Daily Update: Extreme Rules preview, Hulk Hogan, Skyscraper

THE ROUND-UP

THE LATEST NEWS

THE LATEST AUDIO

We’re looking for your thoughts on tonight’s Extreme Rules show 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 also looking for reports from the WWE Raw show Friday night in Charleston, WV.

WWE EXTREME RULES PPV FROM PITTSBURGH’S PPG ARENA STARTING AT 6 P.M. EASTERN TIME

It’s very clear by the odds that the results have not gotten out and these odds don’t really mean anything past they are educated guesses.

Roman Reigns vs. Bobby Lashley — While not directly said, the winner is expected to face Brock Lesnar for the Universal title at SummerSlam. It is possible they’ll do something else on Raw to determine the contender and this is just a match. If it’s just a match, Lashley could win, Reigns could get the title shot and that’s planning for the future. This has been the most heavily pushed match on the show and in a lot of ways is the key to the show. At last word Reigns was a -160 favorite.

A.J. Styles vs. Rusev for the WWE title — The crowd reaction will be interesting. These two should have a very good if not great match. It would be a big change for Rusev to get the title right now. Styles is a -850 favorite so the oddsmakers don’t think much of a title change chance.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Seth Rollins in a 30-minute Iron Man match for the IC title — This is the match that the hardcores are most looking forward to and with a guarantee of two of the best guys in the company going 30 minutes on a big stage, this should be one of WWE’s best matches of the year. The oddsmakers are predicting it as the best match going in. Rollins is a -165 favorite to regain the title.

Kevin Owens vs. Braun Strowman in a cage match — Owens is a great wrestler but the entire build has been to make it look like this match is a one-sided joke. So that is harder to work a long match and keep people’s interest. Raw desperately needs to make some heels because most of the top guys are faces, so the idea of a fluke win prior to Strowman cashing in at some point could be a swerve. Oddsmakers are going with the more obvious with Strowman as a -350 favorite.

Alexa Bliss vs. Nia Jax for the Raw Women’s title in an Extreme rules match — Their match at Mania wasn’t much. This match is a bigger deal because of Ronda Rousey at ringside and with the extreme rules stips that would indicate her being involved. Since the real heat now is Rousey vs. Bliss for the title, Jax winning would be a surprise although not impossible if the idea is to hold Bliss vs. Rousey off for a long time. So Bliss is a -260 favorite, probably with Rousey’s interference being a catalyst in a mess up.

Carmella vs. Asuka for the Smackdown Women’s title with James Ellsworth in a shark cage — Asuka is a -125 favorite here so it’s pretty much a pick em. Their last match also wasn’t good so they’ll probably be motivated in this one even more.

The Bludgeon Brothers vs. Daniel Bryan & Kane — This should probably get some of the best reactions of the night. The Bludgeon Brothers are -185 favorites. Unless the idea is to end this right now because of Kane’s election, I’d do a disputed finish and something to keep it going. If Kane is only working until this week, then he can get pinned and they should keep Harper & Rowan unbeaten.

Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt vs. The B Team for the Raw tag titles — With so many matches on the show, some need to be kept short and this is probably better off as a short comedy oriented match. Matt & Wyatt are -270 favorites to retain.

Jeff Hardy vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the IC title — With Hardy injured and Nakamura needing a win, I’d go with a title change here. That doesn’t mean they’ll go with it. But for that reason, Nakamura is a -350 favorite. This may also have to be kept short because they have to pick and choose which matches get time with a 12 match show.

Finn Balor vs. Baron Corbin — This will be interesting because a lot depends on time. It is an opportunity for Corbin to work with a top guy and have a strong match. Still, the build has been weak and Corbin working in that outfit makes him something of a comedy figure. Balor is a -155 favorite to win.

New Day vs. Sanity in a tables match — This is a pre-show match. With six guys it’ll be all action and as good as the time limit they have allows it to be. With Sanity losing on TV and a tables match easier to put heels over because faces don’t lose as much by losing, and it keeps the program alive, I can see Sanity with the win here. Oddsmakers agree as Sanity is a -350 favorite.

Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Sin Cara — They had a good 5:00 television match on Tuesday and brought it back to likely open the show at around 6 p.m. I can’t imagine Almas losing. There are no odds put up for this one.

NEW JAPAN G-1 CLIMAX AT 5 A.M. EASTERN MONDAY MORNING ON NEW JAPAN WORLD FROM SAPPORO

  • Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa vs. Toa Henare & Shota Umino
  • Toru Yano & Jado vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taka Michinoku
  • Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs. Kota Ibushi & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Tomohiro Ishii & Sho vs. Tetsuya Naito & Sanada
  • Kenny Omega & Chase Owens vs. Hirooki Goto & Yoh
  • Michael Elgin vs. Hangman Page
  • Yoshi-Hashi vs. Evil
  • Togi Makabe vs. Minoru Suzuki
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Bad Luck Fale
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jay White

Raw will be tomorrow night in Buffalo with all the fallout of tonight’s PPV show. There will also be a Smackdown house show in Reading, PA.

Smackdown and 205 Live take place Tuesday night in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Announced for 205 Live is TJP vs. Noam Dar and Lio Rush vs. Akira Tozawa.

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Brock Lesnar appears at UFC 226

Brock Lesnar made an in-person appearance and took part in his first pro wrestling angle since April this past Saturday night — it just wasn’t at a WWE show. While the Raw roster, with The Undertaker and Ronda Rousey as the special attractions, were at Madison Square Garden for a house show, Lesnar was at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas setting up his return to mixed martial arts. 

WON NEWSLETTER: (July 16, 2018) Daniel Cormier/Brock Lesnar fallout from UFC 226

Daniel Cormier and Brock Lesnar and details behind their proposed fight as well as how this relates to Lesnar in WWE is the lead story in the current issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The issue also covers the G-1 Special at the Cow Palace as well as G-1 notes for week one.

Look at why Cormier’s win of the heavyweight title is very different from his light heavyweight win, the arguments about the greatest MMA fighter of all-time and others in that discussion, as well as the drug testing issue, the Cormier-Lesnar angle, and the earliest date Cormier vs. Lesnar can take place.

Have a more in-depth look at how the WWE and UFC television deals went down.

Read about the WWE stock price, how this complicates talks of a sale of the company, and current market value.

Get the update on a lot of WWE injuries and returns, Dwayne Johnson and the presidency, Ronda Rousey advertising, Paul Heyman being at Raw last week and why he was there, wrestling becoming part of Kane’s Mayoral race, changes in the 2018 PPV schedule, and a second Jim Ross autobiography.

Read about the New Japan Cow Palace show, looking at the injuries to Hiromu Takahashi and Jim Ross with updates, thoughts on New Japan injuries, neck problems from the past and in other companies, why the injury probably took place, and what happened after the show with Jim Ross.

This issue has full coverage of UFC 226, with business notes, early PPV numbers, poll results and match-by-match coverage.

Read the updated thoughts on Extreme Rules.

Get in-depth information on the Enzo Amore situation after the police investigation ended.

Look at WWE’s biggest U.S. house show of the year so far in Madison Square Garden featuring Undertaker and Ronda Rousey.

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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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight covering Extreme Rules and the latest news as well as taking your e-mail questions to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com. I also did a show last night with Garrett Gonzalez talking G-1, UFC last night, ROH to MSG and lots of news.

The big news today is the expectation of a return of Hulk Hogan on the show. A Hogan return should get some big interest which they need with the strong baseball competition this week that would under normal circumstances hurt ratings. Hogan hasn’t been announced as back, but as noted, he flew into Cleveland and WWE announced him back in the Hall of Fame, and it would make sense for him to be back and then appear on Raw to help boost the rating against Home Run Derby and coming off last Monday’s record low rating for the show.

It’s notable in this era the idea of flying him into a different airport to hide things made no sense because a number of people on the flight to Cleveland noted Hogan being on the flight and tweeted photos of him. 

