Some Random Thoughts
This month we remember Owen Hart who died in 1999 during the Over The Edge PPV (05.23.99) during a Blue Blazer stunt collapsing from 50 or 85 feet to the ground.

The WWE and TNA push PPV events that currently sell for about $35 each month. The WWE as well as TNA use these three-hour-shows to resolve feuds between wrestlers. Unfortunately these events are nearly as exciting as they were five or ten years ago. I don't see a reason to pay $35 for a PPV any more. The last exciting PPV that I watched was the Reckoning PPV from WWA on 06.08.03 when Jeff Jarrett won the WWA title from Sting.
 

World Wrestling Entertainment
The hottest WWE news for the next two months is the first ECW PPV in almost four years, One Night Stand, which will take place 06.12.05 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. I have been waiting for this show since ECW went off the air. I just hope the WWE doesn't mess this show up. Tickets for this show are on sale for $150, $200 or $400 each (what a way to milk the ECW money cow). By the way, the only PPV worth watching this year is ECW One Night Stand (06.12.05), which the WWE promises to hold true to the original promotion and not a watered-down mockery. Vince McMahon in what seemed like a public scolding told Eric Bischoff that the PPV might be the resurrection of ECW and that same night Paul Heyman returned to the WWE "invited" by McMahon with the ECW theme blaring in the background (RAW, 05.23.05). I haven't been so excited since Hogan beat Andre "The Giant" in the early 1980's.

The WWE started the month with the Backlash PPV (05.01.05). The Hurricane and Rosey became the new tag team champions. Hogan and Shawn Michaels defeated Hassan and Daivari. Batista kept his title while defending it from Triple H.

RAW held a tournament to find out who would face face Batista for the heavyweight title (RAW, 05.02.05). So far in this tournament, Kane beat Christian. Benoit beat Triple H. Shawn Michaels beat Sheldon Benjamin. Edge beat Chris Jericho. The following week, Kane beat Benoit and Edge beat Michaels (RAW, 05.09.05). Finally, Edge with Lita beat Kane to become the number one contender for the title currently held by Batista (RAW, 05.16.05).

Eddie Guerrero has picked up a feud with his former friend and tag team partner Rey Mysterio (Smackdown, 05.05.05). The WWE is pushing the storyline of demented Eddie Guerrero who walks around holding a mask that he ripped off from Mysterio. During the Judgement Day PPV, Guerrero and Mysterio had a match, in which Guerrero lost (05.22.05).

The other highlight of the Judgement Day PPV was John Cena defeating JBL to keep the WWE championship title.

The WWE continues its internal changes (releases and new talents). The WWE released Luther Reigns early this month.

UPN will move Smackdown to Fridays this fall at the same time that UPN plans to air the final games of the MBL season (the Yankees on UPN 9 in New York). This means that Smackdown will be pushed to Saturday at same time Cops and America's Most Wanted air on FOX. What makes moving Smackdown more stupid is the fact that UPN and FOX are both owned by Viacom. If the WWE had no idea of this move as they claim, maybe this is Viacom's revenge because the WWE will leave SpikeTV (also owned by Viacom) and take its programming to the USA Network (owned by NBC Universal) this fall. If the decision makers in the WWE were smart, they would let UPN cancel Smackdown, walk out of that contract and make a deal with another television channel most likely within the NBC Universal group (how about Bravo?).
 

Total Non-Stop Action
As of 05.09.05, we once again have FSN in New York so we can watch Impact. At least I was able to watch XPlosion on channel 94 (Time Warner Cable). At least, I was able to watch Chris Candido's last moments in TNA a almost a week late (05.03.05, XPlosion).

TNA had its monthly PPV, Hard Justice (05.15.05). The highlights of the PPV are "Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels defeating Shocker holding on to the NWA X-Division championship and AJ Styles defeated Jeff Jarrettt for the NWA world heavyweight title. Styles will face Jeff Jarrettt, Monty Brown, Abyss and a wildcard opponent on the next PPV, Slammiversary (06.19.05).

It was about time that Jarrettt lost the NWA world heavyweight title after holding for the title for almost a year. I guess that the NWA world heavyweight championship deserved to go to a TNA wrestler and not one hired to sell PPV events (like DDP, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash). Nonetheless, it would have been nice to have DDP or Nash as the NWA world heavyweight champion.

