Pro Wrestling Chronicle

On the eve of a pair of Ring of Honor shows, WWE’s big draft spectacular, a general mundaneness on this site, and the amazing Paris Hilton story (aren’t you compelled by it!? I am!), Brian Streleckis runs down all the news that seems fit to talk about in the wrestling landscape.

All stories have been reported by the Observer, the Torch, F4W, and anyone else that really matters.

WWE:
As most of you should know, Monday’s Raw is set to be a three-hour show headlined by the big tri-brand draft. With the recent slate of injuries and the Tuesday night phantom zone on Sci-Fi Channel, this is as good a chance as any to shake up all three shows. The only possible draft moves I’m willing to put money on are Chris Benoit going to Raw (as is his feud with MVP seems pretty much done, and the show could use his excellence) and the Great Khali going back to his original home of Smackdown (after two significant pinfall losses to John Cena in a row, he could use a new fresh start). How about that Khali, though? He’s still no great shakes in the ring, but he has shown a modicum of improvement, I get a kick out of his crazy extended promos, and he’s even shown more of a personality.

Also, Monday’s Raw is set to be “Mr. McMahon Appreciation Night” in an attempt to the soothe the crazy-acting, southern-twanged Vince. Scheduled to make appearances are Gene Okerlund, Bobby Heenan, and in a rare live appearance these days, Jesse Ventura. Just looking at those three names, a friend of mine had the idea that Vince could revert back to his 80s announcer persona. Quite fitting to possibly go out the way he was first introduced to audiences. However, the guest stars don’t stop there, as Mick Foley is also coming in, probably to shake things up. As is… Steve-O of Jackass fame, setting up an angle that would lead to the entire Jackass posse (minus Wee-Man, the dwarf castmember) taking part in a scheduled match for Summerslam. Yes, I’m serious, and no, I don’t think it’s a good idea either. Steve-O is no K-Fed in my eyes. This might be that “black cloud” coming in Vince mentioned last Monday.

TNA:
First of all, my condolences to Jeff Jarrett for his wife’s recent passing.

Have you been enjoying those recent promos Rick & Scott Steiner have been cutting on Team 3D? Have they made you look forward to their PPV match? Tough nuggets, as it won’t be going down. Scott, unfortunately, is stuck in Puerto Rico healing from recent throat surgery. On Sunday the 3rd, Scott was teaming with Robert Roode to wrestle Jarrett and former TNA regular Apolo, when the least-remembered LAX member kicked Scott in the throat. They finished the match, but it was discovered a little while later that he had suffered a torn trechia. Due to medical precautions, he won’t be able to fly back to the states until he’s healed up. No word on the scheduled Slammiversary match. Tonight in Philly was supposed to be a preview of that match at a UWF show, but that has been changed Team 3d vs. AJ Styles & Christopher Daniels.

ROH:
Tonight and tomorrow mark Ring of Honor’s first two shows since their PPV taping in May. Tonight’s show in Roxbury Crossing, MA has some stuff worth checking out, such as Takeshi Morishima defending the ROH World Title against Jay Briscoe, Bryan Danielson vs. Jimmy Rave (a rematch from their very good match from ROH’s 4th Anniversary Show), Mark Briscoe vs. Kevin Steen (expected to be fight stemming from their bad blood in April), Matt Sydal vs. El Generico (a rematch from a crazy fun match they had at IWA Mid-South’s 2005 TPI), and Nigel McGuinness vs. Chris Hero vs. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Mike Quackenbush.

Tommorrow’s show in Philadelphia, which I’m planning to attend and file a report on, looks stronger to me. Morishima, if still champion, will defend his title against Roderick Strong (if Morishima loses his title to Jay Briscoe, Strong’s FIP World Heavyweight Title will be up for grabs). The Briscoes defend the ROH World Tag Team Titles against the reunited (though possibly on shaky grounds)Claudio & Hero in a 2/3 Falls Match. Danielson wrestles Sydal, Delirious takes on Rocky Romero, and Davey Richard tangles with Matt Cross. Also scheduled is McGuinness taking on a mystery opponent chosen by Larry Sweeney (angry over what McGuinness did to Sweeney’s guest, Johnny Fairplay, at “Supercard of Honor II” on march 31st. Friends and I have bandied about names like Sabu and Super Dragon, but both of those guys are signed for this weekend’s UWF shows in Philly and Ft. Meade, MD. My money is on Necro Butcher (former associate of Hero, and it could make for an insane match).

IWA Mid-South:
The Candido Cup from two weekends ago crowned new IWA-MS Tag Team Champions in… former two-time champs Vito & Sal Thomaselli, the Iron Saints. A few surprises took place on Night 2 (Robert Dolezil’s live report on Night 1 is still on the main page). The team that the Iron Saints defeated in the finals were, surprisingly enough, newcomers Cheech & Cloudy from Chikara. They managed to get into the finals by defeating the team of Davey Richards & BJ Whitmer in the semi-finals, who themselves defeated Homicide & Low Ki in the previous round.

Following their loss, Whitmer turned on Richards, possibly setting up a first-round match between the two at the 200 TPI. Speaking of which, the TPI got its 13th entrant in Drake Younger, earning the spot in some madcap elimination match. The two nights didn’t draw very well (maybe 100 each night), but they sound like DVDs worth buying. I’m looking forward to their still-scheduled show at the New Alhambra/ECW Arena at the end of the month, set to have Low Ki & Homicide vs. Necro Butcher & Toby Klein, Richards vs. Hero, Younger vs. Hernandez, and IWA-MS World Heavyweight Champion Chuck taylor defending his title against Matt Sydal.

SHIMMER: Women Athletes:
Some quick news from the all-female promotion run in the Chicago area by ROH lead announcer Dave Prazak, but some big news. Sara Del Rey came out on top of a 16-woman tournament to become the first SHIMMER Champion, defeating Lacey in finals. Making it to the semi-finals were Daizee Haze and the debuting “Dark Angel” Sarah Stock, who has been impressing fans down in Mexico. Good choice for a first champion, as Del Rey is a fantastic female grappler. Expect her to defend her title on future ROH and FIP shows.

Phew! That was quite a bit of news thar! Good night.