Daily Update: Kane sworn in, All In, Hebner reffing NWA title match

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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. 

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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.

FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • Glenn Jacobs (Kane) was sworn in as mayor of Knox County, Tennessee at the Knoxville City-County Building today ahead of tomorrow being his first official day on the job. Jacobs did his first weekly Facebook Live video and also posted a picture of himself putting together a chair, captioning it with “Hard at work on my first day in office…” Dustin Rhodes, who’s good friends with Jacobs, was with him at today’s event.
  • WWE stock closed this week at $87.41 per share.
  • Jessamyn Duke wrestled in her second pro wrestling match at NXT’s house show in Jacksonville, Florida last night. Duke teamed with fellow Four Horsewomen Shayna Baszler & Marina Shafir to defeat Io Shirai, Nikki Cross & Dakota Kai in the main event.
  • Today is Jeff Hardy’s 41st birthday. Mickie James also turned 39 today, and Ember Moon turned 30. WWE marked Hardy’s birthday by uploading video of 10 of his biggest dives.
  • Kevin Owens spoke to CBS Local Sports about wanting to face Finn Balor at WrestleMania: “There’s so many guys I wish I could wrestle, but if it was up to me, whatever I would do would lead to me and Finn Bálor at WrestleMania next year, because he and I came to WWE the exact same time. We didn’t know each other before we got there. We became pretty close pretty quickly when we did get to the NXT Performance Center. He’s been my best friend ever since, so I’d love to share the ring with him on that stage in WrestleMania.”
  • Sami Zayn lobbied for Cyndi Lauper to be inducted into the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame: “I only today realized that @CyndiLauper is not in the @WWE Hall of Fame celebrity wing. As part of the ‘rock n’ wrestling connection’ with MTV in the 80’s, she was CRUCIAL to WWE crossing over into mainstream. Arguably no celebrity more deserving. #InductCyndi”
  • WWE is uploading collections on Stephanie McMahon and The Hardys to the Network on Monday.
  • After they had been feuding on social media last year, Hulk Hogan posted a picture of himself and Brutus Beefcake last night: “Great hanging out with Brutus again, good to see that ‘all is well’ my brother. HH”
  • 205 Live general manager Drake Maverick is the guest on today’s episode of the Edge & Christian podcast.

Pro Wrestling

  • All In takes place from the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois tomorrow. The show is available through pay-per-view, Fite TV, and HonorClub. All In is included with HonorClub VIP subscriptions, and other HonorClub subscribers can purchase it with a 50 percent off discount. All In: Zero Hour will air exclusively on WGN America at 6 p.m. Eastern time before the four-hour main card begins at 7 p.m. The show will also be uploaded to New Japan World, though when it will be added is “to be determined.” Here’s what’s been announced for the event:
    The Young Bucks & Kota Ibushi vs. Rey Mysterio, Fenix & Bandido
    Kenny Omega vs. Pentagon Jr.
    NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Nick Aldis defending against Cody Rhodes
    Kazuchika Okada vs. Marty Scurll
    ROH World Champion Jay Lethal defending against the winner of the Over Budget Battle Royale
    Madison Rayne vs. Tessa Blanchard vs. Britt Baker vs. Chelsea Green
    Hangman Page vs. Joey Janela (Chicago Street Fight)
    “Arrow” star Stephen Amell vs. Christopher Daniels
    15-participant Over Budget Battle Royale for an ROH World Championship shot against Jay Lethal later in the night (Moose, Rocky Romero, Colt Cabana, Jordynne Grace, Ethan Page, Brian Cage, Billy Gunn, Jimmy Jacobs, Marko Stunt, Brandon Cutler, and Punishment Martinez have been confirmed) (All In: Zero Hour)
    The Briscoes vs. Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky (All In: Zero Hour)
  • At today’s All In press conference/weigh-in, it was revealed that Earl Hebner will be the referee for Nick Aldis and Cody Rhodes’ NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship match. Hebner, Jerry Lynn, Rick Knox, Todd Sinclair, and Paul Turner were announced as the referees for the show in June.
  • Dustin Rhodes tweeted a message to his brother wishing him the best ahead of All In: “Hey little brother @CodyRhodes , I want to wish you the very best as you go #AllIn and fight for the coveted #NWAWorldHeavyweightChampionship . The world is watching you and what you have done is incredible. Try to enjoy the magic created. #ILoveYou #AllIn #BeAtHomeWatchin”
  • Cody did an interview with the Sporting News about All In.
  • Ray, who was a wrestler from Hong Kong who competed in Japan and for Shimmer, passed away at 36 years old this week due to a brain tumor. Shimmer sent their condolences to her family, friends, and coworkers: “Deepest condolences to all family, friends, and co-workers of one of the most athletic performers ever to step foot in a SHIMMER ring, Ray. She was part of some of the most exciting bouts in our history, and we were very fortunate to have had Ray as part of the SHIMMER family.”
  • The Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi), Kazuchika Okada, Jushin Thunder Liger, Will Ospreay, Zack Sabre Jr., Juice Robinson, and Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) will be doing meet and greets at NJPW’s LA Dojo on September 29. Tickets go on sale on September 5. Prices are $30 for the singles wrestlers and $60 for the tag teams.

UFC/MMA

Daily Professional Wrestling History: Kensuke Sasaki wins IWGP Heavyweight title

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