Daily Update: UFC fallout, Typhoon Hagibis, Bray Wyatt

DAILY UPDATE

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We’re looking for your thoughts on NJPW King of Pro Wrestling which starts at 4 a.m. Eastern tonight, 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

We’re also looking for reports on the WWE weekend shows in Odessa, TX last night, Amarillo tonight and Evolve shows in Atlanta and Concord, NC to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com

NEW JAPAN KING OF PRO WRESTLING AT 4 A.M. ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • Sho & Yoh & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Douki & Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Desperado
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomoaki Honma vs. Togi Makabe & Toru Yano
  • Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi & Bushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Lance Archer & Taichi
  • Hirooki Goto & Tomohiro Ishii & Yoshi-Hashi vs. Jay White & KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Jushin Liger vs. Minoru Suzuki
  • Will Ospreay vs, El Phantasmo for IWGP jr. title
  • Jon Moxley vs. Juice Robinson in a no DQ match for U.S. title
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Evil for Tokyo Dome main event slot
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Sanada for IWGP title

Raw is Monday from Denver with the draft plus Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks for the first pick of the new draft pool.

F4W NEWSLETTER: Looking at three stories from a historic week Joseph Currier looks back at a huge week for pro wrestling.

The most important week in recent pro wrestling history reached strong heights before ending with an embarrassing low.

The Wednesday Night War began, with AEW Dynamite debuting on TNT opposite a stacked episode of NXT on USA. SmackDown made its move to FOX two days later and featured an appearance by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, a WWE Championship change, and the debut of Cain Velasquez. Sunday’s Hell in a Cell pay-per-view looked like it was only going to be a footnote, but the main event made the show memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Here’s a look at three stories that defined the week:

1. AEW wins first night of Wednesday night ratings war

Pro wrestling returned to TNT last Wednesday as the premiere of AEW Dynamite averaged 1.409 million viewers. That topped the 891,000 viewers that NXT averaged. In the 18-49 demo, AEW posted a 0.68 rating — second for the night on cable and more than double what NXT did.

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WON NEWSLETTER: October 14, 2019 Observer Newsletter: SmackDown debuts on FOX, Hell in a Cell disaster

Smackdown on FOX, the ratings, what they mean, how this relates to Raw, the Velasquez vs. Lesnar and Fury vs. Strowman matches is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer. 

This week’s Observer also covers: 

How FOX did with the competition, how FOX did compared to last season’s premieres, how the show did in Canada, note on how the kickoff show did, match-by-match and how the ratings changed, who drew big and who didn’t, the usage of legends, the story behind Velasquez’s negotiations, the end of Kingston’s reign, plus match-by-match coverage.

What went wrong with Hell in a Cell, the disaster of a main event, the reactions by fans, Vince McMahon’s reactions to those reactions, how the match order hurt the show, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.

Wednesday night war with ratings, where both sides lost viewers the most, the fall from the first week on TNT, the average viewer age for AEW and NXT and how different the makeup is, how every segment on both shows did.

What segments were strong set with what age groups, and how teenage viewership both shows differs greatly.

Smackdown draft, 205 Live going forward, the plans for Saudi Arabia, why the cruiserweight distinction in NXT makes no sense anymore, new WWE signings, Mae Young Classic, WWE injuries, Goldberg and Matt Riddle situation, Hulk Hogan wants a match with Vince McMahon, former Miss America contestant signs with WWE, U.K. star moves to Florida, remake of “Badstreet USA,” value of WWE stock, most-watched shows on WWE Network over the past week, plus notes on every live event by the WWE main roster and NXT this past week with business notes, results and highlights.

Jeff Hardy’s recent arrest and a look back at his other issues over the years.

A full report on the UFC show from Australia, the record crowd, business  notes, and a look at Israel Adesanya.

The situation with Dragon Lee going forward as well as where WWE and AEW may fit in, his being pulled from the New Japan tour as well as a look at this year’s Junior heavyweight tag team tournament that starts this coming week.

A full report on the debut of NWA Power, the new Internet television show Billy Corgan and Dave Lagana have put out, glory days of Georgia Championship Wrestling and its ratings, a look at Nick Aldis as NWA champion, business notes and economic realities regarding the company as well as what kind of Youtube numbers the different shows are doing.

Full coverage of all the WWE television shows from the past week.

In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.

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

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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I did a weekend show last night covering UFC and the Smackdown ratings among other subjects.

The only thing in combat sport that trended this weekend was Saturday night’s UFC show at No. 16 with 100,000 searches.  Obviously football dominates along with the major news. Notably, nothing from the WWE press conference on Friday with Cain Velasquez, Brock Lesnar, Braun Strowman or Tyson Fury cracked Friday’s top 20.

