Category: Rassle Me

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Ranking WWE’s Memphis Cage Matches

(Credit: WWE)

When Monday Night Raw returns to Memphis this week for the first time since 2019, WWE champion Big E will be stepping into a steel cage for a non-title showdown with Kevin Owens.

The two will face off again with the title up for grabs as part of a triple threat match at WWE’s new New Year’s Day event, which is not to be confused with New Day. The latter is the faction Big E is a part of and will never be in a triple threat match with according to my conversation with Kofi Kingson, which you can listen to right here.

Usually a rare occurrence in wrestling, cage matches often find their way onto the card when WWE comes to the Bluff City.

As a matter of fact, this is KO’s second time competing in a steel cage on an episode of Raw originating from FedExForum.

Let’s rank all the WWE cage matches in Memphis (so far):

5) Roman Reigns vs. Universal champion Kevin Owens

 Raw, September 19, 2016 at FedExForum

While I’ll acknowledge “The Tribal Chief” won, the highlight came after the bell when Seth Rollins ran to the ring and did a splash from the top of the cage.

4) Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss for the SmackDown Women’s Championship

SmackDown LIVE, January 17, 2017 at FedExForum

An historic first-ever cage match for the women’s title on SmackDown lived up to the hype until La Luchadora interfered and revealed her true identity. 

3)  Jerry “The King” Lawler vs. Bret “The Hitman” Hart for the WWF Championship

USWA/WWF House Show, February 17, 1996 at the Mid-South Coliseum

Even though it wasn’t known at the time, this Saturday matinee in Memphis ended up being the final match ever in the almost three-year-long feud between Bret Hart and Jerry Lawler.

Leading up to the show, “The Hitman” falsely claimed in an interview that he had never lost a cage match in his career, despite the fact that “The King” pinned him in the same building (different cage) in 1993 with some unintentional help from Giant Gonzalez.

2) CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho for the World Heavyweight Championship

Raw, September 15, 2008 at FedExForum

 “The Best in the World” and “Le Champion” treated fans to a dynamite of a match with a rampaging finish.

1) “Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. Vince McMahon

St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, February 14, 1999 at The Pyramid

The first and only one-on-one match in the epic Austin-McMahon rivalry featured major stakes on the line (a WWF title shot at WrestleMania XV) and a big show-stealing surprise.

Kevin Cerrito has covered pro wrestling in the Memphis media for over a decade and is the host of 901 Wrestling. Follow him on Twitter @cerrito and subscribe to his newsletter at cerrito.substack.com.

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Rassle Me Sports

Under Armour’s New Shirts Honor The Rock’s Memphis Wrestling Heritage

Ever since January, when he first posted an Instagram video dressed in a Flex Kavana shirt, wrestling fans in Memphis and across the world have been wondering “Can you buy what The Rock is wearing?”

Now you can. Two t-shirts paying tribute to The Rock’s Memphis wrestling heritage are the newest arrivals to his online Under Armour store.

The shirts feature Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s original ring name (Flex Kavana) and the year (1996) that he made his pro wrestling debut working for the USWA in Memphis. (Once Johnson was called up from Memphis to the then-WWF in November ‘96, Flex Kavana became Rocky Maivia.)

Under Armour’s New Shirts Honor The Rock’s Memphis Wrestling Heritage

The People’s Champion, who regularly bragged about how expensive his shirts cost during promos, is charging the people $35 plus shipping for the new tees.

Earlier this year on my radio show, I asked Jerry “The King” Lawler if he knew about the Flex shirts and if was going to make any royalties off them. The audio of that conversation can be found here.

Listen to Kevin Cerrito talk about pro wrestling on the radio every Saturday from 11-noon CT on Sports 56/87.7 FM in Memphis. Subscribe to Cerrito Live on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, tunein, PlayerFM or Sticher. Find out about his upcoming wrestling trivia events at cerritotrivia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cerrito.

