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 rumors and recaps involving WWE, NXT, GFW, ROH, Lucha Underground, NJPW, House of Hardcore, NWA, ICW, CZW, FIP, PWG, AAW, EVOLVE, PROGRESS, SHINE, SHIMMER and any Indy promotion that I find an interesting story or a cool discovery in. Be sure to check out the W3C every Sunday afternoon at @TripleThreatCLE
** Theme Song Of The Week **
This week's theme song goes to this year's winner of the Mae Young Classic Tournament, Kairi Sane.
*** WWE ***
- New Day Win Titles: If you missed Smackdown Live this past Tuesday, The New Day defeated The Usos to win the WWE Smackdown Live World Tag Team Championship.
- Kevin Owens Attacks Vince McMahon: If you missed Smackdown Live this past week, WWE CEO Vince McMahon returned. Vince announced that Kevin Owens will face Shane McMahon at WWE Hell In A Cell in a Hell In A Cell Match. Kevin Owens would then go on to viciously attack Vince after Owens tricked Vince into agreeing that he wouldn't get fired for beating up a McMahon.
- Possible Plans For Kevin Owens: There currently is backstage talk that the storyline that has begun with Kevin Owens vs. The McMahon Family will lead into a Wrestlemania 34 match against Triple H.
- Asuka News: According to PWInsider, RAW looks to be the show that Asuka will make her debut on soon. Asuka is scheduled to take time off with her collar bone injury, make a couple Smackdown Live house show none wrestling appearances and then possibly debut on RAW in October.
- Kofi Kingston Injured: WWE announced that Kofi Kingston injured his knee during a live event in Honolulu, Hawaii. It's unknown at this time how serious the knee injury is.
- Ronda Rousey Coming??: According to Dave Meltzer, the long term involvement with Ronda Rousey is Rousey facing either Stephanie McMahon or Charlotte at Wrestlemania 34. Both Ronda and Charlotte's 4 Horsewomen traded insults toward each other during the Mae Young Classic Tournament while sitting in the crowd.
- Mae Young Tournament: It's been a few weeks now since the release of the whole Mae Young Classic Tournament leading up to the Finals on the WWE Network. So with that being said, the Finals have come down to Kairi Sane vs. Shayna Bazsler. You can check out the highlights of the Quarterfinals and Semi Finals of the tournament below that has led us to the Finals between both ladies.
** Mae Young Finals Recap **
- "Mae Young Classic Tournament Finals Match": Kairi Sane vs. Shayna Bazsler: The match closes out with Kairi trapping Shayna in a body scissors. Shayna escapes allowing Kairi to unload kicks. Kairi leaps off the ropes, but gets caught and trapped in the rear naked choke submission. Kairi escapes with elbows to the ribs on Shayna. Both ladies battle on the top rope, trading punches. Kairi counters the Kimura Lock submission and gets Shayna in the tree of woe. Kairi drills Shayna with the double foot stomp for a near fall. Kairi drops Shayna with forearms to the ribs and then heads to the top rope. Kairi hits the flying elbow off the ropes on Shayna, covers and scores the pinfall to win the tournament.
Winner: Kairi Sane, by pinfall, to win the Mae Young Classic Tournament.
- After the match, Kairi Sane is presented the Mae Young Classic Tournament trophy and a bouquet of flowers from Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.
- Original Idea For Mae Young Classic Tournament: According to backstage sources, the original finals of the Mae Young Classic Tournament was supposed to be Kairi Sane vs. Toni Storm, however, WWE changed it to Sane vs. Shayna Bazsler to build on the MMA 4 Horsewomen vs. WWE 4 Horsewomen storyline.
** 205 Live Recap **
- Backstage, Rich Swann says he and TJ Perkins know each other so well that their match should be great. TJP interrupts and takes verbal jabs at Swann. Swann guarantees victory tonight.
- Rich Swann vs. TJ Perkins: The match closes out with both men laying each other out with kicks. Swann counters the Detonation Kick. TJP counters a spin kick and traps Swann in the knee bar submission. Swann escapes as TJP kicks at the bad knee. Swann plants TJP and hits the Phoenix Splash to score the pinfall.
