Daily Update: Ric Flair undergoes successful surgery, JR, Rousey

THE ROUND-UP

THE LATEST NEWS

THE LATEST AUDIO

We’re looking for reports from tonight’s Raw show in Boston with the non-Raw matches and anything else not on the live show, as well as from the Smackdown house show in Augusta, ME and the weekend WWE shows in Philadelphia and Bridgeport to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com

We’re also looking for your thoughts on last night’s New Japan show in San Francisco and last night’s UFC 226 in Las Vegas, 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” target=”_blank”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com

Tuesday night is Smackdown and 205 Live from Manchester, NH including a non-title match with A.J. Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura plus Asuka vs. James Ellsworth in a lumberjack match and Cedric Alexander vs. Hideo Itami for the cruiserweight title.

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Looking at WWE’s Universal title picture

Three months removed from the crowd rejecting the main event of WrestleMania, the Universal Championship picture is still a bit of a mess. It seemed like things were finally starting to fall into place with the announcement of a multi-man number one contender’s match for Extreme Rules. But, without all that much of a real explanation, the match was canceled the next week.

WON NEWSLETTER: (July 9, 2018): Death of Matt Cappotelli

A look at the life and brief wrestling career of Matt Cappotelli is the lead item in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Learn in this story why Cappotelli, who only had 37 matches in the WWE in his career, was so well liked by the people who knew him best. Find out about his battles with cancer, how fate got in the way of three different WWE startups and the plan for him to win a championship immediately after his call-up.

Look at the back story behind his interview after he learned he had cancer, his second battle with cancer, the Bob Holly situation and what could have been with the angle, his grudge match with Holly in OVW, plans for him in WWE and more.

Read more on Oscar De La Hoya and his MMA plans for Tito Ortiz vs. Chuck Liddell and the money deal and business involved.

Find out about Max Holloway being pulled from this week’s UFC show.

This issue has full coverage of the ROH Best in the World PPV as well as Jay Lethal’s ROH title win, including star ratings and poll results.

WWE’s Extreme Rules is updated.

 Read more about the Leslie Smith case and how this could affect pro wrestling and MMA going forward and which companies it likely will and won’t affect.

Coverage of WWE’s return to Japan this past week is in this issue.

There are notes on a Daniel Bryan interview, a show during SummerSlam week, as well as a list of talent at the recent WWE tryouts and their backgrounds. Look at a new WWE Network special, next week’s TV, and the most-watched shows on the WWE Network this past week. Also, Seth Rollins talks the Shield reunion that never seems to happen.

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MONDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight covering Raw and the latest news for Wrestling Observer radio as well as taking your e-mail questions to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com.

Ric Flair underwent successful surgery this morning to remove the need for a colostomy bag that he’s needed since his major surgeries last year. He’s said to be doing well after surgery.

As noted from the story earlier today, the Jim Ross/Josh Barnett stuff with Jay White and Juice Robinson was not a work. Ross suffered a rib injury. Barnett just reacted to what was happening. Ross was upset, besides being injured, because the night before he had spoken to officials about fighting outside the ring and near the announcers desk.

We’ve heard no update on Hiromu Takahashi past New Japan announcing that he was able to sit up and communicate. This is a sad injury, as all serious injuries are. It should be a wake-up call in the sense that talent really needs to avoid high angle moves where you can’t protect your bump or land on the top of the head from a distance. This goes for all companies large and small. Bad injuries happen everywhere and this isn’t a promotion vs. promotion argument but an industry-wide story.

Ronda Rousey on Instagram said she cried happy tears like a baby at the end of the show in her debut in Madison Square Garden: “There are no words…. thank you New York and MSG for a night I’ll never forget. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t cry like a baby at the end of last night… happy tears, but what a whirlwind past few days have been…. I’m humbled, grateful, and far from finished”

WWE

  • WWE producer Adam Pearce will be the M.C. for the upcoming George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame induction banquet 7/26 to 7/28 in Waterloo, IA. It’s very good that WWE is helping out this Hall of Fame, partially because Gerald Brisco and Jim Ross have been such major supporters of it.
  • Raw, Smackdown and NXT tickets for Survivor Series weekend at the Staples Center in Los Angeles go on sale on 7/20.
  • WWE debuts on 9/14 in Edinburg TX at the Bert Odgen Arena.
  • The next house show in Cleveland on 9/1 will be at the Wolstein Center instead of the Quicken Loans Arena, the usual WWE venue.
  • A story on TJ Barnes regarding his WWE tryout.

UFC

  • Felony battery charges against Volkan Oezdemir stemming from a bar brawl were dropped earlier today. The prosecution told MMA Fighting that they will no longer be pursuing any charges due to a lack of cooperation from the victim. A trial was scheduled to start on Monday for third degree battery. Oezdemir has a major match with Alexander Gustafsson on 8/4.
  • Daniel Cormier said he suffered a broken knuckle in his win over Stipe Miocic on Saturday but won’t need surgery, but is in a splint right now and the hand is swollen. He feels he needs two months before he can train on it. 

