Daily Update: Bruno’s birthday, CMLL returns, Kevin Lee

THE ROUND-UP

The Latest from the F4W Staff

NEWS

AUDIO

We’ll be doing three polls this weekend, for the UFC 216 show tomorrow night, Hell in a Cell on Sunday and Kings of Pro Wrestling on Monday, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

We’re looking for reports on last night’s NXT show from Dade City, FL, along with tonight’s Raw show in Arlington, TX and tonight’s NXT show in Coral Gables, FL to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

NEW JAPAN WORLD PRO WRESTLING AT 8 P.M. EASTERN TIME ON AXS TV

  • Evil vs. Michael Elgin
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Minoru Suzuki

BELLATOR AT 9 P.M. EASTERN ON SPIKE TV FROM THACKERVILLE, OKLAHOMA

  • Joe Taimanglo (23-7-1) vs. Leandro Higo (17-3)
  • John Teixiera (21-2-2) vs. Pat Curran (22-7)
  • Emmanuel Sanchez (15-3) vs. Daniel Straus (24-7)
  • Eduardo Dantas (20-4) vs. Darrion Caldwell (10-1) for the bantamweight title

CMLL TONIGHT AT ARENA MEXICO AT 9:30 P.M. EASTERN TIME

  • Shockercito & Stukita vs. Mercurio & Pequeno Nitro
  • Blue Panther Jr. & Fuego & The Panther vs. Misterioso Jr. & Sagrado & Vangellys
  • Valiente vs. Hechicero
  • Cavernario & Felino & Negro Casas vs. Pierroth & Sam Adonis & Rush
  • Dragon Lee & Mistico & Soberano Jr. vs. Mephisto & Rey Bucanero & Luciferno
  • Caristico & Diamante Azul & Marco Corleone vs. Ultimo Guerrero & Gran Guerrero & Shocker

On Saturday, we’re looking for reports on the WWE Raw show in Tulsa and the Smackdown show in Canton, OH to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

UFC 216 ON SATURDAY NIGHT FROM THE T MOBILE ARENA IN LAS VEGAS

Fight Pass at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time

  • Thales Leites (185.5) vs. Brad Tavares (185.5)
  • John Moraga (126) vs. Magomed Bibulatov (126)
  • Walt Harris (251) vs. Mark Godbeer (244.5)

FX at 8 p.m.

  • Pearl Gonzalez (116) vs. Poliana Botelho (115)
  • Bobby Green (155) vs. Lando Vannata (155.75)
  • Matt Schnell (126) vs. Marco Beltran (126)
  • Tom Duqesnoy (135.5) vs. Cody Stamman (136)

PPV at 10 p.m.

  • Beneil Dariush (156) vs. Evan Dunham (156)
  • Mara Romero Borella (126) vs. Kalindra  Faria (125)
  • Fabricio Werdum (247) vs. Derrick Lewis (263.5%)
  • Demetrious Johnson (125) vs. Ray Borg (124) for flyweight title
  • Tony Ferguson (155) vs. Kevin Lee (154.5) for interim lightweight title

There will be a Raw brand house show on Sunday in Rockford, IL.

WWE HELL IN A CELL FROM THE LITTLE CAESARS ARENA IN DETROIT STARTING AT 7:30 P.M. EASTERN TIME SUNDAY NIGHT

  • Shane McMahon vs. Kevin Owens Hell in a Cell
  • Jinder Mahal vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for WWE title
  • New Day vs. Usos Hell in a Cell for tag team title
  • A.J. Styles vs. Baron Corbin for U.S. title
  • Randy Orton vs. Rusev
  • Natalya vs. Charlotte for women’s title
  • Bobby Roode vs. Dolph Ziggler
  • Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable vs. Mojo Rawley & Zack Ryder (pre show at 7:30 p.m.)

NEW JAPAN KING OF PRO WRESTLING FROM SUMO HALL IN TOKYO MONDAY MORNING AT 4 A.M. EASTERN TIME ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • Seiya Sanada & Bushi & Hiromu Takahashi vs. Bad Luck Fale & Yujiro Takahashi & Leo Tonga
  • Hirooki Goto & Toru Yano vs. Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Ryusuke Taguchi & Ricochet vs. Roppongi Vice 3K for IWGP jr. tag titles
  • Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith vs. War Machine vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa in a tornado elimination match for IWGP tag titles
  • Yoshi-Hashi & Baretta & Jado vs. Kenny Omega & Cody & Marty Scurll
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Togi Makabe vs. Kota Ibushi & Juice Robinson
  • Kushida vs. Will Ospreay for IWGP jr. title
  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Tomohiro Ishii for the 1/4 IWGP title shot
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Evil for the IWGP title

Raw on Monday will be from Indianapolis. Indianapolis was where The Shield debuted, broke up, and this week will likely get back together so that’ll be the focus of the show. Smackdown will have a house show in East Lansing, MI.

