Daily Update: Conor-Khabib, Super Show-Down, busy weekend

THE ROUND-UP

THE LATEST NEWS

THE LATEST AUDIO

IMPACT AT 8 P.M. TONIGHT ON POP TV

  • Rich Swann vs. Matt Sydal
  • Murder Clown vs. Joe Hendry
  • Su Yung vs. Kiera Hogan
    This is another taping from Mexico City.

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Liv Morgan, Brie Bella, and the dangers of wrestling

What should have been a fairly innocuous six-woman tag match on last Monday’s Raw ended with Liv Morgan having suffered a concussion and with a social media controversy that has yet to fully die down. The Riott Squad faced The Bellas & Natalya on last week’s Raw as part of the build to Ruby Riott, Morgan & Sarah Logan vs. Ronda Rousey & The Bellas at Super Show-Down in Melbourne, Australia. 

WON NEWSLETTER: October 8, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Massive UFC 229 expectations, plus tons of news

Headed up with a major history piece on the 30-year history of Ted Turner’s involvement with pro wrestling and coverage of a week of so many major events, it’s a double issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter this week.

Preview UFC 229 and why it is expected to be the biggest non-boxing PPV in history. Look at projections, some real numbers, some comparisons, and why Dana White says it wasn’t in Madison Square Garden.

The big story looks at Ted Turner and how he first got connected to pro wrestling in 1972, the role of Ray & Ann Gunkel, the wrestling war in Georgia that led to the two hour Saturday night block, the roles of Jim Barnett and Ole Anderson, and the first-ever Omni sellout.

Also look at the decision made by UFC and USADA to no longer announce drug test failures and why it wasn’t well thought out, as well as the reputation of USADA taking such a hit and the sad ironies of this.

Look at WWE Super Show-Down, ticket sales and ramifications.

Read the update on the 1,000th episode of Smackdown, WWE plans for NXT and ideas that have been talked about, major execs selling WWE stock.

Look at the big questions facing Bellator as they try and build their brand, as well as surprising notes of the Bellator brand vs U.S. pro wrestling companies and Saturday’s show in particular.

This issue has full coverage of ROH’s Death Before Dishonor with match-by-match coverage, business notes, polls and star ratings for the show.

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. 

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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.

THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE

Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov were supposed to be together at the UFC 229 press conference today. But that didn’t happen. As usual, McGregor was late. Instead of waiting, Nurmagomedov said he was there and demanded it start on time. So it was just Dana White saying McGregor is on the way and Nurmagomedov. After 15 minutes, Nurmagomedov said he was tired of waiting and left. White then answered questions for another 15 minutes until McGregor arrived 30 minutes late. The live crowd went wild for everything McGregor did, from running down Nurmagomedov, Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz who he claimed was an informant that shouldn’t be allowed in the country and pushed his whiskey. Most, but not all of the reporter questions to McGregor were embarrassing as they came off more as his cheerleaders than anything. That said, McGregor came across as beyond a superstar.

Among the highlights:

  • Nurmagomedov said he will not shake McGregor’s hand after the fight, “No way.” 
  • Dana White said the show is tracking above Mayweather vs. McGregor. 
  • White said establishing a 165 pound weight class makes no sense. Not when there is a 170 pound weight class.
  • McGregor kept saying that he was going to knock Khabib’s nose into the nosebleed section on Saturday and that he’s been grappling with 200 pounders for 25 minutes and been put in the worst case scenarios so he’ll be ready. He said he would be comfortable no matter what happens in the fight.
  • Channeling his best Dusty Rhodes, he said about his feud with Khabib, “This is never over. Never ever over.”
  • He said he was willing to fight again in four weeks in MSG. That isn’t happening.
  • He said that he expects to make $50 million for the fight based on his percentages of expecting PPV buys between 3 million and 3.5 million, and that he would be a billionaire in five years, at the age of 35.
  • He said Nurmagomedov doesn’t like to get hit, he’s a flincher and he’s easily backed up.
  • He also said he must fight soon in Ireland.
  • He said he was back to stay because he’s only 30 and loves it.

Among the events for a very busy weekend coming up are:

  • CMLL World Grand Prix tomorrow night on Honor Club
  • wXw World Tag League from Oberhausen, Germany Friday through Sunday
  • Quintet submission wrestling from Las Vegas tomorrow night on UFC Fight Pass
  • WWE Wrestle Show-down Saturday morning from Melbourne, Australia
  • UFC 229 from Las Vegas on Saturday night
  • New Japan King of Pro Wrestling from Tokyo on Monday morning

According to WWE officials, the planned run time on the WWE Network for the Super-show is four hours, from 5-9 a.m. Eastern. Obviously it can go longer if need be but that is the goal. 

