Bret Hart Remembers Owen, Possible Shot Thrown At Martha?

This week was the 19th anniversary of Owen Hart’s tragic death. He was to descend from the rafters of Kansas City’s Kemper Arena on May 23rd, 1999 but tragedy struck. Owen died after falling from the arena rafters and landing chest first on the top rope.

His official cause of death was listed as internal bleeding due to blunt force trauma. He was only 34 at the time of his death.

Yesterday, Owen’s older brother Bret sent out the following to his social media accounts:

Owen’s widow Martha does not want WWE to profit off of using Owen’s likeness. This likely has prevented Owen from being inducted into the Hall of Fame or receiving the historical attributes many feel he should on WWE programming.

In 2010, Martha and WWE were in court over WWE continuing to use Owen’s likeness. Bret responded with the following statement:

“I feel that it’s ridiculous for anyone to think they are serving the best interests of Owen’s memory or his children to pretend he wasn’t a wrestler. Not only was he a wrestler, he was a great one and proud of it. I personally believe Martha Hart has done nothing to keep his memory alive and sadly, he fades from view a little more every year. I do suspect this lawsuit is more about publicity, ego, and small-mindedness than it is about pro-wrestling and all of those that are in it.”

In 2015, a planned DVD about Owen was in the works. After learning of the planned documentary, Martha made the following statement:

“My children and I were unaware of this project until May 7, when it was brought to our attention by a friend who had read about it online. Contrary to your report, we do not back or support it in any way, nor has WWE requested our backing or support. From what little we know of the project, it seems to be another attempt to exploit Owen’s memory, and his tragic death, for commercial gain. We have resisted that kind of initiative for almost 16 years. If WWE really wanted to honor Owen’s legacy, it would just let him rest in peace.”

John Hennigan Possibly Headed To New Japan Pro Wrestling?

There is speculation that John Hennigan (Johnny Mundo/Impact/Morrison/Nitro) could be headed to New Japan Pro Wrestling.

In addition to being featured in the upcoming 4th season of Lucha Underground, Hennigan is also expected to be a contestant on the upcoming season of the reality TV show Survivor.

According to a recent report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Hennigan has inquired about possibly being brought into New Japan Pro Wrestling. NJPW had previously been interested in Hennigan but at the time his contract situation made a deal difficult. Hennigan’s relationship with AAA was seen as preventative to him coming in as NJPW’s Mexican talent exchange partner is CMLL. NJPW has been less strict on this policy as of late, however.

Hennigan wrestled his first match in 3 months on May 12th, 2018. He competed for Rey Mysterio’s Lucha Mayhem show from El Cajon, CA. Mysterio and Psychosis defeated Brian Cage and Hennigan. It has since been revealed that Hennigan had stepped away from wrestling earlier this year in order to film Survivor.

Currently in Impact Wrestling, his absence has been explained via an injury angle with Kongo Kong and Jimmy Jacobs.

Hennigan held the Lucha Underground Championship for most of season 3 but ended up losing it at Ultima Lucha III.

Cody Left WWE 2 Years Ago, Here’s What’s Happened Since

Cody Runnells was granted his release from WWE on May 22nd, 2016. A lot has happened since that time. It was believed then that Cody was frustrated with WWE’s creative department. He had been pleading with writers to end the Stardust gimmick for months and felt his numerous storyline pitches were being ignored.

Shortly after Cody was released, several members of the media chimed in with their belief WWE never gave Cody a chance.

“I can’t say I blame him a bit. Not even a little bit. WWE never gave him a real chance, and that’s just sad to me,” Dave Scherer of Pro Wrestling Insider stated.

Dave Meltzer noted at the time that Cody was “used as more of a lower and mid-card wrestler in a number of changing roles”, and also added that “his career had gone nowhere and he hadn’t been used well.”

Cody’s frustration would continue shortly after leaving the company when it was revealed WWE would be preventing him from using the last name “Rhodes”. Although he had never used the name outside of WWE, Cody protested against the patenting of a name his father made famous and that was associated so strongly with his family.

Cody debuted in Ring of Honor at the Final Battle PPV that December. He promptly turned heel during his match with Jay Lethal at the event. Cody then signed a deal to make Ring of Honor is home promotion but a few months later the deal would be re-worked.

