Weekend 3 Count 10.9.16 #WWE #NXT #TNA #ROH #NJPW #YoungBucks

By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978

Wrestling Lockup with Brandon, brought to you by Triple Threat CLE brings you the Weekend 3 Count. W3C brings you wrestling news, rumors and recaps from around the wrestling world. You'll find news and recaps involving WWE, NXT, TNA, ROH, Lucha Underground, GFW, NJPW, House of Hardcore and any Indy promotion that I find an interesting story or a cool discovery in. Be sure to check out the W3C every Sunday at @TripleThreatCLE. 

*** WWE *** 

- WWE Buying TNA Video Library?: This week it was announced that WWE is highly interested in the TNA video library of matches that TNA owns that range from 2002-present. WWE does not want to buy TNA as a company they just want the video tape library, so they can show past TNA matches on the WWE Network. If this were to happen WWE would own the rights to all of the TNA matches from the past and also the TNA name. Dixie Carter and Billy Corgan could then use the money that WWE spends on it and start a new promotion with a different name. Sources have also said that if this deal gets finalized, Dixie Carter will step down and actually leave the wrestling business. Billy Corgan will become sole owner of the company and will have the start up money from selling the TNA video library to the WWE to start his own promotion. Corgan is expected to take the current TNA roster, re-brand and start over fresh with a new promotion name. This is a win-win situation for both WWE and Billy Corgan. WWE could now showcase matches on the WWE Network that involve guys like AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Bobby Roode, Austin Aries and Eric Young that spent a majority of their careers in TNA and are now apart of the WWE banner.

- WWE Network Pricing: If WWE were to gain access to TNA and possibly cut a deal with ROH to show their video library, WWE posted a new WWE Network pricing tier with four different packages to chose from. Everything included would run you $15. 

- WWE Title Change: This past Monday on Raw, Sasha Banks defeated Charlotte to become the new WWE RAW Women's Champion. This is now Sasha's second reign as champion.

- Possible Women's Hell In A Cell Match: After Sasha Banks defeated Charlotte on RAW to win the WWE RAW Women's Championship, WWE have kicked around a rematch idea. WWE is currently thinking about having the first ever Women's Hell In A Cell Match at the WWE Hell In A Cell pay per view. The match would be Sasha Banks defending her WWE RAW Women's Championship against Charlotte.

- Emma Return: This past week on RAW, it was announced that Emma has been cleared to wrestle again, after suffering a back injury in May. Emma will be returning to the RAW roster and will now be known as Emmalina.

- Luke Harper Returns: Luke Harper returned to action at Wednesday's WWE live house show event in Santiago, Chile. Harper teamed with WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens, meaning Harper will be apart of RAW when he returns to live TV.

- Bill Goldberg ESPN Interview: Goldberg was on ESPN this week for an interview with Jonathan Coachman. Goldberg talked about his involvement with the up coming WWE2K17 video game, wanting to possibly try to wrestle one more match because his wife and 12 year old son have never seen him wrestle in person, his feelings on his last run in the WWE 13 years ago and wanting to fight Brock Lesnar if he were to return for a match.

- Bill Goldberg News: According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer, the WWE is very close to making a deal with Bill Goldberg to return. WWE is still highly anticipating a Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar WrestleMania 33 match.

- Jim Ross Comments on Goldberg vs. Lesnar: According to Jim Ross, he mentioned on his recent podcast edition that rumors are saying that Goldberg has signed with the WWE and may possibly be facing Lesnar as early as Survivor Series.

- Tim Wiese Debut: WWE announced that former Werder Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese is set to make his WWE debut in November. Wiese made the switch from football to wrestling in late 2014 and has been training for his in-ring debut. Wiese will make his debut in a house show on November 3rd, teaming with Sheamus and Cesaro in a six man tag team match. Wiese is expected to be working with Sheamus and Cesaro quite a bit in the early stages of his career.

- WWE Interested In Alexxis Nevaeh: WWE has been showing interest in independent wrestler Alexxis Nevaeh. Alexxis was recently in attendance at a recent New England Pro Wrestling event that also featured NXT GM William Regal and NXT superstar Oney Lorcan. Regal shown interest in Alexxis and got word to the WWE about her. Alexxis is also married to TNA's Eddie Edwards. 

