#Americanrana 2018

[closetofanxiety]

Pro Wrestling BIZ TALK

Events are moving very quickly, and let’s try to get a handle on them:

* Elite Wrestling Club is having their first big public event TONIGHT in beautiful Jacksonville, Fla. ahead of Smackdown, which is in the same city. They’re billing it as a “rally,” which means they have some PR capital in whether or not people actually show up. 

* As of yet, we don’t know if they’ll have a TV show or a touring schedule, or whether they’ll be working with other promotions. Big Dave says NJPW initially gave AEW the brushoff, but then panicked when Ken O’Mega announced his departure, and now they want to do business with the Cody Jacksons. 

* I know how this is going to sound, but I think AEW, in order to really make a splash, needs at least one high-profile signing, and by “high profile” I mean C.M. Punk, or a rough equivalent. There’s going to be zero interest in AEW from the casuals without that kind of attraction, and limited interest even from people who keep up with WWE. I know the Cody Jacksons and Ken O’Mega are big deals inside the wrestling bubble, but drawing 11,000 people to what was billed as a once-in-a-generation supershow is not the same thing as having a year-round business model. It is not, so far, a particularly deep bench. I mean, I like SCU and Britt Baker, but is anyone out there like HOLY SHIT, FRANKIE KAZARIAN!!! I WASN’T ON BOARD BEFORE, BUT NOW I GOTTA FOLLOW AEW’S EVERY MOVE!!! 

* Ring of Honor is in a weird position! They’re three months away from their biggest show of all time, and as it stands at this moment, they are in a worse position than they were a year ago. I wonder if there are bitter recriminations about helping the Elite Boys put All In together. Ring of Honor feels like they became the number two promotion in the U.S. essentially by accident, and have no idea what to do next. The MSG show, which should be the high point of ROH history, is going to end up being a NJPW show with ROH riding along in the sidecar. 

* New Japan is also in kind of a weird position. Poised to expand internationally, they’ve just lost their biggest international stars. Jericho wants to return for a program with Tanahashi, and that would be a lot of fun, but it’s a short-term solution. Tanahashi vs. Jericho is many things, but it’s not exactly a battle of hot young stars. They seem determined to fumble the ball on Naito, who has the most breakout potential of anyone on the roster, and the Bullet Club now has all the cachet of nWo 2000. I know there are people in the wrestling bubble who think Knife Pervert Jay White is going to be an enormous Kenny Omega-level star, but - and I fully admit I struggle to get on board with New Japan - I do not see it, to put it charitably. 

* Speaking of weird positions! Impact is in a weird position. The quality of the product is the best it’s been in years, and as strange as it feels to say this, Impact has become something of a critics’ darling. They have an incredibly talented roster of exciting young wrestlers and they’ve had higher highlights, when it comes to pay-per-view quality, than any other U.S. (or, Canadian, I guess) promotion in 2018. HOWEVER, their business model seems incoherent at best: they have an OTT streaming service for 10 bucks a month that doesn’t get you access to the PPVs; they have a weekly TV show that has moved from an obscure cable channel to a cable channel that might as well be a state secret; and they’re simulcasting that weekly TV show on Twitch, which suggests they aren’t expecting to rake in the advertising dollars, to say the least. They don’t tour, and most of their roster is non-exclusive, meaning their appeal is diluted in an age when so much wrestling is available to watch over the Internet. For the first time in years, there aren’t swirling rumors of their imminent demise, but it doesn’t feel right to say they’re doing “well,” at least not financially. Like ROH, Impact could really benefit from a big creative risk or a shakeup, but it doesn’t seem like one is coming (and I don’t really have any idea what one would look like, either). 

* What about the indies? The model that developed over the course of the 2010s - Every Show Is a Supershow - is not sustainable now that WWE signed 80 percent of famous indie wrestlers to deals, with ROH scrambling to lock up anyone they can (and maybe AEW and Impact and MLW following suit). The first Americanrana I saw, back in 2015, featured, among others, Chris Hero/Kassius Ohno, Johnny Gargano, Matt Taven, Mike and & Maria Kanellis, Biff Busick/Oney Lorcan, Drew Gulak, Curt Hawkins, “Speedball” Mike Bailey, David Starr, AR Fox, Tracy Williams, Chuck Taylor, Trent, Eddie Kingston, Nick Gage, Doom Patrol, EYFBO/LAX, Kimber Lee, Heidi Lovelace/Ruby Riott, and the Young Bucks. Forget about all the people on that list who’ve signed exclusive deals since then: it’s hard to imagine an indie promoter who could afford to book that show in 2019. What’s the alternative? Beyond Wrestling is launching a weekly two-hour TV show that it promises is not, in fact, a TV show, which is both bold and confusing. I’m doubtful it’s going to accomplish what they’re hoping it will, but at least it’s something different. What’s everyone else that isn’t PWG doing? Still trying to imitate PWG? Bringing in old ECW guys and/or famous old guys from Japan, because at least Vince isn’t going to sign Great Sasuke or Onita (OR WILL HE???)? 

