TNA

Jinder Mahal Says Dream Match Would Be Against Brock Lesnar

Jinder Mahal recently spoke with nishant.jayaram of sportskeeda.com for an interview. Here are some highlights:

WWE’s Plans to Expand The India Market: Yes, definitely, WWE is looking to expand in India. It already has a huge presence in India. So I believe, alongside other Indian Superstars like the Singh Brothers, Akam in NXT, Lovepreet (Kishan Raftar), I think the more Indian wrestlers come, the bigger the Indian audience becomes, the bigger the WWE Universe in India becomes, which I think would be a great thing because our Indian fans are very passionate.I would love to do more live shows in India – because I know the last two shows in Delhi last year were a huge success, they were both sold out. I would love to see WWE all across India, in Punjab, Mumbai and Delhi.

How US Fans Treat Him: Actually, it’s a very unique dynamic because the American fans boo me – and sometimes in my promos, I say that America doesn’t accept diversity, which is all character stuff. But I like this unique dynamic of how Indians really like me, even American Indian fans like me. In shows here in the USA, a lot of the crowd has Indian fans who are cheering for me, but the American fans are booing for me.I think it’s very unique. It reminds me of the time of Bret Hart, who was a huge and successful star in Canada – Canadian fans would cheer him, but when he was wrestling in the USA, they would (fans) boo him out of the building. I think it is a very similar situation.

New Finishing Move The Khallas: To be a WWE Superstar you’ve to constantly be evolving and improving. I study a lot of tapes, I watch a lot of old wrestling matches and see moves that work and moves that don’t work. I watch guys that are similar to my size, frame and body shape and the moves they do. Because it’s pointless for me to watch high-flying moves or guys that weigh 300+ pound power moves. I’m a unique blend of speed, size and light – I’m only 230 pounds but I’m very strong. I watch guys who are similar to my body type and see what kind of moves they do, and see what works and doesn’t, and based of that I try new stuff on live events. So, if they’re not successful I can scrap it and take it out of my repertoire.

The Success of 3MB: We’re proof – me, Heath and Drew (former members of 3MB) – are proof that anything is possible, it doesn’t matter where you are on the card. You could be the opening match, it is possible to get to the top of the card, through hard work. WWE is great, it gives people opportunities who deserve opportunities, Vince rewards hard work, WWE rewards hard work, so it motivates the rest of the locker room – they’ve seen me go from the bottom of the card to the top.

Dream Opponent: I think my dream opponent is Brock Lesnar. Imagine that match – Champion vs Champion, WWE Champion vs Universal Champion. He is my dream opponent because if I can knock off Brock Lesnar that would truly solidify me… I’m the best and let the world know that the WWE Champion is better than Universal Champion.

Vince Russo’s The Brand Recap – Responding to Eric Bischoff, Mahal Ignored on Smackdown Live, Backstage Heat for Bliss? More!

Russo comments on the recent criticism he has received from Eric Bischoff and Jim Cornette. He says that there’s an open invitation to both of them to come on this show and discuss their issues, but he knows that neither of them are man enough to accept that offer.

Bischoff sent out a tweet this week calling Russo a con man, and Russo says if he conned anyone it must have been the 8 million people who were watching RAW every Monday night. That comment doesn’t even bother him because it’s an asinine comment.

Russo says the biggest con of all time is when Bischoff weaseled his way into TNA on the coattails of Hulk Hogan. Dixie Carter wanted to bring in Hogan but Bischoff wasn’t going to allow that to happen without finding a way to get himself involved as well. Russo says if he was Dixie Carter he would have told both of them to go ‘scratch their ass’.

He says that Bischoff had one good idea during his entire career (NWO), and somehow he even managed to ruin that and drive it into the ground until he got fired.

Botched Finish on This Week’s Episode of SmackDown Live?

As seen on Tuesday’s episode of SmackDown Live, Dolph Ziggler defeated AJ Styles cleanly in the main event of the show.

Bryan Alvarez speculated on today’s installment of Wrestling Observer Radio that the finish appeared to be botched. It’s believed that the finish was supposed to see a three-count with Styles having his foot on the rope, however Ziggler screwed it up when he grabbed Styles foot as he went for the pin. The announcers even played into this finish by making mention of his foot being on the rope but quickly re-worded as they processed what had happen.

Dave Meltzer also mentioned on Observer Radio that with Ziggler defeating Styles clean on the show, he expects the two to have another match on either next week’s show or the week after so that Styles can get his win back. The company would have used the foot on the rope as an excuse for the rematch, but because it was botched that won’t be the case.

No Rematch for Next Brock Lesnar Challenger

Dave Meltzer reported on the latest installment of Wrestling Observer Radio that Brock Lesnar’s Universal Title defense at the Great Balls of Fire event against the winner of Sunday’s Fatal Five Way #1 contender’s match will be a quick program.

Meltzer explained that with Braun Strowman slated to face Brock Lesnnar at SummerSlam, there will be no rematch against who challenges him at Great Balls of Fire. Meltzer indicated that either Seth Rollins or Finn Balor will win Sunday’s match at Extreme Rules for the opportunity to face Lesnar.

