Daily Update: Lesnar vs Orton, UFC 200 feedback

UFC 200 Fallout

Most of the talk revolves around Brock Lesnar’s performance in beating Mark Hunt last night. Lesnar seemed very happy at the press conference, saying this was the happiest he’s been in a long time. You would watch it and get the impression he will return to UFC, but he was noncommittal about it saying he’d go home, but when asked about Vince McMahon letting him or not letting him, said he was going to do whatever he wanted. 

He got $2.5 million in base pay, the largest announced base pay for a fighter in company history. He will also get a percentage of the PPV, so if the show does great he could earn far more than that. It’s too early to get a number on it, but we may have some early indicators in a few days. Predictions were high.

There was a plug for the Lesnar vs. Orton match during the show.  Also, a 2K17 WWE video game commercial built around Lesnar.  

In the U.K., where the show airs on television as opposed to PPV, there were a ton of WWE video game commercials.

Very unscientific feedback we received on bar trafficking is that numbers were much larger than recent shows, but down from Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey shows. Also, the crowds were a different mix, and we saw a little of that live at the show. Lots of bar reports reported people leaving after the Lesnar fight and not staying to see the Miesha Tate vs. Amanda Nunes fight that went on last.

TSN in Canada led off the sports report with the Lesnar vs. Hunt results and news. It was all over ESPN and FS 1 last night.

We’re looking for your thoughts on last night’s UFC 200, 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 on last night’s WWE show in Toronto and today’s shows in London, ONT (Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, A.J. Styles, Sami Zayn, Usos, Cesaro, Charlotte, Natalya, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, The Miz, Sheamus, Apollo Crews) and Fort Wayne, IN (Big Show, Kane, Bray Wyatt, Braun Strowman Erick Rowan, Dudleys, Rusev, Dolph Ziggler, Enzo, Cass, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch).

Raw will be live on yonight from Detroit. A lot has been announced including the return of Vince McMahon, who is going to give a review on Shane and Stephanie McMahon and perhaps announce the COO’s running Raw and Smackdown with the draft next week. Announced are Sasha Banks vs. Dana Brooke, Rusev vs. Zack Ryder for the U.S. title and a Battle Royal to determine the top contender for the IC title.

Smackdown, the final taped episode of the show, will be done on Tuesday night in Grand Rapids, MI.

TNA Impact has an almost live show out of Orlando headlined by Bobby Lashley vs. Eddie Edwards with the TNA & X titles both at stake on the Destination X show. It’s the final episode of Impact on Tuesday. TNA will also be taping Wednesday in Orlando so we’ll be looking for reports on that show.   

Wednesday is a crazy night of television with a live UFC show, Ultima Lucha Dos, Finn Balor vs. Shinsuke Nakamura on NXT and the first round of the Cruiserweight Classic tournament.  

THE ROUNDUP

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READ IT HERE: Figure Four Weekly 6/27/2016: WWE concussion lawsuit update, more – The latest information in WWE’s concussion lawsuit. 

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Wrestling Observer Newsletter

READ IT HERE:  July 11, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Preview for massive UFC weekend, including UFC 200, plus tons of news – A full preview of UFC’s massive weekend including UFC 200, plus tons of news and notes.

The lead story is the biggest week in UFC history and an update on UFC sales talk, all in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. There is also a look at the WWE brand split from a business standpoint and update changes since the original plans were made, cover the return of Shinsuke Nakamura to Japan as a WWE star, Final Deletion and a history of pro wrestling on July 4th.

In this week’s issue, there is more information on UFC’s record numbers they are hoping to beat, the role of Brock Lesnar, the difference between Lesnar in UFC in 2008 and 2016, price changes, the prior record gate, Lesnar vs. Hunt, wrestlers vs. strikers as they age, what happens if Lesnar wins, what WWE did get from UFC, advertising Lesnar to the WWE audience, looking at the different fights and the card.

The WWE draft, the changes in the WWE audience, doing additional PPV and the economics of it, what should be looked at to determine if the brand split has worked and why the moves have been made, is covered. Plus, more on the WWE tour this past week going to Hawaii for the first time in six years, and Shinsuke Nakamura returning to Japan as the star of the tour.

What Stephanie McMahon said about Lesnar and his response, Stephanie McMahon honored, Hideo Itami’s return, update on Jerry Lawler, A.J. Styles, Hiroshi Tanahashi talks Styles and his ring psychology, Battleground, new programs planned, Dr. Chris Amann vs. C.M. Punk lawsuit update, Nike opposing WWE in trademark case, and another group of names WWE has shown some interest in, all covered in this week’s Observer.

