www.dailystar.co.uk/latest/wrestling?utm_source=interests_newsletter&utm_campaign=wrestling_newsletter2&utm_medium=emailWWE's new signings and AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door reviewed
Piledriver #21 - WWE's new signings and AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door reviewed
Hello and welcome to Piledriver Wrestling Newsletter.
This week, star ratings expert and Japanese wrestling aficionado Mo Chatra reflects on AEW and NJPW's thrilling Forbidden Door pay-per-view. You can read his star ratings and review in full below.
Firstly however, I'd like to touch on two very interesting new acquisitions WWE made this week, in the form of social media star turned celebrity boxer Logan Paul, and MMA fighter and model Valerie Loureda.
Logan Paul made an impressive WWE debut at WrestleMania 38, when the 6ft 2in newcomer showed a great deal of athleticism in a winning effort alongside The Miz against Rey and Dominik Mysterio. He produced a strong performance that included delivering the Three Amigos and a frog splash on his opponents.
After the match, Miz turned on him with a Skull Crushing Finale, setting up an inevitable future bout between the pair. That match is now likely to take place at SummerSlam in Nashville, Tennessee on July 30.
The 27-year-old is already advertised for the July 18 edition of Raw in Tampa, Florida, where he will no doubt lock horns with The Miz again. Quite who WWE hope audiences will cheer for in that clash remains to be seen - both Paul and Miz are natural heels, yet hardcore wrestling fans will no doubt jeer Paul.
According to MMA and wrestling journalist Ariel Helwani, he put pen to paper on a multi-year deal to compete at multiple events per year across 2022 and 2023. It's easy to see how WWE management view him as a 'special attraction', in the manner of a Brock Lesnar or Goldberg, who will bring mainstream media attention and the interest of casual fans whenever he is involved on a card.
Paul has a strong look, is a confident talker and knows exactly how to promote himself. He also very much fits WWE's approach to signing talent of late, following widespread changes to the main roster and NXT last year.
In terms of WWE's developmental system NXT, the shift in focus from targeting experienced indie wrestling sensations to more 'character based' young performers with a specific aesthetic has been clear.
Wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer was frank in his use of language last summer when he described how WWE wanted "no more midgets, no one starting in their 30s and people who can be box office attractions and main characters". Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio in December, he also said the looks of prospective female stars would be taken into account.
He said: "The idea for women and guys is different. For guys, they're wanting bigger athletes. For women, it's looks, or if you have something unique to offer. Even on the indie thing, if someone's like, really super on the indies, it’s not like WWE won't hire them, but they're not looking at the 5ft 9in guys or the 5ft 7in guys anymore. But if you come from the indies but you're 6ft 3in, yeah, they'll look at you, and if you're a woman and you're 'good looking', you know, whatever."
Valerie Loureda seems to very much fit that bill - with the athletic credentials WWE love in a young talent, but also the sex appeal to boot.
Declaring herself to be "the first Cuban-American woman in history to sign with WWE," Loureda boldly proclaimed: "I will be the greatest female sports entertainer of all time, mark my words. I come from a family of immigrants, now it's my time to represent our Latino culture. I was destined for this. Thank you for this opportunity."
The 23-year-old was described by a WWE insider to ESPN as "a high level talent". Loureda has a record of four victories and one defeat in Bellator, and will remain under contract to the MMA promotion as part of a multi-year deal with her new employers.
Bellator president Scott Coker told ESPN: "She will remain an active and under-contract fighter with Bellator, and we look forward to welcoming her back into the cage in the near future. We take great pride in allowing our athletes to test themselves in additional arenas such as boxing and pro wrestling."
Both Paul and Loureda bring established fanbases from different 'arenas' with them to WWE. Whether they prove to be box office attractions in sports entertainment remains to be seen, but it certainly appears they have all the ingredients.
Take care
Neil
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AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door - Mo Chatra's Star Ratings and Review
After months of anticipation, the stars of All Elite Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling finally collided at the Forbidden Door pay-per-view on Sunday, June 26. The jointly promoted event took place at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Here, Mo Chatra gives his star ratings and review.
Le Sex Gods (Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara) and Minoru Suzuki defeated Eddie Kingston, Wheeler Yuta and Shota Umino in a six-man tag team match ****1/4
FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) (c, ROH) defeated United Empire (Great-O-Khan and Jeff Cobb) (c, IWGP) and Roppongi Vice (Trent Beretta and Rocky Romero) in a three-way 'Winner Takes All' tag team match to retain the ROH World Tag Team Championship and win the IWGP Tag Team Championship ***1/2
PAC defeated Miro, Malakai Black and Clark Connors in a four-way match to win the inaugural AEW All-Atlantic Championship ****
Sting, Darby Allin & Shingo Takagi defeated El Phantasmo and The Young Bucks in a six-man tag team match ***3/4
Thunder Rosa (c) defeated Toni Storm in a singles match to retain the AEW Women’s World Championship ***1/4
Will Ospreay (c) defeated Orange Cassidy in a singles match to retain the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship ****1/2
Claudio Castagnoli defeated Zack Sabre Jr. in a singles match ***3/4
Jay White (c) defeated Adam Cole, Hangman Page and Kazuchika Okada in a four-way match to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship ****
Jon Moxley defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi in a singles match to win the Interim AEW World Championship ****
The first inter-promotional event held by two of the world's biggest promotions - AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling - was a resounding success. Held in front of a rabid near-sellout crowd of more than 16,500 fans, the event featured a procession of exciting matches.
Match of the night was an absolutely sensational scrap between Brit Will Ospreay and Orange Cassidy. Defending his IWGP US belt, 'The Aerial Assassin' showed why many tout him as the finest in-ring worker in the business with a show-stealing display.
The strongest reaction of the night was reserved for former WWE superstar, Cesaro. Emerging under his former ring name of Claudio Castagnoli, as the mystery replacement for Bryan Danielson in a singles match with New Japan mat master, Zack Sabre Jr., the fans blew the roof off of Chicago's United Center.
Castagnoli, unveiled as the newest member of William Regal's Blackpool Combat Club, secured victory to an almighty pop when he pinned ZSJ following a Ricola Bomb.
Earlier in the night, FTR added to their trophy cabinet by capturing the IWGP tag straps in a strong yet slightly underwhelming match (given the talent involved).
The night's penultimate bout, which saw the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship up for grabs in a four-way bout, saw champion Jay White retain the championship after pinning Adam Cole.
Though the match was excellent, it did end on a slightly abrupt note when Adam Cole appeared to suffer a concussion, shortly before being pinned by White.
The interim AEW World Title was on the line (after champion CM Punk was sidelined by injury) between Jon Moxley and New Japan legend Hiroshi Tanahashi.
The pair fought a terrific main event, which saw Mox sustain a heavy cut to the forehead. It ended when the former Shield stalwart upended Tanahashi with the Death Rider finisher.
The build up to the event wasn't particularly strong, and the line-up of matches wasn't overly inspiring given the abundance of world class talent in both promotions. Despite this, Forbidden Door delivered in spades and will end up being a strong contender for the best show of 2022.
