect was one of my favorite wrestlers. He could do anything, throw himself a touchdown pass, make a basket on the court from anywhere he wanted, have the perfect dive, anything he wanted. Except get the WWE title, which to me would have capped off his character, perfectly.

2. The Million Dollar Man - Along with Perfect, Dibiase was my other favorite wrestler. Me and my friends would have contests to see who could do the best million dollar laugh. I always won. Of course, he was the FIRST EVER to be acknowledged as WWF North American champion. But of course, never the WWF Champion. He was the best heel, hardly ever lost a match, bought people off. And if they didnt take the money, he would kick their ass and stuff it down their throats. Bought his spot into the royal rumble. After Virgils stupid ass turned on him, Scary Sherri came aboard. And when Ted still could not get any other title besides his Million Dollar Championship, he decided it was time to form Money Inc. And become one of the best Tag Team Champions there ever was. And in his last big stint with the WWE, he was around as a manager and introduced the world to The Ringmaster... AKA... Stone Cold Steve Austin.

1. Jake The Snake Roberts - Now we go to the exact opposite of Jeff Hardy. Jake has never held a WWE title. No IC title, no Tag Team, no nothing. Yet he remained one of the greatest wrestlers and entertainers that WWE has ever seen. He is a legend. Nobody then, now, or in the future will have the stare, the intimidation, the flawless matches like Jake The Snake had. He had memorable feuds against people like Randy Savage, Undertaker, Ricky Steamboat, Rick Martel, Rick Rude, and of course the feud that terrorized our childhood, Earthquake. Unforgettable feuds that also had some great matches, the blindfold match, and the snake pit match. Nobody in the history of the business has been able to do what he did in his backstage promos. He did it all, is a legend, one of the best there was, and the man never even won a title. And that to me is why he is the greatest wrestler to never hold the gold.

HUGE BREAKING NEWS! CENA IS OUT!

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – WWE Champion John Cena has suffered a complete tear of his right pectoral tendon and is heading into surgery, according to noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews. Because of the seriousness of the injury, WWE officials will not allow Cena to compete this Sunday at No Mercy, and he will have no choice but to surrender the title.

Dr. Andrews said Cena could miss between six and eight months of action. Cena was injured during his match Monday night on Raw with Mr. Kennedy. Before visiting Dr. Andrews, Cena had said, “No matter how serious, the injury, one way or another I’ll be ready to compete on Sunday.”

But despite Cena’s vow, WWE officials will not allow him to compete at No Mercy. Therefore, he must surrender the WWE Championship.

WWE officials vow that there will be a WWE Championship Match this Sunday at No Mercy and a new WWE Champion will be crowned.

Stay with UWR for further updates on Cena’s condition and on No Mercy as they become available.

Is John Cena Injured? Will Orton be the next Champ? What about Jericho?

It certainly seems that way, after Cena began favoring his right arm last night during his match with Mr. Kennedy. WWE is proceeding this morning as if WWE Champion John Cena does indeed have a torn right pectoral muscle that he suffered during his match last night on RAW against the returning Ken Kennedy. Cena is scheduled to meet with Dr. James Andrews today in Birmingham, Alabama for a full medical checkup to determine the exact severity of the injury. WWE will adjust the No Mercy PPV depending on his medical status.

There is a lot of concern inside the WWE locker room as if his pectoral muscle is indeed torn; normal rehabilitation time is four months. Cena is considered one of the top guys in the company and a severe injury such as this is a huge blow to WWE. For those that do not remember, Edge suffered a torn left pectoral muscle back in July and that is why he has been out of action.

So what does that mean for RAW and the WWE Championship? If Cena is indeed injured, there's no doubt he'll fight through the pain and wrestle on Sunday anyway - however, it almost seems a sure thing we'll be seeing a new Champion walk out of No Mercy!


Speaking of No Mercy, another of the now infamous viral videos aired last night, only this time they pointed almost definitely at Shawn Michaels. The video, entitled 8.2.11/Savior_Self, had many clues pointing not at Jericho last week, but rather at Shawn Michaels. The clue most convincing for everyone is that 8, 2, and 11 are the alphanumeric versions of H, B, and K. With No Mercy this weekend, the only sure thing is that we don't have to wait much longer to find out.

Preview: Monday Night Raw

Credit: WWE.com

Though he is still sore, John Cena’s father doesn’t regret the beating he took from Randy Orton last week on Raw. In fact, he’d do it again if it meant protecting his son’s WWE Championship.

“I couldn’t let [Jonathan] Coachman strip my son of the WWE Championship. That title means everything to him,” Mr. Cena told WWE.com. “He’s worked so hard for it. My only regret is that John had to be there and see it [the beating] firsthand.”

Last Monday, Mr. Cena put his body on the line when Acting Raw GM Jonathan Coachman threatened to strip The Champ of the WWE Championship due to events of Unforgiven. At Unforgiven, Mr. Cena got involved when Orton grabbed him out of his ringside seat and prepared to re-enact his previous attack where he gave him a concussion. However, the WWE Champion intervened and locked Orton in an STFU, enabling his father to punt the Legend Killer in the skull.

An outraged Coachman intended to make Cena pay by stripping him of the WWE Championship, but The Champ’s Dad wouldn’t let that happen. And despite pleadings from his son, Mr. Cena took on the younger, stronger and sadistic Orton, and was beaten mercilessly. In Mr. Cena’s eyes, there was no other choice. He remembered how 8-year-old John made championships out of cardboard and dreamed of someday wrestling for WWE. The elder Cena is proud of the man that 8-year-old boy has become. He couldn’t let Coachman torpedo his son’s remarkable title reign.

“I guess you might ask, ‘What the hell is this about?’” Mr. Cena said. “But this is about family. My son has broken his back to keep the WWE Championship. If that [Cena’s keeping the title] meant me accepting a match with Randy Orton in the middle of the squared circle, and taking a butt-kicking, then guess what? Let’s do it again. I grew up on the streets, how tough can Randy Orton really be?”

Looking at Mr. Cena, you know where The Champ gets his dogged determination, courage and stubbornness. Though he cherishes the WWE Championship, Cena loves his family more. Orton’s attack on his father the day after SummerSlam made him think about his priorities. Cena is proud of his dad for having the courage to face Orton in the ring. However, he never wants to sacrifice his family for the WWE Championship.

“This business is just that – it’s a business,” The Champ said. “World Championships can come and go. The record for winning the championship is 16 times, which means that you can also lose it 16 times. The bottom line is that family doesn’t come and go. You’ve got only one dad and mom … and I’m always going to put them before the business.”

Mr. Cena realizes that Orton has used him as a tool in his quest to take his son’s WWE Championship. He is battered and bruised, but still proud. And when all is said and done, Mr. Cena hopes his son beats a very simple message into the Legend Killer, especially at their Last Man Standing Match on Oct. 7 at No Mercy: Don’t mess with family.

“I’m not a wrestler; I’m a fan like everyone else,” Mr. Cena said. "But I guess The Champ’s got it right: If you want some, come get some.”

What will The Champ have to say about his father’s match with Orton when Raw comes to Milwaukee Monday night? Tune in to Raw at 9/8 CT on USA Network and find out.