Daily Update: Alicia Fox, JR & Mae Young Classic, UFC

By Joseph Currier
Published: 7 Jul 2018, 16:55

THE ROUND-UP

THE LATEST NEWS

THE LATEST AUDIO

We’re looking for reports from tonight’s Madison Square Garden show (Undertaker & Roman Reigns & Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens & Elias & Baron Corbin, Dolph Ziggler vs. Seth Rollins for IC title, Ronda Rousey vs. Nia Jax with Alexa Bliss as referee) to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com. This is Undertaker’s first match in MSG in eight years as well as Rousey’s debut.

UFC 226

Fight Pass at 7 p.m. Eastern

Emily Whitmire vs. Janie Moyle
Dan Hooker vs. Gilbert Burns

FS1 at 8 p.m.

Curtis Millender vs. Max Griffin
Lando Vannata vs. Drakkar Klose
Rob Funt vs. Raphael Assuncao
Paulo Costa vs. Uriah Hall

PPV at 10 p.m.

Gokhan Saki vs. Khalil Rountree
Anthony Pettis vs. Michael Chiesa
Mike Perry vs. Paul Felder
Derrick Lewis vs. Francis Ngannou
Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier for heavyweight title

NEW JAPAN FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO COW PALACE

Yoshi-Hashi & Gedo & Rocky Romero & Sho & Yoh vs. King Haku & Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa & Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi
Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs. Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr.
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kushida vs. Hangman Page & Marty Scurll
Hirooki Goto vs. Jeff Cobb for Never Open weight title
Young Bucks vs. Seiya Sanada & Evil for IWGP tag titles
Kazuchika Okada & Will Ospreay vs. Tetsuya Naito & Bushi
Hiromu Takahashi vs. Dragon Lee for IWGP jr. title
Jay White vs. Juice Robinson for U.S. title
Kenny Omega vs. Cody for IWGP heavyweight title

Sunday has WWE Raw in Bridgeport, CT. Ronda Rousey vs. Nia Jax is also on this show.

Monday has Raw in Boston. There is also a Smackdown house show in Augusta, ME.

Tuesday night is Smackdown and 205 Live from Manchester, NH including Asuka vs. James Ellsworth in a lumberjack match and Cedric Alexander vs. Hideo Itami for the cruiserweight title.

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Looking at WWE’s Universal title picture

Three months removed from the crowd rejecting the main event of WrestleMania, the Universal Championship picture is still a bit of a mess. It seemed like things were finally starting to fall into place with the announcement of a multi-man number one contender’s match for Extreme Rules. But, without all that much of a real explanation, the match was canceled the next week.

WON NEWSLETTER: (July 9, 2018): Death of Matt Cappotelli

A look at the life and brief wrestling career of Matt Cappotelli is the lead item in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Learn in this story why Cappotelli, who only had 37 matches in the WWE in his career, was so well liked by the people who knew him best. Find out about his battles with cancer, how fate got in the way of three different WWE startups and the plan for him to win a championship immediately after his call-up.

Look at the back story behind his interview after he learned he had cancer, his second battle with cancer, the Bob Holly situation and what could have been with the angle, his grudge match with Holly in OVW, plans for him in WWE and more.

Read more on Oscar De La Hoya and his MMA plans for Tito Ortiz vs. Chuck Liddell and the money deal and business involved.

Find out about Max Holloway being pulled from this week’s UFC show.

This issue has full coverage of the ROH Best in the World PPV as well as Jay Lethal’s ROH title win, including star ratings and poll results.

WWE’s Extreme Rules is updated.

Read more about the Leslie Smith case and how this could affect pro wrestling and MMA going forward and which companies it likely will and won’t affect.

Coverage of WWE’s return to Japan this past week is in this issue.

There are notes on a Daniel Bryan interview, a show during SummerSlam week, as well as a list of talent at the recent WWE tryouts and their backgrounds. Look at a new WWE Network special, next week’s TV, and the most-watched shows on the WWE Network this past week. Also, Seth Rollins talks the Shield reunion that never seems to happen.

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 Dave@WrestlingObserver.com.

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 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.)

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.

SATURDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

Though she’s been cleared and waiting to return and briefly appeared in a backstage segment on Raw late last month, Alicia Fox returned to the ring at last night’s house show in Philadelphia. It was her first match since breaking her tailbone prior to the Royal Rumble. She teamed with Liv Morgan & Sarah Logan against Ember Moon, Bayley & Natalya due to Ruby Riott’s sprained MCL.
Jim Ross said on this week’s episode of his podcast that he hasn’t been contacted to do commentary for this year’s Mae Young Classic yet and assumes that means he won’t be doing it. He said he doesn’t feel he did his best work on last year’s tournament, that there were a lot of things that made it challenging, and that WWE has young commentators who need more reps. The 2018 MYC will be taped at Full Sail University next month.
Kurt Angle answered a question during a Facebook Q&A that asked if he had any regrets about the time he spent in TNA: “I can’t. I had a great career in TNA, maybe better than my WWE career. I had a reduced schedule there. And I wrestled so many greats AJ, Joe, Sting, Roode…To name a few. My body couldn’t hold up to the rigorous schedule in WWE at the time. I always imagine the career I could have had if I stayed in WWE. It would have been incredible. BUT I couldn’t stay so I can’t keep asking myself ‘what if’?”
Angle also noted that he has a documentary he’s making right now.
Today is the 22nd anniversary of the NWO forming at Bash at the Beach 1996. Sting also won the NWA title for the first time on this day in 1990, defeating Ric Flair at the Great American Bash.
With the Raw roster having a house show at Madison Square Garden, Alexa Bliss, Matt Hardy, Jinder Mahal, Ember Moon, and Kalisto were filming in New York City today for what appears to be a SummerSlam commercial.
Yahoo’s Dan Wetzel wrote a column on Ronda Rousey’s UFC Hall of Fame induction and her importance in women’s MMA.
Dustin Rhodes is partnering with the sheriff of Williamson County in Texas to work with kids on bullying and drugs and alcohol issues.
Carmella responded to a viral video of a Michael Jackson impersonator doing a moonwalk DDT: “Yes, I have seen the moonwalk DDT. No need to keep tagging me in it. And if you’re wondering, I can do it better. So, stay tuned.”
Analysts at BTIG Research called WWE stock “among the safest plays in media now.”
Paige and Corey Graves appeared on this week’s episode of Renee Young’s podcast.
WWE uploaded Roman Reigns and AJ Styles’ title match from Extreme Rules 2016 on YouTube.
“Outrageous bathroom incidents” are the subject of this week’s WWE video top 10 list.

Pro Wrestling

Dragon Lee defeated Flip Gordon in the finals to win this year’s King of Indies tournament last night.
Chris Charlton translated a tweet from Kota Ibushi where he noted that he was sick due to dehydration but vowed to be in the best shape possible for the G1: “Ibushi’s sick, apparently severely dehydrated for the second time this year (guessing the first time was during his bout with flu in February). Vowing to be in as best shape as possible before the G1 kicks off next week.”
AJ Mendez tweeted about receiving the National Alliance on Mental Illness’ Multicultural Outreach Award: “I was so honored to be given the Multicultural Outreach Award at the 2018 @NAMICommunicate convention. Thank you for inspiring me, NAMI! My mission of spreading mental health awareness, encouraging education, and shattering stigma is just getting started.”
Kenny King vs. Shane Taylor vs. Chris Sabin vs. Jonathan Gresham has been added to ROH’s July 20 show in Nashville.

UFC/MMA

The final episode of Embedded for UFC 226 covers yesterday’s real and ceremonial weigh-ins.
Stipe Miocic’s guaranteed purse for tonight is $750,000, while Daniel Cormier’s is $500,000. Both will be paid more than that, with the amount depending on how the show does on PPV.
The UFC is set to return to Toronto, Ontario, Canada with a PPV later this year. UFC 231 will take place at the Scotiabank Arena on December 8.
Max Holloway tweeted about Michael Bisping questioning if he was feeling okay during a TV interview before he had to pull out of UFC 226: “Thank you for being a true friend and calling me out on TV. This fight game breaks when champs can’t be checked”
John Kavanagh, Conor McGregor’s head coach, said that negotiations are still ongoing for McGregor’s return to the Octagon.
Ariel Helwani wrote that the date for Robert Whittaker and Kelvin Gastelum’s middleweight title fight will depend on Whittaker’s recovery from hand surgery.
Ilir Latifi is out of his semi-main event fight against Glover Teixeira at UFC Fight Night: Hamburg on July 22 due to an injury.
Boxer Danny O’Connor had to pull out of a title fight after collapsing while trying to make weight.

Daily Professional Wrestling History: The birth of the NWO

12th Annual F4W Empire Vegas Convention

Greetings friends and fans of the F4W / Wrestling Observer website. It’s time to announce the details of the 12th annual F4W / Wrestling Observer Empire Las Vegas Convention~!

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 Gladys Gibson Doubles Match Classic! Already booked for the show are the teams Mia Yim & Leva Bates, Shotzi Blackheart & ???, Samantha Heights & Brittany Blake, and Miranda Alize & Kylie Rae. Also appearing will be Kris Wolf along with many more future stars. There may even be a classic star or two making an appearance. You won’t want to miss this show! Check out the convention’s Facebook page for all additional information.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Poll opinions: dave@wrestlingobserver.com
Feedback: feedback@wrestlingobserver.com
Show results and news tips: newstips@wrestlingobserver.com
Wrestling Observer Radio questions: mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com
Support the Empire~! with F4W shirts. Grab yours today!