Daily Update: Concussion lawsuits thrown out, Lesnar, Raw

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THE LATEST NEWS

THE LATEST AUDIO

We’re looking for reports from Raw tonight in Dallas with the non-Raw matches as well as the Smackdown house show from Oklahoma City to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

We’re also doing polls for Friday’s CMLL Anniversary show, Saturday’s New Japan show in Hiroshima and Sunday’s Hell in a Cell, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match for each show to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

Tuesday has Smackdown and 205 Live in Tulsa. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Rusev for the U.S. title and A.J. Styles vs. Andrade Cien Almas have been announced for the show. Announced for 205 Live is Cedric Alexander vs. Drew Gulak for the cruiserweight title and Lio Rush vs. Noam Dar.

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Looking at Shawn Michaels potential return

While retirements in professional wrestling are almost always temporary, the direction that WWE went in on last Monday’s episode of Raw was still genuinely surprising. What seemed like it would be a by-the-numbers segment with Shawn Michaels promoting Triple H and The Undertaker’s match at WWE Super Show-Down, which is being billed as the last time they’ll ever face each other, turned into a full-blown tease of Michaels coming out of retirement.

WON NEWSLETTER: September 17, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: The story of Dave Meltzer, more

The new issue of the Wrestling Observer goes through my life experiences with pro wrestling from childhood. Preview one of the biggest weekends for major shows of the year, including Hell in a Cell and the CMLL anniversary show. 

Look at UFC 228, with match-by-match coverage and what the results mean, as well as the early business indicators on the show.

Run down wrestling shows from the Media Con in Manchester including the British J Cup and a unique Impact show.

Look at Rock’s daughter training to be a fourth generation pro wrestler, Matt Riddle notes in WWE, update on Neville, update on WWE and a number of top indie stars, Vince McMahon changing his feeling on managers, Renee Young’s first week as official third person in the booth, Matt Hardy’s future, Ric Flair’s commitment ceremony, and WWE nominated for awards.

Read more on the Mixed Match Change, first episodes of the new season of Total Divas, funny Stephanie McMahon quote, Batista talks Smackdown 1,000th episode, most-watched shows of the past week on the WWE Network and WWE stock value.

Run down all the Raw, Smackdown and NXT events held over the past week with results, highlights and business notes.

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.

MONDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer Radio covering Raw, the concussion case being thrown out, New Japan’s show today and all of the other news. You can send questions to the show to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com.

Judge Vanessa Bryant in U.S. District Court in Connecticut threw out all of the Konstantine Kyros led-concussion lawsuits against WWE earlier today. The two key ones were the remaining counts in the Vito LoGrasso and Evan Singleton cases, as well as the case with 53 different wrestlers including Joe Laurinaitis, Paul Orndorff, Jimmy Snuka and many others. Bryant strongly admonished Kyros for his complaints being too long, having irrelevant or non-factual arguments and said she has told him over and over to rewrite the complaints, only to have them come back with similar problems. She stated that having him rewrite the complaints would seem to lead to the same thing. She also ruled that the complaints were time barred in that such a lawsuit would have to come within five years of suffering the injuries in question and almost all the wrestlers involved were long since retired when the complaint was filed. 

The main event on the 11/2 show in Saudi Arabia will be Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman as things are scheduled right now. The show will be officially announced shortly, perhaps as early as this week.

We send our best to the Hardy family. Matt’s home was apparently damaged in Hurricane Florence that hit the Carolinas.

Undertaker is scheduled on Raw tonight so the Shawn Michaels storyline will continue.  

WWE Hell in a Cell was the 9th most searched for item yesterday on Google with 500,000 searches, which is the same level as a B UFC PPV show.  

WWE

  • While there was a U.K. news story claiming WWE was confiscating pro-Becky Lynch signs at last night’s show, the WWE has stated that they did not do so, but said it is possible if a fan was holding a sign in front of the hard camera, it may have been removed to prevent blocking camera shots.
  • The company has announced three-day tryouts in Chile in early December.
  • The screwdriver to the earlobe spot in last night’s Randy Orton vs Jeff Hardy match was done originally in this match with Erika Reid vs Avary match from Underworld Wrestling in July.

