http://www.cheap-heat.com WWE, TNA, ROH, NJPW - Blogs, Reviews, Top Lists, Indy News & Results Fri, 15 May 2015 15:19:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.2
http://www.cheap-heat.com/results-all-japan-pro-wrestling-ajpw-champion-carnival-day-4-41315-sendai-japan/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/results-all-japan-pro-wrestling-ajpw-champion-carnival-day-4-41315-sendai-japan/#comments Tue, 14 Apr 2015 05:10:23 +0000 Cassidy Haynes Indy/Puro/Lucha AJPW All-Japan Pro Wrestling Champion Carnival http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=11121 The following results are from a recent All-Japan Pro Wrestling live event. The event took place on April 13th, 2015 from the Miyagino Ward Culture Center in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan: Singles Match Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Naoya Nomura (9:51 minutes) Singles Match Kotaro Suzuki defeated Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (10:40 minutes) Tag Team Match Takao Omori and […]
The following results are from a recent All-Japan Pro Wrestling live event. The event took place on April 13th, 2015 from the Miyagino Ward Culture Center in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan:
Singles Match
Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Naoya Nomura (9:51 minutes)
Singles Match
Kotaro Suzuki defeated Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (10:40 minutes)
Tag Team Match
Takao Omori and Zeus defeated Akebono and SUSHI (10:31 minutes)
Champion Carnival, Block B
Jun Akiyama defeated KENSO (9:29 minutes)
Champion Carnival, Block A
Yutaka Yoshie defeated The Bodyguard (11:59 minutes)
Six-Man Tag Team Match
Xceed (Go Shiozaki, Kento Miyahara and Yohei Nakajima) defeated Evolution [2] (Suwama, Joe Doering and Atsushi Aoki) (20:43 minutes)
http://www.cheap-heat.com/results-all-japan-pro-wrestling-ajpw-champion-carnival-2015-day-3-41215-yamagata-japan/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/results-all-japan-pro-wrestling-ajpw-champion-carnival-2015-day-3-41215-yamagata-japan/#comments Mon, 13 Apr 2015 14:14:44 +0000 Cassidy Haynes Indy/Puro/Lucha AJPW Akebono All-Japan Pro Wrestling Champion Carnival http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=11066 The following results are from a recent All-Japan Pro Wrestling live event. В The event took place on April 12th, 2015 from theВ Yamagata Big Wing, in Yamagata, Japan: Singles Match Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeats Yuma Aoyagi (9:23) Tag Team Match SUSHI & Yutaka Yoshie defeat Kento Miyahara & Naoya Nomura (15:11) Six Man Tag Team Match […]
The following results are from a recent All-Japan Pro Wrestling live event. В The event took place on April 12th, 2015 from theВ Yamagata Big Wing, in Yamagata, Japan:
Singles Match
Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeats Yuma Aoyagi (9:23)
Tag Team Match
SUSHI & Yutaka Yoshie defeat Kento Miyahara & Naoya Nomura (15:11)
Six Man Tag Team Match
Evolution (Atsushi Aoki, Joe Doering & Suwama) defeat Xceed (Go Shiozaki, Kotaro Suzuki & Yohei Nakajima) (14:53)
Champion Carnival 2015 Block A Match
Takao Omori [4] defeats The Bodyguard [0] (14:25)
Champion Carnival 2015 Block B Match
Zeus [2] defeats KENSO [0] (14:46)
Champion Carnival 2015 Block B Match
Akebono [4] defeats Jun Akiyama [2] (10:07)
http://www.cheap-heat.com/results-all-japan-pro-wrestling-ajpw-excite-series-2015-day-9-22015-tokyo-japan/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/results-all-japan-pro-wrestling-ajpw-excite-series-2015-day-9-22015-tokyo-japan/#comments Sat, 21 Feb 2015 06:45:33 +0000 Cassidy Haynes Indy/Puro/Lucha AJPW Akebono All-Japan Pro Wrestling Atsushi Aoki Burning Wild Evolution Excite Series 2015 Go Shiozaki Hikaru Sato Joe Doering Jun Akiyama Keisuke Ishii KENSO Kento Miyahara Kotaro Suzuki Masanobu Fuchi Naoya Nomura Shigehiro Irie Soma Takao SUSHI Suwama Takao Omori Takeshi Minamino Ultimo Dragon Xceed Yohei Nakajima Yoshinobu Kanemaru Yuma Aoyagi Yutaka Yoshie Zeus http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=9893 The following results are from a recent All-Japan Pro Wrestling live event. В The event took place on February 20th, 2015 from theВ Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan: Singles Match Shigehiro Irie defeats Naoya Nomura (6:43) Singles Match Masanobu Fuchi defeats Yuma Aoyagi (4:09) Eight Man Tag Team Match Soma Takao, Ultimo Dragon, Yohei Nakajima & […]
The following results are from a recent All-Japan Pro Wrestling live event. В The event took place on February 20th, 2015 from theВ Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan:
Singles Match
Shigehiro Irie defeats Naoya Nomura (6:43)
Singles Match
Masanobu Fuchi defeats Yuma Aoyagi (4:09)
Eight Man Tag Team Match
Soma Takao, Ultimo Dragon, Yohei Nakajima & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeat Hikaru Sato, Keisuke Ishii, SUSHI & Takeshi Minamino (6:43)
Six Man Tag Team Match
Akebono, KENSO & Yutaka Yoshie defeat Xceed (Go Shiozaki & Kento Miyahara) & Zeus (13:51)
AJPW World Tag Team Title Match
Burning Wild (Jun Akiyama & Takao Omori) (c) defeat Evolution (Joe Doering & Suwama) (18:11)
Junior Battle Of Glory 2015 Final Match
Kotaro Suzuki defeats Atsushi Aoki (17:11)
http://www.cheap-heat.com/results-all-japan-pro-wrestling-ajpw-excite-series-2015-day-8-nagoya-japan/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/results-all-japan-pro-wrestling-ajpw-excite-series-2015-day-8-nagoya-japan/#comments Wed, 18 Feb 2015 17:23:58 +0000 Cassidy Haynes Indy/Puro/Lucha AJPW All-Japan Pro Wrestling Excite Series 2015 http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=9841 The following results are from a recent All Japan Pro Wrestling live event. The event took place on February 17th, 2015 from the Nakamura Sports Center First Stadium in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. Singles Match Diablo defeats Naoya Nomura (5:42) Tag Team Match Kotaro Suzuki & Yohei Nakajima defeat Masashi Aoyagi & Yuma Aoyagi (9:34) […]
