Source: PWInsider Elite
– Curtis Axel and Ryback should be back on WWE TV soon, likely within the next month. As noted, Axel was kept off TV while Ryback recovered from hernia surgery.
– We noted before that WWE NXT star Mojo Rawley may be having shoulder surgery soon. That surgery is confirmed and he will be out of action for a while. Mojo has a reputation of being rough in the ring.
Source: PWInsider Elite
– For those wondering about the Natalya and Tyson Kidd divorce storyline on Total Divas, there has been no divorce filed and it’s part of the show.
– John Cena vs. Randy Orton is currently planned to be the main event of this month’s WWE Hell In a Cell pay-per-view.
– As seen on WWE’s website and social media accounts this weekend, they have been promoting the Randy Orton RKO Vine videos that went viral this week. WWE is usually late in getting with what’s trending but Orton himself was sharing these videos around, which is why WWE is featuring them.
– PWInsider confirms reports that WWE will be making Steve Austin more prominent in the company next year. They are currently working on plans for next year but nobody seems to know exactly what those plans may be. Austin is not expected to wrestle at WrestleMania 31.
– Regarding Team 3D possibly going to WWE, PWInsider reports that word is that feelers from both sides have been sent out now that 3D is no longer under contract to TNA.
There can only be one king in the World Wrestling Federation!
Back on June 13th, 1993 the World Wrestling Federation crowned their very first (acknowledged) King of the Ring. One man in particular took offense to such a title being handed out. After all, he had been calling himself “King” for many years himself.
So, when Bret Hart won the 1993 King of the Ring tournament, the jealous Jerry “the King” Lawler ended up viciously attacking the Hitman during a coronation shortly after the victory. During the confrontation, Bret referred to Lawler as being the ‘Burger King’. Lawler responded by attacking Bret with a scepter. The attack would be the beginning of a feud that would go on for nearly three years, off and on.
During the July 7th taping of Wrestling Challenge, Jerry Lawler would beat Bret’s younger brother Owen Hart to send a message to the Hart Family that he would do the same to Bret at SummerSlam in August. Lawler would continue to get underneath Bret’s skin by taunting his parents during the July 26th edition of RAW. Bret was wrestling against Bam Bam Bigelow, before he left the match to get his hands on Lawler, who had been taunting Stu and Helen in the upper deck of the Manhattan Center.
While this was going on in the WWF, Lawler and Bret were also feuding in Jerry’s promotion, the USWA, based in Memphis. The roles were switched as Lawler was the babyface and Bret played the heel. In that promotion, they would have a steel cage match the night before SummerSlam. A stipulation was if Lawler were to lose he would refund the money he earned from the show to the fans. Of course, Lawler was able to win after the Giant Gonzales botched his interference and cost Bret the match. I thought that was an interesting tidbit to throw in.
The next night at SummerSlam on August 30th, Lawler tried to get out of his match with Bret Hart by walking out on crutches and saying he had suffered an injury. It worked at first, and the King was able to get Doink the Clown to take his place. Bret won the match over Doink via DQ after interference from Lawler. Lawler whacked Bret with his crutch, giving away the fake injury, and that led to WWF President Jack Tunney ordering the match between Bret & Lawler to take place immediately. Bret originally won his match with the Kind via Sharpshooter submission, but he refused to let go of the hold. So, as a result, Lawler wound up winning the match by a reverse decision. The victory allowed Lawler to have the title of being the real king of the WWF.
Bret and Lawler were supposed to continue their feud at Survivor Series in November, but Lawler had legal issues he needed to attend to and left the company for the time being. He would return in early 1994 at WrestleMania X, but his feud with Bret wouldn’t be a focus that year.
Their feud continued in early 1995. William Shatner made an appearance on the January 9th edition of RAW and along with Bret Hart, he got the better of Jerry Lawler on the King’s Court. A month later, Bret Hart cost Jerry Lawler a battle royal on Superstars by forcing Lawler to have both feet touch the ground.
