POST NEWS UPDATE: Jessica McKay feels more could’ve been done with The IInspiration’s WWE Women’s Tag Title run

Photo Courtesy: WWE

If any of the quotes from the following podcasts or video interviews are used, please credit those sources and provide an H/T and link back to POST Wrestling for the transcriptions.

** One-half of The IInspiration, Jessica McKay, told MuscleManMalcolm that she feels more could have been done with her and Cassie Lee’s WWE Women’s Tag Title reign.

I’ll be completely honest, it (favorite moment from WWE Women’s Tag Title reign) has to be when we won them, has to be WrestleMania. Not many people get a championship match at WrestleMania, not many people win a championship at WrestleMania so, I think the fact that we were able to tick both off our bucket list, it just meant a lot. Unfortunately, our reign was kind of, hmm, kind of all over the place. Unfortunately, that’s just how the business is though. We could’ve done so much more with that, we felt like. But, we just took every opportunity we got given and we just tried to make it the best as we can. Like the (post-match) tantrum and everything. I feel like everything we had thrown at us, we took it and ran with it and we just wanted to entertain people and yeah so…

** While guest appearing on Counted Out, Erick Redbeard looked back on winning the SmackDown Tag Team Titles with Jon Huber (Brodie Lee) at WrestleMania 34.

It was a journey from FCW to NXT to the main roster to having singles runs to being put back together to having singles runs to being put back together to being repackaged. To finally be able to achieve what we (Redbeard & Brodie Lee) both had tried to achieve from the moment we got there, it (SmackDown Tag Title win at WrestleMania 34) meant a lot so, it was a moment that I’m glad we got to share and I’m glad he got to share it with me when he was still around but, it’s just one of those things that you can look back at in pictures or whatever but in the moment, it felt good.

** Earlier this year, BLK Jeez was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. He joined The Wise Men podcast and provided another update on how he’s feeling. Jeez had stem cell replacement surgery and is in the hospital until September 8th. He said he’s on the road to recovery after that.

I’m pretty good. Had that stem cell replacement transplant last Friday. I’m in the hospital until September 8th. I’m being monitored to make sure I’m good. Once I go home, it’s on to the road to recovery, get back out there with the team and make things happen. So, things are on the up and up.

** During a roundtable discussion, Republic World asked Ludwig Kaiser could he see Imperium adding another member to their current presentation. He cannot think of anyone who fits perfectly and thinks how the group is now is fine.

The very unique part of Imperium is that it is very authentic. We are not playing anything, we’re going out there, the stuff that we are saying on the microphone, stuff that we are preaching out there is definitely something that, deep down within, we do believe a lot of times. A lot of it is very, just the version of ourselves. Just to keep it that unique, we are always very careful to even consider anyone else, because if something like that down the line would potentially or hypothetically happen, it would just have to be a perfect fit and I gotta say, obviously over the year, we are just very different from a lot of the other guys over here, and I don’t see anyone right now that I would put my finger on and say, you would be the perfect match for Imperium, and it would have to be an honor to join us. I think the weight is — right now — is just perfect. Everyone in our group has their role, we are very much aware of that. It is a well-oiled machine and it is running perfectly right now, so I think we’re all very happy with the way things are going right now.

** Coming up on September 8th is WWE Superstar Spectacle in India. On the bill for that event is a tag match that’ll see Imperium’s Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci taking on John Cena and World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. Kaiser was interviewed by ‘My Kolkata’ and called the matchup something close to a dream match.

One of the greatest things in our job, apart from competing, is to see many different peoples and cultures. India has always been on my bucket list, and I’ve never been there before. I’ve always got along with the talent from India at the P.C., even learnt a few words of Hindi. So, I can’t wait for Superstar Spectacle and to experience India. We have an amazing show lined up, which will go down in history. India deserves that, we’ve had such a terrific fan base over there for so long. The people are so enthusiastic and excited, and so am I right now!

