Daily Update: UFC 198 weigh ins, ROH card changes, and more

UFC 198 Weigh-In Results

Everyone made weight and Cris Cyborg did so with two pounds to spare at 139. She obviously looked smaller at that weight. Vitor Belfort looked like a different person, like an early 40s tennis player while Jacare Souza looked the same as he always does. The weigh-ins took place at the soccer stadium. It wasn’t full. They were talking about 20,000 people beforehand but on television were saying 15,000. Given the set up the 15,000 number looked legit, as there were a lot of people in the upper deck and the bottom section looked full. The only real note was Matt Brown decided to play American heel and Stone Cold, flipping the audience off on at least two occasions, leading chants of “You’re gonna die” that were directed at him from the Brazilians, and turning his back on the crowd while weighing in.

UFC 198 FROM THE ARENA DA BAIXADA IN CURITIBA, BRAZIL – WEIGH-IN RESULTS

FIGHT PASS AT 6:30 P.M. EASTERN TIME

  • Renato Moicano (9-0-1, 146) vs. Zubaira Tukhugov (18-3, 146)
  • Luan Chagas (14-1, 169) vs. Sergio Moraes (8-2, 171)
  • Patrick Cummins (8-3, 206) vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (21-7, 205)

FS 1 AT 8 P.M. EASTERN

  • Rob Font (13-1, 135) vs. John Lineker (26-7, 135)
  • Yancy Medeiros (12-3, 156) vs. Francisco Trinaldo (19-4, 156)
  • Nate Marquardt (34-15-2, 186) vs. Thiago Santos (12-3, 185)
  • Matt Brown (20-13, 171) vs. Demian Maia (22-6, 171)

PPV AT 10 P.M. EASTERN

  • Warlley Alves (10-0, 170) vs. Bryan Barbarena (11-3, 170)
  • Corey Anderson (8-1, 204) vs. Mauricio Shogun Rua (23-10, 205)
  • Cris Cyborg Justino (15-1, 139) vs. Leslie Smith (8-6-1, 139)
  • Vitor Belfort (25-11) vs. Renato Jacare Souza (22-4, 186)
  • Fabricio Werdum (20-5-1, 240) vs. Stipe Miocic (14-2, 241)    

This is a big weekend of events with a full WWE lineup of shows including four events tomorrow night, one of UFC’s deepest PPV shows in a long time going head-to-head with Bellator and ROH in New York.

We’re looking for reports on tonight’s WWE show in Greenville, NC (Roman Reigns, Sheamus, Miz, Zayn, Owens, Cesaro, Dudleys, Ziggler, Usos, Cass, Charlotte, Natalya) as well as tonight’s NXT shows in Spokane and Largo, FL to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

Our only weekend poll will be for UFC 198.

One of the best one-hour wrestling television shows you’ll ever see, the English language version of the Kushida vs. Kyle O’Reilly Best of the Super Juniors final from 2015, will be replayed tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern on AXS.

LEGACY FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS TONIGHT ON AXS TV FROM HOUSTON AT 10 P.M. EASTERN

  • Humberto DeLeon (132.5) vs. David Acosta (135.1)
  • Jeremiah Jones (171.3) vs. Jason Langellier (172.1)
  • David Waters (124.4) vs. Roberto Sanchez (125.5)
  • Edgar Juarez (150.9) vs. Alex Black (149.8)
  • Bilal Williams (184) vs. Artenas Young (185)
  • Brandon Farran (186.7) vs. Ike Villanueva (186.6)
  • Brice Ritani-Coe vs. Justin Ledet (231.6)

CMLL LIVE FROM ARENA MEXICO TONIGHT AT 7:30 P.M. 

