We’re looking for your thoughts on last night’s UFC 191 PPV 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 these shows:
*WWE Friday night in Hampton, VA
*WWE Saturday night in Charlottesville
*WWE Saturday night in Wildwood, NJ
*WWE Sunday in Fairfax, VA
*WWE Sunday in Salisbury, MD
*GFW Friday in Waterloo, IA
WWE runs Sunday in Fairfax, VA (John Cena vs. Kevin Owens) and Salisbury, MD (Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt, Ryback vs. Big Show, Luke Harper vs. Dean Ambrose).
Raw will be Monday night in Baltimore.
Smackdown and Main Event are taped Tuesday night in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
Wrestling Observer Newsletter:
It’s a gigantic news week in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter with the main feature story on everything that led to the indictment of Jimmy Snuka after 32 years, plus Irv Muchnick, who has reported on the story for years gives his views on the proceedings, and we also look at Hulk Hogan’s attempt at redemption of his character, the full story behind the shooting at the Performance Center, notes from Battle of Los Angeles, the retirement of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Hayabusa walks to the ring, Bram gets arrested, WWE fires Zahra Schreiber, UFC brings back Travis Browne, a rundown of the PPV business in WWE in 2015 and the latest monthly business report from WWE & TNA.
The latest Wrestling Observer: September 7, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Snuka indicted, shooting at WWE Performance Center and tons more
Web site subscriptions, which include access to both current and older newsletters as well as every audio show in the history of the site. Sign up here for as low as $9.99 per month!
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For the United States, it is $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to moonsault@mediaplusint.com For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52.
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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 goes back to 1983 with an in-depth look at the death of Nancy Argentino, how the media caused the case to be reopened, a look at the charges against Jimmy Snuka, the different statements on the subject by Snuka, Snuka’s lawyer speaks, notes on documentation and testimony from the time, lots of notes regarding evidence, where Jimmy Snuka stood in the wrestling business in 1983, how Buddy Rogers fits into this story, what Snuka told police the morning after Argentino died as well as testimony from those who treated Argentino before her death.
We also look at the autopsy report, the police report from that time, the strange question that was never answered regarding the case being dropped, what Snuka has said to different people, the brawl in Syracuse before Argentino’s death, how the pro wrestling business in 1983 is so completely different from today and the previous legal action regarding this case.
Irv Muchnick also does a piece on the indictment talking about several points from the indictment.
We also look at Hulk Hogan appearing on Good Morning America and Nightline in a way to get his job back and repair his public image. We look at the WWE reaction, what Hogan said, what does and doesn’t hold up, the timeline issues with his various stories, neighbors of his growing up contradict his story and more.
We also look at the story of the man who was shot in front of the Performance Center, the circumstances of the shooting, and the different things he had done in recent months regarding his obsession with wrestling.
We also look at Battle of Los Angeles, how the tournament went, highlights from the weekend and celebrities at the shows.
We also look back at the career of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, including his new job with UFC, his becoming the top heavyweight in the sport at one time, his background, his debut in RINGS, his move to Pride, his fight with Bob Sapp, his three fight series with Fedor and his UFC run.
We look at the arrest of Thomas “Bram” Latimer of TNA, police details of what happened, TNA’s response and what is next for him.
We’ve got a story on Hayabusa, one of the best high flyers from 15-20 years ago and his attempted recovery from near paralysis.
We’ve got a look at Travis Browne and his reinstatement in UFC.
We look at the firing of Zahra Schreiber, the girlfriend of Seth Rollins, by WWE.
We also look at WWE & TNA business when it comes to house shows, merchandise, ratings and other categories for the past month.
We also have a PPV chart with how all the shows in the first seven months of the year have been, and compared them with the last few years.
We also look at WWE signing one of the major international women stars and why she’s not going to be wrestling in NXT, the return of Dr. Wagner Jr. & L.A. Park to Arena Mexico and how it got over, top pro wrestling star gets a reality show gig, and some major title changes.
