IT’S THE BRYAN AND VINNY SHOW — WITH JIM! We’ve got a long and packed show talking WWE NXT Takeover Respect, Retro Raw from 19 years ago this week with SID VS. GOLDUST, and more! Granny was bumped to Sunday due to show length, so she’ll join us then. A fun show as always so check it out~!
We’re looking for your thoughts on last night’s NXT show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to Dave Meltzer
We’re also looking for reports on the WWE house shows the next three days in Saudi Arabia, as well as on tonight’s NXT tapings at Full Sail University where they’ll be taping the next four weeks of television.
Smackdown tonight on Syfy at 8 p.m.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Big E
Charlotte & Becky Lynch & Natalya vs. Bella Twins & Alicia Fox
Ryback vs. Rusev
Neville vs. King Barrett
Randy Orton & Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt & Braun Strowman
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
An update on the status of Daniel Bryan is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter which is on the site right now and also can be subscribed to for home delivery. We update his situation and how the decision on his future will be made shortly. We also look at Daniel Cormier and the light heavyweight division and what the business notes say, the WWE’s Madison Square Garden event with Brock Lesnar, TNA’s Bound for Glory and world title tournament, Conor McGregor predicts the future once again, a pro wrestler is in the Japanese cabinet as well as our monthly look at the WWE and TNA’s business indicators.
The latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter: October 12, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Daniel Bryan’s pro wrestling future, UFC 192, WWE at MSG
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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.
We look at what Daniel Bryan said this past week regarding his future and how the decision will be made for him soon, and what he’d like to do if he wasn’t working for WWE.
We look at Daniel Cormier vs. Alexander Gustafsson and the shadow over the light heavyweight division, the news coming out of UFC 192, and full coverage of the event with business notes, early PPV indicators and poll results.
We look at the WWE Network special from Madison Square Garden, Brock Lesnar’s return, how the show was promoted, Chris Jericho’s 25th anniversary as a pro wrestler and match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
We also look at John Cena’s time off and what it entails, how that changes the European tour and the current lineups set for both November tours, WrestleMania tickets, Hell in a Cell card changes, what’s up with Paige, HHH talks NXT and difference with WWE, women, Jushin Liger, the chain of power and more. HHH also talks Gabe Sapolsky. We’ve got updates on Undertaker, Dwayne Johnson, Chris Jericho, Ric Flair, Zeb Colter as well as a look at next season’s Total Divas. We also look at a tryout camp just held, more on WWE legal actions, Paul Heyman gives his thoughts on Austin vs. Lesnar, a new WWE signing, plus notes from all the WWE & NXT arena events of the past week with business notes.
We also look at TNA’s Bound for Glory, the unique title tournament, plus a full rundown of the show with star ratings and poll results.
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THURSDAY’S NEWS UPDATE
*There were people there all day waiting to get in, many before Noon.
*James Storm was there but never shown on camera
*Dark match was Bull Dempsey beating Sawyer Fulton with the sitting splash
*Lots of Dusty Rhodes chants all night long
*It’s only a few people who start all the chants
*Hideo Itami and Sho Funaki were shown on TV, then went backstage. They were only there for the shot
*Stephanie McMahon was chanting “Women’s wrestling” with the crowd
*Bayley and Sasha Banks both looked exhausted leaving the building
ON THIS DAY IN PRO WRESTLING HISTORY INTERNATIONAL (thanks to Graeme Cameron)
1973 – Masked Lee & Juanita de Hoyas beat Miyoko Hoshino & Peggy Kuroda to win the WWWA tag tiles
1989 – Mitsuhiko Nishiwaki & Madusa beat Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada to win the annual tag team tournament
1997 – El Hijo del Santo beat Felino in Leon to win the WWA welterweight title
2001 – Kendo Ka Shin beat Masayuki Naruse in Tokyo to win the IWGP jr. title
2004 – Takao Omori beat Masato Tanaka in Tokyo to win the Zero-One United National title
2004 – L.A. Park beat Nicho in Tijuana to win the XLAW heavyweight title
2004 – Universo 2000 beat Canek in the finals of the Leyenda de Azul tournament at Arena Mexico
2005 – Brock Lesnar won a three-way over Kazuyuki Fujita and Masahiro Chono in Tokyo to win the IWGP heavyweight title plus Black Tiger (Rocky Romero) beat Tiger Mask to win the IWGP jr. title
2006- Great Sasuke beat Super Delfin in Morioka to win the Tohoku jr. title
2007 – Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Yuji Nagata in Tokyo to win the IWGP heavyweight title
2012 – Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. beat Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan in Tokyo to win the IWGP tag titles
2012 – KENTA (Hideo Itami) & Maybach Taniguchi beat Magnus & Samoa Joe in Yokohama to win the GHC tag titles
by Irvin Muchnick
The stipulation by prosecution and defense to bypass the formality of a preliminary hearing in the Jimmy Snuka-Nancy Argentino murder case in Pennsylvania has given us yet another major clue as to the potential end game of this outrageous 32-year-long saga of provincial cover-up.