  • Ultimo Dragoncito & Electrico vs. Mercurio & Nitrito
  • Estrellita & Lluvia & Princesa Sugei vs. Amapola & Tiffany & Zeuxis
  • Blue Panther & Guerrero Maya Jr. & Titan vs. Dragon Rojo & Polvora & Bobby Z
  • Stuka Jr. vs. Cavernario
  • Mistico & Valiente & Volador Jr. vs. Euforia & Gran Guerrero & Ultimo Guerrero
  • La Mascara & Pierroth & Rush vs. El Terrible & Rey Bucanero & Shocker

Saturday we’re looking for reports from WWE in Raleigh (Roman Reigns, Sheamus, Chris Jericho, Miz, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Cesaro, Ziggler, Usos, Cass, Charlotte, Natalya), WWE in Roanoke (Dean Ambrose, Rusev, Big Show, Kane, Erick Rowan, Braun Strowman, New Day, Paige, Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch, Kalisto), NXT in Portland and Jacksonville, the Lucha Libre show in San Jose at the Civic Auditorium headlined by Mil Mascaras and ROH in New York.

BELLATOR LIVE ON SPIKE TV AT 8 P.M. (ONE HOUR EARLIER THAN USUAL) FROM THE SAP CENTER IN SAN JOSE

  • Saad Awad vs Evangelista Cyborg Santos
  • Andre Fialho vs. Rick Reger
  • Adam Piccolotti vs. Ray Wood
  • Phil Davis vs. King Mo Lawal

Sunday has WWE house shows in Columbia, SC (Roman Reigns, Sheamus, Chris Jericho, Miz, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Cesaro, Dolph Ziggler, Usos, Cass, Charlotte, Natalya) and Charlottesville, VA (Dean Ambrose, Rusev, Big Show, Kane, Erick Rowan, Braun Strowman, New Day, Paige, Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch and Kalisto.  We’re looking for reports on those shows as well.  

Raw will be Monday in Greensboro. The only thing announced for Raw is that The Shining Stars will debut as a tag team.

Smackdown will be Tuesday night in Greenville, SC.

THE ROUND UP

If you’ve ever wanted to WATCH our radio shows here on the site, check out our new Youtube page! No full video shows, but lots of video clips, full free audio shows that you can tell your friends about, and much more to come! Make sure you subscribe today!

Figure Four Weekly 5/9/2016: Hogan and Gawker fight over verdict – Hulk Hogan is suing Gawker a second time, this time for leaking the contents of sealed documents to the tabloids. Now we have the verdict. Find out all the details in this weeks issue of Figure Four Weekly.

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

READ IT HERE: May 16, 2016 Wrestling Observer newsletter: Potential UFC sale, WWE releases, plus tons of news

Our lead story updates the talks of a UFC sale, plus an updated look at how the WWE is doing as a business, a look at WWE cuts, the booking behind the ROH Global Wars PPV and how New Japan and ROH are working together even more closely than on the surface, Global Wars coverage, a look at the status of a lot of ROH talent, coverage of the UFC debut in Holland, the hidden story of just how much of the male audience has been lost by WWE, as well as what WWE can learn from the NBA, and historical bios on Billy Wicks and Kato Kung Lee.

There is also a look at the ESPN story on the potential sale of the UFC, what we know is legit, numbers being thrown around, who actually owns UFC, Dana White’s reaction to the story, moves UFC has made, Dana White’s long-term future if there is a sale, timing of the sale and sustaining the brand popularity.  Plus there’s also a look at the various companies listed that are in talks of buying.

An update on WWE financials is in this issue, plus a look at the WWE Network numbers, what last year’s patterns tell us about the numbers, the company’s profits and losses, how well every division does for WWE and what is the most important for the bottom line, how well the company is doing financially compared to last year, what is projected by WWE this year for the WrestleMania quarter, update on injured wrestlers and their returns, Vince McMahon talks WWE injuries, and how much cash on hand the company has right now.

There is also a look at how WWE is going to be changing how it reports information and what information they are going to be keeping secret as compared to the past. Also, there is a look at the dichotomy between social media numbers and WWE network subscribers and what it says.

CLICK HERE FOR A FULL PREVIEW

Current subscribers click here to continue reading.

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All the news from the ESPN coverage of the drug deaths in professional wrestling, and more will be in the latest back issue. Check out the latest online Wrestling Observer BACK ISSUE: March 29, 1999 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: ESPN program on drug deaths in the pro wrestling industry, ECW Living Dangerously review, more. There is also a full break down of ECW’s Living Dangerously PPV, plus tons of news and notes.