Dwayne Johnson’s movie Skyscraper is estimated at doing $25,485,000 for the weekend, which is under the $30 million projections. However, the expectation was the movie would be a bigger hit internationally, as so many of Johnson’s recent movies have turned out to be. It was third for the weekend behind “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp.”

Entertainment Weekly gave Skyscraper a C- rating, saying it was a knockoff of Die Hard and Towering Inferno but without the great qualities of those two classic movies, and noting it’s missing a great heel like Alan Rickman was in Die Hard. (thanks to Jake Koch)

This is the Kambi odds you can beat over and under on for the star ratings tonight:

  • Rollins vs. Ziggler ****1/4
  • Matt Hardy & Wyatt vs. Axel & Dallas **
  • Strowman vs. Owens **1/2
  • Bliss vs. Jax **1/2
  • Balor vs. Corbin **1/2
  • Reigns vs. Lashley ***3/4
  • Team Hell No vs. Bludgeon Brothers **3/4
  • Carmella vs. Asuka *3/4
  • Jeff Hardy vs. Nakamura **3/4
  • A.J. Styles vs. Rusev ***3/4

Kambi also has odds as to what the highest rated match will deliver in star ratings as well as which will be higher rated between the two main events of Styles vs Rusev and Lashley vs Reigns.

Nothing from pro wrestling or MMA has made the Google search this for the weekend, although Hulk Hogan and Extreme Rules will for sure today. For yesterday, the Manny Pacquiao vs. Lucas Matthyse fight was No. 3 with 500,000 searches, trailing only the World Cup and Serena Williams.

WWE

  • A note as to why the 9/1 WWE show will be at the Wolstein Center and not the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland is because the Quicken Loans Arena is closed until early October due to massive renovations being made. They will also be closing it part of next summer for more renovations. WWE was asked if they could put off their Cleveland date until October but WWE told the arena that the way the schedule is, that wouldn’t be possible, so they booked the smaller place. (thanks to Brian Dulik)
  • An 11/2 Raw show in Brussels, Belgium at Forest National Arena has been moved to May 9, 2019. The key is that tells you the annual spring WWE tour will be in May, or at least starting late April into May. (thanks to Henk Mulder)

