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  • On this date in pro wrestling history (10/10): Steamboat wins Mid Atlantic Title, Hardy wins vacant TNA Title

    1947
    St. Joseph, Missouri:
    – MWA Champion Orville Brown beat Ras (Seelie) Samara 2 falls to 1 to retain the title
    – Ronnie Etchison beat Antone Leone 2 falls to 0  

    1958
    Atlanta, Georgia:
    –  Freddie Blassie and Bob Shipp defeated Ray Gunkel and Nick Roberts to win the International Tag Team Titles 

    1964
    St. Paul, Minnesota:
    – AWA Champion Verne Gagne drew Reggie Parks when the time limit expired in the 3rd fall
    – Larry Hennig & Harley Race beat Jack Lanza & Wilbur Snyder

    1966
    Vancouver, British Columbia:
    – Gene Kiniski & Domenic Denucci beat Canadian Tag Team Champions Dutch Savage & Don Jardine on a 3rd fall dq (Special Referee:  
      Archie Moore)
    – AWA Champion Mad Dog Vachon drew Paul Jones
    – John Tolos beat Roy McClarty

    1969 
    Atlanta, Georgia:
    – Ray Gunkel and Buddy Fuller defeated The Assassians to win the Georgia Tag Team Title 

    1972
    Tampa, Florida:
    – NWA World champion Dory Funk Jr. defeated Tim Woods in 2 out of 3 falls match
    – Jack Brisco defeated Buddy Colt by reverse decision
    – Sputnick Monroe and Norvell Austin defeated Robert Fuller & Jimmy Golden to win the Florida Tag Team championship

    1973
    Honolulu, Hawaii:
    – Ed Francis beat Billy Robinson dq
    – Neff Maiava & Sam Steamboat beat AWA Tag Team Champions Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens dq
    – Bill Francis beat Betto Castro
    – Tosh Togo drew Rick Drasin
    – Ripper Collins beat Al Madril

    1974
    Kansas City, Kansas:
    – Bob Geigel & Pat O’Connor defeated Killer Karl Krupp & Lord Alfred Hayes
    – Jerry Oates defeated Bob Brown
    – The Interns (w/ Dr. Ken Ramey) defeated Mike George & Jim Brunzell in three falls

    1977
    Memphis, Tennessee:
    – Dennis Condrey & Phil Hickerson NC Scott Casey & Robert Gibson
    – Southern Tag Champs The Samoans Tio & Tapu beat Norvell Austin & Bill Dundee
    – Jerry Lawler beat Jimmy Valiant to win the Southern Title.

    1978 
    Macon, Georgia:
    – King Kong Mosca defeated Mr. Wrestling II to win the Macon Heavyweight Title 

    1979
    Omaha, Nebraska:
    – Coal Miner’s Glove Match: Billy Robinson beat Super Destroyer Mark II
    – Mad Dog Vachon beat Lord Alfred Hayes 
    – Jesse Ventura & Bobby Duncum beat Paul Ellering & Steve Olsonoski 
    – Adrian Adonis beat Ron Ritchie 

    1980 
    Atlanta, Georgia:
    – Georgia Jr. Heavyweight Champion Stanley Lane defeated Steve O
    – Lars Anderson fought Terry Funk to a draw
    – Stan Hansen defeated Killer Khan
    – Mr. Saito defeated Kevin Sullivan
    – Georgia Heavyweight Champion Dennis Condrey defeated Austin Idol via disqualification
    – Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts (with Michael Hayes) defeated Georgia Tag Team Champions Mr. Wrestling I & II and the Assassins in a 
      round robin tournament to win the titles
    – Ole Anderson defeated Uvalde Slim in a Texas Bullrope match
    – NWA World Champion Harley Race defeated Dick Slater

    1981
    Greensboro, North Carolina:
    – Sgt. Slaughter beat Sweet Ebony Diamond (Rocky Johnson)
    – Leroy Brown beat Ole Anderson
    – Ricky Steamboat beat Ivan Koloff to win the Mid Atlantic championship
    – U.S. Champion Wahoo McDaniel beat Roddy Piper

    1983
    Birmingham, Alabama:
    – Bob & Brad & Scott Armstrong defeated Wayne Ferris (Honkytonky Man) & Ron Starr & Ali Bey in a Texas Tornado match
    – Robert Fuller beat Mr. Olympia in a blindfold match

    1985
    Kansas City, Kansas:
    – Rufus R. Jones defeated Akio Sato by disqualification
    – Non Title Match: Bulldog Bob Brown defeated Central States champ Marty Jannetty
    – Harley Race won a battle royal

    1993
    Johnson City, Tennessee:
    – The Bullet defeated Killer Kyle
    – SMW Tag Team Champions Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson fought Scott & Steve Armstrong to a no contest
    – SMW Heavyweight Champion Brian Lee defeated Tracy Smothers 
    – Tom Prichard & Jimmy Del Ray at w/ Jim Cornette) defeated Rick & Scott Steiner via disqualification

    2010
    Daytona Beach, Florida:
    – Motor City Machine Guns defeated Generation Me to retain the TNA Tag Team Titles
    – Jay Lethal retained the TNA X Division Title over Douglas Williams
    – Jeff Hardy defeated Kurt Angle and Mr Anderson to win the vacant TNA Title

  • NJPW on AXS report 10-9: Kenny Omega vs. Ryusuke Taguchi for IWGP Jr. title

    Tonight’s show is from January 4, 2015, held in the Tokyo Dome. This is the first in a five part series looking at WrestleKingdom 9.

    The first match that aired (in full!) was the opening Junior tag team championship match, with reDragon defending their titles against the Forever Hooligans, Timesplitters, and the Young Bucks. This was a crazy match full of high spots and clever counters. There was one point in the match where everyone was doing big dives to the floor, with Kushida capping it off by doing a senton from the top rope to the floor, wiping out everyone on the outside. It’s one of those matches where there are a billion moves going on at once, but it doesn’t feel excessive. Very good match with reDragon getting the win, pining Kozlov (who’s on his way out shortly after this match) with the Chasing the Dragon, a brainbuster/kick combo.

    O’Reilley and Fish are interviewed backstage. They don’t say much other than they intend to take over New Japan, they’re ichiban, etc.

    Kenny Omega is interviewed. When asked why the joined the Bullet Club, he said it was because he wanted to be in New Japan. He’d ask them for years to be in, but they would only let him be in the Super Junior tournament. So the Bullet Club came to him and said they’d get him on whatever show he wants and would even get him a title shot, so he joined up with them, calling them family. When asked about champion Ryusuke Taguchi, he mocks the hip attacks a bit, but also says that they hurt so he knows what they’re doing. At one time they were a tag team unit, but that’s over as now they both want to become a legend in the Junior heavyweight division.

    The match aired. I liked this match. It was good, but not super great or anything. It was a very much back and forth match with the two working slow at first, then eventually trading finishers and submissions and the like. It reminded me very much like a WWE big time feel match. Taguchi hit the dodon and the ankle lock but Omega remained resilient. He cut off Taguchi and hit the One Winged Angel for the win. It started slow, but turned into a very good match towards the end with some good near falls.

    Kenny Omega was interviewed backstage. He says that now he’s proven himself to be the best in the world. He’d better than Taguchi, better than Kushida, and even better than his former tag team partner, Kota Ibushi. He mentions that at one time Prince Devitt was considered one of the best junior heavyweights of all time and was also the former leader of the Bullet Club. But now he’s a legend, and he’s at the top.

    Taguchi is also interviewed, saying that he wants another shot. He says it’s not like an eye for an eye, but if he befools him , he’ll befool back. When asked if he will take this match seriously or fool around, he says he’ll seriously fool around, but he is frustrated right now.

