Various: Hidden Gems, Shawn Michaels on Past Temptation to Unretire, Indies

WWE Network Hidden Gems Addition

This week’s addition to WWE Network’s Hidden Gems series is classic shooter style wrestling themed, featuring five classic matches.

The first gem is from a June 17, 1952 event from Texas Rasslin’ featuring a NWA World Heavyweight Championship match of Wild Bill Longson versus Lou Thesz (c).

Texas Rasslin’ 06/17/1952 – Legendary Lou

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz puts his title on the line against the dangerous Wild Bill Longson.

The second gem is from a January 31, 1972 Madison Square Garden event from WWWF featuring a tag team match of Karl Gotch & Rene Goulet versus The Rugged Russians.

WWWF @ MSG 01/31/1972 – The Great Gotch

Karl Gotch makes his impact felt on U.S. soil when he teams with Rene Goulet to face The Rugged Russians at Madison Square Garden.

The third gem is from a November 12, 1974 event from Championship Wrestling from Florida featuring a tag team match of Danny Hodge & Jos Leduc versus Pak Song & Toru Tanaka.

Championship Wrestling from Florida 11/12/1974 – Oklahoma’s Favorite Son

The highly revered Danny Hodge joins forces with wild man Jos Leduc to battle the dastardly duo of Pak Song and Toru Tanaka.

The fourth gem is from an August 12, 1983 event from Stampede Wrestling featuring a singles match of Nobuhiko Takada versus Athol Foley.

Stampede Wrestling 08/12/1983 – Japanese Pride

Before becoming one of Japan’s most controversial figures in MMA, Nobuhiko Takada traveled to Canada to face Athol Foley.

The fifth and final gem is from an October 18, 1984 event from AWA featuring a singles match of Billy Robinson (with Lord Alfred Hayes) versus Rick Martel.

AWA 10/18/1984 – To Catch a Model

Billy Robinson, accompanied to the ring by WWE Hall of Famer Lord Alfred Hayes, takes on Rick Martel in this contest from Canada.

Shawn Michaels Comments on His Biggest Temptation to Unretire

A recent episode of the Inside The Ropes podcast had Shawn Michaels as the guest and one of the topics discussed included what was his biggest temptation to unretire from wrestling in the past.

“It was probably about four years after I retired, there was an idea that was, it was with ‘Taker again. But it was just from a creative standpoint, it was easily the most intriguing idea, one of those ones where my wife said, ‘oh, that’s pretty cool.’ And that was the one, when I said no, she said ‘you really are done.'”

Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

ROH announced that the card of their October 14th Glory by Honor event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania features a six-man tag team match of Jay Lethal, Jonathan Gresham, & mystery partner versus The Kingdom (Matt Taven, Vinny Marseglia, & TK O’Ryan).

All American Wrestling announced that the card of their October 26th event in Merrionette Park, Illinois features a singles match of LA Park versus MJF and a singles match of Sammy Guevara versus Fenix.

House of Glory announced that the card of their October 5th event in Queens, New York features a Crown Jewel Championship match of Bully Ray versus Sami Callihan (c).