Paypress testing

Category: Post Type article

  • UFC News: Ronda Rousey to star in Paramount Pictures film on her life

    By Dave Meltzer, WrestlingObserver.com

    Paramount Pictures announced Monday that they have finalized a deal to have Ronda Rousey star in a major movie about her life, based on Rousey’s recently-released autobiography, “My Fight/Your Fight,” which she wrote along with her sister.

    Mark Bomback has been hired as executive producer. Variety broke the story, saying Bomback has just started working on adapting the book to the big screen. Rousey has three upcoming movie projects on her plate with the next one being “Mile 22,” which is scheduled to shoot in January 2016.

  • UFC: T.J. Dilashaw wants fight with Conor McGregor now

    TJ Dillashaw returned to the latest episode of Submission Radio to discuss fighting Conor McGregor and to respond to Dominick Cruz.

    According to TJ there’s no time like now to make the super fight between him and Conor McGregor especially after seeing his performance against Chad Mendes “I don’t think he’s gonna last that long. I would like to do it now if I could, because I don’t think he’s going to last and be champion forever. He’s definitely going to get beat. I think Mendes showed the holes in his game and I think people will take advantage of it. I think Chad Mendes beats him, I think Frankie Edgar beats him. You know, I don’t know if he’s going to beat Aldo after watching that.” While on the subject of McGregor TJ Dillashaw  discussed if the lack of training camp was a major factor on Chad Mendes performance with Conor at UFC 189“Oh absolutely. I mean Chad was out drinking beer, fishing and hunting when he got the phone call. I mean he got 10 days to train for a guy that’s been training for three months for a title fight, you know, and Chad always had to work really hard to get in peak conditioning shape anyways because of the way he’s built. You know, he’s a very strong muscle-bound guy and he’s gotta work really hard on getting that cardio up for his fights. And anybody on 10 days notice and that much pressure and that much adrenalin going into the fight, I mean for one, he had an adrenalin dump, and two, he was out of shape. So it was hard to even think that Chad would have enough cardio to last five rounds. I don’t think Chad was going to finish him. I thought he had – I know he has the skills to do it, and he showed that in the fight. He was dominating the two rounds until the very end of the second round, and I still feel like it got stopped a little early.”


    When it comes to Dominick Cruz TJ responded to his ‘wannabe’ comment made on the MMA Hour “He’s acting like Conor. He’s acting like Conor McGregor right now is what I really think. He’s just talking a bunch of nonsense, he’s trying to stay relevant while being hurt. You know, he’s been out of the game for the last four years, I mean no one’s seen him fight, and all of a sudden he thinks he’s a tough guy ’cause he got one finish in his career. You know what I mean? Like this guy’s crazy. He’s just talking a lot and keeping himself relevant so that he can get the next title shot, ’cause really he doesn’t even deserve it. He can’t even stay healthy for one fight. Only way he deserves it is by talking it up and making it a big fight. So I think that’s his strategy.” In the same interview Dominick said that the division has struggled without him commenting “Now that I’m coming back, it can get back on its feet again. That’s the truth.” TJ responded “I think it’s just trash talk. He knows I’m a good fighter. I’m gonna come in there and I’m gonna put it on him, man. I mean he keeps saying that I haven’t fought a guy like him, well he’s never had a guy in his weight class like me until now. You know what I mean? Like that’s what everyone always says “oh you haven’t fought a guy like me before”. Well yeah because I haven’t fought Dominick Cruz. He also never fought me. So it’s kinda just ridiculous things that I feel like he’s been saying and I’m gonna make sure to shut his mouth when we fight.” TJ is ready for Cruz but he won’t wait around for the match up forever “It’s all about him, I’m healthy. I came out of that fight unscathed and I’m ready to fight tomorrow. He’s the one with the bum leg and has to heal up and get ready, so I think that’s why he’s talking all this crap. He can’t actually even fight so the only way you’re still going to work your way to a title shot is by talking, and that’s the only shot. So as soon as he gets healthy, you know I gotta figure out when that’s going to be because I mean I don’t want to wait forever, and who knows if he can even get healthy. The guy’s been injured more than he hasn’t.”

    Finally TJ responded to a recent call out by John Dodson where in an interview he said “When I’ve beat up Demetrious Johnson, I’m going to beat T.J. Dillashaw. He can sit there or run around and tell everybody that I’m just running my mouth, but I’ve seen him with his eyes glazed over, him being hurt, being cuddled after I knocked him out the last time.” TJ said in response

    “Yeah I mean he’s not going to beat Demetrious either. I mean that guy gasses out as well. He’s got zero cardio, I’m not worried about John Dodson. I was a very immature fighter [in the original fight]. I had four fights back then, you know, and that fight got stopped early as well. So he got a little lucky. Looked like he closed his eye and threw a big left hook and I was the dumb guy running in with my hands down. So I’m a completely different fighter and I would tear that kid up.”


