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  • ROH off prime time this week

    Destination America has pulled Ring of Honor from the 8 p.m. time slot this Wednesday in favor of “Bigfoot in America.”  ROH will only have one airing this week, at 11 p.m.  The change looks to be permanent as for 8/5, there is also only one airing of ROH at 11 p.m.

  • VIDEO: UFC On FOX 16 Post-Fight Press Conference

    Hear from the stars of tonight’s UFC On FOX 16 event with the post-fight press conference, scheduled to begin at the conclusion of tonight’s event.

  • UFC On FOX 16: Dillashaw vs. Barao 2 live results and coverage

    Welcome to WrestlingObserver.com’s live coverage of UFC On FOX 16: Dillashaw vs. Barao 2 from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The event is headlined by UFC Bantamweight Champion T.J. Dillashaw making his second title defense, this time in the much-anticipated rematch against the man he defeated to win the title, Renan Barao. In the night’s co-main event, Miesha Tate will take on Jessica Eye for the right to be next in line for a shot at the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship. The action kicks off with preliminary card fights at 4:15 PM eastern time on UFC Fight Pass. The action moves over to FOX at 6 PM eastern time with additional preliminary fights before the main card kicks off at 8 PM eastern time. We are looking for your thoughts on the show, so send a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle as well as a best fight and worst fight to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

    Coverage provided by Dave Meltzer

    PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS- 4:15 PM ET/1:15 PM PT)

    WELTERWEIGHTS: ZAK CUMMINGS VS. DOMINIQUE STEELE

    First round: Cummings dropped him with a left and just swarmed him throwing wildly.  Steele, who took the fight on two weeks notice, is in trouble.  Several hard lefts and Steele was about to drop and it was stopped. :43

    WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHTS: JESSAMYN DUKE VS. ELIZABETH PHILLIPS

    First round: Julianna Pena, who is in Phillips’ corner is the most fired up corner person, she won’t stop screming at her to wreck Duke.  Phillips landibg.  Big right by Phillips.  Phillips continuing to land on her.  Phillips continues to land.  Head kick by Duke.  Duke took her down and working for an armbar.  Phillips escaped and on top.  Phillips landed a punch.  Phillips passed to side control.  Phillips moved to mount.   And Duke gave up her back.  Phillips back to mount   Now she has her back aain. Phillips landing more punches.  Phillips working for a choke.  Phillips also has a body triangle.  Duke reversed in he final seconds.  Phillips 10-9, almost 10-8.

    Second round: In a clinch.  Duke went for a guillotine.  Phillips escaped and got her back.  Phillips moved to the top.  Phillips with elbows.  Duke reversed her but Phillips reversed back right away.  Phillips has her back and punching.  Duke reversed again to the top.  Duke went for leglocks but was never close.  Phillips 20-18.

    Third round: Duke landing punches and landed a knee.  Nice uppercut by Duke.  Duke threw a kick.  Duke took her down.  Duke on top working for a guillotine. She’s working for a guillotine but lost it. Knee by Duke. Knee by Duke.  Hard rights by Duke.  Knees by Duke.  Flying knee by Duke.  Duke took her down again.  Duke has her back working for choke.   Now Duke is throwing punches.  She’s got 30 seconds to finish her.  Duke working for an armbar but time ran out just as she got the armbar extended.  Duke lost the fight 29-28 but she may have kept her job based on the strong third round, as she probably would have won with ten more seconds.

    Scores: All three have it 29-28 Phillips.

    LIGHTWEIGHTS: RAMSEY NIJEM VS. ANDREW HOLBROOK

    First round: Holbrook took him down.  Body kick by Nijem.  Nijem took him down.  Nijem in side control.  Nijem landing punches and knees now.  Body shot by Nijem.  Holbrook with a weak body kick.  Holbook looks tired.  Takedown by Nijem.   Nijem with punches from the top.  10-9 Nijem.

    Second round: Nijem landing strong punches and Holbrook was in trouble.  Takedown by Nijem.  Nijem with punches.  Nijem got his back.  Holbrook reversed to the top.  Holbrook has him in trouble with a choke attempt.  Nijem escaped.  Holbrook again working for a guillotine.  Holbrook landing punches.  Nijem reversed to the top.  Holbrook’s round but close, 19-19.

    Third round: Nijema out with punches and knees to the body.  Nijem took him down.  He’s got Holbrook’s back now.  Holbrook working for a kneebar.  Nijem out of trouble.  Holbrook went for a heel hook.  Nijem escaped and got his back.   Nijem 29-28, and could be 30-27.

    Scores:   29-28 Holbrook 29-28 Nijem 29-28 Holbrook.  Bad decision.  Crowd booing like crazy.

    LIGHTWEIGHTS: DARON CRUICKSHANK VS. JAMES KRAUSE

    First round: Cruickshank took him down.  Both throwing punches.  Body kick by Cruickshank and punches.  Trip by Cruickshank.  Knee by Krause.  Krause took him down and got his back and working for a choke and it’s over.

    PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX- 6 PM ET/3 PM PT)

    BANTAMWEIGHTS: EDDIE WINELAND VS. BRYAN CARAWAY

    First round: Caraway took him down.  Caraway working for a second takedown and it was blocked.  Both missing more than hitting.  Both continuing to miss.  Right and a knee by Wineland.  Very hard round to score because nobody did a lot.  Wineland 10-9.

    Second round: Caraway landed a hard right.  Caraway with anothter left.  Wineland bleeding.  Caraway landing lefts.  Right by Caraway.  Caraway tried a takedown but couldn’t get it.  Caraway landed a right.  Caraway landed a few uppercuts.  Caraway’s round 19-19 but he could be up 20-18.

    Third round:   Caraway moving forward.  Caraway’s landing rights.  Caraway with uppercuts from the clinch.  Wineland with a right.  Wineland landed nice rght.  Caraway missed a kick and fell down.  Hard right by Wineland.  Head kick by Caraway.  Caraway going for a takedown but can’t get it.  Left by Caraway.  Caraway missing punches.  Knee by Caraway.  Nice right and Wineland with a punch back. Both throwing at the end.  Caraway 29-28.

    Scores: 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27 Caraway

    WELTERWEIGHTS: KENNY ROBERTSON VS. BEN SAUNDERS

    First round: Saunders throwing kicks.  Robertson moved in and working for a takedown.   Robertson took him down.  Saunders up after trying an uma plata.  Left by Robertson.  Saunders landing body kicks.  A good body kick by Saunders.  Robertson landed two good rights. Robertso hurt Saunders with a right landed a knee  Both landing punches and Saunders with a high kick.  Saunders landing kicks.  Robertson dropped him with a right hook.  10-9 Robertson.