FRIDAY UPDATE

Happy birthday today to Danny Hodge, who was one of the greatest amateur wrestlers in U.S. history and the best junior heavyweight in U.S. history who turned 84 today.

Lots of people banged up on the ROH tour. The card in New York at Terminal Five has changed somewhat. As noted yesterday, Nick Jackson is injured and won’t be wrestling tomorrow. He has what is believed to be a rib injury and will be getting it checked on Sunday. Matt Jackson is wrestling tomorrow but he injured his hand taking a super power falcon arrow from Michael Elgin on Wednesday, just seconds after Nick was injured. The hand is swollen and bruised.  here are others banged up as well but as of right now, only Nick Jackson is off the show. This is the new lineup:

  • Adam Cole & Matt Jackson vs. Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jay Lethal & Roderick Strong
  • Tetsuya Naito vs. ACH in a non-title match (this may be questionable)
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Matt Sydal
  • Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian vs. Ray Rowe & Hanson for the ROH tag titles
  • Cedric Alexander vs Donovan Dijak
  • Jushin Liger & Mark & Jay Briscoe vs. Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa & Adam Page
  • Trent Baretta & Gedo vs. Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley
  • Kushida vs. Silas Young non-title
  • Michael Elgin vs. Moose vs Dalton Castle vs.. Lio Rush
  • Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Rhett Titus & Kenny King

New Japan made an announcement today regarding the Super J Cup, which is not the same as the Super Juniors tournament. The Super Juniors starts 5/21 and is a round-robin tournament.  The Super J Cup will be a 16-man multi-promotional single elimination tournament.  The first round matches will be 7/18 at Korakuen Hall, which will be eight bouts.  The final eight move into a one-night tournament, similar to the old K-1 Grand Prix, on 8/21 at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo.  They announced there would be four wrestlers from New Japan, (three regulars and one from Chaos, likely Will Ospreay), five from NOAH (three from NOAH and two from the Suzuki-gun side), plus one wrestler each from All Japan, Okinawa Pro, CMLL, ROH, K-Dojo, Dragon Gate and one more participant.

In a major mainstream news story in Japan, the Japanese Sports Agency has requested the national Olympic Committee and Tokyo government to investigate allegations of payoffs that may have been used to get Tokyo the 2020 Summer Olympics. Hiroshi Hase, a pro wrestling Hall of Famer who is the Sports Minister in the government held a press conference today saying that they would cooperate and want a thorough examination. Hase said their intent was to submit a bid that would have no wrongdoing associated with it, but he has doubts that happened. The prosecutors have found a check of $2 million from a Japanese bank to a Singapore bank related to Papa Massata Diack, the son of IAAF President Lamine Diack in July and October listed as “Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games bid.” A good rule of thumb for all prospective bribers going forward is not to write what you are bribing on the check itself. 

A clarification from this week’s Observer regarding Court Bauer and his leaving AAA/Lucha Underground. While it was true that Lucha Underground attempted to get him to sign an addendum to where he’d have no affiliation with Konnan, he said that he was able to negotiate around it and that was not a major part of the reason he left working for the promotions.  He said he just felt it was time to move on and he’s spending more and more time working for Combate Americas.

WWE & Pro Wrestling

  • Lana will be wrestling on tonight’s NXT show in Largo, FL.
  • Chris Harrington talks WWE financials and changes in reporting.
  • Rolling Stone talks to Damien Sandow about his release, saying he wasn’t surprised,. had nothing bad to say about WWE and talked about studying Shakespearean acting now
  • WWE’s Gerrit Meier talks company business. 
  • Zack Sabre Jr. talks joining the WWE cruiserweight tournament.
  • WWE stock was up 14 cents per share today to $17.93. 
  • Jimmy Snuka was to be in court today for a hearing to see if he is mentally competent enough to stand trial in the case involving the death of Nancy Argentino in 1983. 
  • Pop TV has, effective immediately, dropped the Saturday replay of Impact, so Impact now only airs at 9 p.m. on Thursday night. This is the same pattern that Destination America did with the cutting of shows. 

