Daily Update: Weekend wrap-up, Alexander & Monroe, WOS trailer

THE ROUND-UP

THE LATEST NEWS

THE LATEST AUDIO

We’re looking for reports from last night’s ROH TV tapings in Fairfax, VA as well as today’s WWE show in Fargo, ND to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com

Monday has Raw in Sioux Falls, SD. Nothing has been announced for the show. There is no Smackdown house show on Monday as it’s a travel day coming back from Taiwan.

Tuesday has Smackdown in Omaha with James Ellsworth vs. Asuka announced plus a hint of Cedric Alexander vs. Hideo Itami for 205 Live.

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Remembering Leon ‘Vader’ White

The professional wrestling world lost a truly one-of-a-kind figure last week. Leon “Vader” White, the best big man that the industry has ever seen, died on Monday, June 18 after years of heart problems and complications from a recent bout with pneumonia. Vader’s son and former WWE developmental wrestler, Jesse, shared the news on Twitter: “It is with a heavy heart to inform everyone that my father, Leon White, passed away on Monday night (6/18/18) at approximately 7:25pm. Around a month ago my father was diagnosed with a severe case of Pneumonia. 

WON NEWSLETTER: (July 2, 2018): WWE announces new TV deals, more

The official announcement of the WWE’s new television deals for the 2019-2024 television seasons is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer. 

Find out about the financial figures for each year, what those numbers mean, what it means to WWE profitability, how much the company is now worth and how that valuation as compared to profits compares to other media stocks. Look at how much money Vince McMahon could have made if he didn’t sell so much in December.

Look at a very interesting part of the WWE/Fox deal that hasn’t been talked about. There are also notes from WWE Co-Presidents Michelle Wilson and George Barrios on the deal, what led to the deal, and how things have changed both regarding the perception of wrestling, its fans and other content ideas WWE has for television and streaming.

Read about the new Bellator deal with the money figures involved, how this changes the game for them, and how the entire game for all wrestling and MMA companies are no different due to these latest deals. 

Find out about the situation with Brock Lesnar and WWE, what the goals are for the latest storyline change, plans for the Extreme Rules PPV show and matches announced, matches told to the arena and matches seemingly being built.

Read the update on Rey Mysterio and WWE, Shinsuke Nakamura’s injury, Jeff Hardy’s injuries and lots of other WWE injury updates, Big Cass, Sami Zayn, Ronda Rousey as well as the amazing contract Oliver Luck got with Vince McMahon and what it says about the XFL. 

Look at Minoru Suzuki’s 30th anniversary show and match with Kazuchika Okada, the retirement of Rashad Evans, coverage of UFC from Singapore, a look at the PWG Battle of Los Angeles, and the WWE U.K.show.

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.

SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer Radio, covering the weekend news including a ridiculous amount of big matches plus taking your e-mail questions that can be sent to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com.

Matt Cappotelli was the 10th most searched item on the Internet yesterday with more than 50,000 searches. 

Reader Mike DeGeorge on Matt Cappotelli: 

“I was invited to go to the Tough Enough 3 finale through my writing on the show for the now-defunct RealityNewsOnline website. 

It was there I met Matt Cappotelli. I felt it was imperative that I congratulate him and tell him how much I enjoyed watching him, and that I was sure he had a long career ahead of him. I didn’t even get a chance when, after introducing myself, his eyes lit up and he exclaimed “Mike! I love your writing!”

Matt Cappotelli was a fan of MINE? Wow. 

That’s the thing I will always remember about Matt. On what was possibly the greatest night of his life, all he wanted to do was tell me how happy he was to meet me and how much he enjoyed my work. I only talked to him for a few minutes but he made me feel like the most important person in the world. His smile was infectious, he radiated pure joy. Since then, I’ve spoken to him many times, and spoken to many people about him. I even talked to an ex-girlfriend of his. Everyone loves Matt. He was always positive, even after his first diagnosis which cost him his wrestling career, his dream since he was a kid. Above all, he wanted to help people, whether it was teaching at OVW or giving an ear to someone who was having a bad day. He never felt sorry for himself, he would tell me he was blessed to live the life he did. He was thankful for everything he had.

