Latest news with #D'AmoreDrop
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The D'Amore Drop: How Naomi — aka Trinity — told me she was leaving TNA for WWE
The D'Amore Drop is a weekly guest column on Uncrowned written by Scott D'Amore, the Canadian professional wrestling promoter, executive producer, trainer and former wrestler best known for his long-standing role with TNA/IMPACT Wrestling, where he served as head of creative. D'Amore is the current owner of leading Canadian promotion Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling. WWE's Money In The Bank from Los Angeles this past Saturday was another action-packed WWE premium live event (PLE), with the right results to continue WWE's major storylines through the summer. Advertisement As we noted last week, Seth Rollins winning the Money In The Bank briefcase was absolutely the right call. Like with the main villain in a television show or the first act of a superhero movie, WWE continues to build up Seth Rollins' power. At WrestleMania 41, he turned full heel with Paul Heyman, then he added Bron Breakker, and then Bronson Reed to create the most formidable faction since the Bloodline's heyday. And now he has the power to get a WWE title shot anytime, anywhere, on no notice. I'm enjoying the fact that WWE is building Seth's power base slowly, with another boost every few weeks that is then allowed time to settle in the minds of the fans. Advertisement I don't think Rollins' group (they need an official name!) is done with the power grab yet. I think we are going to see them look absolutely unbeatable … and then a hero will emerge to take them on. In this past weekend's main event, Cody Rhodes got his revenge win over John Cena from WrestleMania 41, pinning the WWE Champion in a fun tag match that also featured Jey Uso and Logan Paul. I think that may create a temporary pause to the Rhodes vs. Cena storyline moving forward. Cena is now getting into it with CM Punk, leading into a fan-demanded match at WWE Night of Champions on June 28 in Saudi Arabia. Seth Rollins also sent a message to both that he'll be ready to pounce on the winner if the opportunity presents itself. Advertisement I expect WWE to circle back to Cena vs. Rhodes in a big way in late summer. The women's Money In The Bank match was every bit as exciting as the men's, with Naomi emerging from a thrilling ladder match also featuring Stephanie Vaquer, Roxanne Perez, Giulia, Rhea Ripley and Alexa Bliss. All of them had terrific moments, and it is great to see younger talents like Vaquer and Perez get presented as the megastars they will soon be. But, of course, I have an affinity for Naomi … or rather Trinity, which is her real name and what she was known as during her incredible run in TNA from 2023-24. Trinity was a massive get for TNA. The transition from the WWE can be tough when it's all you've ever known, but once she committed, she was phenomenal. Trinity had no ego, brought no drama — just had a team-first attitude. Advertisement She was a huge boost to the entire locker room, not just the Knockouts division. Everyone knew she'd probably return to WWE eventually, and we were cool with that. The goal was always to showcase her as a featured star and help her continue growing. Naomi makes her way to the ring during WWE Money in the Bank 2025. (Michael Marques/WWE via Getty Images) (WWE via Getty Images) She delivered at every major milestone — from Slammiversary to Bound for Glory, then into the TNA rebrand at Hard to Kill in January 2024. She signed to go back to WWE, and told me in December 2023. She had every right to say, 'Hey, I need to drop the belt quickly and I can't lose twice to Jordynne Grace during Hard to Kill weekend.' I actually offered her an out — to drop the title and then not do the rematch on television just days later. But she insisted on doing the right thing, passing the torch to Jordynne and giving the TNA Knockouts Title full respect. Advertisement When she sat me down and told me she was going back to WWE, she did it in person and was gracious enough to tell me what her time in TNA had meant to her. That gave me the chance to tell her exactly what she had done for TNA in return. Some tears were shed, so yeah, if I am thrilled that Trinity won Money In The Bank and will be in a WWE title program, don't blame me. I hate to do two columns in a row saying the same thing — especially this particular thing — but Logan Paul continues to impress. He didn't look at all out of place in a match that featured Cena, Rhodes and Uso. He's playing a character that is very much himself out there, and it really works. I popped when Paul and Cena got into it, teammates arguing in the ring during the match. Advertisement 'I am Logan Paul!' seems exactly like the sort