    Omega reflects, saying he know Taguchi will come back stronger, but he will clean him up just like he’s done two other times in the past. He does respect him trying so hard, though, and encourages him to keep trying. He says when he won the title, for a moment he felt like he had accomplished his dream, but now he has work to do as he has so many crappy wrestlers to sweep away.
    Good show. Both matches were good, with the Junior tag having some really creative spots. Check them both out.

  • Myzteziz reportedly at Arena Mexico tonight

    In a very interesting political move, Luis Urive, the most famous Mistico, currently Myzteziz, is said to be at Arena Mexico right now.

    The belief is that he is there to announce he would be wrestling for the Lucha Libre Elite promotion that has a show scheduled on 10/25 at Arena Mexico.

    Myzteziz is one of the top stars of the rival AAA promotion, and is currently feuding with both heels Los Perros Del Mal, and even more, is the big rival of Rey Mysterio Jr., having turned on Mysterio Jr. in their match at TripleMania, a feud that has continued at television tapings, last week’s Heroes Inmortales show, and on several upcoming TV shoots.

    Urive was the biggest drawing card since the early 90s boom as Mistico at Arena Mexico.  He left the promotion on bad terms to join WWE as the first Sin Cara, and flopped in the role and was fired.

    CMLL has a long standing history of never letting people back who have left on bad terms, but recently bringing back L.A. Park and Dr. Wagner Jr., and seeing the houses increase greatly, may have slightly changed that.

    Lucha Libre Elite, formerly All Elite, runs big shows at Arena Mexico and advertises at the CMLL shows.  Park and Wagner Jr. were their big stars, along with the top CMLL talent.  However, after Park was fired and Wagner Jr. quit, CMLL said they would not allow either to wrestle in their owned building, even with another promotion.

  • WWE: 7 thoughts on what the #DivasRevolution should have looked like

    By Will Cooling for WrestlingObserver.com

    Earlier this week, I outlined the mistakes the WWE made when bringing Charlotte, Sasha Banks, and Becky Lynch up to the main roster. These mistakes mean that the WWE is still just throwing out random women’s matches, hoping that fans will care because they’re slightly better than the dross that went before. Depressingly, it’s remarkable easy to imagine a better product. To successfully create a stronger women’s division, the WWE needed to approach the introduction of the NXT women as a months-long project that needed to be carefully planned in advance.  

    Thought 1: Build Around A Superstar…But Be Patient!

    As explained in the previous column, the new women’s division needed to be built around a single superstar. Like most, I see that person as being Sasha Banks. Not only is she the best women’s wrestler in the company, she has an image that is unusually current for a pro wrestler. On a not entirely unrelated note, she also has the potential to tap into the black market that the promotion has ignored ever since The Rock went into semi-retirement.

    However despite this greater potential, she needs Charlotte to pave the way for her. Due to being Ric Flair’s daughter, she has the instant credibility with fans that Banks needs to earn in the ring, something she can’t do until fans have been educated to care about the division. The sensible play, as in NXT, is to use Charlotte to build the platform that eventually launches Banks into superstardom.

    Thought 2: Start With A Strong Storyline  

    First impressions are crucial when debuting new acts and the introductory storyline of the Divas Revolution gave nobody reason to take a fresh look at the division. The individual matches were inconsequential and the overall storyline had no emotional hook.

    Now imagine this as an alternative. Having just dropped her NXT Women’s Title, Charlotte debuts on RAW in the run-up to Wrestlemania 31. She challenges Nikki Bella due to Bella being the type of ‘diva’ that gives female athletes a bad name. With both ‘The Nature Boy’ and Brie Bella promising to be patrolling ringside the promotion hires the baddest women on the planet, Ronda Rousey, to be the trouble-shooting outside referee. At the big show, Charlotte squashes Nikki, and then receives the post-match endorsement from Rousey herself in scenes that evoke Mike Tyson raising the hand of Stone Cold Steve Austin.

    Such an introduction of Charlotte would immediately raise the profile and prestige of the division by making its title match one of the centrepieces of Wrestlemania through the involvement of Flair and Rousey. The storyline of Charlotte challenging for the title due to disgust at Nikki Bella gives fan a clear reason to care in a way that the three-way trios feud could never do. Having Charlotte squash Nikki Bella confirms that she really is better than the existing women performers, and the entire storyline put Charlotte in control rather than make her subservient to Stephanie McMahon.

    Thought 3: Book Charlotte Strong!

    After introducing Charlotte so strongly, it would be important to build on that foundation with her championship reign. As a general principle, her in-ring appearances should be limited to pay per views and the occasional television show. This would give her time to properly prepare for her matches, but also ensures that fans see women’s matches as special events and stops the promotion from burning through challengers too quickly.

    In terms of initial opponents, you don’t have to look beyond A.J. Lee, then the most popular and respected woman on the main roster. In return for her release, the WWE could surely ask for her to put the new champion over on her way out. Another credible challenger from the existing roster would be Natalie Neidhart, repeating the ‘Hall of Famer In Each Corner’ gimmick that successfully used Ric Flair and Bret Hart to add legitimacy to the NXT Women’s Championship.  

    After those two, you run into a problem that the division lacks both marquee names that fans would care about and capable workers that could match the high standard set by the NXT women. Luckily, you can reach into the past to bring back women from the division’s previous golden era who can be both. Charlotte’s reign could easily consist of a series of one-off matches against the likes of Trish Stratus, Victoria, Mickie James, Gail Kim, and Lita. The novelty of the returning superstars would add interest to the division and having Charlotte decisively go over them would establish her as the greatest champion in the division’s history.

    The use of these veterans would also allow the promotion to keep Charlotte away from the pre-existing roster. This is important because all of the ‘divas’ are thoroughly discredited in the eyes of fans due to years of poor presentation. If Charlotte spent months defending against women who fans had long given up on, then much like Paige before, her reign would not be accepted as a fresh start.

    Thought 4: Refresh the Presentation

    It’s important to remember that in pro wrestling, the sizzle is just as important as the steak; no matter how good the pro wrestlers or matches are, if there are problems with the presentation, then fans won’t care. When relaunching the women’s division, the WWE really needed to pivot away from the ‘divas’ branding as it’s too associated with past failures and is a derogative term for women in the real world. Have Charlotte throw down the championship at Wrestlemania 31, denounce the branding as stupid and demand a new title belt.

    This should be more than a superficial change with the presentation of Charlotte and her matches dedicated to proving that she is anything but a ‘diva’ by educating viewers that she and other female pro-wrestlers are serious, credible athletes. Frustratingly, WWE pretty much nailed the correct tone to use back in April with the training footage of Charlotte they used to promote their new TapOut gear.

    A key point is that just like in NXT, the booking should avoid doing elaborate storylines with the women as endless scenes of women arguing with each other just makes all involved look catty, something that would prove a turnoff to the predominately male audience. Remember that the one setback to Ronda Rousey’s popularity was when she spent a season of The Ultimate Fighter screaming at Miesha Tate. Equally, performers’ ring gear should be somewhat tasteful. While there’s nothing wrong with presenting women as sex symbols (look at Paige VanZant and Tate), it’s important not to dress them in outfits that wouldn’t look out of place in a stripclub.

    Thought 5: Rebuild The Division Away From The Main Stage

    Charlotte defending against returning mid-90s superstars should be enough to keep her occupied from Wrestlemania to Summerslam. The future of the division rests on the promotion using that time to address the weak roster depth that has always held the women back.  

    Obviously at some point, you would bring Banks, Becky Lynch and Bayley up, but by themselves, they’re not enough. Whereas NXT could survive with a division that was effectively just four people due to producing so little television, WWE needs a fresh championship programme every month. Equally, the emergence of NXT as a touring brand means you can’t entirely gut that division.