- Royal Rumble 2017 News: Last week the WWE announced that the Royal Rumble would take place in The Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, in 2017. This week WWE is rumored to be trying to get The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin to appear at the Royal Rumble, as all three live in Texas.

*** NXT ***

- 16 Teams Announced For Second Annual Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Tournament Classic: The following 16 tag teams have been announced for the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Tournament Classic:
* Sanity
* Drew Gulak and Tony Nese
* HoHo Lun and Bin Wang
* No Way Jose and Rich Swann
* Austin Aries and a mystery partner
* Lince Dorado and Mustafa Ali
* The Authors of Pain
* Tucker Knight and Niko Bogojevic
* TM-61
* The Bollywood Boyz
* Hideo Itami and Kota Ibushi
* Tino Sabbatelli and Riddick Moss
* Bobby Roode and Tye Dillinger
* Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa
* Andrade "Cien" Almas and Cedric Alexander
* The Revival

- Austin Aries' Mystery Partner: There have been rumors circulating this week that Austin Aries' Mystery Partner very well could be former ROH World Heavyweight Champion Roderick Strong. Strong left ROH over the spring, recently signed with the WWE and used to team with Aries in the past.

- NXT Takeover: San Antonio: Triple H recently announced that they are planning another NXT pay per view to take place before the Royal Rumble. The plan is to now hold a NXT pay per view the night before all four of the Big Four WWE pay per views. NXT is also looking into having a pay per view before Money In The Bank as well. WWE is looking to make Money In The Bank a joint show too for RAW and Smackdown Live. NXT's next Takeover will take place in Toronto the night before Survivor Series.

- Tough Enough Winner Released: WWE announced this week that WWE Tough Enough winner Sara Lee has been released. Lee won the $250,000 one year contract with WWE last year and was training to eventually make her NXT debut. Sources have also said that Sara Lee just recently found out that she was pregnant as well.

*** TNA ***
- TNA Recap: This week's show was the aftermath of last Sunday's Bound For Glory pay per view, which you can check out the recap of down below.
-- TNA World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Lashley, TNA Grand Champion Aron Rex, TNA Knockouts Champion Gail Kim, TNA World Tag Team Champion Broken Matt Hardy and TNA X Division Champion DJ Z all enter the ring and everyone states that they are the best in the company right now. Lashley calls everyone losers and second rate title holders. TNA President Billy Corgan arrives with his bodyguard Aiden O'Shea. Corgan says that everyone accept for DJ Z, who already has a match tonight, will defend their titles. Corgan tells Lashley that he'll even let Lashley pick his opponent out of three choices.

-- "Six Man Tag Team, Team X Gold Match": DJ Z, Braxton Sutter and Mandrews vs. Trevor Lee, Andrew Everett and Marshe Rockett: The match closes out with Lee going for a moonsault on DJ Z. DJ Z blocks it by getting his legs up and cracking Lee in the head. Sutter tags in and plants Lee with a power bomb. Mandrews tags in, goes up top and hits a shooting star press on Lee to score the pinfall.

-- Eli Drake's Fact of Life Segment: Drake announces his guest tonight as a man that is a choke artist that blew his opportunity at Bound For Glory. Drake calls out Ethan Carter. Drake says that EC3 wishes he was like Drake. EC3 says his passion to wrestle has been replaced with anger. EC3 threatens to tear Drake limb from limb if he keeps hitting his dummy button while he's talking. Drake says he has a problem with EC3 because he's been handed everything since he came to TNA. Drake says that EC3 isn't even in Drake's league and is on his way down on the TNA food chain. Drake cuts off EC3's microphone and ends the segment.
-- Maria Bennett blames Allie for her loss at Bound For Glory and threatens to fire Allie. Laurel Van Ness suggests keeping Allie as the bag carrier. Sienna gets a shot at Gail Kim tonight and Maria warns Allie not to mess it up.
-- "TNA Knockouts Championship Match": Gail Kim (c) vs. Sienna: The match closes out with Gail countering the AK47 and hits a neck breaker on Sienna. Sienna counters a hurricanrana and drops Gail on her face. Gail dodges a spear and rolls up Sienna for the pinfall to retain the title. After the match, Sienna, Maria Bennett and Laurel Van Ness attack Gail. Sienna hits The Silencer on Gail and then holds her up. Maria orders Allie to slap Gail, but refuses. Maria slaps Gail instead and orders Sienna and Laurel to beat Gail down.

