By Dave Meltzer
We’re looking for your thoughts on today’s New Japan show from Sumo Hall, as well as tomorrow and Sunday’s shows for the weekend polls, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to Dave [email protected]”>
We’re also looking for reports on tonight’s GFW show in Winston-Salem, NC (Sonjay Dutt vs. PJ Black, Brad Attitude & Vordell Walker & Peter Kassa vs Ali Akbar & Cliff Compton & Jason Kincaid, Le’D Tapa vs. Tessa Blanchard, Bravado Brothers vs. Washington Bullets, Trevor Lee vs. Andrew Everett for the OMEGA title, Nick Aldis vs. Lance Hoyt) at Dave [email protected]”>
New Japan World Pro Wrestling Returns on AXS TV at 8 p.m. (one hour earlier than usual)
Toru Yano & Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka
Tetsuya Naito & Kota Ibushi vs. A.J. Styles & Tama Tonga
Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Kushida for IWGP Jr. title
There will be a CES MMA show at 9 p.m. on AXS TV tonight which is why New Japan will air one hour early.
Live G-1 B block finals from Sumo Hall in Tokyo at 5:30 a.m. Eastern tomorrow on New Japan World
Sho Tanaka & Yohei Komatsu vs. Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly
Young Bucks vs. Jay White & David Finlay non-title
Toru Yano & Kazushi Sakuraba & Yoshi-Hashi & Michael Bennett & Matt Taven vs. A.J. Styles & Doc Gallows & Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga & Cody Hall
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Togi Makabe & Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Katsuyori Shibata & Kushida vs. Tetsuya Naito & Kota Ibushi & Manabu Nakanishi & Captain New Japan & Ricochet
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Michael Elgin
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kazuchika Okada
Yujiro Takahashi vs. Tomoaki Honma
Hirooki Goto vs. Yuji Nagata
Satoshi Kojima vs. Karl Anderson
WWE has shows on Saturday night in Sioux Falls, SD (Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt), Detroit (Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose for WWE title, Kevin Owens vs. Cesaro plus Chris Jericho) and NXT in Coral Springs, FL.
Evolve on Saturday night on iPPV from Woodside, NY at La Boom at 6 p.m. Eastern time at www.WWNLive.com
Timothy Thatcher vs. Zack Sabre Jr. for the Evolve title
Johnny Gargano vs. Ethan Page
Rich Swann vs. Drew Gulak
Chris Hero vs. Mike Bailey
Trent Baretta vs. Rey Hours
Biff Busick vs. Tracy Williams
WWE on Sunday has shows in Fargo, ND (Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt) and Bemidji, MN (Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose for WWE title, Kevin Owens vs Cesaro).
New Japan G-1 Climax finals from Sumo Hall at 2 a.m. Sunday Eastern time (11 p.m. Saturday night) on New Japan World
Tiger Mask & Yohei Komatsu & Sho Tanaka vs. Ryusuke Taguchi & Bushi & Mascara Dorada
A ton of matches involving the guys in the G-1 tournament that aren’t in the finals
Young Bucks vs. Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly for IWGP jr. tag titles
Kushida vs. Ricochet for IWGP jr. title
G-1 Climax finals: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. ?
Evolve on Sunday night on iPPV from Deer Park, NY at the Sportatorium at 8 p.m. also on www.WWNLive.com
Timothy Thatcher vs. Biff Busick
Chris Hero vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Trent Baretta vs. Caleb Konley
Johnny Gargano vs. ?
Ethan Page vs. Rich Swann
Drew Gulak & Tracy Williams vs. Mike Bailey & Rey Hours
The go-home Raw for SummerSlam will be Monday night from the Target Center in Minneapolis. John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Undertaker and the entire crew will be at the show.
Smackdown and Main Event will be taped Tuesday night in Green Bay.
A look at the WWE shows next week in Brooklyn is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer. We also have full coverage of the G-1 Climax tournament and how it all builds for the Tokyo Dome and the fall season, as well as coverage of all the G-1 matches this past week. We also have a look at the Teamsters attempting to unionize UFC fighters, the UFC’s letter sent to fighters and morale issues. We also have a look at the AAA TripleMania PPV show, UFC ratings increases, the brawl at the WSOF show, UFC suing Wanderlei Silva and Layla retiring.