Lehigh County District Attorney James Martin (who just so happened to have been first assistant district attorney in 1983 — though you wouldn’t know that from reading the Allentown Morning Call) had petitioned Judge Maria Dantos to summarily find probable cause on the basis of the Snuka indictment presentment, which was publicly announced last month. Martin’s deputy, Charles Gallagher, argued that It would squander judicial resources not to accept the insignificant level of hearsay in a second-hand summary of the testimony of 20 grand jury witnesses. Snuka has a constitutional right to a fair trial, but not to a redundant preliminary hearing. Just get on with the trial.
Snuka’s new lawyer, Robert J. Kirwan II, said fine — but first give us access to all the grand jury testimony, and keep those details sealed from public view.
Kirwan has reiterated Snuka’s position that what happened to Ms. Argentino, his girlfriend, in May 1983 in Room 427 of the George Washington Motor Lodge in Whitehall was “an accident.” In the process, the parties jointly lay the groundwork for what could become the next and final step: a guilty plea to the charge of involuntary manslaughter — while letting the Superfly off the hook for the more serious charge of third-degree murder.
It is intuitive that the prosecution’s chief challenge in convincing a jury that Snuka is guilty of murder, beyond a reasonable doubt, is the three-plus decades of reasonable doubt emanating from D.A. Martin and Detective Gerald Procanyn themselves. This adds up to an indictment not of WWF’s most popular wrestler of the early 1980s so much as of the criminal justice system of the Lehigh Valley. It’s also the reason why we have the saying “Justice delayed is justice denied.”
But when all is said and done, a plea deal might be the best option for the Martin gang. If Kirwan is an even halfway decent defense lawyer, he will focus on impeaching the details — the pettier, the better — in the grand jury testimony. Across all this minutiae from nearly two dozen third parties (who, it must be emphasized, did not themselves witness exactly what went down with Snuka and Nancy), there are bound to be inconsistencies. Whether those inconsistencies bear meaningfully on the guilt of the defendant is not his problem. Let’s say one witness testified that Snuka beat his wife daily, while another said it was only monthly — presumably, that’s a defect on a par with Snuka’s multiple versions of how Nancy fell and hit her head while peeing at a roadside stop … or is that she fell during horseplay with Snuka in the motel room … is it that she was pushed by the 250-pound wrestler and struck her head on a blunt object during a lovers’ quarrel … or ….
Hey, let’s just call it even!
All along, I’ve felt involuntary manslaughter was the curious count of the indictment. It’s the kind of thing thrown in to enable face-saving and an unsatisfactory denouement. Snuka can defiantly say, in effect, “OK, I should have called 911 earlier — but as to the rest, you’ve got nothing.” Under Pennsylvania law, I.M. is focused on gross negligence or recklessness, not on direct agency, whether intentional or not, in another person’s death. It is a misdemeanor. It is not a felony.
The whole idea of an involuntary manslaughter count is fishy. In Pennsylvania, I.M. it carries a statute of limitations of two years. D.A. Martin has not explained what makes this charge tenable 30 years past expiration. The only theory I’ve heard so far from experts is that, perhaps, special circumstances allow the prosecutor to “toll,” or stop the clock, on the S.O.L.
I keep falling back on the idea that the real Jimmy Snuka verdict here is the one of history. In light of the foregoing, we can debate whether a 72-year-old man with cancer should be incarcerated. What the upcoming national (not local) media coverage of this whole episode seems certain to expose is the cronyism, corruption, and incompetence of the Lehigh County police and courts. That this was all the launchpad of what would become the World Wrestling Federation’s historic, industry-transforming expansion is, I believe, no accident.
The 2013 ebook, JUSTICE DENIED: The Untold Story of Nancy Argentino’s Death in Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka’s Hotel Room, annotates our original article and benefits a women’s shelter in Nancy’s memory. You can order the ebook for $2.99 on Amazon Kindle (http://amzn.com/B00CPTP6VM) or a PDF copy by email (send $2.99 via PayPal to nancyargentino@gmail.com). One hundred percent of the proceeds are donated by the Argentino family, in Nancy’s memory, to the women’s shelter in development at the Salerno, Italy, church Centro Evangelical dei Fratelli.