    Two things therefore would need to happen away from RAW and Smackdown during Charlotte’s reign. Firstly, those pre-existing divas that can be effective pro wrestlers (rather than hosts or valets) need to be sent down to NXT. There, the skills of raw athletes such as Naomi could be developed to unlock her hitherto untapped in-ring potential, whilst talented workers such as Paige can work on refreshing their characters and practicing matches with the likes of Banks and Lynch. At the very least time away from the main roster would help fans forget about how they had previously been booked into the ground.

    Secondly, the WWE needs to be more aggressive with their recruitment of new, talented women pro-wrestlers from the independent scene and overseas. These women would both stabilise the NXT division when the ‘Four Horsewomen’ start to leave Florida, but also provide the next phase of performers to be promoted to the main roster.

    Thought 6: Make The First Title Change Important  

    Having successfully got Charlotte over to the fans as a credible champion and therefore educating them to take the division as a whole seriously, you can then move to the second phase – bringing in Banks. It’s a story that writes itself; whilst Charlotte is winning plaudits on the main roster, the woman who beat her for the NXT Women’s Championship is defeating all comers in Florida. Eventually, Banks snaps at missing out on all the attention, comes up to the main roster to demand a champion vs champion match.

    With the benefit of hindsight, the ideal timeline for this would be for Banks to make the challenge on the RAW after SummerSlam and then for the match to be booked for the recent WWE Network special from Madison Square Garden to capitalise on her popularity in the New York market. Placing it on a Network special rather than a PPV would also allow for the match to be given greater prominence than usual – potentially even headlining the show.

    In that match, Banks would defeat Charlotte to begin her reign as the WWE Women’s Champion. This title change would need to mark an important shift in the division as the promotion refreshes its roster by bringing up the new and repackaged women wrestlers from NXT. This would ensure that Banks had challengers who she knows how to work with and that have not already lost to Charlotte on television.

    Thought 7: Have A Clear Plan

    With the title on Sasha and the women’s roster thoroughly refreshed, it’s important that WWE be patient and think carefully about not only Banks but each of her future challengers. As part of this, they must remember to book for the vast majority of the audience that hasn’t been following NXT. For instance rather than rush into Lynch challenging for the title, it may make more sense to go back to her acting as Banks’ henchwoman so you can build a relationship between the two women that makes the eventual match between them mean more

    While establishing Banks as the dominant champion, they would also need to protect Charlotte by keeping her in meaningful matches away from the title picture. Eventually, you book the rematch between the two at Wrestlemania 32 in what would be the ‘most eagerly anticipated women’s match in WWE history’. Whoever had been the more successful as champion should then win to establish them as the female face of the company, with the loser settling for being Randy Orton to the winner’s John Cena.

    Will Cooling is a freelance writer who writes on combat sports for Fighting Spirit Magazine, pop culture for Geeky Monkey and politics at It Could Be Said!

  • FRI UPDATE: TNA Cancels tour, James Storm, UFC on FOX

    This week’s polls are for Wednesday’s NXT show and Monday’s New Japan King of Pro Wrestling show.  We’re looking for your thoughts on both shows with a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to Dave Meltzer

    We’re looking for reports on all three WWE shows in Saudi Arabia.  There was a show last night, another one tonight and the final show tomorrow.

    New Japan World Pro Wrestling Returns at 9 p.m. Eastern on AXS TV

    Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish vs. Alex Shelley & Kushida vs. Young Bucks vs. Rocky Romero & Alex Koslov for IWGP jr. tag titles

    Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Kenny Omega for the IWGP jr. title

    This is the first of five straight weeks of matches from Wrestle Kingdom 9 at the  Tokyo Dome

    CMLL has the B block of the Universal Champion of Champions tournament tonight, starting at 9:30 p.m. Eastern time on www.ClaroSports.com

    It’s a one-night tournament with Atlantis, Mistico, Volador Jr., Mephisto, Negro Casas, Maximo, Valiente and Ephesto.  The winner meets Ultimo Guerrero (last week’s winner) for the championship next week.  The show will be airing on Claro Sports but it may be geo blocked for the United States.  I’ve seen all kinds of Twitter stuff listing it but last week’s show wasn’t available.

    Resurrection Fighting Alliance tonight at 10 p.m. Eastern on AXS TV

    Shai Lindsey (133.6) vs. Zach Riley (135.4)

    Vardan Sholinian (174.2) vs. Bojan Velickovic (174.4)

    Justin Linn (134) vs. Matt Lopez (138.8)

    Mike Jasper (183) vs. Gabriel Checco (184.6)

    Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger (115) vs. Zoila Frausto (116.6) for the first women’s strawweight title.  Because Frausto failed to make weight, Jones-Lybarger will win the title with a victory, but Frausto can not win the title if she wins. 

    Gilbert Smith (170) vs. Bristol Marunde (169.8) for welterweight title

    Spike has Glory Kickboxing tonight at 11 p.m. Eastern

    WWE has only the show in Saudi Arabia tonight.

    Saturday we’re looking for reports on WWE in St. Louis (Randy Orton, Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman, New Day, Team BAD, Rusev, Ryback, Kevin Owens and Dudleys) and NXT in Winter Haven, FL.

    Sunday has WWE in Bloomington, IL (Randy Orton, Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman, New Day, Team BAD, Rusev, Ryback, Kevin Owens and Dudleys).

    New Japan King of Pro Wrestling at 3 a.m. Eastern and Midnight Pacific late Sunday night on New Japan World – Kevin Kelly & Matt Striker will be doing the announcing in English for the first time on the service

    Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask & Ryusuke Taguchi & Kushida & Mascara Dorada vs. Juice Robinson & Yohei Komatsu & Sho Tanaka & David Finlay & Jay White

    Tomoaki Honma vs. Yoshi-Hashi

    Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Hirooki Goto & Katsuyori Shibata & Kota Ibushi & Captain New Japan

    Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Rocky Romero & Baretta for the IWGP jr. tag titles

    Kenny Omega vs. Matt Sydal for IWGP jr. title

    Shinsuke Nakamura & Toru Yano & Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows & Bad Luck Fale

    Togi Makabe vs. Tomohiro Ishii for Never Open Weight title

    Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Tetsuya Naito for the Tokyo Dome title shot

    Kazuchika Okada vs. A.J. Styles for IWGP heavyweight title

    Since most of the top matches at the Tokyo Dome will be announced on Tuesday, the winners of the last two matches are almost certain to be the main event, and this show will probably set up the other key matches with different angles.

    Raw will be live from Chicago, generally one of the hottest WWE crowds anywhere, on Monday night.  So we’ll see if Chicago can stay up through a three hour show.  No  Brock Lesnar or Paul Heyman advertised.

    Smackdown and Main Event will be taped in Cincinnati on Tuesday.  No John Cena on the show, so Roman Reigns and Randy Orton are the advertised headliners.

    Wrestling Observer Newsletter

    An update on the status of Daniel Bryan is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter which is on the site right now and also can be subscribed to for home delivery.  We update his situation and how the decision on his future will be made shortly.  We also look at Daniel Cormier and the light heavyweight division and what the business notes say, the WWE’s Madison Square Garden event with Brock Lesnar, TNA’s Bound for Glory and world title tournament, Conor McGregor predicts the future once again, a pro wrestler is in the Japanese cabinet as well as our monthly look at the WWE and TNA’s business indicators. 

    We look at what Daniel Bryan said this past week regarding his future and how the decision will be made for him soon, and what he’d like to do if he wasn’t working for WWE.

