POST IT NOTES
**On this week’s Rewind-A-SmackDown, Wai Ting is joined by Andrew Thompson for the entire show to review SmackDown, take your phone calls, and go over the news from the past few days. The show began with a follow-up discussion from Andrew’s appearance on Rewind-A-Raw last week and his feelings on what changes have been seen, addressing the problems with policing, the coverage of George Floyd’s case and others, and that portion of the show has been made available for everyone to hear.
**Eric Marcotte will have a report on tonight’s UFC Fight Night card on the site featuring Jessica Eye vs. Cynthia Calvillo in the main event.
**Andrew Thompson is a guest on “Da” Podcast this week as well speaking about working here on the site and tons of other subjects.
**Wai Ting and I will be back on Sunday night for the WWE Backlash POST Show covering the pay-per-view and taking your calls. Double Double, Iced Capp & Espresso members can watch the POST Show live and call immediately after Backlash ends.
WRESTLING NEWS
**There was a very powerful moment on SmackDown when Big E. and Kofi Kingston entered the ring and took a knee. It was never mentioned by the announcers, but it was focused on with the camera staying on the two and I thought it was a powerful visual. The two wore black armbands in memory of Shukri Abdi, Breonna Taylor, and Tamla Horsford.
Shukri Abdi was a 12-year old refugee who died after a mysterious drowning in June 2019. There were five other children with her on the day she drowned and there is pressure to re-visit the case and determine whether it was an accident or not.
Breonna Taylor was killed by police during a raid into her Louisville, Kentucky home back in March. The family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit and has also accused the officers of using excessive force and gross negligence. In the suit, they stated the officers knocked on her door and failed to identify themselves as police when Taylor awoke with her boyfriend Kenneth Walker. The family is alleging there was a botched search-warrant issued for a narcotics investigation that had no connection to Taylor or Walker. When the officers entered, Walker fired a shot hitting an officer in self-defense and the officers began to fire and led to Taylor being killed. A new law called “Breonna’s Law” has banned no-knock warrants after being voted on by the Louisville Metro Council.
Tamla Horsford died in November 2018 while attending a party and fell off a deck. The State of Georgia’s Medical Examiner ruled it accidental and consistent with a fall but family and friends have disputed this and led to the case being re-examined. Horsford was a mother of five and died at the age of 40.
**Mustafa Ali (Adeel Alam) spoke with Justin Barrasso of SI.com after initial reluctance regarding police reform, the criminal justice system targeting black people, and his own observations from serving for four years as a police officer in Chicago.
I had joined the police department because I truly believed that, at its core, the police officer profession was a noble one. To protect and to serve, to lay your life down to protect the innocent. I felt, what could be more noble than that? I was well aware of all the problems that the police department was having with the community, and I was aware that it needed change. I thought the best way to bring change to the police department [was] from within. That’s why I joined.
People are talking about bringing reform to the police department as a potential solution to this crisis, but I’m here to tell you that is not the solution because it’s not the root of the problem. The criminal justice system is designed to profit off of arresting Black people.
The system is not designed to help people. It’s designed to hunt people. Until we reform the entire system and we get [away] from any kind of profit motives, then there will be no reform. There will be no change. You take the money and the profit out of it, that’s when you’ll reform. That’s when you’ll see change.
**To follow up on that story, Netflix has made the documentary 13th available for free and outlines many of the subjects that Ali has raised about the surging rate of incarcerations among minorities and a deep look at the prison industry.
**On Friday, CMLL announced the passing of Jose Francisco Gonzalez Lopez, who wrestled as Ares el Guerrero. He had wrestled for over thirty years beginning in 1988. After a decade of wrestling around Mexico, he joined CMLL (then EMLL). He had scaled back his schedule over the past years with his last match taking place back in February in Puebla teaming with Black Tiger & Guerrero Espacial against King Jaguar, El Hijo de Centella Roja & Meyer.
**Friday Night SmackDown was back over two million viewers on the overnight figures. The show averaged 2,016,000 viewers on Fox with 0.5 in the 18-49 demographic, which was tops for the night among network programming. The final figure will be out Monday.
