Daily Update: Weekend schedule, Manami Toyota retires, Earl Hebner

THE ROUND-UP

The Latest from the F4W Staff

NEWS

AUDIO

We’re looking for reports from Wednesday’s WWE show in Glasgow, Scotland, today’s Raw show in London, today’s Smackdown show in Aberdeen, Scotland and today’s NXT show in Jacksonville, FL, to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

We’re doing three polls this weekend, for UFC 217 tomorrow night, New Japan Power Struggle on Saturday night / Sunday morning and Impact Bound for Glory on Sunday 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.

NEW JAPAN WORLD PRO WRESTLING ON AXS TV AT 8 P.M. EASTERN

  • Young Bucks vs. Ricochet & Ryusuke Taguchi for the IWGP jr. tag titles
  • War Machine vs. Cody & Hangman Page for IWGP tag titles

BELLATOR MMA ON SPIKE FROM THE BRYCE JORDAN CENTER AT PENN STATE UNIVERSITY AT 9 P.M. EASTERN

  • Ryan Bader vs. Linton Vassell for light heavyweight title
  • Emily Ducote vs. Ilima MacFarlane for first women’s flyweight title
  • Phil Davis vs. Leo Leite
  • Ed Ruth vs. Chris Dempsey
  • Saad Awad vs. Zach Freeman

LEGACY FIGHTING ALLIANCE ON AXS TV AT 9 P.M. EASTERN ON AXS TV

  • David Acosta vs. Adrian Yanez
  • Aaron Davis vs. Jon Harris
  • Nicole Caliari vs. Itze Esquivael
  • Charles Cheeks III vs. Cameron Graves
  • Kolton Englund vs. Thomas Webb
  • Larry Crowe vs. Bilal Williams
  • Richard Odoms vs. Jeff Hughes for heavyweight title

CMLL ARENA MEXICO AT 10:30 P.M. EASTERN

  • Astral & Robin vs. Artillero & Espanto Jr.
  • Drone & Esfinge & Rey Cometa vs. Puma & Tiger & Virus
  • Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja & Stuka Jr. vs. Cavernario & Negro Casas & Shocker
  • Dallys vs. Marcela for CMLL women’s title
  • Elimintion match for the Rey del Infraumdo championship: Diamante Azul, Mistico, Soberano Jr., Valiente, Cuatrero, Forastero, Hechicero and Sanson
  • Rush & Caristico & Volador Jr. vs. Ultimo Guerrero & Gran Guerrero & Euforia

Saturday we’re looking for reports from WWE Raw in Minehead, England, WWE Smackdown in Barcelona, Spain and NXT in Largo, FL to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

UFC 217 FROM MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SATURDAY NIGHT

Fight Pass at 7 p.m. Eastern

  • Aiemann Zahabi (135.2) vs. Ricardo Ramos (135.4)
  • Curtis Blaydes (258.8) vs. Aleksei Oleinik (246.2)

FS1 at 8 p.m. Eastern

  • Mickey Gall (169.8) vs. Randy Brown (170.8)
  • Corey Anderson (205.4) vs. Ovince Saint Preux (205.0)
  • Walt Harris (251.8) vs. Mark Godbeer (244.0)
  • Joe Duffy (155.4) vs. James Vick (155.2)

PPV at 10 p.m. Eastern

  • Johny Hendricks (185.8) vs. Paulo Borrachinha (185.8)
  • Stephen Thompson (170.4) vs. Jorge Masvidal (171.0)
  • Joanna Jedrzejczyk (115.0) vs. Rose Namajunas (114.0) for strawweight title
  • Cody Garbrandt (135.0) vs. TJ Dillashaw (134.8) for bantamweight title
  • Michael Bisping (184.6) vs. Georges St-Pierre (184.4) for middleweight title

NEW JAPAN POWER STRUGGLE FROM THE EDION ARENA IN OSAKA AT 2:40 A.M. EASTERN TIME AND 12:40 A.M. PACIFIC TIME LATE SATURDAY NIGHT ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • David Finlay vs. Katsuya Kitamura
  • Young Bucks vs Dragon Lee & Titan
  • Juice Robinson & Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask & Kushida & Hirai Kawato vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi & Desperado & Taka Michinoku
  • Togi Makabe & Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Cody & Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens
  • Ryusuke Taguchi & ACH vs. Sho & Yoh for the Super Juniors tag team tournament championship
  • Kazuchika Okada & Hirooki Goto & Tomohiro Ishii & Yoshi-Hashi & Gedo vs. Tetsuya Naito & Evil & Seiya Sanada & Bushi & Hiromu Takahashi
  • Minoru Suzuki vs. Toru Yano in a bullrope match for the Never Open weight title
  • Will Ospreay vs. Marty Scurll for IWGP jr. title
  • Kenny Omega vs. Baretta for U.S. title
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi for IC tilte

Sunday we’re looking for reports from Raw in Cardiff, Wales and Smackdown in Madrid, Spain.