    We look at Daniel Cormier vs. Alexander Gustafsson and the shadow over the light heavyweight division, the news coming out of UFC 192, and full coverage of the event with business notes, early PPV indicators and poll results.

    We look at the WWE Network special from Madison Square Garden, Brock Lesnar’s return, how the show was promoted, Chris Jericho’s 25th anniversary as a pro wrestler and match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.

    CLICK HERE FOR A FULL WRESTLING OBSERVER PREVIEW

    The latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter: October 12, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Daniel Bryan’s pro wrestling future, UFC 192, WWE at MSG

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    FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE

    • TNA wrestlers were just informed today that the late October house show tour has been canceled.  Those were shows on 10/29 in Thiobodaux, 10/30 in New Orleans, 10/31 in Baton Rouge and 11/1 in Biloxi, MS.  The New Orleans show was billed as “The Battle of New Orleans” and was to be a PPV taping.  
    • James Storm has not signed with WWE and TNA has tried to make him an offer to return, reportedly with a big pay increase
    • Announcer/wrestler Devin Taylor and Cal Bishop were cut by WWE this week
    • Regarding the women from Shine at the NXT show last night, they were not signed by WWE but WWE had them on the radar and since they were in the area brought them in as extras. 
    • The fourth annual Grapple at the Garden show will be on 11/29 in Madison Square Garden.  22 colleges including Cornell (No. 5), Nebraska (No. 9), Illinois (No. 12) and Northwestern (No. 15) will compete.  In the past they’ve also had singles matches involving MMA stars who want to compete at MSG.  This will be the prelude of the first time ever that the NCAA tournament comes to MSG from 3/17 to 3/19.
    • Congratulations to Nick Massie (Nick Jackson) of the Young Bucks and his wife on the birth of his daughter early this morning.  
    • A preview of the Sting:  Into the Light DVD, that is being released this week, will air on the WWE Network after Raw this week.
    • There will also be a new Table for 3 show on Tuesday at 4 p.m. with Sting, DDP and Vader, followed by a WWE Rivalries show on the Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat feud. 
    • For a clarification, Matt Riddle did an interview saying that WWE sent him to Evolve, which isn’t exactly the case but not untrue either.  WWE did recommend to Evolve to use him as noted in Observer stories in the past, but sent is too strong in the sense Evolve made the decision to use him on their own because they think he has potential.  While the nice comments HHH made about Gabe Sapolsky clearly indicate they are on really good terms and WWE is probably looking at some form of a deal, right now the deal would still be in the talking stages.
    • The 12/19 UFC on FOX main card will be Rafael dos Anjos vs. Donald Cerrone, Alistair Overeem vs. Junior Dos Santos, Nate Diaz vs. Michael Johnson and Randa Markos vs. Karllina Kowalkiewicz.  Jay Reddick has the story
    • Ronda Rousey on why she doesn’t cut weight before appearances and commercials
    • Hulk Hogan is hosting a pool party at Harrah’s Casino in Atlantic City on Saturday night at 10 p.m.  Cost is $20.
    • CWE has a 50 man Rumble to Remember on 12/4 in Winnipeg at the Holy Cross Gym.
    • Fight Night on 10/16 at Center Stage in Atlanta headlined by Clay Harvison vs. Jordan Rinaldi which will air live on AXS that night at 9 p.m.
    • Russia’s Vitaly Bigdash beat Igor Svirid at :36 of round via strikes to win the One middleweight championship Championship at the show earlier toady in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
    • Moose and Seiya Sanada appear on 10/10 for Superkick’d Pro Wrestling in Toronto at The Great Hall.
    • A new match released today at NWAClassics.com is Magnum T.A. & Mr. Wrestling II vs. Midnight Express where the losing team gets five lashes with a belt.
    • The ECWA women’s Super 8 tournament on 10/17 in Woodbury Heights, NJ at the Community Center has added Deonna Purrazzo, Terra Calaway, Xandra Bale and Kennadi Brink (formerly Jessie Kaye) to the field.  

    ON THIS DAY IN PRO WRESTLING HISTORY INTERNATIONAL (thanks to Graeme Cameron)

    1968 – George & Sandy Scott beat The Assassins in Brisbane to win the IWA tag titles

    1988 – Charles Lucero beat Yoshihiro Asai (Ultimo Dragon) in Monterrey to win the UWA welterweight title

    1992 – Tomoko Watanabe beat Sakie Hasegawa in Tokyo to win the Japanese women’s title

    1993 – Sangre Chicana beat Fishman in Naucalpan to win the UWA light heavyweight title

    1994 – Takako Inoue & Kyoko Inoue beat Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada in Kawasaki to win the WWWA tag titles

    2006 – Team 3-D won a three-way over Erica & Margaret (Aja Kong & Awesome) and Sodom & Gamorrah to win the Hustle tag team title

    2011 – Abyss & Chessman beat Extreme Tiger & Jack Evans in Monterrey to win the AAA tag team tiles and Electroshock won the Antonio Pena Cup

    2014 – Cima & Don Fujii & Gamma beat Naruki Doi & Cyber Kong & Kzy in Tokyo to win the Open the Triangle Gate titles

  • On this day in pro wrestling history (10/9): X-Pac loses WCW cruiserweight belt, wins TNA X-Division title

    1936 —

    Kansas City, Missouri:

    – World Heavyweight Champion Dean Detton defeated Orville Brown in 2 out of 3 falls to retain the title

    1941 —

    Kansas City, Kansas:

    – Lou Thesz beat Joe Dusek in 2 out of 3 falls

    – Orville Brown and Dorve Roche went to a time limit draw

    1947 —

    Kansas City, Kansas:

    – MWA Champion, Orville Brown beat Jack O’Brien in 2 straight falls to retain the title

    1952 —

    Kansas City, Kansas:

    – Red Berry defeated Sonny Myers to capture the Heart of America Heavyweight 

    1964 —

    Toronto, Ontario, Canada:

    – Billy Watson and Johnny Valentine defeated Professor Hiro and Fred Atkins to win the International Tag Team Titles 

    Denver, Colorado:

    – Harley Race beat Jack Lanza

    – Larry Hennig & Art Neilson beat Ricky Romero & Wilbur Snyder

    1973 —

    Omaha, Nebraska:

    – No dq Match: Superstar Billy Graham beat Wahoo McDaniel 

    – Ivan Koloff beat Red Bastien 

    – Reggie Parks beat Ric Flair 

    1976 —

    Milwaukee, Wisconsin:

    – AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel beat Verne Gagne dq

    – Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell beat Mad Dog Vachon & Baron Von Raschke

    – Peter Maivia beat Blackjack Lanza

    1980 —

    – Jack Brisco defeated Terry Funk in a tournament final to win the Georgia National Heavyweight Title

    1982 —

    Chicago, Illinois:

    – Nick Bockwinkel defeated Otto Wanz to regain the AWA World Heavyweight Title

    – AWA Tag Team Champions Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell beat Rick Martel & Brad Rheingans

    – Ken Patera beat Hulk Hogan dq

    – Jerry Blackwell & Sheik Adnan beat Buck Zumhofe & Spike Huber

    – Ray Stevens beat Bobby Heenan

    – Adrian Adonis beat Baron Von Raschke

    1992 —

    Houston, Texas:

    – Brian Pillman fought Brad Armstrong to a double disqualification

    – Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes defeated the Barbarian & Tony Atlas

    – Sting defeated Cactus Jack in a lumberjack match (stipulations stated Sting would face Jake Roberts later in the show if he won)

    – WCW World Champion Ron Simmons pinned WCW US Champion Rick Rude

    – Sting pinned Jake Roberts in a lights out match

    1993 —

    Jacksonville, Florida:

    – WCW Tag Team Champions the Nasty Boys defeated 2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell

    – Ron Simmons defeated Dick Slater

    – WCW US Champion Dustin Rhodes & the Shockmaster defeated Harlem Heat

    – Sting defeated Sid Vicious

    – World Champion Paul Orndorff (defending the title for an injured Rick Rude) defeated Ric Flair via disqualification 

    2000 —

    Sydney, Australia: 

    – Corporal Cajun (Lash LeRoux) & Lieutenant Loco (Chavo Guerrero Jr.) defeated Mark Jindrak & Sean O’Haire to win the WCW Tag Team Titles, but lost it back to Jindrak & O’Haire that same night

    2001 —

    Moline, Illinois:

    – Billy Kidman defeated X-Pac to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title 

    2002 —

    Nashville, Tennessee: 

    – Syxx-Pac defeated AJ Styles, Kid Kash, Ace Steel, Jose & Joel Maximo, and Tony Mamaluke in a Ladder Match to win the vacant X-Division Title

  • WWE NXT TV taping spoilers (10/8): new & familiar names, Nia Jax, Asuka, Finn Balor

    The big news from Thursday’s WWE NXT tapings at Full Sail University was former TNA Champion and multiple time TNA Tag Team Champion James Storm debuting tonight.

    Storm was at NXT’s weekend show in Nashville and backstage at TakeOver last night. He was given a win over Martin Stone, a former WWE contracted wrestler who worked the tapings as enhancement talent. Due to the TV schedule and even though he has been done with TNA for some time, he will continue to be appearing on TNA television for probably two more months, something discussed on Wrestling Observer Radio Wednesday night.

    *****

    Results submitted by John Carey

    – NXT Tag Team Champions The Vaudevillains over Dawkins & Fulton. The finish had to be reshot because Dawkins botched the sell on the finish. 

    – Nia Jax over Evie in a squash match.

    – Apollo Crews won a #1 contender battle royal match eliminating Baron Corbin to win. Notable entries included Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa & Martin Stone.

    – Asuka over Billie Kay in a squash match.

    – Enzo & Cass over Dawson & Wilder via Enzo roll up. Mechanics beat them down after the match.

    – James Storm over Martin Stone in a squash match.

    – Alexa Bliss over Peyton Royce

    – Emma over Shazza in a squash match

    – Chad Gable/Jason Jordan over Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa. Match went around 10 minutes and was the best match in the tapings to this point.

    – Nia Jax over Kay Lee Ray in a squash match

    – WWE NXT Champion Finn Balor over Tye Dillinger.

  • TNA and ROH Wednesday night ratings 10-7

    TNA’s follow-up to Bound for Glory on Wednesday night produced its best ratings numbers since September 9th.

    The beginning of the TNA title tournament did 335,000 viewers for the first-run Destination America episode and 112,000 for the replay. The replay was the second best replay number since the show moved to Wednesday at midnight.

    Ring of Honor did 175,000 viewers for their Field of Honor episode from MCU Field in Brooklyn featuring a Kazuchika Okada vs. Roderick Strong main event. It was the company’s best number ever in the 11 PM EST time slot.

    Here’s a look at last week’s ratings.

  • Daniel Bryan’s pro wrestling future

    An update on the status of Daniel Bryan is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter which is on the site right now and also can be subscribed to for home delivery.  We update his situation and how the decision on his future will be made shortly.  We also look at Daniel Cormier and the light heavyweight division and what the business notes say, the WWE’s Madison Square Garden event with Brock Lesnar, TNA’s Bound for Glory and world title tournament, Conor McGregor predicts the future once again, a pro wrestler is in the Japanese cabinet as well as our monthly look at the WWE and TNA’s business indicators.

    Wrestling Observer Newsletter

    An update on the status of Daniel Bryan is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter which is on the site right now and also can be subscribed to for home delivery.  We update his situation and how the decision on his future will be made shortly.  We also look at Daniel Cormier and the light heavyweight division and what the business notes say, the WWE’s Madison Square Garden event with Brock Lesnar, TNA’s Bound for Glory and world title tournament, Conor McGregor predicts the future once again, a pro wrestler is in the Japanese cabinet as well as our monthly look at the WWE and TNA’s business indicators.

    The latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter: October 12, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Daniel Bryan’s pro wrestling future, UFC 192, WWE at MSG

    You can also order the print Observer right now and get it delivered to your door via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to Dave Meltzer

    You can also order print issues at www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

    Rates are:

    For the United States, it is $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52.  In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to moonsault@mediaplusint.com  For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52.

    If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.

    The Wrestling Observer ranges weekly from 35,000 to 50,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA internationally. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sties and has the most complete look at the pro wrestling and MMA business anywhere, plus history pieces available nowhere else.

    We look at what Daniel Bryan said this past week regarding his future and how the decision will be made for him soon, and what he’d like to do if he wasn’t working for WWE.

    We look at Daniel Cormier vs. Alexander Gustafsson and the shadow over the light heavyweight division, the news coming out of UFC 192, and full coverage of the event with business notes, early PPV indicators and poll results.

    We look at the WWE Network special from Madison Square Garden, Brock Lesnar’s return, how the show was promoted, Chris Jericho’s 25th anniversary as a pro wrestler and match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.

    We also look at John Cena’s time off and what it entails, how that changes the European tour and the current lineups set for both November tours, WrestleMania tickets, Hell in a Cell card changes, what’s up with Paige, HHH talks NXT and difference with WWE, women, Jushin Liger, the chain of power and more.  HHH also talks Gabe Sapolsky.  We’ve got updates on Undertaker, Dwayne  Johnson, Chris Jericho, Ric Flair, Zeb Colter as well as a look at next season’s Total Divas.  We also look at a tryout camp just held, more on WWE legal actions, Paul Heyman gives his thoughts on Austin vs. Lesnar, a new WWE signing, plus notes from all the WWE & NXT arena events of the past week with business notes.  

    We also look at TNA’s Bound for Glory, the unique title tournament, plus a full rundown of the show with star ratings and poll results.

    We look at two Hall of Famers and political aspirations and promotions, most notably Hiroshi Hase’s appointment to the Japanese cabinet.  We look at who Hase is and his career, and how he became such an influential politician. 

    We also look at AAA’s Heroes Inmortales show, and whether they were able to bounce back after the disaster that was TripleMania.

    We’ve got the monthly business rundown for WWE, looking at arena business, what wrestlers are the biggest draws of the month, how the various matches drew individually, Raw & Smackdown ratings and how they are holding up based on prior years, as well as the DVD business and web merchandise, as well as TNA television ratings for the month.

    We’ve got the full ratings rundown of all the key television shows of the past week in wrestling and MMA.

    We also have results of the major league wrestling events around the world over the past week and the major TV show rundowns.