ONE did run its show today at Sumo Hall in Tokyo that aired last night in prime time on TNT with Demetrious Johnson. New Japan’s show at Sumo Hall tomorrow is still on. The Tokyo area has been threatened with a major typhoon. There are a lot of travel issues but we haven’t heard anything regarding guys flying in as of yet.  Stardom and Ice Ribbon both canceled their shows. The Ice Ribbon show was to have Tequila Saya’s retirement, and the company said they would have a retirement show on a new date. Stardom canceled their show at Shinkiba First Ring, but tomorrow’s Korakuen Hall show was not canceled.

Bray Wyatt, who had been injured on Sunday, but not significantly, was cleared for matches and wrestled in last night’s main event in Odessa, TV against Seth Rollins.  Rollins won via DQ in the main event for the Universal title. 

Joanna Jedrzejczyk last night after her win over Michelle Waterson, said she wanted a title fight with Weili Zhang next, and said she wanted it in the spring at the stadium in Warsaw., Poland that KSW drew 57,000 fans in.

WWE

  • Akira Tozawa, Cesaro, Chad Gable and Humberto Carrillo will all be playing free agents evidently since they went undrafted and also weren’t mentioned in today’s updates.
  • There has been a split in the Hardy family with at least the wives. It started when Matt made a comment about Jeff’s recent arrest, saying on Twitter,”Since so many have asked me about my brother. I love my brother & want him to be happy & healthy. I’ve expressed that to him as much as I can. Jeff has to make his decisions about his life. I have to focus on my
  • 2 boys & soon to arrive son. I can only control MY actions.” Really, it should have ended there, but Beth Hardy, Jeff’s wife, responded to Matt, saying, “Kept my mouth shut for too long. Don’t take ANY info seriously from `family’ when it comes to me or Jeff. ‘Family’ quotes are BS. Family should have contacted us first before they made a statement to Twitter.
  • Looks like they’re more worried about their online presence than Jeff.” This led to Reby Hardy, Matt’s wife, writing, “No matter how much you dislike him, MATT IS STILL HIS BROTHER, here LONG before your ass & is family, not `family, ’ PERIOD. Any statements from Matt about Jeff don’t need YOUR approval; it ain’t about YOU. I know it kills you to have anyone acknowledge that the facade of a perfect life you try to maintain is a f***ing joke, but not everyone thinks the sun shines out of your asses, Beth, and not everyone wants to be complicit in your `protecting’& enabling of a man who is well on his way to killing himself or someone else. You’re an idiot if you really believe Jeff’s actions don’t affect Matt; they do & he has every f***ing right to speak his mind on HIS OWN BROTHER. Remember, he speaks from EXPERIENCE. Unlike you, we don’t run & hide from our issues & pretend nothing is or was ever wrong in this house. Matt was the absolute worst & I’ve seen how bad it can truly get. I know how this story ends if you don’t f***ing wake up already. Worry about THAT instead of what is said to `f***ing nobodies online,’ as you so eloquently describe their fans. It’s not `talking s***.’ it’s living in REALITY & holding people accountable when they need it. Maybe it’s time to put the wine emojis away, drop the Twitter stuntin & put that energy into keeping your man from driving f***ed up on the streets I drive WITH MY CHILDREN before trying to come at a man for addressing his own blood/business partner. In short, & as always, MIND YOUR f***ING BUSINESS.” And this led to Beth’s response, `It was kept private from me. I’m blocked. ???????’.
  • Bill Goldberg clowning around with friend Paul Finebaum.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • MMA managers Abe Kawa and Ali Abdelaziz were involved in an altercation backstage at Friday’s PFL show in Las Vegas.  According to Kawa, Abdelaziz came up to him and slapped him in the face. Las Vegas police were called and one of the subjects was issued a citation and then released.  Neither man was injured. ESPN first reported the story.
  • Paul Adams, who managed in the Northeast on independents, as well as in Tennessee, passed away on Friday.
  • WAR Wrestling on 12/6 in Lima, OH at the Bradfield Community Center.
  • Hector Lombard, a former UFC and Bellator star, has signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships.
  • KSW’s biggest drawing card, Mariusz Pudzianowski (12-7) faces bodybuilder and social media star Eriko Jun (3-0) in the main event of the KSW show on 11/9 at Arena Zagreb in Croatia.
  • PWP on 11/21 returns to the Waiting Room lounge in Omaha.
  • Hoosier Pro Wrestling on 11/2 in Columbus, IN  at the 4-H Fairgrounds with its 16th annual Fireman’s Cheer Fund Toy Drive Show.