Lawler began to drag Bret Hart’s name in the mud during the February 20th edition of RAW. Lawler called Bret a racist after Bret won the “Wrestle of the Year” award. Jerry believed Bret won the award because the Japanese vote wasn’t counted. This would lead to a feud with Bret and Hakushi, which will be noted later on in this column.
It seemed like Bret wasn’t able to beat Lawler on a national stage as they wrestled again on the March 13th edition of RAW. Lawler won by count-out after Bull Nakano prevented Bret from returning to the ring. Bret and the King would finally have another match at the first In Your House PPV on May 14th, 1995. At the event, Bret Hart had two matches. He first beat Hakushi, but was unable to beat Lawler. Instead, Bret was pinned by Lawler after Hakushi interfered and splashed Bret several times from the top rope.
Hart and Lawler would meet again at the King of the Ring, but it wouldn’t be a normal match. No, instead they competed in a ‘Kiss My Foot’ match where the loser would be forced to kiss the winner’s foot. After purposely dirtying his feet only to lose the match, Lawler was embarrassed and would end up going to his personal “dentist” to fix his mouth. This wasn’t any normal dentist, though. The dentist was evil and known as Dr. Isaac Yankeem. Lawler wouldn’t be seeking revenge personally, but rather by recruiting Yankeem to do it for him.
At SummerSlam, Bret Hart was able to beat I. Yankeem but only by disqualification thanks to Jerry Lawler getting involved and attacking the Hitman. On the October 2nd edition of RAW, Bret attacked Lawler following a match, but Yankeem saved his King friend. Two weeks later, Bret competed against Yankem inside a steel cage, which saw Lawler inside a small shark cage hanging above the ring. Bret won the match by escaping over the cage, essentially winning the feud and putting an end to his issues with Lawler for good.
The feud between Bret Hart and Jerry Lawler was one of the few highlights for the WWF during the 1993 year. It was a personal feud and Lawler did a great job of doing things that were rather shocking. The incorporation of Bret’s family into the feud really helped spark it. Lawler seemingly carried the feud all by himself when it came to promos. He would add a lot more to the story than Bret would, in my opinion.
If Lawler didn’t have the legal issues towards the end of 1993, I’d imagine the feud would’ve been that much better and memorable. They didn’t have any feuding throughout 1994 and their feud in 1995 was not nearly as good as their issues during the 1993 run. There wasn’t a lot of interest in their feud for me in 1995. Was it a good feud in 1995? Yeah, but it was just a quick way to finish their feud from 1993.
Their feud was more Bret Hart vs. Hakushi/Yankem, who were friends of Lawler. The program was intense and personal in 1993, but come 1995 the feud was more comical and cartoony. I mean, there was a “Kiss My Foot” match involved and Bret had a feud with an evil dentist. It just hurt the rivalry, I thought.
Overall, the feud from June to August ’93 was really entertaining and fun. The year long hiatus of the feud due to Lawler’s legal issues really damaged the feud. When they returned to the feud in 1995 it was just poorly executed and the feud wasn’t able to regain the steam it previously had.
I wouldn’t give the feud a thumbs up OR a thumbs down. Instead, it would be right in the middle. The earlier stuff between them is entertaining and would be worth the view, including their feud in Memphis.
What are your memories of the feud between Jerry Lawler and Bret Hart? Feel free to share your opinions.
Thanks for reading.
Credit: PWInsider
NXT Results for the October 16th episode:
We are in Winter Park, Florida and your announcers are Rich Brennan, Renee Young, and Alex Riley.
Match Number One: Baron Corbin versus Elias Sampson
They lock up and Corbin hits the End of Days for the three count.
Winner: Baron Corbin
Rich Brennan mentions Carmella and that she will be making her debut tonight. Alex mentions that Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady will be facing the Legionnaires tonight.
Sami Zayn makes his way to the ring. Sami listens to the crowd chanting before he starts to speak.
He says that he appreciates the fans. He says that he is coming out here because he lost last week to Titus O’Neil. He says that he is a little sick of that. He is sick of coming out here and losing, even if it is fair and square. Sami says that he knows that he is better than that. He has proven it time and time again in this building, in front of you people. Now it is time for Sami Zayn to refocus and set his sights on the NXT Championship.
