Category: Post Type article

By Dave Meltzer

We’re looking for reports on tonight’s TNA tapings in Orlando and tonight’s NXT show in Tampa at Dave Meltzerdave@wrestlingobserver.com”>

Smackdown tonight on Syfy:

Seth Rollins vs. Cesaro non-title

Los Matadores & Lucha Dragons vs. New Day & The Ascension

Jack Swagger vs. Rusev

R-Truth vs. Stardust

Cesaro & Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins & Kevin Owens

The G-1 Climax tournament will continue early Saturday morning U.S. time with a 4 a.m. Eastern time show from Osaka with Satoshi Kojima vs. Yujiro Takahashi, Karl Anderson vs. Yuji Nagata, Tomoaki Honma vs. Michael Elgin, Shinsuke Nakamura (and we don’t know if he’s wrestling on the show yet or not) vs. Tomohiro Ishii and the IWGP champ vs. IC champ match with Kazuchika Okada vs. Hirooki Goto.

We have one of the biggest issues of the year with a look at Hulk Hogan’s rises and falls over the last 24 years and the trouble he’s gotten himself into, lots more on Daniel Bryan, his injury situation and his future, HBO Real Sports looks at domestic violence in MMA, the decline of G-1, UFC on FOX, GFW, ROH and PWG, and a riot involving some of the biggest names in the industry and resulted in a suspension are the major stories in the new double issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. 

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

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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.

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.

We’ve got a detailed look at G-1 thus far with a tournament overview, problems involved, update on Nakamura, standings, results of all the matches and the next week schedule.

We’ve also got full coverage of the UFC on FOX with T.J. Dillashaw vs. Renan Barao, with match-by-match coverage, business notes and poll results.

We also look in depth at Jeff Jarrett’s first TV taping for GFW in Las Vegas, including matches, direction and future.

We also have full coverage of the ROH Death Before Dishonor show, with match-by-match rundown, star ratings and poll results.

We’ve also got a look at PWG’s 12th anniversary show, the atmosphere, and notes on Battle of Los Angeles.

The Observer is the world’s most detailed weekly pro wrestling publication, in its 32nd year of publication, and is read by the biggest names in the pro wrestling, industry, MMA industry, sports world and on Wall Street.

We also have our regular features such as the most complete look at ratings, plus results of the major house show events each week in pro wrestling and MMA, and complete inside rundowns of all the TV shows.

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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

• We’ve got two new audio shows up today, one talking about the WWE business and what they did and didn’t talk about in the quarterly report this week, and in the other, we talks with Bruce Tharpe about the new Paul Boesch collection Houston wrestling streaming service and New Japan Pro Wrestling.
• The complete TripleMania PPV card on 8/9 from Mexico City is:
• Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Myzteziz
• Alberto el Patron vs. Brian Cage hair vs. hair
• Blue Demon Jr. & La Parka vs. Mesias & Electroshock
• Los Villanos vs. Psycho  Clowns
• Cibernetico & Chessman & Averno defend the AAA trios titles against Jack Evans & Angelico & Fenix and Pentagon Jr. & El Hijo del Fantasma (King Cuerno) & El Texano Jr.
• Drago & Goya Kong & Dinastia & Pimpinela Escarlata vs. Daga & Sexy Star & Mini Psycho Clown & Mamba in a man, woman, mini and exotico team match
• John Cena is still being advertised for house shows on Saturday in Ontario, CA and Sunday in Fresno, but he is not listed for the Friday show in San Diego that he was originally to headline.  Hopefully he’ll be there as advertised.
• Fabricio Werdum said today at a press conference that he wants to fight on the Aldo vs. McGregor show.  Smart guy, as heavyweight champion and getting a PPV percentage on a 1+ million buy show instead of a show that does less than one third of that.
• Weekend UFC programming

There will be a special 90 minute weigh-in show tomorrow starting at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time with Jon Anik, Kenny Florian, Rashad Evans, Ariel Helwani and Molly McGrath.  The reason it’s longer is because Rousey weigh-ins always draw the most viewers.

FS 1 will have a Ronda Rousey marathon tomorrow night starting at 6 p.m. with every single solitary second of Rousey’s one round armbars and other UFC fights.  At 8 p.m., there will be a women’s bantamweight special airing the best women’s bantamweight fights in UFC history (more Rousey).

The pre-fight show airs at 7 p.m. Eastern on FS 1, followed by the prelims from Rio de Janeiro at 8 p.m. and the post-fight show on FS 1 at about 1:30 a.m.

The first 20 minutes of the UFC Countdown show.  Talk about a promo that gets people into a fight.

