Wednesday, August 28, 2024

There are now many wrestlers who have competed at Madison Square Garden, Wembley, Arena Mexico & The Tokyo Dome

AEW All In 2024 has passed and it's time to update the list of those wrestlers that have competed at Madison Square Garden, Wembley, Arena Mexico, and The Tokyo Dome!

You can read last years post here: Who Are the Only 3 Wrestlers...

Those 3 were Chris Jericho, Juice Robinson, and John Tenta.  Thanks to AEW's working agreement with CMLL and NJPW we've added 7 more names to the list!  In no particular order:

From Rocky Romero's X account, he and Dragon from their Tokyo Dome debut

"American Dragon" Bryan Danielson

Danielson made his Arena Mexico and Wembley debuts both in 2024.  

Arena Mexico
March 29, 2024 CMLL Homenaje A Dos Leyendas 2024
Blue Panther, Mistico, Ultimo Guerrero & Volador Jr. defeat Blackpool Combat Club: Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli & Jon Moxley, & Matt Sydal

This was Dragon's CMLL debut as well.  He would return to CMLL a week later on April 5, 2024 to have his dream match facing Blue Panther one on one defeating Panther in 26 minutes by submission.

Tokyo Dome
October 14, 2002 NJPW The Spiral
Six Man Tag Team Match: Jushin Thunder Liger, Masahito Kakihara & Tiger Mask defeat American Dragon, Ricky Reyes & Rocky Romero

Madison Square Garden
December 26, 2010 WWE Raw House Show
WWE United States Champion: Daniel Bryan defeats Zack Ryder

Wembley Stadium
August 25, 2024 AEW ALL In 2024
AEW World Title Vs. Career: "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson submitted AEW World Heavyweight Champion: Swerve Strickland with Prince Nana to win the championship


Zack Sabre Jr. 

One of my all time favorites, I still cannot believe I saw him wrestle Chris Hero in Orono, Maine for Limitless wrestling in 2016 on a stormy January night in with 150 other people.  

Arena Mexico
June 21, 2024 CMLL/NJPW Fantastica Mania Mexico 2024
Best Two Out Of Three Falls: Michael Oku & Zack Sabre Jr. defeat Averno & Volador Jr. [2:0]

Tokyo Dome
January 4, 2018 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12
Four Way Gauntlet Match
CHAOS: Beretta, Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano defeated NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions: BULLET CLUB: Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa, Suzuki-gun: Taichi, Takashi Iizuka & Zack Sabre Jr., War Machine: Hanson & Raymond Rowe & Michael Elgin and Juice Robinson, Ryusuke Taguchi & Togi Makabe to win the championships

Madison Square Garden
April 6, 2019 ROH/NJPW G1 Supercard
RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Champion: Zack Sabre Jr. submitted Hiroshi Tanahashi

I was at this match!  My second ever MSG live event during Mania weekend.  I saw Zack wrestle 3 times over the weekend.

Wembley Stadium
August 25, 2024 AEW ALL In 2024
Casino Gauntlet Match: Christian Cage defeats Adam Page, Jeff Jarrett w/Karen Jarrett, Kazuchika Okada, Kyle O'Reilly, Luchasaurus, Mark Briscoe, Nigel McGuinness, Orange Cassidy, Ricochet, Roderick Strong and Zack Sabre Jr.


Jon Moxley

Arena Mexico
March 29, 2024 CMLL Homenaje A Dos Leyendas 2024
Blue Panther, Mistico, Ultimo Guerrero & Volador Jr. defeat Blackpool Combat Club: Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli & Jon Moxley, & Matt Sydal

Tokyo Dome
January 4, 2020 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14 In Tokyo Dome
Texas Death Match: Jon Moxley defeated IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion: Lance Archer to win the championship.

Moxley would make his second Tokyo Dome appearance the next day in a successful title defense against Juice Robinson. 

