Texas Death Match 🩸, LA Knight Impersonator 🪞, Ric Flair’s Rumble Legacy ⭐️

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Sunday, January 19th, 2025

📢 Accouncements

🤦‍♂️ Apologies for Yesterday’s Formatting Issues
If you opened yesterday’s email, you probably noticed some formatting troubles. I tried embedding tweets and Reddit posts, but unfortunately, they don’t render properly in emails… won’t be doing that again.

🎉 Thank You for 50+ Subscribers
It’s official, we can all get together and replicate The Greatest Royal Rumble. Morning Dirt Sheet has officially crossed the 50-subscriber mark! I’m incredibly grateful for your support and I’m excited to keep improving Morning Dirt Sheet every day.

🔮 A March-Madness-Style Tournament Is Coming
I’m working on a March-Madness-style tournament to determine the most popular WWE wrestler (if Vince is reading, “sports entertainer”) among Morning Dirt Sheet readers. The bracket will feature 64 wrestlers split across four eras, with daily votes leading us to the ultimate winner! Keep an eye out for more details in February.

🗓️ On This Day

January 19th, 1992 - Ric Flair’s Endurance Makes History at the Royal Rumble

33 years ago today, the WWF Royal Rumble took place at the Knickerbocker Arena in Albany, New York, marking one of the most iconic events in wrestling history. Ric Flair captured the vacant WWF Championship in what many consider the greatest Royal Rumble match of all time. Entering at number three, Flair lasted over 59 minutes to secure his victory, a feat designed to showcase his endurance and skill to a WWF audience that may not have followed his celebrated career in Jim Crockett Promotions and WCW.

Flair only learned he would win the match upon arriving at the arena, with Vince McMahon placing him in the early third spot to ensure fans saw the full breadth of his abilities. According to Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan, who delivered an unforgettable commentary performance during the match, Flair was initially suggested to enter at number one for maximum drama. McMahon modified the plan to number three, ensuring Flair would still shine while offering a slight advantage.

The Rumble featured an unparalleled star-studded lineup, including Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, The Undertaker, Jake Roberts, Ted DiBiase, Sid Justice, Roddy Piper, Shawn Michaels, and more. In addition, ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper captured his first and only WWF/WWE singles title, defeating The Mountie for the Intercontinental Championship.

This was the first Royal Rumble with championship stakes, a stipulation that wouldn’t return until 2016. The match remains a gold standard in Royal Rumble history, both for its talent-packed roster and for Flair’s legendary performance.

AEW Collision Maximum Carnage Results – January 18th, 2025

AEW Collision: Maximum Carnage aired live on TNT and streamed on Max from the Brady Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

• Hangman Page def. Christopher Daniels in a Texas Death Match
  In a violent and bloody bout, Hangman Page defeated Christopher Daniels after a Dead Eye on a steel chair and a Buckshot Lariat. Daniels couldn't answer the 10-count, and Page stormed off after locking Daniels in an Angels Wings post-match.

• Toni Storm Called Out Mariah May
  Toni Storm celebrated her upcoming match in Australia and expressed her admiration for Mariah May, announcing a face-to-face meeting on next week’s Dynamite.

• The Hurt Syndicate Declared Their Intentions
  After their victory over Private Party, MVP announced that Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin would challenge for the AEW Tag Team Championships next week.

• The Undisputed Kingdom def. Shane Taylor Promotions in a Six-Man Tag
  Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, and Roderick Strong defeated Shane Taylor Promotions, but Shane Taylor retaliated post-match, leading to a confrontation with TNT Champion Danny Garcia.

• Will Ospreay Announces Plans to Meet Kenny Omega
  Ospreay hinted at finally sitting down with Kenny Omega to resolve their differences, with plans to meet face-to-face on next week’s Dynamite.

• The MurderMachines def. Top Flight
  Lance Archer and Brian Cage overwhelmed Top Flight in a dominant win. Post-match, Lio Rush and Action Andretti ambushed Top Flight while Leila Grey was forced to watch.

