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  • NJPW on AXS 7-16-15 report: Suzuki vs. Styles; Nakamura vs. Ishii

    by Bryan Rose, WrestlingObserver.com

    Last week on New Japan on AXS, Kazuchika Okada and Tetsuya Naito squared off in a great battle that led to Natio getting the big win, revenge from the Tokyo Dome just a few months prior. This week is a special episode for Wrestling Observer subscribers, as not only are the matches from tonight’s show from the 2014 card of the year (G1 Climax Day 7) but we’ll also be seeing highlights from the 2014 match of the year, as AJ Styles takes on Minoru Suzuki. In the main event, we’ll see the best brawler Tomohiro Ishii take on Wrestler of the Year Shinsuke Nakamura. This is a show packed with Wrestling Observer award favorites, so it’s bound to be one hell of a show.

    This took place August 1, 2014 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

    They first aired the AJ Styles/Minoru Suzuki match. This was somewhat clipped, but they spent a good amount of time airing most of the match. When first watching this match, I thought it was going to be a total styles clash (pun not entirely intended). But after watching this match, boy did this exceed any expectations I had. This was a white hot match with perfect psychology, great heat from the audience and the submission work by Suzuki was a big highlight of the match. The work on the fingers was amazing in particular – there’s no like Minoru Suzuki in pro wrestling in how he does so little but makes everything he does look incredible though facials and submissions. Not that Styles didn’t hold up his end of the game either – he was great in his role as the babyface fighting out of all of Suzuki’s submission work. Just a super match that deserves all the accolades it gets. AJ gets the win with the Styles Clash in an awesome match.

    AJ says he can take his arm, but he can’t take his will. Suzuki says it’s not the end.

    Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Hirooki Goto aired next. This looked pretty good, though it was clipped more than the previous match. While I groaned last year that Tenzan was involved in the tournament since most of the year he’s nearing immobility, this is the time of the year where he really steps it up and it showed in this match, which again looked very good, but at the same time it’s also one of those matches that fall at the wayside from me since there’s so much good stuff in this tournament. Tenzan gets the submission with the anaconda vise.

    Nakamura is interviewed. He said this match with Ishii was the first one where their skills were put to the test against each other, since they are in the CHAOS stable together and also tag team on occasion. He hurt his neck in the match last week against Honma, so he wanted to make sure his neck healed up before the G1. What he knows about Ishii is that his style is not straightforward, he works like he’s set to hurt himself facing larger opponents. Nakamura says he is better at controlling the rhythm of the match, but Nakamura has the better style.

    The match aired. I liked this match a lot, though I think far and away the best match of the night was Suzuki/Styles. This was the headliner, however, so I get them airing this match in full. And there’s nothing to complain about regardless, as this was a fantastic match. This, again, was a styles clash sort of match, but that wasn’t my mindset going into the match. Rather, it was the match that told that story – Ishii wanted to do his style and be stiff and brutal. Nakamura relied on doing his strong style, which differs from Ishii’s more brutal style. It turned into a great back and forth battle because of this, and turned out to be a great match. Nakamura smashed Ishii with two boma yes, but he kicked out. Ishii was going for perhaps a lariat, but Nakamura stunned him with another boma ye and pinned him.

    Ishii said even before the match he had a feeling he hadn’t felt in a while, because Nakamura was that kind of guy. He’s glad that they fought now, because 2 years ago it wouldn’t have been as special as this.Nakamura says they inspired each other, and to be in the same ring…it was great to be in the same ring as a great wrestler. He says today was the key match of the G1. They’ll fight again.

    Upon reflection, Nakamura says it felt weird form the start to face him. Our performance kept accelerating as time went on. It was a tough match, but it was great to face him head on. He thought this would be arrogant to say, but he felt he got “into” Ishii that night, knew his emotions going into the match.

    Another terrific show for this week, with all 3 bouts ranging from good to great to awesome. Next week, two of the biggest stars in New Japan will face off as Hiroshi Tanahashi will take on Shinsuke Nakamura as G1 24 rolls on.

  • WWE News: Note on Sunday’s Battleground show match

    The WWE has stated that the entire three-way match with Ryback vs. The Miz vs. Big Show is off Sunday’s show.

    The title match aspect and Ryback participation was known to be off due to his suffering a staph infection of his right knee.  It had been unclear whether Miz and Show would remain on the show in a match against each other.

    Like everything with WWE, this is all subject to change.

  • Bellator MMA 140 Live coverage and results: Welterweight Title – Lima vs Koreshkov

    It’s an all-welterweight show tonight on Spike TV, headlined by a title fight in the main event. Action gets underway on Spike TV at 9 pm eastern. 

    By Paul Fontaine for WrestlingObserver.com

    New play by play announcer Sean Grande joins Jimmy Smith. Opening pretty heavily focused on the charismatic Michael Venom Page (MVP), who has star potential if he keeps winning. Main event is “17 months in the making”.

    Welterweights Rudy “Bad News” Bears (16-13) vs Michael “Venom” Page (7-0)

    You may remember Page from his unforgettable performance at the Bellator PPV last year, where he drew comparisons in style to Anderson Silva. They show Page’s walkout but not much to it. Todd Anderson is the referee.

    Page gets a knockdown 30 seconds in but Bears takes him down after a spinning back kick attempt. Page is waving his arms around like a madman and jumping all over the place and he knocked him out cold with a left hook, walking away before the ref even called it off.

    WINNER: MICHAEL PAGE (8-0) by KO at 1:05

    Page got a post-fight interview but didn’t really say much. He did wear his sunglasses indoors, for whatever that’s worth. 

    Welterweights Chris Honeycutt (6-0) vs Paul Bradley (22-6) 

    Big John is the ref here after just working the UFC San Diego show two nights ago. Honeycutt is a 2 time NCAA All-American who is one of Bellator’s young prospects they hope to build around. 

    Honeycutt stuffed on his first takedown attempt 30 seconds in. Honeycutt landing a lot of punches from distance but goes for another takedown and gets stuffed again 2 minutes in. Bradley with a cut over his right eye after 3:00 and stops another takedown attempt. Bradley with no answer for the striking of Honeycutt the rest of the round. 10-9 Honeycutt

    Honeycutt with a double-leg takedown and completes it 30 seconds in but Bradley right back up. Bradley gets a flash takedown of his own 1:00 but Honeycutt back to his feet. Honeycutt seems to be tiring as he’s not throwing nearly as many strikes and Bradley controlling the page half-way through the round. Accidental headbutt opens up a cut on Bradley. Doctor calls the fight due to the cut. 

    NO CONTEST as it’s ruled an accidental clash of heads

    They showed highlights of prelim fight from earlier in the Women’s Flyweight division. Kaline Medeiros scored a submission in 3:24 with a Kimura to climb to 5-4 over Sarah Payant, who dropped to 1-1. Medeiros dominated the entire fight and it looked a complete mismatch. 

    Welterweights “Irish” Brennan Ward (10-3) vs “The Leprechaun” Roger Carroll (16-11)

    Cung Le and Randy Couture are at ringside watching the action as we to a promo for PBC boxing. An awful lot of filler on this show. 

    Pre-fight video package for Ward-Carroll is completely ridiculous bro. Carroll singing Danny boy in a Leprechaun hat. Ward swearing every third word, bro. Ward doesn’t like wearing a shirt cause he’s f’ing jacked, bro. 

    Carroll looks like a Chuck Liddell version of “Gillberg”, just a complete jobber. With a 16-11 record in the regionals, it’s clear what his role is tonight. John McCarthy is the ref again. 

    Ward knocks him down with a front kick 10 seconds in. Ward with a takedown but lets Carroll back up. Ward hitting him at will. Ward keeps taking him down and then walking away. Carroll with a low-blow on Ward, bro. “He got me right in the sack” – Ward. Ward knocks him out cold with a straight right.

    WINNER: BRENNAN WARD (11-3) by KO at 2:06. Honestly, this fight should never have been sanctioned. 

    Carroll was taken out on a stretcher. Ward got a post-match promo and called out “anybody”. He replaced “bro” with “baby” in his venacular. Was expecting a call-out of MVP honestly. 

    Welterweights Paul “Semtex” Daley (36-13-2) vs Dennis Olson (14-8)

    They announced that Josh Koscheck will debut in December for the promotion and he did a cageside interview. Looks like they are going right to the Daley fight. 

    Just realized this show is three hours and there have been just over 10 minutes of live fights through 100 minutes. Don’t expect this one to be long either. Dan Miragliotta is the ref. Daley knocks Olson down with the first punch of the fight but lets him back up and Olson takes him down 30 seconds in. Daley to his feet quickly and gets a takedown of his own. Daley laying in a lot of ground and pound but gets hit with an upkick. Daley stands up and backs off at 2:30. Daley lands a couple hard knees and follows up with short lefts but Olson takes him down again at 3:00. Daley sweeps to top position at 4:15 and stands up. Daley hit with an upkick and bleeding from the nose. Daley back into Olson’s guard and pounding him with punches and elbows to the head. Olson with an armbar attempt at the end of the round. 10-9 Daley

    Daley knocks Olson down early but lets him back up. Daley pounding on him and knocks him down again, following up with ground and pound. Olson cut over the left eye and Daley finishes it with a vicious punch to the side of the head for the TKO win.

    WINNER: PAUL DALEY (37-13-2) by TKO at 1:12 of Round 2. 

    Post-fight promo for Daley. He put over Olson as a tough opponent. Disappointed that he didn’t finish in the first. Daley called out “Crotch-check”. He hates his hair and he hates him. Have to think that’ll be Kos’ first Bellator fight. 

    Main Event
    For the Bellator Welterweight Championship – Champion Douglas “The Phenom” Lima (26-5) vs Andrey “The Spartan” Koreshkov (17-1)

    Lima’s brother Dhiego, the UFC fighter, accompanied him to the cage. They showed both walk-outs. Nothing special. They put Lyman Good, who just got a UFC win, on the top of Koreshkov’s notable wins. Kevin MacDonald is the ref for this title fight.

    Koreshkov goes for an early takedown but gets stuffed by Lima. Completes it at 1:00. Lima to his feet fairly easily. Koreshkov takes him down again at 2:00. Lima to his feet at 2:30. Lima with a vicious leg kick almost knocks Koreshkov down. Koreshkov with another takedown at 4:30 as Lima was finding his range on his feet. Koreshkov did nothing from top position but the 3 takedowns should be enough to take the round. 10-9 Koreshkov

    Jimmy Smith gave Lima the first round. It was close. Lima outstruck Koreshkov 13-6 in Round 1. Koreshkov controlling the cage for the first 2:00 but neither guy landing much. Lima with a takedown just after the 2:00 mark. Lima to his feet and Koreshkov follows. Koreshkov still advancing but neither guy landing much of anything on the feet. Koreshkov with a takedown at 4:15. 10-9 Koreshkov

    Jimmy has it even after 2. Lima starting to land from distance while backing up. Koreshkov continuing to control the pace and gets a takedown at 1:15. Koreshkov is bleeding and it’s getting all over Daley as he’s on the bottom. Lima sweeps to  top position and gets to his feet at 2:30. Ref broke up a minute long clinch on the cage. Koreshkov with another easy takedown at 4:00. Koreshkov starting to land punches from the top. 10-9 Koreshkov

    Smith has it 2 rounds 1 for Koreshkov and he’s advancing again to start the round. Crowd starts up a “Let’s go Lima” chant. Takedown by Koreshkov at 1:45. Lima sweeps to top position again and tries to stand but Koreshkov brings him right back down again. Another sweep to top from Lima at 4:00 and he gets to his feet but Koreshkov brings him right back down again. Ref breaks it up with 15 seconds left. 10-9 Koreshkov

    Lima advancing to start the round as he knows he needs a finish. Koreshkov more active on the feet though and quickly takes control of the action. Lima looking exhausted as he’s throwing half-hearted punches that are missing badly. Koreshkov backs Lima up with punches at 3:30. Lima got a knockdown off a punch with 15 seconds left and ended the round throwing punches from the top. 10-9 Lima, 49-46 overall for Koreshkov and we should have a new champion. 

    WINNER AND NEW BELLATOR WORLD WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION: ANDREY KORESHKOV (18-1) by unanimous decision (48-47, 50-45 x 2)

  • UFC Fight Night 72 and Bellator 140 Picks From The Secret Psychic Spy~!

    By the Secret Psychic Spy (secretpsychicspy@yahoo.com)

    Starting Bankroll: $1,500

    Current Bankroll: $1,030.06

    Last week: 3/5 Overall 65/114 (57%)

    Two big shows this weekend, with Bellator 140 tonight and UFC Fight Night 72 tomorrow morning/afternoon in North America or evening in the UK. I’ve looked up and down both cards and found 5 value picks. One from tonight’s show and 4 from tomorrow’s.

    Pick 1 – Douglas Lima (26-5) -175 over Andrey Koreshkov (17-1) I’m betting $100 to win $57.14

    This is the main event of the Bellator show and Lima defends his Welterweight title against tournament winner Koreshkov. Lima has looked outstanding in Bellator, with 5 straight KO wins and I think he gets a sixth here. He’s faced a much tougher level of competition than Koreshkov.

    Pick 2 – Rob Whiteford (11-2) -145 over Paul Redmond (11-4) I’m betting $100 to win $68.97

    Whiteford will be a huge hometown hero in his native Scotland and he should blitz Redmond fairly easily. Redmond should losing his 2nd straight here, after also losing his UFC debut earlier this year.

    Pick 3 – Teemu Peckalen (7-0) -125 over Mickael Lebout (12-4-2) I’m betting $100 to win $80

    Peckalen is making his UFC debut. He’s won every one of his career fights by KO or submission. Lebout has fought once in UFC, just this past April and lost to lightly regarded Sergio Moraes. Peckalen should have a successful start to his UFC career here.

    Pick 4 – Jimmie Rivera (16-1) -125 over Marcus Brimage (6-4) I’m betting $100 to win $80

    Rivera is also making his UFC debut but has some impressive wins on the regional circuit, including Jesse Brock, Cody Stevens and Carson Beebe. He’s knocked out each of his last two opponents, including a 16 second win in his last fight. Brimage has lost 3 of his last 4, including being knocked out twice and shouldn’t be much of a match for Rivera here.

    Pick 5 – Paddy Holohan (11-1-1) -185 over Vaughan Lee (14-10-1)

    Holohan is a training partner of Conor McGregor and the luck of the Irish should carry over here, as Holohan has looked great so far in his UFC career. With his charisma, he could be just a couple of wins away from competing for a title in the relatively weak flyweight division. Lee has been finished in 3 of his last 5 fights and will probably make it 4 of 6 here.

    All told, I’m betting $500 with a chance to win $340.16

    On with the betting game.

    2015 Betting Game: Secret Psychic Spy vs Ryan Frederick

    Current Standings:

    Ryan Frederick: $1,082.53 (Picked Lawler, Gordon, Hein, Alvarez, Ortega, Noons, Browne, Magny, Matthews)

    Secret Psychic Spy: $1,290.18 (Picked Samman, Bosse, Amirkhani, Henderson, Breese, Pyle, Wee, Andrews)

    Both of us were winners last weekend but young Ryan crept a little closer as Robbie Lawler was slightly more of an underdog than Samman was. I’m going with the debuting Jimmie Rivera at -125 for the reasons indicated above.

    Ryan’s pick is Thales Leites at +105 over Michael Bisping. Bisping is good on home soil but Leites is on a solid win streak and has been getting the job done impressively in his UFC comeback. I see him as a better fighter at this stage over Bisping and winning a close fight. 

    Good luck, enjoy the fights and remember, don’t bet more than you can afford to lose and try to have fun with it!

  • FRI. UPDATE: UFC in Texas Stadium, 2014 card and match of year, NXT lineup, lots of big shows

    By Dave Meltzer

    Huge weekend of events coming up.  We’ll be doing weekend polls on Battleground and opening night of G-1 this week.  We’re not going to do polls on every G-1 show, but will do them for the major shows.

    We’re looking for reports on tonight’s WWE show in Newark, NJ (John Cena vs. Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose), ROH in Las Vegas (Austin Aries & Jay Lethal & Moose vs. Jay Briscoe & Dalton Castle & Kyle O’Reilly, Rocky Romero & Barreta vs. Young Bucks, Christopher Daniels vs. Mark Briscoe, Bobby Fish vs. Matt Taven, ODB vs. Nanae Takahashi, Willie Mack vs. Silas Young) and NXT in Cocoa Beach, FL at dave@wrestlingobserver.com”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com

    Bellator tonight at 9 p.m. from the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT on Spike

    Michael Page (171) vs. Rudy Bears (170.75)

    Chris Honeycutt (171) vs. Paul Bradley (171)

    Brennan Ward (171) vs. Roger Carroll (171)

    Paul Daley (171) vs. Dennis Olsen (173) – Olsen was fined for missing weight

    Douglas Lima (170) vs. Andrey Koreshkov (170) for Bellator welterweight title

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

    A.J. Styles vs. Minoru Suzuki – this won the 2014 match of the year award

    Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Hirooki Goto

    Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Tomohiro Ishii

    This card itself from Korakuen Hall also won the 2014 card of the year award

    Legacy Fighting Championships tonight at 10 p.m. on AXS TV from Hinckley, MN at the Grand Casino Hinckley Hotel

    Derrick Krantz vs. Brock Larson for vacant welterweight title

    Zak Ottow vs. Jacob Volkmann

    Tommy Speer vs. ?

    Nick Wagner vs. Chase Waldon

    Augusto Mendes vs. Donald Williams

    Derek Getzell vs. Kenneth Glenn

    We’re looking for reports on Saturday’s WWE shows in Peoria (Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt) and Danville, IL (John Cena vs. Kevin Owens, Prime Time Players vs. New Day) and NXT in Venice, FL.

    UFC on Saturday from Glasgow, Scotland for a morning/afternoon show

    Fight Pass at 10 a.m. Eastern

    Chris de la Rocha (245) vs. Daniel Omielanczuk (242)

    Marcus Brimage (136) vs. Jimmie Rivera (135)

    FS 1 at 11 a.m. Eastern

    Paul Redmond (145) vs. Robert Whiteford (146)

    Mickael Lebout (155) vs. Teemu Packalen (155)

    Ilir Latifi (206) vs. Hans Stringer (205)

    Paddy Holohan (126) vs. Vaughan Lee (126)

    Leonardo Mafra (155) vs. Stevie Ray (155)

    Leon Edwards (169) vs. Pawel Pawlak (170)

    Joanne Calderwood (115) vs. Cortney Casey (114)

    Joseph Duffy (155) vs. Ivan Jorge (154)

    Evan Dunham (156) vs. Ross Pearson (155)

    Michael Bisping (185) vs. Thales Leites (185)

    Titan Fighting Championships from Saturday night from Kansas City’s Scottish Rite Temple on UFC Fight Pass live

    Pat Healy vs. Marcus Edwards for vacant lightweight title

    Kurt Holobaugh vs. Andre Harrison for vacant featherweight title

    Brett Johns vs. Anthony Gutierrez for bantamweight title

    Tim Elliott vs. Iliarde Santos for vacant flyweight title

    Jose Landi-Jons vs. Tyler Stinson

    Freddy Assuncao vs. Cody Bollinger

    Isaac Vallie-Flagg vs. Jason Witt

    Phil Hawes vs. Lucas Rota

    Vince Eazelle vs. Desmond Green

    William Joplin vs. Sirwan Kakai

    Mike Bruno vs. Dakota Cochrane

    Battleground Sunday in St. Louis on PPV and the WWE Network starting at 7 p.m. Eastern time

    Seth Rollins vs. Brock Lesnar for WWE title

    John Cena vs. Kevin Owens for U.S. title

    Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt

    Randy Orton vs. Sheamus

    Prime Time Players vs. New Day for tag titles

    R-Truth vs. King Barrett in the pre-show match

    No word on what happens to Big Show and Miz, if they wrestle in a single or not.  Ryback is off the show due to a staph infection.  There are likely to be some matches added.


    New Japan G-1 Climax fight night from Sapporo at 2 a.m. Eastern and 11 p.m. Pacific on New Japan World

    Yohei Komatsu & Tiger Mask & Jushin Liger & Yuji Nagata vs. Tomoaki Honma & Mascara Dorada & David Finlay & Jay White

    Hirooki Goto & Captain New Japan vs. Cody Hall & Yujiro Takahashi

    Shinsuke Nakamura & Yoshi-Hashi vs. Karl Anderson & Tama Tonga

    Michael Elgin & Satoshi Kojima & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo

    Tournament matches:

    Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Doc Gallows

    Togi Makabe vs. Toru Yano

    Tetsuya Naito vs. Bad Luck Fale

    A.J. Styles vs. Katsuyori Shibata

    Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi

    Raw is Monday night from Kansas City. It will be the start of the build up for SummerSlam.  Brock Lesnar is advertised on the show.  There are rumors Undertaker will be there or in some form will be part of the show.

    Smackdown will be Tuesday night in Lincoln, NE.

    The Conor McGregor phenomenon and the new direction of women in WWE and a history of women in WWE are the lead stories in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.  The issue is on the site right now at July 20, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: UFC 189 report, WWE calls up NXT women

    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 www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

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    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 talks about the Conor McGregor phenomenon, how it ushered in the new era of UFC, the business notes on the show, McGregor’s popularity in Ireland, why iPPV numbers probably set records, U.K. reaction, what to learn from McGregor vs. Mendes, how risky a gamble this fight was, similar gambles from the past, the story of the fight, McGregor vs. Aldo next, Ultimate Fighter and a full rundown of UFC 189.

    We also look at WWE’s bringing up Charlotte, Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks this past week, and a look back at the history of women performers in WWE dating back to the Wendi Richter vs. Fabulous Moolah match in 1984.  We look at the forgotten best women’s matches in main roster history and best workers, and failed attempt to market athletic women, what really happened with Aja Kong, We also look at the different ways this can go, how the angles changed, how the angle was done, as well as how UFC made it work and what was the same and different.

    We also look at what may be UFC’s biggest event of 2016, the UFC 200 show.

    We also look at the NXT show in Brooklyn and the busy weekend in the New York area, notes on when the next WWE network number will be released and what it would be up to, as well as break-even, and the peak number.  We look at advance sales for Battleground and the card, Lennox Lewis admits to almost doing a mixed match with Brock Lesnar in 2003, the story behind that fight and why it never happened, William Regal explains what WWE is looking for in new talent in a fascinating interview, notes on the future of Smackdown, who are planned to be focal point of NXT, Ziggler, Cody Runnels, update on Tyson Kidd, key WWE exec gets fired and new major WWE stock purchase by one of the richest men in Holland.

    We also look at an update on several legal proceedings involving WWE suits, notes on Tough Enough, as well as a rundown of the weekend NXT and WWE house shows with business notes on the shows.

    We also look at this year’s UFC induction ceremony, how it has changed, its future goals, and the speeches by Bas Rutten, B.J. Penn, Matt Hughes Frank Trigg, Lori Blatnick and many others.  We look at the histories of all the inductees as well.

    We also have more on Fedor Emelianenko being shopped around for a comeback at the age of 38.  We look at who he is, what he said just a few months ago about a comeback, if it is realistic to expect a match with Brock Lesnar, what Fedor said directly a few months ago about a match with Lesnar, as well as how UFC or Bellator can use him.

    We also look at UFC’s Sunday show in Las Vegas and business notes on the show.

    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.

    Also in this week’s issue:

    –A look at the big weekly event at Arena Mexico

    –Build to CMLL’s big summer show

    –A major big show controversy and a lot of buck passing involved

    –Top matches for this year’s TripleMania

    –A look at this past week’s AAA TV taping

    –Wrestling returns to Royal Albert Hall in London

    –A major star celebrates 30th anniversary of his pro debut

    –Third generation legend makes debut

    –Wrestle-1 announces its own tournament

    –Coverage of Wrestle-1 show from the past week

    –Notes on the G-1 debut card

    –Shinya Hashimoto death anniversary show

    –More on Dusty Rhodes and one of his most famous angles

    –A look at the build of Starrcade 85

    –GFW’s road shows and TV tapings

    –A look at the Waterloo wrestling Hall of Fame and this year’s inductions

    –A match of the year candidate

    –Former WWE star falls into more problems

    –One match which features champions from New Japan, a top star of Evolve, the TNA world champion, a Lucha Underground champion, anther TNA wrestler as well as a WWE wrestler and an ROH wrestler all in the same match

    –A look at Tommy Dreamer’s next show

    –Update on Alberto Del Rio

    –Update on Lucha Underground

    –Movie being made about a Lucha Underground star

    –More on ROH over WrestleMania weekend

    –This week’s upcoming ROH show in Las Vegas

    –A look this past week’s ROH show

    –More on the future of TNA

    –Update on Davey Richards

    –Something to watch for when it comes to UFC fans

    –Update on Travis Browne situation

    –This week’s UFC show on FS 1 and Fight Pass Titan show

    –More on C.M. Punk and his debut

    –More on fighters and prospective TV show ideas

    –Cris Cyborg, UFC and Invicta

    –New UFC fights

    –Lawsuit filed regarding Bellator

    –This week’s Bellator show

    –Notes on how new Bellator announcer used to write for a wrestling newsletter

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    FRIDAY’S NEWS UPDATE

    • For this weekend, we’ll be doing shows on Saturday and Sunday, with the Saturday show covering UFC and Sunday show covering WWE (probably not New Japan).
    • There have been several articles written last night and today regarding a UFC show in December at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, the site of WrestleMania.  Kevin Iole reported that the Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor fight would likely be on 12/5 at the stadium, while Ariel Helwaini reported that fight as being at the stadium, but said the date would be different.
    • “Trainwreck,” the Amy Schumer movie that has gotten tremendous reviews and features John Cena, is being predicted for a $25 million opening weekend.
    • Ronda Rousey was the fourth most searched term on the Internet Wednesday with more than 200,000 total searches.
    • Based on TV taped last night, the top matches for the 8/22 NXT show in Brooklyn are Finn Balor vs. Kevin Owens for the NXT title, Sasha Banks vs. Bayley for the women’s title, Jushin Liger vs. Tyler Breeze and Samoa Joe vs. Baron Corbin.
    • Today is the 27th anniversary of the death of Bruiser Brody, who was stabbed to death by Jose Gonzalez in the shower at Juan Loubriel Stadium in Bayamon prior to a wrestling show.  It’s almost impossible to believe not only that Gonzalez came back and was a major star, but he is still wrestling 27 years later and most fans and people in Puerto Rico don’t even know the incident ever happened.
    • The St. Lucie, FL Mets baseball team is having NXT Night on Wednesday with NXT performers at the game.
    • WWE’s Robbie Brookside sent out a tweet about a tryout camp at the Performance Center which included Tim Wiese, who was a member at one time of the German national soccer team as a goalkeeper.  Brookside then deleted the tweet. (thanks to Tim Oster)
    • For Canada, Saturday’s UFC will have the prelims from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on The Fight Network and the main card will be on TSN 2.
    • CMLL on Tuesday night in Guadalajara:  Magnum & Temblor b Mr. Trueno & Rey Trueno, Demus 3:16 & Pequeno Olimpico & Pierrothito b Meteoro & Stukita & Ultimo Dragoncito, Kraneo & Olimpico & Ripper b Brazo de Plata & Fuego & Stuka Jr., Maximo b Rey Escorpion to retain the CMLL heavyweight title due to help from Ultimo Guerrero, Euforia & Gran Guerrero & Ultimo Guerrero b Mistico & Volador Jr. & Valiente (thanks to Kris Zellner)
    • The third season of “Amazing Race Canada” airing on CBC features Ontario pro wrestlers Nick Foti and Matt Guinta and UFC fighter Elias Theodorou.  Theodorou’s team was the first one eliminated.  The wrestlers are still in the competition and doing well (thanks to Steven Grant)
    • Bibiano Fernandes faces Toni Tauru tomorrow in Yangon, Myanmar in the main event of the One Championship show.
    • There will be a PBC show on CBS at 2 p.m. tomorrow followed by more fights at 8 p.m. on Showtime.  The CBS main event is Carl Frampton vs. Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. and the Showtime main event is Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Marcos Reyes.
    • “Trainwreck” opens on 8/6 in Australia (thanks to  James Stanios)
    • ROH tickets for WrestleMania week are on sale right now for Ringside members.
    • Hirooki Goto will be debuting a new ring outfit based on the “God of Thunder” during the G-1 Climax tournament.
    • On the Bob Backlund book we wrote about yesterday, the book will be more than 500 pages with 16 pages of photos from Backlund’s personal collection.
    • Nick Aldis, formerly Magnus, is releasing a book called “The Superstar Body,” which is a book and physical training manual.   
    • On the MSN home page Kurt Angle’s surgeries are noted as “ex-WWE champ hospitalized.”  Angle is home, and was home yesterday and seems to be doing well. (thanks to Neal Hager)   
    • A really strange deal is that Mike Jones, better known as Virgil with Ted DiBiase (another spoof at Dusty Rhodes), is doing a Go Fund Me campaign with the goal of making him a millionaire.  It’s been open for 17 days and thus far he’s raised $70.
    • Timothy Thatcher vs. Biff Busick and Chris Hero vs. Zack Sabre Jr. has been announced for the 8/16 Evolve show at the NYWC Sportatorium on Long Island.  Thatcher vs. Sabre Jr. and Johnny Gargano vs. Ethan Page in an anything goes match was announced for 8/15 in New York.
    • American Combat Wrestling tonight in New Port Richey, FL at the Kontos Event Center.

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

    1973 – Sandy Parker & Masked Lee beat Jumbo Miyamoto & Mariko Akagi in Yokohama to win the WWWA tag titles

    1987 – Mile Zrno beat Steve Wright in Vienna, Austria to win the CWA middleweight title

    1988 – Dandy beat Kung Fu in Mexico City to win the NWA middleweight title

    1990 – Terry Gordy beat Stan Hansen to win the Triple Crown

    1992 – Felino beat America in Cuernavaca to win the CMLL middleweight title

    2002 – Brian Adams & Bryan Clarke beat Keiji Muto & Taiyo Kea in Osaka to win the All Japan world tag team title

    2004 – Deuce & Domino beat Paul London & Brian Kendrick in Milan to win the WWE world tag title

  • VIDEO: ROH in VEGAS preview for TONIGHT~!

  • On this day in pro wrestling history, Kangaroos, Gagne vs. Kiniski in Hawaii, Gordy wins Triple Crown, Hogan wins WCW title from Flair at Bash at the Beach, famous Punk vs. Cena Chicago bout

    By Brian Hoops

    1941 – In Kansas City; World Heavyweight Champion Lee Wykoff beat Dorv Roche in 2 falls. 

    1950 – Johnny Valentine defeated Danny Dusek for the Florida NWA
    Southern Heavyweight Title in Tampa, Florida.

    1957 – Killer Kowalski defeated Gene Kiniski to win the Montreal
    Athletic Commission World Heavyweight Title in Montreal, Quebec

    1962 – In Minneapolis, MN; Verne Gagne & Doug Gilbert beat Mr. M & Bob Geigel in 2 out of 3 falls; Doug Gilbert beat Jackie Nichols and Ilio DiPaolo beat Stan Kowalski

    1964 – Mr. Moto and Nikita Mulkovich defeated Robert Duranton and Shag
    Thomas for the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Title in Honolulu, Hawaii.

    1965 – The Assassins (Guy Mitchell and Joe Tomasso) defeated Boris and
    Nicoli Volkoff to win the WWA World Tag Team Title in Indianapolis, Indiana.

    1967 – Tim and Rip Tyler defeated Bobby Fields and Ken Lucas for the NWA
    Gulf Coast Tag Team Title in Panama City, Florida.

    1968 – Johnny Barend and Magnificent Maurice defeated Peter Maivia and
    Billy White Wolf to win the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Title in Honolulu, Hawaii.

    1970 – The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello and Don Kent) defeated Dick
    the Bruiser and Bill Miller for the WWA World Tag Team Title in Indianapolis, Indiana.

    1970 – Paul DeMarco defeated Nick Bockwinkel for the Georgia State Title
    in Atlanta, Georgia

    1971 – In Chicago, Illinois; Hans Schmidt & Baron Von Raschke beat AWA Tag Team Champions Red Bastien & Hercules Cortez by dq, Wilbur Snyder beat Mad Dog Vachon, Nick Bockwinkel beat Ernie Ladd dq and Billy Robinson beat Big K

    1973 – Bob Armstrong and Bill Dromo defeated The Super Infernos for the
    NWA Macon Tag Team Title in Macon, Georgia

    1974 – In Honolulu, Hawaii at the HIC Center; AWA Champion Verne Gagne beat Gene Kiniski, Ivan Putski & Sam Steamboat beat Peace Brothers and Ed Francis beat Masked Marvel

    1976 – Pampero Firpo defeated The Sheik to win the NWA United States
    Heavyweight Title in Detroit, Michigan

    1976 – In St. Paul, Minnesota; AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel beat Buddy Wolff, Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell beat Blackjack Lanza & Bobby Heenan and The Crusher beat Bobby Duncum

    1977 – In Green Bay, Wisconsin; AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel beat Pedro Morales, Verne Gagne & Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell beat Blackjack Lanza & Bobby Duncum & Bobby Heenan, Super Destroyer beat Billy Robinson by dq and Ray Stevens beat Roger Kirby

    1983 – Ron Garvin defeated The Iron Sheik in Atlanta, Georgia to win the
    NWA National Television Title.

    1987 – Rufus R. Jones defeated Porkchop Cash in Kansas City, Kansas to
    win the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title.

    1990 – Terry Gordy defeated Stan Hansen for the AJPW Triple Crown Title
    in Ishikawa, Japan,

    1993 – Brian Lee defeated Tracy Smothers for the SMW Heavyweight Title
    in Johnson City, Tennessee

    1994 -Hulk Hogan defeated Ric Flair to win the WCW World Heavyweight
    Title. Also, Paul Roma & Paul Orndorff defeated Cactus Jack & Kevin
    Sullivan to win the WCW World Tag Team Title and WCW United States Champion Steve Austin defeated Ricky Steamboat in Orlando, Florida.

    2002 – The Dogg Pound (Shelton Benjamin and Redd Dogg (Rodney Mack)
    defeated Flash Flanagan and Trailer Park Trash to win the OVW Southern
    Tag Team Title in Jeffersonville, Indiana

    2002 – Kronik (Brian Adams and Bryan Clarke) defeated Taiyo Kea and
    Keiji Muto for the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Title in Osaka, Japan.

    2005 – At the TNA PPV, No Surrender in Orlando, Florida; A.J. Styles pinned Sean Waltman, TNA X Division Champion Christopher Daniels pinned Petey Williams to retain the title and NWA World Heavyweight Champion Raven pinned Abyss to retain the title. 

    2006 – In Sapparo, Japan; Real Wild Child (Manabu Nakanishi and Takao Omori) defeated Shiro Koshinaka and Togi Makabe to become the interim IWGP Tag Team Champions and Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Giant Bernard to win the vacant IWGP Heavyweight Title.

    2007 – In Laredo, Texas during taping of Smackdown; The Great Khali won a 20-man battle royal to win the vacant World Heavyweight Title.

    2011 – At the Money in the Bank PPV from Chicago, Illinois; CM Punk defeated John Cena to win the WWE Title.

  • UFC Fight Night 72: Bisping vs. Leites weigh-in results and live video

    Welcome to WrestlingObserver.com’s live coverage of the UFC Fight Night 72: Bisping vs. Leites weigh-ins from The SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland kicking off at 9 AM eastern time. The event airs on Saturday morning on FOX Sports 1 at 1 PM eastern time. Preliminary card action kicks off on UFC Fight Pass at 10 AM eastern time before moving over to FOX Sports 1 at 11 AM eastern time. This marks the UFC’s fourth event in a week and their first trip to Scotland.

    The event will be headlined by a five-round middleweight bout as Michael Bisping looks to remain undefeated in the United Kingdom when he takes on Thales Leites, a former title challenger and current holder of an eight-fight win streak. In the co-main event of the evening, it will be a lightweight battle between Ross Pearson and Evan Dunham as both look to score their second straight win.

    MAIN CARD (FOX SPORTS 1- 1 PM ET/10 AM PT):

    Michael Bisping (185) vs. Thales Leites (185)
    Ross Pearson (155) vs. Evan Dunham (156)
    Joseph Duffy (155) vs. Ivan Jorge (154)
    Joanne Calderwood (115) vs. Cortney Casey (114)
    Leon Edwards (169) vs. Pawel Pawlak (170)
    Stevie Ray (155) vs. Leonardo Mafra (155)

    PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX SPORTS 1- 11 AM ET/8 AM PT):

    Patrick Holohan (126) vs. Vaughan Lee (126)
    Ilir Latifi (206) vs. Hans Stringer (205)
    Mickael Lebout (155) vs. Teemu Packalen (155)
    Robert Whiteford (146) vs. Paul Redmond (145)

    PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS- 10 AM ET/7 AM PT):

    Marcus Brimage (136) vs. Jimmie Rivera (135)
    Daniel Omielanczuk (242) vs. Chris de la Rocha (245) 

  • NXT spoilers from Full Sail University for the build to Takeover

    For 7/22

    Finn Balor comes out as the new NXT champion and they announce a contract signing for he and Kevin Owens for their title match later in the show.

    Eva Marie b Cassie using the sliced bread as her finisher

    Baron Corbin b ?

    Samoa Joe b Mike Rallis

    Bayley b Emma with the Belly to Bayley.  Bayley challenged the next wrestler in NXT, who she said was Charlotte.

    The Vaudevillains b Angelo Dawkins & Sawyer Fulton

    Next was the contract signing.  Kevin Owens vowed to become the first two-time champion and Balor said he would eat his words.  They got into it and Owens turned over the table and knocked William Regal down.  Owens ended up backing off.

    For 7/29

    Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder b Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady

    Baron Corbin b Jessy Sorensen

    Jason Jordan & Chad Gable b Elias Samson & Manny Garcia

    Charlotte b Dana Brooke

    Kevin Owens b Martin Stone

    Blake & Murphy retained the tag titles over The Vaudevillains due to help from Alexa Bliss

    For 8/5

    Bayley b Charlotte

    Baron Corbin b Steve Cutler

    Tyler Breeze b Aaron Solo – This is where Regal announced Breeze vs. Jushin Liger for the 8/22 show in Brooklyn.

    Mojo Rawley & Zack Ryder b Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder

    Samoa Joe b Rhyno with the musclebuster

    For 8/12

    Tye Dillinger b Solomon Crowe – Dillinger debuted his Perfect 10 gimmick that has been getting over on the house shows 

    Baron Corbin b Axel Tischer – Samoa Joe came out to challenge Corbin.  They got into it until Joe choked Corbin out.

    Finn Balor b Marcus Louis – Owens attacked Balor and laid him out with the pop up power bomb and grabbed the titel belt.

    Bayley b Beckly Lynch to earn a shot at Sasha Banks

  • Seth Rollins talks Lesnar match, Tough Enough and Johnny Mundo

    The following is from a third party:

    Seth Rollins recently sat down with the PodNasty Wrestling Podcast for a very quotable interview as he talked about the pressures of being WWE World Heavyweight Championship, going it alone against Brock Lesnar, his recent visit to the barracks on Tough Enough and more! Please find the link below:

    On Upcoming Match against Brock Lesnar being the Biggest of his Career:

    “I feel like I’ve had a lot of ‘biggest matches of my career’ up until this point. I would say this one is certainly special. I mean, there’s not a lot of guys who get the opportunity to go one-on-one with Brock Lesnar at this point in his career, so to be one of those guys to main event a pay-per-view with Brock Lesnar over a very prestigious title it all adds up to being certainly one of if not—I’ll leave that up to you and the other media pundits to decide what is the biggest match of my career—but it certainly ranks up there with the very, very biggest of my career.”

    United States Championship vs. WWE World Heavyweight Championship and Competing with John Cena

    “(The WWE World Heavyweight Championship) is (the most dominant title in the company) no matter what, no matter who is wearing what other title, this is the big boy, this is the one that everybody wants and if John (Cena) tells you any different he’s a liar,” said Rollins. 

    “But the bottom line, though, is that I’m always competing with John Cena, John’s a guy who has set the bar extremely high for the past 10, 12-15 years, he’s a guy who—not only in the ring, but outside the ring—is an example of what a WWE Superstar should be and he has put in the work over that period of time to prove that and that’s definitely something I strive to be as well. I strive to have that work ethic and instill that in people around me the way John has over the past decade and a half so I’m always competing with John Cena in my mind, but my title is the title and there’s definitely no doubt about that.”

    On Tough Enough Contestants not Standing Out

    “Not one person stood out to me (on Tough Enough),” said Rollins.

    “Not a single one, nope, not one. I went down there and I tried to help them out, give them a few pointers here and there, let them know what it takes to be a star but, let me tell you, those kids got it easy.

    “They don’t know anything about anything when it comes to putting in the time, they think they’re going to get through this little three-month course and they’re going to be WWE Superstars and they’re going to be famous, and rich and travel the world. That’s not how it works, it’s a whole lot of hard work and I think they’re going to figure that out along the way, or they’re going to fall by the wayside. For me, I didn’t see a whole lot, maybe as they move along in the process they’ll show more personality and a little more guts, but for now I’m not holding my breath.”

    If there will be backstage tension between Tough Enough Winners and WWE/NXT Talent: 

    “Absolutely, that’s what I’m talking about. Tough Enough is phenomenal, it’s great, don’t get me wrong. It pushes WWE out into the masses and everyone can see it’s physical and they get an inside look at kind of what it’s like to be a WWE Superstar,” said Rollins.

    “But at the same time you’ve got to understand that’s not all that it takes, you don’t just get to be on a reality gameshow and all of a sudden you’re just a top star in 12 weeks. They’re going to have to put in a lot of time, and a lot of hard work, and they’re going to have to sacrifice a lot of relationships, they’re going to be injured often, it’s going to take a toll on them physically and emotionally that they’re not prepared for and I think it will be very interesting to see who comes out of Tough Enough, who really is Tough Enough I guess when you look at it. Who’s going to come out of it alive and who’s going to make a success out of themselves?” 

    On John Morrison recently stating he would “destroy Seth Rollins in everything.”

    “If I’m not mistaken, I believe John Morrison is a zero-time WWE World Heavyweight champion. Mind you, zero. As in never once did he win the big one. And I’m, what, not even three years into my WWE career and I’ve already won Money in the Bank, won the WWE title at WrestleMania, first-ever NXT champion so there’s a lot of things that I’ve already destroyed John Morrison at and if John Morrison thinks he can take me in any of those endeavors, I would love for John Morrison to step up and say something like that to my face.”