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer returns today with our very special guest, the “Living Legend” himself Bruno Sammartino to talk tons of topics including his 80th birthday celebration surprises, memories of his career, favorite matches and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive returns today to talk tons of topics including NXT Takeover Respect, an awesome show, Asuka, Bailey and Sasha and more, plus the new PRIDE rebirth in Japan, text questions and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!
Two-time Observer Awards promoter of the year winner Nobuyuki Sakakibara announced today in Tokyo the formation of his new promotion, the Rizin Fighting Federation, a new attempt to rekindle the heyday of Japanese MMA, complete with a New Year’s Eve show that will air in the U.S. in prime time on Spike TV.
What was announced is two shows, both at the Saitama Super Arena, one on 12/29 and the other on 12/31.
The biggest news is that Fuji TV, one of the major networks in Japan, will broadcast the event. Fuji TV was the network that broadcasted Pride until it was dropped in the wake of media stories about Yakuza influence in the promotion, which led to the group’s demise. It was not made clear if the show would air live in Japan, with the indication that Fuji TV would air it as a special built around the fights of Fedor Emelianenko and New Japan’s Kazushi Sakuraba, who was the biggest name Japanese star announced as competing.
Among the plans for the promotion include an eight person heavyweight tournament with $500,000 going to the winner, which would be taking place at some point in the future.
The rules will be similar to that of Pride, with men’s fights being 20 minutes in length with rounds of ten minutes, five minutes and five minutes, and using the old Pride judging criteria. Moves like soccer kicks and knees to the head of a downed opponent will be legal. The fights will be fought inside a ring, but the ring would have five ropes instead of three or four. Women’s fights will be three five minute rounds. There will also be non-MMA rules fights, such as kickboxing fights, on the December shows.
Sakakibara was looking to link the world’s of amateur wrestling, pro wrestling, MMA, Jiu Jitsu and kickboxing. Appearing from pro wrestling were Sakuraba and Nobuhiko Takada, who will be a figurehead officer such as in the heyday of Pride. Tomiaki Fukuta, the chairman of the Japanese amateur wrestling association was also there.
Rena Kubota, a female star of kickboxing and Shoot boxing promotions in Japan will debut in MMA, as will Gabi Garcia, a ridiculously muscular world super heavyweight Jiu Jitsu champion.
The main event on 12/29 pits Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Shinya Aoki in a battle of Japan’s original submission king against Japan’s current submission star. Aoki, who is smaller than Sakuraba, is the current One lightweight champion.
Also at the press conference were Scott Coker from Bellator and Jon Slusser of Spike TV. Coker said that Bellator fighters would be on the show and that Sean Grande and Jimmy Smith would be announcing.
Sakakibara said talent would come from Bellator, BAMMA, KSW, Bushido, Jungle Fight, Desert Force, Deep, Shoot, Pancrase and ZST promotions.
No opponent was named for Emelianenko. MMA Fighting had reported Jaideep Singh, a kickboxer who has only fought once in MMA, as the foe.
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer returns today with a PACKED show! NXT Takeover Respect start-to-finish, all the matches and angles, tons of notes from the show, plus news on James Storm, Hiroshi Hase, Smackdown, Jimmy Snuka, Okada vs. Strong, TJ Dillashaw, your questions and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!
Figure Four Daily with Bryan Alvarez returns today with special guest LANCE STORM to talk tons of topics, WWE in Madison Square Garden which he attended live, memories of the weekend, his work on the film CHOKESLAM, Nitro thoughts, Raw, tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!
NXT TakeOver: Respect takes place tonight at Full Sail University at 8:00 pm EST. The main event will feature NXT Women’s champion Bayley defending her title against previous champion Sasha Banks in a 30 minute iron man match. Meanwhile, we’ll also see the conclusion of the Dustry Rhodes Tag Team Classic, with semifinals on the show being Finn Balor and Samoa Joe taking on Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder, Jason Jordan and Chad Gable against Baron Corbin and Rhyno, and the finals featuring the winners of both semifinals. Asuka will make her in-ring NXT debut taking on Dana Brooke, and Apollo Crews will face off against Tyler Breeze.
We’re looking for your thoughts on tonight’s show so send a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.
*****
DUSTY RHODES TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT SEMIFINALS: NXT CHAMPION FINN BALOR & SAMOA JOE VS. DASH WILDER & SCOTT DAWSON
Joe & Balor won and advanced in a well-worked match. Joe got the hot tag and set up Wilder for the Muscle Buster. Balor told Joe he wanted to tag in and Joe hit the Muscle Buster, and then Balor used the Coup De Grace on Wilder for the pin. Most of the match saw The Mechanics work over Balor’s knee which he sold after hitting his finisher. Joe & Balor go to the finals with a hint of issues between them and Balor “injured”.