I have met a lot of people in my life, but Matt is the kindest and most genuinely nice, selfless, caring person I have ever, and I’m willing to bet will ever, meet. I didn’t know him well, but I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have known him. Even in his emails, you felt the joy radiate from him.

No amount of words can convey properly the effect Matt had on my life. He was, quite simply, a great person. 

My interview with him is lost to the internet due to a server malfunction on the website’s end and a virus knocking out my computer at this end, unfortunately. If you know how to find archives of old websites I’d love to find it.”

Congratulations to Cedric Alexander and Aerial Monroe, an independent wrestler who works for Rise, Shine and other groups, who were married over the weekend.

A trailer for the new World of Sport show that starts in a few weeks on ITV. This show is why there is a WWE U.K. division.

This was a ridiculous weekend of great wrestling. I haven’t seen it all but matches I’m told are must see or have seen are:

  • Briscoes vs. Young Bucks from ROH PPV
  • Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi vs. Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi from Daytona Beach
  • King Phoenix (Rey Fenix) vs. Cavernario from Arena Mexico 
  • Okada & Ishii vs. Suzuki & Sabre from yesterday in Milton Keynes, UK (which is already up on the RevPro streaming service)
  • Jay White vs. Kyle Fletcher 
  • Okada vs. Sabre Jr.
  • Ishii vs. Suzuki (last three from today, not up on the service yet) 