Madison Square Garden
December 27, 2012 WWE Raw House Show
The Shield: Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins defeated Team Hell No: Daniel Bryan & Kane & The Miz

Wembley Stadium
August 27, 2023, AEW All In London 2023
Stadium Stampede Match: Best Friends: Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta, Eddie Kingston, Orange Cassidy & Penta El Zero Miedo w/Alex Abrahantes defeat Blackpool Combat Club: Claudio Castagnoli, Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta, Mike Santana & Ortiz


Jay Lethal

Arena Mexico
July 25, 2008 CMLL Super Viernes - Gran Prix: CMLL vs. TNA & Leyenda De Plata 2008
Gran Prix Internacional Torneo Cibernetico: Alex Shelley defeated AJ Styles, Alex Koslov, Averno,  Chris Sabin, Dos Caras Jr., Dr. Wagner Jr., Hector Garza, Jay Lethal, Johnny Devine, Marco Corleone, Rey Bucanero, Shocker, Sonjay Dutt, Ultimo Guerrero, and Volador Jr. 

Tokyo Dome
January 4, 2016 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 10 In Tokyo Dome
ROH World Champion: Jay Lethal with Truth Martini defeated Michael Elgin

Madison Square Garden 
April 6, 2019 ROH/NJPW G1 Supercard
Ladder Match: Matt Taven defeated: Ring of Honor World Heavyweight Champion: Jay Lethal and Marty Scurll to win the championship

As stated above, I was at this show.  In my opinion the ROH side of the card was A LOT weaker than the NJPW portions.

Wembley Stadium
August 25, 2024 AEW ALL In 2024
Sixteen Man: Action Andretti, Kip Sabian, Kyle Fletcher with Don Callis, Lio Rush, Rocky Romero, "Dynamite Kid: Tommy Billington & Top Flight: Dante Martin & Darius Martin defeated Anthony Ogogo, Ariya Daivari, Jay Lethal, Satnam Singh with Sonjay Dutt, Private Party: Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen & The Dark Order: Alex Reynolds & John Silver with Evil Uno



Rocky Romero

Arena Mexico
July 4, 2003 CMLL Super Viernes 
CMLL World Trios Title #1 Contendership Tournament First Round: Los Infernales: Averno, El Satanico & Mephisto defeat Bobby Quance, Pinoy Boy & Rocky Romero

Tokyo Dome
October 14, 2002 NJPW The Spiral
Six Man Tag Team Match: Jushin Thunder Liger, Masahito Kakihara & Tiger Mask defeat American Dragon, Ricky Reyes & Rocky Romero

Madison Square Garden 
April 6, 2019 ROH/NJPW G1 Supercard
Honor Rumble: Kenny King defeated Bad Luck Fale, Brian Milonas, BUSH, Chase Owens,  Cheeseburger, Colt Cabana, Delirious, Great Muta, Hirooki Goto, Jonathan Gresham, Jushin Thunder Liger, King Haku, LSG, Minoru Suzuki, PJ Black, Rhett Titus, Rocky Romero, Ryusuke Taguchi,  Shaheem Ali, Shingo Takagi, SHO, The Beer City Bruiser, TK O'Ryan, Tomohiro Ishii, Tracy Williams, Vinny Marseglia, Will Ferrara, YOH and YOSHI-HASHI

This was on the pre-show 

Wembley Stadium
August 25, 2024 AEW ALL In 2024
Sixteen Man: Action Andretti, Kip Sabian, Kyle Fletcher with Don Callis, Lio Rush, Rocky Romero, "Dynamite Kid: Tommy Billington & Top Flight: Dante Martin & Darius Martin defeated Anthony Ogogo, Ariya Daivari, Jay Lethal, Satnam Singh with Sonjay Dutt, Private Party: Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen & The Dark Order: Alex Reynolds & John Silver with Evil Uno


Tomohiro Ishii

Arena Mexico
September 13, 2013 CMLL 80th Aniversario Event
just as Ishii in Mexico
Best Two Out Of Three Falls: La Ola Amarilla: Ishii, Namajague & Okumura defeat Fuego, Rey Cometa & Stuka Jr. [2:1]

Tokyo Dome
October 8, 2005
NJPW Toukon Souzou New Chapter
Osamu Nishimura & Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Riki Choshu & Tomohiro Ishii 