    Also in this issue:

    –Notes on the first week of the CMLL tournament of champions

    –Notes on how the tournament will be progressing

    –Notes from Arena Mexico

    –Big matches coming

    –Notes on the bodybuilding contest for wrestlers

    –American and Japanese stars headed to Mexico for big shows in late November

    –Notes from Dragon Gate’s big show this past week in Fukuoka

    –Where the title matches in Dragon Gate are headed

    –Go Shiozaki’s farewell to All Japan

    –Story behind the end of Suzuki-gun complete domination of NOAH

    –A look at this year’s Global league tournament, participants, blocks and lineups for the major shows

    –Update on WrestleKingdom 10 and U.S. PPV and where things stand

    –More on New Japan hiring American announcers to do King of Pro Wrestling this week

    –Notes on the King of Pro Wrestling show

    –New Japan talent in the U.K. and rundown of the big shows

    –More on the last matches of Genichiro Tenryu

    –The latest on the Jimmy Snuka case

    –Update on PWG

    –Update on Sean Waltman’s injuries

    –Update on Hogan trial

    –A look at the life and career of Bill Bowman and the birth of the famed Masked Interns

    –A look at the Interns legacy

    –The unique legacy of Bowman in the war in Atlanta

    –Northeast Wrestling’s 20th anniversary show

    –A look at the wXw tag team tournament in Germany featuring both New Japan championship teams and  several U.S. stars

    –Former CMLL Wrestler a victim in a drive-by shooting

    –TNA major announcement ends up a dud

    –Notes on the next announcement

    –Doing business in India

    –Update on Jeff Hardy

    –A look at the TNA house shows over the past week

    –Updates on the lawsuit by former fighters against UFC and two key judges rulings

    –Wanderlei Silva again to come before the Nevada commission

    –UFC schedule notes

    –C.M. Punk injury update and first fight timing

    –B.J. Penn teases coming out of retirement

    –Anthony Pettis talks what he wants next

    –Talk of yet another stadium show for UFC early next year that isn’t in Ireland

    –New UFC fights

    –Sakakibara announces new promotion

    –Well-known MMA figure pleads guilty to IRS fraud

    If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today.  With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today.

    New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues have to let us know what major stories of the past 11 years you are most interested in and we’ll send the issue with the best coverage of that story. We’ve got coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits into those descriptions over the past 11 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue.

    Our most requested issues in our history are:

    *November 17, 1997 (full details of everything leading to the most famous wrestling match finish of modern times at the Survivor Series plus a history of in-ring double-crosses)

    *December 21, 1998 (the complete Vince McMahon-Bret Hart conversation right before the Survivor Series match so you’ll know exactly what was said–the conversation played in edited form both on the inaugural broadcast of Confidential as well as in Wrestling with Shadows, but everything that was said between the two about the match that was going to take place that same night)

    *August 1, 1994 (the most detailed coverage anywhere of the Vince McMahon steroid trial, an issue praised in numerous newspaper article and Sex, Lies and Headlocks)

    *March 26, 2001 (death of WCW and history of pro wrestling on the Turner networks)a

    *October 22, 2001 (why the adult audience has left pro wrestling in such great numbers and what needed to have been done to save them)

    *July 8, 1991 (Ric Flair leaves WCW as world champion/Zahorian steroid trial)

    *February 8, 1993 (the life and times of Andre the Giant)

    *May 13, 2002 (the life story of the most incredible pro wrestling career ever, a look at Lou Thesz, in one of the largest issues of our history)

    *January 27, 2003 (part one of the two-part series covering the career and life of The Sheik)

    *February 3, 2003 (Part two on The Sheik including thoughts from people who worked with him and where he stands historically)

    *March 24, 2003 (history of the WWWF title, inside behind the Sammartino, Backlund and Backlund era)

    *April 21, 2003 (history of WWF continues with the expansion nationally, the death of the regional territories and the rise of Hulk Hogan)

    *May 12, 2003 (The life and death of Elizabeth and the rise of fall of Lex Luger)

    *June 9, 2003 (Part 1 of history of WWF vs. WCW wars and what many say was the greatest year in U.S. wrestling; plus a look at Fred Blassie)

    *June 16, 2003 (Freddie Blassie through the eyes of his biggest rivals and friends)

    *July 28, 2003 (Part 2 of the history of the WWF vs. WCW war and the plans to make new superstars in the early 90s, what happened, and the night where the three biggest wrestling companies in the world combined for a joint show and what happened)

    *August 25, 2003 (2003 Hall of Fame issue with huge profiles on the controversial career of Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit as well as historical features on Earl Caddock and Francisco Flores)

    *September 22, 2003 (Part 3 of the history of the WWF vs WCW war with the seeds that caused the collapse of the industry in the 90s, Zahorian trial, Gulf War controversy, Flair leaves WCW while holding world title and much more)

    *October 27, 2003 (The fascinating life of Stu Hart plus the story of Road Warrior Hawk)

    *January 19, 2004 (2003 Awards issue)

    *February 2, 2004 (History of Toronto wrestling, Jack Tunney life story, Royal Rumble and Battle Royal history)

    *February 23, 2004 (History of Guerrero family with Eddy’s win over Brock Lesnar)

    *March 1, 2004 (History of WWF continues with the period that brought the company down in early 1992, the mistakes, the real stories and how the business changed)

    *March 8, 2004 (History of Wrestlemania, its greatest matches and best and worst shows as voted both by wrestlers and non-wrestlers and Wrestlemania history books)

    *July 5, 2004 (A look behind the scenes and Ric Flair’s book and his background with Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan)

    *July 12, 2004 (A look at more on Ric Flair’s book and his comments on Bruno Sammartino, Bret Hart and Mick Foley)

    *August 16, 2004 (History of the Olympians in pro wrestling)

    *August 23, 2004 (2004 Hall of Fame issue and biggest issue of the year with huge profiles on Kazushi Sakuraba, Undertaker, Bob Backlund, Masahiro Chono, Ultimo Dragon, Kurt Angle and Tarzan Lopez–this counts as one issue if you are asking for a free issue, but ordered separately, due to size, is $6 in North America and $7 overseas)

    *October 4, 2004 (the life and times of Big Bossman; as well as details of the life and times of one of the most influential men world wide in pro wrestling history, Jim Barnett)

    *November 15, 2004 (the full story of what happened between Kurt Angle and Daniel Puder, plus coverage of the most important week in the history of TNA)

    *January 24, 2005 (2004 Awards issue, Rock and WWE part company)

    *March 14, 2005 (the 50 biggest money players in the history of WWF and a look at their Hall of Fame)

    *May 9, 2005 (the life and times of Chris Candido)

    *June 20, 2005 (The full story behind Paul Heyman and the death of ECW, as well as coverage of One Night Stand, Hardcore Homecoming and behind the scenes of both shows)

    *July 18, 2005 (death of Shinya Hashimoto and his records with a look at the fall of New Japan, the Matt Hardy angle, tons of WWE firings, Cornette firing in detail as well as problems of a WWE developmental territory in our biggest news issue of the year which is a double-sized issue and would be $6 on its own and $7 overseas)

    *August 24, 2005 (2005 Hall of Fame issue with career profiles of Paul Heyman, HHH and Freebirds plus debut of MMA Hall of Fame)

    *September 12, 2005 (History of Mid South Wrestling)

    *October 10, 2005 (Life and Times of the Ultimate Warrior)

    *November 21, 2005 (Life and Times of Eddy Guerrero and Crusher, double issue $6 on its own and $7 overseas)

    *December 5, 2005 (The Eddy Guerrero special issue, double issue $6 on its own, $7 overseas)

    *January 9, 2006 (The life and times of Superstar Billy Graham, plus New Year’s Eve 2005 coverage)

    *January 16, 2006 (2005 Awards double issue, $6 or $7 overseas)

    *April 3, 2006 (Story of Ann Calvello and the history of Roller Derby–many called this the best issue of the Observer ever)

    *April 10, 2006 (Behind the scenes at the 2006 Wrestlemania/Hall of Fame week)

    *July 24, 2006 (The History of the Von Erichs and World Class Championship Wrestling–the most unreal story ever in wrestling)

    *September 4, 2006 (The Rise and Fall of Kurt Angle; 2006 Hall of Fame inductions of Eddie Guerrero, Paul Bowser, Masakatsu Funaki, Aja Kong and Hiroshi Hase including tons of wrestling history around the world from the 20s through the 60s, the evolution of working to not working in Japan, and a look at Guerrero in hindsight, double issue $6 or $7 overseas)

    *October 9, 2006 (A look back nine years later at the life and legacy of Brian Pillman with tons of inside information about what made him tick as his real objectives)

