THE ROUND-UP
The Latest from the F4W Staff
NEWS
Lucha Underground results: ‘Fade to Black’
Donovan Dijak headed to WWE
Alberto El Patron stepping down from position with Combate Americas
NJPW G1 Climax 27 night two results: Minoru Suzuki vs. Kenny Omega
WWE NXT results: Drew McIntyre vs. Killian Dain
AUDIO
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Part two with Kris Zellner 7/20
WOL: Brock Lesnar update, Battleground, Del Rio and Paige, more! 7/20
WOR: Brock Lesnar, Smackdown, ratings, Shane McMahon, tons more! 7/20
F4D: Smackdown, Royal Rumble 1989, Geek of the Week, more! 7/19
IMPACT TONIGHT AT 8 P.M. ON POP TV
NEW JAPAN G-1 CLIMAX AT 5:30 A.M. EASTERN TIME FRIDAY MORNING FROM TOKYO KORAKUEN HALL ON NEW JAPAN WORLD
Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs. Evil & Hiromu Takahashi
Minoru Suzuki & Taichi vs. Seiya Sanada & Bushi
Kenny Omega & Yujiro Takahashi vs. Tama Tonga & Chase Owens
Michael Elgin & Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs Kazuchika Okada & Toru Yano & Gedo
Yuji Nagata vs. Hirooki Goto
Togi Makabe vs. Tomohiro Ishii
Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Bad Luck Fale
Tetsuya Naito vs. Yoshi-Hashi
FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: Figure Four Weekly 7/17/2017: Mayweather vs. McGregor hype fails to meet expectations
While the superfight between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor was bound to endlessly be compared to something out of WWE, the grandiose four-show world tour of press conferences to promote it felt more like a parody of pro wrestling. They made stops in Los Angeles, Toronto, Brooklyn, and London in an attempt to get the hype for their boxing match seen in as many relevant media markets as possible.
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WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: July 24, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Brock Lesnar UFC return rumors, WWE Battleground preview, more
What exactly is going on with Brock Lesnar is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer.
Look at Lesnar rumors as far as UFC goes, what is and isn’t reality, what steps he has to take before he can be in a match and why he won’t be fighting in UFC any time soon. Look at the UFC and WWE schedules and how murky certain things are, Lesnar’s WWE contract, how this is similar to 2015, as well as looking at potential Lesnar opponents in UFC. Find out how this plays into WWE bookings, with thoughts on SummerSlam, and the booking of SummerSlam and Battleground.
Check out the G-1 Climax tournament, run down the first night, New Japan’s business, the matches coming up this week along with match-by-match coverage and star ratings from Sapporo.
Examine Kurt Angle’s new angle with Jason Jordan, and look at the story, how it doesn’t fit into the original story, fan reaction and long-term potential.
Go in-depth into the Mae Young Classic, the Ronda Rousey involvement, Shayna Baszler push, behind-the-scenes, reactions to it and match-by-match coverage.
Look at a promotion that claims it has gotten $100 million in investment money to start competing on a worldwide basis.
Find out about the cancellation of the weekly version of Talking Smack. Look at the show, what worked, what didn’t work, why it’s continuing in a limited form, and the idea that WWE forgot to tell the hosts the show was being canceled. There is also an update of the latest PPV numbers.
Find out about the Shane McMahon helicopter crash, an update on the negotiations for the Hardys to get the broken gimmick, Bruno Sammartino being honored, Stephanie McMahon being honored, Jinder Mahal talks India market, UFC fighter and WWE star doing their own angle, TV station that aired WWE closes its doors, notes on an upcoming WWE movie release, WWE scouting, upcoming Raw house show lineups, plus the most-watched network shows over the past week and a look at every WWE and NXT arena event over the past week with highlights and business notes.
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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.
WON BACK ISSUE: June 26, 2000 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Birth of NOAH, Vince Russo quits WCW, tons of news
Mitsuharu Misawa announced officially the formation of his new promotion, Nippon TV officially announced cancellation of the All Japan television show and Toshiaki Kawada talked about attempting to go to New Japan were highlights of the aftermath of the All Japan split. Misawa held his press conference on 6/16 at Diffa Ariake, the new building in the Ariake suburb of Tokyo, which was built specifically for pro wrestling to replace Korakuen Hall as the small show mecca in the Tokyo area and which, ironically enough, has its first show on 7/1 booked by the All Japan promotion.
