Daily Update: ThunderDome, Raw, G1 Climax final week

DAILY UPDATE

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WON NEWSLETTER: October 12, 2020 Observer Newsletter: Florida reopens, Cartwright lawsuit

A look at how WWE & AEW are handling things like the reopening of Florida, and how Texas looks to be the place MMA companies will go to as far as putting fans in buildings is the lead story in the new issue of the Observer.

We look at the current planned date and place for WrestleMania, what sports are now allowed to do as far as live events in Florida,  AEW’s current plans going forward and the new regulations in Texas.

The new issue also covers:

The Samantha Tavel lawsuit against WWE, Matt Riddle, Evolve and Gabe Sapolsky.  We look at the claims and look at both sides of the story and stories that have changed.  We also look at the strategy of involving WWE i the case, WWE responds to the suit, and go through the time lines and how they differ and wording of the suit. We also go through the background of the case.

History of the non-relationship of NJPW and AEW.  We look at how it started, why there was heat, how the ouster of Howard Meij could change things, as well as why there were so many mentions of NJPW on this past week’s AEW show.  We look at what happened in January 2019 that caused issues between the two sides, the issues with how talent was handled on the way out, and what would be the first sign if relations started opening up.

WWE draft.

G-1 tournament. We go through what style of wrestlers have been helped and hurt by the current no-cheer, no-boo environment, who has been able to get a reaction, the standings, this week’s matches, plans for the rest of the year in New Japan, plus coverage with star ratings and poll results from every show.

NXT Takeover, the show background, match-by-match coverage and poll results on the show.

Updates on the sports rights fees business and where wrestling fits in, Paige’s tweet about unions, Stephanie McMahon gets major praise, new member of WWE Board of Directors, Drew McIntyre vs. Tyson Fury update, one year anniversary of Smackdown on FOX, more on John Cena’s debut in Fast & Furious, new season of Miz & Mrs. and the time slot, Angel Garza injury update, new A&E specials on pro wrestlers coming next year, more WWE injuries, WWE UK direction, wrestling placings in sports ratings and UK rating s for WWE & AEW, Jack Gallagher talks his being released, college heavyweight wants to be managed by Pual Heyman, Miz working on a new television show, WWE new developmental signings, WWE injury updates, WWE market value and the most-watched shows of the past week on the WWE Network.

This past Saturday’s UFC show.

Bushiroad’s attempt at a major Stardom show this past week.

Rundown of charting the place-winners in the key Observer awards and how it relates to the Hall of Fame.

A feature on the team of Penny Banner & Lorraine Johnson, who were known for decades as being the greatest women’s tag team in pro wrestling with the death this past week of Johnson.

What sports events did the best in viewers per home while talking about AEW setting its company record in that category this week.

Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week. 

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@wrestlingobserver.com or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

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If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

MONDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight to talk G-1 with us now in the final week, as well as the WWE draft, Raw and a multitude of other topics with Wrestling Observer Radio late tonight. You can send questions to the show to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com

A few notes about the news today about WWE continuing in the Thunderdome. The original contract between the building and WWE and the city was through the end of this month. It was actually amended some time back through November. They are now in negotiations for a new deal which would extend past November but the final date they would be looking for isn’t finalized.

These are the name listed to be drafted tonight on Raw and probably some after the show on Raw Talk: Andrade, Bayley, Aleister Black, Alexa Bliss, Daniel Bryan,Carmella, King Corbin, Apollo Crews, Nikki Cross, Dabba-Kato, Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode, Erik, Lacey Evans, Charlotte Flair, Jeff Hardy, Billy Kay, Lana, Keith Lee, Elias, Riddick Moss, Natalya, Titus O’Neil, Randy Orton, Kevin Owens, R-Truth, Retribution, Matt Riddle, Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan, Peyton Royce, Arturo Ruas, Sheamus, Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro, Street Profits, Braun Strowman, Tamina, Akira Tozawa, Zelina Vega, Bray Wyatt and Sami Zayn.

The G-1 is back tomorrow at 5:30 a.m. in Shizuoka for its final week with an A card show with:

  • Yuya Uemura vs. Gabriel Kidd
  • Jeff Cobb vs. Will Ospreay
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Yujiro Takahashi
  • Shingo Takagi vs. Taichi
  • Minoru Suzuki vs Jay White
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Tomohiro Ishii

The last show before Sumo Hall is Wednesday morning at 5 a.m. from the Yokohama Budokan with B block

  • Yota Tsuji vs. Gabriel Kidd
  • KENTA vs. Yoshi-Hashi
  • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Juice Robinson
  • Hirooki Goto vs. Evil
  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Toru Yano
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Sanada

As far as who is still alive at this point, in the A block it’s Okada, Ospreay, Ibushi and White. In the B block, Evil, Naito, Goto, Sabre and Sanada are still alive. 