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WWE Fires Wrestler Who Appeared Last Week at Memphis County Fair

The inaugural year of the Memphis County Fair is off to a bad start after WWE released Big Cass, the event’s celebrity spokesperson and only known attendee.

WWE fans first learned about the Memphis County Fair and the Crazy Clown Coaster during June 12’s SmackDown Live at FedExForum:

WWE Fires Wrestler Who Appeared Last Week at Memphis County Fair (8)

The new coaster is apparently named after the fair employee who thought it was a good idea to invite a heel wrestler to help debut a new attraction when his rival Daniel Bryan would have been the smarter choice for the appearance (We all know he would have said “Yes!”). Bryan, who started his professional wrestling career in Memphis as the American Dragon, is immensely popular in the territory and has Mid-South Fairgrounds experience:

WWE Fires Wrestler Who Appeared Last Week at Memphis County Fair (9)

Even before Big Cass was fired, a second year of the Memphis County Fair seemed highly unlikely since it is hard to get Memphians to travel to an event in Parts Unknown. If the fair doesn’t return in 2019, expect the city of Green Bay to emerge as the leading contender to acquire the Crazy Clown Coaster.

Listen to Kevin Cerrito talk about pro wrestling on the radio every Saturday from 11-noon CT on Sports 56/87.7 FM in Memphis. Subscribe to Cerrito Live on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, tunein, PlayerFM or Sticher. Find out about his upcoming wrestling trivia events at cerritotrivia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cerrito.

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5 Facts About Dana White’s Pro Wrestling Debut in Memphis

CREDIT: Dreadhead Kev

Dreadhead Kev

UFC president Dana White ringside on Beale Street.

Last weekend in front of Jerry “The King” Lawler’s Hall of Fame Bar & Grille on Beale Street, UFC president Dana White was involved in a professional wrestling match for the first time ever. White’s debut in the squared circle was another historic wrestling moment in city know for its wrestling history. 

Here are five facts about the UFC boss’s “Beale Street Brawl”:

1) White was in the corner of Derrick King and Matt Serra in a tag match featuring one wrester and one MMA fighter on each team and one WWE Hall of Famer as a special enforcer outside the ring.

2) White entered the ring towards the end of the match and played an important role in the finish before getting attacked from behind by Maria Starr.

5 Facts About Dana White’s Pro Wrestling Debut in Memphis (5)

3) All of the action was filmed for the reality show Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight.

[slideshow-1] 4) White picked Memphis over Mania.

5 Facts About Dana White’s Pro Wrestling Debut in Memphis

5) Mr. Belding was there.

5 Facts About Dana White’s Pro Wrestling Debut in Memphis (2)

5 Facts About Dana White’s Pro Wrestling Debut in Memphis (3)

Listen to Kevin Cerrito talk about pro wrestling on the radio every Saturday from 11-noon CT on Sports 56/87.7 FM in Memphis. Subscribe to Cerrito Live on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, tunein, PlayerFM or Sticher. Find out about his upcoming wrestling trivia events at cerritotrivia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cerrito.

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7 Can’t-Miss Wrestling Events in Memphis during Summer 2018

Here are seven notable pro wrestling events happening in Memphis this summer:

1) Lucha Libre with former WWE superstar Jake Swagger (Sunday, June 10): The same Memphis-based organization that brought Rey Mysterio and “Broken” Matt Hardy to town in the past 18 months is now bringing in former world champion Jake Swagger. The MLLW event will also feature a championship battle royal and oodles of fans placing their hand over their heart.

2) SmackDown Live at FedExForum (Tuesday, June 12): WWE’s blue brand will be live from Memphis for their final show before the annual Money in the Bank pay-per-view. According to WWE TV commercials, fans can expect to see Daniel Bryan’s “return to action in Memphis for the first time in three years.”  Plus, Paige will host a Women’s Money in the Bank Summit (whatever that is) and Andrade “Cien” Almas is scheduled to wrestle Sin Cara. Also on the card: WWE champion AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, The Miz, and Jeff Hardy.