The following results are from a recent All Japan Pro Wrestling live event. The event took place on February 17th, 2015 from the Nakamura Sports Center First Stadium in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
Singles Match
Diablo defeats Naoya Nomura (5:42)
Tag Team Match
Kotaro Suzuki & Yohei Nakajima defeat Masashi Aoyagi & Yuma Aoyagi (9:34)
Junior Battle Of Glory 2015 Block B Match
Soma Takao [3] defeats Yoshinobu Kanemaru [5] (7:33)
Junior Battle Of Glory 2015 Block A Match
Atsushi Aoki [6] defeats Ultimo Dragon [4] (10:49)
Tag Team Match
Xceed (Go Shiozaki & Kento Miyahara) defeat KENSO & Zeus (11:57)
All Asia Tag Team Title Match
Dark Kingdom (Mitsuya Nagai & Takeshi Minamino) (c) defeat Akebono & SUSHI (12:36)
Six Man Tag Team Match
Burning Wild (Jun Akiyama & Takao Omori) & Keisuke Ishii defeat Evolution (Hikaru Sato, Joe Doering & Suwama) (14:45)
http://www.cheap-heat.com/results-all-japan-pro-wrestling-ajpw-excite-series-2015-day-7-kanazawa-japan/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/results-all-japan-pro-wrestling-ajpw-excite-series-2015-day-7-kanazawa-japan/#comments Tue, 17 Feb 2015 16:56:16 +0000 Cassidy Haynes Indy/Puro/Lucha AJPW All-Japan Pro Wrestling Excite Series 2015 http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=9839 The following results are from a recent All Japan Pro Wrestling live event. The event took place on February 16th, 2015 at the Distribution Convention Hall in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan. Singles Match Hikaru Sato defeated Yuma Aoyagi. Tag Team Match Dark Kingdom (KENSO & Takeshi Minamino) defeated Kento Miyahara & Naoya Nomura. Junior Battle Of […]
The following results are from a recent All Japan Pro Wrestling live event. The event took place on February 16th, 2015 at the Distribution Convention Hall in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.
Singles Match
Hikaru Sato defeated Yuma Aoyagi.
Tag Team Match
Dark Kingdom (KENSO & Takeshi Minamino) defeated Kento Miyahara & Naoya Nomura.
Junior Battle Of Glory Block B Tournament Match
SUSHI vs. Soma Takao went to a 30 minute time limit draw.
Junior Battle Of Glory Block A Tournament Match
Гљltimo DragГіn defeated Keisuke Ishii.
Junior Battle Of Glory Block A Tournament Match
Atsushi Aoki defeated Yohei Nakajima.
Tag Team Match
Wild Burning (Jun Akiyama & Takao Omori) defeated Akebono & Yoshinobu Kanemaru.
Tag Team Match
Evolution (Joe Doering & Suwama) defeated Burning (Go Shiozaki & Kotaro Suzuki).
http://www.cheap-heat.com/lucky-thirteen-7-bandits-of-the-bout/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/lucky-thirteen-7-bandits-of-the-bout/#comments Tue, 17 Feb 2015 00:02:19 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Top Lists AJPW All-Japan Pro Wrestling America's Most Wanted AWA Barry Windham Bart Gunn Beer Money Billy Gunn Blackjack Lanza Blackjack Mulligan Bob Holly Bob Orton Bobby "The Brain" Heenan Bobby Duncum Jr. Bobby Roode Brawl for All Chris Harris Chris Jericho Cowboy Bob Orton Cowboy James Storm Curt Henning Dory Funk Dory Funk Jr. ECW GWF Henry Godwinn Hulk Hogan Jake Roberts James Storm JBL Jim Crockett Jimmy Wang Yang John Bradshaw Layfield John Layfield Lance Cade Master P New Blackjacks NWA Outlaw Ron Bass Paul Orndorff Phineas Godwinn Randy Savage Revolution Road Dogg Roddy Piper Ron Bass Sam Houston Shanghai Pierce Shawn Michaels Stan Hanson Steve Williams Sunny Ted DiBiase Terry Funk Tex Slazenger The Blackjacks The Godfather The Smoking Gunns TNA Trevor Murdoch Vader Vince McMahon WCCW WCW West Texas Rednecks Wrestlemania WWC WWE WWF WWWF http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=9750 Lucky Thirteen #7 Bandits of the Bout Written by Mark Adam Haggerty When other sites are counting down from ten, we take it to the next level and give you the Lucky Thirteen. Why? Because we're Cheap-Heat and we believe in kicking things up to the extreme! Today we’re talking about Bandits and Outlaws, otherwise […]
Lucky Thirteen #7
Bandits of the Bout
Written by Mark Adam Haggerty
When other sites are counting down from ten, we take it to the next level and give you the Lucky Thirteen. Why? Because we're Cheap-Heat and we believe in kicking things up to the extreme! Today we’re talking about Bandits and Outlaws, otherwise known around these here parts as Cowboys. Since the dawning of the age of Sports Entertainment, professional wrestling has featured an enormity of wrestling roughnecks who would appear just as comfortable on the back of a horse than they would inside of the squared circle. Let's start things off with one of the most modern members of our countdown and a graduate of the Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy…
13. Lance Cade
Lance Cade was a superior talent who first happened upon the professional wrestling scene in Japan alongside fellow Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy classmate Bryan Danielson. Cade had developed a penchant for tag team wrestling and in 2005 was called to the main roster in the midst of the "Ruthless Aggression Era." Originally sporting a cowboy hat and leather chaps, he was saddled with the equally talented and deceptively athletic Trevor Murdoch. Together these rugged ruffians captured the world tag team titles on three separate occasions. While Murdoch was depicted as a chaw-chewing Redneck, Lance Cade was cast as the smooth-talking cowboy with devilish good looks. The character carried him farther than he would have imagined into his singles career, eventually aligning with then-heavyweight champion Chris Jericho in 2008. Sadly on August 13, 2010, Lance Cade died at the age of 29 due to heart failure. Two months later medical examiners declared Lance "Cade" McNaught's death accidental, an apparent reaction to the mix of prescription drugs he'd been taking. Although his career was cut tragically short, "Cowboy" Lance Cade will never be forgotten and was even honored in 2011 by a local tribute show in his adopted hometown of San Antonio.