Winner: Rich Swann, by pinfall.
- After the match, Perkins doesn't want to shake Swann's hand, but quickly does and leaves the ring.
- Backstage, Brian Kendrick tells Cedric Alexander he needs to stop letting people walk all over him. Cedric refuses to cheat to win like Kendrick. Kendrick calls Cedric spineless and doesn't have what it takes.
- Drew Gulak Promo: Gulak says his power point presentation was ruined by Akira Tozawa last week so he'll finish it tonight. Breezango interrupt Gulak and refer to him as Captain Underpants. Fandango names off different underpants and calls Gulak a disgusting freak. Fandango handcuffs Gulak and Tyler Breeze reads Gulak his fashion rights. Gulak tries to run, but gets taken down and dragged to the back.
- Brian Kendrick vs. Cedric Alexander: The match closes out with Jack Gallagher hitting the ring with his umbrella. Gallagher goes after Kendrick, but suddenly stops, TURNS HEEL and nails Cedric with the umbrella. Gallagher attacks and beats down Cedric, as Kendrick looks on confused. Gallagher drills Cedric with a huge head butt, dropping Cedric. Gallagher shakes Kendrick's hand to close out the show.
Winner: Cedric Alexander, by DQ.
*** NXT ***
- NXT Women's Championship News: NXT announced this week that Kairi Sane, who won the Mae Young Classic Tournament, will be in the title match to crown a new champion. It's currently unknown who will battle Kairi at NXT Takeover: Houston in November.
- New Faction Name: NXT announced this week that Adam Cole, Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly's faction will now be called Undisputed Era.
*** GFW ***
** GFW Impact Recap **
- Backstage, Bobby Lashley arrives with his MMA Fight Team.
- Braxton Sutter vs. Garza Jr.: The match closes out with Sutter hitting a sit down power bomb for a near fall. Garza hits a spin kick and then a second rope moonsault on Sutter to score the pinfall.
Winner: Garza Jr., by pinfall.
- After the match, Sutter blames Allie for the loss and yells at her. Sutter finally gives Allie a hug, but Allie is hesitant to leave with Sutter.
- "GFW Grand Championship Match": Ethan Carter (c) vs. El Hijo del Fantasma: The first round ends with EC3 totally dominating the round and taking it. The second round, Fantasma comes back and gets a near fall splash off the ropes. Round two ends with Fantasma taking it. The match closes out with EC3 hitting TK3 on Fantasma for a near fall. Fantasma boots EC3 outside and hits a suicide dive. EC3 connects with a running knee and hits the One Percenter on Fantasma. Time expires before EC3 can get the pinfall. The judges rule EC3 the winner by split decision.
Winner: Ethan Carter, to retain the GFW Grand Championship.
- In Mexico, Konnan goes over the game plan with LAX for their up coming match against oVe.
- We're shown highlights of LAX retaining their tag team titles at the CRASH promotion in Mexico, in a Fatal Four Way Match that included oVe. Konnan tells oVe they are a long way from Ohio so they better bounce now. oVe hesitate, but end up leaving the building.
- Grado vs. William Weeks: The match closes out with Grado getting the quick pinfall with a boot on Weeks.
Winner: Grado, by pinfall.
- After the match, Grado thanks the fans and says he'll be deported back to the United Kingdom on Friday. Joseph Park interrupts and tells Grado that he just signed Grado as his client for his sports division so now Grado can get his work visa and can now stay in America.
- Backstage, Johnny Impact is interviewed. Impact says he and Low Ki are trail blazers, but Low Ki is going to Slam Town.
- Backstage, Bobby Lashley informs Jim Cornette that he's leaving GFW and wants his release. Cornette orders Lashley's MMA Fight Team to leave the building and tells Lashley he needs to finish his business with Moose first before getting his release.
- "GFW X Division Championship, Falls Count Anywhere Match": Sonjay Dutt (c) vs. Trevor Lee: The match closes out with both men fighting into the backstage area. Caleb Konley gets involved and helps Lee with the two on one attack on Dutt. Lee accidentally hits Konley with a garbage can lid. Dutt lands a kick and unloads garbage can lid shots on Lee. Konley gets involved again and helps Lee score the pinfall to win the title.