of thing Logan would yell during a real-life argument, too. Jey Uso is one of the most over performers WWE has had in a decade. His entrance is the hottest in the business. He had a great match on "WWE Raw" dropping the World Heavyweight Championship to Gunther. Jey's first WWE World Title reign was a short one — April to June — but it won't be his last. Which brings me to the big surprise at Money In The Bank — the return of Ron Killings just days after he announced he was not getting renewed by WWE after 17 years with the promotion. I exchanged texts with Ronnie shortly before the show. No, he didn't mention that he was going back to WWE — he's a pro and he also knows that I hate spoilers. (Why would anyone WANT to know spoilers? Wrestling is at its best when there are surprises.) Advertisement Obviously I wanted to check if there was a chance that he could be legally cleared to appear at Maple Leaf Pro'ss next big pay-per-view on July 5, but mainly we had a great talk about the outpouring of love from not just fans, but also Ronnie's peers when news broke that he was done with WWE. I experienced something similar when I was let go from TNA in February 2024. Like I said to Ronnie, it is like attending your own funeral, and by that I mean you get to hear the things people usually only say when it's too late. I don't know for a fact if Ronnie asked WWE to be known as 'Ron Killings' — his real name — as part of this new deal, but it is very smart. Because it is his legal name, he can use it for future projects, television shows, other wrestling gigs, signings, whatever. 'R-Truth' is WWE IP. No two performers age the same and, even aged 53, Ron has something left in the tank. He has a real top-tier run left in him — in fact, he's got a few. Advertisement Let's enjoy what he does next — because it almost didn't happen. Another talent who handles things the right way is Shotzi Blackheart. WWE signed her just after she agreed to work with us in TNA in 2019, but she honored the dates. Six years later, she's a free agent — and you better believe I made sure Maple Leaf Pro booked her for our July 5 pay-per-view. AAA's Worlds Collide event was the dawn of the new WWE-ownership era for the lucha promotion. It was an impressive start: The show looked great on YouTube and there was a red-hot crowd at the Kia Forum despite the early bell time (so as not to go head-to-head with Money In The Bank across L.A.). Advertisement Lucha is a unique style of wrestling, different and distinct from the North American style. I understand some fans' fears TKO will turn it into 'WWE Mexico,' but there was no evidence of that at Worlds Collide. Next week is huge for Mexican wrestling. On June 15, WWE presents AAA's Triplemanía Regia III supercard from Arena Monterrey, and then three days later at Arena Mexico in Mexico City, the CMLL promotion teams up with AEW to present a very special Grand Slam Mexico edition of "AEW Dynamite." Of course, the CMLL/AEW event was announced first — and I'm sure it's no coincidence AAA and WWE decided to run a few days before.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The D'Amore Drop: Why WWE's Money In The Bank books best with a heel winner
The D'Amore Drop is a weekly guest column on Uncrowned written by Scott D'Amore, the Canadian professional wrestling promoter, executive producer, trainer and former wrestler best known for his long-standing role with TNA/IMPACT Wrestling, where he served as head of creative. D'Amore is the current owner of leading Canadian promotion Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling. WWE presents its annual Money in the Bank PLE this weekend from Los Angeles. Advertisement Money in the Bank is two great concepts in one. First, it's the continuation of the ladder match, which always reminds me of where it originated: Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling, which ran from the 1940s to the 1980s up in Calgary. As hardcores know, Bret Hart brought the idea to WWE in the early '90s and then it was made world famous by Shawn Michaels and Scott Hall, was elevated by Edge and Christian, then the Hardys and the Dudleys in the 2000s, and now takes its place alongside the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber as an annual WWE super-gimmick. There's a rumor that Triple H doesn't love the MITB match, but used sparingly it can be an amazing spectacle, and I expect two classics this Saturday. Then there's the second part of Money In The Bank — the concept of having two wrestlers (one man, one woman) who can claim immediate WWE title shots at any time by cashing in the contracts in the briefcases. Advertisement My old roommate Adam 'Edge' Copeland established the concept back in 2006, cashing in on John Cena after Cena had barely