Tyson Kidd’s music plays and he makes his way to the stage. Tyson is wearing a Sami Zayn shirt and he tells Sami it is time to face the facts. It is a fact that you will never be the NXT Champion. You have squandered every opportunity and dropped the ball. Now you are going to lie to Tyson’s people? Is this the start of the era when Sami Zayn is actually winning?
Sami says that he has no problem with Tyson coming out and interrupting him. He asks Tyson if he got Nattie’s permission before he came out. He tells Tyson to go home and cry himself to sleep while watching yourself on reruns of Total Divas.
Tyson says that he would rather be on Total Divas than be a total loser like Sami. You might get some moral victories, but when you get close to the top, you fall off. Last week, Titus O’Neil versus Sami Zayn and you lost . . . AGAIN. Maybe you aren’t good enough to be here. Don’t worry. You can make some cash selling some sweet t-shirts or selling photos of you losing to top superstars. He calls Sami pathetic.
Sami says that he does not live in the past. He lives in the now and it is time for Sami’s Road to Redemption. Sami says that he is good enough to be here and good enough to beat Tyson. He will prove it tonight. He tells Tyson to borrow Tyler Breeze’s cell phone to call Nattie to get her permission.
Tyson says that as long as Regal is okay with it, we can have the match. Tyson says that he has to check on his cats. Later tonight, Sami’s Road to Redemption hits a road block. FACT!
Kalisto and Sin Cara bouncing around in the locker room as we go to commercial.
Match Number Two: Kalisto and Sin Cara versus Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake in a Non Title Match
Cara and Blake start things off and Blake with a side head lock. Blake with a shoulder tackle but Cara with a modified monkey flip. Murphy tags in and Cara with a kick but Murphy kicks back. Cara with an Irish whip but Cara is sent to the apron and he knocks Blake off the apron and then he goes for a slingshot DDT but Murphy holds on and counters into a suplex and he gets a near fall.
Blake tags back in and he kicks Cara. Blake with a slam and elbow drop followed by a leaping knee drop for a near fall. Blake with a snap mare and he tags in Murphy who hits a double knee strike for a near fall. Murphy with a reverse chin lock and he sends Cara to the mat. Kalisto and Blake tag in and Kalisto with a springboard cross body followed by a springboard corkscrew cross body. Kalisto kicks Murphy on the apron and Cara is tagged in. Kalisto with a pescado on Murphy.
Cara with an enzuigiri on Blake followed by a Victory Roll bomb for the three count.
Winners: Kalisto and Sin Cara
We take a look back at last week’s match between Tyler Breeze and Mojo Rawley when Breeze won by referee stoppage.
We see Mojo Rawley and he says that his shoulder is busted up and he will be out for a while. He says that it is all good. He will come back stronger than ever because it is time to regroup and refocus. You need to take one step back to move two steps forward. He will never forget who did this to him. He will be coming back with the vengeance and the rage. He says that he stays hyped.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Becky Lynch versus Charlotte in a Non Title Match
They lock up and Charlotte works on the wrist with a wrist lock. Becky with a reversal but Charlotte blocks a hip toss attempt. Beck blocks an arm drag and Becky with an arm drag into an arm bar. Charlotte with a wrist lock but Lynch with a hammer lock. Charlotte with a reversal but Becky with a single leg take down and she applies a step over toe hold and knee drop to the leg. Charlotte with a front face lock to get out of the hold. Lynch with arm drags.
Lynch misses a charge into the corner and Charlotte with a back breaker followed by an elbow to the collarbone. Charlotte drives Becky’s head into the mat while applying the figure four head lock. Becky bridges back and gets a near fall. Charlotte with a knee to the midsection. Charlotte misses a drop kick when Lynch holds on to the ropes. Lynch with forearms and a boot to Charlotte. Both women go down when they each try for clotheslines.