Dinner with the King Recap – ‘This is Your Life’ Reaction, Invading the ECW Arena, Hatred from Fans, More!

Lawler opens today’s show speaking about the ‘This is Your Life’ segment featuring Alexa Bliss and Bayley on this week’s episode of RAW. He says that WWE probably wishes they had another opportunity to re-write this or scrap it altogether, because it certainly didn’t go as planned.

He says that you have to give WWE creative a break from time to time because they’re producing 5 hours of live television every single week of the year, and not everything is going to be must-see television. It’s impossible to write the best segment of all time every single show, so he has no issue cutting WWE some slack on this segment.

Moore says he’s not buying that, and he feels that somewhere along the way someone should have pulled this segment from the show. It was very difficult to watch and it probably should have been scrapped during rehearsals. Lawler says that he’s worked on RAW and Smackdown for many years and he has seen a lot of stuff that was hard to watch. Sometimes things just don’t turn out the way you hope.

Lawler also points out that this was live television, and anything can happen on live television. Vince McMahon and the company’s philosophy is that nothing can go wrong on live television, because whatever happens happens.

Impact Wrestling Spoilers – May 31st, 2017

Thanks again to Himanshu D for passing along the following spoilers from Wednesday’s Impact taping in India:

Sonjay Dutt championship celebration to start off the show. Punjabi dancers out and Sonjay makes his entrance with Shera. He says what a night, it took 15 years to win the X-Division title and he did it in front of you guys. He thanks the crowd and promises to be the greatest X-Division champion of all time. Low Ki out. Sonjay says he hopes Low Ki is here to congratulate him. Low Ki says he is indeed here to congratulate him. He says Sonjay had luck but he made use of it to become the champion. He says he truly feels the rightful place of the X-Division Championship is around his waist, and since he gave Sonjay a match up on his request, it’s only fair that Sonjay gives him a title shot. Sonjay agrees and says that they will face each other in a 2 out of 3 falls match at Slammiversary. Low Ki seemed pleased and shook Sonjay’s hand but then attacked him and Shera. He hit the foot stomp on Shera. He is about to do the same to Sonjay before Matt Sydal comes out and Low Ki retreats.

Swoggle chased Spud. They take it through the crowd. Spud escapes and says “kiss my ass” before running away.

* Laurel Van Ness and Sienna vs Allie and Rosemary: Sienna and Laurel make their entrance. Allie comes out. Rosemary’s music plays but she doesn’t come out. Sienna and Laurel walk towards Allie at the entrance way but Rosemary attacks them from behind. KM comes in during the match but Braxton comes out and fights him to the back. A distraction and Laurel hits the Curb Stomp on Rosemary and Sienna pins her for the win.

* KM vs Mahabali Shera: Doctors try to stop Shera from going out for his match. KM attacks right from the bell, pins him but Shera kicks out. KM is in disbelief. KM goes on the offense but Shera fights back. KM goes for the pumphandle sitout facebuster but Shera counters it to hit the Sky High for the win. After the match, Kongo Kong comes out and they double team on Shera. Pumphandle sitout facebuster by KM. Kongo Kong hits the splash from the top rope. Shera has to be helped to the back.

* Trevor Lee vs Davey Richards vs Suicide vs Braxton Sutter vs Eddie Edwards Sony SIX X-Division Invitational (Elimination rules): Suicide eliminated Braxton, Trevor Lee eliminated Suicide, Davey was disqualified after he hit Eddie with a steel chair, Eddie was disqualified after he used a chair on Davey, Sydal wins after a shooting star press on Trevor Lee.

Eli Drake comes out with Christopher Adonis. He says he hears it when he sleep, he hears it when he eats, “Moose Moose Moose”. Crowd chants for Moose. Adonis says, “You really like Moose, huh? That chump doesn’t deserve to be in the same country let alone the same ring as me and Eli”. Eli says Moose is out her running his mouth and putting his nose in our business. A loud “Eli sucks” chant. He says this guy says he has a partner. He says Moose rhymes with Bruce and jokes about Prichard being his tag team partner. He tells Moose to shut the hell up and he needs him to be a man like CA and him. He says he needs Moose to walk down the aisle. Moose’s music hits. Moose says for first time, Eli is not a dummy. He says he can’t say the same for Chris. Moose says Eli’s right, he doesn’t have partner, all his friends are tied up, Eddie has a full metal mayhem against Davey, Alberto El Patron has his hands full with Lashley and even Rosemary has to get ready for Sienna. Eli says this is gonna be two on one. Moose says his partner is gonna be NFL star DeAngelo Williams. They look at the entrance way but no one comes out. Eli and Chris lay out Moose.

Matt Sydal’s Sony SIX X-Division Invitational trophy presentation is taped with the Sony Pictures Network CEO, Bruce Prichard and Scott D’Amore.

