Here’s what matters today in wrestling 👇
Image Credit: WWE
There had been all sorts of speculation surrounding Bayley’s status with WWE over the past few months. Her contract was on the verge of expiring; there were rumors out there that she might head elsewhere, there was a brief period where she wasn’t even mentioned on TV after getting taken out by Lyra Valkyria at Saturday Night’s Main Event. At the end of the day, everything worked out perfectly for a big Bayley return that got a great reaction from the audience.
Bayley staying with WWE always seemed the most likely scenario, the only question was if she’d be taking one of those 50% pay cuts that have been all the rage lately. Technically we still don’t know if she got one or not, but one hopes that interest from other companies and maybe some pressure from high-placed friends within WWE helped Bayley get a good deal. Bayley’s been considered one of the leaders within the locker room for quite some time, and most people believe she’d be a good choice for a training or producing job once her in-ring career is over. At least for now, it seems that the remainder of Bayley’s in-ring career will be with the place she’s been for most of it.
WRESTLING HEADLINES 👊
•Enjoy Wrestling Issues Statement on Andy "The Butcher" Williams' Death
Image Credit: AEW
After a match on Saturday night, Williams collapsed at ringside. The show was ended and the building was cleared while Williams received medical attention and an ambulance was called to the building. Butcher, along with The Blade, had done a seminar the day before passing along his knowledge to younger wrestlers.
Williams was well known outside the wrestling world for his endeavors in music. He was rhythm guitarist for Every Time I Die, a popular metalcore band. Williams had started training to be a wrestler before getting into music, a knee injury suffered while training led him to learning the guitar. Williams eventually got the wrestling bug again and ended up having his first match at the age of 37. While he got started later than most wrestlers, he still managed to get on the radar of AEW and had a run of nearly seven years there as part of a tag team with his longtime friend The Blade. Butcher had a unique look when he arrived in AEW, more tattooed giants like Brody King would join the company later but at the time Butcher arrived he was unique to the environment. While he may have looked like a monster, everybody that knew him would say he was anything but that.
Just an incredibly sad story. Reading all the tributes online just goes to show how good of a person Williams was. My thoughts are with Andy Williams’ family & friends during this tragic time.
Image Credit: Memphis Wrestling
This is easily one of the most cursed segues I’ve ever made, but I saw at least one story online about the Butcher taking some time to discuss Memphis wrestling with a fan. Like most wrestlers his age, Andy Williams saw his fair share of tapes from various 1980s territories, including Memphis. Whether it was the CWA, USWA or just plain ol’ Memphis, it was one of the last territories standing. We all remember Jerry “The King” Lawler as its perennial top star, but true Memphis fans also remember his greatest rivals, and the man on top of that list was “Superstar” Bill Dundee.
Dundee was a unique character. Born in Scotland, he moved to Australia at a young age and was part of the circus as a trapeze artist before getting into the pro wrestling side of the carnival business. He traveled to Memphis in 1974 along with his tag team partner George Barnes, and he liked it so much that he stayed for most of the rest of his life. Dundee became a constant on Memphis TV, either feuding or teaming with Lawler for parts of three decades. Lawler & Dundee didn’t get along most of the time, but they were smart enough to know that they made more money when they worked with each other. At 5’7, Dundee was one of the smaller wrestlers to be pushed at the top of a territory, but he carried himself like a man that was a foot taller and could whip anybody in the world. His size & appearance were the opposite of what the WWF was presenting in the 1980s, but it ended up working in his favor. Dundee also had one of the great minds for booking during his era, his time as booker of Bill Watts’ territory was the most successful run that Mid-South Wrestling ever had.
He didn’t work the WWF and only had a couple of brief runs appearing on TBS. He teamed with Buddy Landel & Jim Garvin and did some managing during 1986 for Jim Crockett Promotions, and in 1993 he served as Lord Steven Regal’s manager Sir William. Regal credits Dundee for helping him make the transition to American style wrestling. Dundee remained popular in Memphis after the wrestling promotion closed, being involved in radio & television talk shows while promoting wrestling and other business endeavors. He passed away over the weekend at 82, having suffered from dementia during his later years. Dundee actually appeared on the current Memphis Wrestling TV show the day before his death in a segment taped weeks before that honored him & his career. Our thoughts are with Dundee's family & friends, and we're glad that at least he got the chance to say goodbye.
MORE MUST-READ LINKS FROM 411MANIA
→Hall's WWE Raw Review 9.7.26
→Memphis Wrestling (2.4.1984) Review
→411's WWE LFG Season Three Report: Season Finale
Thanks for reading,
– Steve Cook