Moreover, taking on Seth Rollins, the reigning World Heavyweight Champion, and John Cena, one of the all-time greats, is as close to a dream match as possible. It’s fitting that the show is called Superstar Spectacle because it’s going to be quite the spectacle in Hyderabad.

** While Paul Wight and Saraya were in London, England for AEW All In, they sat down with DAZN Wrestling for a live interview. Wight recalled witnessing the beginning of the presentation shift for WWE’s women’s division. He remembered saying to some of the men on the roster that their match times are going to be cut soon because the women are on the up and up. Wight received snickers and chuckles for his comment.

I remember stating at one event somewhere, the girls had gotten some time on a show that didn’t have television constraints behind it and actually had some time and this is during the Give Divas a Chance thing when it was working. There’s a consensus, everybody watching the monitor backstage and they went out there and absolutely had a great match, great story match, great A-to-Z interaction with the crowd. The crowd was emotionally invested, you could tell. Heel, babyface and spots and all that other crap. But really, it comes down to getting the audience emotionally invested, giving them something they want to see that they’re enjoying and the girls did such a great job of that and I remember telling the guys, ‘You guys better lace up your boots real soon because your time’s gonna start getting cut’ and there were a couple of snickers and chuckles. But I could see right then that there was gonna be a momentum shift in the women’s division and how people perceive professional wrestling from the women’s standpoint. They’re tremendous athletes, they’re competitors and they’re fully capable of delivering storylines and matches that are just as emotionally investable as the men so, I was behind it 110 percent.

** Returning to The Be Someone Podcast was Zilla Fatu. He shared advice that Shelton Benjamin and Carlito gave him before making his in-ring debut for Reality of Wrestling:

Shelton (Benjamin), he played a big role too in it. Shelton was just like, ‘Just take your time uce. Don’t go out there trying to look for the next spot. Don’t go out there just trying to do too much. Just feel the crowd’s energy and just go from there.’ Carlito, he was more on, ‘Don’t overthink the next move,’ because you know, there’s an art to wrestling y’all and if you in the business, you know what I’m talking about so it’s like, Carlito, he’s just, ‘Don’t overthink your next step. Just let it flow, feel the crowd, feel the energy and just go from there’ and that’s what happened.

** NJPW Young Lion Ryohei Oiwa is on excursion and will be working with Pro Wrestling NOAH. His debut match for the promotion took place on 9/3. Oiwa was interviewed by NJPW1972.com and told the site that being invited by Kaito Kiyomiya to come to NOAH was perfect timing. He would be interested in going overseas, but Oiwa is focused on coming back to NJPW as a finished product.

It was perfect timing (getting invited to NOAH). Coming off the loss to (Oleg) Boltin the night before, it was just what I wanted to hear, like, yeah, I have a chance here.

I’d like that experience, sure (wrestling overseas). For now though, my goal is gaining the most I can from Pro Wrestling NOAH. All in all, by the time I come back to New Japan, I want to be a finished product, if that makes sense.

Oiwa would go on to add that he wants to win the GHC Tag Team Championships with Kiyomiya.

I want to win the tag belts with (Kaito) Kiyomiya, get tougher, get better, come back and smash the Reiwa Three Musketeers to pieces. Thanks to all the fans who have been with me the last two years. I might be in a NOAH ring, but you can still come and see how I’m progressing. Next time I’m in NJPW, people are going to be talking about how big I’ve gotten – in every way!

** Tokyo Sports’ Junichi Hatsuyama recounted his experience interviewing the late Terry Funk.

** STARDOM Results (9/3/23) Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall in Hiroshima, Japan
– Ami Sourei, Yuna Mizumori & Thekla def. Lady C, AZM & Miyu Amasaki
– Megan Bayne & Maika def. Mina Shirakawa & Mariah May
5STAR Grand Prix Blue Stars: Utami Hayashishita def. Momo Watanabe
5STAR Grand Prix Red Stars: Tam Nakano def. Starlight Kid
5STAR Grand Prix Red Stars: Syuri def. Mayu Iwatani
High Speed Championship: Saki Kashima (c) def. Momo Kohgo
Goddesses of STARDOM Championships: Saori Anou & Natsupoi (c) def. Suzu Suzuki & Mei Seira
Wonder of STARDOM Championship: MIRAI (c) def. Konami
NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship: Giulia (c) def. Risa Sera