On December 10th, 2016, Cody was shown in a video package which aired during NJPW’s World Tag League. Cody was announced as the newest member of Bullet Club.

Cody won the ROH World Title at Best in the World 2017. He defeated Christopher Daniels after being involved in a 3-way feud for the title which also involved Jay Lethal.

He defended the title 14x and held it for 175 days before dropping it to Dalton Castle at Final Battle 2017. Cody has only recently announced he plans to cash-in his rematch clause later this summer.

That September, Cody reacted negatively to news WWE would be running an event named Starrcade:

Michael Hayes then offered Cody a spot on the show:

Just days after Hayes’ offer to appear on a WWE show, Cody and ROH announced he had signed a multi-year exclusive deal with the company.

Tension began to mount between Cody and Kenny Omega over the leadership of Bullet Club in 2017. This played out mainly on the YouTube series “Being the Elite” as well as on NJPW and ROH shows.

In 2018, the long-teased rivalry between Omega and Cody kicked off. Cody turned on Omega at the New Beginning in Sapporo after Omega lost his IWGP US title to Jay White. The split in Bullet Club would lead to a Young Bucks vs Golden Lovers match at Strong Style Evolved and a match between Cody and Omega at ROH’s biggest show of the year.

Cody would defeat Omega and recently defeated Kota Ibushi at Wrestling Dontaku 2018. There has been tension teased between Marty Scurll and Cody recently as well which could turn into a storyline soon. His feud with Omega appears to be on the backburner as Omega prepares to face Kazuchika Okada on June 9th, 2018.

Not long after leaving WWE, Cody tweeted a list of goals he was setting for himself. One goal he has mentioned repeatedly in the last 2 years is to main event a show in a 10,000 seat arena.

The All In event organized by the Young Bucks and Cody sold out the Sears Center in Chicago just minutes after going on sale. Cody will challenge for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at the event.

It’s been an eventful 2 years for Cody, ROH, NJPW and Bullet Club and it’s possible we haven’t even seen the full extent of what Cody can do outside WWE.

Matt Cappotelli Discontinuing Cancer Treatments

Former Tough Enough winner, Matt Cappotelli, has discontinued further cancer treatments. This according to his wife, Lindsay.

Cappotelli was first diagnosed with brain cancer in 2006. He had surgery which reportedly removed most of the tumor. Last July, however, he was diagnosed with a grade IV GlioBlastoma Multiforme tumor, the most aggressive type of brain cancer there is.

Earlier this month, Lindsay updated her blog and stated doctors have now recommended discontinuing treatment.

“We went in last Tuesday for his infusion and talked with his neuro-oncologist about everything that we’ve been seeing with Matt, and he decided that we’re at the point now where we should discontinue treatments…I feel like it’s the right decision, even though it breaks my heart knowing that there is nothing else we can do. But I feel like we’ve done everything. All the supplements, the diet, the chemo, the radiation…”

She would continue to say that Matt is unable to speak in full sentences or communicate much.

“It’s hard to know how he feels about discontinuing treatment because he can’t communicate in full sentences most of the time.”

“Matt has fought hard. He never gave up hope. He kept the faith. He never complained through any of this. Not once did I hear him say, “Why me?” He still always thought of other people above himself, and anyone who knows him will tell you that. He is a true warrior.”

The 38-year-old began his wrestling career in 2003, winning season III of Tough Enough along with John Hennigan. After a short spell on the main roster, he was sent for additional training in Ohio Valley Wrestling.

In 2005, Cappotelli won the OVW Heavyweight Championship. He would later be forced to vacate the title, however, after being diagnosed with a brain tumor in early 2006. He had been working as a trainer in OVW as of 2013.

“Macho Man” Randy Savage Died 7 Years Ago Today

7 years ago today, we lost one of the most influential performers in the history of wrestling.  Randall Mario Poffo, better known to wrestling fans as “Macho Man” Randy Savage, died 7 years ago today.

Savage died of a heart attack while driving with his wife in Seminole, Florida. He lost control of his Jeep Wrangler and they crashed into a tree. Early reports indicated Savage had been killed in the collision but it was later concluded he died from atherosclerotic heart disease. Doctors found his heart was enlarged and the arteries surrounding it had been narrowed by more than 90%. It is believed he never knew about his heart condition.