Dwayne Johnson and WWE are publishing a second autobiography called “World of Rock.”

WWE

  • Some notes from some of the new uploads on the WWE Network. The new Ted DiBiase vs. Brad Armstrong match listed as December 18, 1985 is actually January 16, 1985. The Rick Martel vs. Billy Robinson match listed as October 18, 1984 is actually May 19, 1983 and is not a title match. Other new matches put up are Lou Thesz vs. Bill Longson for the NWA title from Texas, Rene Goulet & Karl Gotch vs. The Russians, Danny Hodge & Jos LeDuc vs. Pak Song & Toru Tanaka from Floirda, and Nobuhiko Takada vs. Athol Foley from Calgary.
  • We talked about the Gotch & Goulet match on WOL today. This is not from Madison Square Garden, where The Masked Russians, who were actually Pedro Godoy & Juan Sebastian, very much now Russian, were not allowed to wear masks because the commission didn’t allow masked wrestlers at the time. This is a match they are saying is from MSG but was actually from the Boston Gardens, so they were under masks as Russians. The match is from January 22, 1971, not the date WWE lists or the place. (thanks to Paul Sosnowski)
  • WWE is promoting a NWO reunion with Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash on 10/27 in Orlando for $199 which includes the taping of an Eric Bischoff podcast and a two-and-a-half hour Q&A with Hogan, Hall and Nash.
  • Billboard ran an article on Wale’s music being in the WWE 2K19 video game.
  • KGW8 in Portland has a Jeff Hardy feature. (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)

UFC

  • John Makdessi vs. Diego Ferreira was announced for the Toronto show. 

