Around the Ring: Deaths hit hard

Aug 6

Aug 6 Around the Ring: Deaths hit hard

By Mike Pankow

August 6, 2018

The pro wrestling world lost three of its own just over a week ago when Nikolai Volkoff, Brian Christopher and Brickhouse Brown passed away.

Christopher, son of WWE Hall of Famer and Memphis wrestling legend Jerry “The King” Lawler, died after a suicide attempt in a Tennessee jail cell after being arrested for DUI in early July. Christopher, 46, was perhaps best known as Grandmaster Sexay as part of the popular tag team Too Cool with Scotty 2 Hotty.

One of Christopher’s last stops in the Chicago area was an appearance for now-defunct Pro Wrestling Blitz, ran by Tony Scarpone and Frank Rodriguez, at the promotion’s WrestleFest 5 in Joliet, Ill.

In front of an estimated crowd of 3,000, Christopher was a surprise tag team partner for Scotty 2 Hotty, who was advertised, in a match against Nick Cutler and Brian Nelson on Aug. 9, 2014.

Amell returns to ring: Actor Stephen Amell, star of “Arrow,” is making his return to the wrestling ring as part of All In at Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill., on Sept. 1.

All In is being promoted by Cody Rhodes and the Young Bucks. Amell has ties to Cody, whom he faced as part of tag team match at WWE SummerSlam 2015. Amell and former WWE cruiserweight champion Neville faced Cody, who was then playing the Stardust character, and King Barrett.

The All In Twitter account Monday announced Amell will face veteran Christopher Daniels.

Amell was previously announced as being a part of Starrcast, a four-day convention held in conjunction with All In.

With over 100 current and former talents, plus podcasters and personalities, already booked for Starrcast, All In weekend is starting to take on the feel of WrestleMania weekend.

Chicago hasn’t hosted a WWE “Big Four” event since WrestleMania 22 in 2006, giving All In, which sold out 10,000 tickets in a half-hour, a chance to make a serious statement in front of some of wrestling’s most hardcore fans.

The show’s main event features Cody taking on NWA champion Nick Aldis in a title match.

Happy family: Congratulations to former WWE superstar Chris Nowinski, the co-founder of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, and his wife, Nicole, on the birth of their baby daughter, Kensington, early Sunday morning.