More About Me

Since the, "About Me" section of this blog is limited to a specific amount of characters, I decided to write a post that discusses more about what I have done in the pro-wrestling industry, beginning with when I first started in it and leading up to now.

Technically, I started back in the 1990s, contributing to, "Pro Wrestling Illustrated" and then, "Pro Wrestling Torch". In 1997, I contributed to The Official Website of the NWO. That same year, I briefly published my own newsletter, "The Wrestling Express".

In 1998, I taught myself how to design websites, and served as a consultant for various independent promotions. That next year, I worked as a website designer/maintainer for Dylan Summers (Necro Butcher) who was running the Texas-based Power Pro Wrestling Federation, and later was involved with Texas Outlaw Promotions.

During the period of 2000-2002, I was involved in many different projects at once. I was working as a website designer/publicist for talent, contributing to WCW.com, writing columns for independent promotions and the website of former WCW star The Stro, and writing for a variety of pro-wrestling media sites (including WrestlingObserver.com and PWTorch.com). In 2003, I began running my own website, World Wrestling Optimum, which consisted of news, articles, and interviews.

In 2004, I started working for the Michigan-based Ultimate Championship Wrestling as a publicist/columnist. They were an affiliate of American Wrestling Association Superstars Of Wrestling, and I soon became the publicist/columnist of the main governing body of AWA as well. During my time working for UCW, I played a major role in bringing in new talent, due to over the years my having had come into contact with many talents being underused and going unnoticed in the industry.

In 2005, I started doing a column for 3PW. With DVDs sold nationwide, they had the potential to become much bigger than they already were at the time, and were very open to my ideas. I pushed for many changes behind-the-scenes. I had encouraged management to improve the production quality of their DVDs, which led to them dealing with a different production company. 3PW management had planned on waiting for its fan base to increase before getting TV for 3PW. I explained how getting TV for 3PW is what would increase its fan base, and I was then given the green light to find networks that were interested. Two networks were very interested, and I encouraged 3PW management to meet with them as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the owner of the company instead opted to shut 3PW down, due to losing interest. Working for 3PW put me in connection with the UK-based 1PW, who I worked as a columnist for.

After 3PW shut down, I began working as a publicist for independent promotions, including CHIKARA. I also worked as a columnist for CZW. Interestingly though, it was 2006 at this point yet I was still most recognized for the work that I had done for 3PW and AWA/UCW.

In 2007 I started working as a columnist for XCW, a promotion that was seen nationally on MAVTV, had a national DVD deal, and also had PPV events. Working for a promotion of national status was my biggest achievement at that point, and two years later I reached a bigger achievement- Big Japan Pro-Wrestling. Along with working for them as a columnist and an Administrator for their Facebook page, I helped bring Big Japan Pro-Wrestling together with Combat Zone Wrestling to form a working relationship after a previous working relationship between the two promotions had fallen apart. This new working relationship led to Big Japan Pro-Wrestling having its first event in the United States.

In October 2009 I assisted publicity & promotions company MGM Management with the HULKAMANIA- Let the Battle Begin tour by distributing their press release to pro-wrestling news sites that are popular with Australian fans, and conducting an interview with Solofa Fatu Jr. (better known as, "Rikishi"). Also, in 2012 I wrote a number of columns for Women Superstars United.

In May 2018 I did social media for Great North Wrestling.

In 2021 I did blogging and social media for Kyushu Pro Wrestling.

Recently, I have done blogging and social media for Yanagase Pro Wrestling. Since the time I began writing for them, Yanagase Pro Wrestling announced an event at a 600-seat venue. All previous Yanagase Pro Wrestling events took place at a 50-seat venue.

I have also recently written for the China-based Middle Kingdom Wrestling in a Publicist capacity. My work is an essential piece in the multilingual activation, with it being adapted to traditional Chinese for readers in China. I am the first native English writer who has written for a Chinese wrestling organization in history.