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Jacques Magnin, who wrestled in the 70s as Andre Carpentier and Jackie Wiecz and was the nephew of legendary Edouard Carpentier, passed away on 7/8 at the age of 77 from cancer. He had been living in a care home in Amos, Quebec. He started wrestling in 1960 and came to Montreal in 1969. After coming in for what was supposed to be a short stay, he never left Quebec the rest of his life.
  • Speaking of Carpenter, he will be inducted into the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame on 9/25. (thanks to Pat Laprade
  • World Class Wrestling Revolution announced that MTV “Teen Mom” star turned porn star Farrah Abraham has signed with the promotion. The promotion said they want to combine pop culture with pro wrestling. Another porn star, Jesse Jane, has worked for the promotion and is set to return in August. There is no word when Abraham will start.
  • The CWL promotion in Michigan which has gotten Detroit TV has announced tapings on 9/29 in Brighton, 10/6 at Fowlerville High School, 10/13 at Pinckney High School and 10/20 at Salem High School in Canton, MI.
  • Pro Wrestling Eve from yesterday in London: Charli Evans b Laura DiMatteo, Rhia O’Reilly b Millie McKenzie, Jamie Hayter won three-way over Erin Angel and Addy Starr, Nina Samuels b Mischa East, Kay Lee Ray b Killer Kelly, Toni Storm b Jetta, Kasey Owens b Charlie Morgan. They talked about a Storm vs. Meiko Satomura no time limit match at a future show. Morgan missed a crazy balcony dive and went through a table. They announced that in their She 1 tournament that Madison Eagles will face Shazza McKenzie on 8/11 on a Pro Wrestling Australia show. They also announced the creation of the Eve International title on 9/29 with an eight woman tournament at Walthamstow Assembly Hall and that there will be a 9/27 show with Hana Kimura, Kris Wolf, Kay Lee ray, Toni Storm, Jordynne Grace, and Chihiro Hashimoto. (thanks to Jake Koch) 
  • IPW Hardcore Wrestling from last night in Port Richey, FL before more than 400 fans: Joey Janela missed the show due a flight problem coming in from Los Angeles. He was to defend their title in the main event. Billy Fives & Mike Sullivan & Lex Lovett b Precipice & Saeive Al Sabah, Austin Theory b Scoot Andrews, Steve Madison b Mitch Mitchell, The End b Shane Twins, Francisco Ciatso b Effy, Bruce Santee b Logan Creed, Southern Posse NC Dirty Blondes, Darby Allin b Sideshow in an anything goes mach. Fantastic match for the hardcore style. (thanks to Chris Hendricks)
  • Bar Wrestling from last night in Baldwin Park, CA: Scorpio Sky b Shane Strickland, Laura James & Heather Monroe b Priscilla Kelly & Keira Hogan, Brody King b AR Fox, Yuma & Kevin Martenson & Killer Kross & Karl Fredericks b Watts & Reno Scum & Mat Basso, Peter Avalon won four-way over Kikutaro, Joey Janela and Dan Barry, Joey Ryan & Colt Cabana b Super Panda & Luchasaurus, Jeff Cobb b Eli Drake. (thanks to Jake Koch)
  • House of Hardcore from Friday night in Melbourne, Australia: Al Snow b Mike Burr, Billy Gunn b Lance Archer, Madison Eagles won three-way over Erika Reid and Angelina Love, Nick Aldis b Jonah Rock to keep the NWA title, Mark Cometti & Swoggle b Kenny & Mikey of Squad World Order, Tommy Dreamer b Joey Mercury first blood, Willie Mack over Phoenix, JXT and Slade Mercer to keep the HOH twitch title, Bully Ray b Mohamed Al Vaez in a tables match.
  • House of Hardcore from last night in Sydney, Australia: Billy Gunn b Lance Archer, Joey Mercury b Caveman Ugg, Al Snow b Mohamed Ali Vaez, Nick Aldis b Robbie Eagles to keep NWA title (said to be match of the night), Angelina Love won three-way over Madison Eagles and Shazza McKenzie, Willie Mack b Andy Phoenix to keep the Twitch title,Bully ray & Tommy Dreamer & Swoggle b Squad World Order.
  • Defy Wrestling from Friday night in Seattle: Nicole Matthews b Taya Valkyrie, Shane Strickland & Artemis Spencer & Billy Suede b MJF & Mike Santiago & Ethan HD, Carl Randers b Colt Cabana, Randy Myers b John Morrison, Luchasaurus b King Khash, Schjff b Ricky Starks. The next show is 7/20 in Portland, OR at the Hawthorne Theater plus 8/9 and 8/10 in Washington Hall in Seattle with Progress and Defy back-to-back.
  • Stardom from today in Tokyo: Hanan vs. Rina vs. Hina was a 5:00 draw, Dust & Kylie Rae b Jungle Kyona & Ruaka, Kagetsu & Hazuki & Natsu Sumire b Natsuko Tora & Kaori Yoneyama & Leo Onozaki, Momo Watanabe & Konami & Viper & AZM b Mayu Iwatani & Starlight Kid & Saki Kashima & Shiki Shibusawa, Tam Nakano b Britt Baker. 
  • USA Championship Wrestling on 8/5 at 3 p.m. at the Oman Arena in Jackson, TN, with Jerry Lawler vs. James Ellsworth, Buff Bagwell (managed by Bill Dundee) vs. Matt Riviera (managed by Jimmy Hart) and Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson vs. Starr Power. They will also be taping TV at 6:30 p.m. in Studio A of Oman Arena.
  • Progress has added Walter vs. Mark Andrews for 8/12 in Livonia, MI to go along with Jimmy Havoc vs. TK Cooper, plus Toni Storm, Jinny, Pete Dunne, Trent Seven, Tyler Bate, Flash Morgan Webster, Jack Sexsmith, CCK, and Eddie Dennis.

Daily Professional Wrestling History: NJPW strips Brock Lesnar of IWGP title

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