12. Tex Slazenger & Shanghai Pierce
Don't go messing with the country boys, because these two future Godwinn Cousins are far more dangerous than Phineas and Henry would ever prove to be. Well, in theory that is. While they're more familiar to most fans as the former WWF tag team champions, these hard-edged hillbillies got their first taste of fame wrestling as the fearsome Tex Slazenger and the mysterious Shanghai Pierce. Tex was a rootin' tootin' Texas roughneck complete with a ten gallon hat and all the appropriate accoutrement you'd associate with any accurate cowboy costume. Shanghai was a bit different as he opted to sport a luchador mask with a singlet—uh, not so much a cowboy, but definitely intimidating in its own way. Although they never captured championship gold under their southwestern pseudonyms in WCW, Tex Slazenger and Shanghai Pierce were also never adorned with the prestige of "Worst Tag Team in Wrestling"—an honor they received from Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1996. And then again in 1997.
11. Jimmy Wang Yang
Perhaps the most charismatic individual on our countdown comes in at number eleven. Not only is he one of the youngest Superstars on the list, he's more than likely the only
Korean Cowboy
in wrestling history. Jimmy Yang was a skilled performer in the dying days of WCW and a key component in its highly inventive Cruiserweight Tag Division. After spending time on the independent circuit and in the WWE playing minor roles, Yang was brought in as a member of the main roster with "Wang" inserted between his first and last name. However instead of playing the Young Dragon whom audiences had already come to know, the WWE was going to draw upon Yang's affinity for country music and NASCAR in order to create an all new type of Superstar. Needless to say 2006 wasn't the most progressive year for the WWE, and a white-trash Korean character was probably just as suitable as The Wrestling Zombie or Paul and Katie Lea Burchill's incest angle. Despite never winning a championship title during his WWE run, Jimmy Wang Yang will always be remembered as one of the most iconic and
original
cowboys in pro wrestling history.
10. Bobby Duncum Jr.
Bobby Duncum Jr. was a refined second generation wrestling superstar who struggled to make his name after the decline of the territory system. Debuting in 1992, Duncum initially worked as a tag team competitor with the Global Wrestling Federation in Dallas, Texas. Two months into his debut, Bobby Duncum Jr. won his only championship
ever
—the GWF tag team titles alongside future WWE Champion and Monday Night Raw commentator Johnny "Hawk" Layfield. Although he worked around the world for countless promotions including ECW and All Japan Pro Wrestling, Bobby Duncum Jr. was most famous for his time in WCW as part of the "West Texas Rednecks." Joined by Kendall and Barry Windham, in addition to their leader Curt Hennig, the �Rednecks ran rough-shod over the WCW for a short period in the late 90s, claiming that "Rap is Crap," and entering into a rivalry with hip-hop recording artist Master P. In January of 2000, Duncum was recovering from reconstructive rotator cuff surgery, and accidentally overdosed on a cocktail of pain killers. He was 34 years old, and less than eight years into his career.
9. Sam Houston
The name "Sam Houston" tends to elicit both passion and pride from Texas natives, but unfortunately for Michael Smith, it's not the WWF cowboy whom they happen to admire. Sam Houston was the son of "Grizzly" Smith, and half-brother to both Jake "the Snake" Roberts and "Rockin" Robin. Houston was a well-known enhancement talent throughout the 1980s and 90s, working for Jim Crockett Promotions before finally breaking through to the World Wrestling Federation. He participated in several television matches which usually resulted in his shoulders being pinned to the mat, but even Sam Houston had a "Wrestlemania Moment," when he competed in the 20-man battle royal at Wrestlemania IV. Houston was also in the very first Royal Rumble match with his brother Jake, and though the audience wasn't privy to their relationship, Houston helped save the "Snake" from elimination on a number of occasions. In 2005, Sam Houston was sentenced to ten years in prison for repeated DUI offenses; according to his ex-wife, Houston had an average of 2 DUI-related arrests per year over the previous decade.
8. The Smoking Gunns
You can't say, "wrestling cowboy" to a �90's kid and expect him to think of anything other than The Smoking Gunns. Billy and Bart were a redesigned cowboy for a post-modern, pre-millennial world. They wore spandex made to look like skinny jeans and carried starter pistols which they shot into the air during their entrance. Wrestling cowboys were oftentimes out-of-shape and angry, swinging a cowbell with little regard for the surrounding audience members. But the Kayfabe brothers were different, smiling and shaking hands on their way to the ring and sporting far less menacing facial features than some of the more rugged individuals on our countdown. The �Gunns would become tag team champions on three separate occasions, owing their final title reign to their short-lived manager Sunny, eventually breaking up and going their separate ways. While Billy Gunn's career skyrocketed alongside the Road Dogg and Degeneration X, Bart Gunn stayed true to his roughneck roots, engaging in the highly dangerous, experimental "Brawl for All" shoot-fighting tournament in 1998. After defeating four other Superstars including Bob Holly, Steve Williams, the Godfather, and John Layfield, the last man standing was none other than Bart Gunn.
7. “Outlaw” Ron Bass
While a great deal of wrestling cowboys have been based out of the "Lone Star State," Ron Bass was one such individual proud of his roots in Harrisburg, Arkansas. The "Outlaw," as he would come to be known, was a ruthless heel during the late 1980s in the World Wrestling Federation. Prior to his would-be rivalries with the likes of Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake, Ron Bass enjoyed a steady career touring the vast NWA territory system of the 1970s. He spent time with Jim Crockett as well as several years in Japan, but was most famous for his time in the WWF. In 1988, Ron Bass fought to the end of the King of the Ring tournament, and qualified for the finals by defeating future WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels. However the "Outlaw" would not advance to the main event against Randy Savage—instead choosing to
"sell"
his victory to the "Million Dollar Man," who would lose to Savage later that night. After nearly 20-years in the squared-circle, Ron Bass retired in 1991 and currently resides in Tampa, Florida.
