Ringbelles Roundup (28 June 2011)
Following two colossally un-newsworthy weeks, we’re overflowing with talking points in this edition of the Roundup. There were a number of big shows taking place over the weekend, with three big winners coming out of it. Hailey Hatred, who is the new JWP Openweight Champion; Lexxus, who is the new number one contender to the WSU World Title after winning the Uncensored Rumble, and; Rachel Summerlyn, who won the third annual Anarchy Championship Wrestling American Joshi Queen of Queens Tournament.
The first big moment of the weekend took place in Osaka, Japan, when Hatred defeated Leon to not only retain her TLW and IMW titles, but win the J-1 Grand Prix AND become the first American (and indeed, first foreigner) to claim the JWP Openweight title – a belt which has been in existence since late 1992. It’s not only the crowning moment in her 9 year career, but also proves to the world that the rest of the world can keep up – and in some cases, be superior to – the well storied and decorated joshis that have helped to define what women’s wrestling in the modern era should be all about.
Standing a lofty 5’10”, 27-year old Hatred started out fairly quietly, wrestling in smaller promotions and being frequently eliminated in the early rounds of the ChickFight Tournaments. She also wrestled Mickie Knuckles in her very first wrestling match in IWA: Mid South in 2003, almost breaking the rookie’s neck with an errant powerbomb onto the back of an open chair. However, she returned to the promotion three years later to claim the Women’s Title – one of a number of singles titles that she won during her time wrestling in her home country, including the World Wrestling Coalition Women’s title in 2008 and the first Absolute Intense Wrestling Women’s crown in May 2009 by beating Sammi Lane in the tournament final. (more…)
WSU Uncensored Rumble IV: Lexxus earns title shot
For the past three years, WSU has held an Uncensored Rumble to crown a number one contender. Going into it this year, Jessicka Havok was the strongest contender to win it all, though she would have to go through Alicia in an Uncensored Rules match first. Also on the card, among other matches, was Sassy Stephanie’s first title defense against the veteran Rain, new tag team champions Boston Shore defending against the Belle Saints, Marti Belle and Tina San Antonio, and Mercedes Martinez defending her WSU Championship against Britney Savage. Would the show live up to the hype? Let’s find out…
The iPPV was 20 minutes late starting, but wrestling fans are somewhat used to this. The stream flickered on to show Amy Lee in the ring, cutting a promo on fans in the crowd. The less said about this, the better.
The show kicked off with Sassy Stephie defending her WSU Spirit title against the Radiant Rain (who arrived in a new outfit, and to Jetta’s music “Something Kinda Oooh” – nice nod to her former tag team partner). What we saw was a strong, solid opening contest between a veteran and a woman who has only been wrestling since 2007. But despite Rain’s experience, Stephie fought back and delivered a Kiss My Sass to retain the Spirit title. Both women looked excellent, and it was a great match to start the iPPV off with. (more…)
Ringbelles Roundup (31 May 2011)
The Big News
In what was a pretty classy move by WWE, not only did they let Kharma go out there and tell the truth, they also left the door open for her return.
Following a week of speculation – started by the Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online by saying she would be out of action for nine months – Kharma came clean to the world and revealed her pregnancy on Raw last night.
In a straight promo – much like Edge’s when he revealed he had to retire – she told us about how she had two dreams, the first of which was to be a WWE Superstar (note she said Superstar instead of Diva… telling. Also, she said the word “wrestling” or “wrestler” three times). She talked about applying for Tough Enough 2 back in 2002 – something I’ve documented in the past – and how Jim Ross thought she was too fat to make it. Undeterred, she travelled to Japan, scrubbed floors and earned the right to train and become a star there, as she told to us in the Women of Wrestling Podcast last year.
From there, Kharma also talked about how she had always wanted a family, and officially let us know about her pregnancy – something that received a nice reception from the fans. She described it as a “high risk pregnancy”, which is understandable considering her working environment, thanked the audience for their support and said that she would return in a year.
Of course, with this being WWE, there was an interruption by the Bella Twins who mocked Kharma with some poorly written, and even more poorly delivered, insults. Seriously, if Nikki and Brie were any more wooden, they could have been part of the hull of Noah’s Ark. Perhaps they didn’t fully believe or support the words they were saying, so it came across that way in the promo. Still, Kharma promised that she would be back for them in a year, which makes sure that we haven’t seen the last of her in WWE. (more…)
Ringbelles Report: WSU Four Year Anniversary iPPV
Women Superstars Uncensored had promised much ahead of its Four Year Anniversary show. Jessicka Havok had promised to go through Rain’s Army to reach and defeat the leader herself; Sassy Stephie had made her intentions clear that she wanted the Spirit Championship and would do whatever it took to get it; Serena Deeb vowed to end the 2 year WSU World Title reign of Mercedes Martinez; and Alicia assured us she would cash in her title shot contract during the show and become a champion again. So who would succeed in their goals, and who (if anyone) would fall short? Let’s find out… (more…)
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