We also look at maneuvering for the 2017 and 2018 WrestleMania, and the favorites, the 10/3 Madison Square Garden WWE live special, notes on lots of indie stars on WWE’s radar, ticket sales for NXT in the U.K., a new WWE movie, Update on Wade Barrett, action figure sales, announcing changes, SummerSlam edits, lots of notes on various WWE lawsuits, Dean Ambrose talks Renee Young, Fan tries to attack Ambrose, Sara Lee in NXT, plus notes on all the WWE & NXT house shows over the past week.
We also look at a number of top stars who worked recently in Bolivia, the last AAA TV taping and AAA wrestlers in a bodybuilding contest.
We update Wrestle-1 and the three generations of green mist stars trios match.
We also look at the Dragon Gate summer tag team tournament and its big show in Fukuoka and what came out of it.
We look at All Japan’s last major show and its current singles tournament.
We look at Pro Wrestling NOAH’s next major show, including a title match that was set up in the U.S., a well as the bracketing in the upcoming junior heavyweight tag team tournament.
We look at the weekend IGF show, a record that will be set at the next Tokyo Dome show, and the NWA title change.
We also look at U.S. stars who usually don’t tour Japan that are going shortly.
We’ve got more on the planned bio movie on Chris Benoit, Angelo Mosca getting his number retired, the weekend GFW shows and angles, Preston City Wrestling’s weekend show, former TNA star retires and a unique main event, plus early notes on this year’s WWC Anniversary show.
We also update the TNA TV situation, the Lucha Underground TV situation, the next ROH PPV show, new roles for people in ROH and notes from the weekend show.
We also look at changes in UFC main events, can UFC sell 70,000 tickets to its November show with Ronda Rousey, Rousey talks when she expects to retire, Cyborg, the date with the marine and notes about live shows on Fight Pass this month. We also look at this week’s PPV show, talks about the Jan. 2 Las Vegas card, a star fighter retires, Chad Mendes wants a rematch with McGregor, what happened recently with Jose Aldo, Rousey T-shirt sales, plus lots of more fights.
We also have a look at Bellator’s next major show, including the updated card, as well as plans for the big November show. We look at the Fan Fest with Fedor and Sakuraba, as well as notes on last week’s show.
We also look at the arrest of Chris Leben, and new restrictions on weight cutting that is being tried out for in California.
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
SUNDAY’S NEWS UPDATE
- Our weekend show talking UFC 191 with Tom Lawlor: Wrestling Observer Radio 9/6: UFC 191, Cena injury, Conor McGregor latest rampage, more!
- Here is our live results: UFC 191: Johnson vs. Dodson 2 live results and coverage
- Check out how the staff did in their picks: UFC 191 Picks and Betting Game From The Secret Psychic Spy~!
- Not a lot coming out of last night’s UFC show. In the Frank Mir vs. Andrei Arlovski fight, Judge Adelaide Byrd had all three rounds for Arlovski. Judge Sal D’Amato had one and three for Arlovski. Chris Lee also had one and three for Arlovski. Dana White said he thought Mir won. I had Arlovski. Media scores were about 75% for Arlovski. Arlovski outlanded him in all three rounds but round two was close and Mir got a takedown in that round.
- UFC 191 had 200,000 searches yesterday, which is significantly more than one would have expected from that show. It was seventh behind six different football related themes. Five were college football schools or coverage and one was Tim Tebow. Of the top 20 searches yesterday, 19 of them were football related, 18 college football and UFC 191 was the only thing that wasn’t football related.
