Minutes to Bell Time

                    Body Slam Brigade January 15, 2021

                    Body Slam Brigade January 15, 2021

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                    WWE Champion Drew McIntyre, Chris Jericho, Nick Jackson, and Demolition Ax all announced that they are currently battling or have battled COVID 19 this year.Despite the global pandemic, live wrestling on both the national and regional levels persists in the state of Florida. As most everyone knows, AEW and WWE have been running shows in Florida for almost a year. It takes seven hours of round trip driving for me to attend a live AEW event, and I did that 11 times in the last four months of 2020. I’m lucky to have AEW available to me, and I know it.

                    Last weekend, I went to The American Legion in Fort Pierce to see Florida Regional Promotion Coastal Championship Wrestling’s New Year’s Revolution show. I sat in the front row ($20). When I stretched my feet out, the ring was about 18 inches away with no barricade. My wife and her mother came with me, and we had an excellent time. It was my first time attending a CCW show, and my mother-in-law’s first wrestling show. She laughed and cheered the whole evening. As we walked to the car my mother-in-law said, “Oh my god, I loved it.” Do I think she’s going to start watching wrestling each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday? No, but I do think she’ll go to The American Legion next time CCW is in town.

                    For me, I loved seeing fresh characters with fresh personalities in an intimate setting. At regional shows like CCW’s New Year’s Revolution, the atmosphere differs from national shows like Dynamite. Wrestlers and other talents engage with the crowd more frequently and on a much more personal level. A boy in the front row harassed the referee by shouting out, “THAT WAS THREE.” The referee didn’t miss a beat shouting some sort of counting lesson insult back at the kid. Another lady about 65 years older than the young boy held no less than 50 signs in her lap. Some of those signs had wrestler names while others had popular wrestling chants like “You Suck” and “This is Awesome.”

                    I think pro wrestling is at its best when it can be enjoyed by young children and senior citizens at the same time as middle aged men and women wearing either suits or cut off jean shorts. Wrestling is a juxtaposition of comedy, danger, and real life issues. You can also think of it as a mixture of stand up comedy, circus, and theater. No matter an individuals background, they probably enjoy at least one of those forms of entertainment.

                    At CCW, we were home among our people. All people. Wrestling fans seeking an escape from a world torn to pieces by politics and sickness. On this night, we came together while sitting and standing a comfortable distance apart to cheer and boo people we don’t know performing on the stage I love most. The Ring.

                    Have a Great Weekend!

                    Ryan Joy

                     

                     

                    Wins and Losses Book Now Available

                    My 1,360 page e-book has the 2020 win-loss data for over 400 wrestlers that competed in AEW, WWE, ROH, Impact, and NXT. Every page is in full color, and I’ve also included a bunch of retrospective articles and top 10 lists.

                    Purchase Here: www.TheWinsandLosses.com

                    One customer printed out several pages and has been getting them signed by wrestlers. That’s a really fun use for this reference book.

                    I have this massive collection of wrestling stats and articles priced at $20, but I want people to see my work. If you email me ([email protected]), I’ll happily give you a discount code for 50% off.

                    If you have a wrestling podcast or if you write for a wrestling website, this could be a valuable tool when discussing professional wrestling in the year 2020.

                    Royal Rumble

                    The Royal Rumble takes place on January 31. The male and female Royal Rumble matches are the only matches currently scheduled.
                    • Male Rumble Participants: Daniel Bryan, Bobby Lashley, AJ Styles, Randy Orton, Otis
                    • Female Rumble Participants: Nia Jax, Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, Bayley, Mandy Rose, Dana Brooke
                    • Roman Reigns v. Adam Pearce – Universal Championship
                    • Drew McIntyre v. Goldberg – WWE Championship

                    NXT

                    • The next challenger for Finn Balor could be either Pete Dunne or Karrion Kross. Raquel Gonzalez appears to be the next major challenger for Io Shirai.
                    • The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic began on NXT this week. The Grizzled Young Veterans (popular choice to win), the Undisputed Era, and MSK advanced in the opening round. Ever Rise, Breezango, and the team of Isaiah Swerve Scott and Jake Atlas were all eliminated.
                    • Desmond Xavier and Zachary Wentz, formerly known as the Rascalz on Impact Wrestling, debuted on NXT this week. The NXT tag team name for this duo is “MSK” and the new ring names are Nash Carter and Wes Lee.
                    • The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic continues on 205 Live this week (1/15) as Drake Maverick and Killian Dain face August Grey and Curt Stallion, and Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza face the Bollywood Boyz.
                    • The Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will begin on the 1/20 episode of NXT. Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter will face Mercedes Martinez and Toni Storm in the opening round.
                    • Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher will have their fight pit match on the 1/20 episode of NXT.
                    • NXT’s Rating this week was 551,000 (down from 641,000 last week)
                    • WWE offered Thunderdome style viewing of NXT this week. Up to this point, the fan faces on the screens in CWC were recycled from Raw and Smackdown.