* EC3 and Lashley vs Storm and Alberto: EC3 and Lashley are in control until Storm gets the hot tag and he clears house. Storm sees the belt in the ring and is about to use it but Lashley stops him. EC3 and Lashley regain control of the match until Alberto gets the hot tag. During the match, EC3 gets angry at referee Brian Stifler’s count and whips him. Brian Hebner comes out and disqualifies EC3 and Lashley. They take the fight to the outside. Alberto chases Lashley away with a steel chair. Alberto celebrates with the GFW and Impact titles in the crowd.

* Trevor Lee and Low Ki vs Matt Sydal and Sonjay Dutt: Sydal and Dutt dominate the early part of the match, Lee and Low Ki get the advantage on Sydal, Sydal and Sonjay come back into it and Sydal gets the pin after a shooting star press.

Contract signing for Slammiversary matches:
Rosemary vs Sienna: Both sign the contract. Sienna says Rosemary thinks she’s so clever, this is the dumbest thing she ever did. Rosemary says that was very compelling. She says tonight Sienna may have signed the contract, all that means is at Slammiversary they are gonna sign her death certificate with her own blood. “Rosemary’s gonna kill you” chants.

First time ever mixed tag team Full Metal Mayhem Davey Richards and Angelina Love vs Eddie and Alisha Edwards: “Eddie’s gonna kill you” chants. Davey says you’re gonna have to kill me, because at Slammiversary, I’m gonna bury you. Eddie Edwards says this Sunday at Slammiversary, he’s gonna beat Davey’s ass right where it started.

James Storm is angry and has to be held back by Borash and Prichard. EC3 says he feels disconnected. He says he lashes out with this, he lashes out for you, he lashes out for this company, he lashes out for these people and for the last emotion that is of disgust. He says he’s gonna tear Storm’s ass piece by piece to the bone not because he wants to but because he has to. Because he’s a Carter and the world needs them. Storm tells EC3 to tell his family Storm is gonna take that strap and whip EC3 over and over and over and over and when the scars burn he’s gonna continue. He says he’s been here for 15 years. He says he’s the cowboy and “sorry about your damn luck”.

Champion vs champion Lashley vs Alberto: Lashley says all the talking is over, they know at Slammiversary Lashley is going to beat him, so just hand over the belt. He says all the talking is done. Alberto says why wait, we came all the way from America to India, Lashley has a title, he has a title, let’s do it right here tonight. He says it’s as easy as this, take it to the other corner. Alberto goes after Lashley and they everyone in the ring brawl. Bruce says everybody wants to fight tonight, Lashley can captain a team with Davey, EC3 and Kongo Kong, and Alberto can captain a team with Eddie, Storm and Shera.

* Mumbai Cats vs Eli Drake and Christopher Adonis: Mumbai Cats entered to Eli Drake’s music. Eli Drake gets the win after a Gravy Train.

* KM, Laurel Van Ness and Sienna vs Braxton Sutter, Allie and Rosemary: Rosemary mists Laurel, Sienna goes for the AK47 but Rosemary countered it into Red Wedding for the win. After the match, Rosemary stares at Allie, then taps her head and smiles, which makes Allie feel happy. Rosemary then taps Braxton’s head too.

* Kongo Kong, Davey Richards, EC3 and Lashley vs Alberto El Patron, James Storm, Eddie Edwards and Mahabali Shera: Shera comes out alone and the heels gang up on him, until El Patron’s music hits and he comes out with Storm and Eddie. The heels clear the ring. The faces and doctors take a look at Shera and they decide he cannot continue. They take him to the back. The match continues without Shera. Midway through the match, the heels are working on Eddie and they take out Storm and Alberto outside the ring before Eddie can get the tag. Shera comes out and gets the tag from Eddie. Shera hits the Attitude Adjustment on Lashley and a scoop slam on Kongo Kong. Shera goes for the pin but Lashley breaks it up. Lashley picks Shera up on his shoulder but Alberto tags himself in and he takes out Lashley. Shera and Alberto hang Kongo Kong from the corner and Alberto hits the double foot stomp for the win. The faces celebrate in the ring.

* Mumbai street fight Spud vs Swoggle: A directional sign board, pani puri stalls, coloured powder and trash cans around the place. The special guest referee is an Indian dwarf. Spud attacks from the outset, they take it to the outside where Swoggle throws coloured powder on Spud’s face, Spud attacks with the trash can near the entrance stage. They return to ringside and Spud takes out a table and places it near the apron. Spud hits Swoggle with the trash can lid, goes for a powerbomb off the apron but Swoggle bites Spud’s hand. Swoggle enters into the ring and tries to kick Spud onto the table but Spud fights out. Spud enters the ring and takes a mic and says he’s got a message, this is a big man’s business, he hates Swoggle, the boys at the back hate Swoggle and these people hate Swoggle. He says, “Here’s a secret, I meant to pull your pants down!” Swoggle slaps Spud, Spud attacks Swoggle in the corner, referee pulls Spud away from the corner. Spud pushes the referee down and accidentally pulled the referee’s pants down, Swoggle teams up with the referee and he pulls Spud’s pants down. He takes Spud to the apron, picks him up on his shoulders and through the table for the win. Swoggle celebrates with the referee.