Tag: mainstory

This weekend we’ll be doing polls for UFC 192, WWE in Madison Square Garden, TNA Bound for Glory and AAA Heroes Inmortales, so a huge weekend of big events.

Smackdown tonight on Syfy

Bella Twins & Alicia Fox vs. Sasha Banks & Naomi & Tamina

Kevin Owens vs. Ryback for IC title

Neville & Lucha Dragons vs. Stardust & The Ascension

Dudleys & Demon Kane vs. Seth Rollins & New Day

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

If you saw the JBL interview with Eric Bischoff, or even if you didn’t, we have what is already one of the most talked about and praised issues of the Wrestling Observer this year up on the site right now.  The main theme is fact vs. fiction, covering both the WWE historical view of the Monday Night Wars and the Eric Bischoff version, going through every point and cutting through things like outright B.S., faulty memories and interesting truths.

The new double issue also covers SummerSlam in Brooklyn, the real story behind the UFC announcing a show in Madison Square Garden, Jon Jones’ legal punishment and future, coverage of both of the New Japan PPV shows this past week as well as a look at their direction as they build toward King of Pro Wrestling and later, the Tokyo Dome show, UFC in Japan and a look at that business, the retirement of Rich Franklin, a Hall of Famer running for Mayor, the retirement show of Genichiro Tenryu, more concerning drug testing questions, SummerSlam PPV numbers and what we can learn from them, as well as the death of German legend Axel Dieter Sr.

The latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter:  October 6, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Analysis of Bischoff Network interview, Jones plea and tons more. 

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 todave@wrestlingobserver.com” target=”_blank”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com

You can also order print issues at www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

Rates are:

For the United States, it is $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52.  In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to moonsault@mediaplusint.com  For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.

The Wrestling Observer ranges weekly from 35,000 to 50,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA internationally. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sties and has the most complete look at the pro wrestling and MMA business anywhere, plus history pieces available nowhere else.

We look at Eric Bischoff and his role, both good and bad, in what the pro wrestling industry has turned into.  We look at the WCW boom, the creation of Nitro, the early war, the NWO era, the peak and the fall of WCW.

We look at the mistakes made, the fall of WCW, the emergence of Bill Goldberg, the real origination of the streak idea,   We look at the rapid decline of the company and why.  We look at how and when things went down, as well as why, how history shows the merger excuse doesn’t hold water, the complete b.s. of the WWE’s Monday Night War narrative.  We look at the dying days of WCW and Eric Bischoff’s plan he never got a chance to implement.

We look at Eric Bischoff’s background, how he got into wrestling, his first meeting with Verne Gagne, his WWF tryout as an announcer, his connection with Japan, the unique case of Sonny Onoo, and the death of the AWA.

We look at the sale of Georgia Championship Wrestling, Vince McMahon’s one-year run on TBS and problems with Ted Turner, where Bill Watts fit into the scene then, and the scene prior to the launch of Nitro.

We look at WCW before Bischoff got power, what really happened with Jim Ross and WCW, , moves by Bill Watts, .  We look at the first Nitro, the real story behind Lex Luger, what Lex Luger really got, what really happened in WCW with HHH and Mick Foley, Foley getting into WWF, the story behind Bischoff’s firing of Steve Austin, the cruiserweight division and its double-edge sword, what was the point of no return, the Montreal screw job and why so many, even in wrestling, missed key points in that story, Mike Tyson at WrestleMania, Kevin Nash as a booker, DX invades Nitro and the Bischoff vs. McMahon challenge to a fist fight and the story behind the PPV that went 30 minutes over.

In the UFC Madison Square Garden announcement, we look at the thought process behind the strategy.

FOR A FULL WRESTLING OBSERVER PREVIEW CLICK HERE

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.

Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.