survived a brutal Elimination Chamber. It's a gimmick that works best when a heel has the briefcase, as he or she becomes a storm cloud over the champion. At any moment, at the worst moment, that lighting can be called down upon them. Most people expect Seth Rollins to secure the briefcase in the men's match — and I'd agree that seems the most logical choice. We took some abuse for 'copying' the Money In The Bank gimmick with the Call Your Shot Gauntlet in TNA. In our defense, the original concept was that the winner of Call Your Shot would be able to schedule a title match for themselves — much like the X-Division Champion has the 'Option C' to be able to give up their title in exchange for a World Championship match at an upcoming event. Advertisement But we wanted to do the shocking end to Bound for Glory in 2021, when Josh Alexander didn't even get three minutes with his long-awaited world title before Moose came in and ruined it. We were going to tell a more in-depth story where the referee panicked and only thought Moose had the right to call for the match to start there and then, but it'd be ruled that — sorry Josh, you agreed to the match and the ref started the match. In the end, we felt fans would get it and we told the story quicker. Likewise, the popular Ultimate X matches in TNA — that was the result of TNA thinking, 'How can we do something like a ladder match, but without the ladder?' The main event of Saturday's PLE is Cody Rhodes returning to team with World Champ Jey Uso versus WWE Champ John Cena and Logan Paul. Advertisement Paul was given a WWE title challenge in his third-ever professional match, losing to Roman Reigns back at the 2022 Crown Jewel, but that was a cash-in and attention grab using his celebrity outside WWE. No one thought he was beating Reigns that night. Now, going into his 20th match, he's getting presented as if he belongs there with Rhodes, Cena and Uso. And some in wrestling really don't like that. Here's my two cents: Logan is an unbelievable athlete. He deserves comparisons to the likes of Owen Hart, Seth Rollins and the others who just had 'it' from their very first match. He works hard, he takes his bumps and clearly has a passion for the business. Even his detractors have to admit his performances are really good. Advertisement Now, Logan is a hard guy to like and one of the most shameless self-promoters to ever walk the Earth. That gives him the chops to be a natural heel, but also makes him a target for accusations that he hasn't earned his spot. Well ... of course he hasn't! He's there because of his massive online celebrity. There's a part of me that shudders that a part-time celebrity gets handed these top spots. This isn't Dennis Rodman showing up in the nWo for a couple of months, or Bad Bunny having a one-off match … Logan Paul is entering his third year as a fixture at or near the top of the WWE card. Back in my day as an active performer, you had to pay dues and learn the craft by wrestling seven nights a week and twice on Sundays. You learned through repetition and you got good or the small-hall fans would let you — and your promoter — know that you sucked. Advertisement But the whole business has changed. It's fine if you don't like those changes but they are here no matter your feelings. Logan Paul knows how to make you hate him. (Cooper Neill/WWE via Getty Images) (WWE via Getty Images) How much has wrestling changed since I was a in-ring talent in the '90s? Well, Logan Paul is praised for buying himself a full-sized ring and flying training partners to his house to practice his matches. When I was in WCW, I got mocked relentlessly when I accepted an offer to go work out at the WCW Power Plant in Atlanta. I had more than one veteran come up to me and flat-out tell me I was a mark for 'wrestling for free.' They thought since I was in WCW, I shouldn't be taking bumps without getting paid. Advertisement I remember thinking, 'Do you really think Tom Cruise doesn't practice delivering his lines? That the top NFL teams don't practice?' But that was the mindset then. Now it's expected that wrestlers never stop working on their craft. It's one of the reasons that we see more five-star matches today than 30 years ago. AEW made the most of their special four hour Dynamite last night. The big news, of course, was Kenny Omega will wrestle Kazuchika Okada once more at AEW All In on July 12 in Texas. This is a return to one of — if not the best — wrestling feud/match series ever. These two going at it in classics was huge part of NJPW's glory years and part of the buildup to the movement that lead to the formation of AEW. Advertisement Wrestling historian Dave Meltzer gave one of their clashes seven stars — the only match he's ever ranked so highly. I can't wait