IMPACT BOUND FOR GLORY FROM OTTAWA, ONTARIO AT 8 P.M. EASTERN TIME

  • Eli Drake vs. Johnny Mundo for Impact title
  • Dave & Jake Crist vs. LAX in a 5150 street fight for Impact tag titles
  • Trevor Lee vs. Sonjay Dutt vs. Dezmond Xavier vs. Matt Sydal vs. Petey Williams vs. Garza Jr. for X title
  • Sienna vs. Gail Kim vs. Allie for Knockouts title
  • Moose & Stephan Bonnar vs. King Mo & Bobby Lashley in a cage match
  • Rosemary vs. Taya Valkyrie red wedding (first blood) match
  • Grado vs. Abyss in a Monster’s Ball match – If Grado wins, he can stay in North America but if he loses he has to leave North America
  • Ethan Carter III & James Storm & Eddie Edwards vs. El Texano Jr. & El Hijo de Fantasma & Pagano

Monday is Raw from Manchester, UK. The only thing announced is Kurt Angle on Miz TV and Jason Jordan vs. Elias in a guitar on a pole match. There will also be a Smackdown house show in Lisbon, Portugal.

Tuesday has Smackdown and 205 Live from Manchester, UK with Jinder Mahal vs. A.J. Styles for the WWE title and Usos vs. Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin for the tag titles. There will also be a Raw house show in Birmingham, UK.

Also on Tuesday, Fathom Entertainment will be presenting a Ted DiBiase documentary at movie theaters for a 7:35 p.m. showing across the country. ESPN 30 for 30 will do the Ric Flair story.

Wednesday has Raw in Dortmund, Germany and Smackdown in Leeds, UK.

Also on Wednesday will be the one-day release of the Conor McGregor documentary at theaters around the U.S. 

FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY:Figure Four Weekly 10/30/2017: Looking at WWE’s recent releases

At a time when WWE releases aren’t as common as they used to be, it was surprising to see three wrestlers let go this week. That WWE broke the news on a Sunday morning only made things more odd. The names who were released weren’t exactly shocking, with Emma, Darren Young, and Summer Rae no longer with the company. Of those, Emma was the only one currently on television. 

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WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER:November 6, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: WWE quarter financials, Manami Toyota retiring, more

The most complete look anywhere at WWE business over the summer and fall is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, plus a look at three major documentaries out next week, two Hall of Famer retirements and Survivor Series and WWE booking updates.

Look at WWE’s positive financial reports at a time when some of the usual base categories are disappointing and what led to them. Read actual numbers in detail, how the stock is doing, how this quarter compared historically, as well as financial projections for the rest of the year and into next year.

Check out the TV rights situation, how the UFC negotiations look to tell the story for WWE and what the UFC negotiations say, what happens when WWE’s biggest TV deals expire as well as when the company expects to finalize deals in all of those markets going forward.

Read why the network is more profitable even with slower growth than projected, including different projections, exactly how many people signed up and canceled the WWE network in recent months and how it compares to last year. There are notes on WWE plans going forward for different changes with WWE network, the arena business, the changes in the pro wrestling business as well as looking at the Jinder Mahal question, has he helped, has he hurt and what the numbers say.

Plus, read about U.K. revenue, why YouTube views seem to mean nothing as far as driving revenue, the China experiment, as well as where WWE money comes from as far as what country over he past four years.

Find out if stronger marquee PPVs effects the network, as well as the remnants of the PPV business, how much WWE spends on tapings, the home video business, the digital media business, as well as the live event business and merchandise figures. Also, look at NXT numbers, Performance Center costs and other businesses the company has stake in.

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: October 16, 2000 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Potential WCW sale, New Japan vs. All Japan, plus more

With its wrestlers in Australia and its front office personnel in a total state of uncertainty, media reports continued hot and heavy regarding a potential imminent sale of World Championship Wrestling. While virtually all reports listed Mandalay Sports as the prime suitor, with a group headed by Eric Bischoff, most of the talk over the weekend involved a longshot in the deal which has been rumored for some time, the potential of the World Wrestling Federation buying out its long-time competitor, particularly after a story on 10/9 in Multi Channel News.

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FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE

This is a very busy weekend upcoming. We will be doing radio shows on Saturday night after UFC and Sunday after Power Struggle and Bound for Glory.

Manami Toyota, one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time, regardless of gender, ended her career earlier today at a show in Yokohama by wrestling 51 straight matches, including a few against men, in Yokohama.

Keep in mind daylight savings time issues. This doesn’t relate to the U.S. and Canada, but does for overseas shows. Mexico starts daylight savings time one week earlier than the U.S. so they are already in it. So tonight’s Arena Mexico show starts at 10:30 p.m. Eastern and 7:30 p.m. Pacific, one hour later than usual. Next week, because the U.S. and Canada go into daylight savings time, it will be back to the normal 9:30 p.m. Tonight’s show features a Cibernetico match that on paper looks good as it’s eight people and loaded with talent and CMLL Cibernetico matches usually deliver, or at times, over deliver in the sense the guys get so competitive with each other that they do too much. 

