By Dave Meltzer
We’re looking for your thoughts on today’s New Japan show from Sumo Hall, as well Friday and Saturday’s shows, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to Dave Meltzerdave@wrestlingobserver.com”>
We’re also looking for reports on the Evolve show from last night in Woodside, NY, last night’s WWE show in Detroit, last night’s NXT show in Citrus Springs, FL, as well as today’s WWE shows in Fargo, ND (Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt) and Bemidji, MN (Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose) at Dave Meltzerdave@wrestlingobserver.com”>
Evolve tonight on iPPV from Deer Park, NY at the Sportatorium at 8 p.m. also on www.WWNLive.com
Timothy Thatcher vs. Biff Busick
Johnny Gargano vs. Rich Swann
Chris Hero vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Trent Baretta vs. Caleb Konley
Anthony Nese vs. Rich Swann
Drew Gulak & Tracy Williams vs. Mike Bailey & Rey Hours
The go-home Raw for SummerSlam will be Monday night from the Target Center in Minneapolis. John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Undertaker and the entire crew will be at the show.
Smackdown and Main Event will be taped Tuesday night in Green Bay.
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The new issue of Figure Four Weekly is now up for subscribers (subscribe to th site here and get access to Figure Four, the Observer, tons of audio, and more) featuring a chat with Konnan about the state of AAA heading into TripleMania XXIII. We discuss the company’s improvements in production, advantages over WWE and differences in philosophy, how to listen to fans, and much more. Plus, as always, we have all of the usual reviews and international news, including Dr. Lucha’s TripleMania preview.
Last week’s FREEFigure Four Weekly is still up with a look at the crazy story of why Gawker thinks the FBI may have helped Hulk Hogan cover up his racist and homophobic comments. A judge has ordered the FBI to turn over the records of their investigation, and what Gawker is saying in court about what has and hasn’t been turned over paints a very interesting picture.
Also, now available for the first time on Kindle (meaning Kindle devices and anything with the Kindle app) is Fall Guys, the seminal 1937 book that has been described as being like the 1930s version of the Wrestling Observer. It was surprisingly not on Kindle already, so we put together a nice version with a full table of contents w/ chapter marks, proper formatting on everything, etc. Right now it’s available from the American, Canadian, and Australian Amazon/Kindle stores OR you can also buy it from anywhere in the world on PayHip, who will provide you with both Kindle and ePub (every other e-reader) format files, and you can either sideload them to your device or have them email it to your Kindle.
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A look at the WWE shows next week in Brooklyn is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer. We also have full coverage of the G-1 Climax tournament and how it all builds for the Tokyo Dome and the fall season, as well as coverage of all the G-1 matches this past week. We also have a look at the Teamsters attempting to unionize UFC fighters, the UFC’s letter sent to fighters and morale issues. We also have a look at the AAA TripleMania PPV show, UFC ratings increases, the brawl at the WSOF show, UFC suing Wanderlei Silva and Layla retiring.
The issue is on the site right now at August 17, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Summerslam build, Unions courting UFC fighters
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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 the WWE events in Brooklyn with three straight full houses and look historically at the only other promotion that has been able to do it historically and the record, as well as updates on the NXT and SummerSlam shows and more details on the NXT card as well as the probable main event stipulation and ticket demand.
We have a complete look at the G-1 Climax tournament, including updates on the last few days, the standings, the Sumo Hall preview and coverage of all the shows this past week with star ratings.
We’ve got a look at the attempts to unionize UFC fighters, the real story behind the attempt, the letter sent by UFC to all of its fighters and why they probably could have written it better, and a look at UFC business.
We also look at the wealth of Vince McMahon, Rosa Mendes being pregnant, WWE injury updates, lawsuits, weird match, Tough Enough, new names, insider trading, Raw advance, Diva search news plus notes on all the weekend WWE & NXT events.
We look at TripleMania, all the problems with the show, what happened with the Spanish language broadcast, mistakes made in booking, how the card had to change from its original plans, the letter AAA sent out after, the retirements and Hall of Fame ceremony, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings.
We also have coverage of this past week’s UFC show, with business notes, the Johnson-Dariush scoring, and match by match coverage with bonuses.
We also look at the brawl at the WSOF show with The Diaz Brothers and Khabib Nurmagomedov, as well as the problems in the Jake Shields vs. Rousimar Palhares fight.
