THE ROUND-UP
THE LATEST NEWS
Colt Cabana files lawsuit against CM Punk over legal fees
Aleister Black officially off NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn, main event set
Maria Kanellis suffers broken wrist while training for return
Renee Young announced as guest commentator for Monday’s Raw
WWE NXT results: Keith Lee makes his debut
WWE acknowledges Aleister Black injury with attack angle
WWE Mae Young Classic TV taping spoilers: First round matches
Lucha Underground results: Worldwide Underground vs. Reptile Tribe
THE LATEST AUDIO
WOL: ROH and MSG, Dave Meltzer and Sami Callihan interviews, more! 8/9
WOR: Mae Young, NXT, Smackdown, 205 Live, ROH and MSG, more! 8/9
F4D: Smackdown, Choppin Block, big debut, more! 8/8
We’re looking for your thoughts on tomorrow’s G-1 Climax show from Budokan Hall in Tokyo. We’re doing weekend polls on all three shows so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected].
We’re also looking for reports from the Mae Young Classic in Orlando tonight and NXT in Tampa, as well as Progress in Seattle to [email protected].
IMPACT TONIGHT AT 8 P.M. ON POP TV
NEW JAPAN G-1 CLIMAX A BLOCK FINALS FROM TOKYO BUDOKAN HALL AT 5:30 A.M. FRIDAY MORNING ON NEW JAPAN WORLD
Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs. Hirooki Goto & Yoh
Tomohiro Ishii & Sho vs. Toa Henare & Shota Umino
Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa vs. Toru Yano & Jado
Kenny Omega & Young Bucks vs. Kota Ibushi & Marty Scurll & Chase Owens
Tetsuya Naito & Seiya Sanada vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taka Michinoku
Hangman Page vs. Yoshi-Hashi
Michael Elgin vs. Togi Makabe
Minoru Suzuki vs. Bad Luck Fale
Jay White vs. Evil
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Matt Riddle’s future starts to become clear
It may have been a bit delayed, but Matt Riddle signing with WWE seems all but inevitable at this point. Riddle dropping the EVOLVE Championship to Shane Strickland at EVOLVE 108 this past weekend is only the latest indication of that. When Riddle pulled out of OTT’s SummerSlam weekend shows in Ireland, Dave Meltzer reported that WWE had reconsidered its position on Riddle.
WON NEWSLETTER: (August 13, 2018)Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov to set records
A detailed rundown of WWE business is in the new issue of the Observer. Look at the company value; the WrestleMania quarter revenue, why profits are surprisingly low and why that really doesn’t matter right now, executive bonuses, profits for the first six months of the year, what is known about the WWE Network and actual WrestleMania ticket sales.
A look at the story behind the Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov fight and PPV prospects is the other lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer. Look at how McGregor showed that if you can draw giant money you can get away with almost anything.
Also look at what the big advance ticket sale for ROH in Madison Square Garden shows. Look at what should have been expected, the ticket broker market for the show, how many tickets were sold first day, the last time MSG sold out for wrestling, the largest U.S. non-WWE gate in history, and the big picture on the show.
Read about Glenn Jacobs winning the mayoral race in Knox County, TN, other pro wrestlers who have won public office election, and the Jacobs campaign.
Also look in detail on the All In show with the lineup, ways to watch, how the WGN deal came about and more.
Read more thoughts on the WWE television situation in 2019 including the idea of NXT moving to television, what is and isn’t planned about that and how to make it work, as well as a flaws in doing so.
ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to Dave Meltzer, or by using PayPal directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $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 [email protected]. 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.)
If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can choose one free classic issue or two free classic issues with a 40-issue subscription.
THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE
The big news of the day is that the Tribune/Sinclair merger that has been talked about for years, is off, once it became clear the FCC wasn’t likely to approve it. The Tribune board pulled out of the $3.9 billion deal. Tribune also filed suit against Sinclair, saying that their negotiations with the U.S. Justice Department and FCC were unnecessarily aggressive and that Sinclair has refused to sell certain stations that would have allowed the deal to be approved. “Our merger cannot be completed within an acceptable time frame, if ever,” said Peter Kern, the CEO of Tribune. As this relates to wrestling, ROH would have gotten television distribution in a number of major markets including New York, Chicago and Los Angeles if the merger would have gone through.
For the A block in G-1, this is how things stand:
If Hiroshi Tanahashi wins, he’s in the finals.
If Tanahashi and Okada do a 30:00 draw, Tanahashi is in the finals.
If Okada beats Tanahashi, and Evil beats Jay White, Okada is in the finals.
If Okada beats Tanahashi and Jay White beats Evil, White is in the finals.
If Okada and Tanahashi go to a double disqualification or double count out and Evil beats Jay White, Tanahashi is in the finals.
If Okada and Tanahashi go to a double disqualification or double count out and Jay White beat Evil, White is in the finals.
If Okada beats Tanahashi and White and Evil draw, Okada is in the finals.
A change from yesterday is that for Saturday’s show, Kenny Omega vs. Kota Ibushi is back in the main even position. Yesterday, Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr. was listed as the main event, but it was changed back today.
The ROH/NJPW show on 4/6 in Madison Square Garden had sold 12,000 tickets at last word, which was a few hours ago. They did a password sale today. Tickets go on sale to the public tomorrow. It is not a lock that it will be sold out by the end of the day tomorrow, but it is certainly possible. It is a lock that the show will be sold out by the time the show takes place.
Chuck Carroll spoke to ROH General Manager Greg Gilleland about the MSG show with some interesting notes.
When did the idea to run The Garden first come about? Is this something that you guys had been kicking around for a while?
It’s not like it was something that we had in mind for years, but it’s definitely something that we’ve always kind of joked about. The general notion was just that we couldn’t even get in there. You know what I mean? Gary Juster, who used to promote for WCW, and I would always have these conversations. It’s funny because he would say, “I guess I’ll never run The Garden in my lifetime.” It became one of those never say never things. In February, when we were looking for venues in New York, obviously we saw the Hammerstein, with pretty much any show that we bring there. So it almost doesn’t make sense to go there for SuperCard weekend.
We began looking at bigger venues and one of them was the theater at Madison Square Garden. And, even that, seems … was smaller than UNO [Lakefront Arena], which we ran last year in New Orleans, and we drew 6,200. So we could run the theater and draw a slightly smaller crowd, and be okay with that. Or we can try to go bigger.
Did you guys see more of an opportunity then because [WWE] was running more over at the Barclays and other arenas in New York?
I knew they did everything at Barclays, and they have the outdoor show for WrestleMania. So… there’s Prudential Center [in New Jersey], there’s The Garden, and we had a couple other back-pocket ideas. So, obviously, The Garden’s the best. The location is prime.
Now, the Garden comes with a cost, since it’s probably the most expensive venue to run in the country. With that, we knew that, when you go into that, it has to be big. So that was the only factor. We felt pretty confident that presenting this show, and the ability to make history and the ability for the fans to be a part of history would overcome that factor.
Is there any concern that your top guys, Cody Rhodes, the Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, won’t be available for that show, given the fact that their deals reportedly expire at the end of the year or shortly thereafter?
Of course, we’re going to do everything that we can to keep them. And we have fair offers and fair plans to retain them. With that said, I don’t think we ever operate in fear. We always operate with solid backup plans. And we have to always think about what if this, and what if that. If they go to the WWE, and they very much deserve that opportunity, we’ll continue to offer the best wrestling that we can. There’s other talent out there. And we will continue as our brand has for the past however many years. We’ve lost top guys before…
Am I gonna make an aggressive attempt to retain them and sign longer-term agreements? Of course we are. But, at the end of the day, the ROH brand is about the ROH experience, and that’s how we continue to grow.
WWE
There will be a WWE night on 8/22 at Shea Stadium for the New York Mets game. Jeff Hardy will throw out the first pitch and Mickie James and Curt Hawkins will both appear for a meet and greet.