    *November 15, 2006 (History of WCW part one, Eric Bischoff’s book and how the industry was changed forever)

    *November 20, 2006 (History of WCW part two, Why Jim Ross left WCW, How Bischoff changed the company, signing of Hulk Hogan, Beginning of Nitro, Jesse Ventura, Brian Pillman, Chris Jericho and signing Wrestlemania planned celebrity away)

    *November 27, 2006 (History of WCW part three, When Bischoff challenged McMahon to fight; Truth and fiction around Bret Hart signing with WCW and why it didn’t click)

    *December 6, 2006 (details behind Pride’s offers to sell promotion and Part four of History of WCW part four, Hogan-Goldberg match and why there was no rematch, WCW loses NBC network deal in 1999 and the real reasons the company fell apart)

    *January 22, 2007 (2006 Awards issue, double issue $7 on its own, $8 overseas)

    *February 14, 2007 (Life and Times of Bam Bigelow)

    *March 5, 2007 (WWE begins plans that will change the business)

    *March 12, 2007 (Life and Times of Mike Awesome)

    *March 19, 2007 (Life and Times of Ernie Ladd)

    *April 4, 2007 (Life and Times of Badnews Allen Coage–which many are calling one of the best issues in history)

    *July 2, 2007 (Part one of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

    *July 5, 2007 (Part two of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

    *July 10, 2007 (Part three of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

    *July 19, 2007 (Part four of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

    *July 23, 2007 (Part five of Benoit double murder-suicide)

    *July 25, 2007 (Part six of Benoit double murder-suicide)

    *August 15, 2007 (The legend of the God of Japanese wrestling and his influence on MMA, Karl Gotch)

    *October 15 (2007 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas including inductions of The Rock, Tom Packs and the original Strangler Lewis)

    *November 12, 2007 (Life and times of Fabulous Moolah and history of U.S. women’s wrestling) .

    *December 31, 2007 (History of Ric Flair and the heyday of wrestling at the Greensboro Coliseum)

    *January 21, 2008 (2007 Awards issue, double issue $7 on its own, $8 overseas)

    *March 17, 2008 (Life and times of Johnny Weaver)

    *March 24, 2008 (Life and times of Gary Hart)

    *April 10, 2008 (Farewell to Ric Flair; My thoughts, Shawn Michaels talks of Flair’s meaning to him; Hall of Fame; Wrestlemania double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas)

    *August 11, 2008 (Ric Flair leaves WWE; Updated history of pro wrestlers and MMA fighters who went to the Olympics)

    * September 8, 2008 (2008 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas; part one of Killer Kowalski bio)

    * September 15, 2008 (Life and Times of Evan Tanner)

    * September 22, 2008 (The amazing career of Killer Kowalski, one of our most in-depth bios)

    You can also order any of these issues on their own for $4 in North America or $5 overseas.

    We now have available personally autographed copies of Tributes II, our latest book, as well as a DVD that comes with it talking more about the subjects in the book. The book covers the life stories of Lou Thesz, Wahoo McDaniel, Elizabeth, Fred Blassie, Road Warrior Hawk, Andre the Giant, Curt Hennig, Johnny Valentine, Davey Boy Smith, Terry Gordy, Owen Hart, Stu Hart, Gorilla Monsoon, The Sheik and Tim Woods..

    To get all of those biographies as back issues of the Observer would be a $60 value today. This is a collection of some of the best Observer articles of the past several years in a hardcover, full-color format that is 239 pages. There is also a foreword by Bret Hart. The book price is $12.95 plus $3.50 for shipping costs in the U.S., $20 for shipping costs to Canada and $25 for shipping costs outside North America. You can order the book the same way you order the newsletter.

  • THURS UPDATE: WWE NXT Takeover, Mark Henry talks retirement, Dave Bautista married

    We’re looking for your thoughts on last night’s NXT show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to Dave Meltzer

    We’re also looking for reports on the WWE house shows the next three days in Saudi Arabia, as well as on tonight’s NXT tapings at Full Sail University where they’ll be taping the next four weeks of television.

    Smackdown tonight on Syfy at 8 p.m.

    Dolph Ziggler vs. Big E

    Charlotte & Becky Lynch & Natalya vs. Bella Twins & Alicia Fox

    Ryback vs. Rusev

    Neville vs. King Barrett

    Randy Orton & Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt & Braun Strowman

    Wrestling Observer Newsletter

    An update on the status of Daniel Bryan is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter which is on the site right now and also can be subscribed to for home delivery.  We update his situation and how the decision on his future will be made shortly.  We also look at Daniel Cormier and the light heavyweight division and what the business notes say, the WWE’s Madison Square Garden event with Brock Lesnar, TNA’s Bound for Glory and world title tournament, Conor McGregor predicts the future once again, a pro wrestler is in the Japanese cabinet as well as our monthly look at the WWE and TNA’s business indicators.

    The latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter: October 12, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Daniel Bryan’s pro wrestling future, UFC 192, WWE at MSG

    You can also order the print Observer right now and get it delivered to your door via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to Dave Meltzer

    You can also order print issues at www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

    Rates are:

    For the United States, it is $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52.  In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to moonsault@mediaplusint.com  For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52.

    If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.

    The Wrestling Observer ranges weekly from 35,000 to 50,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA internationally. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sties and has the most complete look at the pro wrestling and MMA business anywhere, plus history pieces available nowhere else.

    We look at what Daniel Bryan said this past week regarding his future and how the decision will be made for him soon, and what he’d like to do if he wasn’t working for WWE.

    We look at Daniel Cormier vs. Alexander Gustafsson and the shadow over the light heavyweight division, the news coming out of UFC 192, and full coverage of the event with business notes, early PPV indicators and poll results.

    We look at the WWE Network special from Madison Square Garden, Brock Lesnar’s return, how the show was promoted, Chris Jericho’s 25th anniversary as a pro wrestler and match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.

    We also look at John Cena’s time off and what it entails, how that changes the European tour and the current lineups set for both November tours, WrestleMania tickets, Hell in a Cell card changes, what’s up with Paige, HHH talks NXT and difference with WWE, women, Jushin Liger, the chain of power and more.  HHH also talks Gabe Sapolsky.  We’ve got updates on Undertaker, Dwayne  Johnson, Chris Jericho, Ric Flair, Zeb Colter as well as a look at next season’s Total Divas.  We also look at a tryout camp just held, more on WWE legal actions, Paul Heyman gives his thoughts on Austin vs. Lesnar, a new WWE signing, plus notes from all the WWE & NXT arena events of the past week with business notes.  

    We also look at TNA’s Bound for Glory, the unique title tournament, plus a full rundown of the show with star ratings and poll results.

    CLICK HERE FOR A FULL WRESTLING OBSERVER PREVIEW

    If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today.  With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today.

    New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues have to let us know what major stories of the past 11 years you are most interested in and we’ll send the issue with the best coverage of that story. We’ve got coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits into those descriptions over the past 11 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue.

    Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.

    THURSDAY’S NEWS UPDATE

    • Bryan I have both a show up on last night’s NXT show as well as all the latest news.  
      Wrestling Observer Radio 10/8: NXT Takeover Respect, tons of news and more!
    •  A new show today with Bruno Sammartino talking his recovery from surgery and his career, including the Shea Stadium match with Stan Hansen, the attempt to put together Sammartino vs. Ali, Sammartino vs. Andre, wrestling a bear and more.
      Wrestling Observer Radio 10/8 with BRUNO SAMMARTINO!
    • Check out: NXT TakeOver Respect live results: Bayley vs. Sasha Banks, Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic
    • Some notes from last night’s NXT show

    *There were people there all day waiting to get in, many before Noon.

