Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2023 i Pro Wrestling Illustrated

SIXTY WINS IN a row is one heck of an accomplishment, but nobody can keep winning forever. Just ask Bill Goldberg, who fell to Kevin Nash after being neutralized with a taser in WCW. For all the talk of Jade Cargill as the AEW Goldberg, another comparison seems more apropos. In the October 2021 issue of PWI, Candace Cordelia—in her very first feature in this magazine—likened Cargill to the iconic Joanie “Chyna” Laurer. More than her unbeaten streak, which would go on for almost two years, the statuesque star has been defined by her remarkable presence and seemingly innate ability to command the attention of packed arenas. One year after Candace Cordelia compared Cargill to Chyna, the inaugural TBS champion stood face-to-face with Thunder Rosa on the cover of this…

THE RECENT WRITERS Guild of America strike served to remind us of the value of the human beings behind the dialogue in some of our favorite television shows. Without writers scripting every word that comes out of a character’s mouth, what would we be left with? (Other than authentic wrestling promos, I mean.) Here’s a “Quick Count” dedicated to some of TV’s best-scripted programs. (Cue the “applause” sign.) HACKS Although WWE’s writers were not involved in the union strike, they did find themselves in the news this past spring—albeit for all the wrong reasons. In April, former WWE writer Britney Abrahams sued the company for wrongfully terminating her after she spoke out against what she called “offensively racist and stereotypical jargon” scripted by her fellow creative team members. Among the…

“GLOW UP” IS a term you hear young people use a lot these days. As defined by Urban Dictionary, it refers to “a mental, physical, and an emotional transformation for the better.” It’s an apt description of the journey taken by Trinity (Fatu) over the last year. And, if anybody knows about “glowing,” it’s her. The former Naomi made headlines in May 2022 when she and Sasha Banks—now known as Mercedes Mone—walked out of WWE while still holding the women’s tag team championship. After a dozen years with WWE, in which she developed from a Funkadactyl into a world-renowned two-time Smackdown Women’s champion, Trinity all but disappeared from pro wrestling for the better part of a year. Her return to the sport in May not only made a big impact,…

IN OUR SHARED Los Angeles bungalow rental, where we spent a May weekend promoting an upcoming film featuring us both, I looked across a plate of sushi at Sonny Kiss and smiled. “So, tell me, dear,” I began. “Why did you turn on Orange Cassidy? I'd just love to hear your side.” Many who tune in to AEW programming each week might already have dismissed the crippling low-blow Kiss delivered to the AEW International champion. Perhaps they’ve pushed from their minds Sonny joining Ari Daivari’s Trustbusters faction. As someone who has known the blond bombshell for years, I consider that an utter shame. Certainly, it’s no fault of Sonny’s. Kiss has shined so brightly, for so long. The only explanation as to why Sonny and this shocking, televised about-face did…

RINGMASTER Russian writer Alexander Pushkin once mused that when someone spends enough time in a sewer, that person eventually gets used to the smell. So, it stands to reason that if even a fraction of the material in Abraham Josephine Riesman’s book Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America is accurate, the public face of WWE hasn’t noticed a bad odor in more than four decades. It’s an appropriate question to raise as to whether Ringmaster is to be accepted as an authoritative biography of an infamously polarizing figure. Within the first few pages of the tome, Riesman reveals the work’s agenda via an introductory quote attributed to Buddy Rogers that effectively likens Vince McMahon to Adolf Hitler (see also: Godwin’s law). What follows is an unrelenting anti-McMahon screed,…

WE KNOW HIM today as the guy in a suit on Monday Night Raw and Smackdown who continually waves his arms helplessly as he begs and pleads with WWE wrestlers not to do the terrible things they’re going to do anyway. He can be seen in backstage segments, perpetually frustrated with the ridiculous shenanigans with which he’s forced to contend on a weekly basis. Adam Pearce is professionally exasperated, seeming to exist in a constant state of outrage and disappointment. It’s not easy being an ambiguously defined pro wrestling authority figure. I wouldn’t blame WWE fans for thinking that that’s all Adam Pearce is. The company has not exactly gone out of its way to educate viewers on his background and what he did before coming to WWE. In all…

STARBOY CHARLIE 20-YEAR-OLD PRODIGY; DEBUTED IN 2015 HOMETOWN: San Francisco, California RING STYLE: High-flyer CV: Has caught the rapt attention of his peers and fans alike with his high-risk offense … Member of wrestling’s very own “Brat Pack” of up-and-coming stars with Nick Wayne, Billie Starkz, Brogan Finlay, Leon Slater … Considered to be at the forefront of a white-hot wrestling scene on the West Coast. STRENGTHS: Underdog appeal; rising popularity; fan favorite at Game Changer and West Coast Pro Wrestling WEAKNESSES: High-octane style puts him at risk for injury; needs to add some title belts to his CV WHERE YOU MIGHT SEE THEM: Should Charlie continue to stay healthy and make smart career choices, he will rank among the most sought-after free agents in the wrestling industry. He could…