6. The Funk Family
If I can include a tag team as one entry, then how about an entire family? Even though Dory Funk Sr. was born in Indiana, he will forever be known as the Patriarch of the "Double Cross Ranch" in Amarillo, Texas. After serving in the United States Navy, Funk Sr. began wrestling in Texas and would become a promotor in the Amarillo region where both his sons Dory Jr. and Terry would thrive as superstars. Dory Jr. was regarded as a master in-ring technician, famous for created the "Texas Cloverleaf" finishing hold. His younger brother Terry was the "wild child," much more akin to the cowboy lifestyle of the Amarillo Ranch. The Funk Brothers would make history, by becoming the
only
brothers in wrestling to each hold the NWA world heavyweight championship. In 2009, Dory and Terry were both honored as they were simultaneously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Both brothers are still active in the wrestling industry; Dory Funk is the proprietor of the "Funkin' Conservatory" wrestling school in Amarillo, while Terry Funk is well beyond "middle-aged-and-crazy," as he still steps into the ring today at 70.
5. “Cowboy” James Storm
The only cowboy on our countdown that is
still
currently active inside a televised American wrestling ring is the 13-time tag team champion and former TNA world heavyweight champion, the "Cowboy" James Storm. Storm debuted in 1997 working for various NWA affiliates and the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico. After the collapse of WCW, the National Wrestling Alliance sought to fill a void by creating a weekly-PPV series known as Total Nonstop Action. James Storm signed with TNA in 2002 after working an impressive string of matches with then-tag partner "Wildcat" Chris Harris. Over the next four years, the duo known as "America's Most Wanted" would capture the NWA tag titles on six separate occasions. After spending a year on his own, Storm would once again "saddle up" with a partner—this time the "It Factor" Bobby Roode. Storm and Roode came to be called "Beer Money," based on either gentleman's Kayfabe affinity. Today James Storm is the leader of the cult-like "Revolution," and has therefore traded the cowboy hat for a veil of secrecy, and his beer bottle for a solo cup of "Kool-aid."
4. “Cowboy” Bob Orton
Fans of the modern WWE product who are familiar with the "Legend Killer," ought to know that Randy Orton comes from a long-line of wrestling royalty, including his father—"Cowboy" Bob Orton. Bob Orton was a main event attraction around the country during the 1980s but would become world-famous during the Rock �N' Wrestling Connection. Orton was fast friends with "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, so it was no surprise when the second generation star known as "Ace" was in "Hot Rod's" corner at the inaugural Wrestlemania in Madison Square Garden. Bob Orton was a key component during the period of time in which wrestling truly became "Sports Entertainment," providing back-up during several renditions of Piper's Pit. Although never achieving a championship during his time with the WWF, "Ace" held numerous titles across various territories in the United States and was named "Rookie of the Year" by PWI in 1973. In 2005, "Cowboy" Bob Orton was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame alongside fellow Wrestlemania pioneers Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper, and Paul Orndorff.
3. John "Bradshaw" Layfield
Since 2004, JBL has been known as an arrogant aristocrat, riding to the ring in his limousine and winning his bouts by any means necessary. But John Layfield began just the same as many other Texas wrestlers, working for the Global Wrestling Federation in Dallas. He won the tag team titles in 1992 alongside Bobby Duncum Jr., and spent the next three years earning a wrestling education on the independent and international circuits. Layfield debuted for the WWF in 1995 as Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw, a badass brandishing a branding-iron who set to "stamping" each of his conquered opponents. In 1997, "Hawk" joined second-generation Superstar Barry Windham to form the "New Blackjacks," a team drawing on their real-life familial connections to the original "Blackjacks" Mulligan and Lanza. The "Bradshaw" character would continue to evolve over the next several years and although he's primarily known today as a talking head for both the WWE and Fox Business, John Layfield is a Grand Slam winning champion, making him
THE
most decorated cowboy on this entire countdown.
2. The Blackjacks
Transitioning away from the
"New Blackjacks,"
it's about time we discuss the genuine article—the tag team of Blackjack Lanza and Blackjack Mulligan. The tall, dark duo clad in black leather were amongst the most feared tag teams of the 1970s, earning their reputation by standing tall atop numerous fallen combatants. The Blackjacks were an AWA attraction, managed by the incomparable Bobby "the Brain" Heenan, and also competed in Texas for Fritz Von Erich's World Class Championship Wrestling. The Blackjacks eventually made their way to New York where they would continue their reign of terror against a brand new roster of unsuspecting victims. While working for Vince McMahon, the Blackjacks aligned themselves with Captain Lou Albano, who helped guide the already world-renowned wrestlers to the WWWF tag team championships. Of course then in 1997, a "tribute" team was created, comprised of Mulligan's son Barry Windham and Lanza's nephew John Layfield. The Blackjacks were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006; Blackjack Lanza currently works as a producer for the WWE, while Blackjack Mulligan has
two
grandsons working on the main roster—Bo Dallas and Bray Wyatt.
1. Stan “The Lariat” Hansen
Stan "the Lariat" Hansen is a performer whose mythos goes beyond the realm of cowboys and Indians, and further transcends the atmosphere of professional wrestling entirely. When the sport of sports entertainment was outwardly declared "fake," Stan Hansen lit the international scene on fire with his brand of explicit violence and a charismatic streak that ignited something inside fans across the globe. Stan Hansen was the AWA World Heavyweight champion and even competed for the WWF before earning his
true
place in history, across the Pacific in the "Land of the Rising Sun." During an infamous encounter with future WCW champion Vader, Hansen managed to clip Leon White with his cowbell, dislodging his eyeball and forcing the "Mastodon" to compete with his eye ajar inside his mask. Although claiming to be from Borger City, Texas—with a "big fat wife and a bunch of kids," the mild-mannered Hansen is actually a resident of Knox City, and has
two
sons, each of whom is a nationally-recognized baseball player. During his active wrestling days, Stan Hansen garnered a reputation for his no-nonsense approach to business, both inside the ring and backstage with promotors. Since retiring from the squared-circle in 2001, the "Lariat" has made numerous appearances in Japan, where he still receives the same standing ovation he did during his peak in 1981.