-- TNA World Tag Team Championship, Wolf Creek Cage Match": Broken Matt Hardy and Brother Nero Jeff Hardy (c) vs. The Decay: A Wolf Creek Cage Match is introduced as a cage match filled with weapons. The match closes out with Abyss attempting to handcuff Jeff Hardy to the ropes, but Hardy counters and handcuffs Abyss. Matt Hardy hits the Twist Of Hate on Crazy Steve and begins to climb the cage to escape. Steve crawls to the door as Matt climbs the cage and the race is on for the win. Matt climbs half way out then jumps down the other half just beating Steve to the floor. The Hardy's win and retain the titles.

-- Cody Rhodes cuts a promo. Cody congratulates Gail Kim, The Great War and Bound For Glory in general. Cody talks about the list of wrestlers he made that he wants to wrestle and Mike Bennett was on it. Cody says Bennett shouldn't be on it and his wife Brandi suggested that winning the TNA World Heavyweight Championship should be on it instead. Mike and Maria Bennett interrupt. Bennett says he's been trying to get the world title since arriving and has had to earn his way to it. Cody agrees and challenges Bennett to a fight. Cody and Bennett start brawling. Bennett lands a kick, but gets set up in Cross Rhodes. Bennett escapes and retreats. 
-- Aiden O'Shea informs Maria Bennett that she will face Gail Kim next week. If Maria loses she will no longer be the leader of the Knockouts.
-- "TNA Grand Championship Match": Aron Rex (c) vs. Baron Dax: Dax won round one with a 10-9 score from the judges. Rex locks Dax in the Royal Arch submission and forces Dax to tap out in round two to retain the championship.
-- Bobby Lashley gets to choose his opponent for his title defense tonight. His choices are Moose, Ethan Carter and Eddie Edwards. Lashley picks Edwards because Lashley says he'll be easy to beat.

-- "TNA World Heavyweight Championship Match": Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Eddie Edwards: The match closes out with Edwards hitting two suicide dives on Lashley. Edwards tries for the third, but misses, kisses the barricade and knocks himself out. Lashley carries Edwards back into the ring and goes for the spear. Edwards comes back to life and nails Lashley charging in with the Boston Knee Party. Edwards covers and scores the upset pinfall to win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. Edwards celebrates to end the show.

*** Bound For Glory Recap ***

Bound For Glory was live at the Impact Zone in Orlando, Florida.
-- "TNA X Division Championship Match": DJ Z (c) vs. Trevor Lee: The match closes out with DJ Z countering Lee's finisher and going for the ZDT. Lee counters that with a double foot stomp for a near fall. Lee and DJ Z counter each others moves again until DJ Z finally hits the ZDT, scores the pinfall and retains the championship.
-- "Bound For Gold Battle Royal": The final four comes down to Tyrus, Shera, Godderz and Eli Drake. Drake stops Shera from slamming Tyrus and tosses Shera out for the elimination. Drake almost gets eliminated as he just hangs on to the bottom rope. Tyrus and Godderz try to dump each other outside. Drake pulls himself back into the ring and dumps both Tyrus and Godderz to the floor for the win. Eli Drake wins a future TNA World Heavyweight Championship match.
-- Mike Bennett vs. Moose: The match closes out with Moose hitting a pump kick and tries a springboard. Bennett drops Moose mid air with a cutter and goes to the top rope. Moose catches Bennett after the landing with Go To Hell. Moose then hits the Game Breaker on Bennett and scores the pinfall.

-- "TNA Grand Championship Match": Aron Rex vs. Eddie Edwards: Edwards was chosen as Drew Galloway's replacement. TNA President Billy Corgan also changes the round rules to three five minute rounds. Eddie Edwards takes round one 10-9. Aron Rex takes round two 10-9. TNA suffers some lighting issues during the match that gets a "Pay Your Light Bill" chant from the fans. Both men go the limit and are trading punches with each other when the third and final round ends. The judges decide and announce Aron Rex the winner and the first ever TNA Grand Champion. Rex and Edwards shake hands after the match and Rex promises a rematch for Edwards in the future.
-- Gail Kim's Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony: Christy Hemme, Taryn Terrell, Awesome Kong and Dixie Carter all give their thanks to Gail and honor her as a true leader of the Knockouts Division. A video package highlights Gail's historic career. Gail gives thanks to the fans, Trish Stratus, Lita, Victoria, Molly Holly, Dixie Carter, Jeff Jarrett, her family and everyone that has helped her over the years. Dixie presents Gail with a Rolex watch.