In 2019 I began writing for Michinoku Pro Wrestling, in charge of international wrestling. Since the time that I began writing for them, Michinoku Pro stopped choosing Shin-Kiba 1st Ring for its Tokyo events and began focusing on the much larger Korakuen Hall for its Tokyo appearances. The Korakuen Hall is known as a place where many historical moments in the Japanese pro-wrestling scene have occurred. It's to Japan what Madison Square Garden is to the pro-wrestling scene in the United States. Michinoku Pro had a sellout, standing-room-only event on December 13, 2019 at the Korakuen Hall. The event had an attendance of 1,890. That was the highest reported attendance at the Korakuen Hall to date for a pro-wrestling event since April 2015.

I have been listed by Content Reader website Feedspot as one of the Best Wrestling Journalists.

I am available for more writing work. I create, edit, and rewrite promotional content on websites and social media platforms for companies, as well as design, develop, and direct their web presence and brand identity. I can be contacted via info@harold-williams.com

This blog is now included in Google News, which has over 11 million visits every day, giving your product the opportunity to be promoted in front of millions.

Samples of my work: http://dld.bz/jeRzq

I graduated from university with a major in Business and a minor in Computer Applications, which makes me an asset not only as a writer but in a business and technological capacity as well.

Harold Williams’ Weekly Wrestling: [WWE] 3/15/23

Hello WWE fans, today we will look at the results of recent WWE shows, my idea for the future of the WWE NXT Women's Championship that involves Global Localization, Kane answering the, "Mt. Rushmore of WWE stars" question, my Mt. Rushmore of pro-wrestling, and who I think Bobby Lashley's WrestleMania opponent should be.

RESULTS
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
3/10/23
Drew McIntyre and Sheamus defeated Karrion Kross, LA Knight (w/ Scarlett), and Xavier Woods in a, "WWE Intercontinental Title #1 Contendership Fatal Five Way" match
The Judgment Day (Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio, and Finn Balor) (w/ Rhea Ripley) defeated Legado del Fantasma (Cruz Del Toro, Joaquin Wilde, and Santos Escobar) (w/ Rey Mysterio & Zelina Vega)
The Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar) (w/ Valhalla) defeated Braun Strowman & Ricochet
Charlotte Flair defeated Shotzi

WWE Monday Night RAW
3/13/23
The Judgment Day (Damian Priest & Dominik Mysterio) (w/ Rhea Ripley) defeated Dexter Lumis & Johnny Gargano (w/ Candice LaRae)
Cody Rhodes defeated LA Knight
Bronson Reed defeated Elias (w/ Rick Boogs)
Austin Theory defeated Angelo Dawkins
Seth Rollins defeated Baron Corbin
Bianca Belair defeated Chelsea Green (w/ Carmella)

WWE NXT
3/14/23
WWE NXT Tag Team Champions Gallus defeated Pretty Deadly
Zoey Stark defeated Sol Ruca
Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn defeated Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley, and Katana Chance & Kayden Carter
Dabba-Kato defeated Apollo Crews
Gigi Dolin defeated Kiana James

Also on this episode, a medical update was given on WWE NXT Women's Champion Roxanne Perez, who collapsed after successfully defending her championship against Meiko Satomura last week.

Dr. Warren Becker delivers a medical update on @roxanne_wwe.#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/FjT1IlMqVe

— WWE (@WWE) March 15, 2023

With Roxanne Perez currently on the sidelines, NXT head Shawn Michaels has stated that a new WWE NXT Women's Champion may be crowned at the upcoming NXT Stand and Deliver event.

ICYMI: @ShawnMichaels message regarding @roxanne_wwe and the NXT Women’s Championship.#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/YguAD8PLcf

— WWE (@WWE) March 15, 2023

This presents an opportunity for many women to become a part of the NXT Women’s Title scene. With her defeat of Sol Ruca, Zoey Stark has already qualified for this title match at NXT Stand and Deliver, as well as Gigi Dolin after defeating Kiana James. Based on this NXT graphic, there is room for two more participants.

I would like to see one of them be Alba Fyre and she definitely has earned it, but it appears that Fyre prefers to be a part of the tag team scene and working with Isla Dawn as of late. They will be in a match for WWE NXT Women's Tag Team Championship at NXT Stand and Deliver.

