Daily Update: Kevin Owens on big Quebec show, additions to UFC 195

Matt Farmer joined us for the first of several Hall of Fame shows on a Wrestling Observer radio that’s up right now: Wrestling Observer Radio 10/22: Observer Hall of Fame discussion with Matt Farmer, tons of news and more!

The latest WOL was just posted:  Wrestling Observer Live 10/22: Weakest UFC headliner ever, all the news of the day!

And of course you can’t miss this one! Filthy Four Daily 10/22: Tom Lawlor talks his concussion and then ten hottest superstars in WWE

We’re looking for reports on tonight’s NXT TV tapings in Winter Park, FL at Dave Meltzer

The Finn Balor vs. Apollo Crews NXT title match is scheduled to be taped early on tonight’s tapings.

Schedule:

Smackdown at 8 p.m. on Syfy

Seth Rollins vs. Cesaro non-title, Paige vs. Nikki Bella, Lucha Dragons vs. King Barrett & Sheamus, Ryback vs. Bo Dallas, and New Day vs. Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose non-title

UFC Unleashed airs at 7:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1 with an episode spotlighting strawweight fighters Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Paige VanZant, and Michelle Waterson.

UFC Reloaded airs at 8:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1 has the UFC 186: Johnson vs. Horiguchi pay-per- view main card from earlier this year.

WWE SmackDown on airs on Syfy at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT with Seth Rollins vs. Cesaro, Paige vs. Nikki Bella.Miz TV with Summer Rae and Dolph Ziggler, Sheamus and King Barrett vs. The Lucha Dragons, Ryback vs. Bo Dallas. and New Day (Kofi Kingston & Big E) vs. Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose.

New Japan World has a live show at 6 a.m. Eastern time tomorrow morning from Tokorozawa

  • Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask & Captain New Japan vs. Sho Tanaka & Yohei Komatsu & Juice Robinson
  • Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Jay White & David Finlay non-title
  • Ryusuke Taguchi & Mascara Dorada & Kushida & Alex Shelley vs. Kenny Omega & Chase Owens & Young Bucks
  • Katsuyori Shibata & Hirooki Goto vs. Cody Hall & Tama Tonga
  • Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo
  • Shinsuke Nakamura & Toru Yano & Yoshi-Hashi vs. Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows & Bad Luck Fale
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Ricochet & Matt Sydal vs. Kazuchika Okada & Rocky Romero & Trent Baretta

New Japan also opens its junior heavyweight tag team tournament on Friday night/Saturday morning at 5:30 a.m. Eastern and 2:30 a.m. Pacific time from Korakuen Hall

  • Togi Makabe & Hirooki Goto & Katsuyori Shibata & Captain New Japan vs. Yohei Komatsu & Sho Tanaka & David Finlay & Jay White
  • Shinsuke Nakamura & Toru Yano & Kazushi Sakuraba & Yoshi-Hashi vs. Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows & Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi& Tomoaki Honma & Juice Robinson vs. Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo

Tag team tournament first round matches:

  • Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly
  • Rocky Romero & Baretta vs. Kenny Omega & Chase Owens
  • Mascara Dorada & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Young Bucks
  • Matt Sydal & Ricochet vs. Alex Shelley & Kushida

****

Figure Four Weekly:

Jerry McDevitt cuts quite the legal promo on Konstantine Kyros as part of his latest screed in the ongoing legal battle over WWE’s alleged role in wrestlers’ brain damage.

Figure Four Weekly October 19, 2015: Latest Update On WWE Concussion Lawsuits

****

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The WWE’s record low ratings, even with bringing in all the big names on Monday, is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer newsletter.  We look at the ratings, the competition, the build to Hell in a Cell, and what type of programming is and isn’t working in ratings now.  We also look more at John Layfield’s interview with Eric Bischoff and WCW and how pro wrestling has changed since the death of WCW, as well as more on the political goings-on in Mexico, what modern era wrestlers have had the most four star matches and a wrestling show in a few weeks that you don’t know of that is going to have a paid attendance of more than 30,000 people.  CLICK HERE FOR A FULL WRESTLING OBSERVER PREVIEW

Check out the latest issue:  Wrestling Observer Newsletter October 26, 2015: Raw ratings woes continue, More Eric Bischoff notes

You can also order the print Observer right now and get it delivered to your door via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to dave@wrestlingobserver.com” target=”_blank”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com

You can also order print issues at www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

Rates are:

For the United States, it is $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.

CLICK HERE FOR A FULL WRESTLING OBSERVER PREVIEW

If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today.  With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today. We’ve got coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits into those descriptions over the past 11 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue.

Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.

THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • Judge Pamela Campbell ruled that, at Hulk Hogan’s expense, Gawker must turn over their computers for an investigation by a court-appointed forensic examiner. This is to determine whether or not Gawker had anything to do with the leak of Hogan’s racist comments during one of the videos of him and Heather Cole. If it was determined that Gawker did it, they could lose the equivalent of a default judgment.
  • Monday’s RAW in San Diego has 6500 sold thus far for a building that sells out at 10,900.
  • WWE’s 12/26 MSG show will have (as of now) U.S. Champion John Cena vs. Sheamus and Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens vs. Dean Ambrose.
  • Speaking of Owens, he will be appearing Sunday night on “Tout le monde en parle”, a very popular talk show in Quebec. The show is being taped tonight, and gets about 2 million viewers in Quebec alone. This is, by far, his biggest mainstream media appearance to date.

UFC

  • Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson vs. Neil Magny has been added to January 2nd’s UFC 195 card in a battle of rising welterweight contenders. Albert Tumenov vs. Lorenz Larkin has also been added in another welterweight fight, making a card that is already full of interesting welterweight stand-up fights like welterweight champion Robbie Lawler defending the title against Carlos Condit. Tickets for that show go on sale Friday at 10 AM PST with prices ranging from $104-$804. There is a pre-sale going on now for Fight Club members.
  • In addition to the Dublin show on Saturday, UFC Fight Pass is also airing a show from Russia on Friday afternoon at 1 pm eastern. Fight Nights Petersburg is headlined by a Light Heavyweight fight between Mikhail Mokhnatkin and Ednaldo Oliveira and two women’s flyweights on the undercard.
  • Conor McGregor sent out a tweet on Wednesday night offering to step in and fight Dustin Poirier and save the UFC Dublin main event. Of course, this had almost no chance of happening as it would be foolish to risk a multi-million dollar payday in December against Jose Aldo for a Fight Night event on Fight Pass.
  • Because the Joe Duffy vs. Dustin Poirier main event is off due to Duffy suffering from a concussion from a Saturday night training injury, the UFC has offered refunds at the point of purchase for all tickets for Saturday’s show in Dublin.

OTHER MMA

  • Bellator announced ‘Bellator 147’ headlined by Josh Thomson vs. Pablo Villaseca for 12/4 at San Jose (CA) State University. Tickets go on sale Friday at a starting price of $30.
  • World Series of Fighting and IMG have renewed their worldwide distribution deal. Currently, WSOF is on television in 70 countries and territories including Australia, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Peru and Russia. They are also on The Fight Network in Canada.