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THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE
UFC has announced the top fights for the 9/9 UFC 215 show in Edmonton at Rogers Place. The main event will be Demetrious Johnson vs. Ray Borg for the flyweight title and No. 2 fight will be Amanda Nunes vs. Valentina Shevchenko for the women’s bantamweight title. Also announced are Junior Dos Santos vs. Francis Ngannou, Gilbert Melendez vs. Jeremy Stephens, Henry Cejudo vs. Wilson Reis, Ilir Latifi vs. Tyson Pedro, Sara McMann vs. Ketlen Vieira, Gavin Tucker vs. Rick Glenn, Ashlee Evans-Smith vs. Sarah Moras, Arjan Bhullar (Canadian Olympic team wrestler) vs. Luis Henrique and Kajan Johnson vs. Adriano Martins. Tickets go on sale on 7/28 to the public priced from $379.75 down to $63.29. Fight Club members can get tickets on Wednesday.
The What Culture U.S. World Cup tournament, which takes place in of all places, Manchester, England, is tomorrow night with Matt Sydal vs. Ricochet as a first round match.
WWE and Mattel has joined together to launch a product line aimed at Girls, with fashion model dolls of Nikki Bella, Brie Bella, Sasha Banks, Natalya, Charlotte, Becky Lynch, Alicia Fox and Eva Marie. This will be the first time WWE has ever released fashion model dolls.
Today is the 44th anniversary of Jack Brisco beating Harley Race in Houston to win the NWA world heavyweight title. The trivia part of that is that Jack Brisco was scheduled to beat Dory Funk Jr. on March 2, 1973, in Houston, to win the world title. Funk suffered a truck accident on his ranch a few days before the match. To say that Jack Brisco and Paul Boesch were unhappy would be an understatement. Boesch was still mad about it a decade later. Boesch was promised the Brisco title win and got it after the decision was made to go to Race over Funk Jr. as soon as Funk Jr. healed up his injury, give Race a short run, and then move to Brisco. It was on the same day that Bruce Lee died. As a kid, there were lots of playground arguments revolving Bruce Lee, Jack Brisco and Muhammad Ali, over who would win a real fight.
A very nice story about Kevin Von Erich and his return to Israel.
WWE has moved its television in South Africa from e.tv to SuperSport. SuperSport will broadcast WWE programming into 50 countries in Africa starting on 8/28, airing Raw, Smackdown and the PPVs on their station.
SEGA Networks and WWE announced the launch of WWE Tap Mania, a mobile game available worldwide (with the exception of Japan, Korea and China) for free with in-app purchases on the App Store for iPhone and iPad and Google Play Store for Android devices. Included in the game are The Rock, John Cena, HHH, Undertaker, Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns,Sasha Banks and The Miz with Michael Cole and Corey Graves doing the commentary.
Kevin Owens did an interview with The Press of Atlantic City promoting the Wildwood, NJ house show and talked about his dream opponents for a WrestleMania match being Sami Zayn and Finn Balor.
On the Late Show with Stephen Colbert with Keegan Michael Key as his guest, Key revived his Luther, President Obama’s Anger Translator character and asked if John Cena had a Mexican cousin tossing 60 pound bags of drugs over President Trump’s invisible southern border wall. (thanks to Denis Gorman)
UFC
“I’ve been wanting to fight myself for some time, I just get delayed, week after week, month after month and I’m pretty sick of it. The division, it’s hard to find somebody that wants to fight these days, and so that’s relevant I guess to some extent, and so now I think I’m finally zeroed in and I’m gonna make something happen here shortly. You know, back in, first it was June, it was Anderson. They offered the fight, I accepted the fight, they tried to make the fight. It was a short-notice fight, it was about five weeks for me and I was definitely not in shape but I was willing to go to Brazil and get it done, and Anderson, you know, copped out of that one. And then they switched their gears towards Gegard Mousasi. I was ready to make the fight happen July 8th but it wasn’t – they were actually looking at Anderson and Gegard both for July 8th and 29th and Gegard obviously went in his direction. I don’t know his thoughts but Anderson didn’t want to fight and so I don’t know. I’m just left in the wind and I’m pretty sick of it. I need a fight.”
“I’m not really happy to wait anymore, so we’ll see. We’ll see. There’s probably a few guys and we might just have to settle and make something happen. So we are talking, we’re in the midst of it, in the heat of it all right now. So we’ll see. We’ll see what comes to surface, but something will arise here shortly.”
Former women’s featherweight champion Germaine de Randamie is not having hand surgery right now and has signed to face Marion Reneau on the 9/2 show in Rotterdam, Holland. She had badly wanted to fight in Holland.
