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, Impact Wrestling, ROH, Lucha Underground, NJPW, House of Hardcore, NWA, ICW, CZW, FIP, AAW, EVOLVE, 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 of the week will also be a tribute. This past Wednesday, Chris Cornell, lead singer of Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog and Audioslave sadly ended his own life. Chris played a huge part in the music I loved in high school and I still listen to today. Be Yourself, by Audioslave was used in the WWE's 2005 Diva Search Contest. RIP Chris and Say Hello To Heaven.....
*** WWE ***
- Brock Lesnar Universal Championship Defenses: Due to Braun Strowman being out for the next possible 6 months with his elbow injury, WWE had to switch things up storyline wise. Originally Braun Strowman was set to face Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship at WWE Great Balls of Fire, however, that has all changed now. The winner of the Fatal Five Way Match at WWE Extreme Rules will now get the title shot against Lesnar at WWE Great Balls of Fire. Rumors are stating that if Strowman is able to return by August for WWE Summerslam than that will probably be the time Strowman gets his WWE Universal Championship Match.
- Original Plans For Chris Jericho: Chris Jericho was interviewed this week on Busted Open Radio and revealed the original plans that almost happened. Jericho stated that he originally was to defeat Kevin Owens at Wrestlemania 33 for the WWE Universal Championship and then go on to WWE Payback and lose it to Brock Lesnar. With all the Goldberg hype started up, the WWE decided to go with Goldberg dropping it to Lesnar instead.
- Braun Strowman Injury Update: Last week it was announced that Braun Strowman would miss 4 to 6 weeks due to issues with his elbow. This week things took a turn for the worse as now WWE is stating that Strowman will be out for 6 months, after receiving elbow surgery. Strowman had been dealing with elbow issues the past month and needed to get the problem addressed before it was too late.
- John Cena Update: WWE announced that John Cena will return for a special RAW and Smackdown Live edition on July 3rd and July 4th. Those are the only dates Cena is scheduled for with nothing permanent in the future at this time. Cena is currently following the Hollywood path and making movies. Cena is currently promoting his war movie called The Wall and is currently filming the comedy Daddy's Home 2 with Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg.
- New Signee: F4WOnline.com is reporting that Io Shirai has accepted an offer with WWE and is expected to start at the WWE Performance Center soon. Shirai, who is said to be one of the top women's wrestling stars in Japan, was at the WWE tryouts in March. It's rumored that Shirai will join NXT to strengthen the Women's roster, but no official announcement has been made yet.
** Io Shirai Career Highlights:
- Was born and raised in Kamakura, Kanagawa.
- Was trained by Takashi Sasaki and Tomohiko Hashimoto.
- Made wrestling debut in 2007.
- Has wrestled for Japan's World Wonder Ring Stardom, All Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Zero1, Ice Ribbon Wrestling, NEO Japan Ladies Pro Wrestling, SMASH, IWRG, AAA and Pro Wrestling Wave.
- 1 Time TLW World Young Women's Tag Team Champion, with Mio Shirai.
- 4 Time Artist of Stardom Champion, with Mayu Iwatani and Takumi Iroha (1), Kairi Hojo and Mayu Iwatani (1), HZK and Momo Watanabe (1) and AZM and HZK (1).
- 1 Time Goddess of Stardom Champion, with Mayu Iwatani.
- 1 Time High Speed Champion.
- 1 Time SWA World Champion.
- 1 Time Wonder of Stardom Champion.
- 2 Time World of Stardom Champion.
- 1 Time Americas World Mixed Tag Team Champion, with Nosawa.
- Summer Rae Update: WWE announced this week that Summer Rae has been finally cleared to return to the ring. Summer has been out of action since last August due to neck and back injuries. She was training at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando in March to get back into wrestling and working off ring rust.
- Work For Good Ol' J.R.: Jim Ross announced on the WWE UK Special this past Friday afternoon and he also announced the WWE United Kingdom Championship Match at NXT Takeover: Chicago. WWE has announced that Jim Ross will also do the announcing during this summer's Women's Tournament on WWE Network. Jim Ross recently signed a new WWE contract, but it was unknown at the time what kind of work JR would be doing.