For the New Japan Power Struggle show, it will start 2:40 a.m. Eastern time, but 12:40 a.m. Pacific time. That is figuring the clocks being moved back at 2 a.m., so if you don’t move your clock back at 2 a.m. Eastern time, or do so early Pacific time, figure accordingly. The New Japan show is the last major show before the Tokyo Dome. Expect several Tokyo Dome matches to become clear on that show including several championship matches, as well as the identify of Switchblade being revealed and I was told there would be a major announcement as well.

For tomorrow’s UFC 217, every fighter made weight, however, the Ion Cutelaba vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk fight is off because of voluntary disclosures in his form by Cutelaba on both 10/18 and 10/19 when he was being drug tested. Cutelaba has been provisionally suspended.

Raw and Smackdown in Manchester this week are both sold out with 14,000 tickets sold. That’s a marked contrast from the U.S. markets where the attendance for both has been well below normal the past few months.

Add referees Earl Hebner and Brian Stiffler to the list of those who have left Impact.

WWE

  • Chris Harrington talks the WWE’s TV negotiations.
  • Figure Four Films will be presenting a documentary called “An Extraordinary Gentleman,” about the life of Jack Gallagher. The documentary covers his career prior to signing with WWE.
  • Today’s WWE Network Friday Flashback is about 22 years of the Big Show.
  • Cesaro & Sheamus talk premiere league football.
  • The Fan Theory podcast talks to Kurt Angle.

UFC

  • Daniel Cormier said that he will be defending his title next against Volkhan Oezdemir.
  • The Asbury Park Press preview for UFC 217 looks at Georges St-Pierre returning to the New York / New Jersey market, where he already headlined the biggest MMA card in New Jersey history. 
  • The company announced a deal with AirAsia as the first-ever Official Airline of the UFC. It will be a partnership for Asia and Australia but will start being promoted at tomorrow’s UFC 217.
  • Azunna Anyanwu was provisionally suspended by UFC due to the results of a drug test taken out of competition on 10/18.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • The Highspots Wrestling Network will have a live interactive show on 11/13 with Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, Cody, Marty Scurll and Hangman Page called “Ask the Elite.”
  • Tom Prichard talks the death of his good friend Brad Armstrong five years ago:
    “[November 1st] marks five years since Brad Armstrong passed away. He was my very, very best friend. So… this is a bitter sweet night. This was the last night, five years ago, that he took his daughter trick-or-treating and then never woke up. I called him the next morning and got his wife. 
    “So, this is one of those things that will always stay with me for the rest of my life because he was the only guy in the business I could trust completely and we had a lot of similar experiences.
    “I just want everybody to know this is the fifth year that Brad Armstrong passed away… The greatest thing about Brad was that he could work with anybody. If you couldn’t have a great match with Brad Armstrong, you didn’t belong in this business. I’ve seen him take cow manure and make it look like a star. Guys who had no business being in the ring, he made them look like stars.
    “So, it was a loss in the business, but it was an even bigger loss in my life. He was a guy I could just call up and say, ‘Hey Brad. I’ve got [something] to say and no way to say it. I just need to talk and get this off my chest.’ And he always listened and always made me laugh. He’s sorely missed.” 
  • Nine Legends director David Sinnott has put out a documentary called “Roddy Piper: In His Own Words” which streams for $7.99. Among those in the documentary are Chris Jericho, Bill Goldberg and Mike Tyson.
  • Greg Valentine will be appearing at the CWE autograph show on 2/24 in Winnipeg at CanAdInns at 10 a.m.
  • Tom Lawlor is off the 11/18 WrestleCircus show as UFC has booked him for an overseas tour of military bases. He will be replaced by Andrew Everett.
  • United Wrestling Coalition on 11/11 in Wrightstown, NJ at Kelly’s Banquet Hall. Fans are encouraged to donate nonperishable good items as well as used coats, hats, gloves and scarves for distribution to the needy.
  • The movie “Vengeance” a thriller movie featuring Stu Bennett (Wade Barrett) in a lead role will debut on 11/11 at the Times Square AMC Theater in New York.
  • Pro Wrestling Phoenix from last night in Omaha: Zac James & Purple & Tim Boston b Robert Storm & Dalton Lee Roth & Jake Lander, Kevin Lee Davidson b Willy Sweet, Branden Juarez b Joey Daniels-DQ, Branden Juarez & Con Aritest b Joey Daniels & Paul Daniels, Lars Metzger b Clay Cooper, Nathen Edwards b Johnny Ruckus, Pat Powers & Devin Carter b Darren Russell & Duke Cornell, Michael Elgin b Preston Maxwell to keep PWP title. Next show is 12/7 at the Waiting Room Lounge.
  • Ring of Honor announced there would be special meet and greets on the 11/11 show in Fort Lauderdale and 11/12 show in Lakeland, FL with announcers Ian Riccaboni and Colt Cabana where, 45 minutes before the doors open, for 90 minutes fans will get a $20 meet and greet where they can take a photo with a broadcast headset and receive an autographed 8×10 or other item will all of the money being donated directly to Unidos Por Puerto Rico for relief efforts in Puerto Rico.
  • A story on Rick Cataldo, a Northeast independent wrestler. (thanks to Lee Wall)

Today in Professional Wrestling History: Bobby Roode wins TNA World title

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