Thank you for joining me for this SEVENTH edition of the "Lucky Thirteen." Do yourself a favor and bookmark Cheap-Heat on your computer and in your mobile device so you don’t miss any of our countdowns, columns or coverage. As for me—I think it's about time for this Old Cowpoke to hit that there dusty trail. So until next time, my name is Mark Adam Haggerty and this has been "Lucky Thirteen: Bandits of the Bout."
http://www.cheap-heat.com/lucky-thirteen-7-bandits-of-the-bout/feed/ 0http://www.cheap-heat.com/results-all-japan-pro-wrestling-ajpw-excite-series-2015-day-2-2815-okayama-japan/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/results-all-japan-pro-wrestling-ajpw-excite-series-2015-day-2-2815-okayama-japan/#comments Tue, 10 Feb 2015 05:29:39 +0000 Cassidy Haynes Indy/Puro/Lucha AJPW All-Japan Pro Wrestling Excite Series 2015 http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=9612 The following results are from a recent All-Japan Pro Wrestling live event. The event took place on February 8th, 2015 from the Okayama Wholesale Center Orange Hall in Okayama, Japan: Singles Match Atsushi Aoki defeats Yuma Aoyagi (6:47) Tag Team Match Keisuke Ishii & Shigehiro Irie defeat Masanobu Fuchi & Naoya Nomura (12:13) Singles […]
The following results are from a recent All-Japan Pro Wrestling live event. The event took place on February 8th, 2015 from the Okayama Wholesale Center Orange Hall in Okayama, Japan:
Singles Match
Atsushi Aoki defeats Yuma Aoyagi (6:47)
Tag Team Match
Keisuke Ishii & Shigehiro Irie defeat Masanobu Fuchi & Naoya Nomura (12:13)
Singles Match
KENSO defeats Yohei Nakajima (9:12)
Junior Battle Of Glory 2015 Block B Match
Kotaro Suzuki [2] defeats Soma Takao [0] (9:30)
Junior Battle Of Glory 2015 Block A Match
Takeshi Minamino [2] defeats Ultimo Dragon [0] (12:27)
Tag Team Match
Xceed (Go Shiozaki & Kento Miyahara) defeat Burning (Jun Akiyama & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) (13:01)
Six Man Tag Team Match
Evolution (Hikaru Sato, Joe Doering & Suwama) defeat Akebono, SUSHI & Takao Omori (18:20)
http://www.cheap-heat.com/results-all-japan-pro-wrestling-ajpw-excite-series-2015-day-1-2715-osaka-japan/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/results-all-japan-pro-wrestling-ajpw-excite-series-2015-day-1-2715-osaka-japan/#comments Sun, 08 Feb 2015 03:37:18 +0000 Cassidy Haynes Indy/Puro/Lucha AJPW All-Japan Pro Wrestling Excites Series 2015 Junior Battle of Glory http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=9540 The following results are from a recent All-Japan Pro Wrestling live event. The event took place on February 7th, 2015 from the Bodymaker Colosseum #2, in Osaka, Japan: Tag Team Match Masanobu Fuchi & Masashi Aoyagi defeat Soma Takao & Yuma Aoyagi (10:53) Tag Team Match Shigehiro Irie & The Bodyguard defeat Xceed (Kento […]
The following results are from a recent All-Japan Pro Wrestling live event. The event took place on February 7th, 2015 from the Bodymaker Colosseum #2, in Osaka, Japan:
Tag Team Match
Masanobu Fuchi & Masashi Aoyagi defeat Soma Takao & Yuma Aoyagi (10:53)
Tag Team Match
Shigehiro Irie & The Bodyguard defeat Xceed (Kento Miyahara & Yohei Nakajima) (10:57)
Tag Team Match
Akebono & SUSHI defeat Dark Kingdom (KENSO & Takeshi Minamino) (7:06)
Six Man Tag Team Match
Burning Wild (Jun Akiyama & Takao Omori) & Ultimo Dragon defeat Evolution (Hikaru Sato & Suwama) & Naoya Nomura (19:13)
Junior Battle Of Glory 2015 Block B Match
Yoshinobu Kanemaru [2] defeats Kotaro Suzuki [0] (11:40)
Junior Battle Of Glory 2015 Block A Match
Atsushi Aoki [2] defeats Keisuke Ishii [0] (10:10)
Triple Crown Title Match
Go Shiozaki (c) defeats Zeus (25:43)
http://www.cheap-heat.com/lucky-thirteen-5-hallowed-halls-of-headlocks/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/lucky-thirteen-5-hallowed-halls-of-headlocks/#comments Wed, 04 Feb 2015 01:45:04 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Top Lists AJPW AWA Baron Von Raschke Billy Graham CHIKARA CMLL Dragon Gate USA ECW EVOLVE Global Wrestling Federation GWF Hulk Hogan Jim Crockett Madison Square Garden MSG New Japan Pro Wrestling NJPW NOAH NWA Pat Patterson Pro Wrestling NOAH Sgt. Slaughter Starrcade Terry Bollea TNA Verne Gagne Vince McMahon WCCW WCW WCWA WWE WWF wXw XPW http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=9459 Lucky Thirteen #5 Hallowed Halls of Headlocks Written by Mark Adam Haggerty Do you remember the first wrestling match you ever went to? How about the first event you ever saw live on TV? Can you recall where it was? WCW and New Japan set the all-time attendance record for professional wrestling in 1995 when […]
Lucky Thirteen #5
Hallowed Halls of Headlocks
Written by Mark Adam Haggerty
Do you remember the first wrestling match you ever went to? How about the first event you ever saw live on TV? Can you recall where it was? WCW and New Japan set the all-time attendance record for professional wrestling in 1995 when they attracted over 300 thousand people to the Mayday Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea over the course of a two day event. Wrestlemania XXXII will take place inside the state-of-the-art AT&T Stadium in 2016; regardless of whether the WWE's attendance record is 93,173 or 80,335—the show in Arlington is without question set to surpass all previous box office numbers by ten-to-twenty thousand tickets. With all this talk of extravagant events and sold-out stadiums, it's easy to overlook some of the more humble places where sports entertainers have �laid their cap.' An arena doesn't need a retractable roof to host a five-star match when any old armory or bingo hall will do the trick. You've heard of Top Ten Lists before, well this is the "Lucky Thirteen"—this week we're counting down the Top Thirteen Venues in Wrestling or what I'd like to call "Hallowed Halls of Headlocks."