UFC

  • UFC has announced a Times Square viewing party for UFC 229 on 10/6 at Mega-Zilla on Broadway, which is the Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov show.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Ken Burns is looking at doing a documentary on Muhammad Ali. (thanks to Chris Cruise)
  • Paul Richard, who has been the General Manager of New England Championship Wrestling for nine years, is retiring from the wrestling business and will be working with Christopher Nowinski in educating athletes on CTE. Richard himself said he was diagnosed with CTE and had nine concussions while wrestling.
  • Johny Hendricks and Brennan Ward, who both announced their retirements from UFC and Bellator respectively, have agreed to fight for the World Bare Knuckle Fighting Federation on 11/9 in Casper, WY.  
  • Cody appeared as NWA champion yesterday at the Championship Wrestling from Hollywood TV tapings in Port Hueneme, CA. Cody did a promo saying the rules of the NWA allow him to defend the title anywhere, and he said that means he can defend it in ROH (which he will do on the 9/29 TV tapings) and that he could defend it on Raw after he becomes a free agent at the end of this year. Nick Aldis wrestled on the show. David Arquette was there but didn’t wrestle.
  • Billy Caputo, a longtime referee and later part of the New York State Athletic Commission, has been diagnosed with bone marrow lymphoma. He was a regular referee for WWWF in the regional days.
  • A detailed story on Randy Savage’s baseball career.
  • Beyond Wrestling did a comedy show with 150 fans yesterday at Feast Sandwich Company, a popular restaurant in East Greenwich, RI. Joey Ryan showed up with an entourage called the “Pull-It Club,” all wearing Bullet Club parody T-shirts: Colt Cabana b Orange Cassidy, Solo Darling b Faye Jackson, Swoggle b Shockwave the Robot, Arik Cannon b Chris Dickinson, Cheeseburger b Joey Ryan including run-ins from the Pull-It Club, Supercop Dick Justice NC Puff in a strap match rules except instead of touching all four corners you had to eat four consecutive donuts in all four corners to win, Dick Justice & Puff b The Colony. (thanks to Adam Spagna)
  • IPW from Saturday night in Mangere, New Zealand: Tony Kozina b Falcon Kid, Little Ted b Curtis Castlewood, Savage & Stone b Short & Sweet, Reuben de Jong b James Shaw, Candy Lee b Britenay, Jake Shehaan b Tee Hawke, Jakob Cross b Mr; Tangatese, Liam Fury b Liger to win IPW title. Next show is 10/14. (thanks to Steve Ogilvie)
  • David Arquette will be part of the Rise 10 show on 10/19 in Berwyn, IL at the Eagles Club. He will be attending a seminar put on by Mercedes Martinez, Rain, Cheerleader Melissa and Lexie Fyfe. It sounds like an angle where Arquette tries to join the all-women’s promotion.   
  • Eve Strong Style will be a live iPPV on FITE TV for $10.
  • Simon Grimm (formerly Simon Gotch in WWE) won the XICW Extreme Intense title in Detroit last night. (thanks to Shannon Walsh)
  • All Pro Wrestling on Friday night in Daly City has Jeff Cobb & JR Kratos vs. Will Hobbs & Jacob Fatu, Reno Scum vs. Stoner Brothers, MVP vs Papo Esco, Jungle Boy defends the jr. title against Steven Tresario, Sam Adonis vs. Jake Atlas vs. Puma King, Joey Ryan vs. Stryker Ngongoseke, Amish Johnson vs. Grizzly Kal Jak (Clayton Jack), Matt Carlos & Dave Dutra & Marcus Lewis & Chicano Flame vs. Rik Luxury & Boyce LeGrande & Dominic Treixera & Derek Slade and Johnny Dynamo vs. Levi Shapiro.
  • Dynamo Pro Wrestling on 9/21 at the Concordia Turners Gym in St. Louis.
  • Mayhem Pro Wrestling from last night in Melbourne Australia: JXT b Jake Navara, Taylah Rose b Kellyanne, Fox b Slickback Kaz, Campbell Crawford & Jake Lindo b Mitch Waterman & Nick Bury, Dowie James b Vance Adams, Cousin Ali b Lochy Hendricks-DQ, Cousin Ali & JXT & Kellyanne b Fox & Jake Navara & Lochy Hendricks. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • Marko Stunt will debut on the 10/4 MLW show in New York at the Melrose Ballroom teaming with Rich Swann & ACH against the New Hart Foundation of Brian Pillman Jr. & Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Teddy Hart. The main event on the show is L.A. Park vs. PCO.  
  • ElkMania presents Aces Wild, a fund raiser this coming Saturday night from the Elks Lodge in Beverly, MA. The show will benefit the Children’s Miracle Network and Boston Children’s Hospital. Robbie E vs. Dick Lane will headline.
  • Total Combat Wrestling from Saturday night in Modena, Italy: Rocco Gioiello b Buck Ice to keep Revolution title Fenice Rossa b Jacob, Scandolo b Carlo Birra to keep the Rebel title. (thanks to Alessio Garbini)
  • An article on pro wrestling in Vietnam.

Daily Professional Wrestling History: Ric Flair wins his first NWA World title

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