- Final Card For Tonight's WWE Backlash Pay Per View: Tonight is WWE Backlash and as usual I will provide you with the shows recap on Monday afternoon if you miss the show.
- "WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match": Randy Orton (c) vs. Jinder Mahal.
- "WWE United States Championship Match": Kevin Owens (c) vs. AJ Styles.
- "WWE Smackdown Live World Tag Team Championship Match": The Usos (c) vs. Breezango.
- Dolph Ziggler vs Shinsuke Nakamura.
- "Six Woman Tag Team Match": Naomi, Charlotte and Becky Lynch vs. Carmella, Nattie Neidhart and Tamina.
- Erick Rowan vs. Luke Harper.
- Baron Corbin vs. Sami Zayn.
- Tye Dillinger vs. Aiden English.
** 205 Live Recap **
This week's main event saw Austin Aries battle TJ Perkins.
- Backstage, Austin Aries knows that Neville is using TJ Perkins and he plans to beat Perkins tonight even with his current knee injury.
Winner: Noam Dar, by pinfall.
- Backstage, Brian Kendrick is disappointed with Akira Tozawa because he's still catering to the fans instead of listening to Kendrick's life lessons. Kendrick will face Tozawa in a Street Fight Match next week.
Winner: No Contest.
- Backstage, Rich Swann says he's not worried about Noam Dar and Alicia Fox. A package arrives for Swann, he sends it to Ariya Daivari, Daivari denies it, so Jack Gallagher takes it. Daivari takes it back, opens it and gets powder shot into his face from inside.
Winner: Austin Aries, by submission.
** WWE UK Special Recap **
This past Friday afternoon WWE held a special United Kingdom show which showcased some of the best talent in the United Kingdom and the Cruiserweights of the WWE. The main event of the show saw WWE United Kingdom Champion Tyler Bate defend his title against Mark Andrews.
- Wolfgang vs. Joseph Conners: The match closes out with Conners unloading kicks on Wolfgang and a near fall lung blower. Conners with a slingshot flatliner on Wolfgang for another near fall. Conners works on the ribs and hits a spinebuster for a near fall. Wolfgang catches Conners coming off the ropes and nails a spear. Wolfgang goes to the top rope and hits the Senton Splash for the pinfall.
Winner: Wolfgang, by pinfall.
- TJ Perkins and Brian Kendrick vs. Rich Swann and Dan Moloney: The match closes out with Swann hot tagging and unloading. Swann gets a near fall front flip leg drop on Kendrick. Swann and Kendrick battle to the top rope where Swann hits an atomic drop on Kendrick. Moloney gets sent outside, but makes it back in to break up Kendrick's Captain's Hook submission on Swann. Perkins gets in a cheap shot and Kendrick gets a rollup pinfall to win the match.
Winners: TJ Perkins and Brian Kendrick, by pinfall.
- #1 Contenders Match For The WWE United Kingdom Championship": Pete Dunne vs. Trent Seven: The match closes out with Dunne countering a Dragon Suplex, but gets destroyed by Seven with a lariat for a very close near fall. Seven is holding his arm in pain that he hit the lariat with, as Dunne was working on it the whole match. Dunne goes for a hanging Kimura Lock submission, but Seven powers out and hits a Dragon Suplex. Dunne rakes Seven in the eyes, hits the Bitter End and scores the pinfall, earning Dunne a WWE United Kingdom Championship Match at NXT Takeover: Chicago.
Winner: Pete Dunne, by pinfall, to become the new #1 Contender to the WWE United Kingdom Championship.
- "WWE United Kingdom Championship Match": Tyler Bate (c) vs. Mark Andrews: The match closes out with Andrews going to the top rope, but Bate lands an enziguri. Bate goes up top and places Andrews on his shoulders. Andrews counters by hitting a hurricanrana on Bate. Andrews hits a running shooting star press on Bate and gets a near fall. Bate plants a super kick and then drills Andrews with a lariat. Bate counters a suplex by Andrews and hits Stundog Millionaire. Bate attempts a Shooting Star Press off the top rope, but Andrews blocks with the knees up. Bate comes back and plants a rolling front kick, stunning Andrews. Bate with the Tyler Driver 97 and the pinfall follows to retain the title. After the match, Pete Dunne hits the ring and beats down Andrews. William Regal arrives and forces Dunne to back off. Dunne and Bate stare each other down to end the show.