    Full Interview: http://bit.ly/1UhWVqg


    Transcript


    TJ Dillashaw Transcript

    On if his performance over Renan Barao lived up to his expectations

    “Yeah, I mean I don’t know what the expectations were. I was just going in there with the mentality of wanting to punk him, stand in front of him and beat him. I wanted to beat him and break him all in the same fight.”


    If he thinks Renan should move up a division after this loss

    “I’m not really sure. I mean he was on weight, he was on weight early this time. He was on weight the morning of check-in. So I mean he looked a lot leaner, looked like he got his diet under control. I think he just needs to maybe change up some training a little bit. I’m not really sure. I mean he’s been doing the same stuff for so long now, been working with the same coaches. I’m not really sure, it’s a tough one. Maybe moving up makes him faster in his weight class. You know, he is a big dude, he could go to 145 very easily. You know, he might be a faster athlete if he does that. I don’t think it would hurt.”


    Thoughts on Dominick Cruz calling TJ  a ‘wannabe’ who doesn’t know what it’s like to fight a ‘real’ champion

    “He’s acting like Conor. He’s acting like Conor McGregor right now is what I really think. He’s just talking a bunch of nonsense, he’s trying to stay relevant while being hurt. You know, he’s been out of the game for the last four years, I mean no one’s seen him fight, and all of a sudden he thinks he’s a tough guy ’cause he got one finish in his career. You know what I mean? Like this guy’s crazy. He’s just talking a lot and keeping himself relevant so that he can get the next title shot, ’cause really he doesn’t even deserve it. He can’t even stay healthy for one fight. Only way he deserves it is by talking it up and making it a big fight. So I think that’s his strategy.”


    Thoughts on Dominick saying that the division has struggled without him and commenting “Now that I’m coming back, it can get back on its feet again. That’s the truth.”


    “I think it’s just trash talk. He knows I’m a good fighter. I’m gonna come in there and I’m gonna put it on him, man. I mean he keeps saying that I haven’t fought a guy like him, well he’s never had a guy in his weight class like me until now. You know what I mean? Like that’s what everyone always says “oh you haven’t fought a guy like me before”. Well yeah because I haven’t fought Dominick Cruz. He also never fought me. So it’s kinda just ridiculous things that I feel like he’s been saying and I’m gonna make sure to shut his mouth when we fight.”


    If  TJ Dillashaw feels Cruz went too far by saying the following comments about his coach Duane Ludwig on the MMA Hour “I could be Duane Ludwig’s coach. Straight up. And so could (Alliance MMA head trainer) Eric del Fierro”

    “Absolutely. Like I said, he’s trying to raise a stink and he’s doing a good job of it. I mean does he have any fighters, you know, other than himself? So right now I don’t think he could train Duane Ludwig at all. I think it’s just Duane being confident in me and saying in interviews that I would knock him out in two rounds, and I think that kind of pissed Cruz off so he’s just firing back.”


    On when the fight between him and Cruz could take place and how it would go

    “It’s all about him, I’m healthy. I came out of that fight unscathed and I’m ready to fight tomorrow. He’s the one with the bum leg and has to heal up and get ready, so I think that’s why he’s talking all this crap. He can’t actually even fight so the only way you’re still going to work your way to a title shot is by talking, and that’s the only shot. So as soon as he gets healthy, you know I gotta figure out when that’s going to be because I mean I don’t want to wait forever, and who knows if he can even get healthy. The guy’s been injured more than he hasn’t.”


    On if Chad Mendes not having a proper training camp against McGregor had a major factor on his performance in the fight

    “Oh absolutely. I mean Chad was out drinking beer, fishing and hunting when he got the phone call. I mean he got 10 days to train for a guy that’s been training for three months for a title fight, you know, and Chad always had to work really hard to get in peak conditioning shape anyways because of the way he’s built. You know, he’s a very strong muscle-bound guy and he’s gotta work really hard on getting that cardio up for his fights. And anybody on 10 days notice and that much pressure and that much adrenalin going into the fight, I mean for one, he had an adrenalin dump, and two, he was out of shape. So it was hard to even think that Chad would have enough cardio to last five rounds. I don’t think Chad was going to finish him. I thought he had – I know he has the skills to do it, and he showed that in the fight. He was dominating the two rounds until the very end of the second round, and I still feel like it got stopped a little early.”


    On if TJ thinks if an in-shape Chad Mendes beats Conor McGregor

    “Absolutely. 100 precent. I put my money on it.”