Savage was cremated and his remains placed under a tree on his home in Largo, Florida.

There are few accolades for professional wrestlers that Savage did not earn during his long career.

In wrestling storyline, Savage was a 2x WWF Champion, a 4x WCW Champion, and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015. He was even more celebrated as a performer, however.

Savage was inducted into the inaugural class of the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame in 1996. His match with Ricky Steamboat from WrestleMania III also won Wrestling Observer Match of the Year in 1987.

Pro Wrestling Illustrated has also honored Savage frequently throughout the years. He was honored as Wrestler of the Year, and Most Popular Wrestler of the Year in 1988. The following year he would be voted Most Hated Wrestler of the Year by the same magazine.

A recent Ring of Honor show featured Savage’s brother, Lanny Poffo, interacting with Jay Lethal. The former Black Machismo brought Lanny Poffo out to deliver the same address he had given during the Macho King’s inauguration many years ago. Poffo then gave Lethal a pair of the Macho Man’s famous sunglasses.

Randall Mario Poffo was 58 years old.

Matt Jackson Comments On Hulk Hogan at All-In, Length of Show, more…

After selling out Chicago’s Sears Center Arena in under 30 minutes, members of the Elite are likely feeling pretty good these days.

We still don’t have any official matches for the show. We know Cody will be challenging for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship currently held by Nick Aldis. We don’t know if Nick Aldis will still be the champion come September 1st, 2018, however.

Matt Jackson has commented on the length of All In. He specifically mentioned he does not want the show to be a five or six-hour marathon as some New Japan Pro Wrestling shows are. Jackson was interviewed by WrestleZone radio recently and answered questions on what fans can expect on September 1st.

Jackson was asked specifically about how long All-In will be.

“I like three hours,” Jackson said. “I have a short attention span and I’m a father of two. I think I’m a millennial, I’m 33 now. I think three hours is realistic and I am going to try and keep it around that.”

NJPW often runs shows which pass the 4 and even 5-hour mark. The Greatest Royal Rumble was also a show of similar length.

In terms of other wrestlers which could still be booked for the show, Jackson mentioned the booking team gets a lot of requests.

“I was asked the other day about “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan and I was like, ‘He’d probably cost $150,000 just to make an in-ring appearance.’ I can’t afford that,” Jackson said. “When we first announced this show, I think everyone just assumed we had these endless funds so just go ahead and bring in whoever! Sometimes there are names that are just unrealistic. It really is just three guys running a show. Give me a break.”

Jackson also stated NJPW has been great about the event and said they could ask for whatever wrestler they wanted. Kazuchika Okada seems like a good choice.

All In Sells Out In Under 30 Minutes

All In on September 1st, 2018, from the Sears Center in Chicago, will be the biggest non-WWE wrestling show in the United States or Canada since the closing of WCW in 2001.

Yesterday, all 10,000 tickets to the event were sold in under 30 minutes. Many are rejoicing at the news today as it signifies just how successful non-WWE wrestling can be in the current era.

Some fans are upset scalpers purchased a good chunk of tickets to the event, however. Unfortunately, this is a reality for all ticketed events which are expected to sell-out.

Friday’s ROH show in Toronto was sold-out and tickets were available on the secondary market for 4x face value. Ticketmaster and other outlets have methods in place to limit how many tickets scalpers can purchase but there is only so much they can do.

At yesterday’s press conference, Billy Corgan announced the NWA World Heavyweight Championship will be defended at All In. The challenger will be none other than Cody himself. The title belt owned by Billy Corgan and held by Nick Aldis played a significant role in Cody’s father’s career. It is fitting that Cody would challenge for it at such a significant event in his own career.

A question which will probably go on unanswered until the event itself is what will happen if Cody wins the championship? It’s not clear if he would take the belt with him to Ring Of Honor. The NWA World Heavyweight Championship has been defended in New Japan Pro Wrestling, where Cody also works, on multiple occasions.

The events at All-In may go a long way in determining how closely promotions such as ROH, the NWA, as well as Impact and Lucha Underground are able to work together.