- CHIKARA King of Trios from night one on Friday night in Easton, PA
Juan Francisco de Coronado & Mr. Azerbaijin & Proletariat Boar of Moldova b Mark Andrews & Morgan Webster & Pete Dunne
MK McKinnan & Trent ? & Tyler Bae b Jakob Hammermeier & Nekken & Soldier Ant
Kodama & Obariyan & Oleg the Usurper b El Hijo del Ice Cream & Ice Cream Jr. & Princess Kimber Lee
Blaster McMassive & Flex Rumblecrunch & Max Smashmaster b Stevie Richards & Blue Meanie & Nova
Kevin Condron & Lucas Calhoun & Missile Assault Man b Dasher Hatfield & Icarus & Mark Angelosetti
A.J. Styles & Young Bucks b Amasis & Fire Ant & Worker Ant
Frightmare & Hallowicked & Silver Ant b Eddie Kingston & Ophidian & Shynron
Aero Star & Drago & Fenix b Chuck Taylor & Drew Gulak & Swamp Monster - CHIKARA King of Trios from night two in Easton, PA last night
Jake b Ashley Remington
MK McKinnan & Trent ? & Tyler Bae b Juan Francisco de Coronado & Proletariat Boar of Moldova & Mr. Azerbaijan
Shynon won four-way over 2 Cold Scorpio, Matt Cross and Madjai Amasis
Aero Star & Drago & Fenix b Hallowicked & Frightmare & Silver Ant
3.0 & NRG b Flying Francis & Arctic Rescue Ant & Orbit Adventure Ant
A.J. Styles & Young Bucks b Kevin Condron & Lucas Calhoun & Missile Assault Man
Mark Andrews won four-way over Pinkie Sanchez, Purpura and Ophidian Cobra
Max Smashmaster & Blaster McMassive & Flex Rumblecrunch b Obariyon & Kodama & Oleg the Usurper - Damian Gonzalez said that he just watched SummerSlam on the WWE Network and Brock Lesnar’s middle finger was not edited off, but the New Day ring entrance was edited off.
- Beyonce shows Ronda Rousey video at her concert last night
- A story on Irv Muchnick and the Jimmy Snuka case
- Ric Flair, Jerry Lawler, John Layfield, Ron Simmons, RVD, Chyna and Katrina from Lucha Underground appear at the San Antonio Comic Con from 9/11 to 9/13 signing autographs (thanks to Pete Schirmacher)
- The new season of The Ultimate Fighter debuts Wednesday night with a two-hour special from 10 p.m. to midnight on FS 1.
- The plan for the trio of The Ascension and Stardust is to be called the Cosmic Wasteland.
- Squared Circle Pro Wrestling on 9/26 in Lubbock
- WWE runs Lubbock on 10/17 with John Cena and Seth Rollins headlining (thanks to Victor Martinez)
- Right Coast Pro on 9/12 at Life Community Church in Newark, DE
- Lucha Xtreme TV from last night in Fresno: Levi Shapiro b Elemento, Manny Fernandez b Jesse Pool-DQ, Mike Rayne b Wiseguy (thanks to Jon Southerland)
- I Believe in Wrestling from last night in Orlando: Lince Dorado b Rex Bacchus, Chico Adams b Derick Jordan, Brandon Scherer b Dalton Murphy, Mark Silva b Carlos Rivera, Josh Hess b Josh Parker, Jonny Vandal & Tyranus b Mike Reed & Ace Andrews, Rhett Ghiddins b Aaron Epic. Next show is 9/19 (thanks to Al Haft)
- The new match on NWAClassics.com is Wahoo McDaniel vs. Masked Ichiban managed by Gary Hart.
- Ricochet is taking bookings through Bill Behrens at showbis@aol.com He’s based out of Orlando. Others available include A.J. Styles (Atlanta), Christopher Daniels (Los Angeles), Frankie Kazarian (Los Angeles), Matt Sydal (Tampa), Moose (Atlanta), Jay Lethal (Tampano bookings allowed in U.S., only international), Drew Galloway (Tampa), Eric Young (Nashville), James Storm (Nashville), Bobby Roode (Toronto), Mike Posey (Birmingham) and Corey Hills (Atlanta).