• WWE stock closed today up $2.88 to $19.36. 
• The Draft Kings web site is offering 60 days of UFC Fight Pass free to anyone to signs up by midnight Eastern time tonight.  You will receive an e-mail from UFC Fight Pass tomorrow with a code to activate the trial.
• A note on today’s audio when talking about a one-year WWE Network subscription, there wont’ be a problem with people canceling because a one-year discounted subscription would all be billed up front as opposed to being billed monthly.
• DDP is listed as one of the stars of a movie called “God and Secrets” about super hero conventions. 
• IWF on 8/8 and 8/22 at the IWF Centre in Nutley, NJ
• NWA Mid South on Saturday night in Dyresburg, TN at the Herb Welch Wrestle Plex has Rob Conway defending the Mid South title against Jeremy Moore and Matt Riviera defending the Western States Heritage title against Americos.  They will also have a ceremony to induct Don Bass and Jim Casey into the NWA Mid South Hall of Champions.
• Absolute Intense Wrestling on 9/11 in Cleveland at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church headlined by Bob Holly.
• Great Canadian Wrestling on Saturday night in Oshawa, ONT at the Harmony Creek Community Centre.
• Wrestling Geek Fest, a pro wrestling and pop culture convention takes place 8/14 to 8/16 in Strongsville, OH which will include an Absolute Intense Wrestling Battle of the Sexes show featuring male vs. female matches will take place on 8/14 including Johnny Gargano vs Candice LaRae, Rickey Shane Page vs. Veda Scott, Ethan Page vs. Allysin Kay, Eddie Kingston vs. Mia Yim, Mad Man Pondo vs. Crazy Mary Dobson, Gregory Iron vs. Annie Social, Louis Lyndon vs. Heidi Lovelace and Colin Delaney & Cheech vs. Mary Elizabeth Monroe & Taeler Hendrix.
• NFC MMA on 8/8 at Center Stage in Atlanta with David Vitkay (15-12) vs. former Bellator fighter Ben Brewer (10-2) in the main event of a 15 match show. They had 135 tickets left as of yesterday.
• Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling starts a two week tour tomorrow night.  The legendary promotion runs