We’ve also got notes on the retirement of Layla from WWE and highlights of her career.
We also look at the lawsuit WWE has filed against Wanderlei Silva for alleging the company fixes fights.
We look at the CMLL Anniversary show, an injury to the best older wrestler in the business, a New Japan star comes to Mexico and a rundown on the main events the past two weeks at Arena Mexico.
We also look at another Rey Mysterio match, as well as the next major Dragon Gate show lineup and highlights from the past week.
We also look at New Japan stars heading to NOAH.
We also look at the beginning of talks for an international group to return to PPV, as well as a look at the Fire Festival, one of Genichiro Tenryu’s last matches and a set up for an angle with one of the biggest stars of the 80s vs. one of the biggest stars of the 90s.
We’ve got notes on the funeral of Roddy Piper, more on the Hulk Hogan tapes story, Hogan’s first public appearance, two Roddy Piper moves that haven’t come out, one of the biggest stars of the last ten years suffering a major health issue, a former star gets his number retired, a U.K. star returns after cancer, a retirement that probably isn’t a retirement, a Japanese promotion running in October in California, a wrestler having his first match in 20 years, the second oldest living wrestler and his background, big shows in Puerto Rico and news no two different wrestling Halls of Fame.
We also have an update on the status of Lucha Underground, what changes have to be made, the audience watching the show, what to look out for, notes on the contracts the performers have, update on Vampiro and coverage of both weeks of Ultima Lucha.
We also look at the ROH show in Brooklyn, TNA Hall of fame ceremony, and upcoming TNA house shows.
We also look at McGregor vs. Aldo, a big show vs. normal show, Las Vegas vs. Cowboys Stadium, Rousey vs. Cyborg update, Lawler vs. McGregor, UFC financials, how much it costs them every year just in interest on their bond, what kind of profits they are making, lots of ratings into, Rousey business notes, the Aldo drug testing fiasco, Overeem vs. Dos Santos, Punk vs. Pendred, fighter already talking about coming out of retirement, and lots of new UFC fights.
We also have notes on Josh Thomson and Bellator, Bellator’s next major show, Josh Koscheck blasts UFC and more Bellator fights.
We have an update on Chris Leben after his arrest, new WSOF shows, a crime fighter returns to MMA and notes on weight cutting.
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.
SUNDAY’S NEWS UPDATE
- Bryan and I have a new show talking the G-1 finals, Dwayne Johnson and Anderson Silva…
Wrestling Observer Radio 8/16: Full New Japan G-1 Finals recap, awesome main event, other must-see matches, wrestling and MMA news, more! - For those who don’t want to wade through three full-length New Japan shows, my big recommendations are the A.J. Styles vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi match on Friday, the Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kazuchika Okada and Michael Elgin vs. Tomohiro Ishii matches on Saturday, and today’s Tanahashi vs. Nakamura finals.
- Here is our live coverage from last night: NJPW G1 Climax 25 Finals (August 16) live results: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
- Also check this show as well:
Aug 16 – DR. KEITH PRESENTS: G1 Climax Closure!!! - At the show last match, ROH booker Hunter Johnston, as Delirious, with his mask on, and speaking broken English, announced that ROH would tour Japan in 2016. He mentioned The Kingdom, ReDRagon, Roderick Strong, Jay Lethal and the Briscoes in his interview.
- John Cena will be appearing on Late Night with Seth Myers on late Thursday night to plug SummerSlam.
- As noted on the front page, ESPN Sports Center will be covering SummerSlam this year.
- The Dish Network and Sinclair Broadcasting were at an impasse with the threat they would be removed. But they’ve reached a temporary agreement to keep the Sinclair stations on while continuing to negotiate terms of a new deal. The deal expired at midnight and it looked like all Sinclair stations, which broadcast ROH would have been off Dish. ROH would still be on for homes who get NESN and Destination America.
- With no major WWE or UFC events this weekend, nothing made Google searches from boxing, wrestling or MMA. Mostly football the past few days. NJPW did have 14,600 tweets as of a few hours ago.
- At last night’s Evolve show in New York, Rich Swann turned on Johnny Gargano to set up a new match on tonight’s iPPV show.
- New Japan World will air a press conference tonight at either 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. which will cover what happens after G-1. (thanks to Jose Gonzalez)
- Seiya Sanada is now taking bookings throughout North American through Bill Behrens at showbis@aol.com He is based now in Detroit.