- Trans South Wrestling from last night in Union, SC: TK Stark b George South, Kameron Kade b JR Reynolds & Ostgard, Boris Baranov b Vinnie Valentino, Deon Johnson & Peter Kaasa b Eric Adamz & Black Angel, Chase Brown b Matt Hardy. Next show is 10/3 in Union, SC (thanks to Thomas Simpson)
- Destiny World Wrestling from last night in Mississauaga, ONT: Scotty O’Shea won four-way over Ethan Page, Marcus Burke and Damien Adams, Tyler Tirva b Robbie McAllister, Randy Reign b David Kross-DQ, Bobby Roode & Rhyno b Flatliners, Jennifer Blake b Alexia Nicole, P.J. Black b Kongo Kong to retain DWW (thanks to Steven Ashe)
- IWS from last night in Montreal before 200 fans: Excess b Chris Dickinson to win Canadian title, Shayne Hawke b Evan Adams, Vampiro & Green Phantom b Latino Connection and Los Cartel in a three-way, TDT b Super Smash Brothers, Black Dynamite b Sexxxy Eddy, Speedball Mike Bailey b Jack Evans. Vampiro met with Louis Laurence, who trained him back in 1986. This was his first match in Montreal in 28 years. Rey Mysterio faces Mike Bailey on 3/5 at the Metropolis in Montreal. (thanks to Patric Laprade)
- Dynamo Pro Wrestling from last night in Fenton, MO: Kevin Lee Davidson b Adrian Surge, Evan Morris b Snitch, Jayden Fenix b Rocket Mapache, Mike Sydal b Justin D’Air, Ricky Cruz & Shorty Biggs & Outtkast b Brandon Espinosa & Elvis Aliaga & Danny Adams, Jack Gamble & Jon Webb b Michael Magnuson & Dave DeLoran-DQ, Jake Dirden b Brandon Aarons, Michael Elgin b Mike Outlaw (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
- Nova Pro Wrestling on 9/12 in Orlando at the Northwest Community Center with Teddy Hart, Santana Garrett, Jesus (Ricardo Rodriguez), Lince Dorado and others.
- Prairie Wrestling Alliance on 9/19 in Calgary at the Century Casino Showroom and 9/26 in Edmonton at the Northgate Lions Center.
- Hoosier Pro Wrestling from last night in Columbus, IN: Tom Van Zant b Drax O’Brien, Psycho b Dynamite Dillen, Lightning Bolt b Troy Van Zant, Wicked Clown b A.J. Hawkins, Eddie Felson b Mini Mr. Big, Flash Flanagan & Trailer Park Trash NC Marc Houston & TJ Kemp. Cousin Cooter worked under the name Psycho in honor of Psycho, a former HPW wrestler who passed away a few weeks ago. Next show is 10/3 with Jimmy Valiant (thanks to Jerry Wilson)
- An interview with Vampiro and his original trainer
- Phil Mushnick on the Jimmy Snuka story
- El Santo vs. Black Gordman including a DDT circa 1966
- Dave Brown’s last weathercast on WMC TV
ON THIS DAY IN PRO WRESTLING HISTORY INTERNATIONAL (thanks to Graeme Cameron)
1966 – Black Gordman beat La Pantera Negra in Victoria to win the Mexican national heavyweight title. Both of those guys were in California in the 70s
1972 – Bulldog Brower beat Spyros Arion in Brisbane to win the Austra Asian title
1972 – The Sheik beat Seiji Sakaguchi to win the United National title
1974 – Mario Milano beat Bob Roop in Sydney to win the WCW Brass Knux title
1996 – Canek beat Cadaver de Ultratumba to win the UWA heavyweight title
2003 – Toshiaki Kawada beat Shinjiro Otani in the tournament final to win the Triple Crown
2008 – Kensuke Sasaki beat Takeshi Morishima in Kyoto to win the GHC title
2009 – Aero Star & Fabi Apache beat Oriental & Cinthia Moreno in Hidalgo to win the AAA mixed tag title
2013 – Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Rush in Mexico City to win the finals of the Universal title tournament