to see them share a ring once more. Speaking of Omega, him vs. Brody King vs. Mascara Dorada vs. Claudio Castagnoli for the AEW International Title was an amazing four-way. All the better for being on free television. It went 20 minutes but it was so fast-paced that it felt like a sprint the whole time. Great to see Maple Leaf Pro alumnus Kevin Knight scoring a big win in AEW when he, Mike Bailey (another MLP regular) and Mexican star Komander scored a win in a six-man tag over Rush, Dralistico, and Mortos. Advertisement Looks like we might be heading for a Kevin Knight vs. Rush feud — and I'm here for it. I've said it before and will keep screaming from the roof tops: Knight will be a star! I understand fan frustration that Ron 'R-Truth' Killings has not had his contract renewed by WWE after 17 years with the company. Ron is one of the nicest guys in the industry — as has been underlined by so many WWE stars saying how much they will miss him. If Ron wants to, he'll be able to make a fortune and do some really cool things by following the example of Matt Cardona. Ron has made a success of every single role he's ever been given — from a main-eventing world champion who delivers amazing matches to one of the funniest comedy acts of all time. He's an all-time great. I am excited to see what he does next.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The D'Amore Drop: CM Punk's WWE final act has been amazing. Enjoy it while you can
The D'Amore Drop is a recurring guest column on Uncrowned written by Scott D'Amore, the Canadian professional wrestling promoter, executive producer, trainer and former wrestler best known for his long-standing role with TNA/IMPACT Wrestling, where he served as head of creative. D'Amore is the current owner of leading Canadian promotion Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling. It's another huge wrestling weekend! In addition to the usual Friday night television, we have WWE's Saturday Night's Main Event, and then, on Sunday, AEW takes one of its big pay-per-views — Double or Nothing — to Arizona for the first time. Advertisement While All In is presented as AEW's version of WrestleMania, to me Double or Nothing is the cornerstone of the company's mythology — the event in 2019 where Tony Khan and the biggest names outside WWE came together and put on one of the most spectacular shows in years. For me, Double or Nothing — the act of gambling, risking it all to gain it all — is a Las Vegas show, but I understand that AEW is looking to grow elsewhere and that the Vegas market has had barely a month to recover from WrestleMania. The match I cannot wait for is Will Ospreay vs. Hangman Page in the Owen Hart Cup Final. The winner gets a world title shot at All In this July in Arlington, Texas. That winner — of both the Owen Hart Cup and the All In title match — must be Will Ospreay. Advertisement I've called him a generational talent before, and I'll say it again: Will is the future of AEW and, perhaps, this industry. There's a lot of online chatter about the merits of what Will says when he's put on the spot with questions about WWE. But let me tell you: Will is a man of integrity. He is the man who honored a handshake commitment to appear at TNA in January 2024, when most people would have begged off the minute they got a big AEW (or WWE) deal. When I called him, he was confused why I was checking if he still wanted to do the match. He already said he would, he explained to me, so of course he'd still do the match. Advertisement Since arriving in AEW a year ago, he's made others look good, he's paid dues, he's even taken losses. That all needs to end now. No disrespect to Hangman Page — he's a hell of a talent — but Ospreay's time is now. The crowd knows it. AEW knows it. The business knows it. AEW is on the rise once more — ratings are up, HBO Max is buzzing, buildings are filling again. If you're going to crown someone new, someone who can lead you into this next chapter. It has to be Will. Is this Will Ospreay's year to become AEW World Champion? (Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) The two women's matches: Mercades Mone vs. Jamie Hayter (the Women's Owen Cup finale) and Toni Storm vs. Mina Shirakawa showcase how AEW is growing the division. Advertisement Mone challenging Storm is going to be a great program this summer. Nothing has been said publicly, but Ace Austin's contract with TNA is up. It is amicable — Ace has been there since he was barely out of his teens. I signed him, and everything he's shown since confirmed that Ace Austin becoming a massive star is, indeed, 'inevitable.' He's ready for that next chapter. I think it is time Ace Austin goes all in on proving he's one of the best. Also this weekend is the latest WWE Saturday Night's