DUSTY RHODES TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT SEMIFINALS: JASON JORDAN & CHAD GABLE VS. BARON CORBIN & RHYNO
Rhyno & Corbin advanced when Rhyno hit the gore on Jordan, and Corbin pinned Gable after the End of Days The crowd just loves Gable. He’s got something really special. Jordan & Gable are such a great babyface team that they really made the match, which had super heat, and overcame the fact that Corbin is, at best, passable at this point. There were all kinds of funny chants like “Save the Gable” and the crowd singing Kurt Angle’s music and chanting “Gable” where people used to sing “You Suck”. Jordan has all the ability in the world and has finally started to come out of his shell in this team.
They showed Kevin Nash in the crowd.
ASUKA VS. DANA BROOKE
As a wrestler, Asuka is a level above every woman wrestler in WWE. She looked super here with all her submissions, ring confidence, and total superstar presence. Brooke held her own and didn’t look out of place given this level of competition. The crowd was actually a lot hotter for this than the two tag matches. Asuka did an absolutely sweet flying armbar near the finish. She ended up winning with the Asuka Lock — a chicken wing crossface with a body scissors. After the match, Asuka laid out Brooke with a high kick and then stared down Emma who turned her head like she was backing down. Excellent debut.
We got the same Nia Jax promo we’ve been seeing recently. She’s debuting next week.
APOLLO CREWS VS. TYLER BREEZE
This was another good match that was built around Breeze working over Crews’ back. Breeze really looked good here. He got a great near fall as Crews did the press slam, went for the standing moonsault, but Breeze hooked the leg. Crews then broke free and went for the standing moonsault again, but Breeze got his knees up. Crews came back after absorbing two running elbows from Breeze, charging out at the third attempt and hitting a running kick. He then hit an atomic drop into a power bomb for the pin. They tried to tell the story that Crews is showing how much guts he has as he sold most of the way.
They showed HIdeo Itami and Funaki in the stands.
They are doing a show-long story as to whether Balor will be able to come out for the finals due to his knee.
DUSTY RHODES TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT FINALS: SAMOA JOE & FINN BALOR VS. BARON CORBIN & RHYNO
No angle, but a solid match and the crowd was pretty hot. At one point, Rhyno hit the Gore on Joe, but Balor saved. He went for a second one but Joe kicked him in the face, gave him a Muscle Buster, and Balor used a double foot stomp on Rhyno for the pin.
Cody, Dustin, Michelle (Dusty’s wife) and his two daughters were all in the ring as well as Eden Stiles. Cody did a promo and talked about how Dusty died on the same day as John Wayne but 36 years later. Cody talked about how Dusty was referred to as “the oak of NXT” but to him, he was known as Dad. “Tonight, we are all Rhodes,” he said. They played Rhodes’ music and fans chanted “Thank you Dusty.”
They showed Stephanie McMahon, Charlotte, Becky Lynch, and Lita at ringside. Stephanie even chanted “women’s wrestling” along with the crowd.
30-MINUTE IRONMAN MATCH: NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPION BAYLEY VS. SASHA BANKS
Baley retained the title with a 3-2 margin by using a Fujiwara armbar at 29:57 to break the tie.
Banks won the first fall with an eye poke and schoolgirl using the trunks, Bayley won the second fall with the Belly To Bayley, while the third fall saw Banks win by ramming Bayley into the LED board, causing Bayley to be counted out. The fourth fall saw Bayley use a roll-up out of nowhere. The last few minutes were really dramatic as Banks used the Bank Statement, but because Bayley had worked over her hand during the match, she didn’t have full power. Bayley tried to reverse out once, failed, but then reversed into the armbar and was stomping on Banks’ head. The tap came right before time ran out.
It was pretty much what it should have been as far as a really good, well built match. Banks was great here, and Bayley was super over with the crowd so you had a great face/heel dynamic. Izzy at ringside was the other star of this match. They couldn’t create someone that good as her at ringside.
After the match, they sent everyone on the roster out on the stage to give a round of applause. HHH and Wlliam Regal gave Banks flowers as the fans chanted “Thank you Sasha” as Stephanie and Sara Amato congratulated her with Bayley cheering for her from the ring. HHH then went into the ring and gave Bayley flowers. They did a good job of making this feel special with the post-match.
This really felt very close to, from an post-match atmosphere and setting, like a G-1 final or Arena Mexico Anniversary match.