THURSDAY’S NEWS UPDATE

• Updated lineup for Saturday’s show at Madison Square Garden on the WWE Network

Brock Lesnar vs. Big Show

John Cena vs. Seth Rollins in a cage match

New Day vs. Dudleys for tag titles

Kevin Owens vs. Chris Jericho for IC title

Randy Orton vs. Sheamus

Dolph Ziggler vs. Rusev

• TNA  Bound for Glory on Sunday from Concord, NC

EC 3 vs. Matt Hardy vs. Drew Galloway for the TNA title with Jeff Hardy as ref

Eddie Edwards & Davey Richards vs. Trevor Lee & Brian Meyers for the TNA tag tilters

Abyss, Aiden O’Shea, Chris Melendez, Jesse Godderz, Ken Anderson, Mahabili Shera, Tyrus, Eli Drake and Robbie E in a Gauntlet for a title shot

Gail Kim vs. Awesome Kong for Knockouts title

Tigre Uno puts up X title in an Ultimate X match

Bobby Roode vs. Bobby Lashley for King of the Mountain title

Kurt Angle vs Eric Young

• Ric Flair is booked on the November U.K. tour as a guest General Manager on one of the tours.  Bayley is also booked on that tour.
• Dixie Carter said she has a major announcement on Monday at Noon.  Given that she will make the announcement with Mahabili Shera, it sounds like it’ll be the announcement of the TV tapings in India.  Talent has been told already about the one week tour.
• Tomasso Ciampa last night was the modern Rick Rude.  Due to taping, he ended up being on both TNA and NXT last night.
• For those attending WrestleMania, there will be a bus from the Ritz-Carlton in Dallas to AT&T Stadium which will leave at 4 p.m. and leave the stadium at 10:30 p.m. for $35.  There are 50 seats available at http://store.wrestling-online.com
• Ronda Rousey will be on the Tonight Show on 10/6 and with Kelly & Michael on 10/12 promoting her fight with Holly Holm.
• WWE will be promoting breast cancer awareness all month starting with Raw on Monday night.
• Dwayne Johnson signed a deal with Ford for TV commercials that will start on 10/12.  It’s a multi-year contract.
• For what it’s worth, neither John Cena nor Brock Lesnar are being advertised for Raw on 10/26 in San Diego  Cena may have project going on outside of wrestling because he’s been taken off advertising on a lot of shows in November.
• Here’s the UFC TV schedule for the week:

There is a Karyn Bryant interview with Forrest Griffin tonight at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on FS 1.

Weigh-ins are tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. on FS 1 with Ariel Helwani, Brian Stann, Dominick Cruz and Megan Olivi.  The Ronda Rousey vs. Cat Zingano fight airs tomorrow ninth at 8 p.m. on FS 1. 

FS 1 will have the pre-fight show on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. leading to the prelims at 8 p.m.  The post-fight show airs at 1 a.m.

Jake Roberts and Scott Hall were live in studio this morning with Preston & Steve at WMMR in Philadelphia.  “The Resurrection of Jake Roberts” movie plays at the Ritz Five Theater there with a Q&A after the movie tonight with Roberts, Hall and DDP.  The interview was said to be really good.