13. Tennessee State Fairgrounds
Highest Claimed Attendance – 1,300 on May 5, 2003 by NWA TNA
The first location on our list can still be found in Nashville, Tennessee—in fact, the Tennessee State Fairground Sports Arena has been the home to every episode of Ring of Honor TV since the beginning of 2015. The makeshift community center was built in 1922 by a band of carpetbaggers sent down from South Dakota, and served as a flea market until professional wrestler Nick Gulas took over in the 1960's. Gulas would go on to promote his own events in the arena throughout the �60s and �70s; the building would later be referred to as the "Nick Gulas Sports Arena." In 2002 the National Wrestling Alliance sought to salvage their reputation by running a series of weekly pay-per-view events under the name "Total Nonstop Action." TNA began in Alabama but by week six moved operations to the Tennessee State Fairgrounds, a little-known wrestling arena that would soon be known to the world as the "TNA Asylum." TNA ran 95 of its 110 weekly pay-per-views from the Asylum until moving once more down to Orlando, Florida. Since losing its longtime tenant, the �Fairgrounds have continued to host a litany of exciting wrestling events, including the first televised Ring of Honor pay-per-view, "The Best in the World" on June 22, 2014.
12. San Francisco Cow Palace
Highest Claimed Attendance – 14,600 on November 15, 1988 by WWE
The Cow Palace has been a staple in American athletics since it was originally opened in 1941. Located in Daly City, California—just on the border of San Francisco, this multi-purpose sports facility has hosted the NHL's San Jose Sharks, the NBA's San Francisco Warriors, and an array of minor league teams. The Cow Palace has a storied history when it comes to hosting bull riding competitions. In fact the name "Cow Palace" comes from a joke made by a local radio personality, angry with the money being spent on the local cattle industry during the depths of the Depression: "Why, when people are starving, should money be spent on a palace for cows?" The Cow Palace has been an iconic epicenter for professional wrestling in the Pacific Northwest ever since. Talents from California up through Portland and into Seattle worked the Cow Palace, as did members of the NWA, Vince McMahon's WWF and Verne Gagne's AWA. The �Palace was famous for hosting legendary superstars such as Pat Patterson, Ray Stevenson, Roddy Piper, and the Wild Samoans. The most famous Cow Palace moments in modern wrestling history included three WCW Superbrawl events (1997, 1998, and 2000) as well as WWE No Way Out 2004.
11. Pontiac Silverdome
Highest Claimed Attendance – 93,173 on March 29, 1987 by WWE
The largest venue on our countdown also happens to have hosted the fewest wrestling events as well. The Pontiac Silverdome, located just a stone's throw from Detroit, Michigan served as the stage for one of the biggest events in sports history—Wrestlemania III. Although the WWE's reported figure of 93,173 is considered erroneous, the event was undoubtedly the largest wrestling event up until that time. The Silverdome began as a dream and came to fruition as a college project. The facility was opened in 1975 and served to host several different events including John Paul II's visit in September 1987 which achieved a legitimate audience of 93,682. The Detroit Pistons called Pontiac home for ten years until 1988, and the Detroit Lions played on the field until 2001. The stadium was closed in 2006, and then reopened in 2010. In 2012, the Pontiac Silverdome once again made attendance history when the NBA All-Star Game garnered 108,713 basketball fans. In 2014, the owners of the Silverdome announced that all of the contents within the building would be sold at auction including the fixtures and seats.
10. Arena Mexico
Highest Claimed Attendance – 16,500 maximum capacity reported by CMLL
The largest facility specifically designed for professional wrestling is located in Mexico City and seats over 16,000 Lucha Libre fanatics. Construction began in the 1950's when CMLL owner Salvador Lutteroth decided to build his own wrestling arena. After spending years developing what would become one of the largest sports complexes in Mexico, the venue was finished in 1956. Since opening, Arena Mexico has played host to thousands of CMLL events including weekly shows, television tapings and pay-per-views. In 1968 the Arena was chosen by the Olympic Committee to house the Summer Games' boxing competition. The interior of Arena Mexico is painted with an assortment of colors including those of the Mexican flag, and the letters CMLL stand prominent over the ring at all times. While it might not be the only brand-specific arena in the world, it is most certainly the biggest as it dwarfs TNA's Impact! Zone as well as the WWE Performance Center at Full Sail University.
9. The Omni Coliseum
Highest Claimed Attendance – 13,693 on May 3, 1997 by WCW
One of the most synonymous sounds with both Georgia Championship Wrestling and WCW has got to be "Omni." Whenever Ric Flair was hyping an upcoming altercation down in Atlanta odds are he'd mention the infamous Omni Coliseum. The arena was first constructed in the early 1970s with a plan in mind to withstand the tests of time. The roof was designed to purposefully rust so that a permanent protective cover would later form—uh, what? Needless to say this �redneck science' didn't work as city planners failed to take Georgia's humidity and precipitation index into account. The complex opened in 1972 where in its heyday, the Omni was home to both the Atlanta Hawks basketball team, as well as the NHL's Atlanta Flames. By the early 1990s however, holes began to form in the rusted-out roof and along the exterior walls, turning this once gargantuan spectacle into an enormous eyesore. The Omni hosted wrestling classics from the day it opened until weeks before its demolition; the attendance record was set on May 3, 1997 by WCW Nitro just two months before the Omni was destroyed.