So I feel that the best alternative option would be for a participant to be Meiko Satomura, who should also win the NXT Women's Championship. Being that she is an international superstar, Satomura would be a beneficial representative of NXT's women's division as its champion. This would also be a perfect opportunity to increase the legitimacy of the NXT Women's Championship in the pro-wrestling industry, during a time that WWE/NXT is interested in expanding the NXT brand to Japan/Asia and other parts of the world.

It would be a boost to the image of the NXT Women's Championship for Meiko Satomura to return to Japan with the title, garnering the attention of the Japan-based pro-wrestling media, and pro-wrestling channel Samurai TV, which is broadcast here by SKY PerfecTV!, a direct broadcast satellite service with over 2 million subscribers.

Along with returning to Japan with the NXT Women's Championship, Meiko Satomura could also defend it in Japan. She is still connected to Sendai Girls, and Satomura could defend the championship at a Senda Girls event in a match that would be broadcast on Samurai TV. With the championship being defended internationally, NXT would have every right to call it the NXT Women's World Championship, making it a championship that could be defended at NXT affiliate events worldwide. Plus, having Satomura as a part of the championship's lineage would be a positive for WWE/NXT years after she eventually drops it.

As for the fourth participant in the title match at Stand And Deliver, I think it should be Blair Davenport. Already known from her work for AEW in the US, for Stardom in Japan, and for PROGRESS in the UK, Davenport hasn't been utilized in NXT as much as she can be.

MORE WWE
Kane was recently asked to name his Mt. Rushmore of WWE stars. Kane replied that it would be difficult to name the four best wrestlers, and instead named the four wrestlers who he felt defined specific eras of the pro-wrestling business: Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, and John Cena. Making the original question broader- who do you name for your Mt. Rushmore of pro-wrestling? I feel that the 1980s pro-wrestling boom was a very significant part of the industry’s history, to the extent that it set the foundation for the success that it has today. So I name four people who in some way represented the companies that were the Big 3 at the time (WWE, JCP, and the AWA):
1- Hulk Hogan
2- Ric Flair
3- Sgt. Slaughter
4- Vince McMahon

With Bray Wyatt currently sidelinded due to physical issues, Bobby Lashley is now without an opponent for WrestleMania. If AJ Styles' ankle has healed (which it most likely has, since it broke in late December and broken ankles usually take 6 to 8 weeks to heal), Styles vs. Lashley at WrestleMania would be a situation where, "plan b" is, "plan BETTER". It would be a bad move to not involve someone on Styles' level of popularity in WWE’s biggest premium event of the year. And a Styles vs. Lashley match is generally fresh, as they have only had one singles match previously, which took place last year.

Harold Williams’ Weekly Wrestling: [WWE] 3/1/23

Hello WWE fans, today we will look at the results of recent WWE shows, Finn Balor challenging Edge to a match at WrestleMania, Carmella vs. Bianca Belair, and Damage CTRL losing the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship.

RESULTS
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
2/24/23
Imperium (Giovanni Vinci, Gunther, and Ludwig Kaiser) defeated Braun Strowman, Madcap Moss, and Ricochet
Kofi Kingston (w/ Xavier Woods) defeated LA Knight
Shayna Baszler (w/ Ronda Rousey) defeated Natalya (w/ Tegan Nox)
Karrion Kross (w/ Scarlett) defeated Rey Mysterio

WWE Monday Night RAW
2/27/23
The Bloodline defeated The Street Profits
Cody Rhodes defeated Chad Gable
Asuka defeated Carmella
Candice LeRae defeated Piper Niven
Bobby Lashley defeated Elias
Johnny Gargano defeated Otis
Becky Lynch & Lita defeated WWE Women's Tag Team Champions IYO SKY & Dakota Kai to become the new WWE Women's Tag Team Champions

Also on this episode, Finn Balor challenged Edge to a match at WrestleMania. I assume this match is going to happen, and I look forward to it. Balor was left off the card of last year's WrestleMania, and that should never happen to someone with his level of talent. Overall, I'm very pleased with the current WWE administration, and the way that Balor is being utilized these days is a perfect example why.