-- "TNA World Tag Team Championship, The Great War Match": The Decay (c) vs. Broken Matt Hardy and Brother Nero Jeff Hardy: The match closes out with Matt dropping Abyss with a Side Effect on a thumb tack covered board. Matt sandwiches Abyss between two barb wired boards. Rosemary stops the pinfall and ends up getting power bombed outside through a table by Reby Hardy. Matt instructs Jeff to climb a ladder, jump and put Crazy Steve through a table to cure his demons forever. Jeff climbs a ladder and hits the Swanton Bomb on Steve right through two tables below. Jeff scores the pinfall and the Hardy's are the new champions.

-- "TNA Knockouts Championship Match": Maria Bennett (c) vs. Gail Kim: Maria tries to pull the "doctor didn't clear me to fight trick" again, but Allie spoils things by revealing Maria's doctor's note, stating Maria is cleared to wrestle. The match closes out with Mike Bennett tossing a brace into the ring, which Maria hits Gail with and gets a near fall. Gail puts Maria in the ring post wrapped figure four. Gail releases the hold, gives Maria two middle fingers, hits Eat Defeat for the win and the championship.

-- Mike Bennett cuts a promo. Bennett says that he is sick of the fans and the company and he's shutting the show down. Cody and Brandi Rhodes arrive, making their TNA debut. Maria shoves Brandi, which Brandi responds back with a high knee on Maria. Rhodes and Bennett start swinging at each other in the middle of the ring. Rhodes hits the Beautiful Disaster kick on Bennett, knocking Bennett outside of the ring. Cody and Brandi make out and celebrate their debut.

-- "TNA World Heavyweight Championship, No Holds Barred Match": Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Ethan Carter: The match closes out with EC3 hitting three German suplexes on Lashley. EC3 hits the One Percenter, but Lashley kicks out at two and a half. EC3 unloads a steel chair shot on Lashley and then sits Lashley on the top rope. Lashley shoves EC3 off the top rope, leaps off and hits a spear on EC3. Lashley covers EC3, scores the pinfall and retains the championship to end the show.

- The TNA Clock Is Still Ticking: It was reported on Wrestling Observer's live podcast this week, that the unknown third party that loaned TNA money for Bound for Glory, also loaned TNA enough money to do a new set of TV tapings this week. The TV tapings will be able to take TNA all the way to the end of the year. As of this writing that will probably be the end of TNA, as WWE is being expected to buy out TNA for their video library.

- Hurricane Matthew Delaying TV Tapings: TNA announced that a few of their TV Taping days had to be postponed this week, due to Hurricane Matthew touching down in Florida this week.

*** RING OF HONOR ***
- ROH TV Recap: This week's ROH was taped before the ROH All Star Extravaganza pay per view, some champions may not be the same anymore.
-- "ROH Television Championship Match": Bobby Fish (c) vs. EVIL: The match closes out with Fish trapping EVIL in the knee bar submission and forcing EVIL to tap out to retain the championship.
-- "IWGP Intercontinental Championship Match": Michael Elgin (c) vs. Donovan Dijak: The match closes out with Elgin hitting the Buckle Bomb on Dijak and follows that up with the Elgin Bomb to score the pinfall and retain the championship.
-- "Eight Man Tag Team Match": The Bullet Club (Hangman Adam Page, Yujiro Takahashi and The Young Bucks) vs. Lio Rush, ACH and The Motor City Machine Guns: The match closes out with The Young Bucks hitting the double super kick on Alex Shelley. Page hits the Rite of Passage on Shelley and scores the pinfall.