* This last one isn’t a biz thing, but I wanted to noted how terrible that Braun/Brock segment was last night. Hugely embarrassing! 

[chikaraspecial]

He is The Cream In Your Coffee, Your Favorite Wrestler’s Favorite Wrestler, The Jewish Cannon, The Physical Embodiment of Charisma, The Most Entertaining Man in Professional Wrestling, The Bernie Sanders of Professional Wrestling, Mr. Americanrana, Davey Wrestling, The 104 Minute Man, The Main Event, The King of Taunts, The Product, “really good at Twitter”, and is also making his CHIKARA debut next Saturday at the Wrestle Factory - David Starr!

2018 has been a year of up and downs for “Mr. Touchdown.” He won the Tag World Grand Prix tournament, but failed to win the Campeonatos de Parejas. He gave CHIKARA the decisive win in the Clan Feuds series against Beyond Wrestling by defeating “Hot Sauce” Tracy Williams, but lost to Matt Riddle the previous month. He’s been chosen to face David Starr in a first time singles encounter in the hopes of keeping the momentum going he has coming in from this past Saturday. A win here means Touchdown has an opportunity to challenge for the Grand Championship yet again. Will he be victorious?

“Egg Monsters From Mars” - Philadelphia, PA -  July 28, 2018

1. “Mr. Touchdown” Mark Angelosetti (2 Points) vs. David Starr (0 Points)

2. The Beast Warriors (Oleg the Usurper & The Proletariat Boar of Moldova), Sonny Defarge & Cornelius Crummels vs. Legion of Rot (Hallowicked & Frightmare) & The Closers (Rick Roland & Sloan Caprice)

3. Jeremy Leary, “Juke Joint” Lucas Calhoun & B.M.D. vs. The Proteus Wheel (Callux the Castigator, Frantik & Volgar)

4. Kikutaro, Los Ice Creams ( El Hijo del Ice Cream & Ice Cream Jr.) & Princess KimberLee vs. Travis Huckabee, Tony Deppen & The Creatures of the Deep (Hermit Crab & Cajun Crawdad)

5. Blanche Babish (0 Points) vs. The Whisper (0 Points)

[prowrestlingpost-com]

#Preview Beyond Wrestling Presents Americanrana '19

#Preview Beyond Wrestling Presents Americanrana ’19

Beyond Wrestling is coming to Foxwoods in Connecticut for their premier event, Americanrana. The legacy of this event began back in 2013 and has grown ever since. The 2018 edition of Americanrana was highlighted by the No Ropes Barbed Wire match between David Starr and Joey Janela. Starr and Janela will once again clash, this time in an iron man match. Beyond’s reputation for incredible,…

[soontobenamednetwork]

Wrestling On the Edge of Forever: Episode 22

Wrestling On the Edge of Forever: Episode 22

Welcome back to Wrestling On the Edge of Forever.

This week in Star Trek, we’re talking Next Generation. The crew spends some time in the Holodeck…with some pretty interesting consequences. We meet some interesting fake characters.

In the wrestling segment, we check out Hot Sauce Tracy Williams taking on indie wrestling up and comer Wheeler Yuta from Beyond Wrestling’s Americanrana 2018.

[gdwessel]

G1 Climax 28 Night 12 - 8/1/2018; Bullet Club v. CHAOS 10-Man at ROH Death Before Dishonor; This Week’s NJPW on AXS

And we are back, with B Block matches today.