Main Event. John Cena vs. R-Truth, aka Ron Killings, is a fun match where John, in his final year, gets to work with someone he's had amazing chemistry with for decades. Advertisement WWE is smart to have this be a non-title match, as no one would buy that Cena's final run as champ ends vs. Killings. But really, the match at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event I am most interested in is CM Punk and Sami Zayn vs. Bron Breakker and Seth Rollins. To me, this is the hottest storyline in WWE, in part because we already know it's going to be an epic, year(s)-long storyline with the best minds in the biz giving it every bit of thought and attention. As much as I enjoy the other three, the man who has captured my attention here is CM Punk. Phil Brooks turns 47 years old this fall. Time has almost caught him, and this amazing run he's on in the WWE will be over all too soon. Every time he's out there, despite him never breaking character, you can see Phil behind CM Punk's eyes, just taking it all in. CM Punk and Paul Heyman make their entrance during WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium. (Georgiana Dallas/WWE via Getty Images) (WWE via Getty Images) It wasn't a well-kept secret that I tried to sign Phil to TNA after things with AEW fell apart. I knew it was a long shot, I knew I was asking him to work in smaller arenas than he had in a long time. Advertisement He listened; he was interested. He never 'big-timed' TNA once, and he conducted himself the way we'd all wish a professional would. Ultimately, he went back to WWE, which of course is where he belongs. CM Punk's 10-year journey back to WWE has been healing not just for Phil, but also, like kids caught up in a messy divorce, for all those fans who love both WWE and Punk and hated seeing them take shots at the other. This return could not have gone better (injury be damned). Every time he's out there, I feel myself willing him to do his absolute best. Following on from that, it is uniquely pro-wrestling for fans to chant — in the middle of the show, and to the performer, not the character — 'You deserve it!' Advertisement Wrestling fans are the best! As someone who put years of blood, sweat and tears into TNA, it is surreal to note the TNA World Title will be defended on a WWE show — NXT Battleground — on Sunday. (Battleground goes head to head with AEW's pay-per-view. Funny how that happens.) Joe Hendry continues to make 2025 the year to believe. My friend Jeff Kavanaugh, known in the industry as Drumboy, told me years ago that his favorite wrestler — a Scottish kid who sang his own entrance theme — was heading to Canada. I went to see this Scottish kid — and when the time was right, was very happy to bring him to TNA. It's weird to have the feeling that you knew Joe could be huge, but at the same time constantly be surprised by just how good he does with every opportunity he gets. Joe vs. Trick Williams will be great this weekend.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The D'Amore Drop: WWE, AEW look the way they do in 2025 because of Sabu
The D'Amore Drop is a weekly guest column on Uncrowned written by Scott D'Amore, the Canadian professional wrestling promoter, executive producer, trainer and former wrestler best known for his long-standing role with TNA/IMPACT Wrestling, where he served as head of creative. D'Amore is the current owner of leading Canadian promotion Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling. On Saturday night I went from the dizzying heights that you can only reach when months of hard work pay off, to the pits of depression that you can only find yourself in when someone you love suddenly dies. Advertisement I'll get to the amazing Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling event in Toronto, but first let me tell you about my friend, the legendary Sabu. None of the tributes to Sabu have come close to summing up Sabu, and I won't either. He is a mythical figure in an industry that creates and packages mythology. He was a force of nature, a swirling tornado of contradictions. Sabu was a man so tough-minded that he chased down the assailant who just shot him in the face and beat him half to death with the same gun. Sabu was also so kind-hearted he'd quietly pay for lunch for broke young wrestlers who were struggling to stay in the business. To me, Sabu was a teacher and dear friend. Advertisement I first saw Sabu the same way many fans in their 30s to 50s did — on a VHS tape I'd anxiously awaited in the mail. On that grainy, sputtering roll of red, purple and orange footage, I saw a performer unlike any the industry had ever seen — a man performing mind-blowing spots through an unholy combination of psychopathic bravery and inhuman toughness. A few years later, a