    On if TJ Dillashaw still wants to have the Super Fight with Conor McGregor

    “Absolutely, but I don’t think he’s gonna last that long. I would like to do it now if I could, because I don’t think he’s going to last and be champion forever. He’s definitely going to get beat. I think Mendes showed the holes in his game and I think people will take advantage of it. I think Chad Mendes beats him, I think Frankie Edgar beats him. You know, I don’t know if he’s going to beat Aldo after watching that.”


    Response to John Dodson saying in a recent interview  saying “When I’ve beat up Demetrious Johnson, I’m going to beat T.J. Dillashaw. He can sit there or run around and tell everybody that I’m just running my mouth, but I’ve seen him with his eyes glazed over, him being hurt, being cuddled after I knocked him out the last time.”

    “Yeah I mean he’s not going to beat Demetrious either. I mean that guy gasses out as well. He’s got zero cardio, I’m not worried about John Dodson. I was a very immature fighter [in the original fight]. I had four fights back then, you know, and that fight got stopped early as well. So he got a little lucky. Looked like he closed his eye and threw a big left hook and I was the dumb guy running in with my hands down. So I’m a completely different fighter and I would tear that kid up.”

  • FREE DOWNLOAD: August 3, 2015 Figure Four Weekly: The crazy story behind why Gawker thinks the FBI covered for Hulk Hogan

    undefined

  • August 3, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Hulk Hogan fired by WWE over leaked hate speech, Daniel Bryan update, and much more

    undefined

  • GoFundMe campaign started for Jerry Lynn

    Submitted by Brian Fritz

    I’m hoping that you can help spread the word on the GoFundMe campaignthat has just started to help former TNA X-Division, ECW World Champion, and Ring of Honor champion Jerry Lynn. Jerry is one of the best guys you will ever meet in and out of wrestling. Plus, he had a fantastic 25-year career putting on exciting wrestling matches that have thrilled so many of us.

    All those years of taking bumps have taken a toll on him and he needs our help, so we’re looking to raise money for his medical bills with a Go Fund Me campaign. Any amount will help.

    – Jerry has been experiencing chronic neck pain as well as pain in his right arm and numbness. The first procedure will be neck surgery to remove bones spurs, replace three degenerative discs, and fuse his vertebrae. He will be having this procedure done on Thursday, August 6.

    – Jerry has also been suffering with severe pain in his back for the last three months due to a bulging disc. He will likely need surgery for this as well, and he hopes to have that done as soon as possible following his neck surgery.

    Jerry does have medical insurance, but he needs help in paying the $5000 deductible. Plus, he will be out of work recovering for 2-3 months, which will put a hardship on his family, including his wife and young daughter.

    To help cover all of his expenses, we are hoping to raise $15,000. Jerry would like to give anything over that amount to charity to help others in need. The charity he has chosen is the Nashville Rescue Mission which seeks to help the hurting of Middle Tennessee by offering food, clothing, and shelter to the homeless and recovery programs to those enslaved in life degrading problems.

    It is time for us as a wrestling community to pull together and give back to Jerry after everything he has done for us, his fans. This is our moment to give back and help one of the truly great guys.

  • WWE News: Ryback still in bad shape from staph infection (photo)

    WWE Intercontinental Champion Ryan “Ryback” Reeves, out of action since a staph infection he suffered three weeks ago, posted a photo on Instagram this morning showing that his bad right leg is still badly swollen.

    He wrote about the photo saying, “And this is the best it has looked and felt.  Wouldn’t wish this upon anyone, but it will be overcome.  Staying upbeat and positive even in frustration.”

  • Jimmy Snuka battling stomach cancer

    Jimmy Snuka, one of Roddy Piper’s most famous adversaries, just returned home on Friday after surgery after being diagnosed with stomach cancer. Snuka had surgery to remove part of his stomach and his lymph nodes and they believe they were able to remove all of the cancer.

    Bill Apter spoke to Carole Snuka both about Jimmy’s condition and Jimmy’s thoughts on Roddy Piper.

  • Northeast Wrestling August 2 results: Matt Hardy vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Alberto El Patron, Samoa Joe, Young Bucks

    Submitted by Pat Hamilton

    Chaotic Wrestling Champion Chase DelMonte vs. Mike Webb

    These guys pretty much had an “Indy match” as you would say. Chaotic Wrestling is a small indy promotion out of Lowell, but many regulars were in the crowd, so Chase was over enough for the crowd to enjoy it. Mike Webb was ROH’s top prospect tournament last year. Webb is usually solid, and Chase can put on a good match when its needed. Nothing too memorable, some chain wrestling, and a few dives. There was a botched spot where Chase went to leapfrog Webb with Webb coming off of the ropes behind him but he ended up landing on him. They recovered smoothly though and Chase went for a pin without hesitating. Webb went for a cross body, but chase caught him with an “RKO outta no where” (cutter is one of his finishers) that was well executed, and got the win off of it. Good finish, short match, and was a decent opener that did what it needed to do.