BREAKING: @FinnBalor wants a match with @EdgeRatedR at #WrestleMania!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/gzm1nrI91P

— WWE (@WWE) February 28, 2023

After the match between Asuka and Carmella, there was an in-ring segment between Asuka and Bianca Belair, and Belair was sneak attacked by Carmella. We're on the road to WrestleMania, where Belair is going to defend the WWE RAW Women's Championship against Asuka, so Carmella involving herself in that segment makes me wonder if the championship match is going to become something like a, "Triple Threat" match between the three of them. I think most fans would prefer to see Asuka vs. Belair one-on-one, so hopefully that won't be the case. But there will have to be new feuds post-WrestleMania, so an option would be to have Carmella interfere in the Asuka-Belair match, with Carmella's interference contributing to Belair losing the championship. That would give a reason for a Belair-Carmella feud. They have had singles matches against each other in the past, but the majority of them were very short- only three of them were at least eight minutes long.

Becky Lynch is the top female name on the RAW roster, so it made sense for her and Lita to defeat IYO SKY & Dakota Kai for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship, but it creates a problem. The members of Damage CTRL are the main heels on the RAW roster, and without gold around the waists of any of the members of the faction, they are going to appear to be less of a threat. So unless there is a plan to disband Damage CTRL in the near future, one of them should win a title soon. SKY & Kai dropped the championship to Asuka & Alexa Bliss last year and regained it five days later, so hopefully something similar will happen in this situation.

WWE NXT
2/28/23
WWE NXT North American Champion Wes Lee defeated Nathan Frazer
Indus Sher defeated Briggs & Jensen
Meiko Satomura defeated Zoey Stark
Sol Ruca defeated Elektra Lopez
Tiffany Stratton defeated Katana Chance
Axiom defeated Hank Walker
Carmelo Hayes defeated Tyler Bate

Animation-Based Games

While talking with students who I teach English to in Asia, I have learned that many of them are interested in pro-wrestling, or at least, someone in their family is. This has contributed to the number of people in Asia who visit my blog to read writing I have done for Asia-based pro-wrestling companies (Middle Kingdom Wrestling, Yanagase Pro Wrestling, and Michinoku Pro Wrestling). But I have also discovered that many of my students are also interested in games and animated shows, so this post is about a website that those students and people like them may want to check out.

The website's name is Mortgage Calculator, as it is primarily a mortgage calculator website. However, it also hosts games, and amongst Mortgage Calculator's selection are games based on animated shows.

"The Amazing World of Gumball" is an animated show created for the US-based Cartoon Network and ran from 2011-2019, but is popular in Japan today. According to the global entertainment analytics website Parrot Analytics, the audience demand for, "The Amazing World Of Gumball" is 0.9 times the demand of the average TV series in Japan in the last 30 days as of this writing. Inspired by this show about a blue cat named Gumball Watterson, "The Amazing World Of Gumball Tidy Up" is a house cleaning game in which the player can help his adoptive goldfish brother Darwin clean up the Watterson family home. It's a challenging task, as the mischievous Gumball enjoys making a room messy again after Darwin cleans it up.

"Powerpuff Girls" is another animated show that was created for Cartoon Network, running from 1998-2005. "Powerpuff Girls" was about three superpowered kindergarten-aged girls, but from 2006-2007, Cartoon Network Japan produced "Powerpuff Girls Z", which was about three teenage girls with magical powers. So, Mortgage Calculator's, "The Powerpuff Girls Panic In Townsville" will be a bit unfamiliar to those who were introduced to Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup via "Powerpuff Girls Z", but in both series, they are heroes who protect their city, which is the goal of this game.

There are many other games on Mortgage Calculator that while they are not inspired by a TV show, are animation-based, and all of the games are free. So if you enjoy animation-based games, check out Mortgage Calculator.

Middle Kingdom Wrestling and the Hong Kong Pro Wrestling Federation Announce Historic Partnership

Middle Kingdom Wrestling (MKW) and the Hong Kong Pro Wrestling Federation (HKWF), the two largest wrestling organizations in China, have announced that they will be forming a partnership. In this long-term deal, MKW and the HKWF will promote cross-boarding between Mainland China and the Special Administrative Region.

"We share the same philosophy on the grassroots organizational style and are looking forward to talent exchanges and meaningful cooperation between both wrestling organizations," MKW Owner Adrian Gomez and HKWF President Bitman said in a joint statement. "Both companies saw some setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, but aim to rejuvenate pro-wrestling in China and Greater China."