**Pro Wrestling NOAH has a show Sunday morning inside an empty arena with the following card:
*Go Shiozaki vs. Akitoshi Saito for the GHC heavyweight title
*Keiji Mutoh, Naomichi Marufuji & Masaaki Mochizuki vs. Kaito Kiyomiya, Mohammed Yone & Shuhei Taniguchi
*Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Masao Inoue for the GHC National title
*Takashi Sugiura, Kazushi Sakuraba & Rene Dupree vs. Masa Kitamiya, Yohsiki Inamura & Manabu Soya
*Kotaro Suzuki vs. Atsushi Kotoge for the GHC junior heavyweight title
*Yoshinari Ogawa, Hayata & Kinya Okada vs. Daisuke Harada, Tadasuke & Yo-Hey
*Kenoh, Haoh & Nioh vs. Kendo Kashin, Kaz Hayashi & Nosawa Rongai
*Hajime Ohara & Seiki Yoshioka vs. Black Spider VII & Sushi
**Edge (Adam Copeland) wrote the following message ahead of the airing of his match with Randy Orton on Sunday at Backlash:
OK folks, in case you took my tweets this week literally (somehow some did), I was just having fun and blowing off steam in what was a very pressure filled month. Pressure I put on myself. To perform. To prove to myself I could still perform at the level I want and expect. To give our fan base something enjoy and talk about. To hopefully give them the same feeling I get watching Bret Hart matches. That’s a big task. This is my first pure wrestling in 9.5 years. After having another neck fusion and my right wrist fused (my “good” hand). At 46 years old. Being billed beforehand The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever. During a pandemic. With limited audience. Kinda crazy. Kinda fun. MASSIVE challenge. And if you (think you;) know me? Then you know I live for these challenges. I’d rather be put to this task than leave it someone else.
As Teddy Roosevelt said; “the man who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” What I can say is that I have poured my full heart and soul into this match. I’ve studied. Didn’t sleep much. Because I care. I care about my work ethic. I care about my body of work. I care about and love this art form more than any other. Nothing else compares. It’s my childhood dreams come true. That’s the why.
Just know that when you watch Backlash, you will see two men, two professionals, two WRESTLERS, giving you EVERYTHING they have on that night. Against my toughest opponent. Against my greatest opponent. “GREATEST MATCH EVER”? All subjective. Can’t worry about it. Bit I’ll walk away proud knowing it all got left in the ring to tell the story. And hopefully give all of your minds a little break from what’s going on in the world.
**It was announced during Friday’s episode that Matt Riddle will debut on SmackDown next week.
**Fumi Saito spoke about the passing of Hana Kimura with co-host Jim Valley on the Pacific Rim Podcast. Saito first met Kimura when she was seven years old and covered her throughout her career.
**Mitsuharu Misawa died on this date in 2009 at the age of 46 after suffering a cervical cord injury in a tag match. Misawa was teaming with Go Shiozaki against Akitoshi Saito & Bison Smith and remained motionless after taking a suplex from Saito. It was an enormous story in Japan because of his profile and status within the country, who had risen to the top of his industry and become one of its most influential figures in the ‘90s and 2000s.
His shepherding of talent and staff from All Japan to NOAH in the spring of 2000 paved the way for another full-time office and was one of the rare Japanese companies to succeed in the ensuing years when the industry was hit hard and facing ultra competition from Pride FC yet NOAH soared by doubling down on a traditional style aimed at the pro wrestling audience without a penchant for falling in love with MMA like Antonio Inoki did this during the era.
Within four years of operation, NOAH ran the Tokyo Dome in July 2004 where Misawa with Yoshinari Ogawa against Keiji Mutoh & Taiyo Kea underneath Kenta Kobashi vs. Jun Akiyama. The significance of the match was Misawa and Mutoh being in the ring together. Misawa’s legendary matches are cited to this day among the best of all-time but came with the cost of irreparable damage to his body and while the All Japan ‘90s era is celebrated it also left a lot of broken bodies as its toll.