• New Evolution Wrestling on 10/31 in Elizabeth City, NC at the National Guard Armory.
• Blue Demon Promotions on 10/24 in El Paso features Blue Demon Jr. & Cassandro vs. Pakal & Peluchin Maldad.
• Rocker Boy Promotions on 10/8 in Laredo at the Coliseum has Laredo Kid & Shocker vs. Hernandez & Pirata Morgan.
• There is another show on 10/24 in El Paso at the Southwest University Event Center with Volador Jr. & Mr. Aguila vs. La Sombra & Rush.
• New England Championship Wrestling on 10/10 in Hampstead, NH at the Phan Zone.
• There will be a Shine iPPV tomorrow night with Santana Garrett vs. Evie and Allysin Kay vs. Saraya Knight anything goes, plus Jessicka Havok vs. Kay Lee Ray, Madison Eagles vs. Su Yung, Leah Von Dutch vs. Malia Hosaka and more.
• Maria Kanellis, Matt Taven and Michael Bennett appear on 10/16 in Toronto at the Franklin Horner Community Center.
• Bullet Brawl tomorrow night in Barnesville, GA features Tama Tonga & Micah from TNA, who are brothers, teaming up for only the second time, plus Amber Gallows appears in a lumberjack strap match against manager Al Getz, plus former WCW star Glacier Ray Lloyd.
• Former Pancrase lightweight champion Isao Kobayashi debuts with Bellator on 10/23 at the Mohegan Sun Casino, acing Goiti Yamauchi in the prelims on Spike.com
• Former NCAA champion Bubba Jenkins faces Jordan Parsons on the 11/20 Bellator show in Thackerville, OK, which is headlined by Melvin Manhoef vs. Hisako Kato.
• Bushwhacker Luke Williams and Honky Tonk Man appear on 10/10 for the IWF at the IWF Centre in Nutley, NJ.
• Undertaker, Seth Rollins and Charlotte will be at Wizard World on 10/24 in Tulsa.
• Liberty All-Star Wrestling on 11/14 in Phoenixville, PA at the Technical College High School Pickering Campus.  Tony Stetson from the 80s and 90s will appear on the show.
• Lucha Toronto on 10/18 at Liveact.ca in Whitby, ONT featuring Too Cold Scorpio.
• Santana Garrett can be booked at SantanaGarrettBookings@gmail.com  Her old e-mail of BrittanyTNA@gmail.com is no longer being used.
• Great North Wrestling on 11/17 in Rockland, ONT at the Jean Marc Lalonde Arena featuring Bushwhacker Luke and Hannibal.
• Combat Zone Wrestling on 10/10 at StreamCZW.com from Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ the Danny Havoc & Devon Moore & Lucky & Conor Claxton vs. Dave & Jake Crist & Eric Ryan & Alex Colon, plus Matt Tremont vs. Blk Jeez.
• A Paul Boesch interview with Ric Flair has been added to NWAClassics.com.
• Right Coast Pro on 10/10 at the Life Community Church in Newark, DE. 
• The French pro wrestling magazine “Puissance Catch,” folded this month.  It was launched in 2008 when there was a WWE inspired wrestling boom in that country and was the last survivor of a number of magazines that had gotten started during that period.  It lasted longer than most because is was run by real fans. (thanks to Tony Bouin)
• Brian Fritz talks to Ethan Carter III
• A story on Bill Behrens, who books a lot of the top indie talent
• Nick Gage talks from jail
• A look back 30 years ago this week as Jerry Lawler vs. Ric Flair set the all-time Memphis live gate record
• Roman Reigns talks Dean Ambrose, the 49ers and other subjects (thanks to Lou Pickney)
• Story about a World Class Championship Wrestling display
• A story comparing Vince McMahon and Donald Trump
• A scary power bomb spot gone wrong
• The Huffington Post looks at women’s wrestling in Toronto

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

1981 – Perro Aguayo beat Fishman in Los Angeles to win the WWF light heavyweight title

1991 – Giant Haystacks beat Kendo Nagasaki in Croydon to win the CWA heavyweight title

1996 – Tarzan Goto & Mr. Gannosuke beat Cactus Jack & Tracy Smothers to win the IWA tag team titles

2010 – Fabi Apache & Pimpinela Escarlata beat Alex Koslov & Christina Von Eerie in Ciudad Madero to win the AAA mixed tag team titles

Show notes for tonight:

UFC Tonight airs at 8:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1 

NXT at 8:00 p.m. ET on WWE Network hasApollo Crews vs. Johnny Gargano, Dana Brooke & Emma vs. Peyton Royce & Billie Kay, Tyler Breeze vs. Tommaso Ciampa, and a main event of Finn Bálor & Samoa Joe vs. Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic..

A rerun of last week’s episode of The Ultimate Fighter airs at 9:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1 and it’s titled “Recognize the Enemy.” Conor McGregor tries to push Urijah Faber into fighting T.J. Dillashaw and one of the coaches does not react well to how this week’s fight goes.

Impact Wrestling at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on Destination America is the last actual show shot at the most recent tapings  and is th theoretical go-hom show for this Sunday’s Bound for Glory pay-per-view.

The Ultimate Fighter at 10:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1 is titled “A Faithless Foe.” It has Connor McGregor lecturing the fighter who lost last week, a Team Faber fighter skipping practice, and more.

ROH at 11:00 p.m. ET on Destination America has Matt Sydal vs. KUSHIDA, Moose vs. Watanabe vs. Adam Page vs. Will Ferrara, and Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Adam Cole.