    Stamos Syndicate and Jake Manning vs Team Frendship and The Cam-An Connection

    This was a match geared towards the kids, and it was successful in that. The Stamos Syndicate is a 3 man heel stable from Northeast Wrestling with two large Samoan looking men, and some short guy. Jake Manning played a cub scout leader who would refer to his guidebook before executing a move, only to have the baby face foil his plans. Imagine Sargent slaughter as a cub scout. Team friendship is a hilarious team with Mark Shurman who is a muscular handsome baby face, but is a little dumb and over excited, and his short partner, who tries to calm him down and gets frustrated when his partners mental capacity comes up short. The Cam-An connection are an ambiguously gay babyface team who come out to the backstreet boys, and wrestle solid matches considering how young they are.

    The babyfaces controlled the early going. At one point, both members of the Can-Am Connection go for dives outside of the ring, and each of them miss and land on their backs  A fun spot where Shurman hip tosses one of the heels then jumps up and down in excitement, then the next one steps in line and the process repeats. Then, caught up in his excitement, goes to hip toss the ref, but the distraction is enough for the heels to gain some heat and take control. Although this didn’t last long as the baby faces shineed, and team friendship got the pin in a finish. Nothing special, the match was a little sloppy, but the characters got the kids involved, and that’s all this was really intended to do.

    Brian Anthony v  Caleb Konley

    This was basically a Smackdown match. Nothing memorable, but by no means sloppy or bad. It was fine, but the crowd was kin of stale for this one (not that it was a hot crowd really anyways) Brian Anthony is a heel who goes in through the crowd? I’m not sure what purpose is served, but he carries with him what I think is a mini hockey stick with black and green electrical tape on like half of it to match his ring gear. Also he came out to Disturbed in a trench coat. He would be “Generic heel #3” in a wrestling video game. Caleb was the babyface. They had “a match”, the ref took a bump and Anthony hit Konley with a Hockey stick or something for the win, because nobody in Northeast Wrestling could find any baseball bats on a minor league baseball tour.

    Alexxis vs. Mickie James

    From a “wrestling” perspective, this was ok, but from an entertainment perspective, this was awesome! Mickie came out (to her wwe music which was weird to hear) and got a decent pop, and then just sat there while Alexxis came out and played awesome heel for about 10 minutes. She was arguing with kids in the front row, which the crowd really reacted to. After every move she would brag about how great she was, but she did it in a way that wasn’t generic, and generated a lot of heat. Crowd loved this. Alexxis maintained the upper hand, keeping Mickie out of the ring until she snuck under the ring and popped out to get her first offense of the match. This caused Alexxis to pout loudly, much to the enjoyment of the kids at ringside. The match went back and fourth, with Mickie teasing Stratusfaction, but ultimately settling on a chick kick for the win. This match may have been the most over.

    Next up is Mick Foley to thank the crowd for supporting the show and the wrestlers. Warbeard Hanson (half of War Machine in ROH) with a manager to interrupt and talk about how he’s old and washed up and has a grey beard. Foley “My beard may be grey, but when I wake up in the morning, and put in some just for men, I’ll look good as new (something like that), but when you wake up in the morning, you’ll still absolutely suck.” Foley would love to kick Hanson’s ass, but his ass kicking days are over. However he has someone to do it for him, so out comes Samoa Joe.

    Samoa Joe vs Warbeard Hanson

    Joe is the most over performer so far. Very loud Joe’s gonna kill you chants. This match was fine. Warbeard came out of the previously mentioned Chaotic wrestling, so most people knew him, and the place went nuts for Joe. They basically wrestled a solidhitting big guy vs big guy match with the you cant knock me down standing in the ring spot. The each did their spots, Joe did the kick to Warbead when he was in the corner and the running senton, warbeard did the cartwheel and the kick. Joe locked in the sleeper hold, then locked in the hooks for the rear naked choke and the victory.

    Donavan Dijak vs Flip Gordon

    This was suppose to be Dijak vs Jimmy Preston, another local guy. Flip Gordon is a local guy who just started wrestling a few months ago, but boy does he live up to his name. Dijak is a monster compared to him as flip is about average person height. Flip is basically A.J. Styles during his X division days of 10 years ago, but with more flips. This match was fun. Flip does the Paul London entrance right into a stare down with Dijak. They Lock up, and Dijak tries to shove him across the ring, but he does a backwards roll into a backflip to land on his feet. Dijak whips him into the corner, but he does a backflip off of the turnbuckle over Dijak to land behind him. (imagine what Daniel Bryan does during his comeback, but set up to Christopher Daniels BME.). Right off of this, Dijak mimics him and does a backflip of his own.