**Tokyo Sports has an interview with Genichiro Tenryu and Toshiaki Kawada discussing Misawa.
**Alex McCarthy of TalkSport interviewed Mick Foley about The Undertaker chasing the perfect match to retire on.
**A new episode of WWE’s The Bump will air Sunday at 10:30 am Eastern to preview Backlash. Guests on the show will include The Miz, John Morrison, Braun Strowman, Paige, Jinder Mahal, and MVP.
**The WWE stock closed at $44.47 on Friday.
**Monday’s episode of Raw is being advertised around the fallout from Backlash and the angle involving Seth Rollins inviting Rey Mysterio and Dominik to the show.
**Here is the current card for WWE Backlash on Sunday night with the kickoff show beginning at 6:30 pm Eastern:
*Edge vs. Randy Orton (already taped)
*Drew McIntyre vs. Bobby Lashley for the WWE title
*Braun Strowman vs. The Miz & John Morrison in a 2-on-1 handicap match for the Universal title
*Asuka vs. Nia Jax for the Raw women’s title
*Bayley & Sasha Banks vs. Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross vs. The IIconics for the WWE women’s tag titles
*Apollo Crews vs. Andrade for the United States title
*Sheamus vs. Jeff Hardy
MMA NEWS
**UFC president Dana White spoke to the media on Friday and below are some notes on what was covered:
*The location for UFC 252 on August is undetermined and hopeful they could run an arena somewhere with the potential of fans
*He defended going with Gilbert Burns in the title fight against Kamaru Usman stating he wanted to fight and compared Jorge Masvidal to the Diaz brothers and goes to the beat of his own drum
*They are close to having fights announced for the July 15th, July 18th, and July 25th in Abu Dhabi
*He called it “the same old shit” regarding the fighter pay discussion and that the fighters that move pay-per-views share in that
*White said people will deal with Black Lives Matter in their own different ways, he won’t do things for PR and is encouraging of his fighters to speak up if they choose to
*The Fight Island deal in Abu Dhabi has nothing to do with their separate five-year deal with Abu Dhabi and will be going back there later this year
*Having a card on the beach “would look like shit on TV” and only cited the risk of rain and feels more secure with an arena setting in Abu Dhabi
*White said “if you can’t make weight don’t take the fight” and said it was a problem when Karl Roberson missed weight by 4.5 pounds this week
*White said Conor McGregor never turned down a last-minute fight with Tony Ferguson for UFC 249, they knew McGregor wouldn’t take it after telling UFC he wouldn’t be a replacement fighter
*Most of their near 600 fighters will have been tested this year for COVID-19
*He was unaware of the situation where replacement Gustavo Lopez was under a deal to Combate but wasn’t aware prior to the question being brought. Campbell McLaren did give his blessing on Friday for Lopez to take the fight.
**Here is the card for tonight’s UFC Fight Night event that is down to ten fights airing on ESPN & ESPN+.
MAIN CARD (9 pm Eastern on ESPN & ESPN+, TSN 1/3/5 in Canada)
*Jessica Eye (126.25*) vs. Cynthia Calvillo (126)
*Karl Roberson (190.5*) vs. Marvin Vettori (186)
*Merab Dvalishvili (139) vs. Gustavo Lopez (140)
*Andre Fili (145.5) vs. Charles Jourdain (145.5)
*Jordan Espinosa (135.5) vs. Mark De La Rosa (136)
PRELIMINARY CARD (6 pm on ESPN & ESPN+)
*Mariya Agapova (125.5) vs. Hannah Cifers (125)
*Charles Rosa (155) vs. Kevin Aguilar (155.5)
*Julia Avila (135) vs. Gina Mazany (136)
*Zarrukh Asashev (138.5*) vs. Tyson Nam (135.5)
*Christian Aguilera (170.5) vs. Anthony Ivy (171)
**Combate was the first to report that a verbal agreement has been reached for former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos and Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC 252 on August 15th. Dos Santos, 36, is coming off two stoppage losses to Francis Ngannou and Curtis Blaydes over the past year and Rozenstruik just lost the first fight of his career to Ngannou at UFC 249 in May.