Smackdown and 205 Live will take place on Tuesday night in Grand Rapids, MI.  Rich Swann vs. TJP has been announced for 205 Live.

FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY:Figure Four Weekly 10/2/2017: Previewing WWE Hell in a Cell

For the first time since July’s lackluster Battleground show, SmackDown will put on a brand-exclusive pay-per-view as Hell in a Cell takes place in Detroit on Sunday night. Battleground was a night where nearly everything went wrong. The Punjabi Prison main event was awful, AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens had a botched finish, and only the tag title match between The New Day and The Usos saved it from being a totally irredeemable show.

Subscribers click here to continue.

WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER:October 9, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Death of Lance Russell, HIAC preview, more

It’s a special issue of the Wrestling Observer this week with a lead story on the life and career of Lance Russell. Look through his life, both in and out of wrestling, going back to when he started being a fan, the people whose careers he made, comments from fans and others in the business, how he made the careers of Jerry Lawler and Dave Brown, interaction with fans, his thoughts on a number of subjects, decisions he made as the program director, his first mention in a national trade publication, his first year broadcasting Memphis wrestling and why it was so politically important, when he promoted and having to pack a gun, his time moving to WCW, the song about him, and my own interactions with him over the years.

Look at the next three WWE PPV shows and directions, as well as the next Takeover show.

There are also updates on Ric Flair, notes on how Jim Ross’ book is doing, an update on the concussion lawsuit and the judges’ ruling that hurts the case, Notes on Shane McMahon filing a suit claiming he was duped out of $500,000, WWE in India, Samoa Joe injury update, Nikki Bella Dancing With The Stars update, Brock Lesnar schedule change, Kurt Angle talks his future and wrestling, indie name likely on the way to WWE, update on Jim Ross and New Japan, more on Kane running for Mayor, and Randy Orton talks his current role,

This issue has coverage of all the WWE and NXT arena events, with business notes and highlights inside the rig.  

Check AAA’s Heroes Inmortales show, how the company is doing and the story behind different people advertised who weren’t there.

Read details on the ratings for all the national shows over the past week, including breakdown of who was watching all of the WWE shows.

Results of the major league arena events held all over the world this past week, as well as notes on the various TV shows, all in this issue.

Subscribers click here to continue.

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.

WON BACK ISSUE: September 11, 2000 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: WCW and ECW uncertainty, All Japan/New Japan feud, more

The pro wrestling industry in both the United States and Japan has never been in a more tumultuous period than it currently faces with only two companies, at least as it stands right now, having anything that could be close to regarded as rosy long-term futures. The lack of substantial news as the new TV season is about to start makes the future of the U.S. scene, aside from the WWF, speculative, in some cases, to a scary degree.

Subscribers click here to continue.

FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE

Want to make mention that today is the 82nd birthday of Bruno Sammartino, who is the greatest guest we’ve ever had on our shows going back now 18 years. Also want to thank everyone for all the nice messages regarding this week’s issue. 

I’m on today’s episode of Talk Is Jericho talking Brian Pillman. I just remember thinking when we did this that it was in a way one of my favorite interviews I’ve ever done.

After the longest absence I can ever recall, due to the earthquake, CMLL returns to running Friday nights in Mexico City tonight. The show will air live at 9:30 p.m. on Claro Sports.

There will be English language commentary on this weekend’s King of Pro Wrestling show from Sumo Hall in Tokyo. 

Almost the entire floor for the 1/4 Tokyo Dome show has sold out to the New Japan Club members. Tickets don’t even go on sale until 10/25 to the public.

Regarding what happened with Kevin Lee this morning and afternoon, this weight cutting is a practice where a few people have died from and a ton of people have been hospitalized from. I recognize the fighters’ mentality is that cutting weight leading to a fight is simply part of the game and one of the toughest parts of the game but the end result we get is health risks and fighters with less stamina.