The issue is on the site right now at August 17, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Summerslam build, Unions courting UFC fighters
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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 the WWE events in Brooklyn with three straight full houses and look historically at the only other promotion that has been able to do it historically and the record, as well as updates on the NXT and SummerSlam shows and more details on the NXT card as well as the probable main event stipulation and ticket demand.
We have a complete look at the G-1 Climax tournament, including updates on the last few days, the standings, the Sumo Hall preview and coverage of all the shows this past week with star ratings.
We’ve got a look at the attempts to unionize UFC fighters, the real story behind the attempt, the letter sent by UFC to all of its fighters and why they probably could have written it better, and a look at UFC business.
We also look at the wealth of Vince McMahon, Rosa Mendes being pregnant, WWE injury updates, lawsuits, weird match, Tough Enough, new names, insider trading, Raw advance, Diva search news plus notes on all the weekend WWE & NXT events.
We look at TripleMania, all the problems with the show, what happened with the Spanish language broadcast, mistakes made in booking, how the card had to change from its original plans, the letter AAA sent out after, the retirements and Hall of Fame ceremony, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings.
We also have coverage of this past week’s UFC show, with business notes, the Johnson-Dariush scoring, and match by match coverage with bonuses.
We also look at the brawl at the WSOF show with The Diaz Brothers and Khabib Nurmagomedov, as well as the problems in the Jake Shields vs. Rousimar Palhares fight.
We’ve also got notes on the retirement of Layla from WWE and highlights of her career.
We also look at the lawsuit WWE has filed against Wanderlei Silva for alleging the company fixes fights.
We look at the CMLL Anniversary show, an injury to the best older wrestler in the business, a New Japan star comes to Mexico and a rundown on the main events the past two weeks at Arena Mexico.
We also look at another Rey Mysterio match, as well as the next major Dragon Gate show lineup and highlights from the past week.
We also look at New Japan stars heading to NOAH.
We also look at the beginning of talks for an international group to return to PPV, as well as a look at the Fire Festival, one of Genichiro Tenryu’s last matches and a set up for an angle with one of the biggest stars of the 80s vs. one of the biggest stars of the 90s.
We’ve got notes on the funeral of Roddy Piper, more on the Hulk Hogan tapes story, Hogan’s first public appearance, two Roddy Piper moves that haven’t come out, one of the biggest stars of the last ten years suffering a major health issue, a former star gets his number retired, a U.K. star returns after cancer, a retirement that probably isn’t a retirement, a Japanese promotion running in October in California, a wrestler having his first match in 20 years, the second oldest living wrestler and his background, big shows in Puerto Rico and news no two different wrestling Halls of Fame.
We also have an update on the status of Lucha Underground, what changes have to be made, the audience watching the show, what to look out for, notes on the contracts the performers have, update on Vampiro and coverage of both weeks of Ultima Lucha.
We also look at the ROH show in Brooklyn, TNA Hall of fame ceremony, and upcoming TNA house shows.
We also look at McGregor vs. Aldo, a big show vs. normal show, Las Vegas vs. Cowboys Stadium, Rousey vs. Cyborg update, Lawler vs. McGregor, UFC financials, how much it costs them every year just in interest on their bond, what kind of profits they are making, lots of ratings into, Rousey business notes, the Aldo drug testing fiasco, Overeem vs. Dos Santos, Punk vs. Pendred, fighter already talking about coming out of retirement, and lots of new UFC fights.
We also have notes on Josh Thomson and Bellator, Bellator’s next major show, Josh Koscheck blasts UFC and more Bellator fights.
We have an update on Chris Leben after his arrest, new WSOF shows, a crime fighter returns to MMA and notes on weight cutting.
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.
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FRIDAY’S NEWS UPDATE
At last night’s NXT tapings, they taped shows for after Takeover with Sasha Banks coming out with the NXT women’s belt and Kevin Owens coming out with the NXT title. This could be an attempt to fool people, and I guess we’ll find out Saturday. Historically, I can only think of one instance WWF ever did that to fool people and every other time it was exactly what it looked to be. But they haven’t done anything like this in more than a decade, because of the nature of syndication being dead and Raw being live.
So this is the situation with G-1. Hiroshi Tanahashi won the A block earlier today beating A.J. Styles. I have yet to watch the match but people are raving about it including one person at ringside who told me that many girls in the audience were in tears at the finish. The B block comes down to this:
1) If Kazuchika Okada beats Shinsuke Nakamura, he wins the block with an 8-1 record, and will face Tanahashi in the finals. I don’t expect that to happen.