    Second round:   Robertson landing solid punches.  Elbow and punch by Robertson.  Saunders did an Arena Mexico kick for a time out Saunders with a head kick.  Saunders with a knee.  Robertson landing hard righs.  Saunders with body kicks.  High kick and punches by Robertson.  Body shot by Robertson.  Head kick by Robertson.  Saunders with a hard body kick.  Robertson landing hard punches.  Saunders with a knee.  Saunders with elbows.  Robertson’s round 20-18.

    Third round: Hard kick by Saundes.  Knee by Saunders.  Robertson missing a spinning kick.  Takedown by Robertson.  Saunders landing elbows from the bottom.  Lots of blood from Robertson.  Robertson all bloody from he elbows.  Saunders landing tons of elbows from the bottom.  Robertson threw some punches on the ground.  Saunders round, so 29-28 Robertson.

    Scores: 29-28 Saunders 29-28 Robertson 29-28 Saunders

    LIGHTWEIGHTS: JIM MILLER VS. DANNY CASTILLO

    First round: Saunders throwing kicks.  Robertson moved in and working for a takedown.   Robertson took him down.  Saunders up after trying an uma plata.  Left by Robertson.  Saunders landing body kicks.  A good body kick by Saunders.  Robertson landed two good rights. Robertso hurt Saunders with a right landed a knee  Both landing punches and Saunders with a high kick.  Saunders landing kicks.  Robertson dropped him with a right hook.  10-9 Robertson.

    Second round:   Robertson landing solid punches.  Elbow and punch by Robertson.  Saunders did an Arena Mexico kick for a time out Saunders with a head kick.  Saunders with a knee.  Robertson landing hard righs.  Saunders with body kicks.  High kick and punches by Robertson.  Body shot by Robertson.  Head kick by Robertson.  Saunders with a hard body kick.  Robertson landing hard punches.  Saunders with a knee.  Saunders with elbows.  Robertson’s round 20-18.

    Third round: Hard kick by Saundes.  Knee by Saunders.  Robertson missing a spinning kick.  Takedown by Robertson.  Saunders landing elbows from the bottom.  Lots of blood from Robertson.  Robertson all bloody from he elbows.  Saunders landing tons of elbows from the bottom.  Robertson threw some punches on the ground.  Saunders round, so 29-28 Robertson.

    Scores: 29-28 Saunders 29-28 Robertson 29-28 Saunders

    LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS: GIAN VILLANTE VS. TOM LAWLOR

    First round: Villante much bigger.  Head kick by Villante.  Right by Lawlor.  Villante hurt him with a right.  Uppercut by Villante.  Low kick by Villante.  Right by Lawlor.  Head kick by Villante.  Hard right by Villante.  Low kick by Villante.  Villante with uppercuts.  Lawlor bleeding from the right eye.  Low kick by Villante.  Another low kick by Villante.  Low kick by Villante.  Lawler’s right leg is all bruised up.  Another low kick by Villante.  Villante took him down off a kick and let him right up.  Head kick by Villante.  10-9 Villante

    Second round: Two uppercuts by Villante.  Lawlor dropped him with a right hook to the jaw and Villante went down and he was out, and the fight was stopped.

    MAIN CARD (FOX- 8 PM ET/5 PM PT)

    LIGHTWEIGHTS: JOE LAUZON VS. TAKANORI GOMI

    First round: Gomi landing punches now.  Lauzon aleady bleeding.  Lauzon took him down and got his back.  He went for a stump puller but Gomi got away.  Elbows on the ground by Lauzon.  Lauzon pounding on him from back control.  Hard shots and Gomi was out.  Lauzon got up and walked away even though Herb Dean didn’t call it of.  When he saw how messed up Gomi was, Dean called it.  That was weird.  Thank God it didn’t backfire on him.

    LIGHTWEIGHTS: EDSON BARBOZA VS. PAUL FELDER

    First round: Barboza with a left kick.  Body kick by Barboza and a second one.  Low kick by Felder.  Barboza’s right eye is in bad shape already.  Spinning backfist by Barboza. Spin kick to the groin by Barboza.  That was one of the worst low blows you’ll ever see.  Felder tried a spinning kick but missed.  Knee by Felder.  Barboza 10-9.

    Second round: Both trading spin kicks.  Spin kick to the body by Barboza.  Felder landing punches.  Felder with a spinning backfist.  Left by Felder.  Barboza missing on his punches.  Hard body kick by Barboza.  Spinning elbow by Felder.  Spinning kick to the back by Barbzoa.  Body shot by Barboza. Barboza tried a takedown but didn’t get it.  Hard knee by Felder.  Body shot and two hard kicks by Barboza.  This is a great round.  Barboza 20-18 but this round is close.

    Third round: Body kick by Barboza.  Left by Barboza.  Low kick by Barboza.  Body kick by Baroza.  Low kick by Felder.  Body kick by Barboza.  Felder shot in for a takedown.  Barboza’s round 30-27

    Scores: All three had it 29-28 for Barboza.  Felder was furious.

    WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHTS: MIESHA TATE VS. JESSICA EYE

    First round: Eye landing a lot of punches.  Eye landing more punches.  Tate landed a kick and Eye came back with a lot of punches.  Eye is taking her part so far.  Right by Tate.  Eye hurt her with punches.  Tate tried a takedown.  Eye landed punches.  Tate just hurt her and dropped her with an overhand right.  Tate on top on the ground.  Crowd chanting for Tate.  Tate landing a lot of elbows to the side of the head.  Tate 10-9.

    Second round: Right by Tate.  Body kick by Tate.  Nice right by Tate.  Tate in with a right.  Tate pushed her into the fence.  Tate landing good punches.  Tate hurt her and put her down again.  Eye got her in a no arm triangle.  Tate escaped.  Tate on top pounding the body.  Tate throwing elbows to the body.  Tate working for a guillotine as time expired.  20-18 Tate.

    Third round: Head kick by Eye.  Hard kick by Eye.  Tate took her down.  Tate has her back.  Tate kicked her in the head on the ground and it wasn’t called a foul.  Yves Lavigne ordered a stand up as Tate was in control on the ground.  That was insane.  Tate working for a takedown but didn’t get it.  Eye with two hard knees Tate 30-27.

    Scores: All three have it 30-27 for Tate.

    UFC BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP: T.J. DILLASHAW(C) VS. RENAN BARAO

    First round: Front kick by Barao.  Barao landing some punches.  Barao landed a right and a left.  Knees by Barao.  Dillashaw with an uppercut.  Nice left by Dillashaw.  Dillashaw hurt him with two rights.  Dillashaw ith some punches from he clinch.  Hard knees by Barao to the body.  Dillashw slipped.  Dillahsaw with a punch.  Dillashaw hurt him with punches. Kick by Dillasjaw/  Dillashaw landed jabs.  Left and low kick by Dillashaw.  High kick by Dillashaw.  Barao back with unches.  Trading big punches and Barao got the better of it.  Dillashaw 10-9.

    Second round: Body kick by Dillashaw and punches.  Knee by Dillashaw.  Dillashaw working for the takedown.  Elbow by Dillashaw.  Left by Dillashaw.  Trading and Dillashaw got the best punch in.  Right by Barao. Barao took him down but Dillashaw back up.  Knee by Dillashaw .  Dillahsw with a high kick. Knee by Barao.  Dillashaw with a right.  Barao back with a right.  Dillashaw with a right.  Dillashaw shot for a takedown but didn’t get it.  Dillashaw 20-18.

    Third round: Both trading again.  Head kick by Dillashaw.  Barao shot in.  Dillashaw got his back.  Body kick by Dillashaw.  Body kick by Dillahsaw.  Knee by Barao from close range.  Barao tried a guillotine but Dillashaw out.  Dillashaw with a right head kick but Barao back with a body kick.   Dillashaw hurt him with a left and a right. Barao is in trouble, two big knees by Dillahaw but Barao surived the round 30-27 Dillashaw.

    Fourth round: Dillashaw landing big punches and Herb Dean stopped it.  Dillashaw took him apart.  :35                         :

  • SAT. UPDATE: Hulk Hogan fallout galore, UFC on Fox preview, and more

    by David Bixenspan | davidbix@wrestlingobserver.com | Follow @davidbix

    We’re looking for your thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match for last night’s ROH iPPV show, today’s UFC show and tomorrow morning’s New Japan show (the biggest of the weekend) to hsmeltzer@junocom

    We’re also looking for reports on these shows:

    *NXT Thursday in Fort Pierce, FL

    *NXT last night in Coral Gables, FL

    *WWE last night in Bakersfield, CA

    *WWE tonight at the Staples Center in Los Angeles

    *WWE tonight in Odessa, TX

    *ROH TV tapings in Baltimore

    All reports should be sent to Dave Meltzer

    We’ll also be looking for reports on tomorrows WWE shows in Lawton, OK and Amarillo.

    UFC on Fox: Dillashaw vs. Barao II comes live from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois:

    Here is our live report:  UFC On FOX 16: Dillashaw vs. Barao 2 live results and coverage

    Main Card on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET
    T.J. Dillashaw (135) vs. Renan Barao (135) for Dillashaw’s UFC Bantamweight Championship
    Miesha Tate (135.5) vs. Jessica Eye (136)
    Edson Barboza (155) vs. Paul Felder (155.5)
    Joe Lauzon (155.5) vs. Takanori Gomi (155.5)

    Prelims on Fox at 6:00 p.m. ET
    Gian Villante (205) vs. Tom Lawlor (203)
    Jim Miller (155) vs. Danny Castillo (155.5)
    Kenny Robertson (170) vs. Ben Saunders (170.5)
    Eddie Wineland (136) vs. Bryan Caraway (135.5)

    Prelims on UFC Fight Pass at 4:15 p.m. ET
    Daron Cruickshank (155) vs. James Krause (155.5)
    Ramsey Nijem (156) vs. Andrew Holbrook (155.5)
    Jessamyn Duke (135.5) vs. Elizabeth Phillips (135)
    Zak Cummings (170.5) vs. Dominique Steele (170.5) 

    Another really strong Fox special on paper. While Barao didn’t necessarily earn a rematch, it’s the best fight that can be made at 135 right now, as the top of the bantamweight division is filled with injured fighters, inactive fighters, prospects who aren’t quite ready, and Urijah Faber, who looks to be moving back up to featherweight. Dillashaw is rightfully the favorite, as the stylistic matchup still favors him, but it’ll be interesting to see how Barao does against him without the be-all and end-all of nightmarish weight cuts.

    Everything starting with Cruickshank-Krause, the featured Fight Pass prelim, is at least pretty good on paper. In prelim fights of note, Wineland returns after a broken jaw and over a year off with a tough but stylistically favorable opponent in Caraway, WrestlingObserver.com’s own Tom Lawlor tries to crack into th top 15 in his return to light heavyweight, and Robertson-Saunders is a battle of fun surging fighters with the winner likely getting a name opponent.

    As for the support on the main card, all three fights are really enticing. Tate-Eye is a title eliminator for a shot at the Ronda Rousey-Bethe Correia winner (who will be Ronda Rousey) featuring two consistently fun to watch fighters. Barboza-Felder is a really interesting fight that evolved out of the originally scheduled Anthony Pettis (replaced by Barboza) vs. Myles Jury (replaced by Felder) bout. It should be nothing less than a corker of a stand-up battle, and Felder, who’s the superior defensive and counter fighter, stands a real shot at getting into the top 10 in his third UFC fight. Finally, Gomi-Lauzon is a meeting of two of the most popular action fighters in MMA, so they have pretty high expectations to live up to but has to be a fun fight at bare minimum.

    Day 5 of 19 in NJPW’s 25th annual G1 Climax Tournament airs live on NJPW World at 5:00 a.m. ET:

    Non-tournament matches:
    1. Hirooki Goto, Jushin Liger, Tiger Mask IV & Yohei Komatsu vs. Tomoaki Honma, Mascara Dorada, David Finlay Jr. & Jay White
    2. Yujiro Takahashi & Cody Hall vs. Yuji Nagata & Captain New Japan
    3. Tomohiro Ishii & Captain New Japan vs. Karl Anderson & Tama Tonga
    4. Satoshi Kojima, Michael Elgin & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & Gedo

    Tournament matches (A Block):
    5. Doc Gallows vs. Bad Luck Fale
    6. Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Toru Yano
    7. Togi Makabe vs. Katsuyori Shibata
    8. AJ Styles vs. Kota Ibushi
    9. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tetsuya Naito

    * Reports from the WWE house shows this weekend as well as any other pro wrestling show you might be attending at newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

    **** 

    The newest issue of Figure Four Weekly is up on the site for subscribers (subscribe here) with a feature story looking at WWE’s firing of Hulk Hogan and how it relates to all of the litigation with Gawker including:

    * How Hogan’s racist comments and the set of sex tapes his tirade was part of tied into the FBI investigating someone attempting to extort money from Hogan.

    * How long it’s been known that something like this could come out.

    * Gawker alluding to the idea that the FBI was helping Hogan cover up these statements.

    * Where The National Enquirer and Radar Onlne could have sourced the story from.

    And much more. 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 return of the Undertaker and build to SummerSlam, Battleground coverage, the rise of NXT and situation with ROH, the G-1 Climax tournament and some major UFC stories are the major stories in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. 

    The latest Wrestling Observer: July 27, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: The Undertaker returns at Battleground, NXT/ROH insanity with Liger booking

    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.

    Our lead story concerns the build to SummerSlam.  We look at advertising that has already been cut for the show, what are the possibilities for Sting, the Lesnar-Undertaker angle, the booking of WWE right now, the situation with the women, plus full coverage of Battleground with match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results on the show.

    We also look at the booking of  Jushin Liger to NXT on 8/22, ticket sales for the show, plans for the NXT show, how the Liger booking affects ROH and has caused such a political turmoil.  We look at the NXT card as well as the competing ROH show.  We look at the Liger booking, ROH working with New Japan, ratings with New Japan stars vs. shows without New Japan stars, NXT touring, the next NXT vs. ROH head-to-head in September, the next ROH PPV show and much more.

    We also have full coverage of the G-1 Climax tournament, with all of the shows planned for the next week, as well as full coverage of opening night in Sapporo with match-by-match-coverage, star ratings and poll results.

    We also look at a major story concerning fighters for UFC to address which is the banning of IVs for rehydrating after weigh-ins starting October and why the story is far more significant than people realize.

    We also look at a potential alliance between ESPN and WWE and the ethical debate regarding the coverage.  We also look at the Hogan/Gawker lawsuit and each side’s case, an update on the Dr. Christopher Amann lawsuit against C.M. Punk and Colt Cabana, an update on Dolph Ziggler and what he claims is his contract status, Undertaker working more than just SummerSlam, Stephanie McMahon talks gay characterizations in future WWE creative as well as a look back from former creative members regarding different suggestions on gay characterizations in the past.  We look at more WWE banned terms and how some were changed and why.  We also look at how the characters are being described for Camp WWE, which is really hilarious.

    We’ve also got notes on Chris Jericho working more house shows, Tough Enough notes, John Cena in the movies, how the WWE Network free month has changed, as well as what to look for over the next week in WWE stock.

    We also have full coverage of the next month of NXT TV tapings, as well as coverage of all the WWE and NXT house shows this past week and business notes from the shows.

    We also have notes on TripleMania being on U.S. PPV for the first time on 8/9, including price point, why it’s happening now, and its history as well as broadcast information.

    We also have coverage of both UFC events held over the past week, with the Mir vs. Duffee and Bisping vs. Leites shows.  We’ve got business notes and stories behind both events.

    We also have notes on the third season of New Japan World on AXS, including highlights of the new season, all the matches airing from 8/14 to 12/11 including when the Wrestle Kingdom 9 matches will air, as well as notes on the schedule for 2016.

    We also look at Dragon Gate’s Kobe World Festival show and CMLL’s Sin Salida show, which were two of those two company’s biggest events of the year.

    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

    ****

    Saturday Daily Update

    • David Houston, Hulk Hogan’s lawyer, spoke to Fox News’s Fox 411 about the Hogan’s racist comments, primarily trying to shift the narrative from the comments themselves to who leaked them, saying “I have my suspicions, as you can imagine. If I can find out it is Gawker who leaked the transcripts, we will bury them.” Heather Dietrick, Gawker’s President and General Counsel, replied with this statement: “Hulk Hogan has only one person to blame for what he said and no one from Gawker had any role in leaking that information.”

    Houston also mentioned that Hogan wanted him to tell his fans that he’s “devastated” by what he said years ago and “sincerely apologizes to his family, friends and fans,” before adding that  “He is not a racist. His history defines him as something different.” According to the transcript, which Hogan and Houston have not disputed the authenticity of, Hogan outright says “I mean, I am a racist, to a point, f**king n***ers” and later “I guess we’re all a little racist. F**king n***er.” From the nature of Hogan’s apology and damage control attemptss so far, he seems to be banking on the idea that most people don’t know what exactly he said, “just” that he used the N-word and made some other, vaguely defined racist ommnts.

    Fox also spoke to a legal expert, Ameer Benno, who explained what type of sanctions Gawker culd be subject to if they did leak the tape: “At one extreme, the court could strike Gawker’s answer in the case, thereby awarding Hogan the equivalent of a default judgment. As a middle ground, the court could penalize Gawker by precluding it from introducing certain evidence or making certain arguments at trial in support of its defenses.”

    • It was inevitable that a mainstream site would cover the backstage skit where Mr. McMahon called Booker T “my nia” in light of the Hulk hogan stuff this weekend, which TMZ did. WWE issued a statement saying that the skit “was an outlandish and satirical skit involving fictional characters, similar to that of many scripted television shows and movies.”
    • You may or may not remember that last year, the Hogan’s Beach restaurant in Tampa was the subject of scrutiny for having a dress code that was perceieved by some as racist and singling out black customers. At the time, Hogan told TMZ that while he didn’t own the restaurant (he said they licensed his name), he personally made sure that they removed the dress code, which he claimed they had lifted from pool parties in Las Vegas and Miami. 
    • Well, it turns out that, according to Radar Online (who partnered with the National Enquirer in reporting on Hogan’s racist comments), Hogan is, in fact, the owner of the restaurant. A document that they obtained from the Florida Secretary of State shows that Hogan, under his real name ofTerry Gene (misspelled as “Geen”) Bollea as the registered agent on their 2015 Florida Limited Liability Company Annual Report.
    • The manager of the restaurant, who made sure to mention that the eatery has nothing to do with the scandal and that everyone is welcome, also added that Hogan hadn’t been around “for a very long time.” Radar easily found a photo of Hogan with a fan at the restaurant that was taken two weeks ago. 
    • Radar has another article about having spoken to Hogan’s ex-wife Linda (who was his wife at th time the comments were made), who said she doesn’t “agree with such statements or beliefs.”
    • Radar also spoke to Bruce Comtois, Hogan’s former driver. “There were no racial overtones. He never ranted about anything. He wouldn’t go off about anyone, color or background. This is a real surprise for me.”
    • As part of the tour to promote his new book that came out Tuesday (highly recommended, by the way), Daniel Bryan commented on the Hogan situation yesterday in a radio interview on THE FAN in Dallas. “I got back to my hotel room at about 10-or-11-o’clock last night, and I woke up this morning just in time to start doing phoners. Everyone is like, ‘Hey! What do you think about this thing with Hulk Hogan?’ I’m like, ‘Wait, what thing? What are you talking about?’ I had no idea. So, yeah, not in any of my dealings with him.”
    • Jim Ross has a look at the Hogan stuff in his latest blog post.
    • Mark Henry tweeted a statement about Hogan that I believe includes his first public acknowledgemnt of having been subject to use of racial slurs (reportedly Michal Hayes saying “I’m more of a n-er than you are!” at a post-WrestleMania party) in WWE:

  • WWE: Hulk Hogan’s WWE contract terminated, National Enquirer story claims racist comments, Hogan’s statement to People (updated)

    By Dave Meltzer, WrestlingObserver.com w/additional info from Josh Nason

    On Friday morning, WWE announced they terminated the contract of Terry “Hulk Hogan” Bollea:

    “WWE terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan). WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide.”

    A few minutes afterward, the National Enquirer and Radar Online released a story that claimed Hogan made racist comments on a sex tape, using the N-word several times in a dialogue about an African-American that was was offering to fund daughter Brooke’s music career. Here’s an excerpt from their story:

    “I don’t know if Brooke was f*cking the black guy’s son,” Hulk raved, the sources add.

    “I mean, I don’t have double standards. I mean, I am a racist, to a point, f*cking n*ggers. But then when it comes to nice people and sh*t, and whatever.”

    Then, in a tirade to rival the racism embarrassments suffered by Mel Gibson and “Dog The Bounty Hunter,” Hulk unloaded even more hatred!

    According to sources, he said: “I mean, I’d rather if she was going to f*ck some n*gger, I’d rather have her marry an 8-foot-tall n*gger worth a hundred million dollars! Like a basketball player!

    “I guess we’re all a little racist. Fucking n*gger.”

    *****

    On Friday afternoon, Hogan made a statement to People Magazine:

    “Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation. It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it. This is not who I am. I believe very strongly that every person in the world is important and should not be treated differently based on race, gender, orientation, religious beliefs or otherwise. I am disappointed with myself that I used language that is offensive and inconsistent with my own beliefs.”

    ***** 

    The dropping of Hogan was entirely due to the content on the sex tape (believed to be from 2006) with Heather Clem, who, at the time, was the wife of radio host Bubba the Love Sponge.

    Although only one sex tape had surfaced in 2012 which led to Hogan’s $100 million lawsuit against Gawker Media which showed excerpts from the tape, an FBI investigation showed three additional DVDs of Hogan and Clem.

    Those close to the situation indicated that other speculated reasons (including a 2012 radio interview where he dropped the N-word in retelling some stories) over the last day had nothing to do with the decision.

    At this point, Hogan has not been removed from historical content on the WWE Network, but he won’t be involved in anything current or going forward.

    After learning of the content that was going to be released, on Thursday night, the WWE ordered its web site to eliminate all mentions of Hogan, including as an Alumni or as a Hall of Famer, in addition to his merchandise. He was also removed as a judge for Tough Enough and at this point a replacement has not been named. Curtis Axel will be dropping his AxelMania gimmick immediately.

    Hogan tweeted the following in the early hours of Friday morning:

  • WWE News: Daniel Bryan talks his injury situation

    From Busted Open radio:

    On the chance that WWE won’t clear him to wrestle in WWE: “Yes, there is that chance. But I told them, regardless of them, if they won’t clear me … we’re independent contractors, in theory … and I WILL wrestle again. I am cleared by the neurologist in Phoenix that I’ve been going to see. It’s not like he’s a quack doctor. He was the neurologist for the Super Bowl … who has no problems in clearing me with no limitations. But you also have to understand that WWE is not only looking out for my best interest, but they have to look out for their company as well, and I understand all of that too. There is nothing vindictive or anything there’s just a lot of hurdles to go through at this point with getting cleared by WWE. I had a sit-down with Vince and Hunter about this and said, “Hey, this is my passion. I understand why you guys wouldn’t clear me but we only get, as far as we know, one life. And you’re not going to let me do my passion?”

    On the specifics of his injuries: “Well, it’s actually not a neck issue, my neck is completely fine. It’s more of a concussion issue. And Brie was very hesitant about this whole thing and that’s why WWE is very protective over me too. Everyone is more aware of concussions and that’s why, with WWE, I don’t see what they’re doing, as far as making me go through all these hurdles, I don’t see that as a negative. They’re protecting me and especially in this era of concussion awareness. Brie at first was like, ‘Hmm, I’m not sure, given your history.’ But when we met with the neurologist in Phoenix and we went through all the testing and he said: ‘Ok, all of my testing is not just coming back good, it’s coming back excellent.’ As far as my brain right now, it’s at a level above most people who have never had a concussion my age.

    “When you are looking at scores of like: Bad, poor, fair, good, great, excellent — it’s at those great-excellent levels. So all of that to say, she had gone from being very skeptical about it to being very supportive of me being able to wrestle again. And she is someone who will flat out say, ‘I’m not just interested in what happens to him 2 years from now or five years from now’ and she doesn’t care about the money or anything like that, she is interested of where I’m at 20 years from now. The deal with my arm, they told me this because I waited so long to get the surgery, my right arm might never get back to full strength of my left arm. So right now, it’s about 85 percent and it hasn’t improved much in a while. But because the nerve had been cut off for so long, there is a very good chance that that will never come back. But, it’s not like I’m feeble with my right arm. My left hand, and we’re going mostly by grip strength because my triceps strength and all that kind of stuff is equal on both sides. My grip strength on my left hand is about 150 pounds of pressure and my grip strength in my right hand is about 130 pounds of pressure. The average male my age is about 100 pounds of pressure. So it’s not like I’m ‘arrrggghhhhh poor me!’”

  • FRI UPDATE: Hulk Hogan fired from WWE

    By Tony Leder and Bryan Alvarez for WrestlingObserver.com

    This weekend kicks off with an ROH iPPV at www.rohwrestling.comon tonight from the William J. Myers Pavilion in Baltimore:  Get your live results and coverage here:  ROH Death Before Dishonor XIII Live Results and Coverage 7-24-15: Jay Lethal vs Roderick Strong

    • Jay Lethal vs. Roderick Strong for the ROH title
    • Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian vs. Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Michael Bennett & Matt Taven vs. Hanson & Ray Rowe for the tag titles
    • Adam Page vs. ACH no DQ
    • Cedric Alexander vs. Moose
    • Rocky Romero & Trent Baretta vs. Mark & Jay Briscoe
    • Adam Cole vs. Dalton Castle
    • Silas Young vs. Will Ferrara
    • Donovan Dijak vs. Takaaki Watanabe

    New Japan G-1 show Saturday morning from Kagawa at 5 a.m. Eastern on New Japan World with B block matches

    • Tomohiro Ishii vs. Yujiro Takahashi
    • Satoshi Kojima vs. Michael Elgin
    • Hirooki Goto vs. Karl Anderson
    • Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Yuji Nagata
    • Kazuchika Okada vs. Tomoaki Honma 

    Then UFC on FOX 16 from Chicago featuring T.J. Dillashaw vs. Renan Barao for the bantamweight title and in the co-mainevent Jessica Eye vs. Miesha Tate for the No. 1 contender position.  Check out our live coverage of the weigh-ins here:  UFC On FOX 16: Dillashaw vs. Barao 2 weigh-in results and live video

    The full schedule:  

    Fight Pass at 4:15 p.m. Eastern

    • Zak Cummings vs. Dominique Steele
    • Jessamyn Duke vs. Elizabeth Phillips
    • Andrew Holbrook vs. Ramsey Nijem
    • Daron Cruickshank vs. James Krause

    FOX at 6 p.m. Eastern (3 p.m. Pacific)

    • Bryan Caraway vs. Eddie Wineland
    • Kenny Robertson vs. Ben Saunders
    • Danny Castillo vs. Jim Miller
    • Tom Lawlor vs. Gian Villante
    • Takanori Gomi vs. Joe Lauzon
    • Edson Barboza vs. Paul Felder
    • Jessica Eye vs. Miesha Tate
    • T.J. Dillashaw vs. Renan Barao for the bantamweight title

    Also on Saturday night will have WWE in Los Angeles at the Staples Center and Odessa, TX, and  ROH will be taping four hours of television in Baltimore.

    Last night’s Smackdown report(ok from Wednesday):

    WWE Smackdown July 23 TV results & recap: Seth Rollins vs. Cesaro, Kevin Owens vs. Rusev

    New Japan has a G-1 show from this morning:

    NJPW G1 Climax 25 Night 3 (July 24) results: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

    Saturday night will have WWE in Los Angeles at the Staples Center and Odessa, TX, while ROH will be taping four hours of television in Baltimore.

    Sunday is the biggest G-1 show of the weekend live on New Japan World at 5 a.m. Eastern from Hiroshima with some key A block matches:

    • Bad Luck Fale vs. Doc Gallows
    • Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Toru Yano
    • Togi Makabe vs. Katsuyori Shibata
    • A.J. Styles vs. Kota Ibushi
    • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tetsuya Naito 

    Sunday also sees a couple WWE house shows in Lawton, OK and Amarillo.

    Raw will be Monday night in Oklahoma City.  Brock Lesnar is not advertised for the show.

    Smackdown is Tuesday night in Tulsa.  Roman Reign and Seth Rollins are advertised as the top stars on the show.  Dolph Ziggler is being advertised on the show, so in theory he should be returning this week although what is advertised and what happens aren’t necessarily the same thing.

    In the Latest Observer:

    The return of the Undertaker and build to SummerSlam, Battleground coverage, the rise of NXT and situation with ROH, the G-1 Climax tournament and some major UFC stories are the major stories in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. 

    The latest Wrestling Observer: July 27, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: The Undertaker returns at Battleground, NXT/ROH insanity with Liger booking

    Web site subscriptions, which include access to both current and older newsletters as well as every audio show in the history of the site: 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

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    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.

    Our lead story concerns the build to SummerSlam.  We look at advertising that has already been cut for the show, what are the possibilities for Sting, the Lesnar-Undertaker angle, the booking of WWE right now, the situation with the women, plus full coverage of Battleground with match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results on the show.

    We also look at the booking of  Jushin Liger to NXT on 8/22, ticket sales for the show, plans for the NXT show, how the Liger booking affects ROH and has caused such a political turmoil.  We look at the NXT card as well as the competing ROH show.  We look at the Liger booking, ROH working with New Japan, ratings with New Japan stars vs. shows without New Japan stars, NXT touring, the next NXT vs. ROH head-to-head in September, the next ROH PPV show and much more.

    We also have full coverage of the G-1 Climax tournament, with all of the shows planned for the next week, as well as full coverage of opening night in Sapporo with match-by-match-coverage, star ratings and poll results.

    We also look at a major story concerning fighters for UFC to address which is the banning of IVs for rehydrating after weigh-ins starting October and why the story is far more significant than people realize.

    We also look at a potential alliance between ESPN and WWE and the ethical debate regarding the coverage.  We also look at the Hogan/Gawker lawsuit and each side’s case, an update on the Dr. Christopher Amann lawsuit against C.M. Punk and Colt Cabana, an update on Dolph Ziggler and what he claims is his contract status, Undertaker working more than just SummerSlam, Stephanie McMahon talks gay characterizations in future WWE creative as well as a look back from former creative members regarding different suggestions on gay characterizations in the past.  We look at more WWE banned terms and how some were changed and why.  We also look at how the characters are being described for Camp WWE, which is really hilarious.

    We’ve also got notes on Chris Jericho working more house shows, Tough Enough notes, John Cena in the movies, how the WWE Network free month has changed, as well as what to look for over the next week in WWE stock.

    We also have full coverage of the next month of NXT TV tapings, as well as coverage of all the WWE and NXT house shows this past week and business notes from the shows.

    We also have notes on TripleMania being on U.S. PPV for the first time on 8/9, including price point, why it’s happening now, and its history as well as broadcast information.

    We also have coverage of both UFC events held over the past week, with the Mir vs. Duffee and Bisping vs. Leites shows.  We’ve got business notes and stories behind both events.

    We also have notes on the third season of New Japan World on AXS, including highlights of the new season, all the matches airing from 8/14 to 12/11 including when the Wrestle Kingdom 9 matches will air, as well as notes on the schedule for 2016.

    We also look at Dragon Gate’s Kobe World Festival show and CMLL’s Sin Salida show, which were two of those two company’s biggest events of the year.