Madison Square Garden 
April 6, 2019 ROH/NJPW G1 Supercard
Honor Rumble: Kenny King defeated Bad Luck Fale, Brian Milonas, BUSH, Chase Owens,  Cheeseburger, Colt Cabana, Delirious, Great Muta, Hirooki Goto, Jonathan Gresham, Jushin Thunder Liger, King Haku, LSG, Minoru Suzuki, PJ Black, Rhett Titus, Rocky Romero, Ryusuke Taguchi,  Shaheem Ali, Shingo Takagi, SHO, The Beer City Bruiser, TK O'Ryan, Tomohiro Ishii, Tracy Williams, Vinny Marseglia, Will Ferrara, YOH and YOSHI-HASHI

This was the pre-show Honor Rumble, the win was wasted on Kenny King.  VERY bad ass portion of this match was the Great Muta making his MSG debut.  He has stated in an Interview that he had always wanted to wrestle at Madison Square Garden.  He was a surprise entrant and the building erupted.  

Wembley Stadium
August 25, 2024 AEW ALL In 2024
Mixed Tag Team Match: Tomohiro Ishii & Willow Nightingale defeated Kris Statlander & Stokely Hathaway when Ishii pinned Stokely


Kazuchika Okada 

Arena Mexico
May 14, 2005 Toryumon Mexico 8th Aniversario
Sofia Cup Dragon Scramble Elimination: Mistico defeats Banana Senga, Crazy Boy, El Hijo del Fantasma, Extreme Tiger, Hajime Ohara, Hiromi Horiguchi, Joe Lider, Kanjyouro Matsuyama, King Ali Baba, Milanito Collection AT, Shamu and, Kazuchika Okada 

Tokyo Dome
January 4, 2009 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom III
RISE: Milano Collection AT and Minoru & Taichi Ishikari defeat Kazuchika Okada, Mitsuhide Hirasawa & Nobuo Yoshihashi

Madison Square Garden
April 6, 2019 ROH/NJPW G1 Supercard
Kazuchika Okada defeats IWGP Heavyweight Champion: "Switchblade" Jay White with Gedo to win the championship

I was at 5 of these wrestlers MSG debuts!  Okada closing the night out defeating Jay White for the championship was a perfect cap to the evening. 

Wembley Stadium
August 25, 2024 AEW ALL In 2024
Casino Gauntlet Match: Christian Cage defeats Adam Page, Jeff Jarrett w/Karen Jarrett, Kazuchika Okada, Kyle O'Reilly, Luchasaurus, Mark Briscoe, Nigel McGuinness, Orange Cassidy, Ricochet, Roderick Strong and Zack Sabre Jr.

People that I thought compete at all 4 but haven't
Will Ospreay - Arena Mexico
Jeff Jarrett - Arena Mexico
Christian Cage - Arena Mexico
Claudio Catagnoli - Tokyo Dome
Matt Taven - Tokyo Dome
Kamala - Tokyo Dome
PAC - Tokyo Dome
Lio Rush - Madison Square Garden

Mercedes Mone - made appearances at Tokyo Dome and Arena Mexico in angles but did not have a match

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time!

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

The Cost of Being A Wrestling Fan: July 2024

Here we go with July expenses..


I went deep on adding some hard to find Billie Starkz cards to my collection, I'm trying to get all of her cards and there are a few I just don't have.  I bought cards from Ebay and other collectors, and even made a trade for one, spent $170.37.  

I bought a few more cards from the fella in Mexico, for $22, Sam Adonis, Stephanie Vaquer, and a Faby Apache.  

I went to Limitless Wrestling, the ticket and associated expenses there was $67.54.  At the show I got Danhausen to sign his AEW moments card for $20.  It's a bad ass signature but I might sell it. 


Outside normal monthly expenses for streaming services, I spent $81 for my buddy Matt to get my Sting AEW FInal Encounter Trading card signed at WrestleCon in Cleveland.  

On the spur of the moment I ended up buying a new Tully Blanchard t-shirt celebrating the famed Starrcade 85 "I Quit" Match, one of my all time favorite match.  I also bought a pair of 4 Horsemen shorts as it was from Arn Anderson's site so the are officially licensed for $92.66. 