                    NXT UK

                    • NXT UK Champion Walter successfully defended the championship against A-Kid on the 1/14 episode of NXT UK
                    • Kay Lee Ray defends the women’s championship on 1/21.
                    • The number one contender to Gallus’ tag team championship will be determined on 1/28 in a four-way match: Pretty Deadly v. Flash Morgan Webster and Mark Andrews v. The Hunt v. Oliver Carter and Ashton Smith.
                    • Sha Samuels made his NXT UK debut in a losing effort against Joe Coffey on 1/14.

                    Monday Night Raw

                    • WWE Champion Drew McIntyre has tested positive for COVID-19. Other news outlets are reporting up to four other unnamed WWE wresters are either battling or recovering from a COVID diagnosis.
                    • As a result of McIntyre’s COVID diagnosis, Monday Night Raw from 1/11 appeared to have a reduced talent roster. Many wrestlers had to compete multiple times. In some cases, the storylines suffered as wrestlers like Keith Lee and Sheamus were seen embracing before commercial and battling in a fierce rage upon the commercials return.
                    • The Monday Night Raw rating was 1.82 Million viewers (down from 2.1 last week). The NCAA Championship Football game did over 18 Million viewers.

                    Smackdown

                    • Big E earned his first Intercontinental Championship defense against Apollo Crews.
                    • Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode became the new Smackdown Tag Team Champions by defeating The Street Profits. This ended the 10 month Tag Team Title Reign of Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins
                    • Shinsuke Nakamura was the star of Smackdown on 1/8. He earned a submission victory over Rey Mysterio, and he pinned both Daniel Bryan and Baron Corbin before getting outnumbered and eventually losing to Adam Pearce.
                    • Pearce’s victory leads to the Royal Rumble Universal Championship match.
                    • Smackdown for 1/15/21
                      • Jey Uso v. Shinsuke Nakamura
                      • Rey Mysterio v. King Corbin
                      • Adam Pearce and Roman Reigns sign contracts.

                    Here and There

                    • WWE announced Superstar Spectacle – This is a special to air on the Sony Sports Network in India. The show will feature WWE’s developing Indian talent.
                    • WrestleMania 24 was removed from the WWE Network and then added back a few days later. The removal was to edit the entrance theme for Floyd Mayweather.
                    • The Season 2 Premier of Straight Up Steve Austin aired on the USA Network on 1/11 after Monday Night Raw. Steve’s guest on the show was country music star Luke Combs. The show did 598,000 in the ratings.
                    • WWE filed for the following trademarks: Omos, Sha Samuels, Mansoor, Leon Ruff, and Dabba Keto
                    • The Rock has a new energy drink called Zoa. A multi-faceted team of fitness, health and beverage industry changemakers, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Dave Rienzi and John Shulman, announced today the launch of ZOA™, a new healthy energy drink set to make waves in the category. Available for purchase in March 2021, ZOA is a re-imagined, first-of-its-kind energy drink packed with clean, natural caffeine from green coffee and green tea, powerful antioxidants from camu camu and acerola, as well as vitamin D and a unique blend of vitamins and nutrients that support immune function and elevate energy levels.
                    • WWE will announce 4th quarter earnings on February 4th at 5:00 PM.
                    • Best wishes go out to Bill Eadie (Demolition Ax) who is battling COVID 19
                    • Matthew McConaughey says an in-ring WWE appearance interests him.

                    Introducing the Daily Wrestling News Show

                    The Body Slam Brigade Newsletter comes out on Friday, but if you want news closer to real-time, Body Slam Brigade author Ryan Joy is hosting a new podcast called the Daily Wrestling News Show!

                    The show is live every day at 10 AM on Facebook and You Tube or you can subscribe to the audio version on Apple, Spotify, or pretty much anywhere else you get podcasts. Use the links below to find the show!