Please send reports from major shows, recommended links, etc. to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com:

****

Figure Four Weekly:

The newest issue of Figure Four Weekly is now up for subscribers (subscribe to the site here and get access to Figure Four, the Observer, tons of audio, and more) featuring a look back at how exactly WWE lost the WWF name. Forget the stories you’v heard, this detailsexactly what the World Wildlife Fund objected to, what WWE agreed to and why, what scandals worried the fund, and more.  On top of that, we have all the usual stuff like Vinny’s reviews and international news from Dr. Lucha Steve Sims and and Alan”4L” Counihan.

The recnt FREEFigure Four Weekly is still up with a look at the crazy story of why Gawker thinks the FBI may have helped Hulk Hogan cover up his racist and homophobic comments. A judge has ordered the FBI to turn over the records of their investigation, and what Gawker is saying in court about what has and hasn’t been turned over paints a very interesting picture.

Also, now available for the first time on Kindle (meaning Kindle devices and anything with the Kindle app) is Fall Guys, the seminal 1937 book that has been described as being like the 1930s version of the Wrestling Observer. It was surprisingly not on Kindle already, so we put together a nice version with a full table of contents w/ chapter marks, proper formatting on everything, etc. Right now it’s available from the American, Canadian, and Australian Amazon/Kindle stores OR you can also buy it from anywhere in the world on PayHip, who will provide you with both Kindle and ePub (every other e-reader) format files, and you can either sideload them to your device or have them email it to your Kindle.

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

We’ve got a double issue of the Observer this week because of coverage of so many big shows and all the stuff that has come out of the past week with WWE. Sept. 28, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Sting, Night of Champions, Bellator Dynamite, more

Our lead story covers the Sting injury, the Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar Hell in a Cell match and the interesting back story and questions it brings up, lots of long-term looking at where WWE is headed as well as full coverage of the Night of Champions show.  We also cover the second season news for Lucha Underground, the Atlantis vs. La Sombra mask vs. mask match, Akira Hokuto’s announcement about her breast cancer, Bellator’s Dynamite show and what went right and wrong, New Japan’s Destruction in Okayama, ROH’s All-Star Extravaganza, the Pro Wrestling NOAH angle where they tease the end of the company, USADA responds to Thomas Hauser, Josh Gross’ story on the Vitor Belfort drug test and why it’s not nearly as simple as people are making it out to be, AAA’s next major show and record low ratings.

Rates are:

For the United States, it is $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52.  In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to moonsault@mediaplusint.com  For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.

The Wrestling Observer ranges weekly from 35,000 to 50,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA internationally. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sties and has the most complete look at the pro wrestling and MMA business anywhere, plus history pieces available nowhere else

Our lead story covers the WWE weekend, notably the Sting injury and Undertaker-Lesnar announcement.

We go through the injury, including Sting’s interview comments after the fact and his description of Seth Rollins and the injury, as well as his current thoughts on if he will wrestle again.  We also talk about what he does and doesn’t know, what he’s said publicly about the injury, why the match wasn’t stopped, and what we can learn from it.

We also look at how the Lesnar vs. Undertaker Hell in a Cell match changes WrestleMania, and look at those potential changes.  We look at the different directions they can go with the key talent for next year’s show.  We also look at the rest of Hell in a Cell as far as what is on the books and what name isn’t listed yet in the top matches.  We look at the problem in the arena at the end of Night of Champions.

We’ve got complete Night of Champions coverage, with records, business, poll results, match-by-match coverage and star ratings.

FOR A FULL OBSERVER PREVIEW CLICK HERE

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.

Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.

Wednesday Daily Update

• From the main page:
  SmackDown spoilers.
  Raw ratings fall to record lows.
  Today in history.
• Beau James sent us a note with the unfortunate news that veteran Nashvile female wrestler Robbie Rage (not to be confused with the male wrestler who worked for WCW and NJPW) passed away at home on Monday night after suffering a heart attack. From Beau: She is the ex-wife of Gypsy Joe and started wrestling during the dying days of Kansas City. She also worked some for USWA and Bert Prentice’s Ozark Mountain Wrestling. Through the 90s she was the traveling opponent for both Debbie Combs and Candi Devine. She made a short come back in 2010/11. She was in her mid 50s.
• WWE sent this out:

This October, on WWE Network, Brock Lesnar takes fans on the Go to Hell Tour, including a brand new stop in Boston on Monday Night Raw this Monday, October 5.

