The advertised return of the Pennsylvania Championship Wrestling Alliance to Mount Carmel Area High School Saturday, some scary moments at this past Friday's WWE house show in London and interesting campaigning from the Hulk Hogan compound are a few of this week's more fascinating tidbits in the pro wrestling world.
PCWA's website is advertising a big card for Saturday featuring Ox Hogg defending the company heavyweight title against the challenge of Rick Ryder in a Last Man Standing Match. The popular A-Team, consisting of Aaron Arbo and Unbreakable Andy, defends the tag straps against 2 of A Kind. Tony Deppen and AJ Evers challenge Jimmie the High Flyin Hippie for his United States championship in a three-way, and former NEWF tag team kingpins, the Ghostbusters, battle the Lawless Idols and Phil Stamper and his mystery partner in another trio contest.
Several other bouts are also on the docket. Bell time for the show is 6 p.m. with doors opening at 5. As always, the card is subject to change with injuries and transportation issues sometimes being unpredictable realities of pro wrestling life.
Along those lines, John Cena seemed to have injured an ankle at the Leeds, England, house show on Thursday, according to a report from a fan that was published on the Observer website. There was also speculation that Punk suffered an injury on the show, but the bigger deal was a TMZ report from Friday's house show in London that said Divas champ A.J. Lee collapsed during her bout with Brie Bella. She was said to have been treated at ringside and helped backstage with speculation being that she had fainted from dehydration.
Big Show, who had choke-slammed Randy Orton rather dangerously through the announcer's table at Raw, was thought to have suffered an injury at a weekend house show. Meanwhile, Paul Heyman has been selling his storyline injuries inflicted by Punk at HIAC. Some of those may have been legit injuries with typical pro wrestling exaggeration. In any case, the injuries seem to be mounting and the company can't really afford them right now with ratings slipping and pay per view buy rates already in a downward trend.
Naturally, one guy with what he thinks would be a ratings bonanza seems to be lobbying for a celebrated return and that would be none other than the Hulkster. First, he did an interview calling himself a free agent and in need of a job. He clearly intimated that he would like to return to WWE for WrestleMania XXX. Then, long-time confidant Jimmy Hart, who still does some promo work for WWE, sang long and loud on an interview that the Hulkster plans to be at WrestleMania one way or another even if he has to buy a ticket. Hart also said Hulk has been training and looks to have a couple of good matches left in him.
Former indy star Chris Hero was released from WWE's NXT developmental after languishing there for most of the last 20 months or so. He moved on with class, releasing a very positive statement and not burning any bridges. Hero, who worked as Kashius Ohno down in NXT, is already being advertised for a Dragon Gate appearance in Brooklyn this weekend and will likely very quickly become a hot commodity on the indy scene.
(Shamokin's Bill Gilger "arranges" the interview each week with The Insider)