• The Learning Tree Attacks Powerhouse Hobbs Backstage
  Backstage, The Learning Tree targeted Powerhouse Hobbs’ knee, leaving his status uncertain for the evening’s main event.

• The Acclaimed Implode in Emotional Confrontation
  Max Caster and Anthony Bowens clashed in a heated segment, with Caster demanding Bowens choose between him and Billy Gunn. Bowens rejected Caster’s ultimatum, signaling the likely end of The Acclaimed.

• Kazuchika Okada def. Tomohiro Ishii to Retain the AEW Continental Championship
  Okada retained his title in a hard-fought match against Ishii, using a low blow and a Rainmaker lariat to secure the victory.

• Dustin Rhodes def. Adam Priest
  Dustin Rhodes won decisively against Adam Priest, finishing him off with a Cross Rhodes and a spinning suplex.

• Julia Hart def. Harley Cameron via Submission
  Julia Hart forced Harley Cameron to tap out to the Hartless after a competitive match, continuing her impressive run.

• Powerhouse Hobbs Leads His Team to Victory in the 12-Man Tag Main Event
  Despite a pre-match attack, Powerhouse Hobbs returned and led his team, including Cope, FTR, and The Outrunners, to victory against Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Chris Jericho, Big Bill, and Bryan Keith. Hobbs’ spinebuster on Keith sealed the win amidst chaotic brawling throughout the match.

See full results here

WWE

💡 LA Knight Details Rejected Faction Pitch
LA Knight revealed that a faction pitch he proposed during his early days in WWE was rejected. He shared that the concept, which involved showcasing a group of cocky and charismatic stars, was deemed unnecessary at the time.

🎙️ Paul Heyman Explains His Iconic Trademark Intro
Paul Heyman explained the origins of his famous intro, "Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Paul Heyman," stating it was inspired by his father. Heyman said, "My father introduced himself to a jury this way... I thought, if I'm going to do public speaking, I should always assume that nobody knows who I am and this is the first time."

📝 Shawn Michaels Set as Moderator for Championship Contract Signing
Shawn Michaels will oversee the WWE Championship contract signing between Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes at Saturday Night’s Main Event. The Heartbreak Kid’s involvement aims to add gravitas to the highly anticipated showdown.

👑 Charlotte Flair Return Confirmed
WWE released a hype video teasing Charlotte Flair’s return, but the lack of a confirmed date.

AEW

🎸 Jeff Jarrett Likens MJF to a 90s Country Star
Jeff Jarrett compared AEW Champion MJF to a 90s country music star, noting his ability to connect with audiences while maintaining a unique and captivating persona. Jarrett praised MJF’s understanding of character work in the modern wrestling landscape.

🌟 Matt Cardona on Reinventing Himself After Zack Ryder
Matt Cardona shared advice he received from Chris Jericho, who told him, “Everything about Zack Ryder has to die.” Cardona admitted Jericho was right, citing his successful reinvention as proof. Cardona said, “Chris, he’s the master of evolution... now I feel like I am, too.”

Reddit

🎤 Drew McIntyre on working with CM Punk: “I went at him and went at him. And I've done that with a couple of people, and they have got a boo boo face. Not that I care, but he didn't. He ate it like a man, and then came back with what he had to say. So I'll give him that.”

💪 Finally applied for a WWE tryout

📜 Ibou on X (about Rey Fenix): They won’t let him wrestle on any of the TV, they won’t let him out of the deal, and they won’t allow him to get direct merch residuals because they took his merchandise off their website. You can’t get mad at the guy for memeing through it, he’s in a super shitty spot.

🪞 LA Knight Impersonator meets the real LA Knight (RAW on Netflix Behind the Scenes)

👩‍👧 Nick Khan says that 40% of tickets are sold to women and that half of attendees are with a child

🐂 They gave him the mic 🎤 time for a bull run!

🍔 I’m a dude. He’s a dude. She’s a dude. We’re all dudes, hey!

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