                    Subscribe on Apple Podcast: Click Here
                    Subscribe Spotify: Click Here
                    Watch Live on Facebook: Click Here
                    Watch Live on You Tube: Click Here

                    New Years Smash Night 2

                    • The Good Brothers made their AEW Dynamite debut when they swerved the Young Bucks by tagging with Kenny Omega.
                    • Serena Deeb successfully defended the NWA World Women’s Championship against Tay Conti. This was a career match for Tay Conti.
                    • Darby Allin made his first TNT Championship defense against Brian Cage.
                    • Miro defeated Chuck Taylor. Taylor will now serve as Miro’s butler until the wedding of Penelope Ford and Kip Sabian.
                    • Dynamite’s rating this weeks was 762,000 (up from 641,000 last week).

                    Upcoming

                    • Britt Baker faces Thunder Rosa at Beach Break (February 3).
                    • Next Week: Santana and Ortiz v. Guevara and Hager v. Jericho and MJF
                    • Next Week: Adam Page decides whether to join the Dark Order
                    • Next Week: Matt Sydal and Top Flight v. Matt Hardy and Private Party
                    • Next Week: Hangman Page, Cabana, Reynolds, Silver v. TH2 and Chaos Project
                    • Next Week: Update from Miro
                    • Next Week: Nyla Rose v.  Leyla Hirsch
                    • Next Week: Jon Moxley in Action
                    • Next Week: Cody v. Peter Avalon

                    AEW Dynamite Live Broadcasts and Tapings Moving to Miami

                    • AEW has still not announced anything regarding a potential move to Miami for February. The rumor was originally published by Cassidy Haynes of BodySlam.net

                    Here and There

                    • Chris Jericho and Nick Jackson both revealed that they battled COVID 19 last fall.
                    • Matt and Reby Hardy are adding another child to the Hardy Cinematic Universe. They announced that a baby girl is coming.
                    • TNT and Bleacher Report have announced the first ever Dynamite Annual Awards. An award special will stream live on Bleacher Report on January 27th at 7PM. Categories and nominees include:
                      • Best Moment on the Mic:
                        • MJF “We Deserve Better” Speech
                        • Cody Rhodes accepts Dog Collar Match
                        • Jon Moxley accepts Inner Circle Invitation
                        • Brandi Rhodes confronts Jade Cargill
                        • Orange Cassidy Debates Chris Jericho
                      • Biggest Surprise:
                        • Matt Hardy’s Debut
                        • Jake the Snake Roberts confronts Cody
                        • Brodie Lee arrives as The Exalted One
                        • Sting’s AEW Debut
                        • Miro revealed as Best Man
                      • Breakout Star – Male:
                        • Orange Cassidy
                        • Darby Allin
                        • Eddie Kingston
                        • John Silver
                      • Breakout Star – Female:
                        • Hikaru Shida
                        • Anna Jay
                        • Tay Conti
                        • Big Swole
                        • Penelope Ford
                      • Biggest Beatdown:
                        • Inner Circle jumps Orange Cassidy
                        • Dark Order attacks Nightmare Family
                        • Nyla Rose puts Riho + Shida through tables
                        • Brian Cage sneak attacks Jon Moxley
                        • The Nightmare Family and Inner Circle brawl
                      • High Flyer Award:
                        • Rey Fenix
                        • Marq Quen
                        • Nick Jackson
                        • PAC
                      • Hardest Moment to Clean Up After:
                        • Orange Cassidy drops orange juice on The Inner Circle
                        • The Parking Lot Brawl
                        • The Bunkhouse Match
                        • Big Swole dumps garbage on Dr. Britt Baker
                      • Biggest WTF Moment
                        • Cody Rhodes steel cage moonsault
                        • Sammy Guevara hit by golf cart
                        • Kenny Omega wins AEW World Championship and walks out of AEW
                        • Bloody Dr. Britt Baker vs. Hikaru Shida
                        • Young Bucks frog splash off the stadium railing
                      • LOL Award
                        • Jericho + MJF: Le Dinner Debonair
                        • Britt Baker waxes Tony Schiavone
                        • Young Bucks kick MJF into a pool
                        • Inner Circle Vegas Trip
                      • Best Twitter Follow
                        • MJF
                        • Orange Cassidy
                        • Dr. Britt Baker
                        • Nyla Rose
                      • Bleacher Report PPV Moment of the Year
                        • Stadium Stampede
                        • Moxley wins AEW Championship
                        • Shida wins AEW Women’s Championship
                        • Omega + Page defeat The Young Bucks
                        • Darby Allin wins TNT Title from Cody
                        • The Young Bucks win AEW Tag Team title