Winner: Trevor Lee, by pinfall, to win the GFW X Division Championship.
- Backstage, Richard Justice asks Bobby Lashley's MMA Fight Team if he can join them. Justice ends up getting beaten down.
- Taya Valkyrie vs. Amber Nova: The match closes out with Taya making quick work of Amber and scoring the pinfall.
Winner: Taya Valkyrie, by pinfall.
- Backstage, Eli Drake says he'll be watching two dummies fight for the right to fight him in the future.
- "#1 Contenders Match": Low Ki vs. Johnny Impact: The match closes out with Low Ki missing Warriors Way on Impact. Impact hits Starship Pain and scores the pinfall.
Winner: Johnny Impact, by pinfall, to become the new #1 Contender to the GFW Undisputed Championship.
- After the match, Chris Adonis attacks Impact from behind and locks in the Adonis Lock submission. Eli Drake arrives and lays out Impact with the Gravy Train.
- Backstage, Jim Cornette tries to get Bobby Lashley to stay in GFW. Lashley invites Cornette to watch what he does to Moose tonight.
- Backstage, Taya Valkyrie gets in Karen Jarrett's face and tells her that that's what a real Queen looks like.
- Bobby Lashley Promo: Lashley says he's going back to MMA full time and tonight's his last night in GFW. Moose immediately hits the ring and the brawl is on. Lashley power bombs Moose on the floor. Moose dodges the spear with a boot to Lashley's face. Lashley and Moose continue to trade punches as they go into the crowd. Moose hits Lashley with a garbage can and both brawl onto the Impact stage. Lashley hits a neck breaker on Moose, but Moose returns and kicks Lashley down the ramp. Lashley's MMA Fight Team suddenly hit the ring and attack Moose from behind. Moose gets choked out and security gets laid out trying to help Moose. Impact ends with Lashley and his MMA Fight Team standing tall.
- Will Alberto El Patron Return?: According to PWInsider, Alberto El Patron still has 6 to 8 months left on his contract. GFW has been rumored to have made plans for El Patron for their Bound For Glory pay per view in November. There has also been rumors stating that he's finished with the company as well. I'll be keeping an eye on where Alberto El Patron ends up.
- GFW Network Coming: Ed Nordholm, Executive Vice President of Anthem Sports and Entertainment announced that GFW will be launching their own Network soon. The GFW Network will be launched with 850 to 900 hours of content and a $7.99 monthly price point. Nordholm says the company's goal is to break even and eventually make money, but they knew full well when they purchased the company that wasn't going to happen overnight. Can the GFW Network being any competition at all to the WWE Network??
*** RING OF HONOR ***
** ROH TV Recap **
- Bully Ray Promo: Bully puts over Atlanta and The Briscoe Brothers. Bully promises that he and The Briscoes will defeat The Kingdom at Death Before Dishonor and win back the ROH Six Man Tag Team Championship.
- Will Ferrara vs. Cheeseburger: The match closes out with Cheeseburger getting a near fall double stomp. Ferrara blocks the tornado DDT and traps Cheeseburger in the crossface submission for the tap out win.
Winner: Will Ferrara, by submission.
- After the match Rhett Titus hits the ring, but he helps Ferrara attack Cheeseburger.
- Silas Young vs. Chase Brown: The match closes out quickly with Young hitting Misery on Brown for the pinfall.
Winner: Silas Young, by pinfall.
- After the match, Young attacks Brown more. Jay Lethal hits the ring and brawls with Young. Lethal wants their match right now. Young says no he'll have to wait for Death Before Dishonor.
- Backstage, Cody Rhodes is interviewed. Cody says he's ready to prove to Minoru Suzuki that Cody is a main event performer at Death Before Dishonor. Cody makes the interviewer kiss his new Ring of Honor on his finger.