2) If Nakamura wins, and Yuji Nagata beats Hirooki Goto, and Satoshi Kojima beats Karl Anderson, then Nakamura vs. Tanahashi is the final match.
3) If Nakamura, Goto and Kojima win, then Nakamura vs. Tanahashi is the final match.
4) If Nakamura, Nagata and Anderson win, then Nakamura, Okada and Anderson will need a three-way playoff, probably on Sunday
5) If Nakamura, Goto and Anderson win, then, based on records against the field, Nakamura vs. Anderson would have to meet in a singles match, probably on Sunday, with the winner facing Tanahashi.
Of the above scenarios, I don’t expect No. 1 or No. 4 to happen, but they could. Situations No. 2, 3 or 5 seem more likely. If it’s my call, I’m going No. 5.
ROH booker Hunter Johnston was at the show today and will be at the shows the next two days as well, and the relationship between ROH and New Japan, which had the bump with Jushin Liger appearing for WWE this coming week, appears to be stronger than ever now. They are working on plans for the future.
The Joanna Jedrzejczyk title defense against Claudia Gadelha is being moved back due to a torn ligament in Gadelha’s right middle finger and she won’t be able to train on it for three months. The earliest Gadelha would be ready to fight is January.
There has been a big Twitter war between Will Brooks and Patricio Pitbull Freire. It started when Freire was goading Brooks by noting that he was in the main event, against Daniel Straus, while Brooks was in the semi-main, against Marcin Held, when they both fight on 11/6 in St. Louis. This led to taunts back-and-forth.
Cathal Pendred, after coming out on the short end of a Twitter war with C.M. Punk,. has challenged Punk for Punk’s debut fight.
Raw on 8/24 at the Barclays Center is sold out. The recently released allotment of tickets is gone.
Evolve is pushing a free Timothy Thatcher match video
A story on a fight Brock Lesnar got in while he was with the Minnesota Vikings in 2004
2K today announced the in-game soundtrack details for WWE® 2K16, the forthcoming release in the flagship WWE video game franchise. The soundtrack will feature 11 unique tracks from established and emerging artists that transcend multiple genres, including alternative, hip-hop, classic rock, heavy metal, country and electronic dance. The full WWE 2K16 soundtrack was revealed exclusively during Release on Beats 1 on Apple Music and is available now for streaming at http://apple.co/1DSFmcf. WWE 2K16 is currently scheduled for release on October 27, 2015 in North America and October 30, 2015 internationally for Xbox One and Xbox 360, as well as the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems.
The WWE 2K16 soundtrack is scheduled to include the following artists and songs:
Billy Idol – “Rebel Yell”
Diplo (feat. Faustix & Imanos and Kai) – “Revolution”
Fashawn (feat. Nas & Aloe Blacc) – “Something To Believe In”
Kid Ink – “Hello World”
Marilyn Manson – “Deep Six”
MGK (feat. Victoria Monet) – “A Little More”
Run-DMC – “It’s Tricky”
Skid Row – “Youth Gone Wild”
Twenty One Pilots – “Heavydirtysoul”
Yelawolf – “Till It’s Gone” [Dan Heath Remix]
Zac Brown Band (feat. Chris Cornell) – “Heavy Is The Head”
Zedd (feat. Logic and X-Ambassadors) – “Transmission”
The full lineup for the CHIKARA King of Trios tournament 9/4 to 9/6 in Easton, PA at the Palmer Center:
Arcane Horde: Kodama & Obariyon & Oleg the Usurper
Battleborn: Kevin Condron & Lucas Calhoun & Missile Assault Man
Battle Hive: Amasis & Fire Ant & Worker Ant
Bruderschaft des Kreuzes: Jakob Hammermeier & Nokken & Soldier Ant
Bullet Club: A.J. Styles & Young Bucks
Crown & Court: El Hijo del Ice Cream & Ice Cream Jr. & Princess Kimber Lee
Dasher’s Dugout: Dasher Hatfield & Icarus & Mark Angelosetti
Devastation Corporation: Blaster McMassive & Flex Rumblecrunch & Max Smashmaster
Gentleman’s Club: Chuck Taylor & Drew Gulak & Swamp Monster
Nightmare Warriors: Frightmare & Hallowicked & Silver Ant
The Snake: Eddie Kingston & Ophidian & Shynron
Team AAA: Aero Star & Drago & Fenix
Team Attack: Mark Andrews & Morgan Webster & Pete Dunne
BWO: Stevie Richards & Blue Meanie & Nova
Fight Club: MK McKinnan & Trent Seven & Tyler Bate
United Nations: Juan Francisco de Coronado & Mr. Azerbaijan & Boar of Moldova
This one is almost spooky. Today would be the birthdays for Gino Hernandez (who would have been 58), Eddie Gilbert and Buddy Landel (who all would have been 53).