RICKY SOUTH COULD BECOME THE FACE OF AUSTRALIAN WRESTLING HOMETOWN: Sydney, New South Wales RING STYLE: All-rounder CV: Thrived as PWA Black Label heavyweight champion … Former CHIKARA Young Lions Cup champion, dating back to a pre-pandemic excursion … Has also held heavyweight titles for Sydney’s FWA and Australian Wrestling Superstars … Ranked #6 in Australia on the 2022 list by PWdownunder.com. STRENGTHS: Versatile in-ring and on the mic; solid look and presentation WEAKNESSES: Self-promotion; lesser known outside NSW WHERE YOU MIGHT SEE THEM: South has size, charisma, and ring skills to spare. As such, “Tuff Stuff” would be a great fit in Mexico, Japan, or the U.K. and, with a bit more exposure, may have the luxury of choosing between various contract offers. DELTA STRONG, VERSATILE, AND IMPRESSIVELY PROLIFIC…

We encourage promoters and readers to e-mail results to: PWIResults@yahoo.com Please try to utilize the exact format you see in the “Arena Reports.” Also, please distinguish between handicap matches and three- or four-way matches. And, when reporting the result of a handicap match, indicate the number of competitors and who was the last one eliminated. Finally, please note pinfall finishes. Following these guidelines will help us greatly and make it more likely that your report will be used. SPOTLIGHT CARD OF THE MONTH JAPAN TOKYO—All Japan Champion Carnival Final at Ota City General Gymnasium: Kosei Fujita, Ryohei Oiwa, & Yuto Nakashima defeated Oji Shiiba, Ryo Inoue, & Ryuki Honda … Atsuki Aoyagi, El Lindaman, & Rising HAYATO beat Kaito Ishida, Kotaro Suzuki, & Yutani … SAKI, Unagi Sayaka, & Yoshitatsu…

HE WAS THE man of the hour, the man with the power, too sweet to be sour. You can count on your fingers the number of performers who have had the level of impact and influence on the business (and on those who came after them) that “Superstar” Billy Graham had. Without him, there’s no Ric Flair, no Triple H, no Jesse Ventura, no Scott Steiner, and there sure as hell is no Hulk Hogan. He created the mold, taking a template pioneered by the likes of Gorgeous George and Buddy Rogers and reinventing it on a whole other level—wrapping it in tie-dye, multi-colored feathered boas, and mountains of muscle. Graham set a standard that would be adapted and followed by far too many wrestlers to mention here. The man…

WITH FOUR YEARS OFFICIALLY ON THE BOOKS, WE ARE AT A KEY JUNCTURE FOR WRESTLING’S #2 PROMOTION. HERE’S THE 30,000-FOOT VIEW OF AEW’S SUCCESSES, CHALLENGES, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH WE’RE LED TO believe it began with a bet between the cast of Being The Elite and Dave Meltzer. When the Wrestling Observer author suggested that Ring of Honor could not fill a 10,000-seat arena, Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega, and The Young Bucks assembled a group of friends and peers for the historic All In event over Labor Day Weekend in 2018. Though nominally an independent card with some production assistance from ROH, that show very much set the stage for the January 1, 2019, unveiling of the Tony Khan-backed All Elite Wrestling. The bet story is fun, but it wasn’t…

FROM THE MOMENT it was announced that Zoey Stark (then Lacey Ryan) had signed a contract with WWE in 2021, a multitude of wrestling fans began to follow her every move and news bite—believing the Utah native’s considerable in-ring ability would make her a top contender in any women’s division. And, despite a few obstacles, it has. From 205 Live to the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, and a Women’s title bout with Io Shirai, Stark showed right away that she could thrive as both a solo and tag team competitor. Together, Stark and Shirai ultimately formed a capable duo, capturing the NXT Women’s tag belts at Great American Bash 2021. Unfortunately, a torn ACL/meniscus injury would indefinitely halt Stark’s momentum—and her WWE career—just as it was taking off. About…

Ratings are based on won-lost records for the past month, quality of opposition, and inherent skill of each wrestler or tag team. Unless submitted by promoters, ratings are compiled by a committee consisting of Kevin McElvaney, Pat Laprade, Louie Dee, Harry Burkett, Jason McVeigh, Paul Pratt, Marek Indyka (Australia), and STRIGGA (cagematch.net, purolove.com). The numbers in parentheses indicate a wrestler’s position in that category last issue. HEAVYWEIGHT 1 SETH ROLLINS 217, Davenport, IA (-) WWE World heavyweight champion 2 MJF 205, Plainview, NY (5) AEW World champion 3 SANADA 220, Niigata, Japan (2) IWGP World champion 4 ROMAN REIGNS 265, Pensacola, FL (1) WWE Undisputed champion 5 HIJO DEL VIKINGO 207, Nuevo Leon, Mexico (3) AAA Mega champion 6 STEVE MACLIN 227, Rutherford, NJ (6) IMPACT World champion 7 GUNTHER…