Daily Update: TNA lawsuit, Hell in a Cell, Austin Aries eye injury

THE ROUND-UP

The latest from the F4W Staff

NEWS

AUDIO

We’re looking for your thoughts on tonight’s Hell in a Cell show 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 Raw tonight from Hartford, CT, with dark matches and Superstars matches plus anything else not evident from the live show.  It will be the Halloween themed show, and Bill Goldberg is scheduled to appear. Ratings usually are down significantly so if they’re not, that would be attributed to Goldberg. We’re also looking for reports on tonight’s Smackdown brand house show in Trenton, NJ, andSaturday’s ROH TV tapings in Baltimore to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

Tuesday will be the Smackdown tapings in Newark, NJ.

ITV will be taping television in Manchester, England for a pilot for that country which has potential to be something big there. Jim Ross is there already getting ready to be the lead announcer. We’re looking for reports on these shows as well.

The Raw crew opens up the European tour in Frankfurt, Germany on Wednesday night. 

Figure Four Weekly 10/24/2016: Deregulation of pro wrestling in Arizona — In Arizona, deregulation of professional wrestling wasn’t a pressing matter by any stretch when the topic was first broached in 1981. There was no major promotion running in the state and little to no full time work, with only one licensed promoter, who was running shows weekly in Phoenix…Current subscribers click here to continue reading.

F4W YouTube Page: Tons of clips and full free audio shows that you can tell your friends about, and much more to come! Make sure you subscribe today!

The Death of WCWby Bryan Alvarez and RD Reynolds is now available as an audiobook through Amazon.com and Audible. Bryan did the narration for the book and it runs almost fifteen hours, so grab yours today!

Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Oct 31, 2016: Billy Corgan vs. TNA, Urijah Faber retiring, more — The battle for control of TNA hit the courtroom this past week and we’ve got not only the blow-by-blow, but what it all means, in a detailed lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. We also break that two of the world’s best wrestlers are seriously considering coming to WWE in 2017, the retirement of Urijah Faber and his legacy, the Flo Sports pro wrestling streaming service and why it could be a game changer but what it needs to become one, notes on Hell in a Cell and much more in a jam packed news issue.

Our lead story breaks down the entire TNA situation, what was said in public who was said in private, who is screwing who, why this went to the courts, what are the motives of Billy Corgan, WWE’s interest in purchasing the company and so much said publicly that ended up not being true.

We look at the career of Urijah Faber, the rise of the WEC on his back, the rise of Sacramento MMA and his becoming the first under 145 pound major star.

We’ve got a preview of Hell in a Cell as well as a story on who goes last. We also update a story on how WWE’s biggest star may be banned from appearing in several states, one of WWE’s biggest stars is right now off Survivor Series and why, Paige’s neck surgery, WWE asks fans about lots of indie groups, an overseas show that will be taped for the WWE Network, lots of notes on new people signed by WWE and their backgrounds.

We also look at a TV pilot based on backstage in WWE from 16 years ago, Ryback vs. WWE over trademarks, a Shawn Michaels movie, update on James Ellsworth, A.J. Styles vs. Shawn Michaels, the strange story of Curtis Axel in Minneapolis on Monday, Randy Orton’s turn, Shinsuke Nakamura update, WWE developmental star arrested and suspended, and more.

We look at the new Flo Sports pro wrestling streaming service, its potential as well as pitfalls hindering it from reaching its potential. We look at how this could greatly benefit the indie scene, as well as questions on whether it can work long-term.

All that and more in this week’s new Wrestling Observer, 40,000 words of news and information you can’t read anywhere else in the world.

Current subscribers click here to continue reading.

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WON BACK ISSUE: October 4, 1999 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: WWF Unforgiven and UFC 22 reviews, tons more – The workload stemming from increasing the television demands of the WWF started to show through on 9/26 with a disappointing Unforgiven PPV show… Subscribers click here to continue reading.

Monday News Update

Bryan and I will be back tonight talking the TNA court ruling and Raw as well as the latest pro wrestling news on Wrestling Observer Radio. If you’ve got questions for the show you can send them to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com.

The main thing in the TNA ruling is that Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle ruled against Billy Corgan in his attempt to get a restraining order that would prohibit TNA from selling off any of its assets. This opens the door to selling to Anthem Sports aka The Fight Network. Jason Brown of Aroluxe will be in charge of the company. Dixie Carter will still have a position in the company, but whether she was any power, and she won’t have final power, is uncertain. Corgan appears to be looking at continuing his legal challenge for ownership, and there are unanswered questions but Hobbs Lyle’s ruling didn’t appear favorable to me to him regarding his key points of contention. As far as what will and won’t change, it’s too soon to tell. 