Seth Rollins, Alexa Bliss and the Bella Twins will be doing the Ace Midwest Comic Con 10/12 to 10/14.
UFC
New matches announced for UFC 229 on 10/6 in Las Vegas are Michelle Waterson vs. Felice Herrig, Ovince Saint Preux vs. Dominick Reyes and Ryan LaFlare vs.Tony Martin.
New fights announced for UFC’s 11/10 show in Denver are Germaine de Randamie vs. Raquel Pennington, Ashley Yoder vs. Amanda Cooper and Maycee Barber vs. Maia Stevenson.
Douglas Silva de Andrade pulled out of the 9/15 UFC show on Moscow due to a foot injury leaving Petr Yan without an opponent.
OTHER
Pro Wrestling Illustrated said that this year’s Female 50 issue will now be a Women’s 100 issue.
The NWO Reunion thing that Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall were shooting a promo piece for, according to Justin Credible’s podcast, will be at a Legends and Hero Convention in Indiana.
70s wrestler Paula Kaye, who was a regular as part of Fabulous Moolah’s stable and worked all over the world, passed away back in February but we just heard about it. Greg Oliver has a story on her.
A good story with the problems with the ITV World of Sport wrestling show.
CZW on Saturday night at the Colossal Sports Academy at the Coliseum in Voorhees, NJ with Trent Baretta, Fallah Bahh, Joey Ryan, Joe Gacy Ricky Shane Page, MJF and more. Dezmond Xavier and Zachary Wentz are no longer on the show as they are booked this weekend for Impact’s TV tapings in Toronto.
The eight first-round matches for the CHIKARA King of Trios tournament that takes place Labor Day weekend in Easton, PA at the Palmer Center:
Mighty Molly & Solo Darling & Aja Perera vs. Kikutaro & Los Ice Creams
Justin Gabriel & Michael Tarver & Darren Young vs. Juan Francisco de Coronado & Sloan Caprice & Rick Roland
Jean Pierre Lafitte (PCO) & Rey Bucanero & Katie Lea (Katarina) vs. Merlok & Hermit Crab & Cajun Crawdad
Madison Eagles & Jessica Troy & Shazza McKenzie vs. Shoko Nakajima & Yuka Sakazaki & Miyu Yamashita
Rezerhawk & Nytehawk & Dangerhawk vs. Adam Hoffman & Mick Moretti & Jack bonza
Volgar & Callux & Frantik vs. Fire Ant & Green Ant & Thief Ant
Chris Dickinson & Cameron Zagami & Brian Milonas vs. Dasher Hatfield & Mr. Touchdown & Boomer Hatfield
Air Wolf & ThunderFrog & Wildkat vs. Icarus & Tony Deppen & Travis Huckabee
Tickets are on sale.
Pro Wrestling Mid South from Saturday night in Dyresburg, TN: Josh Matthews & Addison Caine b Ray Boys, Jeffro Wilson b Michael Jaonski, Dale Wylde & Barrett Brown b Lil Chris & John Morrison, Sharknado won three-way over Wonderboy and Thud, Greg Anthony & Americos b Bob Holly & Matt Riviera.
NFC runs Saturday night at Center Stage in Atlanta with an MMA show headlined by Jeremy Wallace vs. Nick Geoffrion.
Combate Americas runs 9/14 in Phoenix airing at midnight Eastern on Univision as well as Univision Deportes. Levy Saul Marroquin (11-2) faces Jose Alday (11-3-1) to determine the first Combate Amiercas bantamweight champion. Combate Americas will be doing three round title fights instead of five rounds. Marroquin is coming off a tournament win, while Alday is coming off a win over John Castaneda, who Marroquin has also beaten.
PCW Ultra has announced Rich Swann and Sami Callihan are off their 9/7 shows due to contract obligations, which means Impact, probably for the show in Manchester, England that weekend. Announced for the show is Daga vs. ACH, Shane Strickland vs. Rey Hours, Penta 0M vs. Hammerstone and Brody King vs. Eddie Kingston.