WWE

  • Women announced for tonight’s dual branded Battle Royal for a show at Asuka at Hell in a Cell are Billie Kay, Natalya, Lacey Evans, Mandy Rose, Dana Brooke, Lana, Nia Jax, Shayna Baszler, Zelina Vega, Tamina, Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, Alexa Bliss, Bianca Belair, Nikki Cross and Peyton Royce.
  • Tonight’s show goes against the New Orleans Saints vs. Los Angeles Chargers on ESPN. and the Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers. Wednesday’s wrestling will go against two playoff games, another Braves vs. Dodgers game plus a Houston Astros vs. Tampa Bay Devil Rays game
  • The new season of Total Bellas starts on 11/12 in the 9 p.m. time slot.
  • ECW Press announced a new Steve Austin book called “Austin 3:16: 316 Facts & Stories about Stone Cold Steve Austin by Michael McAvennie. It is scheduled to be released on March 16, 2021.
  • Sami Zayn talks WWE creative, Reigns vs. Uso and why he’s a fan of the angle and more.

UFC

  • Donald Trump Jr. held a rally called Fighters Against Socialism yesterday in Broward County featuring Jorge Masvidal who claimed Joe Biden would paralyze the country with his socialist economic policies. He said everyone in socialists countries is starving and trying to find a way to get here.

AEW

  • They announced “a huge announcement by MJF” has been added to Wednesday’s AEW anniversary show. Jon Moxley vs. Lance Archer for the AEW title, FTR vs. Best Friends for the tag title, Cody vs. Orange Cassidy for the TV title, Hikaru Shida vs. Big Swole for the women’s title plus Kip Sabian & Miro in a tag match is on the show.  
  • Dark for tomorrow:
    Eddie Kingston vs. Baron Black
    Evil Uno vs. Frankie Kazarian vs The Blade vs. Jungle Boy
    Alex Reynolds & John Silver & Preston Vance vs. Aaron Solow & Angel Fashion  & M’Badu
    Darby Allin vs. Nick Comoroto (a former WWE developmental guy who was cut in April)
    Colt Cabana vs. Griff Garrison
    Brandon Cutler vs. Peter Avalon – THE REMATCH
    Matt Sydal vs Sonny Kiss
    Penta El Cero M & Rey Fenix vs. Lee Johnson & Cezar Bonomi
    Elayna Black vs. Red Velvet
    Wardlow vs. Elijah Dean
    Ricky Stars vs. Fuego del Sol
    Joey Janela vs D3
    Nyla Rose vs. KiLyn King
    Billy & Austin Gunn vs. Ryzin & Maxx Stardom 

MISCELLANEOUS

  • It’s notable that media reports have a Nevada man as the first person to get COVID twice in the U.S., even though it has happened elsewhere in the world.  I guess Kayla Braxton in Florida is no longer part of the U.S.
  • ROH talent is all in Baltimore under quarantine for several days before they start taping another round of television.  With several days of quarantine before each show ROH has the strictest protocols of any promotion except for UFC.
  • Shimmer from yesterday in Indianapolis:  Neveah b Kenzie Paige, Alice Crowley won six-way over Elayna Black, Queen Aminagta, Jody Threat, Big Mama,and Brittany Blake, Heather Monroe b Leyla Hirsch, Solo Darling & Willow Nightingale b Kayla Cassidy & Sierra, Lacey Ryan b Davienne, Hyan b Thunderkitty to keep the Heart of Shimmer title, Zoey Skye b Holidead, Ashley Vox & Deli Expo b Allysin Kay & Marti Belle to keep the tag titles, Kimber Lee b Nicole Savoy to keep the Shimmer title (thanks to Craig Russell)
  • CWE on 10/24 in St. Albert, Alberta with Johnny Devine and former UFC fighter Mitch Clarke.  Clarke will be doing what is being called an MMA Exhibition match.  Devine also headlines 10/23 in Red Deer. Alberta against Jude Dawkins of Red Deer.
  • KSW returns on 11/14 featuring welterweight champion Roberto Soldic, light heavyweight champion Tomas Narkyun and former boxer,  reality show star and TV host Karolina Owczarz.
  • Cris Cyborg (22-2) defends the Bellator featherweight title on Thursday against Arlene Blencowe (13-7).  The main card starts at 10 p.m. Eastern on  CBS Sports Network and DAZN.  The semi has Patricky Pitbull Freire (23-9) vs. Jaleel Willis (13-2).
  • Pro Wrestling Phoenix from Saturday night in Omaha:  Con Artiest won three-way over Branden Juarez and Brett Bishop, K-Dos b Jon West, Purple & Mack Riggs b Paul & Joey Daniels, Jack Darling b Logan Ocean, The Carver b Omar Pachecco, Pat Powers b Nicky Scent, Moonshine Russell b Duke Cornell in a lumberjack match, Tim Boston & Set Kobara NC Lars Metzger & Johnny Ruckus, Jack Darling & Lars Metzger & Johnny Ruckus b Branden Juarez & Tim Boston & Seto Kobara-DQ.  Next show is 11/11 at the Waiting Room Lounge in Omaha.
  • Impact tomorrow night on AXS TV has Kylie Rae vs. Kimber Lee and Kiera Hogan & Tasha Steelz vs. Taya Valkyrie & Rosemary vs. Havok & Nevaeh  
  • Former WWE star Eve Torres Gracie tested positive for COVID several weeks ago.  Her husband, Rener Gracie, tested positive just before he was to leave for Abu Dhabi to corner Brian Ortega.  So he wasn’t allowed to leave the country.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Bret Hart wins his first WWF World title

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