By the way, DDP announced on his website that he is no longer part of TNA and that he was brought to TNA with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash to "secure a wider audience" for the promotion.

It has been reported that Panda Energy has lost $20 million in TNA (four times what ECW owed when it folded in 2001). There are rumors that TNA might be sold. If the latter were the case, the new owner would not only own the second most important wrestling promotion in the US and the only real competition of the WWE, but also the rights to the NWA name and titles. One of the parties interested in buying TNA is Dave Nelson of NWA Ohio wants to buy TNA's 71% from Panda Energy and has recruited Hacksaw Jim Duggan and other wrestlers help him out.

At the same time, the television contract with FSN ran out on 05.27.05 and TNA currently has no television distribution for Impact. TNA is desperately trying to sign a new television contract with either WGN, which has a limited national coverage and a petition to get this channel, or with SpikeTV for the fall (when the WWE contract expires) leaving TNA in hiatus through out the summer. Having no television contract, TNA has cancelled tapings starting with the one scheduled for 05.31.05 and will resume after the Slammiversary PPV (06.19.05).
 

National Wrestling Alliance
The following are the results for the 05.28.05 show at Sportatorium in McKeesport, PA. Jason Cage defeated Tony Mann and Catastrophe by pinfall in a three way dance. Dash Bennett and Sean Dahmer defeated Eisen Drache and Dan Miles by pinfall. Kano Carter defeated Cornbread by pinfall. NWA-PWX Heavyweight Champion Devin Devine defeated Spyral by pinfall. The Tri Chi Fraternity defeated Adam Cage and Sabotage by pinfall. NWA-PWX Tag Team Champions Da Munchies defeated the Super Duper Cool Dudes by pinfall. Brass Knuckles Champion Tyrone Evans defeated Scott Venom by pinfall in a no disqualification match. Crusher Hansen defeated Brandon K by countout. Nikita Allanov defeated Three Rivers Champion Chris Taylor in a ladder match to win the title.
 

MidSouth Entertainment
The following results were sent by New Glory Wrestling Girl from MidSouth Entertainment (formerly known as World Class Championship Wrestling) for their 05.01.05 event at the East Park Recreation Center in Houma, LA. The show became an impromptu tribute to Chris Candido. Big Joe opened the show with a tribute to our fallen comrade, Chris Candido. He asked the production team to play Back in Black by AC/DC, the music that Candido has used since his days as a member of the ECW stable, the Triple Threat. The time keeper then rang the bell ten times in tribute.

Midsouth owner Big Joe also named second generation manager, DJ (son of Big Daddy D) the new MidSouth General Manager.

American Idol defeated Mexican Giant despite interference from his manager Popito.

The returning Josh Booty and Kerry "The Rock" Rockwood were defeated by the Jihad Warriors due to outside interference by their manager "Terror Ted" Akbar.

Terry Cash defeated The Mercenary.

TK Riot used a firebomb to defeat Omega Storm

Nick Bondage against the amazingly popular Jordan Espinoza. The referee reversed the decision in favor of Espinoza when Bondage refused to stop using a tazer on the fallen Espinoza. He awarded not just the match, but the Midsouth criserweight title to Jordan Espinoza.

Semi-main event was for the Midsouth tag team titles. Half Breed and Justin Stone (champion) MidSouth tag champions were accompanied to the ring by cThe All American Diva" Sara M Devlin. T-Wolf was outraged by the treatment of his friends Devastation Inc so he promised revenge in the form of a mystery tag team partner. Showing no fear or extreme stupidity, Sara climbed on the apron to taunt T-Wolf. This mystery partner turned out to be Stan "the Man" Sweetan in the disguise of Bronco Bob. He pulled some pizza from his underwear, sniffed it, took a bite, and threw it in a fan's face. No one, not even T-Wolf, took him seriously. Sara went over, patted his belly, and scoffed "So when's the baby due, fat boy." She continued the taunting by hopping around like a Native American to ruffle T-Wolf's full Chief Headress. He kept trying to grab her but she was slick and stayed in her own corner. She even led the crowd in the Atlanta Braves tomahawk chop. The match ended in a double disqualification as Justin Stone and Stan The Man Sweetan both shoved the referee to the mat. The All Americans Half Breed and Justin Stone were separated from T-Wolf and Sweetan by the entire locker room. Sara almost got crushed when T-Wolf broke free and gave a hurt Justin Stone a Stinger Splash. T-Wolf and Sweetan were drug to the back as Sara Devlin grabbed the tag titles and handed them over to her friends. She then cockily raised the hands of the retaining tag champions.