    Dijak charges but Flip pulls the rope down and Dijak spills to the outside. Flip hits a perfect flip dive. Back inside and Flip is hitting Dijak with some brutal stiff kicks in the corner. the ref backs him up, and then Flip charges right into a big boot. Dijak hits some stiff kicks of his own as they trade offense. The crowd is into this by now. Dijak goes for his finisher (It’s like a fireman’s carry into a nickbreaker, but the opponent is facing up instead, and the landing is more like a gts than a regular neck or backbreaker) but flip lands on his feet and kicks Dijak down. Flip goes for a shooting star press, but Dijak rolls out of the way and hits his finish for the win. Great match. It was short enough for Dijak to still look strong, but Flip got in enough offense to benefit equally from the match.

    The Young Bucks vs The Kingdom

    I’m sorry in advance, but I cannot tell the Bucks apart in the ring, never mind remember from a live show. Matt Taven is from a town about 15 min from Lowell, so he’s treated as the hometown hero returning home after reaching success. The Bucks were I think suppose to be the heels, but its hard to tell from the language they wrestle in. (I cant remember if that’s Bryan or Vinnie’s term) The bucks come out with their normal entrance. The Kingdom come out and are in full Babyface mode. Bennett and Taven each go on top of a dugout and run across it high fiving and pumping up the crowd. this was awesome, and the crowd was way into this. The Bucks and The Kingdom trade trade many-a-kicks and crotch chops, with the Bucks yelling it high pitched voices during each move. The Bucks get thrown out of the ring, and say screw this and start to walk to the back. The kingdom come to stop them, only to have the bucks turn around and nail two perfectly timed beautiful super kicks, as well as some crotch chops.

    The best moment of the night came when the bucks have Taven outside the ring and Bennett down in the ring. the ring is on home plate with the infield clear of any crowd. So one of the bucks grabs a mic, and starts insulting the Red Sox. He say’s he’ll show us how to hit a home run. So one of them pretends to throw a pitch, and the other pretends to swing a bat. Then the one who swings the bat proceeds to leave the ring, hop the guardrail, and run the bases, celebrating as if he hit a home run. he nears home plate, and dives over the guardrail into Taven. So then they proceed to switch places and do the exact spot AGAIN. This is SO awesome. As he runs down the third base line, Taven hops the guard rail, and superkicks this particular Buck, and leaves both men down on the third base line. The place went nuts for this.

    At the end of the match, the Bucks to a million spots and kicks that make them so good at what they do, but the kingdom fights back, and cuts the ring off to one buck.  Then the kingdom tease a Meltzer Driver, but instead hit a similar looking spike piledriver  for the clean win over the Bucks. Post match, Taven cuts a promo thanking the fans, and northeast wrestling, and says he’s happy to show everyone where he’s started what he’s been able to accomplish with The Kingdom.

    Rey Mysterio vs Alberto El Patron vs Matt Hardy

    Everyone comes out, with Hardy getting booed as most of us expected him to work as a heel, and Patron got a loud reaction from most of the older demographic. Rey comes out to a sea of cheers and kids in Mysterio masks, who were really the focus of this match. Patron grabs a mic and asks the crowd to cheer for Hardy, then him, and then Rey. He says he’s sick of everyone cheering for Rey over him, because he’s a 4 time world champ, and should be treated as such. He says he’s gonna kick Rey’s ass, and says that Hardy should be equally mad over all of these Americas rooting for a foreigner over him. The match starts, and Hardy acts indecisive at first, but eventually turns on Rey.

    This match wasn’t about being a 5-star match as this wasn’t really the place for that. This was a family show at a baseball park, and the match was built around Rey overcoming the odds to win, despite his size. To us this is a little overplayed, but given that this is an indy show in a ball park, and not ROH final battle 2015, this was the perfect main event. Eventually Rey hits the double 619, and the frog splash on Hardy for the win.

  • SUN UPDATE: Record public interest in UFC, Ronda Rousey & Roddy Piper all over media

    By Dave Meltzer

    We’re looking for reports on tonight’s WWE shows in Stockton and Fresno as well as the Northeast Wrestling shows this weekend in Wappingers Falls, NY and Lowell, MA at Dave Meltzerdave@wrestlingobserver.com”>

    We’re also looking for your thoughts on UFC 190, G-1 in Osaka and G-1 in Nagoya, with a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to Dave Meltzer

    WWE on Sunday has house shows in Fresno (Chris Jericho vs.. Kevin Owens) and Stockton, CA (Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt, Randy Orton vs. Sheamus) and NEW has a show in Lowell, MA (Rey Mysterio vs. Alberto el Patron vs. Matt Hardy).