(Preparty for SmackDownLive with me and my radio tag team partner Dustin Starr at Kooky Canuck. Details here.)
3) Dana White’s Lookin’ for a Fight on Beale Street (Friday, June 15): The Vince McMahon of the UFC is coming to Memphis to be in the corner of Derrick King and MMA fighter Matt Serra as they battle Dustin Starr and MMA fighter Din Thomas with Maria Starr in their corner. Cameras from White’s show will be on hand filming all of the action in front of Jerry “The King” Lawler’s bar on world-famous Beale Street.

4) Cerrito Trivia’s House Money in the Bank at Memphis Made Brewing (Thursday, June 28): It’s a wrestling event where you get to be a part of the action. I host this free competition which is the trivia night version of WWE’s Money in the Bank.

5) Redbirds Wrestling Night at AutoZone Park (Friday, July 6): Since the Redbirds hired Memphis Wrestling’s Power Couple as their co-emcees this season, you could argue that every night is Wrestling Night at AutoZone Park, but this particular Fourth of July weekend game will actually feature live wrestling matches and storylines.

6) Roundhouse Revival 3 at the Mid-South Coliseum (Saturday, July 21): Memphis Wrestling has already returned to Saturday mornings. Now, it’s back at the Mid-South Coliseum too. Free live wrestling will once again take place in front of the historic arena as part of the third Roundhouse Revival in as many years. In addition to live music, basketball, and food trucks, this year’s installment will include water slides and robots. Will we get to see Robots vs. Wrestlers?!

7) Real Memphis Wrestling at Rec Room (1st and 3rd Friday of Every Month): Twice a month, the Rec Room transforms into the WreckRoom when UCPWS takes over the popular Broad Avenue arcade bar. Fans under 21 are welcome with a parent or guardian. Cover is $5, thus making it the perfect setting for a revival of Craig Brewer’s MTV show.

Listen to Kevin Cerrito talk about pro wrestling on the radio every Saturday from 11-noon CT on Sports 56/87.7 FM in Memphis. Subscribe to Cerrito Live on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, tunein, PlayerFM or Sticher. Find out about his upcoming wrestling trivia events at cerritotrivia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cerrito.

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Jerry Jarrett Hosting New Podcast

Legendary former Memphis wrestling promoter Jerry Jarrett announced on Twitter this week that he plans to launch a podcast.

Jerry Jarrett Hosting New Podcast

According to the @BookMemphis bio, Booking Memphis Wrestling with Jerry Jarrett will be a weekly podcast that will “go into depth about topics from Jerry’s legendary career!”

While he has been well known in the Memphis territory since the 1970s, Internet access has in fact made Jeff Jarrett’s dad an even bigger name in the world of wrestling thanks to constant mentions and impressions of him on the immensely popular podcast Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard.

(Jarrett first found out about his role on Prichard’s podcast while live on the radio with me last May. The audio of that conversation can be found here.)

A few minutes after announcing his new show, the elder Double J tweeted this:

Jerry Jarrett Hosting New Podcast (3)

Is the 75-year-old getting into podcasting just to respond to his former colleague? Or is this another case of Jarrett knowing that “personal issues draw money” (a phrase that was written on a sign in his office back during the glory days of Memphis wrestling)?

When asked to comment on Jarrett starting his own podcast, Prichard’s co-host Conrad Thompson said “We wish him the very best!”

Listen to Kevin Cerrito talk about pro wrestling on the radio every Saturday from 11-noon CT on Sports 56/87.7 FM in Memphis. Subscribe to Cerrito Live on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, tunein, PlayerFM or Sticher. Find out about his upcoming wrestling trivia events at cerritotrivia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cerrito.

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Memphis Teachers Dress As Pro Wrestlers

I’m not sure how your city celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week, but in Memphis, our teachers dress up like pro wrestlers and win championship belts.

Memphis Teachers Dress As Pro Wrestlers

Last Wednesday on the 30th anniversary of Jerry Lawler defeating Curt Henning to capture his first world heavyweight title, Shelby County teachers were encouraged to come to work in outfits inspired by “the golden days of body slams & spandex at the Mid-South Coliseum.”