The main event was a rematch between Mountain Man and Minotaur (champion). Minotaur was unable to trick the referee this time with only one opponent in this rematch for the MidSouth Entertainment world heavyweight title. He was defeated by Minotaur. After the match Devastation Inc emptied the locker room and berated Minotaur for losing the title. The Jihad Warriors jumped him and beat him down. Mountain Man ran them off and Big Joe came out and made the 06.19.05 show a tag team grudge match, Minotaur and the Mountain Man against The Jihad Warriors. Minotaur, The Bull God had a few choice comments to make against his former UnAmerican stable mates and accepted his tag partner.
 

Western America Pro Wrestling
The following are results sent by WAPW for their first show on 04.02.05 the Hillsboro Armory in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Nate the Great defeated Cameron Star to earn a shot at the WAPW Champions Cup later in the night.

Kristof Hunter beat Daniel "Joker" Scott and will face Nate the Great later in the night for the WAPW Champions Cup.

Hillsboro's own Thrash came out to an incredible ovation for his match against JSIN Sullivan. These two went at it so hard that they nearly tore down the ring. In the end Thrash got past Sullivan. JSIN battered Thrash after the match. Colonel DeBeers came out and raised JSIN Sullivan's hand after the post-match beating.

Fans were treated to a very special Question and Answer session with Northwest Wrestling legends Playboy Buddy Rose and Colonel DeBeers.

Kristof Hunter beat Nate the Great to win the WAPW Champions Cup Trophy. After the match Nate the Great confronted referee James Freeman. Nate knocked the referee to the mat. Freeman refused to take this abuse and demonstrated that he has some wrestling skills himself. The crowd loved what they saw and Buddy Rose came out to ringside to hold up the young referee's hand.

The One Rien Dunn and Mista Blaq teamed up and defeated Too Sexy Beasts by disqualification when Max Power kicked the referee who was counting down Dick Smooth's shoulders.

The Battle Royal ended up having sixteen participants. It included all of the wrestlers that were on the card earlier as well as Bud Barber, Gordon Jacobs and Crazy Nate who was brought to the ring by Shannie. Fans went wild when James Freeman came out and removed his referee shirt to declare himself a participant in this Main Event. Nate the Great made his way to the ring and began yelling at fans who had brought signs to ringside to show support for their favorite wrestlers. He pushed one fan and ripped up his sign as security and officials stepped in. This prompted Promoter Ed Baker to invite these fans to sign medical release waivers and have them participate in the Battle Royal match. Gordon Jacobs was the last man eliminated and the Battle Royal was won by Rein Dunn.
 

Jersey All Pro Wrestling
The internet has helped wrestling promotions that don't have the money like the WWE and TNA for national or international television exposure. For example, JAPW offers thirty-minute shows available for download in Windows Media and QuickTime file formats.
 

Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling
The following are the results for the the NWA/ECCW show in Surrey, BC in front of over 150 fans on 05.27.05. Amazing Halo pinned Mike Dempsey. Hot & Bothered beat Suicide Kings to remain the NWA/ECCW tag team champions. Aaron Idol pinned Memphis Raines after Memphis pinned Chance Beckett in a three-way-dnace to become the NWA/ECCW Jr heavyweight champion. Ladies Choice pinned Michelle Starr after interference by Disco Fury. Rebecca Knox (NWA Ireland) pinned Miss Chevious. Freddy Funk pinned Scotty Mac who had won Battle Royale for title shot on 06.18.05 against Juggernaut.

Outside the New Japan Pro-Wrestling Dojo in California (05.27.05), NWA/ECCW wrestler Dave Richards confronted NJPW representative David Marquez over comments he made stemming from the attack by American Dragon and Puma on Aaron Idol at the end of the Pacific Cup in April.