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time!

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

My Great American Bash 1988 Program

On July 10, 1988 the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, Maryland was the site of The Great American Bash, the final Jim Crockett Promotions pay-per-view event.  On this day, the 36th Anniversary of the event I thought it would be a great time to share, in depth, the original program from this event that I acquired at WrestleCon during mania weekend this year. 

Rolling into day 2 of WrestleCon this year, April 6th, I was slated to get a 1991 Impel WCW Card of the Four Horsemen signed by SID and Ric Flair.  This card features, Barry Windham, SID, Ric Flair, & Arn Anderson.  I had Arn sign it on June 10, 2022 at a Big Time Wrestling show in Webster, MA.

Barry Windham was supposed to sign the card in March of this year at the Wrestling Classic, however due to a Spring snowstorm his flight was cancelled.  They did do a private signing make up in June, however It was not announced until May.

That morning I get to the hall and look for SID and he is not at his table.  I ask the handlers there who tell me that SID cancelled last minute.  I had heard rumors that SID was a frequent no show or last minute cancellation type guy.  Not wanting to waste the $79 Ric Flair signature I pre-paid for I didn't want him to sign this card, trouble is I didn't bring anything else.  So the hunt was on to find something else for Flair to sign and quickly.  

I started searching around at vendor tables looking for Wonderama Trading cards and I found one, but it's Michael Hayes slamming Flair, why would I want Flair to sign that?  I mean if Hayes had signed it, sure, but not Flair first.  I was stressing hard.

I got in line for Flair, ended up in line for over 2 hours.  I tried to sell my Flair ticket, but didn't have any luck there.  I was frustrated because it's $79 for Flair to sign something and I wasn't happy with what I was getting signed.  The vendor that I bought the card from also had an original Great American Bash 1988 Program for $60.  I just didn't want to spend more money as I had spent quite a bit already.

Ultimately, I wasn't happy with the card, I love Jim Crockett Promotions and this is an original and official piece of JCP merchandise.  My favorite wrestling to watch is JCP from 1984 - 1988 and I love the Great American Bash tours, this was the last one under the JCP banner, also this was the first ever Great American Bash PPV and the last ever Crockett PPV.  My buddy Bradford watched my place in line and I ran back upstairs and bought it.

As I neared the front of the line many people saw what I was getting signed and that it was a cool piece to get signed.  Flair even remarked how nice it was.  After getting Flair to sign it I decided to spent another $60 to have Lex Luger sign it as he and Flair wrestled in the main event on the show.  He too thought it was a beautiful piece and talked about the match.  I've met Luger twice and both times he couldn't have been a nicer guy.


I debated having others at WrestleCon who appeared on the show sign the program as well, Arn Anderson and The Rock n' Roll Express, but then I thought, no I can't get everyone on the show to sign it, and they way Flair and Luger signed it, it was too perfect.  I couldn't be happier with how this piece turned out.
 

My plan is to frame it and hang it, however I'm going to share all the pages of the inside of the program at the end of this post.


Great American Bash 1988 Results
July 10, 1988 Baltimore Arena, Maryland

NWA World Tag Team Champions: "Enforcer" Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard with JJ Dillon wrestled Sting and "The Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff to a 20 minute time limit draw

The Midnight Express: "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton & "Sweet" Stan Lane with Jim Cornette defeated NWA United States Tag Team Champions: The Fantastics: Bobby Fulton & Tommy Rogers to win the championships

Tower of Doom Match: The Road Warriors: Hawk & Animal, "Dr. Death" Steve Williams, "Rugged" Ronnie Garvin, and Jimmy "Jam" Garvin with Precious defeated Al Perez, "Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff, Kevin Sullivan, "Captain" Mike Rotunda, and The Russian Assassin with Gary Hart and "Mr. Number 1" Paul Jones

NWA United States Champion: Barry Windham with JJ Dillon defeated "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes

NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair with JJ Dillon defeated "The Total Package" Lex Luger by referee stoppage


Check out all of my posts from our wrestling trip to Philly

Read a blog post I wrote about The Great American Bash in general in 2017. 

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time!