7/31 in Trenton, NS at the Arena

8/1 in Baddeck, NS at the Victoria Highland Civic Centre

8/3 in Cocagne, NB at the Arena

8/4 in Truro, NS at the Colchester Legion Stadium

8/6 in Georgetown, PEI at the Three Rivers Sportsplex

8/7 in Amherst, NS at the Stadium

8/8 in Blacks Harbour, NB at the Patrick Connors Rec Sportsplex

8/9 in Rogersville, NB at the Arena

8/11 in Bouctouche, NB at the JK Irving Centre

8/13 in Canning, NS at the Arena

8/14 in Souris, PEI at the Eastern Kings Sportsplex

8/15 in O’Leary, PEI at the Community Sports Centre

• BloodyMania 9 results from Sunday at the Gathering of the Juggalos:  Freak Show won Battle Royal, Warchild b Chris Hero, Matt Stryker b Colt Cabana, Ring Rydas won over Spider Monkey & Super Strong Tiger, The Hooligans, and Mad Man Pondo & Crazy Mary Dobson in an elimination match for the JCW tag titles, Rude Boy b Tracy Smothers and burned the confederate flag, Kongo Kong b Shane Mercer in a TLC match, M Dogg 20 (Son of Havoc) b MVP, Weedman won over Matt Hardy and 2 Tuff Tony (thanks to Kevin Gill)
• Davey Richards and wife Angelina Love headline NWA Smoky Mountain Wrestling on 8/9 in Elizabethton, TN at the Evolution Sports Gym.  Richards vs. Chase Owens headlines the show.
• ACE Pro Wrestling on 8/1 in Wallington, NJ at the Morgan JR Arena.
• South Jersey Wrestlefest on 10/11 in Woodbury Heights, NJ at the Community Center.
• Todd Pettingill talks his experience in WWE at tlks.pt/XwQNJL
• Kevin Nash headlines Legends of Wrestling at Miami Marlins Park tomorrow night at 7:10 p.m. featuring Tyrus, The Nasty Boys, Bushwhacker Luke and Mick Foley.  For $25 you get a game ticket, a wrestling T-shirt, a meet and greet with the wrestlers and there will be a fireworks show after the game.  
• Justin Wren, who left MMA five years ago, returns on the 8/28 Bellator show facing Josh Burns.  Wren’s departure is chronicled in the booker “Fight for the Forgotten:  How a Mixed Marital Artist Stopped Fighting For Himself and Started Fighting for Others,” that will be released on 9/15.  Wren spent his time in Congo with the Mbuti Pygmies.  Wren and people he worked with bought the freedom of slaves and gave them 2,740 acres of rain forest to work on, drilling water walls and starting a farming project.
• ROH and Figures Toy Company announced a new Michael Elgin action figure as part of the new ROH line.
• Ronda Rousey noted that she was randomly drug tested three times prior to Saturday’s fight.
• Chris Wade pulled out of his 8/23 fight in Saskatoon against Olivier Aubin-Mericier.  UFC announced Tony Sims as the replacement.  This will be part of the main card on FS 1 that night.
• Takeya Mizugaki vs. George Roop was announced for the 9/27 UFC show at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan.
• WSOF announced Yushin Okami dropping to 170 pounds to face Jon Fitch as part of a double headliner on 10/17 at the Foxwood Resorts in Mashantucket, CT on NBC Sports.  The other main event will be Blagoi Ivanov defending the heavyweight title against Derek Mehmen.  Former TUF fighters Matt Hamill vs. Vinny Magalhaes is also on the show.
• On Saturday, Ronda Rousey vs. Bethe Correia will be only the fourth fight in UFC history where there has been a title match with two undefeated fighters.  The others were Rousey vs. Cat Zingano, Rousey vs. Sara McMann and Lyoto Machida vs. Rashad Evans.
• Zack Mwekessa vs. Saulo Cavalari will be the Glory headline match on 9/19 in San Jose as part of Spike’s Glory/Bellator dual show from the SAP Center.  Mwekassa defends his light heavyweight title against a guy who beat via third round knockout.
• The Fight Network and NBC Sports Network airs WSOF on Saturday night at 11 p.m. with the Rousimar Palhares vs. Jake Shields fight for the welterweight title as the main event, going head-to-head with the UFC PPV show.
• A story on Kevin Nash appearing at the Miami Marlins game tomorrow night
• Ronda Rousey makes the Daily Mail on why she does bikini shoots at 150 instead of 135 
• NEW Wrestling under the Stars with Bucks vs. Alberto & Mysterio preview
• A story on lack of black voices in WWE hierarchy
• Interview with Mada about being eliminated from Tough Enough and why he thinks Miz targeted him at
• A story on Donald Trump and his pro wrestling past

ON THIS DAY IN PRO WRESTLING HISTORY INTERNATIONAL

1968 – Michiaki Yoshimura & Kintaro Oki beat Skull Murphy & Klondike Bill to win the All Asia tag titles in Sapporo

1987 – Takashi Ishikawa & Mighty Inoue beat Isamu Teranishi & Masanobu Kurisu to win the All Asia tag titles in Tokyo

1988 – Soliar beat Javier Rocca in Cuernavaca to win the NWA welterweight title

1994 – Reina Jubuki (Akira Hokuto under a mask) beat La Diabolica in Puebla to win the CMLL women’s title

2004 – Perro Aguayo Jr. beat Felino in Mexico City to win the Leyendas de Plata tournament

PRO WRESTLING VIDEOS 

GLOBAL FORCE WRESTLING

#GFWAmped:  Lei’D Tapa-I Want To Win Championships?

#GFWAmped:  Sonjay Dutt-Is Wrestling An Artform?

#GFWAmped:  Bollywood Boys-Final Thoughts Going Into Las Vegas

#GFWAmped:  PJ Black-He Discusses Leaving The Machine…”They Would Never Let Me Be Me”

#GFWAmped:  Reno Scum-I Know We Come Across Cocky

LIVE SHOWS

7/11/5 Monster Factory Wrestling (Full Show)

WWE/NXT

7/21/15 WWE Tough Enough Digital Extra:  Cameras Catch Y2J’s  Parting Words To Patrick

7/21/15 WWE Tough Enough Digital Extra:  Did Big Show Agree With Tonight’s Elimination?

7/21/15 WWE Tough Enough Digital Extra:  The Competitors Bid An Farewell To Patrick

7/21/15 WWE Tough Enough Digital Extra:  Y2J Gives ZZ A Reality Check

5 Things:  5 Superstars Who Face Themselves

Triple H And Stephanie McMahon Deliver A Special Message To Young WWE Fan Elijah

TNA

7/22/15 The Breakdown:  Who Will Be Inducted Into The TNA Hall Of Fame?

A Look At TNA Hall Of Famers:  Team 3D

CHIKARA

The Condron Chronicles:  Second

INDY TV SHOWS

CWF Mid-Atlantic “Worldwide” TV (Episode 10)

MISC. STUFF

POWW “Inside The Ropes” (Episode 20)

AnarchyPro Wrestling Internet Beatdown (Webisode 15)