POST NEWS UPDATE: SANADA shares that he started doing dragon sleeper because of knee issues

Photo Courtesy: New Japan Pro-Wrestling

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.

** In an interview series that NJPW is pushing out on their website, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA revealed that he started doing the dragon sleeper submission in 2012, which he has dubbed ‘THiS iS iT’ and ‘Skull End’, because he suffered a knee injury and needed to find another signature move other than his moonsault.

I injured my knee and could no longer do the moonsault press as much, so I needed a new technique. I had always liked the Dragon Sleeper technique, so I started using a technique based on the Dragon Sleeper. The name of the technique, ‘THiS iS iT,’ means this is the end. I thought that using all capital letters would not be playful, so I made only the ‘I’ lowercase. Basically, I am the type of person who takes good care of each technique and uses it carefully, so I am attached to it.

** Jason Powell of the Pro Wrestling Boom Podcast welcomed Kamille onto his platform. She recalled the feedback she received coming out of her second WWE tryout. She was told that everyone loved her, but timing is everything. Kamille mentioned that at the time, WWE had just signed Rhea Ripley and Lacey Evans who were both blonde with long hair like her.

And then the second (WWE) tryout I had, the only feedback I got there was, they said, you know, ‘Everyone here really loves you. You’re great, you work really hard, we can tell. But unfortunately, timing is everything’ and that was the only feedback I got and I was like, ‘What the hell does that mean?’ And then kind of in retrospect, I realized around that time, like right then, they had just signed Rhea (Ripley) and Lacey Evans, who Rhea used to be blonde and had long hair and Lacey’s same thing so I was like, ah! Okay. Well you know, they just found two girls that are similar to what I had going for me at the time. So, that’s really all I could take from that but nothing negative, only positive and anyone that’s ever done anything in wrestling — well not anything — but has been around enough in wrestling, it’s really about the right place and the right time. Everything kind of has to fall into place perfectly honestly so, that’s that.

** Going into his singles match against Bron Breakker at NXT Halloween Havoc night two, Mr. Stone guest appeared on Busted Open Radio. He shared that he’s enjoyed the transition from in-ring talent to on-screen manager. Stone added that he’s taken a liking to doing some commentary for NXT Level Up.

I think I was the perfect guy for the job (that I have in NXT). At the time, I was mid-30s. I just recently turned 40 so you know, at the time, I was mid-30s and we talked earlier about how physical this is and how physical wrestling is and after I was doing it for 19 years, my body was beat up. So to be able to have a role where I’m still on TV, where I still get to be a character and have fun and be entertaining, it was a no-brainer for me. You gotta think now, my twins are older. I don’t wanna come home and be beat up when I play with them. They’re very active. I gotta keep up with them so, it’s been fun embracing something new. On our show NXT Level up, I’ve filled in for Byron Saxton when he’s not here. I’ve commentated a few times. I really enjoyed that. I am open to do anything new that I could learn, just to give me more hats to wear in this crazy industry.

** As Tom Lawlor was being interviewed by Adrian Hernandez, he stated that being NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion is the most important thing he’s done in pro wrestling.

Well, first of all, you said that’s one of the biggest accolades I have (being NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion). To me, that was the most important thing I’ve done in pro wrestling was holding that title. That’s not lost on me. I was very proud to be able to do that.

** Good Karma Wrestling welcomed Angelo Dawkins onto their show. He listed The Creed Brothers (Julius & Brutus Creed), Out The Mud (Bronco Nima & Lucien Price), Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams along with Edris Enofe and Malik Blade as NXT tandems he’d like to see himself and Montez Ford match up against.