Not surprisingly, the King was well represented in classrooms all over Memphis:

Jerry The King Lawler SCS style. #901sFinest

A post shared by Dana (@dchiozza) on

Memphis Teachers Dress As Pro Wrestlers (9)

Memphis Teachers Dress As Pro Wrestlers (11)

Overton High School even featured a rematch from the 1996 King of the Ring:

Memphis Teachers Dress As Pro Wrestlers (10)

Lawler’s long-time foe Jimmy Hart was also a part of the action, alongside who we can only assume was Hulk Hogan in a mask:

Memphis Teachers Dress As Pro Wrestlers (7)

Since she was well rested from sitting out the Greatest Royal Rumble, Sasha Banks was able to make an appearance as well (Sorry, Crump. There is a new Boss in town):

Mrs. Smith as WWE wrestler Sasha Banks! @scsk12unified #901sfinest

A post shared by HRMS_Wildcats💙💛 (@hrmswildcats) on

Memphis Teachers Dress As Pro Wrestlers (8)

Vending machines in teachers’ lounges were running low on Slim Jims:

Memphis Teachers Dress As Pro Wrestlers (4)

Memphis Teachers Dress As Pro Wrestlers (2)

This teacher built a ring in her classroom:

Memphis Teachers Dress As Pro Wrestlers (5)

But once we got to the main event, there was only one champion:

Memphis Teachers Dress As Pro Wrestlers (3)

Listen to Kevin Cerrito talk about pro wrestling on the radio every Saturday from 11-noon CT on Sports 56/87.7 FM in Memphis. Subscribe to Cerrito Live on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, tunein, PlayerFM or Sticher. Find out about his upcoming wrestling trivia events at cerritotrivia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cerrito.

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Christmas Creature Wins Republican Nomination for Knox County Mayor

In what can only be viewed as a victory in the “War on Christmas,” the Republicans of Knox County, Tennessee have selected the Christmas Creature as their nominee for mayor. Pro wrestler Glenn Jacobs, who made his Memphis wrestling debut in 1993 as a heel holiday character wrapped in tinsel, won Tuesday night’s Republican primary for mayor of Knox County by just 17 votes.

Christmas Creature Wins Republican Nomination for Knox County Mayor (6)

Based on the voting demographics of the county, the wrestler best known as The Undertaker’s “brother” Kane is now almost a lock to become the mayor.

Christmas Creature Wins Republican Nomination for Knox County Mayor

This is not fake news. Fake Diesel is probably going to be Knox County’s next mayor.

Christmas Creature Wins Republican Nomination for Knox County Mayor (2)

Years after Jerry Lawler’s own failed attempts to become mayor of Memphis, his evil dentist is now one step closer to achieving the same goal on the other side of the state.

Christmas Creature Wins Republican Nomination for Knox County Mayor (6)

If you think the current political climate might be a sign of the apocalypse, Knoxville just added to your paranoia by nominating someone for public office who once went by the name Doomsday.

Christmas Creature Wins Republican Nomination for Knox County Mayor (3)


Listen to Kevin Cerrito talk about pro wrestling on the radio every Saturday from 11-noon CT on Sports 56/87.7 FM in Memphis. Subscribe to Cerrito Live on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, tunein, PlayerFM or Sticher. Follow him on Twitter @cerrito.

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Meddlesome Brewing releases Jerry ‘The King’ Lager

Watch out Budweiser, the “King of Wrestling” is coming for your throne as the “King of Beers.” This week, Memphis-based Meddlesome Brewing Company is rolling out its newest offering: Jerry “The King” Lager.

“A while back I was contacted by someone from the brewery who explained to me they make beers with names that are familiar with Memphis,” Jerry Lawler said. “One was 201 Hoplar and they had the idea to do a Jerry ‘The King’ Lager. I thought it sounded fun, so I gave them the go ahead to use my name.”