- Great North Wrestling on 8/14 in Brockville, Ontario before nearly 1,000 fans: Myzery the Barbarian b Shooter Storm, Sideshow Jack & Madman Taylor b Preston Perry & Majic Mario, Kid Canuck b Pepper Jack, Jessika Black b Stacy Thibault, Dori Yeats (a gold medalist in the Pan American games doing an amateur style match) b Aniko Potoczy, Hannibal b Giant Darko (Road Warrior Animal got involved in the finish), Harley Davison b ?, Black Dragon b Patrick Shenzy, Honky Tonk Man & Jeremy Prophet & Grapecrusher & Bryan Briggs b Sexy Eddy & Stunning & Steven Levac, & Sao Amin & Paul Rosenberg in an elimination match. (thanks to Anthony Ambros)
- Global Force Wrestling announced this show for 8/28 in Harrisburg, PA at Metro Bank Park featuring Kevin Nash doing a meet and greet, plus Dirty Money vs. Pat Buck, Kevin Matthews vs. Pepper Parks, Kimber Lee vs. Cherry Bomb, Brian Myers vs. Chris Mordetzky, BLK Jeez vs. Sonjay Dutt, Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows vs. Seiya Sanada & Ali Akbar.
- Smash Wrestling on 9/13 in Toronto at the Frankln Horner Community Centre with a US vs. Canada women’s tournament including Jessica Havok, Allysin Kay, Candice LaRae, Heidi Lovelace, Veda Scott, Portia Perez, Jennifer Blake, Nicole Matthews and many others.
- Ray Rowe of ROH is putting together a documentary on his comeback from his motorcycle accident at www.GoFundMe.com/raymondxrowe
- Crossfire Wrestling on 8/22 in Ridgeville, ONT at 4 p.m. at Bissell’s Hideaway.
- NWX on 9/13 in Simcoe, ONT at Branch 79 of the Royal Canadian Legion at 2 p.m. with Ethan Carter III vs. Shawn Brown. Cody Deaner also appears.
- Mid Missouri Wrestling Alliance from last night in St. Louis: Gary Jackson & Brian James b Kevin Lee Davidson & Evan Gelistico-DQ, Ace Hawkins b Barackus, Moondog Rover d Attila Khan, Johnathan Zulu b Jimmy D-DQ, Tommy Dallas b Brandon Espinosa, LaMarcus Clinton won three-way over Clownman Jacko and Flaming Freddie Fury, J-Mal Swgg b Danny Adams, Da’Marius Jones NC A.J Williams.
- Pro Wrestling Epic from last night in Pontoon Beach, IL: Laurence Johnson b Everett Connors, Clownman Jacko b Jimmy D=DQ, Tyler Copeland b LaMarcus Clinton, Leland Race b Leone Mephisto, Steven Kennedy b Billy McNeil, Karim Brigante b Skinny Timmy-DQ, Selene Grey b Stacey O’Brien, Brandon Aarons b Danny Adams (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
- Showtime on Demand has a documentary called “Glena” about a woman who sacrifices everything to do MMA (thanks to John Raad)
- Wrestlemerica from last night in Barnesville, GA before 600 fans: Iceberg b Simon Sermon-DQ, Iceberg & Razor & Rowdy b Andy Anderson & Pain & Simon Sermon, Amber Gallows b Rachel Freeman, Bill the Butcher DCOR Pain, Amber Gallows b Dementia, Matt Hardy b Tyson Dean. Tama Tonga appears on the 10/2 show (thanks to Kris Zellner)
- Added to NWAClassics.com today are King Parsons vs. Jack Victory and Chavo Sr. & Hector Guerrero vs. The Fabulous Ones in a cage match from the Paul Boesch Houston tape collection.