WWE

  • The Talking Audiobooks Podcast is teaming up with Novel Audio to give away 10 copies of the audiobook version of ‘Slobberknocker: My Life in Wrestling’ by Jim Ross and Paul O’Brien. Click here to enter. The deadline is 12:00 PM on November 6. Worldwide entries accepted.
  • A documentary on Kevin Owens covering a year in the life will air on the WWE Network after the Survivor Series on 11/19 according to PW Insider.
  • The Charlotte Observer has a story on Ric Flair.
  • Kambi has star ratings odds up for Sunday’s Hell in a Cell. You can get -1500 odds if you want to bet that there will be a five star match on the show. For highest rated match, the New Day vs. Usos is +100, Shane McMahon vs. Kevin Owens is +150, Bobby Roode vs. Dolph Ziggler is +250, Charlotte vs. Natalya is +250, Randy Orton vs. Rusev is +400, A.J Styles vs. Baron Corbin is +500, and Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Jinder Mahal is +1000. That sure speaks volumes when the odds are that the WWE title match will be the worst match of the show.
  • As far as the over-under star ratings that you can bet on:
    Benjamin & Gable vs. Hype Bros is **1/2
    Roode vs. Ziggler is ***1/2
    Orton vs. Rusev is ***1/2
    New Day vs. Usos is ***3/4
    Charlotte vs. Natalya is ***1/2
    Styles vs. Corbin is ***
    Mahal vs. Nakamura is **3/4
    McMahon vs. Owens is ***1/2

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Three matches have been added to the 10/15 ROH iPPV from Chicago: Flip Gordon vs Will Ospreay, Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian vs. Kushida & Cheeseburger and Toru Yano vs. Colt Cabana.
  • ROH has also announced that Darryl Takahashi will be at every Global Wars show next week.
  • Also new announced for 10/14 in Columbus, OH is Daniels & Kazarian vs. Jonathan Gresham & Jay White, 10/13 in Pittsburgh with Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley vs. Young Bucks vs. Vinny Marseglia & TK O’Ryan for the ROH tag titles, Daniels & Kazarian vs. Trent Baretta & Chucky T, and Punishment Martinez vs. Adam Page vs. Josh Woods vs. Matt Taven vs, Kushida vs. Kenny King with the winner getting a shot at the TV title that night unless King wins the match.
  • If you want to know about Japanese wrestling history, this is the podcast for you as it features Fumi Saito, who has been an insider to Japanese wrestling since the 80s and knows all the history from the inception of Japanese wrestling.
  • NFC on 10/13 in Atlanta at the Center Stage Theater with Joe Elmore vs. Brandon Longano and Josh Blyden vs. Lawrence McClure or the NFC featherweight title.
  • The NWA sent out a first video.
  • New England Fights on 11/3 in Portland, ME at The Aura headlined by Paul Gorman (10-) vs. James Blair (5-1).
  • Pro Wrestling Phoenix results from last night in Omaha: Paul Daniels won five-way over Zac James, Aaron Dzinic, Carson Rockwell and Robert Storm, Kevin Lee Davidson b Dalton Lee Roth, Joey Daniels b Con Artiest, Purple b Willy Sweet, Moonshine Russell & Duke Cornell NC Clay Cooper & Nathan Edwards, Pat Powers & Devin Carter & Lars Metzger & Johnny Ruckus b Moonshine Russell & Duke Cornell & Clay Cooper & Nathen Edwards, Preston Maxwell b Branden Juarez, Michael Elgin b Hype Gotti to win the PWP title. Next show is 11/2 in Omaha at the Waiting Room Lounge with Elgin defending the title against Preston Maxwell.  
  • XICW announced there will be a pre-show with eight matches during the convention for tomorrow’s show at Cobo Hall. Also, on the main show, the Mercedes Martinez vs. Mia Yim match will be for the Shimmer title.
  • Moose is available for bookings through Bill Behrens at showbis@aol.com. Don’t read into this that there are any issues with him and Impact, as there aren’t.
  • NCW Access Denied tomorrow night in Ste-Therese, Quebec and the Centre Communautaire & Culture.
  • Fox 2 Detroit has been running a story all week on a young boy with cancer who is a big wrestling fan and is hopeful of going to Sunday’s WWE PPV.
  • A story on the Rock & Roll Express.
  • A news story in Cullman, AL about a stolen wrestling ring. (thanks to Bradley King) 
  • The Memphis Commercial Appeal had another Lance Russell story.
  • Gouge tomorrow night in Raleigh, NC at Nicklepoint Brewing with a 4 p.m. show.

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Today in Professional Wrestling History: Dusty Rhodes wins Florida Heavyweight title

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