By Frank Bartolini, Ringside
Monday, November 29, 2021
Lopez vs. Kambosos
Monday, November 22, 2021
Survivor Series 2021
By Steve Ward
WWE returned to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY this evening for the longstanding Thanksgiving Day/Week tradition - Survivor Series. The theme of brand supremacy that has established itself in recent years returned tonight as RAW was pit against Smackdown (may as well have been Team FOX vs. Team USA Network). This not only meant no clashes like the classic showdown of The Hulkamaniacs vs. The Warriors at the 1990 installment of the show, but also, no titles would be contested as we would only witness some champion versus champion encounters. Following another round of performers receiving their walking papers this week including John Morrison, Isaiah “Swerve” Scott, and Jaxson Ryker, not to mention the incredible AEW Full Gear event last weekend, WWE really needed a big show tonight. The card tonight featured a modest six matches which included two “classic” Survivor Series matchups - both Team RAW vs. Team Smackdown.
Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair
Winner: Becky Lynch via pinfall
The opening bout pit RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch against Smackdown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair in our first match for brand supremacy. With rumors swirling that Charlotte has been unhappy with her recent booking, one has to wonder how she felt about opening the show. Mr. McMahon seems to be playing a dangerous game with arguably his biggest draw in the Women’s Division - especially when her fiancĂ©e, Andrade El Idolo, left for AEW in the past year. In the definition of a back and forth encounter, this contest ended in a series of roll up pin attempts that finally saw Becky come out victorious with an assist from holding the middle rope.
Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Match
Team RAW (Bobby Lashley w/ MVP, Austin Theory, Finn Balor, Kevin Owens, & Seth Rollins) vs. Team Smackdown (King Woods, Jeff Hardy, Sheamus, Happy Corbin w/ Madcap Moss, & Drew McIntyre)
Sole Survivor: Seth Rollins
The first of the “classic” Survivor Series match-ups began in underwhelming fashion as Kevin Owens who started the match for Team RAW immediately left the ring after the opening bell, walked up the ramp, was counted out, and left the arena to stick it to his team. This apparently was a recurring theme in the bout as Lashley and McIntyre got carried away while embroiled in combat outside the ring and were both counted out. Late in the match, Sheamus was rolled up for the pin and eliminated by Austin Theory. Jeff Hardy was then left in seemingly dire straits as he was leveled by his own partner Sheamus as he departed the ring. Hardy quickly turned the tables and finished off Theory with the Swanton Bomb leaving Rollins and himself as the final two combatants. Hardy attempted another Swanton Bomb moments later only to be unmercifully met with Seth Rollins’ knees in the small of his back. Rollins capitalized with the Curb Stomp to solidify the win for Team RAW.
The Rock’s 25th Anniversary 25-Man Battle Royal
Winner: Omos
With all of the recent releases, I was impressed that a battle royale could be assembled but in all seriousness, some of the notable participants included AJ Styles, Cesaro, Omos, Bobby Roode, and Jinder Mahal. At one point, the crowd was so disinterested in this card-filler, that they began chanting, “We want pizza” as the match was sponsored by Pizza Hut. The final four participants in this match were The Street Profits, Omos, and Ricochet. This was no contest as Omos disposed of all three men with little to no effort.
The Usos vs. RK-Bro (Randy Orton & Matt Riddle)
Winners: RK-Bro via pinfall
The Smackdown Tag Team Champions, The Usos, squared off with the RAW Tag Team Champions, RK-Bro, in the next clash of champions this evening. In the closing moments of the match, Jimmy Uso had not realized that Orton had blind tagged himself into the match before he was super kicked off of the ring apron. Jimmy, believing the legal man was still in the ring, proceeded to maintain his focus on Riddle which would prove to be his downfall. Jimmy ascended to the top rope to finish Riddle off with a splash, however, he was greeted with an RKO Out of Nowhere which allowed Orton to secure the pinfall for his team.
Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Match
Team RAW (Bianca Belair, Carmella, Queen Zelina, Liv Morgan, & Rhea Ripley) vs. Team Smackdown (Natalya, Shayna Baszler, Toni Storm, Shotzi, & Sasha Banks)
Sole Survivor: Bianca Belair
The penultimate bout of the evening pit the women’s teams from RAW and Smackdown against each other as the battle for network…or rather brand…supremacy rattled on. Late in this contest, it appeared that the numbers would be insurmountable for Bianca Belair as she was the lone participant remaining for Team RAW against Shotzi, Banks, Baszler, and Natalya for Smackdown. Following some dissent in the Smackdown ranks, Sasha Banks was counted out and thus eliminated. Belair then proceeded to make quick work of Natalya and Baszler leaving her alone with Shotzi. Shotzi posed some resistance but found herself succumbing to the Kiss of Death shortly thereafter.