friend of mine — Mad Max Anthony — said he was driving to Lansing, Michigan, to train with Sabu. I jumped in the car, excited but also kind of terrified about how this would go. The gym was in a three-story unit at the edge of town that had — as you could smell — spent much of its life as a car repair shop. Advertisement Sabu arrived, larger than life. He announced he'd forgotten his keys (we suspected he'd actually forgotten the rent), and before we could say a word, he began scaling the building until he reached an open window on the third floor. Again, I was astonished that this task was accomplished with sheer toughness and insanity, rather than any cat-like athleticism. Within an hour of warming up, Sabu pointed at me, a petrified kid who'd barely found the stones to say hi thus far, and told me to do a top rope Frankensteiner. I'd never even tried a Frankensteiner before, much less one off the top rope, but I was more intimidated by Sabu than the thought of landing on my skull. I did it — or something very like it — and Sabu said: 'Good job, Steve.' 'Thank you,' I managed to squeak, 'but my ... my name's Scott.' Advertisement Sabu fixed his eyes on mine and said: 'Eff you! You don't deserve your own name!' For the next year, I answered to 'Steve.' But along the way, Sabu would show his appreciation of my hard work in other ways. When he figured out I was broke, he began buying my lunch every day. Then one day Sabu said something like, 'Hey, Scott.' No ceremony, no apology, no fanfare at all — I'd somehow crossed an invisible border and entered a place where I had Sabu's respect. I've cried this week because I lost the first person in this business who ever believed in me. Sabu fought for me when no one else would. He got me bookings in places where I had no business being on the card, and he insisted on working with me. I wrestled Sabu — a living legend — perhaps 100 times. And every single one of them was like going through a bar fight. Advertisement Sabu pushed me, challenged me, and yeah, sometimes berated me — but he made me better. In one match — I forget exactly where we were — he kept telling me to hit him harder. I did. He said, 'No, not like that — harder!' And I lumped him so hard, it busted his mouth open. Backstage, I apologized. I was horrified I'd torn his lip up. Sabu literally laughed at me for saying sorry. That was Sabu. There will never be another like him. (Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images) (WWE via Getty Images) He wasn't afraid to tell you to get lost, but he wasn't afraid to have your back either. I saw it firsthand. One night at a TNN taping, I found out Sabu and Paul Heyman were arguing. Paul wanted us to go four minutes. Sabu told him we were going 20. Paul said no one knew who I was. Advertisement Sabu's reply? 'After he goes 20 with me, they will.' That match has never seen the light of day — it wasn't what Paul wanted. But Sabu didn't care. He loved this business too much. He fought for what he believed in, even when it hurt him. I was honored to bring him to TNA Wrestling, first at the Nashville Fairgrounds, later in Orlando. It was my small way of giving him something back. I don't know if he ever got the flowers or the money he deserved, but I do know this — every high flyer, every daredevil, every hardcore legend owes something to Sabu. Whether it is WWE, AEW, Maple Leaf, TNA, or the local indie that sells tickets to family and friends — pro wrestling in 2025 looks the way it does because of Sabu. Advertisement And now, every time I point that finger to the sky, it's not just for Sabu, but for Super Genie too. I hope they're up there, together, pain-free, finally at peace. John Cena defended his title for the first time at WWE Backlash. (Craig Melvin/WWE via Getty Images) (WWE via Getty Images) The levels of character complexity John Cena is giving us this year is something to behold. Now he's added even more layers — regret for turning on the fans and for the way he's cheated to beat both Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton at WWE Backlash last weekend. This final year of Cena's career will be remembered for decades to come. We are watching a master at work. I saw a few takes on Gunther vs. Pat McAfee that said, 'What was the point?' Advertisement Well, Gunther got to beat a big name, was booked like a monster, and was kept red-hot for his World Title rematch vs. Jey Uso at WWE Money In The Back. Meanwhile, Pat (and Michael Cole, to a degree) were also put over as babyfaces. Pat was the tough guy who took a beating and, like Rocky in the first movie, went in and fought without any realistic chance of actually winning because he's a proud man. Not every match should be 50/50. Some can be 80/20, like Gunther vs. Pat, and