OTHER WRESTLING

  • Bushwacker Luke will be appearing form Great North Wrestling Nov. 27th in Rockland ON. He cut a promo for the match that you can see here.
  • While it was reported in Germany by the promotion that Big Ryck (the former Ezekiel Jackson) had said he wrestled his last match over the weekend, his booking agent, Bill Behrens, has said that he is not retired, is still wrestling, and is taking independent bookings, flying out of San Francisco.
  • Seiya Sanada is offering a $200 max flat rate for flight expenses for paid wrestling bookings to help control travel expenses for those who book him, flying out of Detroit. Also available include A.J. Styles (no dates available until 2016), Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian, Matt Sydal, Jay Lethal (only bookings outside the U.S. & Canada, he has an exclusive ROH contract for North America), Sean Waltman, Vampiro, Drew Galloway, Eric Young, James Storm, Bobby Roode, Mike Posey, Corey Hollis and a lot more.?
  • GFW announced a 6 PM meet and greet prior to tomorrow night’s TV tapings in Las Vegas at The Orleans Arena. It will include Karen Jarrett, PJ Black, Brian Myers, Nick Aldis, Bobby Roode, Amber Gallows, Chris Mordetzky, Seiya Sanada, Kongo Kong with Henry Maxwell and Cyrus Fees.  Those who have tickets to the show can get into the meet and greet if they come to the Southwest entrance no later than 6 p.m.  If you arrive after 6 p.m., there is no guarantee you will be allowed in.  This is only open to those who have purchased P1 tickets.  If you have purchased tickets for the show that are not P1 tickets, you can come to the meet and greet for $35.
  • CHIKARA runs on Saturday night at 7 PM. at the Jeffersonville Arena in Jeffersonville IN headlined by Chuck Taylor vs Blaster McMassive and Arik Cannon & Darin Corbin vs. Missile Assault Man & Lucas Calhoun.
  • GOUGE on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Fuquay Varina, NC at the Draft Line Brewery.
  • Crossfire Wrestling on 12/5 at 4 p.m. at the Merritton Community Centre in St. Catherines, ONT headlined by Cody Deaner vs. Eric Young
  • Acclaim Pro Wrestling on 11/21 in Ottawa, ONT at the Polish Combatants Centre
  • Prairie Wrestling Alliance on 10/24 in Calgary at the Century Casino.
  • A new match on NWAClassics.com this week is Tommy Rich vs. Kamala.
  • Vancouver Island Pro Wrestling on 11/20 in Victoria, BC at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 91.
  • Blue Demon Promotions on Saturday in El Paso at the Buchanan’s Event Centre has Blue Demon Jr. & Cassandro vs. Pakal & Peluchin Maldad
  • FMLL on Sunday in El Monte, CA at the Florentine Gardens has Ultimo Guerrero defending the FMLL light heavyweight title against Shocker, plus Pirata Morgan & Cobarde vs. Nicho & Jaque Mate.
  • Another show in El Paso Saturday at the Southwest University Events Center has La Sombra & Rush vs. Volador Jr. & Mr. Aguila.
  • Ultimate Championship Wrestling on 11/27 in Bay City, MI has a special show to raise money for Cassidy Christie, the 11-year-old daughter of local wrestler Pete Christie, who is battling cancer.  A number of wrestlers are donated their services to this cause.  Headliners are Brian Christopher & Scotty 2 Hotty reuniting as 2 Cool, plus Sabu.
  • Coastal Championship Wrestling from last night in Coral Springs, FL:  Maxwell Chicago b Made Man, Santana Garrett b Tammy Lynn, Cousin Earl b Danny Embry, El Heroes Byronico b Ricky Rush, Iron City Mauler & Guadeloupe Brothers b J-Dawg Brooks & The Assassins.
  • Santana Garrett is leaving the U.S. for Japan today and starts Sunday for the Stardom promotion.  If you purchased tickets specifically to see her for tomorrow night’s Championship Wrestling Entertainment show in Port St. Lucie and Saturday’s Riot Pro Wrestling show in Melbourne, FL, tickets will be refunded up until the first 15 minutes of the show. (thanks to Al Haft)
  • Viva La Lucha on 10/30 in Arcadia, FL at the Turner-Agri Civic Center with Silver King, Rey Bucanero, El Hijo de L.A. Park, Damian 666, Bestia 666, Extreme Tiger, Rey Hours, Willie Mack, Ivelisse Velez, Jessicka Havok and more.
  • 40 years ago today in Miami Beach before 3,274 fans:  Dusty Rhodes b King Curtis Iaukea to retain the Florida title, Mark Lewin b Harley Race, Rocky Johnson & Ciclon Negro & Omar Negro (Buddy Moreno/Omar Atlas) b Larry Hennig & Bob Roop & J.J. Dillon, Ricky Gibson & Jimmy Golden b The Masked Superstars, Mike Graham b Roger Kirby via DQ to retain the U.S. jr. title, Billy Robinson b Bobby Duncum, Mike George b Tony Charles (thanks to Barry Rose)
  • NFC tomorrow night in Kennesaw, GA at the Electric Cowboy features MMA fights at 8 p.m.  You must be over the age of 18 to attend.
  • Pivotshare is doing channels for a number of wrestling organizations for video content at:
  • ICW OnDemand
  • Combat Zone Wrestling
  • Monster Factory Pro Wrestling
  • Women In Wrestling Network
  • Smash Wrestling
  • Progress Wrestling
  • Absolute Intense Wrestling

ON THIS DAY IN PRO WRESTLING HISTORY INTERNATIONAL (thanks to Graeme Cameron)

1966 – George & Sandy Scott beat Brute Bernard & Skull Murphy to win the IWA tag titles

1995 – Chapparita Asari beat Momoe Nakanishi in Fukuoka to win the WWWA super lightweight title

1997 – Jaguar Yokota beat Lioness Asuka in Tokyo to win the TWWF title

2000 – Tamon Honda & Naomichi Marufuji beat Masao Inoue & Yoshinobu Kanemaru to win the WEW tag titles

2001 – Keiji Muto & Taiyo Kea beat Genichiro Tenryu & Yoji Anjo to win the All Japan world tag title

2005 – Zack Sabre beat Falcon to win the NWA Hammerlock jr. heavyweight title

2005 – Shuji Kondo beat Taka Michinoku in Tokyo to win the All Japan world jr. title

2005 – Too Cold Scorpio beat Mohammed Yone in Tokushima to win the GHC open weight title

2013 – Suwama & Joe Doering beat Jun Akiyama & Go Shiozaki in Niigata to win the All Japan world tag title

2014 – Atsushi Aoki & Hikaru Sato beat Ultimo Dragon & Yoshinobu Kanemaru in Tokyo to win the All Japan jr. tag title