                    New Beginning Tour Announced

                    Major Match Announcements Include:
                    • The Road to New Beginning on January 23
                      • El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru defend Tag Titles against Taiji Ishimori and ELP
                    • The New Beginning in Nagoya on January 30
                      • NEVER Openweight Championship – Shingo Takagi v. Hiroshi Tanahashi
                      • Will Ospreay v. Satoshi Kojima
                      • Hiroyoshi Tenzan v. Great-O-Khan
                    • New Japan has announced title matches for their two night New Beginning in Hiroshima Event on February 10th and 11th
                      • Feb 10 – Hiromu Takahashi v. Sho
                      • Febr 10 – GOD v. Sabre and Taichi
                      • Feb 11 – Kota Ibushi v. Sanada

                    The 2021 New Japan Cup Announced

                    • The cup will take place over a series of shows starting on March 5th and running through March 21st.
                    • Unlike many other New Japan tournaments, the New Japan Cup is a single elimination tournament.
                    • Evil won the 2020 New Japan Cup, which was delayed due to New Japan shutting down at the beginning of the pandemic era.
                    • Evil would go on to face champion Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Double Championship, which he won.


                    Impact Genesis

                    • Ace Austin won the Super X Cup in the tournament finals defeating Blake Christian.
                    • Moose sacrificed the I Quit match with Willie Mack in order to receive a title match against Rich Swann. That match has not yet been announced.

                    Impact Announces New Commentary Team

                    • Beginning with Hard to Kill this weekend, Matt Striker and D-Lo Brown will take over commentary duties.
                    • Josh Matthews has been promoted and Madison Rayne will address her wrestling future at Hard to Kill.

                    Impact Hard to Kill

                    Impact’s first quarterly PPV Hard to Kill occurs on 1/16. Here is the match card:
                    • PRE SHOW: Josh Alexander v. Brian Myers
                    • Rosemary and Crazy Steve v. Tenille Dashwood and Kaleb
                    • Rich Swann and The Motor City Machine Guns v. Kenny Omega and The Good Brothers
                    • Eddie Edwards v. Sami Callihan – Barbed Wire Massacre
                    • Deonna Purrazzo (c) v. Taya Valkyrie – Knockouts Championship
                    • Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz v. Havok and Nevaeh – Knockouts Tag Championship
                    • Manik (c) v. Rohit Raju v. Chris Bey – X Division Championship
                    • Eric Young, Deaner, Joe Doering v. Cousin Jake, Tommy Dreamer, Rhyno – Old School Rules
                    • The Karate Man v. Ethan Page

                    Brian Myers Status

                    • Brian Myers has officially signed with Impact Wrestling

                    Essential Wrestling Podcast Episode 36 – Click Here

                    The Essential Wrestling Podcast airs every Tuesday at 6:00 PM. Join Al Karl, John D’Aconti, John Smith, Gary Mehafy, and Minutes to Bell Time’s Ryan Joy as they take you through the latest in Pro Wrestling. Find out and get the rationale behind who they think wins the week’s matches.

                    This Week’s Lineup

                    • Finn Balor Retains the NXT Championship
                    • The Scrap Daddy Earns a Universal Championship Match at the Royal Rumble
                    • Alexa Bliss spits fire at Randy Orton in the wake of Drew McIntyre’s COVID-19 Diagnosis
                    • Ace Austin Wins the Super X Cup
                    • Gary Mehaffy discusses the #1 Contender’s Match from NXT UK.
                    • Number 12 of Al Karl’s Top 30 Favorite WM Matches
                    • We make our Picks for this Week’s Upcoming Shows, presented by Minutes to Bell Time and sponsored by Pro Wrestling Pickem.
                    • We pick Night 2 of the New Year’s Smash and Impact’s Hard to Kill

                    Los Parks Win the Tag Team Championships

                    • New MLW Tag Team Champions were crowned on the 1/13 episode of MLW Fusion. Los Parks defeated Ross and Marshall Von Erich. The victory came at the hands of a crooked referee (Tom Lawlor) and a lot of cheating.

                    Next Weeks

                    • Jacob Fatu defends the MLW World Championship against ACH
                     

                    As a subscriber, you can join the private Body Slam Brigade Facebook Group. Click the image above to be taken to the group. I provide a daily update in that group (I often skip some weekend days ?).

                    Contracts

                    • Tracy Williams, Sumie Sakai, and Brian Johnson have all signed new contracts with Ring of Honor.
                    • Dalton Castle is being reported as a free agent.

                    ROH Television Championship Match Announced

                    • Dragon Lee will defend the championship against Rey Horus on ROH TV over the weekend of January 16th. Check local listings on Sinclair stations.

                     

                     

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