Various: Sting on Great Muta’s Retirement, PROGRESS on End of WWE Partnership, Billy Graham Update

Sting Comments on Great Muta’s Upcoming Retirement

Pro Wrestling NOAH held a recent interview with Sting. One of the topics discussed included Sting’s thoughts on Great Muta’s upcoming retirement and his special big star status in the United States.

This interview was held prior to New Japan Pro Wrestling’s co-promoted Wrestle Kingdom 17 event with NOAH earlier today, which featured Keiji Muto, who portrays the Great Muta character, revealing that he will be competing in one more retirement match against Tetsuya Naito next month.

“I have a high opinion of Muta and great respect for him. We both go back more than three decades together, and in my opinion, he is the only Japanese wrestler that ever transcended wrestling here in America as far as Japanese wrestlers coming here, many great ones came, don’t get me wrong, but Muta, nobody touches what Muta did. To this day, he is revered and respected by wrestlers and fans alike. We mirrored each other throughout our whole career, from beginning all the way through present day. He’s the last one of his generation standing in Japan, I’m the last one of my generation in America.

It’s bittersweet. It’s gotta come. It’s right around the corner for me too, so it’s making me think about my own career. What a stellar run that Muta had. Internationally, he is known all over the world and one of the greatest of all time, there is no question about that. I respect him and wish him all the best. I know he will go out with a bang, it’s going to be great, everything Muta did was great. I know he’s not going to stop now.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

---

PROGRESS Co-Owner Comments on End of Partnership with WWE

As noted before, PROGRESS Wrestling and Insane Championship Wrestling recently confirmed that their working partnerships with WWE have expired and will be having their content removed from NBC’s Peacock and the WWE Network.

PWMania.com held a recent interview with PROGRESS co-owner Martyn Best. One of the topics discussed included Best’s thoughts on the end of PROGRESS’ partnership with WWE and the process that led to that decision.

“In very pure terms, our contract with WWE had been completed, so in that sense, nothing caused a change – just a straightforward completion of that contract.

Of course, I’m not so naive not to be aware that there are wider matters at play, and I’d say there are two perspectives.

Huge respect for WWE, and they are clearly facing some change. While I’m curious and watch with interest, I’m not going to be so rash as to speculate how the next few months will play out. For us, a contract ended, but not the relationship.

I can guess that not having indie content on the network may make any future discussions of whatever digital media review has been referred to a little simpler.

From the perspective of Lee (McAteer) and I, we now have a fresh set of options ahead of us.

That WWE contract was agreed over six years ago by people no longer associated with the company, and the digital media landscape has changed dramatically, as has the wrestling scene, so we have some exciting opportunities ahead of us.”

---

“Superstar” Billy Graham Health Status Update

As noted before, WWE Hall of Famer Superstar Billy Graham is currently dealing with a bone infection that has spread to his bone ears and portion of his skull. Graham was recently moved out of intensive care following his health improving after a heart stoppage incident.

Graham’s wife Valerie recently provided another health update on Facebook stating that Graham’s kidneys have started to work again but he is still fighting an infection and his blood pressure and heart rate have yet to stabilize to normal levels.

Hi friends.

Valerie has supplied another update on Billy:

“We need to keep praying for the infection and for his heart rate and blood pressure to stabilize. But he’s in great spirits and is ready to get well and serve God Pray for his lungs too please “

She also told me that Billy has felt well enough to ask the fans a question. Here is what he said, via Valerie:

“He wanted you to ask the fans which wrestler had the all time best wrestling name…his is Gorilla Monsoon…”

Thanks everyone, and God Bless

Mike