Roman Reigns w/ Paul Heyman vs. Big E
Winner: Roman Reigns via pinfall
The main event of the evening presented a showdown between the Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, and the WWE Champion, Big E, in the final encounter for brand supremacy. What began as a rather pedestrian match certainly built momentum as it progressed towards the closing moments. First, Big E withstood three consecutive Superman Punches and answered with the Big Ending, however, he was unable to secure the pinfall as Roman grasped the bottom rope. The two then erupted into a brawl outside the ring which finally culminated when the men returned to the ring and Roman delivered a brutal spear to put Big E away.
The closing moments of the event were certainly awkward as the entire show celebrated the 25th anniversary of The Rock’s debut at Survivor Series 1996, was sponsored by The Rock’s new Netflix movie Red Notice, and Paul Heyman was informed that Brock Lesnar’s indefinite suspension would be coming to an end soon yet neither man made an appearance at the end as the commentators sounded distracted by someone speaking to them in their earpieces…makes you wonder.
Friday, November 19, 2021
Sonny Conto Post-Fight Press Conference
By Luis A. Cortes III, Ringside
Check out audio from Sonny Conto's post-fight press conference. Conto defeated Jimmie Levins by first round TKO on Thursday night at Live! Casino and Hotel in South Philadelphia. He improved his record to eight wins, seven by knockout, and zero defeats.
The Weigh-In: Your Home for Combat Sports · Sonny Conto Post-Fight Press Conference
Thursday, November 18, 2021
Results from Live!
By Luis A. Cortes III, Ringside
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
Meet the Authors of Boxing in Atlantic City
By TWI Staff
Monday, November 8, 2021
Boxing in Atlantic City - Now Available!
By TWI Staff
Saturday, November 6, 2021
Russell Peltz and Ray Didinger: A Hall of Fame Friendship
By TWI Staff
Friday, November 5, 2021
Results from the Third Installment of Boardwalk Boxing
On Saturday, October 30th, Hard Hitting Promotions promoted its third show, part of a monthly series, at The Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City. Originally announced as ten scheduled bouts, it dwindled down to five by fight night. In this case, the third time was not a charm.
Shinard Bunch of Philadelphia blasted out his opponent, Wilfrido Buelvas, Barranquilla, Colombia, in one minute fifty-eight seconds of round one. Entering the contest as a heavy favorite, the chiseled Brunch, 146 lbs., did not take his training lightly, regardless of the quality of his foe.
When the adversaries squared off at the opening bell, Buelvas, 147.75 lbs., circled and tried to keep Bunch at bay by pumping his jab. With little more than a minute expired, Brunch clipped Buelvas with a right to the head that put the Colombian on his tailbone. Gamely rising to his feet, Buelvas was sent airborne when Brunch landed a right hand laser to Buelvas' face. Once gravity brought Buelvas back to the mat, he was out cold and crumpled. Referee Eric Dali did not bother to count and waved the contest off as the ring physician s rushed into the ring. The power punching Brunch is now 17-1, 15 KOs, and Buelvas falls to 22-15, 16 KOs.
As a professional for just over two years, Bunch has developed quickly under the tutelage of trainer Chino Rivas and the guidance of his manager J Russell Peltz.
Felony assault charges could have been brought against Anthony Demonte of Staten Island, NY. Demonte, 144.5 lbs., mugged Nicholas Collins of Anchorage Alaska. It took only twenty nine seconds for Demonte to mash tomato can Collins into sauce. Demonte is now 4-0, 4 KO’s. Collins, who is not a pro boxer and should not be allowed to fight again, is 0-2.
After numerous delays and down time, only two of the other three scheduled bouts took place.
Ten minutes before Shauncy Perry's scheduled six rounder was about to begin, paramedics had to be called to his locker room when the Jonesboro, Arkansas native was showing signs of a heart attack. Perry was taken to the hospital and released with a clean bill of health.
Dezmond Lucas of Bronx, NY pitched a shutout, outpointing debuting Cesar Espinel-Maldonado, Puerto Rico. Lucas, 147.75, improves to 3-0, 1 KO. Willing participant Maldonado drops to 0-1.
In a decision that was booed by the crowd of approximately 200 people, Justice Bland of Brooklyn, NY won a unanimous six round decision over Geovanny Martinez of Chicago, Illinois. Moving forward Martinez, 122.5 lbs., beat Bland, 123 lbs., to the punch as he backed his foe up throughout the match. Judges Mark Consentino saw it 60-54. Judges Tony Lundy and Robin Taylor's cards were both 58-56 for Bland, who is now 5-1, 2 KOs. Martinez is 1-1, 1 KO. This scribe had it 59-55 for Martinez.
Thursday, November 4, 2021
Robert Carmody fought for his country in the boxing ring and on the battlefield
By TWI Staff