Charlotte misses a clothesline but Lynch connects with a few followed by a drop kick and a series of leg drops, including a leaping twisting leg drop for a near fall. Lynch tries for a suplex but Charlotte blocks it and she hits a suplex of her own for a near fall.
Charlotte misses a splash into the corner and Becky with a kick in the corner followed by a drop kick for a near fall. Charlotte with a neck breaker followed by Natural Selection for the three count.
Winner: Charlotte
We see footage from last week when Hideo Itami fell victim to the Ascension after Konnor destroyed Funaki.
We go to comments from Viktor and Konnor. Konnor says that what they did to Funaki is a sign of things to come if you don’t get out of our way. Viktor says that he does not belong here because this is there house. They tell him Sayonara.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady make their way to the ring. Colin says that if they got a dime for every time they got beaten up in school, they would have zero dimes. That is because they are not S-A-W-F-T.
Match Number Four: Colin Cassady and Enzo Amore versus Sylvester Lefort and Marcus Louis
Colin and Sylvester start off and Colin with a slam. Louis tags in and Marcus loses his wig. Marcus looks at Sylvester and he takes his wig back and he attacks Sylvester while Colin and Enzo watch. Marcus throws Lefort to the floor and he follows after his ‘former’ tag team partner. Louis slams Sylvester’s head into the ramp and then he goes to the back.
The referees check on Lefort and it looks like the match is over.
NO Contest
Colin says that we could get another match so he tells the person in the blue pants in the back to come out. Enzo introduces Carmella
Match Number Five: Carmella versus Leva Bates
Carmella with a side head lock and Leva with shoulders in the corner. Carmella with a drop kick but Leva with an Irish whip. Carmella with a drop toe hold and a head scissors submission that forces Leva to tap out.
Winner: Carmella
Sasha Banks is in the locker room and Becky Lynch tells Sasha that she will be getting what she deserves. Sasha says that she will be the champion. Being nice will get you nowhere. Now that you lost to Charlotte twice, you need to look in the mirror and figure out what will it take to get to the top.
Devin Taylor is in the interview area with Adrian Neville. She asks Adrian about his match next week against Titus O’Neil. Adrian says that he is sick of these Raw and Smackdown superstars who come to NXT and expect them to be intimidated. Titus’ bark may be loud, but Adrian says that his bite is bigger. He vows that Titus will not win the NXT Championship.
We go to commercial.
We are back and next week, Bayley faces Sasha Banks; and Adrian Neville defends the title against Titus O’Neil.
Match Number Six: Sami Zayn versus Tyson Kidd
Zayn goes to the floor for a moment after the bell rings but he returns to the ring. They lock up and Zayn with a wrist lock but Kidd with a reversal into a hammer lock. Zayn with a reversal into a side head lock take down. Kidd with a head scissors and Zayn escapes. Kidd with a take down and Zayn with a head scissors but Kidd escapes.
They lock up and Zayn with a side head lock and a shoulder tackle. Zayn dives over Kidd and Kidd with a kip up to a standoff. Kidd with a single leg take down but Zayn with arm drags and a wrap around arm drag. Kidd goes to the floor and Zayn teases a dive but Zayn sees Kidd move so Zayn does an Arabian Press back into the ring. Zayn tells the referee to start his count while Zayn holds the ropes open for Kidd.
Kidd is about to get back into the ring but he decides to go back into the ring. Zayn goes to the floor after Kidd and Kidd with a running kick to the head and we go to commercial.
We area back and Kidd chokes Zayn in the ropes. Kidd with a snap mare and kick to the back of the head for a near fall. Kidd stands on Zayn’s hand and then he connects with an elbow to the bridge of the nose. Kidd with a neck breaker for a near fall. Kidd with a rear chin lock. Zayn backs Kidd into the corner but Kidd with a forearm to the back of the head. Kidd with a knee drop and he gets a near fall.
Kidd with a reverse chin lock. Zayn with an arm drag but Kidd with a kick. Zayn with clotheslines followed by a drop kick. Zayn sets for a Helluva Kick but Kidd moves. Zayn with a kick followed by a double jump cross body and a near fall. Kidd with elbows to the head but Zayn grabs Tyson and hits a Blue Thunder Bomb but he can only get a near fall.