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Cody & Brandi Rhodes were announced for the World Series Wrestling Elite tour of Australia in November.
  • Dojo Pro will be debuting on Amazon Prime. Dojo Pro will be a gauntlet style show with 13 independent wrestlers including Joey Janela, Shane Strickland, James Storm and Jeff Cobb. The winner of the gauntlet will get a shot at the ROH TV title and ROH is partnering with Dojo Pro on he season. In the press release, Eric Bischoff was quoted in it calling him a friend of the production team. Sonny Onoo, the former WCW manager, will be the international consultant. They have released a first season of 12 episodes, 30 minutes in length.
  • Bill Goldberg appeared last night on the TV show Evel Live on The History Channel, talking about Evel Knievel.
  • ROH will be returning to the UMBC Center in Baltimore for a show on 10/13. That was the site of last week’s PPV show, which did one of the largest crowds in company history.
  • Jim Cornette will be appearing at the Keystone Comic Con from 9/14 to 9/16 in Philadelphia doing a booth as well as a stand up show and a VIP Extra Cheese session.
  • Joey Janela vs. MJF in a falls count anywhere match was announced for the 7/12 MLW tapings in Orlando. Also announced was Jason Cade vs. Jimmy Yuta.
  • Added to MLW’s 7/19 show in Long Island City, NY at the Melrose Ballroom has Brody King, who they are calling King Brody, facing Jimmy Havoc and PCO vs. Homicide. They’ve also added the Dirty Blondes, Vandal Ortagun and Simon Gotch to the Battle Riot main event. This is the show that will partially air as a two hour special on Bein Spots one week later.
  • I Belive in Wrestling on 8/3 at the Team Vision Dojo in Orlando headlined by Aaron Epic vs. Septentico.
  • Bea Priestley vs. Kellyanne was announced for the 7/21 Melbourne City Wrestling show.
  • Defy Wrestling on Friday night at Washington Hall in Seattle has John Morrison vs. Randy Myers, Shane Strickland & Artemis Spencer & Billy Suede vs. MJF & The Amerikan Gunz, plus Colt Cabana vs. Carl Randers, Taya Valkyrie vs. Nicole Matthews and the debut of Ricky Starks and Luchasaurus. You must be 21 or older to attend.
  • Kevin Harvey did a Q&A and said that Rise will be running again in October and that he’s reinvigorated and determined after this past weekend. He said things haven’t changed since he wrote about the money issues but he will try and figure out a way. He noted they have a partnership with Impact but he’s not on the Impact payroll. He said he was honored that Ed Nordholm and his child came to the show. (thanks to Jake Koch)
  • Best in the World TV results from Fresno, CA on Saturday: Owen Travers & Chris Bay won over Robbie Phoenix & Chaz Herrera and Toxic Trent & Hip Hop Harry, Grizzly Kal Jack b Biago Cresenzio, Sledge b Markus Ericks. Next show is 7/15 in Hanford, CA. I met Clayton Jack (Grizzly Kal Jack) over the weekend. It’s a small world. I once did a college radio broadcast of one of his father’s wrestling matches. (thanks to Jon Southerland)
  • VIPW on 7/20 in Langford, BC at the Legion.
  • Big West Wrestling on Friday night in Kelowna, BC at Lake City Bowling and Billiards with a 16 man tournament.
  • Rise TV tapings from Saturday in Naperville, IL: Saraya Knight b Kikyo, Dust & Raven’s Ash b Thunder Rosa & Holidead, Jessicka Havok b Allie, Mercedes Martinez b Valentina Loca, Chelsea Green b Britt Baker, Miranda Alize b Shazza McKenzie, Karen Q & Ray Lyn b Charlie Evans & Jessica Troy, Tessa Blanchard b Madison Rayne, Kyle Rae b Deonna Purrazzo, Neveah b Kris Wolf, Chelsea Green b Kikyo-DQ, Shazza McKenzie b Kimber Lee, Britt Baker b Rockelle Vaughn, Allie & Saraya Knight b Jessicka Havok & Neveah, Dust & Raven’s Ash b Ray Lyn & Karen Q, Thunder Rose & Holidead b Charlie Evans & Jessica Troy, Su Yung b Kris Wolf, Mercedes Martinez b Deonna Purrazzo, Tessa Blanchard b Miranda Alize to keep the title. Blanchard brawled with Kyle Rae after. (thanks to Jake Koch)
  • Tommy Dreamer’s House of Hardcore runs Wednesday in Perth, Western Australia and the Gate one theater with Bully Ray & Craven & ? vs. The Squad World Order in a tables match and Nick Aldis vs. Mark Cometti. They also run Friday in Melbourne at the Pavilion with Tommy Dreamer vs. Joey Mercury first blood, Aldis vs. Jonah Rock for the NWA title and Madison Eagles vs. Erika Reid vs Angelina Love. They run Saturday in Sydney and the Hurstsville Entertainment Complex with Bully Ray & Dreamer & ? vs Squad World Order, Willie Mack vs. Super Crazy and Aldis vs. Robbie Eagles for the NWA title. They run Sunday in Queensland at Aussie World with Bully Ray vs. Mercury in a tables match and Aldis vs. Jack Bonza for the NWA title.
  • Ricky Steamboat is taking bookings through Tony Hunter at overthetoprope123@yahoo.com.
  • Progress announced Jimmy Havoc vs. TK Cooper for 8/12 in Livonia, MI.
  • CZW and Smash Wrestling have joint shows on Friday night in Sarnia, ONT at the River City Vineyard,Saturday in London, ONT at the Music Hall, and Sunday in Toronto at the Phoenix Concert Hall.

Daily Professional Wrestling History: WCW Bash at the Beach 2000

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