Daily Update: Roman Reigns, ROH PPV matches, Paige

THE ROUND-UP

The Latest from the F4W Staff

NEWS

AUDIO

SmackDown and 205 Live will be on Tuesday night in New Orleans.

FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: 6/5/2017: Looking at the timing of the Brock Lesnar vs. Samoa Joe dream match

Like with most things in pro wrestling, the most important part of a dream match is getting the timing right. It was almost a year ago that Kurt Angle wrestled Zack Sabre Jr. for Revolution Pro Wrestling during an overseas trip at York Hall in London. The live crowd appreciated Angle’s work and loved seeing him. The match itself was fine, mostly sticking to a formula that Angle had perfected during the latter stages of his career. 

Subscribers click here to continue.

WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: June 12, 2017: Extreme Rules and Best of the Super Juniors finals reviewed, tons of news

It’s a huge double issue week of the Observer, which includes a look at how the aging of the pro wrestling television audience is like that in other sports, but aging so much faster than any other, as well as the latest on the WWE summer direction, Extreme Rules coverage, Best of the Super Juniors coverage and major features on Kazushi Sakuraba and Joe Silva and how both have impacted the history of MMA.

Look at the Brock Lesnar vs. Samoa Joe match, the Lesnar direction between now and WrestleMania, the problems with the logic and finishes at Extreme Rules plus full coverage of the event including poll results and star ratings.

Examine the aging of the sports audience and where pro wrestling and MMA fit in, breaking down WWF vs. WCW in the heyday, where things stood ten years ago and where they stand now. Also, look at how that relates to other sports as well as how wrestling’s younger audience breakdown compares with that of other sports and how it has changed.

Check out the last shows of this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament, lessons from the tournament, business of the tournament, the epic last match, preview the Dominion show, Kenny Omega’s thoughts on his match with Okada this week, how this compares with other legendary series of matches, the Okada title reign, history of Super Juniors, a chart on how all the wrestlers in the tournament did and star ratings and poll on the last day.

This issue has Frank Deford’s autobiography and his views on Vince McMahon, more on the U.K. proposed network show, an update on Ric Flair 30 for 30, WWE star films movie over the weekend, notes on a lot of new talent signed to contracts that are starting in Orlando soon, WWE loading up the MSG house show, an update on the women’s tournament, Jack Swagger talks leaving WWE, the strongest power lifter ever in WWE, and the most-watched shows on the WWE Network this past week.

Subscribers click here to continue.

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. 

Rates in the United States are $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.)

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.

WON BACK ISSUE: May 22, 2000 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Jumbo Tsuruta passes away, ECW Hardcore Heaven review, more

Tomomi Tsuruta, who started out as an instant sensation and went on to be one of the most enduring stars in pro wrestling history, passed away at 4 p.m. on 5/13, from complications after undergoing a kidney transplant operation in the Philippines. He was 49. Tsuruta was an undisputable Hall of Fame calibre performer. He was a major star in pro wrestling literally from the first week of his career in Japan.

Subscribers click here to continue.

TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • It was revealed on Raw last night that Roman Reigns will be making an announcement about his SummerSlam plans next week. With John Cena returning to WWE as a “free agent,” that naturally brought speculation that it would be Reigns vs. Cena at SummerSlam. But Dave Meltzer noted on the post-Raw edition of Wrestling Observer Radio that he was told that Cena isn’t the plan for Reigns’ opponent.
  • While ratings for Raw last night were predictably down against the NBA finals, the clip of the brawl between Samoa Joe and Brock Lesnar has done well on YouTube. It’s currently approaching four million views. The last time that a WWE video hit the three-million mark was for Jinder Mahal’s “Punjabi Celebration.”
  • Emma returned to television last night and teamed with Alexa Bliss & Nia Jax against Sasha Banks, Mickie James & Dana Brooke. She had returned to the ring over the weekend for the first time since the shoulder injury that she suffered in May.
  • WWE’s preview for 205 Live tonight hypes that a new challenger will emerge for Neville’s Cruiserweight title.
  • Paige wrote that she’s getting her last X-rays after neck surgery and seemed to indicate that she could be coming back soon. She also posted pictures of herself working out on Instagram.
  • The Daily Mail ran a story yesterday about Bray Wyatt’s wife Samantha filing for divorce. Samantha’s lawyer alleged that Wyatt was having an affair with WWE ring announcer JoJo.
  • As they usually do, WWE is sending the Golden State Warriors a customized championship belt for their NBA finals win. The company also sent one to the Pittsburgh Penguins for their Stanley Cup victory.
  • Roman Reigns responded to someone on Twitter who said that Reigns was handed his position because of his family by writing: “Yea I guess working my butt off 5 days a week while being away from my wife and kids for the last 7 years is being ‘handed’ it. #DumbAssMark”
  • News.com.au interviewed Finn Balor about finding his way back to the top of WWE.

Pro Wrestling

  • Eight years ago today, Mitsuharu Misawa passed away following a match in Japan. Hideo Itami (formerly KENTA) paid tribute to Misawa on Twitter: “Never forget. We miss you.”
  • Ring of Honor has announced two more matches for their Best in the World pay-per-view. KUSHIDA will defend the ROH TV title against Marty Scurll, plus Motor City Machine Guns, Jay White & Jonathan Gresham will face The Rebellion in an eight-man tag.
  • NJPW’s English-language website posted the comments that Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega made when being interviewed after their classic at Dominion. They also have comments from Hiroshi Tanahashi and Tetsuya Naito after their match and KUSHIDA and Hiromu Takahashi after theirs.
  • The latest episode of The Young Bucks and Omega’s “Being the Elite” series focuses on Dominion and someone stealing Nick Jackson’s bag that had two passports and $2,000 in it while the Bucks were at a restaurant.
  • When Impact Wrestling begins taping in Orlando again on July 3rd, the company will be hosting a ceremony to honor those who were affected by last year’s attack at the Pulse Nightclub. Yesterday marked one year since the tragedy.
  • Netflix’s “GLOW” series has been made available to a lot of television reviewers and has gotten very positive reviews. Entertainment Weekly gave the series an A and UPROXX’s Alan Sepinwall called the first episode “very promising.”
  • CBC has an article on a 71-year-old pro wrestling fan that has become a local celebrity in Edmonton.

UFC/MMA

  • Jon Jones’ mother Camille passed away last Sunday due to complications with diabetes. Our condolences to the Jones family.
  • Jose Aldo’s coach said that Aldo suffered a leg injury prior to UFC 212.
  • The Orlando Sentinel has a feature on Bellator’s Phil Davis.
  • Matt Mitrione will appear on tonight’s episode of The Ross Report podcast to promote his fight with Fedor Emelianenko at Bellator NYC.

Today in Pro Wrestling History: Yokozuna wins WWF title at King of the Ring 1993

Pro Wrestling Tees is now carrying our latest line of F4W shirts. Support the Empire~! Grab yours today!

CONTACT INFORMATION

​