- "Eight Man Tag Team Match": Jonathan Gresham, Jay White and The Motor City Machine Guns vs. The Guerillas of Destiny and The Young Bucks: The match closes out with White taking out Matt Jackson and then leaps off the ropes and onto the pile of guys outside. Sabin hits a lariat, but then eats a super kick. White stops The Young Bucks from hitting the Meltzer Driver. The Motor City Machine Guns hit a double team neck breaker on Matt and score the pinfall.
Winners: The Motor City Machine Guns, Jonathan Gresham and Jay White, by pinfall.
*** Lucha Underground ***
** Lucha Underground TV Recap **
- Ricky Mandell tells Johnny Mundo that he's changed his name to Ricky Mundo as a tribute to Johnny. Worldwide Underground laugh at Ricky and Johnny tells him to change his name back because there's only one Mundo. Johnny then punishes Ricky by taking him out of their Eight Person Tag Team Match later and replaces him with Marty The Moth.
- "Eight Person Tag Team Match": Johnny Mundo, Taya, PJ Black and Marty the Moth vs. Prince Puma, Cage, Sexy Star, and Fenix: The match closes out with Black and Mundo hitting their version of Chasing the Dragon. Mundo then hits End of the World on Puma and scores the pinfall.
Winners: Worldwide Underground and Marty The Moth, by pinfall.
- After the match, Marty The Moth stalks ring announcer Melissa Santos. Melissa slaps Marty and then Fenix makes the save and hits a super kick on Marty.
- Jeromiah Crane finds Catrina and he has the Gauntlet Glove. Mil Muertes attacks Crane, allowing Catrina to grab the glove. Cage arrives to get his glove back and brawls with Crane and Muertes. Dario Cueto sneaks in and steals the glove for himself.
- "Aztec Medallion Match": Pentagon vs. Dragon Azteca Jr: The match closes out with Pentagon countering a tornado DDT with a back breaker on Azteca. Pentagon crotches Azteca on the ropes and then hits a running package piledriver to score the pinfall.
Winner: Pentagon, by pinfall, to win Aztec Medallion #7.
- After the match, Pentagon goes to break Azteca's arm, but Matanza Cueto arrives. Dario Cueto tells his brother to attack Azteca. Matanza beats down Azteca and leaves him laid out just as Rey Mysterio hits the ring to make the save.
- Matanza Cueto vs. Rey Mysterio: The match closes out with Matanza spearing Rey into the corner. Rey dodges a Matanza charge and goes for a moonsault. Matanza catches Rey in mid air and then hits the Wrath of the Gods for the pinfall.
Winner: Matanza Cueto, by pinfall.
- After the match, Matanza hits another Wrath of the Gods on Rey right on a steel chair. Matanza wraps the chair around Rey's neck and sends him into the steel post twice. Matanza picks Rey up and carries him to the back to end the show.
- Who Holds The 7 Aztec Medallions To Crown A New Gift Of The Gods Champion?: The 7 that will compete at Ultima Lucha Tres for the Gift of the Gods Championship are Paul London, Saltador, Mala Suerte, Drago, Cortez Castro, Pentagon, and Son of Havoc.
- Lucha Underground #100: This past week's Lucha Underground TV show marked the 100th episode of their promotion.
*** NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING ***
** Road to Destruction Recap **
NJPW returned with another show from their Road to Destruction tour. The main event saw a Ten Man Tag Team Elimination Match between Taguchi Japan and Suzuki-Gun.
- Yuji Nagata, Hirai Kawato and Tomoyuki Oka defeated Manabu Nakanishi, Katsuya Kitamura and Shota Umino, after Umino tapped out to Oka.
- Hirooki Goto, Yoshi-Hashi and Trent Baretta defeated Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi and Tanga Loa. The Bullet Club attacked their opponents after the match.
- Togi Makabe and War Machine defeated Taka Michinoku and Killer Elite Squad, after Makabe hit the King Kong Knee Drop on Michinoku for the pinfall.
- Will Ospreay and Rocky Romero defeated Hiromu Takahashi and Bushi, after Romero unloaded a knee strike on Bushi for the pinfall.
- Juice Robinson and David Finlay defeated Chase Owens and Leo Tonga, after Juice hit Pulp Friction on Tonga for the pinfall.