** Kenta Kobashi was interviewed by Tokyo Sports: 

** Revolution Pro Wrestling Live in London 77 Results (9/3/23) The Venue in London, England
RevPro Undisputed British Cruiserweight Championship: Sha Samuels def. Connor Mills (c)
– JJ Gale def. Robbie X
– Greedy Souls (Brendan White & Danny Jones) def. VeloCities (Jude London & Paris De Silva)
– Luke Jacobs def. Wild Boar
– Knights (Ricky Knight Jr. & Zak Knight) def. Sunshine Machine (Chuck Mambo & TK Cooper)
– Alex Windsor def. Maya Matthews
– Michael Oku def. Cameron Khai
– Gabe Kidd def. Leon Slater

** Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling pushed out the news of a new series they’re releasing which is centered around five of their younger roster members. 

** All Japan Pro Wrestling Results (9/3/23) City Hall Plaza Aore Nagaoka in Nagaoka, Japan
– Dan Tamura, Hikaru Sato & Ren Ayabe def. Ryo Inoue, Takanori Ito & Takao Omori
– Chihiro Hashimoto, Millie McKenzie & Yurika Oka def. Aoi, Lena Kross & MICHIKO
– Yoshitatsu def. Super Sasadango Machine
AJPW TV Six-Man & KO-D Six Man Tag Team Championships: Hideki Okatani, Saki Akai & Yukio Sakaguchi (c) def. ATM, Black Menso-re & DASH Chisako
Death Match: Shuji Ishikawa, Suwama & Atsushi Onita def. Jun Saito, Rei Saito & Black Tiger
– Ryuki Honda def. Atsuki Aoyagi
– Kento Miyahara def. Hokuto Omori
– Hiromu Takahashi def. Rising HAYATO
AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship: Yuma Aoyagi (c) def. Satoshi Kojima

** TJPW City Circuit Results (9/3/23) Otemachi Mitsui Hall in Tokyo, Japan
– Toga def. Shino Suzuki
– Yuki Aino def. Haru Kazashiro
– Moka Miyamoto, Wakana Uehara & HIMAWARI def. Haruna Neko, Kaya Toribami & Runa Okubo
– Hikari Noa def. Yoshiko Hasegawa
– Mizuki def. Juria Nagano
– Shoko Nakajima, Hyper Misao, Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu def. Rika Tatsumi, Miu Watanabe, Raku & Pom Harajuku

** Hiroshi Tanahashi represented New Japan Pro-Wrestling at a media event.

** There’s an interview with GUNTHER on the ESPR | Wrestling Podcast feed.

** Q&A with Drew McIntyre via Mid-Day India.

** DDT Pro-Wrestling Results (9/3/23) Yokohama Skill Culture Center in Yokohama, Japan
– Akito & Yukio Naya def. Pheromones (Danshoku Dino & Yuki Ino)
– DAMNATION T.A (Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul) def. Makoto Oishi & Takeshi Masada
– Burning (Jun Akiyama, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku) def. Kazuma Sumi, Rukiya & Yuni
– HARASHIMA & Naruki Doi def. Antonio Honda & Kazuki Hirata
– Yuji Hino def. KANON
– Yuki Ueno def. Toi Kojima
– Shigehiro Irie & Soma Takao def. Chris Brookes & Kazusada Higuchi

** September 3rd birthdays: Hana Kimura.

** Joining the Generation of Wrestling podcast was Frankie Kazarian.

If any of the quotes from the following podcasts or video interviews are used, please credit those sources and provide an H/T and link back to POST Wrestling for the transcriptions.

About Andrew Thompson 9443 Articles
A Washington D.C. native and graduate of Norfolk State University, Andrew Thompson has been covering wrestling since 2017.