**Former UFC fighter Sam Stout voiced his displeasure with fighter pay and commended Jon Jones, Jorge Masvidal, and Gray Maynard for speaking up, Stout said he was paid $2,000 and $2,000 for his first UFC fight when he beat Spencer Fisher on the undercard of the UFC 58 pay-per-view in March 2006.
ON THIS DATE
*****
REWIND-A-SMACKDOWN 6/12/20: Bryan vs. Styles, Hardy-Sheamus, Andrew Thompson
Wai Ting welcomes Andrew Thompson to review WWE SmackDown featuring Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles in the Intercontinental Championship Tournament Finals.
https://www.postwrestling.com/2020/06/12/rewind-a-smackdown-6-12-20-live-link/
*****
BWE RETRO EDITION: WWF UK Rampage (1992)
Martin, Benno & Jamesie are joined by Andrew Thompson to review WWF UK Rampage 1992. They chat about the highlights of the show (including Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Savage) and have a much broader look at the company in 1992. Plus, an important discussion about #BlackLivesMatter and systemic racism in the UK.
https://www.postwrestling.com/2020/06/11/bwe-retro-edition-wwf-uk-rampage-1992/
*****
upNXT MOVIE REVIEW: Star Wars Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker
Braden Herrington & Davie Portman finally conclude their trip through hyperspace and the Star Wars saga as they review Episode 9: The Rise of Skywalker.
https://www.postwrestling.com/2020/06/11/upnxt-movie-review-star-wars-episode-ix-the-rise-of-skywalker/
*****
REWIND-A-DYNAMITE 6/10/20: “Beaten to a Bloody Pulp”
John Pollock and Wai Ting review AEW Dynamite featuring Cody vs. Marq Quen for the TNT championship. Plus, Chris Jericho gives Orange Cassidy a taste of his own medicine, Mr. Wrestling II passes away, and NJPW releases its COVID-19 prevention guideline.
https://www.postwrestling.com/2020/06/11/rewind-a-dynamite-6-10-20-beaten-to-a-bloody-pulp/
*****
upNXT 6/10/20: “Mask of The Fantasma”
Braden Herrington and Davie Portman review the June 10th edition of WWE NXT featuring Adam Cole vs. Dexter Lumis in the main event. Plus, the masked mystery attackers are revealed!
https://www.postwrestling.com/2020/06/11/upnxt-6-10-20-mask-of-the-fantasma/
*****
REWIND-A-WAI #63: WWF Raw is War (May 21, 2001)
John Pollock and Wai Ting review WWF Raw Is War from May 21, 2001, featuring a tag team title match between Steve Austin & Triple H vs. Chris Jericho & Chris Benoit in one of WWE’s most critically acclaimed TV main events.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/38071311
*****
REWIND-A-RAW 6/8/20: Greatest Go-Home Ever, NJPW returns
John Pollock and Wai Ting review WWE Raw from the Performance Center with the go-home episode heading into Backlash this weekend. Plus, John & Wai share their thoughts on NXT TakeOver: In Your House and New Japan Pro Wrestling holds a press conference with an update on their live events.
https://www.postwrestling.com/2020/06/09/rewind-a-raw-6-8-20-greatest-go-home-ever-njpw-returns/
*****
NXT TakeOver: In Your House POST Show
Braden Herrington and Davie Portman return with a review of NXT TakeOver: In Your House! The lads run down the entire card including Io Shirai vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair for the NXT Women’s Championship and Velveteen Dream vs. Adam Cole in a “Backlot Brawl” match for the NXT Championship.
https://www.postwrestling.com/2020/06/08/nxt-takeover-in-your-house-post-show/
*****
The Long & Winding Road #0: Origin of the Triple Crown
WH Park starts his new series about All Japan Pro Wrestling during the 1990s with a special prelude episode looking at the creation of AJPW’s top title, The Triple Crown. Joining him is wrestling video essayist Joseph Montecillo.
https://www.postwrestling.com/2020/06/07/the-long-winding-royal-road-0-origin-of-the-triple-crown-w-joseph-montecillo/
*****
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