- 8/1/2018, Kagoshima Arena

Bad Luck Fale & Tanga Loa [Bullet Club] d. Michael Elgin & Shota Umino (Loa > Umino, Apeshit, 4:57)

Adam Page & Chase Owens [Bullet Club] d. Togi Makabe & Toa Henare (Page > Henare, Rite of Passage, 6:40)

YOSHI-HASHI & SHO [CHAOS] d. Jay White & YOH [CHAOS] (YOSHI-HASHI > YOH, Butterfly Lock, 6:37) 

EVIL & BUSHI [Los Ingobernables] d. Hiroshi Tanahashi & David Finlay Jr. (EVIL > Finlay, EVIL STO, 6:55)

Minoru Suzuki & El Desperado [SZKG] d. Kazuchika Okada & Gedo [CHAOS] (Desperado > Gedo, Pinche Loco, 7:34)

G1 Climax 28 B Block: Tama Tonga [Bullet Club] d. Tomohiro Ishii [CHAOS] (Gunstun, 10:32)

G1 Climax 28 B Block: Juice Robinson d. SANADA [Los Ingobernables] (Pulp Friction, 12:36)

G1 Climax 28 B Block: Tetsuya Naito [Los Ingobernables] d. Toru Yano [CHAOS] (Destino, 8:28)

G1 Climax 28 B Block: Kenny Omega [Bullet Club] d. Zack Sabre Jr. [SZKG] (Crucifix Hold, 15:14)

G1 Climax 28 B Block: Kota Ibushi [FREE] d. Hirooki Goto [CHAOS] (Kamigoye, 18:09)

 I am actually surprised they had Kenny go over Sabre here, but Naito and Ibushi continue to breathe down his neck. Tama Tonga and Juice Robinson both save themselves from elimination, however Toru Yano is now out of contention.

Current B Block standings:

Omega: 12pts (6W 0D 0L) Naito: 10pts (5W 0D 1L) Ibushi: 8pts (4W 0D 2L) SANADA: 6pts (3W 0D 2L) Sabre: 6pts (3W 0D 3L) Ishii: 4pts (2W 0D 4L) Goto: 4pts (2W 0D 4L) Tonga: 4pts (2W 0D 4L) Robinson: 4pts (2W 0D 4L) Yano: 2pts (1W 0D 5L)

In the meantime, ROH is announcing matches for their Death Before Dishonor PPV on 9/28/2018 in Las Vegas. The first match announced is a 10-man tag between members for Bullet Club and CHAOS. You can see the lineups in the pic above. Trent Beretta is now back wrestling, as he appeared in ROH recently, and also wrestled in Beyond Wrestling at their Americanrana supershow on Sunday night. The tickets are on sale now if you are in their Honor Club, or if not, you can buy them starting Friday.

On a related note, Fighting Spirit Unleashed tickets went on sale today too.

NJPW on AXS returns to G1 Climax, with footage from Night 2 of the tournament, from Tokyo Ota Ward Gymnasium on 7/15/2018. Featured matches are Kota Ibushi v. Zack Sabre Jr., and Kenny Omega v. Tetsuya Naito. You know the drill by now. Looking ahead it appears they are going to be skipping some dates, probably the non-Tokyo ones.

A Block resumes tomorrow, with a critical match between Kazuchika Okada v. Minoru Suzuki. More critical for Okada, as he has failed to beat Suzuki in his previous 2 attempts, both going to 30-minute draws. Tanahashi v. EVIL looks good too.

- 8/2/2018, Fukuoka Citizen Gymnasium

Toa Henare & Ren Narita v. Toru Yano & Gedo [CHAOS]

Hirooki Goto & YOH [CHAOS] v. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa [Bullet Club]

Juice Robinson & David Finlay Jr. v. Zack Sabre Jr. & TAKA Michinoku [SZKG]

Tomohiro Ishii & SHO [CHAOS] v. Kenny Omega & Chase Owens [Bullet Club]

Tetsuya Naito & SANADA [Los Ingobernables] v. Kota Ibushi [FREE] & Yujiro Takahashi [Bullet Club]

G1 Climax 28 A Block: Michael Elgin v. Bad Luck Fale [Bullet Club]

G1 Climax 28 A Block: Togi Makabe v. Adam Page [Bullet Club]

G1 Climax 28 A Block: Jay White [CHAOS] v. YOSHI-HASHI [CHAOS] 

G1 Climax 28 A Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi v. EVIL [Los Ingobernables]

G1 Climax 28 A Block: Kazuchika Okada [CHAOS] v. Minoru Suzuki [SZKG]

[reelinplace]