Various: Superstar Billy Graham Health Update, ROH’s Joe Koff on NJPW Partnership, Indies

“Superstar” Billy Graham Reportedly Feeling Fine After Suffering Heart Attack

“Superstar” Billy Graham stated on Facebook that he had recently suffered a heart attack but is currently feeling fine following his hospitalization the past several days.

“Heart Issues

Hey fans, I am back home from the Mayo Clinic Hospital. I wanted to thank everyone for their well wishes and prayers. I need rest right now but by this coming Sunday evening I will give all my Facebook fans an in-depth report on the status of my heart. All I will say for now is that I have suffered a heart attack and am in constant heart failure. I am of course on medications for my heart and will be for the remainder of my life. I am keeping the faith and will fight !!! Superstar Billy Graham”

ROH’s COO Joe Koff Comments on Partnership Status with NJPW

Newsweek held a recent interview with Ring of Honor’s COO Joe Koff and one of the topics discussed included his thoughts on the current state of the company’s partnership with New Japan Pro Wrestling.

“They are important in the development of your organization. We’ve been very generous in that regard, because we think wrestling as an industry is important, not just being the promotion or “that” promotion. So whenever an opportunity arises, we are open to taking it. I think right now what you are seeing is, as more eyes are on it, you have people saying “let’s get in it.” And getting in it today is a lot different than the past. One thing Sinclair has always afforded us, and one reason we got into professional wrestling, is that I had distribution. I have a lot of distribution via our over-the-air, free coverage, be it at our emerging network like on Stadium or Charge. Hopefully soon, nothing is finalized yet. Plus we have our own streaming platform. I don’t have to go out and find it. That will always be an advantage.

Right now it’s a good time for a lot of these promotions to start to come out on their own. New Japan is a wonderful partner. I don’t want you to think MSG was all Ring of Honor. It was a combination at the right time with a good card, and it was a good partnership. We would have done the same for them at WrestleKingdom and their Japan shows. But they want a stake in America as well and not be associated with it, which is why you’re seeing New Japan touring independently of other promotions. I don’t blame them. It’s a business and that’s their business.”

Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

Revolution Pro Wrestling announced that Barbaro Cavernario is the next official entrant for their British J-Cup tournament on November 24th in London, England.

The National Wrestling Alliance announced that they will be holding a press conference on September 30th at the Hard Rock Cafe in Atlanta, Georgia to discuss details regarding their upcoming television series. It was also announced that Joe Galli and Jim Cornette will be the commentary team while Dave Marquez and Kyle Durden will be working as correspondents.

Westside Xtreme Wrestling announced that they have pulled WALTER from the card of their World Tag Team Festival event on September 29th in Oberhausen, Germany due to a scheduling conflict issue. WALTER stated on Twitter that the official reason was due to him asking for that day off to lighten his travel schedule.

Major league Wrestling announced the first match for the card of their Blood & Thunder event on November 9th in Orlando, Florida:
– Tom Lawlor vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.