A big history piece on pro wrestling on July 4th, dating back 136 years, including one of the most legendary matches from 100 years ago, and the big July 4th events of the 80s. Why July 4th hasn’t had a lot of major shows, but there have been some major historical events on the day as well as why for more than three decades no super shows were held on the day, is covered. The last year’s of the regional era and the beginning of the national era with the WWF vs. Jim Crockett Promotions, and much more in this week’s issue.

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Wrestling Observer Newsletter BACK ISSUE

READ IT HERE: May 31, 1999 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Death of Owen Hart – The life and death of Owen Hart, details on WWF Over the Edge, plus tons of news.

SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I talk last night’s show and its ramifications on our latest Wrestling Observer Radio show.

While Brock Lesnar was the big winner, so was Vince McMahon. It was a risk, and a substantial one, to put one of his two biggest stars in that situation. Lesnar was the underdog in Vegas and it really was remarkable that a guy can come back from nearly five years off and beat a top ten guy the way he did. The win opened the door to bigger fights. The problem is the UFC heavyweight division is thin. He was supposed to fight Junior Dos Santos years back coming off coaching Ultimate Fighter but his diverticulitis flared up. But I don’t see that as a big money fight. 

Stipe Miocic vs. Alistair Overeem takes place on 9/10 for the championship. It becomes a question would they go with Lesnar for a title shot ahead of Cain Velasquez, who looked more impressive than Lesnar last night but wouldn’t draw as much in the same position. UFC does book for business and Lesnar challenging would mean more money, but to give him a title match he and Vince McMahon would have to agree on several more matches.

Lesnar winning the UFC title would be remarkable. Lesnar himself said that he’s got a lot he needs to work on but felt he did well on what he said was six weeks worth of training. Dana White told The Fight Network that the deal to get Lesnar was put together by meetings with both Lesnar’s team as well as Vince McMahon and HHH. “Vince and I have had our ups and downs and Vince is a tough character to deal with. He’s an animal. It’s one of the things that I respect about him. I think he’s loosened up a bit on the UFC.”   

There was an exchange today at the UFC Fan Expo where Donald Cerrone used a homophobic slur when doing a Q&A with C.M. Punk. They were talking about last night’s show and then Cerrone said that Daniel Cormier vs. Anderson Silva was the worst fight, saying it was “Terrible. How are you going to give up weight and then fight like a f*g, man?” Fans cheered that line, which made it worse. 

Punk then said that the same people who cheered when Cerrone said that were cheering for Brock Lesnar who employed the exact same strategy as Cormier last night. When Punk said it was the same thing, Cerrone said that Cormier had a 30 pound weight advantage and Silva took the fight on two days notice and said Cormier should have stood and fought. Punk said if he was fighting Silva, he’d want to take him down as well. 

UFC works heavily with the LGBTQ community, and in fact crowned its first champion from that community last night in Amanda Nunes. No word at this point if Cerrone will be disciplined but they really need to at this point. I know how people grew up using those terms in a different era but when you’re a public figure, particularly in a major company like UFC, it reflects so badly on the company and the sport. 

This comes just days after the organization introduced a “We Are All Fighters” initiative as a partnership with the LGBTQ Center in Las Vegas and fighters were wearing those shirts, including Cormier, during the weekend.

On Australian PPV, the feed dropped out during the Tate vs. Nunes fight and people missed most of it. They were back for the finish but then ended up airing the FS1 post-show panel being set up instead of the PPV. Nothing has been announced regarding how this will be handled.

Google searches this weekend:

  • UFC 200 – 2 million. Very good, but the biggest shows have done well ahead of that number.
  • Brock Lesnar – 1 million
  • Jon Jones 1 million 
  • John Cena – 500,000 searches. This came because of how much talk there was about a hoax that he passed away in a car accident. I had a number of people bring that up to me so it was one of those rumors that spread quickly.
  • Anderson Silva 200,000
  • Cat Zingano 100,000
  • Eddie Alvarez 100,000
  • Jose Aldo 50,000
  • Mark Hunt 50,000
  • Cain Velasquez 50,000   

