Daily Update: All In, CM Punk meet and greet, Big Cass

By Joseph Currier
Published: 1 Sep 2018, 15:21

THE ROUND-UP

THE LATEST NEWS

THE LATEST AUDIO

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Reigns and Rousey win big at WWE Summerslam

WWE closed SummerSlam 2018 with the two faces of the company holding their respective titles. In matches that went over relatively well — or in the case of the main event, at least averted what appeared to be certain disaster — Roman Reigns won the Universal Championship and Ronda Rousey captured the Raw Women’s title on Sunday. Over three years after the Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar saga started, it ended pretty anticlimactically.

WON NEWSLETTER: September 3, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: All In preview, more

One of the most unique pro wrestling events of all-time, All In, is looked at as the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Find out about the different venues considered for the show and why they didn’t happen, why the show would have been a success without selling 10,000 tickets, and Bullet Club T-shirt sale numbers.

Read about the WWE and Saudi Arabia with tentative plans for a return show.

This issue runs down Hell in a Cell.

Read full coverage of TripleMania.

Find out about a major front office shakeup in WWE, SummerSlam in Toronto and the craziest big show weekend perhaps in history, why WWE stock continues to rise in value, more on Neville’s release, who in WWE should leave, and Evolution ticket sales.

Also look at the horrible cancer stories within the pro wrestling and MMA industry over the past week, including the death of Ed Cohen and Aya Koyama and the cancer battles of Kid Yamamoto and Akira Taue, with details on what happened with Taue.

Look at the most recent UFC show, with business notes and match-by-match coverage.

This issue has a feature on Steve Musulin, better known as Steve Travis.

Read an update on the clearance levels of all the major channels that have wrestling and MMA programming in the U.S.

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

Daniel Bryan tweeted about All In today and congratulated Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks on the event: “What @CodyRhodes, @MattJackson13 and @NickJacksonYB have done to create a groundswell in the wrestling community is both incredible and inspiring. Not only is it great for fans but also for wrestlers and the industry as a whole. Congratulations on what will be an amazing event”
Matt Hardy also wrote about the show: “Being a DIY guy at my core, I am extremely happy for & proud of @MattJackson13, @NickJacksonYB & @CodyRhodes for making their VISIONS become an EXTRAORDINARY REALITY. Kick ass tonight at All In, mi amigos.”
Dustin Rhodes again wished Cody good luck ahead of tonight.
At Sumo Hall in Tokyo today, WWE’s Hideo Itami (KENTA) returned to Pro Wrestling NOAH for one night and lost to Naomichi Marufuji in the main event of Marufuji’s 20th anniversary show. The announced attendance was 6,285 fans.
A new episode of Story Time will air on the WWE Network after Monday’s Raw.
TV Insider has an interview with Mae Young Classic competitor Xia Brookside.
In her latest column for the Calgary Sun, Natalya wrote about Bret Hart vs. British Bulldog at SummerSlam 1992.
Lana told Newsweek that Stephanie McMahon is her dream opponent.

Pro Wrestling

Cody and Nick Aldis cut their final promos on each other ahead of All In.
Tim Storm, who Aldis defeated to win the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship, will be one of the people accompanying Aldis to the ring tonight.
Jerry Lynn said he’ll be the referee for Christopher Daniels vs. Stephen Amell at All In.
Matt Jackson tweeted about All In after waking up this morning: “Cheesy but true: I was jolted out of my sleep early this morning & tried to go back to sleep immediately until my brain realized today is All In. I’m a kid again, & today is Christmas. There’s magic in the air. See you at Sears Centre.”
With a big line for the session, CM Punk did a meet and greet at Pro Wrestling Tees’ store in Chicago yesterday. He tweeted about the event: “I don’t have the words to properly express how thankful I am to have seen, spent a small amount of time with, and listened to some moving stories from some great people today. Appreciate you all. Thanks for the smiles. #fans #friends #strangers #samekids” Punk also responded to a picture of him appearing to look unhappy while meeting a fan: “Imagine being so small you look at this picture and instead of seeing someone listening and engaging in conversation with someone, you draw this conclusion. You should’ve come to the signing, we all we having a great time!”
Sports Illustrated spoke to Hulk Hogan, Jim Ross, Kofi Kingston, and more about Kenny Omega and what could be next for him.
After he was originally advertised as “Big Cazz,” Big Time Wrestling is listing the former Big Cass as “Big C” for his return to the ring on September 21 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Cass will be facing James Storm on the show.
Revolution Pro Wrestling announced that Will Ospreay won’t be able to wrestle at their shows this weekend due to injury: “Unfortunately Will Ospreay is injured & has not been cleared for this weekends shows. Both Will and ourselves are very disappointed he can’t do what he loves to do this weekend. But as always the health of the competitors comes first. We thank you for your understanding.”
Last night’s CMLL Arena Mexico show is up on YouTube, with Los Ingobernables (Tetsuya Naito, Rush & BUSHI) losing to LA Park, Volador Jr. & Diamante Azul by DQ in the main event. Entrances for the match start at 1:39:50.
ICW announced British Strong Style (Pete Dunne, Trent Seven & Tyler Bate) for their Fear & Loathing XI show at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow on December 2. They’ll be teaming together at the event.

UFC/MMA

Dana White said he’s confident that Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov will do two million pay-per-view buys. Yahoo noted that White isn’t ruling out that it could do three million buys.
Ariel Helwani reported that it doesn’t look like BJ Penn’s career is over yet, with the UFC discussing booking Penn vs. Ryan Hall for later this year.
Darren Till said he was a little bit surprised by the size advantage he has over Tyron Woodley.

Daily Professional Wrestling History: Pat Patterson becomes first WWF Intercontinental Champion

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