IHWE on 10/31 in Crowley, TX at the Rec Center.
From yesterday’s update, Dori Yeates, the Canadian Pan American games gold medal winning wrestler who will be on tonight’s show in Brockton, ONT, will not be doing a pro wrestling match, but doing an amateur exhibition match on a pro wrestling show. The promotion did this before to try and help raise money for their training. (thanks to Colin Brackenridge)
CZW on 9/12 in Voorhees, NJ at Flyers Skate Zone with an iPPV at 6:30 p.m. There is also a women’s show in the same building at 4 p.m. Nick Gage & Biff Busick vs. Drew & Rory Gulak headlines the show plus AR Fox vs. Mike Bailey in a Chris Cash Memorial ladder match.
NWA Vendetta Pro Wrestling on 9/18 in Santa Maria, CA at he Radisson Hotel.
In the first step of a planned working agreement with Jeff Jarrett’s GFW and OMEGA Pro, Trevor Lee will be defending the OMEGA title on tonight’s GFW show in Winston-Salem, NC at the ballpark.
Alpha-1 Wrestling on 9/20 in Hamilton, ONT at 222 Queenston, Rd with Rickey Page vs. Cedric Alexander plus a title tournament for the Alpha Male title.
Lucha Toronto on 9/20 at Chapter Two featuring Vampiro and Pantera, as well as Lince Dorado.
C4 tomorrow night in Ottawa at the Vanier Columbus Club. All ticket sales go to the Canadian Cancer Society in memory of Phrank Morin, who wrestler who passed away from cancer at the age of 23, four years ago. The main event has Ultimo Dragon & Super Smash Brothers vs. Pinkie Sanchez & Mike Draztik & Angel Ortiz, Buxx Belmar vs. Roderick Strong, Too Cold Scorpio vs. Michael Von Payton and more.
All-Star Wrestling from last night in Haysi, VA: Reno Kid & Wolf b Beast & Johnny Mustang, Nate Diamond b Joe Briggs, Misty James & Samantha Star (the daughter of Nickla Roberts and Sam Houston) b Kacee Carlisle & Rebecca Lynn, Jimmy Valiant & Ricky Morton & Iron Cross b Beau James & Stan Lee & Scott Sterling, Bulldog Mac b Alex Cage
Today’s new match on NWAClassics.com is Brad Armstrong vs. Ernie Ladd.
ROH has announced shows for 9/11 in Dayton and 9/12 in Chicago Ridge, IL.
The Super Fight League makes its Canadian debut on Saturday night in Calgary with Roland Delorme vs. Jesse Arnett. The show will air after its conclusion on YouTube.
ON THIS DAY IN PRO WRESTLING HISTORY INTERNATIONAL (thanks to Graeme Cameron)
1968 – Cyclone Negro & Baron Scicluna beat Mario Milano & Dominic DeNucci in Brisbane to win the IWA tag titles
1989 – Sangre Chicana beat Villano III to win the WWF light heavyweight title
1998 – La Parka (L.A. Park) beat Pirata Morgan to win the AAA heavyweight title
2001 – Tokyo Magnum & Dragon Kid & Ryo Saito beat Cima & Suwa & Big Fujii and Masaaki Mochizuki & Yasushi Kanda & Darkness Dragon in a three-way in Tokyo to win the UWA trios titles
2001 – Olimpico & Sicodelico Jr. beat Black Warrior & Sangre Azteca in Mexico City to win the CMLL Gran Alternative tournament
2010 – Masato Yoshino beat Tiger’s Mask in Kobe to win the Open the Brave Gate title
2011 – Shinsuke Nakamura beat Tetsuya Naito to win the G-1 Climax tournament