The key to this is TNA will continue with Anthem Sports funding the company. Everyone should start getting paid. As far as what happens with the budget given little revenue is coming in, that’s another thing to soon to tell. Another question is who stays and who goes. For now, Corgan, even though listed as President, won’t be part of it unless he comes to an agreement with the new owners, but doing so would kill his lawsuit that he said he is continuing. 

The biggest talk from last night’s Hell in a Cell show revolved around the details of the Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte Flair finish being changed. We’ll talk more about that tonight. One of the reasons for the big pop when they exchanged moves in the Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins match were that the video screens weren’t functioning during the first half of the match, which kept a lot of people from being able to see it well. The screens turned on just as the high spot started which is why it got as big a pop as it did.  

Raw is expected to do low numbers due to Halloween. Tonight’s NFL game is the Vikings vs. Bears, which based on records is a one-sided game although Chicago is a major market the Bears are having a terrible year.

Bad news for Austin Aries as he was diagnosed with a fracture of the left orbital bone. When he posted the photos, his swelling was consistent with the damage one gets from such an injury, but in San Jose on Friday night they were downplaying the injury and saying he’d be cleared in a few weeks. He will be undergoing surgery later this week and will be out of action for several months.

Mark Haskins who is one of the most underrated performers in the business, looks to be out of action for some time. He defended his Progress title yesterday in a three-way against Marty Scurll and Jimmy Havoc in London. After the match, he came back to the ring, kissed the belt and left it in the middle of the ring. Haskins then posted a video saying he was suffering from neck problems that have left him unable to feel his fingers some days, so doctors have told him he needs to take time off. The 4FW promotion in the U.K. on Sunday announced Haskins as vacating their jr. heavyweight title due to injuries. He also has titles in Fight Nation Wrestling and Smash.

WWE

  • WrestleMania travel packages are on sale now. Regular tickets go on sale 11/18. 
  • Kota Ibushi was a surprise at last night’s NXT show in Los Angeles. Ibushi has not signed with the promotion, but is willing to work dates for them if asked and the decision was made to have him put over Bobby Roode. The match was said to be great. Eric Young also worked the three-way main event for the title with Shinsuke Nakamura and Samoa Joe.
  • The Guardian has a story on Tim Wiese, the former World Cup German team goalkeeper who makes his pro wrestling debut this week on a WWE house show. 
  • ESPN has a story on Enzo Amore.
  • The Raw talent will be flying right after tonight’s show from Hartford to Germany. The Smackdown crew will be flying tomorrow night from Newark to to Riydah for some shows in the Middle East before arriving in Europe.
  • WWE received a number of AIVA (Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts) awards this past week. 