WWE

  • John Cena was on ESPN yesterday plugging hosting the ESPYs, and talked about Lesnar, saying ESPN should do a 30 for 30 on him because he’s the most amazing athlete, saying he’s got the speed of an NFL cornerback in a 300 pound body. He said if Lesnar doesn’t win, it’s just not his night, but said he expected him to win.
  • Paul Heyman starts tomorrow on a speaking tour of the U.K. so it would be impossible for him to be on Raw.   
  • Nikki Bella on Twitter wrote that her final CAT scan on her neck is in a few weeks. She’s been teasing and hoping for a return. 
  • E! promoting John Cena here. 
  • The stock had a big last few days of the week, closing at $19.51 per share, largely due to the market upturn.   
  • Randy Orton is promoting his match with Brock Lesnar and congratulated Lesnar for his win. He noted that he and Lesnar started their careers together as part of OVW and is pushing the match as Viper vs. Beast. 
  • Booker T interviews Randy Orton on Lesnar and other subjects stating at the 1:07 mark.
  • Alberto Del Rio doing promotional work in India this week.
  • A story on Mick Foley’s comedy shows is here.
  • Jim Ross talks Brock Lesnar. Ross on why Lesnar is the greatest combat sports athlete of all-time: “Absolutely, no doubt,” WWE Hall of Famer announcer and former company executive Jim Ross told Sporting News. “People don’t understand how unique the skillset is to be a sports entertainer. It’s a real niche world and you got to be really skilled, have a good feel for the charisma side and the showbiz side. There deal there is he’s got to look like he’s killing somebody and not even though he’s more physical than anybody on the WWE roster even in the showbiz presentation of the genre. There’s nobody probably more physical than him. And when you are one of the pro wrestlers working with him in that showbiz presentation, you got to know you better lace your boots up because it’s not going to be a ballet. Ross continues that discussion and Vince McMahon’s reaction to seeing Lesnar for the first time.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • TNA will do doing an eight-man Bound for Glory playoff starting with the first Thursday show on 7/21. It’ll be a tournament for the Bound for Glory title shot at the champion.  Drew Galloway, Matt Hardy and Ethan Carter III will be in the tournament. That show is billed as a “supersize extended episode” meaning there will be an overrun. 
  • Chris Sabin got his left eye badly messed up on the Friday night ROH show in Baltimore. It was swollen shut, and he appeared have a gash under and over the eye and nose.
  • As noted yesterday, Moose finished up with ROH on Friday night at the show in Baltimore. It is widely expected he will be starting with TNA.
  • We’re also today looking for reports on the Revolution Pro show in London.
  • Revolution Pro Wrestling from today in London, UK:  Charlie Garrett & Joel Redman won four-way over British Young Bloods, Legion of Lords and Jody Fleisch & Jonnny Storm, Tomohiro Ishii b Josh Bodom, Sha Samuels b Moose, Will Ospreay b Pete Dunne to win the British cruiserweight title (long great match, Dunne debuts in BOLA in September), Marty Scurll b Speedball Mike Bailey, Matt Sydal b Big Damo, Zack Sabre Jr b Katsuyori Shibata.  Interesting to see New Japan allow one of its champions to do a job.  Great main event with a spilt crowd.  It appeared they were building up a rematch between the two (thanks to Peter Hitchcock)
  • Kurt Angle vs. Cody Rhodes headlines 8/27 at Dutchess Stadium in Wappingers Falls, NY promoted by Northeast Wrestling. That stadium show is usually the biggest drawing indie show of the year. 
