Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport – The Ultimate Preview
What is Bloodsport?
GCW Bloodsport is a professional wrestling event organised and held by Game Changer Wrestling. Each match is a worked shoot presented in a mixed martial arts style and those competing have some knowledge of other combat sports, MMA, Professional Wrestling or any mixture of the three. Each match can only end in either a knockout or submission, which is different from a traditional wrestling match. Another aspect of Bloodsport is that the ring has no ropes or turnbuckles; only the ring canvas is used for this event.
This is the fourth Bloodsport in the series and the third run by Josh Barnett.
The first Bloodspot entitled Matt Riddle’s Bloodspot took place on 5th April 2018 during Wrestlemania weekend in Kenner, Louisiana. The main event was between Minoru Suzuki and Matt Riddle.
The second in the series entitled Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport took place on 4th April 2019 during Wrestlemania weekend in Jersey City, New Jersey. The main event was between Minoru Suzuki and Josh Barnett and the first and only meeting between the two legends to date.
Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 2 took place on 14th September 2019 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The main event was originally billed as Josh Barnett vs Jon Moxley but Barnett’s opponent was changed to Chris Dickinson due to Jon Moxley sustaining an elbow injury during a tour of New Japan during their yearly G1 Climax tournament.
On January 13th 2020 Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 3 was announced, scheduled to take place on 2nd April 2020 during Wrestlemaina weekend in Tampa, Florida, where Josh Barnett and Jon Moxley would finally meet in a GCW ring. This event was postponed, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to 11th October 2020 now taking place in Marion County, Indiana. The main event will see Jon Moxley face off against Chris Dickinson.
Who is Josh Barnett?
For those who don’t know, Josh Barnett is currently signed to Bellator competing in their Heavyweight division. He has competed in MMA and Professional Wrestling while also lending his voice as a colour commentator for New Japan Pro Wrestling. Barnett has previously competed for the UFC and held their Heavyweight Championship becoming the youngest champion, at the age of 24, to every hold the belt. He has also competed in United Full Contact Federation, PRIDE, Strikeforce and Pancrase where he went on to win the Openweight Grand Prix Championship being one of four competitors, alongside Bas Rutten, Frank Shamrock and Ken Shamrock, to win a title in both UCF and Pancrase.
His current record in mixed martial arts is 35-8.
Barnett made his debut in professional wrestling at the January 4th Tokyo Dome Show in 2003 for New Japan Pro Wrestling in a match against Yuji Nagata. As well as working for New Japan he has also preformed for TNA, Inoki Genome Federation, and GCW.
Who’s at this year’s Bloodsport.
Killer Kelly
Killer Kelly is a Portuguese professional wrestler who currently performs on the independent circuit. She was trained at the wXw Academy and the Bruno “Bammer” Brito Wrestling Portugal School and made her wrestling debut in 2016.
Kelly has been a one-time wXw Women’s Champion, becoming its inaugural champion in 2017 defeating Melanie Gray; she would lose the title a month later to Toni Storm. She preformed for the WWE from 2018 till her departure in January of 2020. Her first match was during the 2018 United Kingdome Championship tournament in a three-way number one contender’s match for the NXT Women’s Championship, that same year she competed against Meiko Satomura in the Mae Young Classic and would go on to appear on NXT UK.
She has also wrestled for Pro-Wrestling: EVE, RevPro, Revolution Championship Wrestling, and Progress Wrestling.
Killer Kelly is set to face Allysin Kay at this year’s Bloodsport.
Allysin Kay
Allysin Kay, also known as Sienna in IMPACT, is a professional wrestler who currently performs for the NWA and on the independent circuit. She was trained by Bill Martel and made her wrestling debut in 2008. Kay was also ranked No.8 in the PWI Female 50 in 2017.
She is a two-time TNA/Knockouts Champion, a one-time NWA World Women’s Champion, and a one-time GFW Women’s Champion. Kay faced Mercedes Martinez in a career vs title match in December of 2019 in a losing effort. Allysin also competed in the WWE during the second annual Mae Young Classic tournament.
She has also appeared for GFW, Shine, Shimmer, Ring of Honor, AAA, WSU (Women Superstars Uncensored), AIW (Absolute Intense Wrestling, and GCW.
Kay previously competed at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 2 winning a match via Knockout against Nicole Savoy. She is set to face Killer Kelly at this year’s Bloodsport.
Lindsay Snow
Lindsay Snow is an American professional wrestler who made her in ring debut in May of 2016 and was trained by Jay Lethal. She has a background in Brazillian Jiu-jitsu. She has appered for American Combat Wrestling (ACW), Full Throttle Pro Wrestling, Fighting Evolution Wrestling, Full Impact Pro, and SHINE.
Lindsay Snow lost her match at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 2 to Sumie Sakai and will face Leyla Hirsch at this weekend’s Bloodsport.