Well Go USA Entertainment announced it has acquired the North American rights to the movie “Triple Threat,” which includes Michael Bisping as one of its stars. The movie will get an early 2018 theatrical release.
The card for the next Dana White Tuesday Night Contender Series is:
Phil Hawes vs. Julian Marquz
James Gray vs. Kyler Phillips
Carlos Candelario vs. Ronaldo Candido
Austij Arnett vs. Brandon Davis
John Castaneda vs. Cheyden Leialoha
Humberto Bandenay of Peru will take the place of the injured Chris Gruetzemacher to face Martin Bravo on the 8/5 show in Mexico City.
MISCELLANEOUS
CZW runs 7/21 in Chicago at the Logan Square Arena with Rickey Shane Page vs. Suge D and Matt Tremont vs. Craig Mitchell, plus Lio Rush vs. Isaias Velazquez.
Elaine Everson, who was the captain of the Australian Kangaroos Roller Games team that toured the U.S. in 1972 as a heel team and likely skated in Australia as well, passed away on 7/17 from lung cancer. She skated in Australia after the Roller Games era with various different leagues that popped up in that country. (thanks to Tom Wersderfer)
NWA Gulf Coast Cajun Heat on Saturday night in Morgan City, LA before 600 fans: Hasegawa b Americos, Rocket won Battle Royal, Killer Shane b Stan Sweetan, Tim Storm b Andrew Anderson, Matt Riviera & Jerry Lawler b Barrett Brown & Michael Barry, Mustang Mike b Afa Jr. to keep the North American title.
Combate Americas runs 7/27 in Miami at the Mana Wynwood and will stream live on ESPN 3 and air live on ESPN Latin America. The main event of the ten-fight show is Tommy Aaron (4-2) from Barcelona, Spain, against Javier Fuentes (9-4) of Madrid Spain.
Legacy Fighting on 8/4 from Shawnee, OK at the FireLake Arena on AXS TV is headlined by featherweight champion Kevin Aguilar (12-1) defending his title against Justin Rader (7-2), a two-time no I black belt JJ champion. There is also a fight with Mike Jackson, the reporter who is best known for his UFC fight with Mickey Gall, facing Rafael Justino, who is the older brother of Cris Cyborg.
CWE in Souris, Manitoba on 8/16 at the Souris & Glenwood Memorial Complex featuring Nikita Koloff, Silas Young, Jonathan Gresham and Mahabali Shera.
NWA Smoky Mountain Wrestling on 8/19 in Kingsport, TN at the Civic Auditorium has Rob Conway vs. Devin Driscoll.
Upstate Pro Wrestling on 8/5 at the Eagles Club in Rochester, NY with Nick Ando vs Bobby Fish for the UPW title in the main event. Also appearing is Abyss, Bill Collier Swoggle, The Spirit Squad and Teddy Long.
A story on a minis wrestling show.
Kevin Eck talks his personal interaction with some of wrestling’s biggest stars.
Today in Pro Wrestling History: Jack Brisco wins NWA title from Harley Race
F4W Online / Wrestling Observer Vegas Convention Event Info
August 17-21; All times are TBA; Full information on the group Facebook page; Activities subject to change
For ticketing information go to https://f4wvegas.brownpapertickets.com/
Thursday: Meet at the High Roller for Bowling at the Link; Party at Carnival Court at Hurrah’s
Friday: Kiss Mini Golf tournament at the Rio; Dinner at Texas de Brazil; Suite party (location TBA)
Saturday: Burgers with Granny for lunch; Future Stars of Wrestling show featuring Stephan Bonnar & Phil Baron, and co-main events: 3-way match with Leva Bates vs. Mia Yim vs. Hudson Envy, and “Filthy” Tom Lawlor vs. Thomas Santell (f.k.a. Antonio “The Promise” Thomas); NXT viewing party at the Sci-Fi Center
Sunday: SUPER CHINA BUFFET DAY at the Wicked Spoon Buffet at 1pm; SummerSlam viewing party at the Sci-Fi Center
Monday: Goodbye lunch at Chen Chen at NY NY
All website members will also receive a 15% discount on any purchases from the Las Vegas Fight Shop for the entirety of the convention
Texas de Brazil, Wicked Spoon, NXT and Summer Slam will all be sign up and pre-paid events, prices and collection begin in mid July~!
Pro Wrestling Tees is now carrying our latest line of F4W shirts. Support the Empire~! Grab yours today!
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