• Then, this Saturday at 8 ET/5 PT, watch the historic special Live from MSG: Lesnar vs. Big Show as The Beast Incarnate returns to Madison Garden for the first time in over a decade to battle The World’s Largest Athlete.  On Oct. 19 immediately following Raw, The Beast will step behind the mic and answer questions from The Texas Rattlesnake in a live, no-holds barred interview on a brand-new Stone Cold Podcast. Finally, on Oct. 25 at 8 ET/5PT, the fiercest rivalry in recent memory will continue at Hell in a Cell when Lesnar clashes with The Undertaker in Satan’s Playground!
• Roman Reigns talks to Fox Sports. On getting back fans who turned on him over the Daniel Bryan stuff: “It’s been a work in progress. The crowd is the crowd. You’re gonna take them as an individual performer how you take them. The key is how do you learn from them. How do you use whatever is happening reaction-wise to get better.”
• Nick Diaz is saying UFC is offering him help with appealing his suspension and an interview with Jeff Novitsky gives us a reason to believe him.
• ROH returns to Charlotte with the WINTER WARRIORS TOUR on Saturday, January 9th 2016 at the Cabarrus Events Center (4751 NC Hwy 49 North – Concord, NC 28025).5:30pm Doors Open/7:00pm bell time.
• Bellator has added Bubba Jenkins vs. Jordan Parsons to  “Bellator 146: Kato vs. Manhoef” on November 20th in Thackerville, Oklahoma.
• Odd John Cena/League of Legends…thing at Kotaku Australia.
• AXS TV officially announced the schedule for how NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9 will air on the network:

Oct. 9 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship four-Way Match – Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish; KUSHIDA and Alex Shelley; Rocky Romero and Alex Koslov; and Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship – Ryusuke Taguchi versus Kenny Omega

Oct. 16 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

Tetsuya Naito versus A.J. Styles

NEVER Openweight Championship – Tomohiro Ishii versus Togi Makabe

Oct. 23 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima and Tomaoki Honma versus the Bullet Club (Jeff Jarrett, Back Luck Fale and Yujiro Takahashi)

Special Single Match – Kazushi Sakuraba versus Minoru Suzuki

IWGP Tag Championship – Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows versus Hirooki Goto and Katsuyori Shibata

Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT

Toru Yano, Naomichi Marufuji, Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste versus Takashi Iizuka, Shelton X Benjamin, Lance Archer and Davey Boy Smith Jr.

IWGP Intercontinental Championship – Shinsuke Nakamura versus Kota Ibushi

Nov. 6 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

IWGP Heavyweight Championship – Hiroshi Tanahashi versus Kazuchika Okada

• Today’s new match for NWAClassics.com subscribers is a really fun one on paper: Mr. Wrestling II vs. The Grappler.
• Irv Muchnick delves further into why the Jimmy Snuka/Nancy Argentino case might have gone cold.
• Aubrey Sitterson talks about wrestling venturing into geek culture at Geek.com.
• Leva “Blue Pants” Bates has been added to Absolute Intense Wrestling “Girls Night Out 16” this Saturday October 3rd, 2015. Doors: 2:30PM. Bell: 3:00PM. Live From Our Lady Of Mount Carmel Tickets: Front Row VIP: $25 (Limited To 60) General Admission: $20.
• Santana Garrett sent us a note that she has a new email address for bookings: Please use SantanaGarrettBookings@gmail.com. She’s no longer using BrittanyTNA@gmail.com.
• If you missed it yesterday, WWEDVDNetwork released a new preview clip of the upcoming “Sting: Into the Light” documentary, which is available for pre-order on  on DVD and Blu-Ray (with plenty of extra features as always) for an October 13th release. The teaser video is a snippet of the Blade Runners portion of the documentary.
• On the latest Between the Sheets podcast, Kris Zellner and I are joined by Good Ol’ Will to talk about September 22-28, 1984 as covered in the Observer, Eastern/International Wrestling News, and Joe Shedlock’s “Wrestling.” We discuss Bobby Heenan jumping to WWF, Riki Choshu and friends jumping to AJPW, Jerry Lawler & Randy Savage jumping King Kong Bundy & Rick Rude, and WWF with mass jumps.