  • Lucha Underground stars will be doing free signings at the San Diego Comic Con in two weeks. On 7/21, Pentagon Jr. signs from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. and Dario Cueto from 4 to 5 p.m.  On 7/22, Johnny Mundo signs from 10 a.m.to 11 a.m. and Melissa Santos from Noon to 1 p.m,.  On 7/24, Catrina and Mil Muertes sign from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  The signigns will be at the Entertainment Earth book #2343.  Even though the signings are free, you do have to get a ticket to attend.
  • One of our readers, Jeremy Scott, who is in the military stationed in Korea, said he would like to go to Japan for shows and wants to know how to get tickets for shows online in advance.  He’s at 19fame87@gmail.com.
  • WrestleMerica from yesterday in Barnesville, GA before 250 fans: Scotty Beach b Razor, Iceberg DCOR Pain, Blake Beretta b Twaige, Tyson Dean b Gangrel, Zane Stevens b Captain WrestleMerica. He was unmasked as Fry Daddy.  Next show is 8/6 with Stevens vs. Dean, plus Hornswoggle and Robert Gibson appearing. (thanks to Kris Zellner)
  • Freelance Wrestling from last night in Chicago with a Freelance vs. CZW show: AR Fox over Matt Knicks, Kobe Durst, Rey Furia, Austin Erie and Brubacker, Robert Ego Anthony drew All Ego Ethan Page in a best of three tables match when both went through the third table together in a battle where loser was to lose the ego name, Bryce Benjamin b Stevie Fierce, Acid Jazz b Rob Matter, Space Monkey & Sally Stitches & Arik Cannon & Chris Castro b Brittany Blake & David Starr & Joe Gacy & Connor Claxton, Suge D b DJ Hyde in a street fight blood bath, GPA b Kenny Sutra in an I Quit match, Matt Tremont b Isaias Velazquez to keep the CZW title, Mustafa Ali b Jonathan Gresham to keep the Freelance title.  Said to be a great show with a hot crowd. (thanks to Lance LeVine)
  • Stardom today in Tokyo: Azumi and Alex Lee won three-way over Eimi Nishina & Arisu Nanase and Kris Wolf and Diosa Atenea, Momo Watanabe b Natsumi Maki, Yoko Bito b Leah Vaughn, Viper & Kyoko Kimura b Kairi Hojo & Hiromi Mimura, Toni Storm & Shanna & Chelsea b Io Shirai & Mayu Iwatani & Jungle Kyona.  Next shows are 7/17 in Okayama and 7/18 in Hiroshima.
  • Pro Championship Wrestling in Granite City, IL: Jojo Bravo b Danny Adams, Mike Outlaw b Tommy Munos, Zakk Sawyers & Mikey McFinnegan b Evan Gelistico & Pierre Abernathy, Mat Fitchett b Everett Connors, Davey Vega b Darin Corbin, Makaze b Adam Caster, Austin Blackburn b Adrian Surge, Jake Dirden b Arik Cannon (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
  • Scott D’Amore is re-opening his Can Am Wrestling School in Windsor, ONT working with Johnny Devine. D’Amore has turned out a lot of the top Ontario talent over the years including Bobby Roode, Eric Young, Rhino, Joe Doering, Alex Shelley, Petey Williams, Moose, Gail Kim and Chris Sabin. For more info write to Canamwrestling@hotmail.com. They are training wrestlers, referees, announcers or other personnel looking to work in wrestling. They will be doing 13 week semesters with four days a week starting 9/5, with weekday evenings and someSunday afternoons, covering all aspects of modern wrestling.
  • Big Time Wrestling on 7/15 in Newark, CA at the Pavilion. Their wrestling school the BTW Wrestling Academy has an open house on 7/23 in Fremont, CA with Honky Tonk Man.  They ran an event on 8/12 called Wrestling Under the Stars in Newark, CA with Bret Hart, Damian Sandow, Santino Marella and Chris Masters and 8/13 they have a show at the Modesto Stadium with Bret Hat, Chris Masters, Santino Marella and Damian Sand
  • New York Wrestling Connection from last night in Hampton Bays, NY before 250 fans: Adam Rose b  Danny Inferno, Brian Myers b Damian Adams, Nunzio & Aidan Baal b Hounds of Hatred, Torito b Tony Nese, Mouse b Rad Benson, Deonna Purrazzo won three-way over Danny Doring and Alex Reynolds, Mike Bennett b Bull James (thanks to Jeff Cohen)
  • Tony Kozina will headlined a CWE tour that starts 9/22 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan and ends 10/1 in Thunder Boy, ONT.
  • Glory kickboxing on 7/22 in Norfolk at the Ted Constant Convocation Center.