*** Lucha Underground ***
- Lucha Underground TV Recap:
-- Dario Cueto spins his Dial of Doom wheel to find a new challenger for Cueto's brother Matanza. The wheel lands on Prince Puma.
-- Ivelisse vs. Mariposa: The match closes out with Mariposa setting Ivelisse up for the Butterfly Effect. Ivelisse counters out, but gets planted by Mariposa with a Samoan Drop for a near fall. Ivelisse hits a sunset flip power bomb on Mariposa and scores the pinfall. After the match, Marty The Moth and Mariposa attack Ivelisse, beat her down and leave her laid out.
-- Johnny Mundo again demands a Lucha Underground Championship match. Dario Cueto denies the request. Mundo asks for a shot at Sexy Star and the Gift Of The Gods Championship since Mundo's team beat Sexy's team last week. Cueto likes the idea, however,  Jack Evans won the match for them so Evans will face Sexy Star. Mundo storms off angry.
-- "Best Of Five Series, Match #2": Cage vs. Texano: The match closes out with Texano landing a vertical suplex into a knee breaker and gets a near fall on Cage. Cage hits an Alabama Slam and then suplexes Texano. Cage hits the Lucha Destroyer on Texano, scores the pinfall and takes the 2-0 lead.
-- Ivelisse is confronted by former NXT superstar Solomon Crowe, now going by the name Jeremiah. Jeremiah apologizes for missing her match and promises to go after those that have hurt her. Ivelisse doesn't want him fighting her battles and wants their personal life left out of her professional life. Ivelisse wants to leave and realizes she has to drive as Jeremiah has been drinking.

-- "Lucha Underground Championship Match": Matanza (c) vs. Prince Puma: The match closes out with Puma hitting a 630 splash on Matanza, but Mil Muertes hits the ring and spears Puma. The referee let's it play out and doesn't call the DQ, after Dario Cueto threatens to fire the referee if he does. Muertes hits a vicious Flatliner on Puma, spiking him head first into the mat. Matanza is up next and hits the Wrath of the Gods on Puma for the pinfall, to retain the championship.
-- Detective Joey Ryan hands Killshot an envelope and says some guy wanted him to deliver it to him. Inside there's a burned note that says "You left me for dead". Killshot is left wondering who it's from as the show ends.

- Kevin Kross Signs: Lucha Underground recently announced that they have officially signed independent wrestler Kevin Kross. Kross will make his Lucha Underground debut in season four, which begins filming at the end of 2016 for a 2017 airing.

*** NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING ***

** King Of Pro Wrestling Final Card **
NJPW will hold it's yearly King Of Pro Wrestling event tonight. I will have the recap for this event on next weeks Weekend 3 Count.

- "Six Man Tag Team Match": Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI and Will Ospreay vs. The Bullet Club (Adam Cole, Bad Luck Fale and Yujiro Takahashi)
- "Eight Man Tag Team Match": Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Ryusuke Taguchi and Bobby Fish vs. Toru Yano, Jado, Beretta and Rocky Romero
- "Eight Man Tag Team Match": Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima, Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Manabu Nakanishi vs. Go Shiozaki, Maybach Taniguchi, Katsuhiko Nakajima and Masa Kitamiya
- "IWGP Jr Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match": The Young Bucks (c) vs. Ricochet and David Finlay
- "IWGP Tag Team Championship Match": The Briscoes Brothers vs. The Bullet Club (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa)
- "Eight Man Tag Team Match": Hiroshi Tanahashi, Michael Elgin, KUSHIDA and Jay Lethal vs. Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, EVIL and BUSHI
- "NEVER Openweight Championship Match": Katsuyori Shibata (c) vs. Kyle O’Reilly
- "Kenny Omega's #1 Contender Spot On The Line": Kenny Omega vs. Hirooki Goto
- "IWGP Heavyweight Championship Match": Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Naomichi Marufuji

*** W3C Wrestler Of The Week ***

This week's Wrestler Of The Week goes to my first tag team pick and recently crowned ROH World Tag Team Champions....The Young Bucks, Matt and Nick Jackson. The Young Bucks have made a huge name for themselves, wrestling around the world in ROH and New Japan Pro Wrestling. The Young Bucks also spent a short time in TNA under the tag team name of Generation Me. The Young Bucks are holding three tag team championships from three different promotions (ROH, NJPW and PWG) at the same time currently. The Young Bucks are also currently members of the most feared faction in New Japan Pro Wrestling, The Bullet Club.

- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions (5 times, current)
- NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions (2 times) – with Kenny Omega
- Super Jr. Tag Tournament Winners(2013)
- ROH World Tag Team Champions (2 times, current)

The Young Bucks have also won many titles in different wrestling independent promotions throughout the world.

- Best Of The Young Bucks:

- The Young Bucks vs. The Hardy Boys:

- The Young Bucks vs. Kevin Steen and Super Dragon:

And that's this week's W3C! Join me every Sunday afternoon as I bring you news, recaps and rumors all around the wrestling world!