Winner: Tyler Bate, by pinfall, to retain the WWE United Kingdom Championship.
*** NXT ***
- The Original Idea For SAnitY: Former NXT superstar Marcus Louis was interviewed this week and he revealed the original plan for the SAnitY stable that is currently led by Eric Young.
“Initially, SAnitY was supposed to be Sami Callahan, myself, and Sawyer Fulton. We were the the three people who were supposed to be SAnitY at first. I was told about this idea in late 2015. It was September 2015, I think, I was told by Triple H himself. He came and said, "I have this great idea for you guys. We’re gonna bring you in as a trio of sort of like punk-looking people, sort of like Mad Max." And then it was supposed to be Crowe, myself, and Fulton. But he was like long-term, and it was a long shot already. So Callahan left NXT, and then there was a different talk. They were talking about bringing in somebody new to be the leader of this faction.”
Obviously the original idea never worked out as former Impact World Heavyweight Champion Eric Young was signed to NXT and was made as the leader of SAnitY. SAnitY debuted as Eric Young, Sawyer Fulton, Alexander Wolfe and Nikki Cross. Fulton suffered an injury and was soon replaced by Damian Killian.
- Tommaso Ciampa Injured: This past week Tommaso Ciampa of #DIY was reportedly injured at Thursday night's NXT live event in Highland Heights, KY. Ciampa and his partner, Johnny Gargano, were facing Sanity at the show when a few minutes into the match, Ciampa dove off the ring apron onto Sanity and hurt his left leg. The match was quickly stopped and ruled a no contest. An upset Ciampa hopped to the back yelling, "get me the f**k out of here". It's unknown at this time on how severe the leg injury is.
- NXT Takeover: Chicago: If you missed last night's show, make sure to check out my full recap on Triple Threat CLE.
*** Impact/Global Force Wrestling ***
** Impact TV Recap **
This week the GFW World Tag Team Championship Tournament kicked off. The main event of the show saw Low Ki defend his Impact X Division Championship in an Ultimate X Match against Trevor Lee and Andrew Everett.
- "GFW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Match": LAX vs. The Lorado Kid and Garza Jr.: The match closes out with Santana hitting the Code Red on Garza Jr. LAX then hit their double team finisher to score the pinfall and advance in the tournament.
Winners: LAX, by pinfall.
- Backstage, Magnus blames Bruce Prichard and says it's Prichard's fault that he lost the GFW Global Championship last week. Prichard says it's his own fault. Magnus says he's going to prove what he can do.
Winner: Kongo Kong, by pinfall.
- Backstage, Karen Jarrett announces Eddie and Alisha Edwards vs. Davey Richards and Angelina Love for next week. Magnus suddenly pushes past Karen, upsetting her.
Winner: James Storm, by DQ.
Winner: Sienna, by pinfall, to retain the GFW Women's Championship.
- Jeremy Borash Promo: JB announces that he has an attorney and he's been reinstated to Impact. JB introduces Joseph Park as his attorney. Park challenges Josh Mathews to find a tag team partner and face him and JB at Slammiversary.
Winner: Low Ki, by title retrieval, to retain the Impact X Division Championship.
*** Ring Of Honor ***
** ROH TV Recap **
The main event of the show saw Bully Ray and The Briscoes defend their Six Man Tag Team Championship against The Rebellion.
- Search and Destroy (Chris Sabin and Jonathan Gresham) vs. Cheeseburger and Will Ferrara: The match closes out with Cheeseburger accidentally taking out Ferrara with the Shotei Strike. Gresham applies the Octopus submission on Cheeseburger and forces the tap out. After the match, Ferrara walks out on Cheeseburger.
Winners: Chris Sabin and Jonathan Gresham, by submission.
- Backstage, Silas Young talks trash to Jay Lethal, calling him the ROH golden boy. Young attacks, hits Lethal with a forearm and tosses him head first into the lockers.