    Raw will be Monday night in San Jose with Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman returning for the show.

    Smackdown will be taped on Tuesday night in Sacramento.

    **** 

    FREE THIS WEEK: The newest issue of Figure Four Weekly (subscribe to th site here and get access to Figure Four, the Observer, tons of audio, and our) is 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. Plus, as always, we have  all of the usual reviews and international news.

    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. 

    **** 

    The Latest Wrestling Observer: August 3, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Hulk Hogan fired by WWE over leaked hate speech, Daniel Bryan update

    Web site subscriptions, which include access to both current and older newsletters as well as every audio show in the history of the site are at  Sign up here for as low as $9.99 per month!

    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 at 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.

    The ups and downs of Hulk Hogan is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.  We look at his rise to fame, steroids in pro wrestling, Hogan as a fan, the Zahorian trial and why Hogan wasn’t involved, the first time Vince McMahon sent Hulk Hogan away, the McMahon trial, and his career post-wrestling.  We look at Hogan Knows Best and how that plays into his latest problems, Bubba the Love Sponge, when Hogan’s racist rant was first reported and how three years ago, the story behind the tapes, what was said, , Hogan’s apology, the Gawker threat and how it plays into his lawsuit, WWE’s reaction and how this is different from his other historical issues.  We look at how fiction vs. reality is Hogan’s friend, fan reaction, and more.  This is the most detailed look at not just Hogan’s latest situation, but life after wrestling over 25 plus years.

    We also look at Daniel Bryan’s current situation, his concussion issues, his wanting to wrestle again and WWE not clearing him, his wife’s reaction to his wrestling again, how his neck is holding up, what could have gotten him to TNA and his different views of the 2014 and 2015 Royal Rumble.

    We also look at the HBO Real Sports story on domestic violence issues with fighters, including War Machine, Josh Grispi, Rumble Johnson and Chris Leben.

    We also look at the injuries to John Cena and Alicia  Fox, lots of notes on SummerSlam, updates on Sting, New WWF considerations for the network, Movie box office with WWE stars, the original gay wrestler idea from 2002 and who it was talked about for, Chael Sonnen and WWE, Celebrity in WWE programming going forward, WWE lawsuit news, Tough Enough notes, new WWE movie and a look at a new developmental star who just debuted.

    We also have notes on all the WWE & NXT live events over the weekend, business notes and highlights.

    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

    • The reaction to last night’s UFC was off the charts.  On twitter, there were 988,000 mentions related to UFC 190 making it by far No. 1.
    • On Google searches, searches since Thursday related to the show were 6.3 million, which is the all-time record for the promotion.  Keep in mind that 200,000 is normal for a PPV, 50,000 is normal for a Demetrious Johnson PPV and the last UFC PPV was 1.3 million.  Mayweather-Pacquiao and the Super Bowl did more than 10 million.  Rousey has in particular exploded with older women.

    Sunday

    4. Gina Carano 20,000

    Saturday

    1. Ronda Rousey 5 million

    4. Danny Garcia 50,000

    Friday

    1. Ronda Rousey 1 million

    3. Roddy Piper 1 million

    Thursday

    3. UFC 190 200,000

    8. Bethe Correia 100,000 

    • Dana White got a bunch of heat from pro wrestlers for using the term “fake” to describe pro wrestling when somebody complained about having to spend $60 to see the show last night when he can get WWE for $9.99.  Obviously “fake” is a bad word to use for pro wrestling, although sometimes when I watch some of the interviews and angles, they do come across really fake.  Tuesday’s Tough Enough with the bikini contest women taking the splash off the top like it was nothing is something that people in wrestling should worry about a lot more than some MMA promoter using that word.  As far as wrestlers go, every wrestler has the right to be mad about White using that term.  However, any wrestler who uses the term mark to describe wrestling fans should have a little perspective because it is pretty much the same thing.  The derivative of the term mark is a condescending term for fans so stupid as to believe wrestling is real.  Essentially, usage of the term is the admission that wrestling is fake.
    • White now says that he thinks Rousey vs. Cyborg would do 2.5 million buys on PPV.  I guess he didn’t read the memo that PPV was dead.  He also pushed the idea of putting Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey together on a December show at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
    • Coverage of last night’s show was the most read article earlier today on the Washington Post web site.
    • Ronda Rousey promo from the other day on people who make fun of her body with more than 1.7 million viewers
    • Rousey after the fight, the first thing she said was that she hoped Piper and her dad had a good time watching the fight together.  On who should would rather fight next, Miesha Tate or Cyborg:  “I prefer to fight who makes weight and doesn’t do drugs.”  
    • Here is Dave Meltzer’s play by play of last night’s UFC: UFC 190 results: Ronda Rousey vs. Bethe Correia, Shogun, Nog Brothers and here is our staff picks article:  UFC 190 and WSOF 22 Picks From The Secret Psychic Spy~!
    • Here is post UFC 190 press conference:  UFC 190 Post-Fight Press Conference
    • A couple of new fights were announced: Mir/Arlovski official, new main event announced
    • Roddy Piper stories:

    Roddy Piper’s acting career in Entertainment Weekly
    Jim Ross writes about Roddy Piper
    New York Times on Roddy Piper
    Coverage of Roddy Piper on The National
    Roddy Piper promo from the Bloodstained Memories DVD
    ESPN on Roddy Piper’s death
    A story on Madusa and Monster trucks
    Richard O’Sullivan noted the symbolism of Ronda Rousey knocking out Bethe Correia with a punch to the left ear, the same left ear that was the center of the 1983 Roddy Piper vs. Greg Valentine angle that led to their dog collar match at Starrcade 83.

    • Check out Wrestling Observer’s coverage of NJPW coverage JPW G1 Climax Tournament 8-2 results: Yano vs. Tanahashi, Naito vs. Makabe
    • Ring of Honor Aug 1 TV results and recap: Young Bucks vs War Machine; Adam Cole vs Kyle O’Reilly
    • Our story on Georgia Hase passing away
    • Reminder: The new Figure Four Weekly is FREE for everyone this week with a huge, detailed cover feature on the crazy story of why Gawker thinks the FBI has tried to help Hulk hogan cover up the racist and homophobic comments he made that ended up being leaked a week ago. This is some weird, fascinating stuff.
    • Kohei Sato beat Daisuke Sekimoto in Tokyo today to win this year’s Fire Festival. 
    • Brad Maddox & Adam Rose were trying out a gimmick this weekend on the house shows as a tag team called Beef Mode.  They do push ups and sit ups before their match and insult the fans for being out of shape.
    • ECCW on 8/15 in Vancouver, BC at the Russian Community Centre.
    • Mid Atlantic Wrestling Fan Fest results from last night’s show in Charlotte:  Bobby Fulton b Travis Steele, Mary Elizabeth Monroe b Jessie Kaye, Cedric Alexander b Peter Kassa, Billy Damiana & Nick Comorto & Punisher Martinez b Steve Gibky & Tony Vincita & Clutch Adams, Eric Locker b Sam Rarsem, Scott Steiner b Wes Brisco (thanks to Mike Carpenter)
    • Old school Roller Derby with the Bay Bombers vs. Brooklyn Red Devils takes place on 8/8 at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds in San Jose for an outdoor event.
    • Lucha Xtreme from last night in Fresno:  Kikyo (female wrestler) b Aki Sol (male wrestler).  This led to Mike Dalite in drag challenging Kikyo to a match.  Johnny Plinko b Honu Kekoa, Dylan Drake b Clutch. (thanks to Jon Southerland)
    • Pro Wrestling Championship Series from last night in Granite City, IL:  Austni Blackburn b Curt Stallion, Steven Kennedy & Jake Dirden b Makaze & Nate Redwig, Mike Outlaw b Mat Fitchett, Gary Jay b Austin Blackburn, ACH b Danny Adams, Mat Fitchett & Zakk Sawyers b Evan Gelistico & Pierre Abernathy, Jojo Bravo b Davey Vega, Mark Sterling & Adam Rich b Jeff Gant & Tank Engine Tommy, K.C. Karrington b Jeremy Wyatt-COR (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
    • Hoosier Pro Wrestling from last night in Columbus, IN:  Shawn Cook b Derek Hiller, Marc Houston b Wicked Clown, Stompin Steve b Dewey Brown, Trailer Park Trash b Dynamite Dillen, Bobby Black b Eddie Felson, Mitch Johnson b Shiloh Jonze-DQ, Lightning Bolt & Drax O’Brien b TVZ, Flash Flanagan b TJ Kemp.  Next show is 9/5 with TJ Kemp &Marc Houston vs. Flash Flanagan & Trailer Park Trash & Timmy Danger (thanks to Jerry Wilson)
    • At the Mid Atlantic Fan Fest yesterday, Ricky Steamboat & Jim Ross were talking about the Flair-Steamboat feud.  Steamboat said that he didn’t know he was getting the title in Chicago until the day of the show.  Jim Ross said he found out right before the show.  
    • Great Canadian Wrestling on 10/3 in Oshawa, ONT at the Harmony Creek Community Hall.
    • Ultra Wrestle from last night in Abbeville, SC:  Tracer X b Steve Hunter, Joe Harrison b Mason Mayles, Deon Johnson & Josh Cutshall & Boomer Payne & Brice Anthony b Zane Riley & Anthony Jannzazzo & Lance Gaylord & Erik Thompson, Josh Powers b Billy Brash, TK Stark & Jett Black b Adam Page & Jeff Connelly, Steve Corino b Hoss Hagood.  Next show is 8/14 in Greenville, SC at the Salvation Army Kroc Center with Matt Hardy vs. Josh Powers (thanks to Thomas Simpson)
    • Titus O’Neil invited a number of homeless people to dinner

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

    1975 – Moose Morowski beat George Guliovas in Melbourne to win the Austra Asian title on the same show Rocky Romero (a Melbourne based jobber no relation to the current star of the same name) beat Great Mephisto to win the Brass Knux title.