In an individual statement, HKWF founder Ho Ho Lun reflected on how far the HKWF has come. “I am almost among the first generation of Chinese wrestlers and have wrestled in the WWE ring. But what we have done with HKWF is a miracle,” Lun said. “From running shows in small bars and a theater in Macao with only limited resources, to this partnership that will enable more people in China to enjoy live big pro-wrestling events.”

With both organizations previously growing the Chinese pro-wrestling scene as individual entities in their localized areas of China, the partnership between MKW and the HKWF will contribute to helping China become for the first time in history a major part of the pro-wrestling industry.

MIDDLE KINGDOM WRESTLING

Founded in 2015 by Adrian Gomez, Middle Kingdom Wrestling is based in Mainland China, where many pro-wrestling fans were introduced to live pro-wrestling for the first time ever via MKW. Its roster features homegrown Chinese wrestlers, but MKW events have also featured talents who have been seen in NXT and Impact Wrestling, as well as stars of the Japanese wrestling scene. In 2018, MKW hosted an event at Xinqiao Culture and Art Center with record-setting attendance.

HONG KONG PRO WRESTLING FEDERATION

Founded in 2009 by pro-wrestler Ho Ho Lun, the Hong Kong Pro Wrestling Federation is based in Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region of China. The HKWF was the second organization in China's history to run pro-wrestling events, and from 2012 - 2015 was the Hong Kong representative of the Japan-based ZERO1. Along with the HKWF hosting events featuring homegrown Hong Kong wrestlers of today, it is also creating the stars of the future via its training center.

[ORIGINALLY POSTED AT E2GSports.com]

[Yanagase Pro Wrestling] Result of the 2/24, "Ladius Friday Night Match"

One week after the men's division of Yanagase Pro Wrestling were in action, it was time for Ladius to have a, "Friday Night Match" at SPORTS BAR M's Cafe.

Mari Manji and Michio Kageyama faced each other at this past December's, "Yanagase Pro Wrestling Christmas Special" event, and on this night would be their rematch. However, although Kageyama has wrestled in many other promotions including NOAH, DDT, BJW, AJPW, and ZERO1, Ladius was uncharted territory for him, being that it's the ladies' division of YPW. So for this particular match, instead of wrestling as Michio Kageyama, he wrestled as Michiko Kageyama.

Michiko Kageyama began the match with an aggressive offense.

When Mari Manji was giving Michiko Kageyama some of their own medicine, Kageyama's wig came off, basically confirming their true identity.

As Mari Manji continued her offense, Kageyama became less concerned with trying to conceal his identity and focused on fighting back.

Mari Manji made a comeback with forearm shots, shoulder blocking Kageyama to the mat, an inverted facelock, and a corner dropkick, but he stopped Manji's momentum by reversing a bodyslam attempt.

Kageyama sat Mari Manji up on the mat and attempted a punt, but she moved out of the way and went for a schoolboy, which Kageyama countered into a cross armbar.

After escaping from Kageyama's cross armbar, Mari Manji and Kageyama began exchanging forearm blows, until Manji switched up her offense to backhand chops and then Russian legsweeped Kageyama to the mat, following up with a senton.

Mari Manji went for the cover but only got a two count. She then began stomping on Kageyama's back in an attempt to make him stay down, but he still struggled back to his feet. Manji then ran to the ropes in preparation for another attack, but Kaeyama -who had run behind her- had a back elbow ready for Manji as she rebounded off the ropes.

Kageyama then ran to the ropes in preparation for another attack of his own, but Mari Manji used the same back elbow tactic that Kageyama had used on her moments earlier.

Mari Manji then ran to the ropes on the opposite side of the ring, but after she rebounded she ran into a clothesline from Kageyama that put her down. Kageyama picked Manji up and put her in position for a scoop brainbuster, which he has often used as a finisher, but Manji slipped out of Kageyama's grasp and went for a schoolboy, gaining her a three count.

This match is available to watch in full via TwitCasting until 3/10, 23:59 Japan Time! You can use a time zone converter to find out what time that is in your area.