- Pure Wrestling Association from last night in Bradford, ONT: Ned Tyson b Hardcore Hick, Joey Valentyne b RJ City, Tommy Dreamer & Rhino b Jimmy King & Derek Platinum, Johnny Devine & Ruffy Silverstein b Stickball & Primo, Eric Cairnie b Rex Atkins, Reggie Marley b Steve Corino, Beautiful Beaa b Kaitlin Diemond, Rhino & Tommy Dreamer b Johnny Devine & Ruffy Silverstein to win the Carrot Cup (thanks to Steven Ashe)
- Lucha Xtreme TV from last night: Mike Dalite (in drag) b Kikyo-COR, Johnny Plinko b Marcus Ericks, JR Kratos DDQ Brian Tannen. Next TV taping is 8/23 at 1 p.m at the Hanford Civic Center. (thanks to Jon Southerland)
- Championship Wrestling Entertainment from Friday night in Port St. Lucie, FL: Lince Dorado NC Eddie Cruz, Ashley Mayberry b Shaniah Arylana, Big English b Romeo, Johyann Ramriez & Ace Slater b Catwecabble, Rhett Giddins b El Hero Byronico, Tyranus b Rex Bacchus, Chico Adams b Damian James, Santana Garrett & Su Yung b Grace Storm & MJ Knight, Lince Dorado & Eddie Cruz b Barrios Brothers, Zack Monster won three-way over Gabriel Black & Nathan Vain.
- Nova Pro Wrestling from last night in Orlando: Mark Silva b Chico Adams, Ace Andrews & Rex Bacchus b Carlos Rivera & D Ramos, Gabriel Black b Vertigo Rivera, Santana Garrett b Shanish Arlyana, Jesus Rodriguez b Aaron Epic, Tyranus b Johnn Remsez, Ace Andrews won Battle Royal, Rhett Giddins b Zack Monster (thanks to Al Haft)
- Longtime reader and 70s wrestler Tom Hankins is doing a Go Fund Me campaign to bring a live stage production on Dr. Jerry Graham. Kurt Brown will be featured as The Docs #1 authority. All of the details are on Chicago Mad Dog & The Bad Dogs Facebook page, as well as all of my other Facebook wrestling pages. The goal is $3,500 to cover production costs. The whole show is based on the upcoming book by Hankins, from Scott Teal’s Crowbar Press, “The Mat, The Mob & The Music”. Teal is editing it right now. It’s Hankins biography in wrestling, music and working for the mob. There are tons of Jerry Graham stories included, many which have never been heard previously. There will also be a few songs to go with the stories. There are stories of Mil Mascaras, Bruiser Brody, Lars Anderson, King Curtis, Jack Brisco, Jim Morrison, Phil Spector, Frank Zappa and more.
- The NZ Herald (New Zealand’s major daily newspaper) has done a pretty good article on IPW wrestling in Auckland, with a balanced view and even a highlight video
- Extras needed for a Schwarzenegger movie in Detroit
- Colt Cabana on Mystery Show – a weekly podcast where the host tries to solve a mystery. On last week’s episode, the host employed Cabana’s knowledge of ribs to help solve a mystery related to a strange image on a Welcome Back Kotter lunchbox. Some funny stuff (thanks to Adrian Pickworth)
- John Cena’s charity work and being named as one of the most charitable athletes makes a newspaper in Spain
- Honky Tonk Man talks the death of Roddy Piper
ON THIS DAY IN PRO WRESTLING HISTORY INTERNATIONAL (thanks to Graeme Cameron)
1974 – Superstar Billy Graham beat Billy Robinson in Denver to win the IWE title
1974 – Antonio Inoki & Seiji Sakaguchi beat Kurt Von Hess & Karl Von Schotz in Los Angeles to win the North American tag titles
1981 – Lola Gonzalez beat Vickie Williams in Mexico City to win the UWA women’s title
1992 – Ciclon Ramirez beat Fantasma de la Quebrada in Mexico City to win the Mexican national welterweight title
1992 – Great Muta beat Riki Choshu in Fukuoka to win the IWGP title and the Greatest 18 Club title
1992 – Bulldog KT (Gedo) & Pat Tanaka beat Coolie SZ (Jado) & Kendo in Tokyo to win the UWF IC tag titles
2005 – Ultimo Guerrero & Perro Aguayo Jr. beat El Hijo del Santo & Rayman in Puebla to wi nthe WWA tag titles
2009 – Valiente beat Sangre Azteca in Mexico City to win the Mexican national welterweight title
2009 – Mistico (first Sin Cara) beat Tiger Mask in Tokyo to win the IWGP jr. title
2009 – Aja Kong beat Dynamite Kansai in Tokyo to win the Oz Academy Queen title
2010 – Togi Makabe beat Shinsuke Nakamura in Tokyo to win the G-1 Climax title
2013 – Kotaro Suzuki & Kento Miyahara beat Keisuke Ishii & Shigehiro Irie in Tokyo to win the All-Asia tag title