‘Legit’ Leyla Hirsch
Leyla Hirsch is an American professional wrestler who made her in ring debut in 2017 and has competed for CZW and STARDOM, she was trained at the CZW Academy. She previously was an amateur wrestler in high school competing in the 59kg and 55kg weight classes between December 2013 and January 2017.
Leyla Hirsch will make his first appearance at a Bloodsport event this weekend against Lindsay Snow.
Erik Hammer
Erik Hammer is a Catch Wrestler and No Gi champion. He made his wrestling debut in 2008 and has a background in mixed martial arts.
Defected J.R. Kratos at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 2 and will face Kal Jack at this weekend’s Bloodsport.
Grizzly Kal Jack
Kal Jack is an American professional wrestler who made his in ring debut in 2013 and was trained by Jerry Brisco. He was a part of the WWE developmental system between 2013 – 2015. He has a background in American football and was a former NCAA All-American heavyweight wrestler. He has worked for PCW, GRPW, Supreme Pro Wrestling, APW.
Grizzly Kal Jack will make his first appearance at a Bloodsport event this weekend against Erik Hammer.
Calvin Tankman
Calvin Tankman is a professional wrestler who is currently signed with MLW (Major League Wrestling) and has a background in professional football and MMA, he made his in ring debut in October 2016.
Calvin Tankman will make his first appearance at a Bloodsport event this weekend against Alexander James.
Alexander James
Alexander James is an American professional wrestler who works on the American independent circuit and was trained by the EWA Pain Factory, Rich Swan, and DJ Hyde and made his wrestling debut in March 2010.
He has worked for CZW, MCW (Maryland Championship Wrestling) and GBW (Ground Breaking Wrestling.
Alexander James will make his first appearance at a Bloodsport event this weekend against Calvin Tankman.
Simon Grimm
Professional Wrestler, known in WWE as Simon Gotch and is currently singed to MLW (Major League Wrestling), made his wrestling debut in 2002 and was trained by Donovan Morgan, Michael Modest, Ric Thompson, Daniel Bryan and Harley Race.
In WWE he is a one-time NXT Tag Team Champion with Again English as The Vaudevillians. He was released from his contract in April of 2017.
He has also appeared for APW, PWG, Ring of Honor (ROH), Chikara and Full Impact Pro.
Grimm has appeared at all of Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport events with a two match losing streak against J.R. Kratos and Anthony Carelli, will he be able to win this weekend against Matt Makowski.
Matt Makowski
Matt Makowski is an American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler who was trained at the Wrestle Factory, he made his MMA debut in July 2007 and his wrestling debut in 2019.
In MMA he has worked for Bellator, Matrix Fights, and Ring of Combat, in professional wrestling he has performed in such promotions as Beyond Wrestling and Chikara.
Matt Makowski has appeared at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 2 defeating Rory Gulak via knockout and will face Simon Grimm this weekend at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 3.
Davey Boy Smith Jr.
Davey Boy Smith Jr. is a Canadian professional wrestler and son of the late great “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith, making him apart of the legendary Hart family on his mother’s side; he currently performs for Major League Wrestling (MLW) and was trained by, along with his father, Bruce Hart, Chris Benoit and Tokyo Joe and made his in ring debut in 1995.
He is known for his tenure in New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah. Smith is a three-time IWGP Tag Team Champion, a two-time GHC Tag Team Champion, a two-time NWA World Tag Team Champion, and a one-time MLW World Tag Team Champion.
During his time in WWE he would perform under the ring name of David Hart Smith and hold the Unified Tag Team Championships with Tyson Kidd, he was released from his contract in August of 2011. He has also appeared for WOS (World of Sport), IGF (Inoki Genome Federation), TNA, PWG and is set to debut in AJPW in the coming year.
Smith has appeared at all of Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport events with a two match winning streak against Killer Kross and Tom Lawlor, will he be able to go 3-0 when he takes on Josh Alexander.
Josh Alexander
Josh Alexander is a Canadian professional wrestler who is signed to IMPACT wrestling he made his in ring debut in 2005 and was trained by Johnny Devine.
Alexander has just come off a 462 day title reign, the longest for a single reign in IMPACT history, with his tag-team partner and long term friend Ethan Page, the two of them formed The North and defeated LAX (Santana and Ortiz) for their first run as IMPACT World Tag Team Champions. They would go on to lose those belts to The Motor City Machine Guns.
Alexander met Page in Alpha-1 in 2010 and later formed the tag team Monster Mafia working for Ring of Honor and AAW Wrestling. He is a one-time PWG World Tag Team Champion and a one-time AAW Heavyweight Champion. He has also wrestled for Absolute Intense Wrestling, Progress Wrestling, and Beyond Wrestling.
Josh Alexander would have a second neck surgery in July 2015, his first one taking place in 2013, retiring from the business. He would make a return in 2019, signing a three year deal with IMPACT Wrestling.
Josh Alexander will make his first appearance at a Bloodsport event this weekend against Davey Boy Smith Jr.