Lawler, who prides himself on never having a sip of alcohol in his entire life, now has a beer named in his honor to go along with his bar located on the drunkest street in town. When asked if he would end his 68 years of sobriety to taste the beer named in his honor, the King said “I’ve never tasted beer, wine, or whiskey in my life and I’m not going to start just because one’s named after me.”

(I did get a chance to sample Jerry “The King” Lager last Saturday live on the radio. Listen here for my taste test.)

Available for a limited time, Jerry “The King” Lager will make its debut at Jerry Lawler’s Hall of Fame Bar & Grille during a Monday Night Raw watch party featuring a meet and greet with WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley.

Starting Wednesday, the lager will be on tap at the brewery’s taproom, which is conveniently located for wrestling fans wanting to spend a day in Cordova. According to Google Maps, Meddlesome Brewing is just a two-minute drive to the King’s other restaurant- Jerry Lawler Memphis BBQ Company. You can’t buy Meddlesome beers in stores yet; however the taproom will offer the beer “to go” in 32-ounce cans and 64-ounce growlers.

Meddlesome is not the first Memphis-area brewery to embrace the Bluff City’s relationship with pro wrestling. Memphis Made Brewing’s taproom has a Royal Rumble pinball machine and often serves as the host venue for my regular Rasslin’ Trivia Nights. Wiseacre Brewing has made some short-lived wrestling-themed adult beverages (a taproom-only release of Sandy Ravage’s The Cream and an experimental keg of Cocoa B. Ware Brown Ale), and they spotlighted Memphis wrestling as the theme of their annual mural outside their brewery in 2015.



For those local brewmasters looking for a Memphis rasslin’ inspired name for your next beer, I present to you this list (insert Chris Jericho joke here) free of charge:

  • “SuperStout” Dundee
  • Double J Double IPA
  • Dave Brown Ale
  • Mr. Coffee Stout
  • USWAle
  • Banana Nose Wheat Ale
  • “Stout of the South” Jimmy Malt
  • Plowboy Porter
  • Jackie FarGolden Ale
  • Mid-South ColiSasion

Listen to Kevin Cerrito talk about pro wrestling on the radio every Saturday from 11-noon CT on Sports 56/87.7 FM in Memphis. Subscribe to Cerrito Live on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, tunein, PlayerFM or Sticher. Follow him on Twitter @cerrito.

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Jerry Lawler Throws Fire at Crotch of Wrestler Dressed as Andy Kaufman

Even though Jerry “The King” Lawler emceed WWE’s annual Hall of Fame ceremony that featured the inductions of Jeff Jarrett and Sputnik Monroe, as well as an appearance by Jimmy Hart, the most Memphis thing to happen in New Orleans over WrestleMania 34 weekend occurred the night before. With WrestleMania weekend coinciding with the 35th anniversary of Lawler’s legendary match against Andy Kaufman, the King celebrated with some fireworks. At WrestleCon’s Supershow (one of many non-WWE affiliated events held in New Orleans during wrestling’s “Super Bowl” weekend), independent wrestler Joey Ryan was in the ring dressed as Kaufman when he fell victim to one of Lawler’s signature moves:

Jerry Lawler Throws Fire at Crotch of Wrestler Dressed as Andy Kaufman

As David Letterman might say: I think you can get away with hitting someone below the belt. But one thing you can’t do is throw fire (or coffee) down there. I’ve said it over and over again!

Something to think about: Would Shinsuke Nakamura have gotten more heat (pun intended) if he used the King’s version of the low blow when he turned heel on AJ Styles at WrestleMania?

More to come: This post starts our regular pro wrestling coverage here at memphisflyer.com. (How cool is it that our first post happens to be on Rusev Day?!) Appropriately, the name of this blog also pays homage to Kaufman and this classic promo:


Listen to Kevin Cerrito talk about pro wrestling on the radio every Saturday from 11-noon CT on Sports 56/87.7 FM in Memphis. Subscribe to Cerrito Live on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, tunein, PlayerFM or Sticher. Follow him on Twitter @cerrito.