    *James Storm was there but never shown on camera

    *Dark match was Bull Dempsey beating Sawyer Fulton with the sitting splash

    *Lots of Dusty Rhodes chants all night long

    *It’s only a few people who start all the chants

    *Hideo Itami and Sho Funaki were shown on TV, then went backstage.  They were only there for the shot

    *Stephanie McMahon was chanting “Women’s wrestling” with the crowd 

    *Bayley and Sasha Banks both looked exhausted leaving the building  

    • UFC on Fox 17: Myles Jury to face Charles Oliveira, plus one more
    • TNA announces UK shows will be recorded for TV
    • WWE Smackdown results (10/8): Roman Reigns & Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt & Braun Strowman
    • Exclusive for WrestlingObserver.com by Irv Muchnick Jimmy Snuka murder trial: Is involuntary manslaughter count the poison pill?
    • New Japan has a press conference at 4:30 a.m. Eastern time on Tuesday to announce Wrestle Kingdom 10.  That appears to mean the Okada vs. Styles and Tanahashi vs. Naito winners are a lock for the Tokyo Dome with no more matches to go.  The announcement will air live on New Japan World.
    • In an interview with Philly.com, Mark Henry said that he will be retiring shortly after WrestleMania, when his current three year deal expires.  He said he was going to retire in 2013 but Vince McMahon convinced him to stay, but he’s 100 percent done with wrestling at the end of this deal.  
    • WWE’s third quarter business report will be on 10/29.  That will be when the new network number will be released.  The stock may start rising in anticipation.
    • That’s what happened today, as it’s not up to $19.55 per share, up 78 cents for the day. 
    • Tommaso Ciampa was at the show last night because he’s working the NXT TV tapings tonight but he is still a free agent, they are just using him on television at this point.
    • Notes on the new A.J. Styles action figure
    • Congratulations to Dave Bautista, who was married over the weekend.  Among those at the wedding were friends like Jimmy Noonan, Chris Jericho and MVP.
    • Rosa Mendes was just engaged to boyfriend Bobby Schubenski in Paris, France.  The couple is expecting their first child in February.  This will all be covered in the Total Divas show next season.
    • The most recent Tokyo Dome show from 1/4 starts airing tomorrow night on AXS and will continue for the next five weeks, complete with Mauro Ranallo calling both Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kota Ibushi and Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada.
    • The WWE is looking for a Branding Vice President to work under Stephanie McMahon.  The job entails setting strategy to grow revenue and generate positive perception of the brand.
    • Tommy Rich headlines for Hoosier Pro Wrestling on 11/7 in Columbus, IN at the 4-H Fairgrounds.
    • Pure Wrestling Alliance on 10/23 in Guelph, ONT
    • Alpha-One on 11/15 at Crazy Bill’s in Hamilton, ONT. 
    • Cody Deaner vs. Eric Young headlines the Jingle Bells Brawl on 12/5 in St. Catherines, ONT at the Merritton Community Centre.
    • The TLC PPV presale for the 12/13 show in Boston at the TD Garden is WWETLC.  The presale is going on right now.
    • There is a presale going on for the 12/30 Holiday show at the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore with the code WWELIVE  Appearing are Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, Bray Wyatt, Kane and more.  The presale goes through 10 p.m. tomorrow night.
    • XICW 15th year Bash on 10/18 at The Ritz in Detroit with P.J. Black, Sonjay Dutt, Rhino an Truth Martini.
    • Dory Funk’s BANG on 10/24 in Reddick, FL at the People Power Festival (which has nothing to do with John Laurinaitis).  There’s an all you can eat festival featuring a pro wrestling show with all cage matches.
    • NWA Smoky Mountain Wrestling on 10/17 in Elizabethton, TN, at the High School, featuring Ricky Morton and an appearance of Ricky Steamboat.
    • CWE on 12/2 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan at the Yorkdale Central School will include a $5 donation of each ticket sold to the cancer fund for Ron Rurak, a suppoerter of the promotion
    • CHIKARA runs on 10/10 in Haverhill,MA at St. Joseph’s School.
    • Former WWE performer Romeo Roselli was in a Miley Cyrus wedding digital short on the season premiere of Saturday Night Live.
    • The World Series of Fighting announced an eight-man lightweight tournament for 11/20 in Phoenix at the Comerica Theater.  The show airs on NBC Sports Network.  The eight men involved are Luis Palomino, Brian Foster, Mike Ricci, Islam Mamedov, Brian Cobb, Jorge Patino, Joao Zeferino and Rich Patishnock.
    • Classic Championship Wresting on 10/24 in Chatham, ONT at the WISH Centre headlined by Cody Deaner vs. Derek Wylde.
    • CZW iPPV on Saturday night from Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ.  The show is available at CZWrestling.com at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
    • River City Wrestling on 10/23 in Selma, TX at Retama Park.  Tanaka, Hernandez and April Hunter all appear.
    • Barrie Wrestling on 11/7 in Barrie, ONT.
    • Battlarts Pro Wrestling on 10/17 at Santino Marella’s Don Kolov Arena in Mississauaga, ONT featuring Sanyu from Japan.
    • CWE on 12/3 in Brandon, Manitoba at the Houston’s County Roadhouse.
    • All-Star Wrestling Fight Night on 10/23 at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds in Surrey, BC featuring a Battle Royal.
    • ONE Championship has a show tomorrow in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia headlined by middleweight champion Igor Svirid vs. Vitaly Bigdash.  The show airs on iPPV as well as on The Fight Network starting at 9 a.m. Eastern time. 
    • Jim Cornette interviewed Irv Muchnick on the Jimmy Snuka case at www.MLWRadio.com
    • WWE Network three month gift cards are now available at WalMart.
    • Mick Foley will be replacing Ric Flair in an appearance on an 11/7 show in Nashville at the Fairgrounds. 
    • Barbie Blank talks the TV show WAGS and her situation with WWE
    • Is he the sleaziest man around wrestling?
    • A video promoting the upcoming WWE 2K Sports game
    • FoxSports.com interview with Chris Jericho talking about his 25-year wrestling anniversary, his start to where he is now, how he has stayed relevant, when he really felt he understood wrestling, his future including WrestleMania 32 and more.

    ON THIS DAY IN PRO WRESTLING HISTORY INTERNATIONAL (thanks to Graeme Cameron)

    1973 – Masked Lee & Juanita de Hoyas beat Miyoko Hoshino & Peggy Kuroda to win the WWWA tag tiles

    1989 – Mitsuhiko Nishiwaki & Madusa beat Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada to win the annual tag team tournament

    1997 – El Hijo del Santo beat Felino in Leon to win the WWA welterweight title

    2001 – Kendo Ka Shin beat Masayuki Naruse in Tokyo to win the IWGP jr. title

    2004 – Takao Omori beat Masato Tanaka in Tokyo to win the Zero-One United National title

    2004 – L.A. Park beat Nicho in Tijuana to win the XLAW heavyweight title

    2004 – Universo 2000 beat Canek in the finals of the Leyenda de Azul tournament at Arena Mexico

    2005 – Brock Lesnar won a three-way over Kazuyuki Fujita and Masahiro Chono in Tokyo to win the IWGP heavyweight title plus Black Tiger (Rocky Romero) beat Tiger Mask to win the IWGP jr. title

    2006- Great Sasuke beat Super Delfin in Morioka to win the Tohoku jr. title

    2007 – Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Yuji Nagata in Tokyo to win the IWGP heavyweight title

    2012 – Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. beat Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan in Tokyo to win the IWGP tag titles

    2012 – KENTA (Hideo Itami) & Maybach Taniguchi beat Magnus & Samoa Joe in Yokohama to win the GHC tag titles