Homicide
Homicide is a professional wrestler who currently performs on the independent circuit and the NWA; he made his debut in 1993 and was trained by Manny Fernandez.
He worked for Ring of Honor from 2002 – 2007 and 2010 – 2013 and worked for TNA from 2005 – 2010 as a part of the original LAX, he would make a brief return as part of the stable to ROH in 2008. In 2009 he would turn heel and join the World Elite before leaving TNA for the independent circuit in 2010. He would go on to wrestle Sami Callihan in CZW, Jon Moxley and Johnny Gargano in Evolve and Eddie Kingston in Chikara. He also faced Jon Moxley for the CZW World Heavyweight Championship. He would make his debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2011 and would work for Dragon Gate USA between 2010-2011. Homicide would make two more returns to TNA/IMPACT in 2013-2015 and 2017-2018. He made his debut for NWA in 2019.
Homicide has held Tag-Team gold in PWG, JAPW, ICW, DCW and IWA. He has held the ICW Heavyweight Championship and the Junior Heavyweight Championship in both the IWA and BJPW. He has also appeared in JAPW (Jersey All Pro Wrestling) holding their Heavyweight Championship seven times, their Tag-Team Championship seven times and was inducted into the JAPW Hall of Fame in 2016.
Homicide is set to face ‘Filthy’ Tom Lawlor at this year’s Bloodsport.
‘Filthy’ Tom Lawlor
Tom Lawlor is a professional mixed martial artist, professional wrestler, and the host of his own podcast who currently performs for Professional Fighters League (MMA) and on the independent circuit (Professional Wrestling).
He has appeared for MLW where he is a one-time MLW World Heavyweight Champion and has also competed in the UFC in the Light Heavyweight division. Lawlor appeared in the eighth season of The Ultimate Fighter. His record in MMA is 10-7.
Before starting his career in MMA, Lawlor preformed on the independent circuit as a professional wrestler and even had a tryout for the WWE. In 2014 he debuted for Ring of Honor and would later be on a co-promoted show between ROH and New Japan Pro Wrestling. He would make his New Japan debut on 12th July 2020 at Lion’s Break Collision.
Tom Lawlor has appeared at Matt Riddle’s Bloodsport and Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 2 in matches against Walter and Davey Boy Smith Jr. He is set to face Homicide at this year’s event.
Chris Dickinson
Chris Dickinson is an American professional wrestler; he started off backyard wrestling in 2001 and was later trained at Jersey All Pro Wrestling. Dickinson also has a background in taekwondo and karate which makes him a formidable foe and quick striker.
He has worked for not just GCW but Evolve Wrestling, Jersey All Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Zero 1, CZW, ROH, AAA and Chikara. He is also a one-time AIW (Absolute Intense Wrestling) Intense Champion, a one-time JAPW Tag Team Champion with Sami Callihan and a two-time Evolve Tag Team Champion with Jaka.
Chris Dickinson has appeared at Matt Riddle’s Bloodsport and both Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport to date in matches against Dan Severn, in a losing effort, Andy Williams and Josh Barnett. He is set to face Jon Moxley at this year’s event.
Jon Moxley
Jon Moxley is an American professional wrestler who is currently signed to AEW (All Elite Wrestling) and New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He is the current AEW World Champion and IWGP United States Champion in his second reign. He was previously known as Dean Ambrose in WWE where he was signed between 2011 – 2019. He made his in ring debut in 2004 and was trained by Cody Hawk and Les Thatcher.
In WWE Moxley made his main roster debut with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins in The Shield, while there he would win Money In The Bank in 2016. He would also go on to hold the WWE Championship, United States Championship, and Intercontinental Championship three times and the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship twice, this makes him the 27th Triple Crown Champion and 16th Grand Slam Champion in the company. He left the company in early 2019 after his contract expired.
Moxley has also appeared in HWA (Heartland Wrestling Association), CZW, wXw, IPW (Insanity Pro Wrestling), and Dragon Gate USA. He has held the wXw World Tag Team Championship with Sami Callihan. He is also a two-time CZW World Heavyweight Champion, a three-time HWA Heavyweight Champion, and a two-time IPW World Heavyweight Champion.
He was also the Sports Illustrated Wrestler of the Year in 2019 and was ranked no.1 in the PWI 500 in 2020.
This will be Jon Moxley’s first appearance at a Bloodport event where he will face Chris Dickinson.
Find Josh Barnett’s Bloodspot 3 on FiteTV at 1am BST on 12th October 2020, 8pm ET/5pm PT on 11th October 2020.
Amber McCrudden [Baminreallife]
Bam is a self discribed spooky bitch who loves punk music, deathmatches & Edgar Allen Poe. She is a lover of books, words & old movies. She has been described by few as an Inebriate Facilitation Specialist but loyal & fiercely independent by most.
3 Comments
Pingback:
Pingback:
Pingback: