By Dave Meltzer
dave@wrestlingobserver.com”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com
We’re looking for your thoughts on the weekend’s New Japan Dominion show and yesterday’s WWE Best from the East shot, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com
We’re also looking for reports from Raw tonight in Chicago, with dark matches, Superstars matches and anything else not evident on the live broadcast. Brock Lesnar, Paul Heyman, on Monday. Guess which two were pushed on USA network ads last night?
Smackdown and Main Event will be taped on Tuesday night in Milwaukee. No John Cena advertised, so the top stars advertised are Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Randy Orton.
The story behind UFC losing perhaps its biggest fight of the year with Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor, update on WrestleMania and the match that isn’t in the plans right now, the TNA-GFW situation and how it happened, and how many expect big changes in UFC very soon, multiple WWE related lawsuits, Tough Enough and the WWE & TNA monthly business rundowns are the lead stories in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
The latest Wrestling Observer: July 6, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Jose Aldo injury fallout, TNA/GFW mystery
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The Wrestling Observer ranges weekly from 35,000 to 50,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA internationally. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sties and has the most complete look at the pro wrestling and MMA business anywhere, plus history pieces available nowhere else.
Our lead story looks at the injury to Conor McGregor, what UFC attempted to do to save the fight, why the fight didn’t happen, McGregor building up a later fight, how much does this change hurt, the positives of Mendes in the spot and the mentality of the PPV buyer. We look at the key issues involved in the fight not happening.
We also look at why the TNA/GFW alliance took place, why TNA made the call to Jeff Jarrett, plans or non-plans going on, why this is beneficial to both, departures from TNA, where that talent would go next and more.
We look at why Saturday’s UFC show in Hollywood, FL was the end of an era on several accounts, both from the uniform standpoint, as well as drug detection and weight cutting standpoints. We also make a suggestion of something that is already done in other sports that UFC should implement, although it will never happen, as well as an example of why weight-cutting is done the way it is.
We also look at a lawsuit against WWE for making allegedly misleading claims that led to the stock price going way up, and then falling. We look at a unique thing that came up regarding the key witness, stories changing, and if stories were legit to begin with.
We also look at the death of the bill to legalize MMA in New York, and how it went down.
We also have early notes on next year’s WrestleMania, an update on Sting, how the main event planned is unique because it’s out of WWE’s control if it happens, more on Reign vs. Wyatt, the Japanese tour, ideas for the network in 2016, Japanese pro wrestler tryouts, Dolph Ziggler on his contractual situation, The Rock at the house show in Boston, Rock movie news, update on Tyson Kidd, update on WWE network, update on lawsuits against WWE, and notes on the new season of Total Divas.
We also look at awards WWE is nominated for, Randy Orton, WWE announcing, and notes on the weekend NXT and WWE house shows and business notes and highlights from all of the shows.
We’ve got coverage of the UFC show in Hollywood, FL, how the card fell apart beforehand, business notes on the show, and what should happen next for Yoel Romero. We also look at TNA Slammiversary.
We’ve got a story on the new season of Tough Enough, what has and hasn’t worked so far, notes on the ratings, notes on the competitors, who are said to be the favorites, what on the show is misleading and more on what is involved.
We also have our monthly business review for WWE & TNA, looking at monthly business in a number of categories. We look at what categories are up, how far down are the ones down, and what one category with WWE that is significantly up and one that is collapsing.
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:
–New promotion that has had success dumps its two biggest stars
–A look at the All Elite show in Mexico City with several American stars brought in and others scheduled who had to pull out
–CMLL announces its next major big show main event
–Updates on reaction to the Busca de un Idolo tournament
–Notes on the last shows at Arena Mexico
–Notes on this year’s TripleMania and why it is taking place so late in the year
–Some major injuries to Lucha Underground stars
–AAA signs a longtime CMLL star
–Rey Mysterio Jr. headlines for AAA’s last TV tapings
–Why the Great Muta U.S. tour fell through
–An international promotion having money problems and having to cut back and losing wrestles in the process
–Notes on Dragon Gate’s next major show including some U.S. tours appearing
–Notes on the NOAH upcoming junior heavyweight tournament
–Updates on New Japan business
–New Japan World G-1 notes
–Notes on New Japan’s biggest main event of the week
–Notes on the New Japan U.S. television show
–Update on the original tiger Mask
–Genichiro Tenryu’s final match
–Hiroshi Tanahashi appears on DDT major show
–Update on Bruno Sammartino
–Dave Bautista likely to land another major movie role
–Notes on this past week’s PWG show including celebrities and four-star matches
–Notes on the next two PWG shows
–Young Bucks face Mysterio for the first time and notes no the show
–More talent appearing for Jarrett on shows
–Lots of news regarding the new NWA streaming service and Houston wrestling tape collection
–Another major streaming service announced
–Former WWE star set for a new E! reality show
–Another former WWE performer gets into legal trouble
–Notes on pro wrestling books
–Update on former WWE star Nick “Eugene” Dinsmore
–Update on the WWC’s last major show
–Former pro wrestler competing in high level bodybuilding contest
–One of the most reviled men of the last 50 years in wrestling is coming out of retirement once again
–Latest on Lucha Underground
–Notes on the ROH stadium show in Brooklyn
–Complete lineup for ROH’s next iPPV show
–Notes on the next ROH show in Las Vegas
–Updates on TNA titles after this set of tapings
–Everything on TNA television through mid-August
–Update on problems with production people
–Update on health of Kurt Angle
–Update on Jeff hardy
–Former WWE star working for TNA behind the scenes
–Controversy over Anderson Silva drug test result
–Ronda Rousey ESPY award nominations
–Crazy UFC schedule over an eight day period
–Official UFC 187 numbers
–Update on C.M. Punk training
–UFC’s return to Ireland announced
–Update Daniel Cormier vs. Alexander Gustafsson
–Lots of new UFC fights
–Aftermath of Ken Shamrock vs. Kimbo Slice
–Ken Shamrock talks about a fight with Frank shamrock
–More on Alexander Shlemenko suspension
–Foamer Pride star sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison
–An August battle of MMA legends falls through.
If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today. With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today.
New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues have to let us know what major stories of the past 11 years you are most interested in and we’ll send the issue with the best coverage of that story. We’ve got coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits into those descriptions over the past 11 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue.
Our most requested issues in our history are:
*November 17, 1997 (full details of everything leading to the most famous wrestling match finish of modern times at the Survivor Series plus a history of in-ring double-crosses)
*December 21, 1998 (the complete Vince McMahon-Bret Hart conversation right before the Survivor Series match so you’ll know exactly what was said–the conversation played in edited form both on the inaugural broadcast of Confidential as well as in Wrestling with Shadows, but everything that was said between the two about the match that was going to take place that same night)
*August 1, 1994 (the most detailed coverage anywhere of the Vince McMahon steroid trial, an issue praised in numerous newspaper article and Sex, Lies and Headlocks)
*March 26, 2001 (death of WCW and history of pro wrestling on the Turner networks)a
*October 22, 2001 (why the adult audience has left pro wrestling in such great numbers and what needed to have been done to save them)
*July 8, 1991 (Ric Flair leaves WCW as world champion/Zahorian steroid trial)
*February 8, 1993 (the life and times of Andre the Giant)
*May 13, 2002 (the life story of the most incredible pro wrestling career ever, a look at Lou Thesz, in one of the largest issues of our history)
*January 27, 2003 (part one of the two-part series covering the career and life of The Sheik)
*February 3, 2003 (Part two on The Sheik including thoughts from people who worked with him and where he stands historically)
*March 24, 2003 (history of the WWWF title, inside behind the Sammartino, Backlund and Backlund era)
*April 21, 2003 (history of WWF continues with the expansion nationally, the death of the regional territories and the rise of Hulk Hogan)
*May 12, 2003 (The life and death of Elizabeth and the rise of fall of Lex Luger)
*June 9, 2003 (Part 1 of history of WWF vs. WCW wars and what many say was the greatest year in U.S. wrestling; plus a look at Fred Blassie)
*June 16, 2003 (Freddie Blassie through the eyes of his biggest rivals and friends)
*July 28, 2003 (Part 2 of the history of the WWF vs. WCW war and the plans to make new superstars in the early 90s, what happened, and the night where the three biggest wrestling companies in the world combined for a joint show and what happened)
*August 25, 2003 (2003 Hall of Fame issue with huge profiles on the controversial career of Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit as well as historical features on Earl Caddock and Francisco Flores)
*September 22, 2003 (Part 3 of the history of the WWF vs WCW war with the seeds that caused the collapse of the industry in the 90s, Zahorian trial, Gulf War controversy, Flair leaves WCW while holding world title and much more)
*October 27, 2003 (The fascinating life of Stu Hart plus the story of Road Warrior Hawk)
*January 19, 2004 (2003 Awards issue)
*February 2, 2004 (History of Toronto wrestling, Jack Tunney life story, Royal Rumble and Battle Royal history)
*February 23, 2004 (History of Guerrero family with Eddy’s win over Brock Lesnar)
*March 1, 2004 (History of WWF continues with the period that brought the company down in early 1992, the mistakes, the real stories and how the business changed)
*March 8, 2004 (History of Wrestlemania, its greatest matches and best and worst shows as voted both by wrestlers and non-wrestlers and Wrestlemania history books)
*July 5, 2004 (A look behind the scenes and Ric Flair’s book and his background with Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan)
*July 12, 2004 (A look at more on Ric Flair’s book and his comments on Bruno Sammartino, Bret Hart and Mick Foley)
*August 16, 2004 (History of the Olympians in pro wrestling)
*August 23, 2004 (2004 Hall of Fame issue and biggest issue of the year with huge profiles on Kazushi Sakuraba, Undertaker, Bob Backlund, Masahiro Chono, Ultimo Dragon, Kurt Angle and Tarzan Lopez–this counts as one issue if you are asking for a free issue, but ordered separately, due to size, is $6 in North America and $7 overseas)
*October 4, 2004 (the life and times of Big Bossman; as well as details of the life and times of one of the most influential men world wide in pro wrestling history, Jim Barnett)
*November 15, 2004 (the full story of what happened between Kurt Angle and Daniel Puder, plus coverage of the most important week in the history of TNA)
*January 24, 2005 (2004 Awards issue, Rock and WWE part company)
*March 14, 2005 (the 50 biggest money players in the history of WWF and a look at their Hall of Fame)
*May 9, 2005 (the life and times of Chris Candido)
*June 20, 2005 (The full story behind Paul Heyman and the death of ECW, as well as coverage of One Night Stand, Hardcore Homecoming and behind the scenes of both shows)
*July 18, 2005 (death of Shinya Hashimoto and his records with a look at the fall of New Japan, the Matt Hardy angle, tons of WWE firings, Cornette firing in detail as well as problems of a WWE developmental territory in our biggest news issue of the year which is a double-sized issue and would be $6 on its own and $7 overseas)
*August 24, 2005 (2005 Hall of Fame issue with career profiles of Paul Heyman, HHH and Freebirds plus debut of MMA Hall of Fame)
*September 12, 2005 (History of Mid South Wrestling)
*October 10, 2005 (Life and Times of the Ultimate Warrior)
*November 21, 2005 (Life and Times of Eddy Guerrero and Crusher, double issue $6 on its own and $7 overseas)
*December 5, 2005 (The Eddy Guerrero special issue, double issue $6 on its own, $7 overseas)
*January 9, 2006 (The life and times of Superstar Billy Graham, plus New Year’s Eve 2005 coverage)
*January 16, 2006 (2005 Awards double issue, $6 or $7 overseas)
*April 3, 2006 (Story of Ann Calvello and the history of Roller Derby–many called this the best issue of the Observer ever)
*April 10, 2006 (Behind the scenes at the 2006 Wrestlemania/Hall of Fame week)
*July 24, 2006 (The History of the Von Erichs and World Class Championship Wrestling–the most unreal story ever in wrestling)
*September 4, 2006 (The Rise and Fall of Kurt Angle; 2006 Hall of Fame inductions of Eddie Guerrero, Paul Bowser, Masakatsu Funaki, Aja Kong and Hiroshi Hase including tons of wrestling history around the world from the 20s through the 60s, the evolution of working to not working in Japan, and a look at Guerrero in hindsight, double issue $6 or $7 overseas)
*October 9, 2006 (A look back nine years later at the life and legacy of Brian Pillman with tons of inside information about what made him tick as his real objectives)
*November 15, 2006 (History of WCW part one, Eric Bischoff’s book and how the industry was changed forever)
*November 20, 2006 (History of WCW part two, Why Jim Ross left WCW, How Bischoff changed the company, signing of Hulk Hogan, Beginning of Nitro, Jesse Ventura, Brian Pillman, Chris Jericho and signing Wrestlemania planned celebrity away)
*November 27, 2006 (History of WCW part three, When Bischoff challenged McMahon to fight; Truth and fiction around Bret Hart signing with WCW and why it didn’t click)
*December 6, 2006 (details behind Pride’s offers to sell promotion and Part four of History of WCW part four, Hogan-Goldberg match and why there was no rematch, WCW loses NBC network deal in 1999 and the real reasons the company fell apart)
*January 22, 2007 (2006 Awards issue, double issue $7 on its own, $8 overseas)
*February 14, 2007 (Life and Times of Bam Bigelow)
*March 5, 2007 (WWE begins plans that will change the business)
*March 12, 2007 (Life and Times of Mike Awesome)
*March 19, 2007 (Life and Times of Ernie Ladd)
*April 4, 2007 (Life and Times of Badnews Allen Coage–which many are calling one of the best issues in history)
*July 2, 2007 (Part one of the Benoit double murder-suicide)
*July 5, 2007 (Part two of the Benoit double murder-suicide)
*July 10, 2007 (Part three of the Benoit double murder-suicide)
*July 19, 2007 (Part four of the Benoit double murder-suicide)
*July 23, 2007 (Part five of Benoit double murder-suicide)
*July 25, 2007 (Part six of Benoit double murder-suicide)
*August 15, 2007 (The legend of the God of Japanese wrestling and his influence on MMA, Karl Gotch)
*October 15 (2007 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas including inductions of The Rock, Tom Packs and the original Strangler Lewis)
*November 12, 2007 (Life and times of Fabulous Moolah and history of U.S. women’s wrestling) .
*December 31, 2007 (History of Ric Flair and the heyday of wrestling at the Greensboro Coliseum)
*January 21, 2008 (2007 Awards issue, double issue $7 on its own, $8 overseas)
*March 17, 2008 (Life and times of Johnny Weaver)
*March 24, 2008 (Life and times of Gary Hart)
*April 10, 2008 (Farewell to Ric Flair; My thoughts, Shawn Michaels talks of Flair’s meaning to him; Hall of Fame; Wrestlemania double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas)
*August 11, 2008 (Ric Flair leaves WWE; Updated history of pro wrestlers and MMA fighters who went to the Olympics)
* September 8, 2008 (2008 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas; part one of Killer Kowalski bio)
* September 15, 2008 (Life and Times of Evan Tanner)
* September 22, 2008 (The amazing career of Killer Kowalski, one of our most in-depth bios)
You can also order any of these issues on their own for $4 in North America or $5 overseas.
We now have available personally autographed copies of Tributes II, our latest book, as well as a DVD that comes with it talking more about the subjects in the book. The book covers the life stories of Lou Thesz, Wahoo McDaniel, Elizabeth, Fred Blassie, Road Warrior Hawk, Andre the Giant, Curt Hennig, Johnny Valentine, Davey Boy Smith, Terry Gordy, Owen Hart, Stu Hart, Gorilla Monsoon, The Sheik and Tim Woods..
To get all of those biographies as back issues of the Observer would be a $60 value today. This is a collection of some of the best Observer articles of the past several years in a hardcover, full-color format that is 239 pages. There is also a foreword by Bret Hart. The book price is $12.95 plus $3.50 for shipping costs in the U.S., $20 for shipping costs to Canada and $25 for shipping costs outside North America. You can order the book the same way you order the newsletter.
MONDAY’S NEWS UPDATE
–Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw, Gilbert Melendez as well as taking your e-mail questions that can be sent to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com We have a show with about 90 minutes of questions being answered with Mike Sempervive and I that we recorded yesterday. We may do another one next month after the G-1 finals.
–Ric Flair is in Chicago but as of a few minutes ago, was not scheduled for Raw. He will be on the Dusty Rhodes special which is being done live after the completion of Raw. WWE has announced Jerry Lawler hosting a special that features Flair and Arn Anderson.
–Randy Orton got engaged to girlfriend Kim Kessler over the weekend. He returns tonight.
–Just for those who have asked, the reason Roddy Piper left Podcast One was because he asked out of his contract there. Any other story is just, well, what can I say, fantasy.
–Speaking of which, even more fantasy is the stories of Shinsuke Nakamura and Kazuchika Okada doing a WWE tryout. It was somebody’s idea of a joke on Twitter and somehow that became news.
–The Los Angeles Sports Arena, which was the home to many pro wrestling events over the years, including the AAA La Revancha and When World’s Collide shows, is being demolished for a new soccer stadium on the same grounds. There is no timetable of when, but the decision has been made that it will be happening. The building also housed several NCAA title wins by UCLA, was the home of the Lakers before the Forum, housed big matches with Freddie Blassie in the early 60s and Mil Mascaras in the late 70s, was the site of JFK’s nomination and the site of Muhammad Ali vs. Archie Moore.
–Steve Austin did some media to back up his being the cover guy on the 2K16 video game. To me, it’s really telling that they went with Austin rather than an active star. It would be one thing if it was HHH or Dwayne Johnson who still wrestle but aren’t full-timers. They did John Cena last year. Anyway, don’t think this means Austin is going to wrestle again, because it’s highly unlikely and he’s said so, although I do figure he’ll be in WrestleMania in some form on the next show.
–For a clarification on the Steve Austin stuff earlier today, he was doing U.K. media to promote the game. He was not in the U.K. doing that media, as he’s shooting Broken Skull Challenge right now in the U.S. through around 8/3. That’s the reason he couldn’t do Tough Enough this season is that he’d already committed to that show.
–Austin interview at http://talksport.com/wwe/wwe-steve-austin-says-brock-lesnar-and-paul-heyman-are-magic-one-two-punch-150706154953
–As noted yesterday, David Otunga worked the WWE show yesterday in Rockford, IL, losing to R-Truth. He’s very muscular, even more so than the last time we saw him.
–New Japan announced the Young Bucks vs. Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish for the IWGP jr. tag titles for 8/16 at Sumo Hall, which is the same card as the finals of the G-1 Climax tournament. They haven’t announced the date yet for the big Kushida vs. Ricochet match.
–The opening G-1 show, so this is kind of how the cards will be, on 7/20 in Sapporo is which starts at 11 p.m. Pacific time on a Monday night:
Yuji Nagata & Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask & Yohei Komatsu vs. Tomoaki Honma & Mascara Dorada & David Finlay & Jay White
Hirooki Goto & Captain New Japan vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Cody Hall
Shinsuke Nakamura & Yoshi-Hashi vs. Karl Anderson & Tama Tonga
Michael Elgin & Satoshi Kojima & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo
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
Unlike the last few years where the entire cards have been off the chain, this year they are focusing on two strong main events each card.
–I’m scheduled to be filming some UFC history interviews this weekend for UFC Fight Pass. They’ll be for future packages.
–On Point Wrestling on 8/29 in Williamston, NJ is doing a Taipei death match with Matt Tremont vs. Jeff Cannonball with Ian Rotten as ref. The idea is it’s the 20-year anniversary of the Axl Rotten vs. Ian Rotten Taipei death match in ECW.
–The Marvel Experience tour, which included voice overs of Hulk Hogan and HHH, a $30 million traveling theme park, announced after its first event in Philadelphia over the weekend, that the rest of the tour has been canceled. The event was to take place over multiple days in several major cities including New York, Chicago and St. Louis.
–Nanae Takahashi, who was a star with All Japan women during the last years of that promotion, and has wrestled ever since, will face ODB on the 7/17 ROH show in Las Vegas.
–Evolve on 7/11 in Orlando at the Barnett Park Gym
Drew Galloway vs. Trent Baretta
Chris Hero vs. Timothy Thatcher
Davey Richards vs. ? (Biff Busick is injured, we don’t have word what his situation is)
TJ Perkins vs Zack Sabre Jr.
Anthony Nese vs. Trevor Lee
Caleb Konley vs. Andrew Everett
–This coming Saturday wrestling returns to Royal Albert Hall in London, which was a famous wrestling venue of the 60s and also housed a UFC show and WWE shows in the past:
Blue Demoncito & Octagoncito vs. Mini Abismo Negro & Mini Histeria
Fenix vs. Pentagon Jr. – Fenix is injured, not sure of his status
Bengala (Ricky Marvin) & Fabi Apache vs. Drago & Sexy Star
Blue Demon Jr. & La Parka & Psycho Clown vs. El Hijo del Fantasma & Villano IV & ?
–Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling on 7/18 in East Carondelet, IL at the Community Center featuring Ricky Cruz, Ron Powers and Gary Jackson.
–The IWS in Montreal announced partnerships with AAA and Lucha Underground and will start featuring talent from those groups regularly starting with the 9/5 show. There will also be an IWS vs. CZW show on 10/17 with interpromotional matches. They also announced a the Metropolis in Montreal on March 5, 2016, that Rey Mysterio Jr. will be appearing. Speedball Mike Bailey is the current champion of the group (thanks to Pat Laprade)
–Kurt Angle will be in Waterloo, IA this weekend for the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame ceremony. Actual Hall of Fame inductions will go to Jim Londos and Greg Wojciechowski (Great Wojo). Angle will be getting a special ring from USA Wrestling at the Dan Gable Museum in honor of the 20th anniversary of his winning the 1995 world championship. Also honored for contributions to wrestling are Brian Blair, Wade Keller (for journalism), Beth Phoenix (for charity work) and Matt Lindland (for using wrestling to succeed in MMA). There will also be a show in town at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center headlined by Bob Holly vs. Colt Cabana. Blair Wes Brisco and Nick Dinsmore are also wrestling on the show. Also appearing will include Jim Ross, Jerry Brisco, J.J. Dillon, Larry Hennig, Baron Von Raschke and Jim Brunzell.
–The first ever Great American Bash took place 30 years ago today before a sellout of 27,000 fans at Charlotte Baseball Stadium with these results:
Ron Bass drew Buddy Landel
Ole & Arn Anderson b Buzz Sawyer & Dick Slater to retain the National tag team titles
Manny Fernandez & Sam Houston & Buzz Tyler b Superstar Billy Graham & The Barbarian & Abdullah the Butcher
Jimmy Valiant b Paul Jones in a dog collar chain mach
AWA tag champs Road Warriors DDQ NWA tag champs Ivan Koloff & Krusher Khrushchev
Magnum T.A. b Kimala via DQ to retain the U.S. title
Ric Flair b Nikita Koloff with David Crockett as referee to retain the NWA world title
Dusty Rhodes b Tully Blanchard in a cage match to win Baby Doll for 30 days
–WWE stock dropped 22 cents a share today to $16.31
–The UFC Hall of Fame ceremony airs live on Fight Pass at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Inductions will be held for Jeff Blatnick, B.J. Penn, Bas Rutten and the Matt Hughes vs. Frank Trigg fight.
–Valkyrie women’s pro wrestling on 7/9 at the Woodbury Heights Community Center at 7 p.m.
–In Australia, Mad Max: Fury Road (Nathan Jones) was No. 11, Entourage (Ronda Rousey) was No. 14, Pitch Perfect (Lana) was No. 16 and San Andreas (Dwayne Johnson) was No. 17 at the box office (thanks to James Stanios)
–Invicta, headlined by Cris Cyborg, will be live on UFC Fight Pass at 11 p.m. Eastern on Thursday night.
–Grand Slam Wrestling on 7/11 in Scranton, PA at Back Breakers Training Center.
–Eva Marie talks San Francisco Giants at http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/fighting/article26562550.html
–Mainstream news story about women in sports and author David Zirin listed his five must-see sports stars on television as Stephen Curry, Bryce Harper, Serena Williams, Ronda Rousey and Sasha Banks. He also mentioned Charlotte and Becky Lynch changing the face of women in pro wrestling.
Story is at http://www.thenation.com/article/why-im-done-defending-womens-sports/
–The new episode of the Winter Palace podcast is live featuring comics writer (and longtime Observer subscriber) Steven Grant talking SD Comic-Con, WWE Japan special and comics vs Hollywood and Steve “Dr Lucha” Sims talking Lucha in Tijuana in 2015 and En Busca de un Idolo.
http://tinyurl.com/WinterEp05
–Lex Luger and Nikita Koloff interviews at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQiwYaF0Mwc
WWE Network Schedule for Tuesday, July 7,2015 From Bert Duckwall
12:06 AM ET
WWE COUNTDOWN Counting down the Top Ten Most Epic Smackdown Moments of all time!
1:06 AM ET
TOTAL DIVAS Nikki plans a future without boyfriend John Cena. Eva’s life is turned upside down when she must decide between family and her husband.
2:06 AM ET
WWE TRIBUTE TO DUSTY RHODES Live from Chicago, WWE celebrates the life and career of Dusty Rhodes, as told by WWE Legends and Superstars.
3:06 AM ET
WCW GREAT AMERICAN BASH 1995 WCW’s annual summer spectacular features Nature Boy Ric Flair taking on Macho Man Randy Savage. Sting faces Meng for the U.S. Title.
6:00 AM ET
WWE COUNTDOWN Counting down the Top Ten Most Epic Smackdown Moments of all time!
7:00 AM ET
FIRST LOOK MNW SHOTS FIRED! In this Network Exclusive, join Triple H and Sting as they sit down with Renee Young and discuss Monday Night War.
7:30 AM ET
WWE TOUGH TALK Join The Miz as he recaps all of the TOUGH ENOUGH highlights and sits down with the eliminated competitor whose WWE journey came to an end.
8:01 AM ET
TOTAL DIVAS Nikki plans a future without boyfriend John Cena. Eva’s life is turned upside down when she must decide between family and her husband.
9:00 AM ET
WWE COUNTDOWN Counting down the Top Ten Most Epic Smackdown Moments of all time!
10:00 AM ET
FIRST LOOK MNW SHOTS FIRED! In this Network Exclusive, join Triple H and Sting as they sit down with Renee Young and discuss Monday Night War.
10:30 AM ET
WWE TOUGH TALK Join The Miz as he recaps all of the TOUGH ENOUGH highlights and sits down with the eliminated competitor whose WWE journey came to an end.
11:01 AM ET
TOTAL DIVAS Nikki plans a future without boyfriend John Cena. Eva’s life is turned upside down when she must decide between family and her husband.
12:00 PM ET
WWE COUNTDOWN Counting down the Top Ten Most Epic Smackdown Moments of all time!
1:00 PM ET
FIRST LOOK MNW SHOTS FIRED! In this Network Exclusive, join Triple H and Sting as they sit down with Renee Young and discuss Monday Night War.
1:30 PM ET
WWE TOUGH TALK Join The Miz as he recaps all of the TOUGH ENOUGH highlights and sits down with the eliminated competitor whose WWE journey came to an end.
2:01 PM ET
LEGENDS HOUSE The legends play a polo match…WWE style! Back at the Legends House, Tony Atlas and ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan attempt to co-exist.
3:00 PM ET
LEGENDS HOUSE A bowling competition kicks things off! However, the real mayhem begins when the WWE Legends attempt to film a bizarre commercial.
4:00 PM ET
FIRST LOOK MNW SHOTS FIRED! In this Network Exclusive, join Triple H and Sting as they sit down with Renee Young and discuss Monday Night War.
4:30 PM ET
THE WWE LIST Highlighting the Royalist of Superstars that WWE has ever been graced with!
5:00 PM ET
MONDAY NIGHT WAR An industry icon’s transformation propels Nitro to prominence, and forever changes sports entertainment history.
6:00 PM ET
WWE BEYOND THE RING Witness some of the rarest matches from Hulk Hogan’s 30-year career. This special is an absolute must-watch for all Hulkamaniacs!
8:00 PM ET
LEGENDS HOUSE A bowling competition kicks things off! However, the real mayhem begins when the WWE Legends attempt to film a bizarre commercial.
9:00 PM ET
WWE TOUGH TALK Join The Miz as he recaps all of the TOUGH ENOUGH highlights and sits down with the eliminated competitor whose WWE journey came to an end.
9:30 PM ET
THE WWE LIST Highlighting the Royalist of Superstars that WWE has ever been graced with!
10:00 PM ET
MONDAY NIGHT WAR An industry icon’s transformation propels Nitro to prominence, and forever changes sports entertainment history.
11:00 PM ET
LEGENDS HOUSE A bowling competition kicks things off! However, the real mayhem begins when the WWE Legends attempt to film a bizarre commercial.