    1978 – Mal Sanders beat Mick McManus in Huddersfield to win the European middleweight title

    1996 – In the quarterfinals of the J Crown (eight different lighter weight champions all putting up their titles) at Sumo Hall in Tokyo, Great Sasuke beat Masayoshi Motegi, El Samurai beat Gran Hamada, Ultimo Dragon beat Jushin Liger and Shinjiro Otani beat Negro Casas

    1998 – Shinya Hashimoto beat Kazuo Yamazaki to win the G-1 Climax tournament

    1998 – Kyoko Inoue beat Lioness Asuka to win the TWWF title

    2002 – Felino beat Black Tiger (Silver King) in Mexico City to win the CMLL Leyenda de Plata tournament

  • Interviews with Jay Lethal and other top ROH stars

    http://chaddukeswrestlingshow.com/2015/08/02/the-chad-dukes-wrestling-show-ring-of-honor-interviews-with-jay-lethal-dalton-castle-moose/

    All of our interviews and our show we do throughout the year are also available on iTunes, Play.it, and http://chaddukeswrestlingshow.com/

    Thank you and have a great day!

    ——-

    Jay Lethal on being the face of ROH: 

    “I feel like I won the lottery because what a perfect time to be the world champion of Ring of Honor with all the momentum from Sinclair and everything and now the acquisition of being on Destination America and with the inevitable downfall of the other company who assumed the  number two slot, because we are the number two wrestling company in the world right now.  But yeah it’s an exciting time I feel like I won the lottery.”

    Jay Lethal on wrestling a 60-minute draw: 

    “I don’t believe there’s any way to prepare for that.  It’s like, ‘Oh, I’m a runner. So I’m going to go practice in the gym on the treadmill and on the elliptical.’  I have actually run on the treadmill and I’ve run on elliptical and then I decided to run through my park at home and let me tell you there’s no substitute for really running.  When there’s something that you need to get done there’s no substitute other than actually doing it.  So there was really no preparing to have a sixty-minute match, it was tough.”

    “It’s one of those moments where you have to dig down deep and pull everything that you have and I swear by the end of that match I had nothing left.  There was nothing left in the tank, so to speak.”

    Dalton Castle on the creative freedom within ROH: 

    “It’s great.  I love being a part of Ring of Honor.  I love wrestling.  I’m very good at it and I will continue to do it, and to be able to do it here at Ring of Honor and to share the ring with so many amazing talents while getting to be myself at the same time without anybody trying to censor me or hold me down is a great feeling.  I spent years working in other places whether it be wrestling or my other radio gig I used to do years ago being told, “Tone it down a little bit baby doll.” And I get to come here in Ring of Honor they’re like, “Hey what you are is what you are and we love it so be that.”  I don’t think a lot of people in their field of employment get to do that.”

    Moose on re-signing with ROH: 

    “Ring of Honor gave me my very first chance.  They helped create the brand ‘Moose.’  So I mean it was an easy decision, they told me that they were going to stick by me with whatever decision I made and I just felt like I’m a real loyal guy, so they helped me get get me to where I’m at now so I’m going to return the favor.”

    Moose on the pressures of living up to prior former football playing wrestlers and cutting ties with football: 

    “There’s the goods and there’s the bads.  You’ve got Goldberg, Wahoo [McDaniel], Ernie Ladd, greats.  So there was the pressure of can I be as good as those guys and then you have some of the guys who wasn’t so good that came in from the football world.  There was also the pressure of, “Man what if I suck as bad as those guys.”  So I mean it’s big pressure, the best thing to do is just work my ass off, work as hard as I can, so that I can be up there with the Wahoos, the Ernie Ladds and the Goldbergs and other guys.”

    “When I left football I decided I want to leave that behind me. I don’t want to have any teases about going back even though I knew there wasn’t going to be one but I didn’t want to have that maybe so I shut the door completely.  I don’t follow it, which sucks because I have a lot of friends in the football world and I don’t get the watch their stuff because I’m scared of my watch it and go, “Oh man I miss football I want to go back and play.”  So I kind of like shut the door.”