Welcome to an all new edition of Blogs Count Anywhere, the complementary pro wrestling blog to the ODPH podcast & 607TWS on Twitch. No blog for last week to due a weekend break to Atlantic City for GCW Cage Of Survival. This week, we’re back taking a look at some of the headlines making waves heading into AEW x NJPW’s co-promoted show “Forbidden Door” on June 26th as well as an indie round up. Big news has been happening, so let’s not waste any more time and dive in, shall we?
Photo Credit: All Elite Wrestling
In arguably the main event for June 26th, There will be an interim AEW title match between Jon Moxley and Hiroshi Tanahashi. How we got hear is a bit of a shuffling of wrestlers due to injuries. Originally, it was Tanahashi scheduled to face CM Punk for the AEW world championship. Due to a foot injury that required surgery, Punk is out of action indefinitely. With this void, the was a battle royal set up for this past AEW Dynamite where the winner would face Moxley at the end of the night. Kyle O’Reilly was the winner of that match, but lost to Moxley at the end of the night.
Photo Credit: All Elite Wrestling
As for Mox’s opponent, Hiroshi Tanahashi had to defeat Hirooki Goto at NJPW’s “Dominion” event this past Sunday to lock in his place for the match. It’s going to be a great match for the Championship but how this plays out is the bigger storyline. If Tanahashi wins, does this mean he will be staying around AEW for an extended time or would Tanahashi take the belt back to NJPW? If so, AEW wouldn’t have their champion on programming for an extended period of time (ala Brock Lesnar title run from a few years back).
On the other side of the question, if Moxley wins, what does this mean for Blackpool Combat Club moving forward? The BCC is currently one of AEW’s more popular factions and when Punk returns, would they turn heel and fans get a whole new storyline set up heading into All Out? In my opinion, that would be the best way to go. Danielson is better as a heel as seen when he made the turn vs. Hangman Adam Page for their feud (along with his previous work). Making Punk “earn” his title shot against Moxley would be a fun program to run. Plus if he needs someone to even the odds, how bout his new best buds in FTR? In either scenarios, AEW will have some unique directions to go in after the card with an interim champ.
Photo Credit: All Elite Wrestling
Speaking of NJPW, fans witnessed a debut on AEW programming in Will Ospreay showing up to set up a possible feud/match with his United Empire faction vs. FTR and Roppongi Vice for the June 26th show. This will be a solid addition to the card but personally, I think it would have made more waves if Ospreay was entered in the new All-Atlantic championship tournament instead.
Already punching their tickets for that were Malakai Black & PAC. There is a mystery match with 2 representatives from NJPW so maybe he “might” be in there, but if not, it's a missed opportunity. It's interesting to see AEW add another belt to the roster (especially if you include all the ROH titles). No matter what, the addition of the former IWGP champ to the show is an excellent move. Hopefully fans see him in singles action before his run at AEW is done.
Photo Credit: All Elite Wrestling
Also noteworthy from AEW is Thunder Rosa was given some TV time to defend her belt. This has been a horrible misstep by the company previously when you have a champion of Rosa's caliber and don't give her proper time to establish her championship run. Having her do an “open challenge” style match each week is a start.
This week's match against Marina Sharif might not have been the best but it's nothing to hold against Rosa. Some nights just aren't 5 star nights. Just the fact AEW finally looks like they're going to give her some time to grow is a win in my book.
Photo Credit: Major League Wrestling
It has been announced by Major League Wrestling that the world title will be on the line at Battle Riot 4. Current reigning MLW Champion Hammerstone puts the belt on the line against Bandido on June 23rd from the Melrose Ballroom in NYC! Factor in the 40 person Battle Riot and this card is shaping up into a can’t miss night of pro wrestling! Keep an eye on MLW socials for more announcements!
Photo Credit: National Wrestling Alliance
It was just announced that on August 27th and 28th, the Khorassan Ballroom located in the Chase Park Plaza Royal Sonesta will be the home of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)'s NWA 74 event. Tickets go live on Wednesday June 15th (10am CST) so you want to make sure you lock yours up quickly. If you can't be there in person, make sure to check the show out on Fite.Tv!
Photo Credit: National Wrestling Alliance
Since there was no blog last week, I didn’t want to miss mentioning what the NWA did on June 5th. NWA Women's World Champion Kamille threw the first pitch before the Tennessee Smokies game which was followed up by a meet and greet which was joined by AJ Cazana and Thom Latimer. It was a very cool event for the fans and anytime you can mix some summer baseball with wrestling, its a win.
Photo Credit: Game Changer Wrestling
Last bit of news for the blog: Game Changer Wrestling is back in action after the “Survival” weekend shows in Atlantic City with “You Wouldn’t Understand” on June 18th hailing from NYC & “I Never Liked You” marking GCW’s debut in PROVIDENCE, RI. Don’t sleep on getting the Fite.Tv pacakge deal for both shows. One of the best deals to watch wrestling with. Expect a full preview breakdown on 607TWS this week.
That’s all the pro wrestling talk for this blog, but hit me up on Twitter and let me know what feds you’re watching that are making some moves. For more pro wrestling content, follow all the 607podcats shows!
Thanks for reading!