- Bobby Fish vs. Silas Young: The match closes out with Beer City Bruiser trying to interfere, forcing the referee and Fish to go after him. Young uses his knee brace to hit Fish with while the referee is distracted and scores the pinfall.
Winner: Silas Young, by pinfall.
- Backstage, Dalton Castle says alot of people think he hit rock bottom when he lost to Christopher Daniels, but he promises to keep fighting for the ROH World Championship.
- "Six Man Tag Team Championship Match": Bully Ray and The Briscoes (c) vs. The Rebellion: The match closes out with The Briscoes suicide diving The Rebellion. Rhett Titus blocks Froggie Bow by getting his knees up. Titus hits a drop kick but misses a frog splash. Bully and The Briscoes hit 3D and score the pinfall to retain the titles. After the match, Bully and The Briscoes set up a table and Bully hits the Bully Bomb on Caprice Coleman through the table.
Winners: Bully Ray and The Briscoes, by pinfall, to retain the ROH Six Man Tag Team Championship.
** ROH War of the Worlds Recap **
ROH War of the Worlds was live at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City last weekend. Both ROH and NJPW were present for the show. The main event of the show saw ROH World Champion Christopher Daniels defend his title in a Triple Threat Match against Cody Rhodes and Jay Lethal.
** Dark Matches **
- The Kingdom defeated The Tempura Boyz, by pinfall, after TK O'Ryan hit Yohei with a crutch, allowing Matt Taven to score the pinfall.
- The Rebellion defeated Cheeseburger, Will Ferrara and Gedo, by pinfall, in a Six Man Tag Team Match. Shane Taylor hits a top rope splash on Cheeseburger for the pinfall.
** ROH War of the Worlds **
- NJPW Officials Announcement: New Japan Pro Wrestling officials kicked off the show by announcing their newly created title called the IWGP United States Championship. A tournament will take place on July 1st and 2nd to crown the first ever champion. NJPW announced Jay Lethal as the first official wrestler in the tournament. Hangman Adam Page interrupted and disagreed with their decision on choosing Lethal. Page was held back by ROH officials and forced to leave.
- "Four Corner Survival Match": KUSHIDA vs. Bobby Fish vs. Dalton Castle vs. "The Last Real Man" Silas Young: The match closes out with Fish unloading with kicks and then sends Silas into KUSHIDA with an Exploder. Fish counters Castle's Bang A Rang and locks in a submission, but KUSHIDA breaks it up. KUSHIDA goes for the Hoverboard Lock on Fish, but Silas breaks it up. KUSHIDA counters Silas' Misery finisher and drives Silas into the mat. Castle ends up catching Fish, hits the Bang A Rang and scores the pinfall.
Winner: Dalton Castle, by pinfall.
Winner: Hangman Adam Page, by pinfall.
Winners: War Machine, by pinfall.
Winner: Will Ospreay, by pinfall.
Winners: The Briscoes and Bully Ray, by pinfall, to retain the ROH Six Man Tag Team Championship.
Winner: Marty Scurll, by submission, to retain the ROH Television Championship.
Winners: The Young Bucks, by pinfall, to retain the ROH World Tag Team Championship.
Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi, by pinfall.
- Adam Cole's Farewell: After the match, Cole receives the traditional streamer toss and gets the "Thank You Adam" chants from the crowd. Cole has been rumored to be leaving ROH for NXT and this was Cole's last ROH pay per view appearance. The Young Bucks hit the ring and tease a super kick attack on Cole, but laugh and hug Cole instead. The lights suddenly go out in the building and Kenny Omega appears on the big screen. Omega mocks Cole's farewell and is highly disappointed in The Bucks for going along with this considering Cole tried to fire The Bucks from The Bullet Club last month. Omega fires Cole from The Bullet Club, calls Cole's tenure in ROH and in The Bullet Club storied and in every story the story has a hero and.........a villain. The camera pans out and reveals "The Villain" Marty Scurll sitting beside Omega. The lights pop back on in the arena and Marty Scurll is inside the ring. Scurll opens his umbrella and reveals The Bullet Club logo on it as The Bucks turn and drill Cole with double superkicks. Scurll reveals that he's wearing a Bullet Club t-shirt as he hits Cole in the head with his umbrella. The Bucks then plant the kiss of death on Cole's cheeks, tell him goodbye and leave Cole laying.