I feel like all of ‘em honestly (new teams that would be exciting matchups for The Street Profits). I think The Creed Brothers definitely. I would like to get in there with Trick (Williams) and Melo, definitely. Trick-Melo gang, shout out to them. Man, who else? We’ve already been in there with Pretty Deadly which is cool… Out The Mud, O.T.M., definitely them. Malik Blade and Edris (Enofe). I would say Los Lotharios but we wrestled them a couple times. I would say Alpha Academy but we wrestled them a couple times. I mean if New Day ever wants a rematch because the last time we faced them, we beat ‘em. So, they ever want a rematch, they can get this work as well. I’d say all the tag teams honestly. We enjoy working all the tag teams. We’re just happy to see where tag team wrestling is going and how it’s making a little bit of a big-time resurgence. Obviously, we feel like we’re at the top of our game so, whoever want this smoke, bring it.

** The in-venue song that plays at the conclusion of Pro Wrestling NOAH events is going to be distributed by music platforms. The song was created by Keiji Muto’s daughter.

** Unagi Sakaya is planning to run an independent show on January 7th, 2024, at Korakuen Hall.

** AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy talked horror films with Grue Rume Show.

** Antonio Inoki was the subject of a talk show that Hiroshi Tanahashi and Masahiro Chono were a part of.

** STARDOM Halloween Dark Night Results (10/29/23) Tachikawa Stage Garden in Tachikawa, Japan
Goddesses Of Stardom Tag League Block B: Prominence (Hiragi Kurumi & Risa Sera) (3) def. God’s Eye (Saki Kashima & Syuri) (4)
Zombie Rumble: Super Strong Stardom Machine def. Fukigen Death and KARMA and Ram Kaicho and Hanan and Super Strong Stardom Big Machine and HANAKO and Zombie A and Zombie B and Zombie C
Zombie Lumberjack Match: Dump Matsumoto & ZAP def. Club Venus (Mina Shirakawa & Waka Tsukiyama)
Trick or Treat Anywhere Fall Count Four Way: Suzu Suzuki def. Mei Seira and Momo Watanabe and Thekla
Halloween Weapons Four Way: Saori Anou def. Hazuki and Mai Sakurai and Natsuko Tora
– Ruaka vs. MIRAI – No Contest (4:35)
Coffin Explosion Four Way: Megan Bayne and Yuu def. Maika and Mayu Iwatani

** There’s a feature on Hiroshi Tanahashi in Setagaya Life Magazine.

** Hiromu Takahashi’s newest picture book can be found at this link.

** Big Japan Pro Wrestling Results (10/29/23) Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan
– Daichi Hashimoto, Kazuki Hashimoto & Tyson Maddux def. Fuminori Abe, Takuya Nomura & Yasufumi Nakanoue
Barbed Wire Board Death Match: Masashi Takeda & Masaya Takahashi def. Abdullah Kobayashi & Ryuji Ito
Scramble Bunkhouse Death Match: Kazumi Kikuta, Isami Kodaka & Yuko Miyamoto def. Hideyoshi Kamitani, Kankuro Hoshino & Yuki Ishikawa
– Ender Kara, Leyton Buzzard & Tempesta def. Kaji Tomato, Ryota Hama & Tatsuhiko Yoshino
All Asia Heavyweight Championship: Daimonji So (c) def. Daisuke Sekimoto
BJW World Strong Heavyweight Championship: Yuya Aoki (c) def. Kazumasa Yoshida

** Dragon Gate ‘The Gate of Victory’ Results (10/29/23) Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Exhibition Hall in Hiroshima, Japan
– Kota Minoura, Ben-K & B×B Hulk def. Masaaki Mochizuki, Susumu Mochizuki & Yasushi Kanda
– JACKY ‘FUNKY’ KAMEI & Jason Lee def. Mochizuki Junior & Yoshiki Kato
– KAI def. Shachihoko Boy
– ISHIN & H.Y.O. def. Dragon Kid & Ryoya Tanaka
– Luis Mante & Naruki Doi def. YAMATO & Punch Tominaga
– U-T, BIGBOSS Shimizu & Kzy def. Madoka Kikuta, Yuki Yoshioka & Dragon Dia

** Gabe Kidd appeared on Wrestling Observer Live.

** October 29th birthdays: Karmen Petrovic & Tatum Paxley.

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 9347 Articles
A Washington D.C. native and graduate of Norfolk State University, Andrew Thompson has been covering wrestling since 2017.