UFC & MMA

  • UFC announced today that USADA had contacted them regarding a potential Anti-Doping policy violation by Carlos Diego Ferriera from an out of competition test. Because of this, Ferreira is provisionally suspended and is off his scheduled fight with Abel Trujillo on 5/29 in Las Vegas. UFC is looking for a new opponent for Trujillo.
  • Paul Fontaine predicts 325,000 to 360,000 buys for tomorrow’s show.
  • EA Sports announced the launch of live event competitions, a brand new competitive experience in the EA Sports UFC 2 live event mode in the game. Starting tomorrow, fans can play the qualifiers in the live event competition to compete for a chance to earn Ultimate Team rewards and a trip to the live finals coinciding with the UFC Fan Expo in July. The winner of the grand slam final match on 7/8 at Fan Expo will win $10,000 and a belt signifying them as the EA Sports UFC 2 world champion.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Our British wrestling columnist Alan Boon was a guest on the Indy Darlings podcast.
  • Some of you may be able to watch Lucha Underground here.
  • Here is a story on the closing of the Los Angeles Sports Arena, which housed a ton of wrestling events over the years, including WrestleMania, AAA’s When Worlds Collide and tons of big shows in the 60s. 
  • Monster Energy drink has signed a renewal of its sponsorship death with Bellator. Tomorrow night’s show will be the first of the new deal.
  • Chris Hero vs. Big Damo headlines for Discovery Wrestling on 7/16 in Edinburgh, Scotland at the Portobello Town Hall.
  • Jimmy Hart will be signing tomorrow night at the Rochester Red Swings game at Frontier Field from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and at the Webster Columbus Center on Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
  • The next Evolve seminar an training session will be 6/10 in Ybor City, FL, with WWE coach Norman Smiley giving a lecture on what WWE is looking for and helping evaluate talent. For more info go to go DGUSA.tv and look for the WWN Seminar/Tryout section.
  • Fight Club OC on 6/9 at the Hanger in Orange County features both boxing and MMA fights. Former UFC and Strikeforce fighter Mike Kyle will be boxing on the show. They are 180 tickets shy of capacity and are working on their ninth straight sellout.
  • Tetsuya Naito will be in Singapore at a press conference for Bushiroad’s Chara Expo on 7/9 and 7/10 at the Sony PlayStation Stage.
  • River City Wrestling on 6/3 at Retama Park in San Antonio features Warlord, Barbarian, Hernandez and Lance Hoyt (Archer).
  • There was a Lucha Libre show on Sunday in Raleigh as part of a Mothers Day Festival which drew 1,500 to the North Carolina State Fairgrounds: Canek Jr won Battle Royal, Seiya b Beau James, Cristal b Misty James, Tzuki b Papa Smurf, Canek Jr. b Huracan Ramirez Jr. (thanks to Todd Goss). This was only part of the festival, which included big name singers and bands from Mexican television, rodeo, and games for kids. There will be another event like this in June in Winston-Salem.
  • National Fighting Championships on 6/11 at Center Stage in Atlanta for a show headlined by Jared Gooden vs. Amir Dadovic. They are also running 7/22 in Kennesaw, GA at Electric Cowboy with Chazz Walton vs. Warren Smith for the Georgia lightweight title. 
  • Johnny Devine will headline for CWE in Calgary on 5/21 teaming with Danny Duggan against Frankie Kazarian and Silas Young. Kazarian will be in Canada for CWE touring from 5/19 to 5/28.
  • Maryland Championship Wrestling and GFW have a doing show tomorrow night in Joppa, MD with Sonjay Dutt vs. Lio Rush vs. DJ Zema Ion for the Gen X title plus Jeff Jarrett & Punk Rock All-Stars vs. Eric Chapel & Dirty Money & Ken Dixon, Kevin Matthews vs. Brandon Scott, Pat Sick vs Drolix plus GFW champion Nick Aldis defends against Brian Meyers.

Today in professional wrestling history: Race wins Missouri Title; Martel wins AWA World Title; Angle wins TNA World Title