  • Wrestling Go from Friday night in Sydney, Australia:  Tree Hugger Luchi b Sam Osborne, Gatt b AJ, Alex Irvine & Big Fudge & Cesar b Massive Q & Nikki Van Blair & Will Kiedis, Unsocial Jordan b Rory Gulak to win the 24/7 watermelon title, Kai Drake DCOR Robbie Eagles, Lex Lennock & Silvio Milano b Jay Sorbet & Tieson, Azalea & Bel Pierce b ASPN & Shazza McKenzie, Bee Boy b Julien Ward
  • Melbourne City Wrestling from Friday night in Melbourne, Australia:  Kellyanne b Kingsley Jett Rouka b Emman the Kid and Royce Chambers, Candy Lee b Xena, Slex & Adam Brooks b Caveman Ugg & Hartley Jackson, Jessica Troy b Tarlee, Ritchie Taylor b Shaun Young, Steph De Lander b Avary, Will Ospreay & Kyle Fletcher b Tome & Stevie Filip (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • Melbourne City Wrestling from last night in Melbourne:  Steph De Lander b Candy Lee, Kellyanne b Jessica Troy, Hartley Jackson b Caveman Ugg, Brat Pack b Will Ospreay & Kyle Fletcher to retain the tag titles due to interference from Gino Gambino, who promised Bullet Club vs. Chaos in MCW next year, Mike Burr b DCT, LUX b Avary & Tarlee, Danny Psycho b Jett Rouka to keep Intercommonwealth title, Steph De Lander b Kellyanne to win tournament and become first MCW women’s champion.  Dowie James vs. Adam Brooks vs vs. Slex is the main event of the next show on 11/9 DCT is returning to the U.K. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • Pro Wrestling EVE from today in London, UK:  Mercedes Martinez & Laura Di Matteo b Rhia O’Reilly & Livvii Grace in a semifinal match for the tag team titles, Gisele Shaw b Nina Samuels, Valkyrie & Debibe Keitel b Jinny & Kanji in another tournament semifinal, Kasey b Roxxy in a She-1 tournament qualifier, Angel Hayze b Nightshade in a She-1 tournament qualifier, Leyla Hirsch b Skye Smitson, Valkyrie & Debbie Keitel b Mercedes Martinez & Laura Di Matteo to win vacant tag titles.  Kris Wolf was at the show but didn’t wrestle. Skyle Smitson said she was going abroad to get more experience. Erin Angel announced that she was pregnant (thanks to Chris Gannon)
  • Sendai Girls from today in Sendai:  Ryo Mizunami b Yurika Oka, Hikaru Shida won Battle Royal throwing out Jaguar Yokota, Namami b Mikoto Shindo to win jr.title, Meiko Satomura & Syuri (UFC) b Aja Kong & Yuu, Dash Chisako & Hiroyo Matsumoto b Millie McKenzie & Charli Evans to win tag titles, Chihiro Hashimoto b Saree to win the Sendai Girls world title (thanks to Shannon Walsh and wrestlingwithdemons.net)
  • Southern Championship Wrestling from last night in Deltona, FL:  Amber Nova b Chasyn Rance to win Florida cruiserweight title, Djokovic Rabbit won three-way over Josh Dawkins and Christian Mills, Cisco Sucio b Gorilla Blanco, Josh Dawkins b Djokovic Rabbit,  Chasyn Rance b Christian Mills, Kwame Nas & Josh Dawkins b Cisco Sucio & Djokovic Rabbit, Chasyn Rance b Amber Nova 2/3 falls to win back the Florida cruiserweight title (thanks to Al Haft).
  • CWA from last night in Hot Springs, ARK before 650 fans:  Gary Gram b Meklakov, Jakob Edwinn b Jon Michael, Matt Riviera b Buff Bagwell, Barrett Brown b Elijah Burke, Matt Boyce & Derrick King b Genetic Perfection, Tim Storm b Greg Anthony, Matt Riviera won  Battle Royal to become the first CWA Arkansas champion. Arn Anderson gave Bagwell a spinebuster during the show. Bob Orton did a meet and greet. Next show is 1/18 in Hot Springs at the Maumelle Events Center with Jerry Lawler.
  • Evolve from Friday night in Atlanta:  Anthony Henry b Slim J, Arturo Ruas b JD Drake, Anthony Gutierrez b Colby Corino, Babatunde NC Eddie Kingston, Shotzi Blackheart b Aja Perera, Adrian Alanis & Liam Gray b Anthony Greene & Harlem Bravado, Leon Ruff b Sean Maluta, Cameron Grimes b Curt Stallion, Josh Briggs b Kassius Ohno, Austin Theory b  AR Fox to keep the Evolve title (thanks to Leonard Brand)
  • The Hannibal TV did an interview with UFC Hall of Famer and former WWE Superstar Dan Severn today talking about subjects such as his recent wrestling match with Ken Shamrock, Connor McGregor’s Legal Issue, Cain Velasquez getting into wrestling and other current MMA topics.
  • There is an Indiegogo fundraiser for Jessica Kresa (ODB) to help her replace her food truck that burned down in a fire. On 9/7, Kresa’s food truck burned down. It was not only a major source of income but also a lifelong passion with cooking and meeting people. After sinking a fortune into her streamline, something caught fire late one night and the insurance company is only willing to recoup a small percentage of the total price. Perks are available at every level for those willing to donate including an autograph photo, signed ODB hot sauce, a personalized video, t-shirts, special packages as well as once in a lifetime opportunities including ring worn gear and memorabilia for pro wrestling collectors. 
  • The countdown special for PWA Colosseum tournament.
  • Former wrestler and 2nd grader become friends through prosthesis  (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)

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