8. The Manhattan Center
Highest Claimed Attendance – 1,100 on January 9, 2015 by TNA (Grand Ballroom) &
2,600 on December 3, 2000 by ECW (Hammerstein Ballroom)
The Manhattan Center is the oldest building on our countdown and features not one, but two highly revered performance venues—the Grand Ballroom and the Hammerstein Ballroom. The latter is named for Oscar Hammerstein, who in 1908 opened what was then known as the "Manhattan Opera House." Located at 311 West 34th Street, the building features a state-of-the-art recording studio and has hosted countless musicians from a myriad of different backgrounds across several generations. The Manhattan Center currently belongs to the Unification Church, who in 1976 bought the building for just $3M. The Manhattan Center began its foray into the wild world of wrestling by hosting Monday Night Raw a staggering 28 times, including the debut episode on January 11, 1993. The �Center has also been known to get Extreme as ECW set the wrestling attendance record for the Hammerstein Ballroom in 1999. Similarly TNA broke the Grand Ballroom record just a month ago when they ran their January 9, 2015 TV tapings for Destination America.
7. The 2300 Arena
Highest Claimed Attendance – 1,700 on January 16, 1999 by ECW
The 2300 Arena is the most recent name given to a factory warehouse in Philadelphia, formerly known worldwide as the ECW Arena. The story behind the most inauspicious wrestling facility on our countdown begins back in the 1970s when the building was used as storage for local warehouses. Within a matter of years, 2300 South Swanson Street was up for sale and soon purchased by law partners Stein & Silverman. They rented the empty space to the local Viking Club who used it as a midnight bingo hall until 1993. At which point, the empty space was alternately configured and repurposed for a third-party wrestling promotion known simply as ECW. Extreme Championship Wrestling called 2300 home from '93 until the promotion folded in 2001, using the building to run events, produce television, and house merchandise. Since then the facility has been used by almost every American wrestling promotion including TNA, ROH, WWE, Chikara, EVOLVE, XPW, as well as international companies such as Dragon Gate, wXw, and New Japan Pro Wrestling. In 2013 the once-grungy auditorium was exponentially upgraded in terms of production, including an increase in seating potential to 2300.
6. Korakuen Hall
Highest Claimed Attendance – 3,000 on November 28, 1980 by AJPW
Much the same as the ECW Arena, this sports entertainment staple has hosted nearly every conceivable wrestling promotion in Japan, as well as a variety of American companies. But Korakuen Hall is no South Philly warehouse, and it is considered by many to be the "Madison Square Garden of Puroresu." Korakuen Hall opened in 1962 and has been a cultural mecca for Japanese wrestling fans ever since, hosting some of the most highly regarded bouts from New Japan, All Japan, NOAH, HUSTLE, and dozens more. Korakuen Hall is located in "Tokyo Dome City," a tourist destination built atop a decommissioned Japanese military arsenal dating back to World War I. The �City' also features an amusement park as well as the legendary Tokyo Dome, itself. In 2014 TNA made history when they chose to run their top event of the year at Korakuen Hall, crossing the Pacific for a pay-per-view for the very first time. In 2008 a second wrestling venue was opened in Tokyo Dome City dubbed "Korakuen 2," however it failed to reach the legendary status of the original. Like Arena Mexico, Korakuen Hall was chosen to display Olympic boxing matches, and continues to host various combat sports including mixed martial arts to this day.
5. Comiskey Park
Highest Claimed Attendance – 30,000 on August 14, 1970 by AWA
Although it's not the oldest venue on the countdown, Comiskey Park was at one time the oldest Major League ballpark in the United States. There was a time when wrestling, boxing, and horse racing were the only three sports Americans were keen to watch. That is until baseball swept the nation and became the undisputed pastime, leading to the construction of such colossal facilities as Chicago's Comiskey Park. Known to many as "White Sox Park," the building was home to the Chicago baseball franchise an astonishing 80 years until the park was closed in 1990. Though it was clearly intended as a baseball diamond, Comiskey Park had its share of high profile wrestling interactions over the years including numerous AWA events from the 1970s and �80s. Verne Gagne set the attendance record in 1970 when he defended his AWA World Heavyweight Championship against Baron Von Raschke, and made history again in 1985 when he partnered with the NWA and WCCW for the first "Clash of the Champions." But the biggest thing to happen inside a wrestling ring at Comiskey Park was just one year after the doors opened, when in 1911 an American by the name of Frank Gotch defeated the European-born George Hackenschmidt for the World Heavyweight Championship.
4. The Dallas Sportatorium
Highest Claimed Attendance – 4,000 on January 2, 1988 by WCWA
The Dallas Sportatorium is unmistakably the most disgusting excuse for a wrestling venue this side of the Mississippi River. Back east, I suppose that distinction might go to the ECW Arena. The Sportatorium was a derelict airplane hanger-sized facility located at 1000 South Industrial Boulevard in Dallas Texas. Built in 1935, the structure was never in pristine condition and suffered greatly from ventilation problems, especially during the hot Texas summers. The Sportatorium was notorious for its rodent infestation, as well as structural damage that made for large holes in the middle of the floor. Despite all of its flaws, the Dallas Sportatorium was still sacred and passed through many hands from the day it opened until its destruction in 2003. A total of ten owners laid claim to the Sportatorium, including Big Time Wrestling, the NWA, the Global Wrestling Federation, and of course World Class Championship Wrestling. WCCW and the Von Erich's put both the Sportatorium and Texas wrestling on the map in terms of exciting entertainment. After the tragedies surrounding Fritz and his family began to mount, other promoters tried their hand at finding the same success, but failed miserably. In 2001 a fire ripped through the 70-year old frame of the building, rendering the already-dilapidated complex uninhabitable. The Sportatorium was officially demolished in 2003.
3. Greensboro Coliseum
Highest Claimed Attendance – 21,427 on April 26, 1998 by WWE
While it's easy enough to establish a home base for the WWE, ECW, even TNA—where was the WCW's "Madison Square Garden?" The Greensboro Coliseum is located deep in the heart of Flair Country, right in the hotbed of what was once Jim Crockett Promotions' territory. The �Coliseum hosted an unfathomable number of NWA and WCW events over the years including the first four Starrcade events. The Carolinas have always been Basketball country, and the Greensboro Coliseum has a long history as host to both NBA and college teams; the �Coliseum is currently home to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro "Spartans" men's basketball team. The venue was opened in 1959 and has since undergone an array of renovations including massive additions in 1972, 1993, 2003, and most recently in 2011. Although hosting a plethora of NWA and WCW action over the years, it was the WWE who in 1998 set the wrestling attendance record for the Greensboro Coliseum with the very first Unforgiven pay-per-view.