still accomplish so much. AEW continues to know the magic recipe for sprinkling in guest appearances from past stars. From Rhino blowing the roof off the Masonic Temple with his surprise appearance to Zach Gowen having a very entertaining performance against Ricochet this week. Both guys — with the help of great placement by AEW — turned back the hands of time and looked great. Shout out to Ricochet for coming out of nowhere and being a tremendous heel. Advertisement He is at his all-time best right now and I am loving his work. Before I got the news about Sabu, I was riding high on the success of Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling's best event yet — a 2,500-person sellout at Maple Leaf Gardens for Northern Rising. I tried not to, but from the second we went on sale, I had a Ticketmaster browser open day and night, and kept refreshing over and over to see how many tickets — if any — had been sold in the previous few minutes. It is torture. But, we did sell out, and the pay-per-view did well on FITE too. More than that, we took a major step in reestablishing Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling as once again a major player in the sport. Advertisement It was magical to bring wrestling back to the Mecca of Canadian wrestling, the Maple Leaf Gardens. It might be the Mattamy Athletic Center now, and have a grocery store on the ground floor and a gym and basketball court on the second floor … but when you get out on the third floor, that magnificent white domed roof looks exactly the same as it did when Andre The Giant, Harley Race and Ric Flair tangled ... you can feel the echoes of The Greats, just like when you visit Madison Square Garden in New York. But a packed house means nothing if the show doesn't deliver. And brother, did we deliver. We honored our past, with an alumni section so big we had to split it into two — over 70 legends and families. We honored the Tunneys, with a video package by the legendary Kevin Sullivan (the branding genius, not the Taskmaster). Jackie Tunney accepted on behalf of her family. It was emotional. It was right. And the matches? Outstanding! Advertisement We had it all — Josh Alexander, Speedball Bailey, Sheldon Jean—standing shoulder to shoulder with stars from AEW, New Japan, NWA and TNA. Zack Sabre Jr. and Jonathan Gresham delivered a clinic. Serena Deeb and Miyu Yamashita tore the house down. Then the Gauntlet for the Gold. Twenty men. Royal Rumble style. Came down to the villain, Matt Cardona, against our Canadian hero, Josh Alexander. And as it should be, Josh hit the C4 Spike, won the match, and hoisted the Canadian Championship. A Canadian hero, hand in hand with the legendary Angelo Mosca Jr. and that original NWA Canadian title belt. That's history. And we ain't done. July 5th, Laval, QC — we're back for Maple Leaf Pro: Resurrection. Dan Maff made his statement, torching PCO, with Jimmy Jacobs by his side. Might be time for PCO to bring Destro to even the odds… So yeah, I'm proud. I'm tired. But I'm fired up. This was a special night. And the best is yet to come.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The D'Amore Drop: Debating WWE GOATs? You better include Randy Orton
Randy Orton continues to shine after more than two decades in the WWE. (Cooper Neill /WWE via Getty Images) The D'Amore Drop is a weekly guest column on Uncrowned written by Scott D'Amore, the Canadian professional wrestling promoter, executive producer, trainer and former wrestler best known for his long-standing role with TNA/IMPACT Wrestling, where he served as head of creative. D'Amore is the current owner of leading Canadian promotion Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling. I'm in the thick of it with Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling's huge Northern Rising event at the former the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto this Saturday. I've wanted to bring wrestling back to the Mecco of Canadian wrestling for 20 years — and finally get to do so with Maple Leaf Pro, the historic promotion I revived last October. Advertisement The Toronto fans have not let us down. We barely have a 100 tickets left to sell and preorders are looking promising for the pay-per-view on The days leading up to an event are always tough for promoters. There's still a ton of work to be done and, no matter how well you planned, you always find yourself in a fist fight with the clock as it ticks down to showtime. Yet, I am confident this will be the best show Maple Leaf Pro has had since we brought the promotion back from the ashes this past October — and is arguably the biggest independent show of the year. If I say so myself — the card is freakin' LOADED! One of the top talents on Northern Rising — and I want to thank him and AEW — is Josh Alexander. Advertisement Josh's rise to AEW main-eventer level has been so personally satisfying to me. I love the guy, his wife Jen and their kids, and I've lived and breathed their ups and downs over the years. Now Josh is as 'up' as it gets in this business, and I couldn't be prouder. 