SUMMER EVENTS CALENDAR

  • TONIGHT – CCW in Essex, ONT at 26 Fairview Ave. with Cody Deaner headlining.
  • July 13 – UFC Fight Night in Sioux Falls, SD. Michael McDonald vs John Lineker
  • July 15 – NWA Texoma in Sherman, TX headlined by Rob Conway & Matt Riviera defending the NWA world tag team titles plus Greg Valentine making an appearance.
  • July 16 – In Your Face Wrestling Presents: “Malicious Intent” – Polish Community Center, 225 Washington Avenue Extension, Albany, NYwww.iyfwrestling.com
  • July 16 – Bellator 158 : London featuring Paul Daley vs Douglas Lima, Michael Venom Page, Linton Vassell and Matt Mitrione
  • July 17 – Lucha by the Water ft Blue Demon Jr! – Harbourfront Centre Theatre, 231 Queens Quay West, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2G8, 3-6 pm. Tickets here.
  • July 17 – Premier Wrestling at the IFDES Lodge and Portuguese Hall in Gilroy, CA with Joe Graves vs. Gabriel Gallo for the Premier. Tickets at www.premierwrestle.com.
  • July 22 – Ignite Wrestling in Fort Pierce, FL at the National Guard Armory on a show with Lince Dorado, Mr. 450 Hammet, Lio Rush, Martin Stone, Los Ben Dejos, and more
  • July 22 – AIW runs on 7/22 in Cleveland, OH, with Ethan Page vs. Josh Prohibition vs. Josh Alexander, and Johnny Gargano & Candice LeRae vs. Ethan Carter III & Karlee Perez
  • July 22 – The Lou Thesz Hall of Fame weekend show in Waterloo, IA, featuring Ricochet vs. Sami Callihan, Wes Brisco, B. Brian Blair, Jessika Havok, Tessa Blanchard, a steel cage match and more – This is the weekend Dave Meltzer will be honored.
  • July 22 – Bellator 159 from Mulvane, KS. Darrion Caldwell vs Joe Taimanglo. Melvin Guillard vs David “Caveman” Rickells
  • July 22 – National Fighting Championships in Kennesaw, GA at the Electric Cowboy with Chazz Walton (6-0 vs. Warren Smith (5-4) for the Georgia lightweight title.
  • July 22 – Absolute Intense Wrestling in Cleveland at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel features Dutch Mantell, plus Ethan Page vs. Josh Prohibition vs. Josh Alexander for the Absolute title, Johnny Gargano & Candice LeRae vs. Ethan Carter III & Karlee Perez (Catrina in Lucha Underground), Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Louis Lyndon, Skayde Jr. & Steve Pain & Gringo Loko vs. DJZ & Laredo Kid & Bandolero, Ray Rowe vs. Tim Donst plus B.J. Whitmer and Cedric Alexander.
  • July 23 – Live Pro Wrestling, Glengarry Sports Palace, 170 McDonald Blvd. Alexandria, Ontario
  • July 23 – Battle Arts will be taping television on at Santino Marella’s Battle Arts Academy in Mississauaga, ONT.  The taping begins at 7 p.m.
  • July 23 – UFC on FOX from Chicago – Holly Holm vs Valentina Shevchenko.          
  • July 23 – Chikara Pro announced a doubleheader event at Toronto’s Franklin Horner Community Center.
  • July 23 – AAW  in Merrionnette Park, IL, with Sami Callihan vs. Pentagon Jr., Zack Sabre Jr., Marty Scurll; Tommaso Ciampa; Fenix; Johnny Gargano, and plenty more. Here’s what you missed on their last show.  
  • July 23 – Masters of Ring Entertainment in Wilmington, NC, as part of Pro Wrestling Fan Expo 3 will feature Jeff Jarrett vs. ECIII vs. James Storm, announced by Jarrett in this video.
  • Merritton Community Centre 7 Park Ave St. Catharines, ON
  • July 24 – Crossfire Wrestling – Merritton Community Centre, 7 Park Avenue St. Catharines ON, for our 5 year Anniversary show “BRING THE HEAT V”
  • July 24 – PWEclipse – Summer Surrender, Oshawa, Ontario
  • July 24 – Fenix vs. Pentagon Jr. headlines for Lucha Libre New York at Club LaBoom in Queens, NY
  • July 29 – Pro Wrestling Phoenix in Omaha at the Waiting Room Lounge features Sonjay Dutt vs. Hype Gotti.
  • July 30 – WSOF 32: Moraes vs. Hill 2 – Live on NBCSN from Everett, Washington. Also featuring Ben “Phoenix Jones” Fodor vs Caros Fodor in a brother vs brother fight
  • July 30 – Smash Wrestling – Oshawa Music Hall, 39 King St E, Oshawa, Ontario L1H 1B2
  • July 31 – BATTLEWAR 36; Les Foufounes Électriques, 87 Sainte-Catherine Street East
  • Montreal, QC
  • Aug 21 – Chavo Guerrero Jr. will appear for Smash Wrestling on in Pickering, Ontario at Super Showdown lV.