MISCELLANEOUS

  • For those going to Melbourne this weekend for the WWE Super-Show, MCW New Horizons takes place Friday night in Melbourne with Gino Gambino vs. Robbie Eagles for the MCW title, Slex vs. Adam Brooks for the Intercommonwealth title and a lot more. There is also a WrestleRock show on Saturday at Noon Melbourne time at The Corner Hotel which is walking distance from the MCG. For what it’s worth, in Australia there is a strong rumor that Robbie Eagles will debut with New Japan as the new member of The Firing Squad and team with Taiji Ishimori in the jr. tag team tournament. (thanks to Kevin Chiat) 
  • The PFL has a live show at 10 p.m. tomorrow night on NBC Sports Network from the Ernest Morial Convention Center in New Orleans with playoffs in the featherweight and heavyweight $1 million tournaments to see who goes to the New Year’s Eve finals in New York. It will be the first of three straight weekends as they have lightweights and light heavyweights on 10/13 and middleweights and welterweight playoffs on 10/20.
  • Low Ki vs. Shane Strickland for the MLW title takes place on 11/8 at Cicero Stadium outside Chicago.
  • Chris Jericho announced a James Ellsworth vs. Jenny Rose match for the intergender championship on his cruise.
  • New matches announced for the NWA 70 show on 10/21 in Nashville are Tim Storm vs. Peter Avalon and Crimson & Jax Dane, managed by Road Warrior Animal, in an open challenge tag team challenge.
  • Team Vision Dojo has seminars tomorrow at 8 p.m. with Matt Sydal an 10/23 with Larry Zbyszko. The cost is $20 for dojo members and $40 for non-members.
  • I Believe in Wrestling on 11/3 at 3 p.m. at Ace Cafe in Orlando for a 3 p.m. show. Wes Brisco, Jesse Neal, Josh Woods and others will be there along with an appearance by Larry Zbyszko.
  • MCW on Saturday night in Galena, MD at the Volunteer Fire Department and 11/9 back at the MCW Arena in Joppa, MD
  • Pro Wrestling Revolver on 10/20 in West Des Moines, IA at the Val Air Ballroom with a cage of Horrors match with Sami Callihan & Jake Crist & Dave Crist & Larry D vs. Matthew Palmer & Shane Strickland & Jason Cade & ?, plus Walter vs. PCO, Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz vs. Mat Fitchett & Davey Vega vs. Dustin Rayz & Aaron Williams, a well as Caleb Konley, Madman Fulton, Rich Swann, David Star,Colt Cabana, Marko Stunt and Jimmy Jacobs.
  • AAW on 10/12 in Austin TX at the AFS Cinema with Jimmy Jacobs & Brody King vs. Sami Callihan & Darby Allin, Thunder Rosa vs. Kylie Rae, ACH vs. Eddie Kingston, Laredo Kid vs. Jason Cade, Rich Swann vs. Trevor Lee, Myron Reed & AR Fox vs. Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz.
  • XICW announced a return to Cobo Hall in Detroit with Kongo Kong, Jimmy Jacobs, MM3, Simon Grimm, Mercedes Martinez, Hernandez, Homicide, Michael Elgin, James Ellsworth, Dave & Jake Crist and more.
  • Marty Jones is doing a seminar for WWN on 10/27 in Ybor City, FL open to all wrestlers, managers and referees who have completed a training course for $99. They also have a WWN tryout and seminar with Johnny Moss, a coach at the Performance Center, on 10/28 for $149. At the tryout, everyone gets a five minute tryout match filmed with multiple cameras and you can own the rights to the footage to distribute. Moss and Gabe Sapolsky will be scouting for both WWN and WWE.
  • CWL on Saturday night for a TV taping in Fowelville, MI features Big Cass, Ryback, Alex Reynolds, MVP and Zach Gowen.
  • Jessie Godderz has released a tongue-in-cheek single called “The Girl is With Me” featuring Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees.
  • Smash Wrestling on 10/27 with Team Canada vs. Team USA in a women’s show taped for The Fight Network as well as FITE.
  • T-Mart Promotions has announced a Mid Atlantic Legends weekend from 8/15 to 8/17 at the Charlotte University Hilton. Announced so far are Missy Hyatt, Stan Lane, Dennis Condrey, Bobby Eaton, Ricky Steamboat, Carlos Colon and Greg Gagne.
  • Blackcraft Wrestling announced its 12/15 show in Buffalo, NY at the Riverworks is sold out. The only match announced is Saraya Knight vs. Taya Valkyrie.
  • NFC MMA tomorrow night in Kennesaw, GA at the Electric Cowboy. There are 13 fights, 11 men’s fights and two women’s fights.
  • Bar Wrestling from last night in Los Angeles at the Bootleg Theater: Teddy Hart b Eli Everfly, Brody King & Tyler Bateman b Yuma & Kevin Martinson, Rocky Romero b Douglas James, Joey Ryan & Peter Avalon & Ray Rosas b Super Panda & Luchasaurus & PJ Black, Delilah Doom b Heather Monroe, Scorpio Sky & Watts b Brian Cage & Eli Drake. Next show is 10/17. (thanks to Shannon Walsh)
  • Five key takeaways from our 2018 World Judo Championships. Vladimir Putin and the Presidents of Mongolia and Azerbaijan were among those in attendance. 
  • The Orlando Sentinel interviewed Jimmy Havoc about his time in MLW, how Batman and the Ultimate Warrior helped him into wrestling, and why he enjoys hardcore matches: “When I was growing up, I always wanted to go through a table, fall on thumbtacks and see what that felt like,” Havoc said. “Now I think, what stupid s— can I put my body through and still walk away from?” And if he doesn’t walk away? “I’ll deal with that when it happens,” he said. “We’ve all got to f—in’ die sometime, right?”
  • Former WWE, WCW, ECW and TNA star Vito appears in a new horror movie that comes out tomorrow. He spoke with The Wrestling Estate about transitioning to acting, launching a podcast and the biggest problem in WWE these days. 

Daily Professional Wrestling History: Undertaker wins World title at Hell in a Cell 2009

For all Observer readers that are planning to attend UFC 231 on December 8 in Toronto and stay overnight, Grant Zwarych, who sells Observer back issues for us, has arranged a great deal at the Holiday Inn Express at 111 Lombard Street in Toronto. The hotel is a short walk to Scotia Bank Arena, the Distillery District and St Lawrence Market. The rate includes breakfast for 2. The hotel also has one of the lesser expensive parking charges. Rate is available for both Friday & Saturday night.

Readers need to call the hotel directly at 416-367-5555 or can send an email to whg4104sc@whg.com and ask to book under the UFC 231 group block Dec. 7-9, 2018. Please be advised due to high volume of calls to the hotel some unanswered calls will automatically transfer to central reservation and the agent will not have access to the group block.

A room with a King bed is $170.00 (sgl/dbl occupancy, maximum 2 people per room), a room with 2 Queen beds is $175.00 (sgl/dbl occupancy, $10 for each additional person up to maximum 4 people in the room) plus applicable taxes. There is a stricter cancellation policy due to the great rate being offered. Readers must book by November 7 and cannot cancel after November 8 without a one night room & tax cancellation policy. If you have your tickets and know you are definitely going, this is a fantastic deal.

CONTACT INFORMATION