2. The Tokyo DomeВ
Highest Claimed Attendance – 70,000 on April 4, 1998 by NJPW
The largest sports complex in Tokyo, Japan opened in 1988; nicknamed the "Big Egg," the Tokyo Dome is the focal point of the Tokyo Dome City tourist destination. The �Dome has hosted several musical performances from both Japanese and internationally renowned talents including Britney Spears and Guns N' Roses. But the Big Egg is perhaps best known as the home field to the Yomiuri Giants—the local baseball franchise. Known outside of Japan as the "Tokyo Giants," the team is owned by the Yomiuri media conglomerate and are comparable in popularity to the New York Yankees. In fact the Yankees have even played inside the Tokyo Dome, as have a number of other MLB, NBA, and NFL teams. The Tokyo Dome has hosted puroresu action since it opened, including the annual January 4th NJPW show that was most recently broadcast to a worldwide audience for the very first time. The �Dome hosted a variety of WCW/NJPW events in the 1990s that would go on to be marketed under the Starrcade banner. The vast size of the Tokyo Dome makes it a preferred venue for performers of all kinds; NJPW attendance inside the Dome has ranged from 16,000 to 60,000 at any given time, with the record set in 1998 with 70,000 people on hand for the "Inoki Finals."
1. Madison Square Garden
Highest Claimed Attendance – 22,292 on January 23, 1984 by WWE
It should come as no shock that the number one venue for professional wrestling is the "House that Bruno built." After comparing no fewer than three other locations to MSG over the course of this countdown, you've probably been waiting for it to make an appearance. But believe it or not, the modern-day coliseum that sits atop Penn Plaza is the fourth in the evolutionary lifespan of Madison Square Garden. The first was opened in 1879 near the actual Madison Square, but lasted only 11 years as it lacked any sort of coverage—an impractical design for a city dipping below zero during the winter. The second was also near Madison Square and existed an astonishing 35 years until it was deemed a financial failure in 1925. The third Madison Square Garden lasted from 1925 until 1968 on 8th Avenue between 49th and 50th Street. The current MSG was built over the old Penn Station Railway tracks where it remains to this very day. It was the fourth and final Madison Square Garden that housed wrestling icons such as Bruno Sammartino, Superstar Billy Graham, Roddy Piper, and hundreds more. In 1984 Vince McMahon and Terry Bollea introduced the world to Hulkamania—a multifaceted phenomenon that continues to run wild in 2015. Madison Square Garden was the home base for the WWF during its meteoric rise to the top of professional wrestling, hosting blood-thirsty bouts like the battle between Sgt. Slaughter and Pat Patterson, as well as entertainment masterpieces such as the "War to Settle the Score." Madison Square Garden was the location of the very first Wrestlemania in 1985 in addition to the tenth and twentieth installments of the event in 1994 and 2004. The history of World Wrestling Entertainment directly relates to the success of Madison Square Garden as is clearly demonstrated by the WWE-inspired decorations that continue to adorn MSG throughout the year.
Thank you for joining me on another whimsical walk down memory lane. Although some of the sanctified structures we've come to admire have been demolished, many of the most iconic "temples" in professional wrestling still stand tall including each of the Top Three Venues. Who's to say that Korakuen Hall won't one day go the way of the Sportatorium or that Madison Square Garden won't move three more times over the next hundred years? All we can do is enjoy them while they still exist. Perhaps twenty years from now we'll speak of the Impact Zone or WWE Performance Center with the same veneration that we use to talk about the Greensboro Coliseum. Until next time, my name is Mark Adam Haggerty asking why stop at Top Ten when you could instead count down the "Lucky Thirteen?"
http://www.cheap-heat.com/lucky-thirteen-5-hallowed-halls-of-headlocks/feed/ 0http://www.cheap-heat.com/results-all-japan-pro-wrestling-ajpw-new-year-wars-2015-day-6-11215-osaka-japan/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/results-all-japan-pro-wrestling-ajpw-new-year-wars-2015-day-6-11215-osaka-japan/#comments Mon, 12 Jan 2015 17:33:16 +0000 Cassidy Haynes Indy/Puro/Lucha AJPW Akebono All-Japan Pro Wrestling Go Shiozaki Hikaru Sato Jun Akiyama KENSO Kento Miyahara Kotaro Suzuki Naoya Nomura New Year Wars Shigehiro Irie Strong Thirteen SUSHI Suwama Takao Omori The Bodyguard Xceed Yohei Nakajima Yoshinobu Kanemaru Yuma Aoyagi Zeus http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=8793 The following results are from a recent All-Japan Pro Wrestling live event. В The event took place on January 12th, 2015 at the Yodogawa Ward Community Center in Osaka, Osaka, Japan: Singles Match Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Yuma Aoyagi (6:06 minutes) Singles Match Takao Omori defeated Naoya Nomura (5:42 minutes) Tag Team Match Akebono and SUSHI […]
The following results are from a recent All-Japan Pro Wrestling live event. В The event took place on January 12th, 2015 at the Yodogawa Ward Community Center in Osaka, Osaka, Japan:
Singles Match
Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Yuma Aoyagi (6:06 minutes)
Singles Match
Takao Omori defeated Naoya Nomura (5:42 minutes)
Tag Team Match
Akebono and SUSHI defeated Hikaru Sato and The Bodyguard (13:44 minutes)
#1-Contender Match (AJPW Unified Triple Crown Heavyweight Title)
Zeus defeated KENSO (17:25 minutes)
Tag Team Match
Jun Akiyama and Shigehiro Irie defeated Xceed (Go Shiozaki and Yohei Nakajima) (16:32 minutes)
Special Match
Suwama and Strong Thirteen defeated Xceed (Kento Miyahara and Kotaro Suzuki) (16:39 minutes)