'The Walking Weapon's' on-screen manager in AEW is Don Callis — aka the world's least likable human — who's been saying that he was the first one to recognize Josh's immense talent. Ahem. Here's a text exchange between me and Don from 2018. For context, we were Executive Vice Presidents of TNA at the time. I was doing commentary at an event co-promoted by Destiny Wrestling and iMPACT!, watching Josh just rip it up in an incredible match, and I texted Don to say: 'I think I am going to sign Josh Alexander.' Advertisement Don texted back: 'Who?' Me: 'Canadian kid. Wrestles in the headgear.' Don: 'F***ing Earmuffs?!?!!?' Me: 'I guess. I am going to sign him.' Don: 'Why?' To be fair to Don, he soon changed his tune once he saw Josh's capabilities and became every bit as strong a believer as I am. I am thrilled Josh is getting to be part of The Don Callis Family on AEW TV. But … you can't rewrite history — not when I still have the text messages! Don Callis initially didn't see 'it' with Josh Alexander. Those are the facts. So, with Josh now taking his rightful place in AEW, a promotion that is all about having amazing matches, every five-star match Josh has will: A) prove that Josh is one of the world's best, B) prove Scott D'Amore right, and most importantly, C) prove Don Callis wrong yet again. Advertisement Go, Josh, go! Because of Northern Rising, I'll catch WWE Backlash when I get back home, but am looking forward to Randy Orton challenging old rival John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Title. The two most successful stars of WWE's Ruthless Aggression Era go at it one last time in a main event that's a potent mix of both current relevance and nostalgia. Randy Orton, in incredible shape at age 45, has other WWE title runs in him … but I don't think the next one begins this Saturday. WWE has a ways to go yet with the storyline of Cena holding the belt hostage. Randy Orton and John Cena revive their decades-long rivalry at WWE Backlash. (Craig Melvin/WWE via Getty Images) (WWE via Getty Images) But how great is Orton? Think of this: He is 6-foot-5 and over 260 pounds, legit. He's bigger than guys like Bill Goldberg — but we don't think of him in that way because he moves out there more like a Bret Hart or Shawn Michaels. Advertisement Don't ever have a conversation about who's the greatest of all time without mentioning the master of the RKO. My close friends, the Good Brothers — Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows — will have their first advertised match since leaving WWE at Maple Leaf Pro: Northern Rising. The Good Brothers — longstanding members of the iconic, federation-spanning Bullet Club — will collide with David Finlay and Drilla Maloney, two members of New Japan's new faction the War Dogs. Interestingly enough, AEW's The Young Bucks will fight alongside two mystery partners vs. the War Dogs at the New Japan card the night before ... I wonder who they could be? If you want a textbook example of why heels should cut their promos as if they are the heroes of their own story, check out Monday's "WWE Raw" and Paul Heyman's work. Advertisement His furious justification of why he betrayed Roman Reigns and CM Punk should be shown at creative writing and acting classes worldwide. WWE, Pat McAfee and especially Gunther have a hard job at Backlash. McAfee is a former NFL player, sure, but can't look too competitive in his match against a top WWE heel in Gunther. It'll be interesting to see how this match is booked. There's lot of talk right now that Jeremy Borash will be involved in Triple A creative alongside Konnan and Dorian Roldan. Borash has a great wrestling mind, and hasn't gotten enough credit for his contributions to the biz. I think that'll change now. Two women who things didn't work out with at NXT — Taya Valkyrie and Deonna Purrazzo — truly found themselves in TNA and now are really showing what they can do in ROH. Advertisement 'The Vendetta,' as they are now known, are both entered in the ROH Women's Pure Title tournament — and I think Deonna has to be the odds-on favorite. If you didn't see Toni Storm's clash with Miyu Yamashita on "AEW Dynamite" last week, you need to check it out on AEW's YouTube. Toni has been red hot in AEW for the past two years, and I was stoked for a wider audience to get to see what Miyu can do. Miyu is one of the most talented people on the circuit today and — why, yes! — you can see her at Maple Leaf Pro: Mayhem this Saturday!