Wrestling Revolver on 10/20 in Des Moines, IA at the Val Air Ballroom has PCO, Rich Swann, Sami Callihan, Dave & Jake Crist, Dezmond Xavier, Zachary Wentz, Shane Strickland, Jason Cade, Ace Romero and former Iowa Hawkeyes football player Steve Manders.
Iron Fist Pro on 9/28 in Adelaide, Australia has Adam Books vs. AJ Istria and Hideki Suzuki vs. Jonah Rock.
BCW on 8/30 in Melbourne, Australia has Tajiri vs. Nick Bury. 9/1 in Adelaide, Australia has Rob Van Dam vs. Jonah Rock vs. Syd Parker.
Bea Priestley vs. Avary vs. indi Hartwell has been added to the 8/18 Melbourne Championship Wrestling 100 show for the Defiant championship.
Border City Wrestling on 10/7 in Belleville, MI at the Diamond Back Saloon with Tommy Dreamer, Eddie Edwards, Matt Sydal, Johnny Impact, Moose, Kiera Hogan and Sami Callihan.
Luke Stricker at [email protected] has two tickets to the sold out Q&A show Bryan and I are doing in Chicago at All In. He’s offering them at face value because he’s not going to be able to come to Chicago.
Real Shoot Wrestling on Saturday night in Keyser, WV at Hoover’s Bar and Grill.
Anarchy Wrestling’s weekly TV show Hype starts on FITE on Thursday nights at 8 p.m. and with replays after starting a week from tonight.
Ron & Robert Fuller, along with Pat Patterson and Jerry Brisco will be part of the CWF Legends Fanfest 4 on 11/3 in Lutz, FL at the Residence Inn by Marrriott and the Suncoast Parkway. Only 30 fans will be able to attend.
Dynamo Pro Wrestling on 8/17 in St. Louis at the Concordia Turners Gym.
Delilah Doom is scheduled to return from a broken ankle on 8/18 for Ground Zero in Imperial Beach, CA. Andy Brown vs. Tyler Bateman is the main event.
Pennsylvania Premier Wrestling announced that they are opening a wrestling school called Underdogs on 8/20 at 601 St. Poplar St. in Hazleton, PA. Mikey Whipwreck will have some affiliation with this.
Ignite Wrestling on 8/25 in Vero Beach, FL at the Walking Tree Brewery.
Daily Professional Wrestling History: Showdown at Shea 1980
12th Annual F4W Empire Vegas Convention
Greetings friends and fans of the F4W / Wrestling Observer website. The 12th annual F4W / Wrestling Observer Empire Las Vegas Convention~! is just around the corner.
This year’s event will be taking place in Las Vegas from August 16th to the 20th and will again be in conjunction with WWE’s SummerSlam weekend a.k.a. Super China Buffet Day~! There will still be the usual events, but our big draw will be WWE’s summer blockbuster PPV, SummerSlam. As per tradition, we will all gorge ourselves at a Las Vegas buffet, and then watch SummerSlam in a rented out movie theater. All information and ticketing prices are available now. Sign up ASAP as spots are limited for some events.
This year will also feature a Future Stars Wrestling show which will include the first ever Granny’s Doubles Match Classic! Already booked for the show are the teams Mia Yim & Leva Bates, Shotzi Blackheart & Sage Sin, Samantha Heights & Brittany Blake, and Miranda Alize & Kylie Rae. Also just booked for the show is a tag team Grappling Battel~! featuring Bryan Alvarez & ??? vs. The Beach Bums (PeachMachine & Mikey G), You won’t want to miss this show! Check out the convention’s Facebook page for all additional information.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Poll opinions: [email protected]
Feedback: [email protected]
Show results and news tips: [email protected]
Wrestling Observer Radio questions: [email protected]
Support the Empire~! with F4W shirts. Grab yours today!