*Best in Show, sports category,social content and marketing – WrestleMania 31

*Best website features home page

*Best website features visuals  for WWE network

*Best mobile app/site sports

*Best Social Features/Social Presence

*Best Social Content & Marketing, Public Service for Conor’s Cure

VARIETY

  • Progress Wrestling on 11/27 in Camden, London has Jimmy Havoc vs. Marty Scurll, Matt Riddle vs Will Ospreay, Trent Seven & Pete Dunne defending the tag titles against London Riots, Hunter Brothers vs. TK Cooper & Travis Banks, William Eaver vs. Joe Coffey and Katie Harvey vs. Nixon Newell. The winners of the men’s matches will go into a seven-man elimination match that will be the main event, to determine the new champion.
  • ROH tickets go on sale Wednesday for Ringside members and Friday to the public for the 15th anniversary show on 3/10 in Las Vegas at Sam’s Town and the TV tapings the next day.
  • Regarding the World of Sport TV tapings tomorrow, I was told that there is a big budget behind the show, which will air as a two-hour special sometime near Christmas. I was told by someone who has seen the set who said it’s like a small version of Raw with a ramp.
  • A news story on the World of Sport return is here.
  • Apparently there is a new free ROKU channel called Rasslin that shows old tapes from Texas and Tennessee. (thanks to Jim Tighe)
  • The movie “Kickboxer:  Vengeance” will be out on DVD and Blu ray on 11/18. Among those in the movie are Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dave Bautista, Gina Carano, Georges St-Pierre, Cain Velasquez and Fabricio Werdum.   
  • Eric Bischoff’s podcast has been added to the MLW Radio network starting on 11/3. 
  • Marcos Galvao, the former Bellator bantamweight champion, will face L.C. Davis plus Chris Honeycut vs. Ben Reiter have been added to the 12/2 Bellator show in Thackerville, OK. The main event on that show is Eduardo Dantas vs. Joe Warren for the bantamweight title.
  • Bellator has a big show on Friday night from Uncasville, CT, with Liam McGeary defending the light heavyweight title against Phil Davis, and it also includes the MMA debut of Tyrell Fortune and Ed Ruth, who are two of the country’s best wrestlers.
  • For this coming weekend, the biggest shows will be Bellator on Friday, New Japan late Friday night/Saturday morning with a PPV show from Osaka headlined by Tetsuya Naito vs. Jay Lethal for the IC title, and UFC from Mexico City with Tony Ferguson vs. Rafael dos Anjos on Saturday.
  • AAW on 11/4 in Merrionnette Park, IL at 115 Bourbon Street has Trevor Lee & Andrew Everett vs. Matt Hardy & Chris Hero, Prince Ali vs. Zack Sabre Jr., Davey Vega & Matt Fitchett vs. Dan Barry & Chuck Taylor, Jeff Cobb vs. Kongo Kong, Kimber Lee vs. Heidi Lovelace vs. Jessicka Havok, plus Sami Callihan, AR Fox, Jack Evans, Eddie Kingston, Homicide and more. They also run 11/26 in Chicago at the Logan Square Auditorium. 
  • Wrestling Over Everything from last night in Swansea, IL: Billy McNeil b Leone Mephisto, LaMarcus Clinton b Tryston Bradley Shaeadux, Tyler Copeland b Jim Hoffarth, Barackus b Chase King, LaMarcus Clinton b Danny Adams, Johnny Blade b Rosko, Chris Exodus b Trystal Brady Sheaduex-DQ, Da’Marius Jones & BT Daramola b Jimmy D in a handicap match, LaMarcus Clinton won three-awy over Barackus and Tyler Copeland. (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
  • Canadian Wrestling Elite from Friday night in Winnipeg for Demolition  Day:  Basically everyone played a wrestler from the past and present: Travis Horowitz b NWO Joseph, Bobby Cena b Irwin R. Scottie, Hacksaw Danny Duggan b Colton Hernandez-DQ, Nasty Boy Mike Knobbs b Masslord, King Kong Axe b Todd Bullet, Brian Orton & CM Dagneel b Gerthquake & Buffoon, King Kong Axe won Rumble, Demolition (as in Bill Eadie & Barry Darsow, the real ones) & Repoman Firpo b Kevin Buchannon & Goon’s Father & Sean Immorality. They run on 11/4 in Russell, Manitoba and 11/5 in Fannystelle, Manitoba, as well as 11/25 at Rookie’s Sports Bar in Winnipeg.
  • Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling on 12/17 in Port Coquitlam, BC has a benefit for the local hunger bank at the Elks Hall #49.
  • NWA World champion Tim Storm vs. Shawn Schultz, Matt Riviera vs Sigmon plus Rob Conway and Greg Anthony appear on 11/5 in Dyresburg, TN at the Herb Welch Wrestleplex.
  • Best in the West TV from Saturday night in Fresno, CA: Brittany Wonder b Tab Jackson, Sasha Darevko b Johnny Butabi, Super Beast & Nathan Graves b Billy Blade & Richie Slade to become the first Best in the West tag team champions. They’ve announced TV tapings on 11/13 in Merced, CA at the American Legion Post 83, 12/10 in Fresno at VFW Hall 8900, 1/8 in  Visalia at the Veterans Memorial Building and 2/11 in Merced. (thanks to Jon Southerland)
  • MCW on 11/5 in Joppatowne, MD features Bully Ray & Drolix & Velvet Sky vs. Ken Dixon & Damien Martinez & Kennadi Brink, plus Ryback vs. Sean Studd (John’s legit son).  There will also be a preshow meet and greet with Ryback, Bully Ray, Melina Perez, Boogeyman, Velvet Sky and Lio Rush.
  • Timothy Thatcher vs. Fred Yeli has been announced for the 11/12 Evolve show in Queens, NY in a non-title match.  Thatcher will defend the Evolve title against Tony Nese on 11/13 in Joppa, MD, and they are pushing it that Nese, who is on Raw almost every week, could be on Raw as Evolve champion.  Ethan Page vs. Chris Dickinson has been added to 11/13.
  • The first live show on Flo Slam (which now has some Evolve library content up) is Friday night from Ybor City, FL, starting at 9 p.m. Eastern with Ivelisse vs. Vanessa Kraven for the Shine title, Allysin Kay vs. LuFisto for the top contendership, Mercedes Martinez vs. Andrea, Saraya Knight vs Su Yung, Thea Trinidad & ACR vs. Amber Gallows & Kennadi Brink and more.  
  • Jeff Cobb debuts with Evolve on 12/11 in Melrose, MA, which means they’ll probably be building to Cobb vs. Matt Riddle.    

Today in Wrestling History (10/31): Hulk Hogan wins bodyslam challenge

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