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

Show notes for tonight:

Total Divas’ season finale airs at 9:00 p.m. E! with an episoded titled “Return of the Ex.” Dolph Ziggler tries to woo Nikki Bella back from John Cena, Tyson Kidd breaks his neck (TitanTV’s description says he and Nattie have to deal with “career-ending news”), and Paige tries to be more tactful around everyone else. After Total Divas, tonight’s WAGs has Kelly Kelly’s bachelorette party.

WWE SmackDown and Main Event will be taped tonight in Albany, New York.

Please send reports from major shows, recommended links, etc. to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com:

****

Figure Four Weekly:

The newest issue of Figure Four Weekly is now up for subscribers (subscribe to the site here and get access to Figure Four, the Observer, tons of audio, and more) featuring a look back at how exactly WWE lost the WWF name. Forget the stories you’v heard, this detailsexactly what the World Wildlife Fund objected to, what WWE agreed to and why, what scandals worried the fund, and more.  On top of that, we have all the usual stuff like Vinny’s reviews and international news from Dr. Lucha Steve Sims and and Alan”4L” Counihan.

The recnt FREEFigure Four Weekly is still up with a look at the crazy story of why Gawker thinks the FBI may have helped Hulk Hogan cover up his racist and homophobic comments. A judge has ordered the FBI to turn over the records of their investigation, and what Gawker is saying in court about what has and hasn’t been turned over paints a very interesting picture.

Also, now available for the first time on Kindle (meaning Kindle devices and anything with the Kindle app) is Fall Guys, the seminal 1937 book that has been described as being like the 1930s version of the Wrestling Observer. It was surprisingly not on Kindle already, so we put together a nice version with a full table of contents w/ chapter marks, proper formatting on everything, etc. Right now it’s available from the American, Canadian, and Australian Amazon/Kindle stores OR you can also buy it from anywhere in the world on PayHip, who will provide you with both Kindle and ePub (every other e-reader) format files, and you can either sideload them to your device or have them email it to your Kindle.

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

We’ve got a double issue of the Observer this week because of coverage of so many big shows and all the stuff that has come out of the past week with WWE. Sept. 28, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Sting, Night of Champions, Bellator Dynamite, more

Our lead story covers the Sting injury, the Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar Hell in a Cell match and the interesting back story and questions it brings up, lots of long-term looking at where WWE is headed as well as full coverage of the Night of Champions show.  We also cover the second season news for Lucha Underground, the Atlantis vs. La Sombra mask vs. mask match, Akira Hokuto’s announcement about her breast cancer, Bellator’s Dynamite show and what went right and wrong, New Japan’s Destruction in Okayama, ROH’s All-Star Extravaganza, the Pro Wrestling NOAH angle where they tease the end of the company, USADA responds to Thomas Hauser, Josh Gross’ story on the Vitor Belfort drug test and why it’s not nearly as simple as people are making it out to be, AAA’s next major show and record low ratings.

Rates are:

For the United States, it is $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52.  In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to moonsault@mediaplusint.com  For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.

The Wrestling Observer ranges weekly from 35,000 to 50,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA internationally. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sties and has the most complete look at the pro wrestling and MMA business anywhere, plus history pieces available nowhere else

Our lead story covers the WWE weekend, notably the Sting injury and Undertaker-Lesnar announcement.

We go through the injury, including Sting’s interview comments after the fact and his description of Seth Rollins and the injury, as well as his current thoughts on if he will wrestle again.  We also talk about what he does and doesn’t know, what he’s said publicly about the injury, why the match wasn’t stopped, and what we can learn from it.