    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.

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    Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues

    FRIDAY’S NEWS UPDATE

    • The big story from today, of course, is Hulk Hogan’s termination from WWE for racial slurs in a sex tape created 8 years ago with Heather Clem, who was married to Bubba the Love Sponge at the time.

    Check out our ongoing coverage here:  WWE: Hulk Hogan’s WWE contract terminated, National Enquirer story claims racist comments, Hogan’s statement to People

    We are told the “more to come” that the National Enquirer has promised could be coming this afternoon or this weekend.

    Various wrestlers and personalities are publicly backing Hulk Hogan today, including Virgil to TMZ and Dennis Rodman on his Twitter account.  Rodman is also backing Donald Trump, who at one point in history was involved in the main event of the biggest WrestleMania of all time.

    Brooke Hogan wrote a poem for her father

    Mark Henry talks Hulk Hogan on his Twitter

    We also have tons of notes on the story on today’s Wrestling Observer Live, which you can download commercial-free here if you are a subscriber, with 45 minutes of news and notes with Bryan Alvarez, Dave Meltzer, Mike Sempervive and David Bixenspan.  Bix will also have tons of additional details in this week’s new Figure Four Weekly: July 27 Figure Four Weekly: Hulk Hogan fired by WWE after racist tirade surface He was ahead of the curve in predicting last week’s story that the big Hogan bombshell might involve a racial tirade by Hogan.

    • Today’s Observer Live (every show every day, in fact) will replay on Sports Byline USA at 5 PT/8 ET.  Sports Byline USA can be accessed through the links on the front page or via smartphone apps such as TuneIn Radio and iHeart Radio.  If you are a member you can listen here: Wrestling Observer Live 7/24: Everything you ever wanted to know about the Hulk Hogan story as of 4 PM ET
    • Bully Ray is apparently already gone from TNA.  That was quick.
    • Impact and ROH were both up this week with Impact doing a combined 388,000 viewers between the two airings and ROH doing 265,000.  Last week’s super low numbers appear to be an aberration.
    • Smackdown grew to 2.4 million viewers this week.
    • There is a new CM Punk interview with Arial Helwani
    • Global Force Wrestling will be using a six-sided ring for their TV tapings, which kick off tonight at the Orleans Casino in Las Vegas.  Chael Sonnen and Cyrus Fees, who has done MMA commentary in the past, will be doing commentary.
    • Look at this guy
    • Moondog Morretti is to be honored July 24 at the Cloverdale fairgrounds check out the article here:  MoonDog Moretti to be Honored July 24,2015
    • Shine Wrestling returns to the Orpheum in Ybor City, FL this Friday at 9pm with SHINE 28 headlined by Santana Garrett defending against Ivelisse Velez.
    • Robin Pro Wrestling will be at the Broward College South Campus in Pembroke Pines, FL Saturday at 5pm featuring an appearance by Larry Zbyszko.
    • I Believe in Wrestling returns to the Team Vision Dojo this Saturday at 8pm in Orlando, FL.
    • A new wrestling company Lots of Lakes Wrestling Promotions presents live pro wrestling at the Team Vision Dojo this Sunday at 6:30pm headlined by Manik / T.J. Perkins.
    • ELITE CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING ANIMAL PROTECTION SOCIETY – Richmond, BC August 8 2015

  • Global Force Wrestling TV taping report

    By Devin Dindyall

    Two minutes before bell time. The announcer came out to hype us up. He got a GLOBAL FORCE chant going. Then there was some merchandise shilling. All the merch here is GFW branded stuff, from t-shirts to backpacks; no wrestler merch, unfortunately. He name dropped Bullet Club, even though they are not here. 

    90% of the crowd was on the TV side, so arena was half empty. Stage set up was a giant black curtain with some lights around the entrance tunnel. Nothing spectacular. 

    First match is PJ Black v. Sanada. Next-Gen tourney match. Great opener. Lots of flippy spots. Got the crowd hyped. Black won with a springboard 450.

    Bobby Roode is out next. Came out to a huge ovation. He is using his TNA theme. Hyped us up and said he’s not a GFW guy, he’s a TNA guy. This warranted a DIXIE SUCKS chants so I guess Roode is working as a heel. Said he’s the longest reigning TNA champ ever, holding the title longer than Sting, Kurt Angle, and Jeff Hardy and Jeff Jarrett. He said he’s mad because JJ came back to TNA, which is Roode’s house, and took the KOTM title from him. So now, Roode has come to Vegas for Global Force Wrestling to take the GFW world title in the tournament.

    Nick Aldis interrupts. He says this isn’t TNA and this is GFW and he has joined the force along with the rest of the fans here at the Orleans. He’s yelling at Roode and then Kongo Kong comes from behind to give Aldis a modified Samoan Drop looking move. Gets major heat from the crowd and then Roode comes back in the ring and locks Aldis in a cross face. Refs come to force him to break it.

    The GFW intermission is some kind of dubstep music. Reminds me Blake & Murphy’s theme. 

    Lucha 6 man tag is next Misterioso, Zokre and Phoenix Star vs. Blood Eagle, Steve Pain, and Bestia 666. Heels wore black and red masks and faces (Zokre’s team( wore all bright colored artire. Faces all looked like Sin Cara. Lots of LUCHA chants before and during the match. Crowd was red hot for a spot where all of the men in the match did consecutive outside dives. Bunch of cool high flying spots in this match. Team Sin Cara won. Everyone was happy.

    This guy named Henry Maxwell comes out next. Lots of who are you chants. Comes out & sings the Star Spangled Banner, major heat. These two Arab wrestlers, reminding me of Muhammad Hassan, faces covered and veiled, come out and beat down Maxwell. Suddenly after the crowd booed the Star Spangled Banner we got USA chants. They say they are called The Akbars and they are here for the GFW Tag titles.

    Bollywood Boyz come out with two dancers and a decent pop. I guess they’re just good looking Indian men who dance. That’s their gimmick. So this inevitably leads to a tag team match. Tag Championship Tourney match. Arabs vs. Indians.

    Match was okay to below average. Bollywood chants. Akbars did a lot of prototypical heel tag team spots, double teams with ref wasn’t looking, made sure ref wasn’t looking when the hot tag was made so it didn’t count. Finish was one Bollywood Boy hitting a top rope elbow on a standing Akbar and then another one hitting an elbow on the same dude once he fell. Good pop.

    Kushida vs. Virgil Flynn is next. I can’t tell if Flynn is really small or Kushida is really big. Kushida has the IWGP junior heavyweight championship belt with him.

    My favorite match of the night. I’ve never seen Kushida in singles action but it wasn’t much different than his stuff with the Time Splitters. Virgil Flynn was excellent as well. You know that Trevor Lee spot where two wrestlers run from two different sides of the ring off the ropes and he does that flip cross body thing in the middle of the ring? Flynn did that. That was amazing to see in person. Flynn hits a 450. Kushida kicks out. More back and forth. Kushida eventually won via submission.

    Karen Jarrett comes out. Thanks the crowd for coming out and then she says she’s wants to make sure the ladies weren’t slighted tonight. This promo was somewhat reminiscent of Stephanie coming out on RAW two weeks ago without the UFC Soccer and Tennis name dropping. They would have a tournament match for the GFW Women’s Title in the main event. Someone screams “we love puppies.” 

    Lei’D Tapa comes out. Her manager comes out and says something about business and how Mickie James is in all the advertisements for GFW but Tapa is not. Karen calls out Tapa and says unlike her, she doesn’t need her husband to speak for her. So we learn her manager is her husband. 

    Triple threat match with Tapa and Christina Von Eerie and Mickie James. Women’s Title tourney match. Eerie got the biggest pop as she is from Reno, even though that is a 6 hour car drive away. Both girls double teamed Tapa and then wrestled each other. Tapa came back, attacked both, they came back, took her out, made it 1v1, repeat. Tapa did not look that good. Ending was Eerie pinning Tapa with Dead Raising from the middle rope. 

    Intermission. Announcer plugs merch again. Says they have Bullet Club shirts. I go check. They do not. 

    2nd episode

    Jigsaw v Sonjay Dutt. Next Gen tourney match More flippy shit and cool spots but not as much as the Kushida or Black match. Match was alright. Both men got mild receptions, Jigsaw was hotter, who won with Jig N’ Tonic. 

    Chael Sonnen out next. Tells everyone to shut up. Boos. Tells everyone to shut up some more. Introduces Virgil Flynn. Says Flynn will be in the Nextgen Championship Tourney. PJ Black comes out and congratulates Flynn for taking Kushida to the limit and shakes his hand and raises his arm up. Then superkicks him. He leaves and Sonnin follows, stepped over a downed Flynn.

    I looked up Virgil Flynn and he is not well known at all; only has about 300 Twitter followers so with the opportunities he was given, with the MOTN with Kushida and this segment with Chael and Gabriel, he looks to be key building block for the NexGen Division.

    Chris Mordetzky v Brian Myers next. World title tourney match. Mordetzky is working heel. Decent match. Myers hit a wicked spear but Mordetzky immediately rolled to the outside. Mordetzky won with the Masterlock. Myers got a nice ovation post-match.

    Reno Scum vs. Los Luchas is next. Tag title tourney match. Big ovation for Reno Scum. They were super impressive in this match. They also won. I do not know what their finishing sequence is called but it is awesome.

    Roode beat Kevin Kross, a local guy. World title tourney match. Roode got major heat from most of the crowd. There was a LET’S GO BOBBY/BOBBY SUCKS chant. At one point he screamed THIS IS THE BEST YOU GOT? at the crowd, in reference to Kross. Roode won with the crossface. Match was okay, Kross wasn’t that good.

    Double J came out to a big ovation. He called someone in the crowd slapnuts which got a big pop. Loud THANK YOU JEFF chant. Thanked the Orleans for their partnership with GFW. Thanked the wrestlers in the back and thanked the fans. Says we are just getting started; at the next taping we will see Shelton Benjamin, the Killer Elite Squad, and Bullet Club (Gallows and Anderson). BC for the biggest ovation out of the three. Booby Roode then comes out. He buries the entire roster and called GFW a “two-cent company”. Says no one gives a crap about Benjamin or the KES and certainly no one gives a crap about the Bullet Club. Big SHIT FACTOR chant. Jarrett says look, the crowd knows Roode’s real name! That got a pop. JJ says here at GFW they’re looking for talent willing to take things to the next level. So to continue the tournament at the next taping, Roode will face “Showtime” Eric Young!

    Maxwell came out again. He seems like a major heel so I don’t know why they had the Akbars beat him up in the last episode. He says he’s here to introduce a sophisticated man who is also his best friend, Kongo Kong.

    Kong v Aldis is the main event. Maxwell stole the show here, at some points taking the crowd’s attention away from the match and placed it on himself. At one point he took off his blazer and got on the guardrail and started swinging it around and yelling. Kong hit a clothesline to Aldis at the turnbuckle at one point and Maxwell yelled BOOM SHAKA LAKA. Inevitably, we got a HENRY MAXWELL chant.

    Match was solid though. Kong really impressed me; for a big guy who looks out of shape he’s incredibly athletic with expected strength for a big man. Aldis came back and dropped the elbow and got a 2. Maxwell got on the apron and Aldis punched him. Kong attacked him in the corner and hit a cannonball. Close 2 count. He went to the top rope and missed a moonsault. Aldis then won with a spinning out powerbomb. The one that Cena hits before he sets up the 5 Knuckle Shuffle.

    Overall it was a good show. I went in expecting a TNA show and got something better than that. Announcing Eric Young was a surprise to me. It seems like all the big TNA names are going to jump ship from TNA if the company indeed sinks.

  • VIDEO: UFC Embedded: UFC On FOX 16, Episode 4

    Fight week and the final build up to UFC On FOX 16 on Saturday continues with UFC Embedded leading into tonight’s event. In the fourth episode, the fighters cut their final pounds and make the final check-ins for the event. UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman is on hand and provides his pick for the main event. And finally, it is off to the United Center for Friday’s weigh-ins as the fighters make weight. Check out episode four of UFC Embedded above as we get set for the action tonight on FOX.

  • VIDEO: UFC Embedded: UFC On FOX 16, Episode 3

    Fight week and the build up to UFC On FOX 16 on Saturday night continues with episode three of UFC Embedded. In this episode, the women in the co-main event, Miesha Tate and Jessica Eye, arrive in Chicago and sign posters, and then Eye goes sightseeing with her team while Tate makes a radio appearance. Paul Felder enjoys some time on Periscope with fans and doing interviews. UFC Bantamweight Champion T.J. Dillashaw and Edson Barboza get in some training at the host hotel. It is then off to open workouts on Thursday as the fighters continue to make final preparations for Saturday’s event. All of that and more, so check out episode three of UFC Embedded above.