Winner: Christopher Daniels, by pinfall, to retain the ROH World Championship.
- New Signee: ROH announced the signing of Travis “Flip” Gordon to an ROH contract. Gordon made his mark at a ROH tryout camp before getting an opportunity on Ring of Honor television. From there, the high-flying Gordon impressed the ROH Board of Directors and earned a contract.
** Travis "Flip" Gordon Career Highlights:
- Born and raised in Kalispell, Montana.
- Was trained at New England Pro Wrestling Academy.
- Made his wrestling debut in 2015.
- Has competed in NEPWA and Chaotic Wrestling.
- Has yet to win any titles in his career.
*** SHINE ***
SHINE 42 was live in Ybor City, Florida. The main event of the show saw LaFisto defend her SHINE World Championship against Leva Bates.
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- Dementia D'Rose defeated Aja Perera, by pinfall, in a Sparkle Showcase Match.
- Maria Maria defeated Dynamite DiDi by pinfall, with a Gory Bomb.
- Kiera Hogan defeated Priscilla Kelly, by pinfall, with a lateral press, after Aria Blake and Candy Cartwright interfered and hit DDT's.
- ACR defeated Lindsay Snow, by pinfall, with a roundhouse kick.
- Aerial Monroe defeated Aria Blake, by pinfall, with Dirty Dancing.
- "SHINE Tag Team Championship Match": Las Sicarias (Ivelisse and Mercedes Martinez) defeated Gabi Castrovinci and Santana Garrett, by pinfall, with a high kick and a victory roll, to win the SHINE Tag Team Championship.
- Allysin Kay defeated Chelsea Green, by pinfall, with a counter Stunner on a dive.
- Renee Michelle defeated Candy Cartwright, by DQ, when Aria Blake and Kiera Hogan attack Renee. Aerial Monroe and Priscilla Kelly make the save. An impromptu tag match is made after a challenge is thrown out by Aerial.
- "Six Woman Tag Team Match": Aerial Monroe, Priscilla Kelly and Renee Michelle defeated Aria Blake, Candy Cartwright and Kiera Hogan, by pinfall, with a lateral press from Kelly onto Hogan.
- It's announced that a new title is being created for SHINE and it will be called the Nova Championship. The first champion will be crowned in Ybor City over two days on July 13th and July 14th.
- "SHINE World Championship Match": LuFisto (c) defeated Leva Bates, by pinfall, with the Burning Hammer to retain her Shine World Championship.
*** CZW ***
- Sami Callihan Takes Over Creative Team: Pro Wrestling Sheet has learned Sami Callihan recently took over CZW's creative team to help lead them into the future. Sources stated that Callihan and his team will be handling creative/promotional decisions from now on, while CZW Prez DJ Hyde will focus on managing all the back-end business aspects of the company.
*** 5 Star Wrestling ***
- 5 Star Wants CM Punk: The Sun reported this past week that 5 Star Wrestling promoter Daniel Hinkles is offering $1 million to former WWE Champion CM Punk to make a return to the ring for 5 Star Wrestling's 128-man tournament that begins on June 10th in Liverpool, England. Hinkles stated the following.
“We’ve been trying to contact CM Punk on and off for well over a year. We wanted him on the first show we did in Edinburgh in 2015. I’ve tried going through friends in the industry, I’ve gone through his website and sent dozens of emails but the opportunity has never been this big. We want to offer CM Punk $1 million dollars (£770,000) to come and join the 5 Star Wrestling tour starting June 10th. It’s a genuine offer. We’d love to hear back from the man himself. We want to do this with him.”
Punk who hasn't been apart of the wrestling world since 2014 is currently signed under UFC and is actually training for his second fight, but nothing has been announced.
*** Other ***
- Shelly Martinez Retires: Former WWE and ECW diva Shelly Martinez announced this week that she is officially retiring from all of professional wrestling
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!