We also look at how the Lesnar vs. Undertaker Hell in a Cell match changes WrestleMania, and look at those potential changes.  We look at the different directions they can go with the key talent for next year’s show.  We also look at the rest of Hell in a Cell as far as what is on the books and what name isn’t listed yet in the top matches.  We look at the problem in the arena at the end of Night of Champions.

We’ve got complete Night of Champions coverage, with records, business, poll results, match-by-match coverage and star ratings.

FOR A FULL OBSERVER PREVIEW CLICK HERE

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.

Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.

Tuesday Daily Update

— From the main page:

Jon Jones pleads guilty.

Kurt Angle’s return match announced for Bound For Glory.

— Odd correction from over the weekend: The ruling by Judge Pamela Campbell keeping Hulk Hogan’s FBI filing sealed from media who requested it be made public was not denying the motion filed the day before. It turns out that in a story about themselves, the Associated Press got a major detail wrong, and they issued a correction last night. Judge Campbell has yet to rule on the mtion filed Thursday by the Associated Press, Scripps, and other media companies/news organizations.

— WWEDVDNetwork released a new preview clip of the upcoming “Sting: Into the Light” documentary, which is available for pre-order on  on DVD and Blu-Ray (with plenty of extra features as always) for an October 13th release. The teaser video is a snippet of the Blade Runners portion of the documentary.

— Titus O’Neil talks to SI’s Extra Mustard. On Hulk Hogan: “It’s a tough situation for me to talk about. It’s been dealt with by the company, but for me, I’ve heard that type of talk from people who are way different than Hulk Hogan. He made a mistake, he’s paying for it, and it’s not my call to say what he is or he is not. I just try to live my life without having to worry about anybody calling me those names.”

— Dave has an article about Daniel Cormier at MMAFighting.com.

— Full details from WWN Live about Terry Funk’s involvement in their WWN Live Experience during WrestleMania weekend:

The WWNLive Experience returns to Dallas, Texas on April 1st-April 3rd, 2016. It’s the biggest wrestling weekend of the year! It’s in Texas! We had to pull out something special for this occasion. WWN is very proud to announce that we are honoring one of the greatest wrestlers to ever come from Texas. We will present Hall Of Famer Terry Funk with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the WWN Supershow: Mercury Rising on Saturday night, April 2nd. This will be our chance to thank Terry Funk for all his contributions and influence on the pro wrestling industry.

The party will continue on April 3rd with a very special and unique event. We are excited to announce the Funk’s Grill & BBQ Tailgate Party. This will take place across the street from Texas Stadium. It will feature world class BBQ with Terry Funk.

Terry Funk will be available for autographs and pictures at both the WWN Supershow and Funk’s Grill & BBQ Tailgate Party. We’ll have an official press release with all the details in the upcoming weeks, but we wanted to give you the scoop now.

— Bellator has added some fights to the October 23rd card, so here’s how it stands right now:

Main Card: (Spike – 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT)
Bellator Bantamweight Championship Fight: Marcos Galvao [c] (17-6-1) vs. Eduardo Dantas (17-4)
Bellator Middleweight Championship Fight: Brandon Halsey (9-0) vs. Rafael Carvalho (11-1)
Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Brennan Ward (11-3) vs. Dennis Olson (14-9)
Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Michael Page (8-0) vs. TBA

Preliminary Card: (Spike.com – 6:50 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT
Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Isao Kobayashi (18-2-4) vs. Goiti Yamauchi (18-2)
Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Matt Bessette (15-7) vs. Kevin Roddy (15-15)
Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Matt Secor (6-2) vs. Jeremie Holloway (7-0)
Bellator 150-Pound Feature Fight: Pete Rogers Jr. (2-2) vs. Marius Enache (2-3)

— The documentary  “At What Cost?: An Anatomy of Professional Wrestling. premieres Thursday, Oct. 8. Doors open at 7 p.m. at The Art Theater, 2025 E. 4th St., Long Beach, CA.

— Wrestlemerica has the Bullet Brawl this Friday night in Barnesville, Georgia. More details on their Facebook page.

— MCW live this Saturday in Joppa, Maryland has Jake the Snake Roberts, The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase, The Headbangers, and more.  Tickets available here