Zayn tries for a suplex but Kidd lands on his feet. Zayn with a standing switch but Kidd with an elbow and a neck breaker for a near fall. Kidd waits for Zayn to get to his feet and Kidd with a double leg take down but Zayn kicks him away. Kidd counters a monkey flip attempt and Kidd locks in the Sharpshooter. Zayn tries to crawl across the ring to get to the ropes and he succeeds.
Kidd releases the hold. Kidd chokes Zayn in the ropes and he tries for the slingshot leg drop on the apron but Zayn moves and Kidd lands hard. Zayn grabs Kidd as he charges into the corner and he hits an Exploder into the turnbuckles. Zayn with the Helluva Kick and he gets the three count.
Winner: Sami Zayn
We go to credits.
Source: PWInsider.com
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WWE taped the following matches tonight (10/13/14) in Atlanta to air on this week’s Superstars for 10/16/14:
* Bo Dallas defeated Zack Ryder
* Cesaro defeated Kofi Kingston, who played the babyface. Cesaro won with a big uppercut.
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Source: PWInsider Elite
– We noted before that Justin Roberts’ WWE departure came as a big shock to everyone in the company. It was described as similar to Matt Striker’s release back in 2013. An interesting story on Striker’s release and how close some WWE executives pay attention to what’s going on is after Striker was cut, WWE held a meeting about future DVD projects and one top WWE executive suggested they get Striker to host one DVD. The executive didn’t even know that Striker had been cut many weeks earlier.
Word coming out of WWE this week is that Eden will be replacing Justin Roberts as the new RAW announcer. Lilian Garcia will stay on SmackDown and when Lilian isn’t present at live events, Byron Saxton will fill in.
It was noted that the decision for Eden to work RAW has already been finalized but plans could change between now and Monday.
There’s also talk that JoJo may be brought to the main roster. JoJo, who was on the first Total Divas season, has been doing ring announcing in NXT for some time now.
– We noted before that WWE decided not to bring in indie star Willie Mack. There is a lot of speculation going on about why WWE changed their minds but he did indeed sign a deal. Mack’s deal was “signed, sealed & delivered” and he passed his medical tests. There are rumors of a health problem but WWE called Mack last week and told him that he won’t be going to NXT and will be let go. He was scheduled to report to Florida in the next few weeks.
– Carlito vs. Elijah Burke has been added to the big WrestleCade event next month in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
– The new episode of WWE Warehouse with Joey Styles and WWE Archivist Ben Brown is now online at this link. This week’s episode looks at two special Undertaker artifacts.
– Our WWE NXT correspondent Tara, who regularly attends NXT events in Florida, noted that Baron Corbin is growing a following quicker than any other NXT star in recent memory. We noted back in the summer that Corbin was dubbed internally as one of the NXT talents to watch over the next year.
– Below is a behind the scenes look at Emma’s new shoot.
– Fans of “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith, and his widow Diana Hart, have been sharing a petition to have Smith inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame for over a year now. They picked up a big endorsement this past week with actor David Hasselhoff, seen above.
– Chris Jericho and Fozzy announced today that they will be running The Cinderblock Party World Tour with special guests The Dirty Youth in the UK and Ireland from March 5th through March 15th. Details are available at this link.
– Mick Foley posted the following teaser on Facebook, which could be something for his comedy shows:
“CLOSING IN ON A TV DEAL! Yes, it looks like it’s finally going to happen.I should know more in the next week or two.”
– WWE applied to trademark “XFL” back in September 2012 and were given a “Notice of Publication” just last month, meaning any party could oppose the registration of the trademark. The NFL has requested to file an extension to file an opposition to the trademark, according to PWInsider. NFL has until November 15th to file an opposition or ask for another extension
– Kevin Steen tweeted the following this week about training at the WWE Performance Center:
“@WWENXT is a special place. I feel it every day at the Performance Center.So many passionate people working hard to be the best they can be”
