PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

NUTS & BOLTS: SANDMAN RETURNS TO THE RING, TWO PHILLY PROMOTIONS CLAIM NEW TV, AMAZING RED COMEBACK? AND LOTS MORE

Former ECW champ Sandman returned to the ring on Saturday 7/26, defeating Jake Roberts in the main event of the Pro Wrestling Unplugged event in Philadelphia.  In timing that must only happen in the wrestling industry, Big Vision Entertainment released a trailer for their forthcoming "Last Call" shoot interview featuring Raven and Sandman in a bar.  You can watch the trailer at http://youtube.com/watch?v=_jI7IzECYZU.  

The PWU show was the promotion's first foray since the retirement of Tod Gordon.  They announced they had acquired a TV deal and would be announcing details soon.  A number of advertised names were not at the event, including former WWE stars Chris Masters and Balls Mahoney, Trent Acid and Amy Lee.  Lee was the Women's champ but was nowhere to be found and Missy Sampson was announced as the new champ.  Teddy Fine defeated John McChesney for the PWU title.  Sandman issued a challenge for the belt and will face Fine in the match of the night and is the new PWU World Heavyweight Champion.  Others on the show included the SAT, All Money is Legal, and Rockin' Rebel.  The promotion announced they would be running live shows at the Clementon Amusement Park this summer.  Announced for the company's 9/27 Anniversary event is Fine vs. Sandman, former WCW World champ Diamond Dallas Page & Johnny Kashmere vs. Balls Mahoney & McChesney.

The Amazing Red, who has been out of the wrestling business for a few years while recovering from knee issues, is being teased for a return to the ring at the 8/30 Pro Wrestling Syndicate event in Hempstead, Long Island.  Flyers for the event promise "An Amazing Comeback" vs. former ROH champ Xavier.  Also advertised for the show is a Six Way TLC Elimination bout with Azrieal vs. Danny Demanto vs. Grim Reefer vs. Pinkie Sanchez vs. Drew Blood vs. Bandido Jr., Steve Corino (thought he was going to Puerto Rico?) vs. Sonjay Dutt, Balls Mahoney vs. Devon Moore and Ruckus vs. Trent Acid.  For ticket information, visit www.prowrestlingsyndicate.com.

Former NWA Tag Team champions The Naturals, Chase Stevens and Andy Douglas are no longer teaming on the independent scene.  I've heard Stevens will be working for the NWA's Wrestling Showcase series when they begin taping again.

The latest Kayfabe Commentaries Guest Booker DVD will be we with Greg Gagne.  Additional planned releases for the fall include Magnum TA and Nikita Koloff discussing their classic 1980s NWA feud and a shoot interview with Larry Hennig.

Honkytonk Man, Bushwhacker Luke Williams and former WWF Quebecer Carl-Pierre Oullette (who looks nothing like he used to, as he carries a much sleeker, smaller physique now) will be working on 8/6 in Canada at the Merritton Community Centre for a group promoting under the name Wrestling Super Show.

Philadelphia's Dangerous Women of Wrestling are claiming they will have their new TV deal signed today and the show will be available in the New Jersey-Philadelphia-Delaware area.

Al Snow and Spike Dudley worked several shots over the weekend for New Jersey's National Wrestling Superstars.  Others working for NWS over the weekend included former WCW valent Gorgeous George, Danny Demanto, Angel Orsini (aka Prodigette in ECW), The Patriot (Tom Brandi version) and The Equalizer.

Michigan independent promotion Blue Water Championship Wrestling is shutting down as promoter Andrew D'Arcy is shutting down to pursue a career in country music.  I think we'll hear a lot more about independent companies closing up shop in the upcoming months due to the current state of the economy as the profit margin (which has never been that big to begin with for 95% of the promoters out there) is rapidly declining due to rising costs.

British promotion Alternative Wrestling World held a free outdoor show at the Bull Ring Markets.  The promotion is about to debut a TV show on Sky Red TV, channel 186.

The Les Mars Daily Sentinel in Iowa featured an in-depth piece looking "behind the scenes" of local promotion Impact Pro Wrestling over the weekend at this link.