- Tetsuya Naito, Evil and Sanada defeated Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano, after Sanada hits a low blow and steals the pinfall.
- Taguchi Japan defeated Suzuki-Gun in a 10 Man Elimination Tag Team Match. Michael Elgin last eliminated Minoru Suzuki to win the match after both teams all returned to the ring and brawled.
* Destruction In Fukushima Recap *
- Hirai Kawato and Yuji Nagata vs. Manabu Nakanishi and Shota Umino: The match closes out with Nagata making Umino tap out to the crossface submission.
Winners: Hirai Kawato and Yuji Nagata, by submission.
- Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi vs. Katsuya Kitamura and Tomoyuki Oka: The match closes out with Goto unloading a series of kicks on Oka and scoring the pinfall.
Winners: Hirooki Goto and Yoshi Hashi, by pinfall.
- Baretta and Jado vs. Chase Owens and Yujiro Takahashi: The match closes out with Takahashi hitting Pimp Juice on Jado to score the pinfall.
Winners: Chase Owens and Yujiro Takahashi, by pinfall.
- Bad Luck Fale and Leo Tonga vs. David Finlay and Juice Robinson: The match closes out with Juice hitting a Stunner and Pulp Friction for the pinfall, after Tonga accidentally kicked Fale.
Winners: David Finlay and Juice Robinson, by pinfall.
- "Ten Man Tag Team Match": Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kushida, Togi Makabe, Ricochet and Ryusuke Taguchi vs. El Desperado, Taichi, Taka Michinoku, Takashi Iizuka and Yoshinobu Kanemaru: The match closes out with the referee taking a fall. Ricochet saves Taguchi from a beat down in the process. Taguchi eye pokes Michinoku and gets the rollup pinfall.
Winners: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kushida, Togi Makabe, Ricochet and Ryusuke Taguchi, by pinfall.
- "IWGP World Tag Team Championship, Triple Threat Match": War Machine (c) vs. The Guerillas of Destiny vs. The Killer Elite Squad: The match closes out with The Killer Elite Squad double teaming, until Hanson makes the save. War Machine lay to waste The Squad and then hit Fallout on Loa to score the pinfall and retain their titles.
Winners: War Machine, by pinfall, to retain the IWGP World Tag Team Championship.
- Hiromu Takahashi and Tetsuya Naito vs. Tomohiro Ishii and Will Ospreay: The match closes out with Naito landing a low blow on Ospreay and then hitting Destino for the pinfall.
Winners: Hiromu Takahashi and Tetsuya Naito, by pinfall.
- "NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championship Match": Bushi, Evil and Sanada (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada, Rocky Romero and Toru Yano: The match closes out with Evil hitting the STO and then Bushi hits the MX on Romero to score the pinfall and retain their titles.
Winners: Bushi, Evil and Sanada, by pinfall, to retain the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championship.
- "NEVER Openweight Championship, Lumberjack Match: Minoru Suzuki (c) vs. Michael Elgin: The match closes out with all hell breaking loose. Elgin grabs Taka Michinoku and tossed him onto a group of guys outside. Ricochet is up next with a suicide dive to the floor, taking another group of guys out. The Killer Elite Squad attack until War Machine arrive and make the save. Iizuka hits Elgin which set up Suzuki to hit the Gotch Piledriver to score the pinfall and retain his title.
Winner: Minoru Suzuki, by pinfall, to retain the NEVER Openweight Championship.
*** ICW ***
- NXT's Kassius Ohno Getting A Title Shot: WWE and ICW announced this past week that NXT's Kassius Ohno will face the ICW World Heavyweight Champion Joe Coffey on September 19th in Newcastle, England for the title. WWE continue their working relationship with ICW as Kassius Ohno, Noam Dar and WWE United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne continue to do part time work with ICW.
*** PROGRESS Wrestling ***
- New World Champion Crowned: Last weekend PROGRESS World Champion Pete Dunne defended his title against Travis Banks. Banks was able to lock up Dunne in a submission and make Dunne tap out to become the new PROGRESS World Champion.
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!