WWE

  • A lot of wrestlers missed Friday night’s show in Rapid City, SD due to travel issues but everyone was at last night’s show in Bismarck, ND. Bayley and Sasha Banks were both babyfaces on the show although Bayley was far more popular with the crowd. 
  • At today’s WWE show in Taipei, when Samoa Joe demanded Shinsuke Nakamura’s title shot at A.J. Styles, Nakamura got a big pop saying he doesn’t speak English, in English.
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi was in Taipei on his own business and posed for photos with Shinsuke Nakamura.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Terry Funk turned 74 yesterday. Yesterday was a big day for birthdays as it also included Cody turning 33, Scott Dawson turning 34 and Alicia Fox turning 32. I’m going to make a more than educated guess that Dawson and Cody probably thought it was really cool their birthday was the same day as Terry Funk given how big fans they are of that era.
  • Battle Championship Wrestling from Friday night in Melbourne, Australia: Taylah Rose b Queen Bianka, Kellyanne b Taylah Rose, Indi Hartwell b Erika Reid, Tomas Phulery b Cletus, Vixsin b Savannah Summers, Gabriel Wolfe & Tome Filip b Dowie James & JXT to win BCW tag titles, Nick Bury & Slade Mercer d Mitch Waterman & Maddog Bury, Ivelisse b Arya Reign, Angelico b Carlo Cannon, Dowie James won three-way over Robbie Eagles and JXT. Sabu, Shane Douglas and Justin Credible were announced as coming for an Extreme Battle tour in August and September. Next show is 7/27 in Melbourne. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • Battle Championship Wrestling from last night in Adelaide, Australia: Ivelisse b Vixsin, Indi Hartwell b Kellyanne, Alan Payne b Andy Faust, Jesse Hendy b Dean Brady, Angelico won three-way over Nick Bury and Mitch Waterman, Tome Filip & Gabriel Wolfe b Grimm & Brodie Marshall to keep BCW tag titles, Indi Hartwell b Ivelisse, Mick Moretti b Angelico.
  • Black Label Pro Wrestling on 7/14 in Crown Point, IN has Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson vs. Tom Lawlor & Bryan Alvarez plus Jordynne Grace vs. Ethan Page, Allie Kat vs. Kris Wolf, Fred Yehi vs. Jake Parnell and more.
  • Rise 9 on Saturday night on Twitch from Naperville, IL has Shotzi Blackheart vs. Delilah Doom in a 30 minute Iron man match for the Rise title plus Su Yung vs. Saraya Knight falls count anywhere, a match to crown the first tag champs with Charlie Evans & Jessica Troy vs. Britt Baker & Chelsea Green vs. Dust & Raven’s Ash vs. Kyle Rae & Mirnada Alize, Kimber Lee vs. Shazza McKenzie and Thunder Rosa & Holidead vs. Karen Q & Ray Lyn.
  • They also run Sunday in Naperville, IL with TV tapings with Tessa Blanchard vs. Madison Rayne, Mercedes Martinez vs. Miranda Alize, Deonna Purrazzo vs. Kylie Rae, Jessicka Havok vs. Allie, Thunder Rosa & Holidead vs. Charlie Evans & Jessica Troy and Troy & Evans vs. Karen Q & Ray Lyn.
  • Friday night’s Rise show from South Gate, CA before a sellout crowd: They announced Madison Eagles (injury) and Chelsea Green (WWE tryout camp) were off the show: Charlie Evans & Jessica Troy b Heather Monroe & Laura James, Mia Yim b Andrew Everett, Britt Baker b Ray Lyn & Karen Q (Green was supposed to team with Baker, turned into a handicap match), Mercedes Martinez won over Kris Wolf, Shazza McKenzie and Kimber Lee, Dust & Raven’s Ash b Taya Valkyrie & Rachael Ellering, Kylie Ray & Miranda Alize b Nicole Matthews & Ayokha Muhara. (thanks to Jake Koch)
  • Promoter Kevin Harvey of Rise, who had talked about the company being in trouble, noted that the sellout crowd from Friday leaves him with hope but they need two more home runs this week to have a fighting chance to survive. 
  • AWS from Saturday night in South Gate, CA: Dom Kubrick b Johnny Evers, Shotzi Blackheart b Nicole Matthews, Shazza McKenzie b Charlie Evans, Cheerleader Melissa b Kris Wolf to win AWS women’s title, Willow Nightingale b Dust, Ariel Monroe b Miranda Alize, Shotzi Blackheart b Shazza McKenzie, Nicole Savoy b Mia Yim, Aerial Monroe b Willow Nightingale, Mercedes Martinez & Ruby Raze & Laura James & Heather Monroe & Kyle Rae b Douglas James & Tyler Bateman & B-Boy & Andy Brown & Suede Thompson in an intergender match, Shotzi Blackheart b Aerial Monroe to win the tournament and title. Next show is 7/21 with Ray Rosas vs. Douglas James for the lightweight title, Ruby Raze vs. Jessicka Havok falls count anywhere and Francine from ECW will appear.
  • Sabotage Wrestling from Friday night in Austin, TX: Super Oprah b Marcus Rose, Alejandra the Lion & Reiza Clarke b Jenna Lynn & Kiki Vibez, Baby D & Phoebe b Ruben Steel & Calavera, Gregory James b Chris Bey, Angel Blue wins Weird City Warfare Rumble style match, Thunder Rosa b J Serious, Erica Torres b Barbi Hayden. Thunder Rosa after the show announced that she and her husband will no longer be running the promotion and somebody else will take over. She said she didn’t know when she would be back but wanted to thank everyone in person and make the announcement at the show.
  • PGP from last night in Athens, IL: Savanna Stone won four-way over Tootie Lynn Ramsey, Valentina Loca and Sophie King, Gyasi b Paco Gonzalez, Danny Adams won three-way over Tyler Matrix and Logan James, Adam Slade & Kevin Giza b Dixieland Destroyer & Duke Cornell, Michael Elgin b Calvin Tankman, Jake Lander b Mike Outlaw, Barackus & Mo Atlas b Scott Keyes & Dan Liplock, Kevin Lee Davidson b Stephen Wolf. (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
  • Lion’s Pride Sports from last night in College Station, TX: Mike Dell b Lance Hoyt in a street fight to win the Lions Pride Sports title in a loser leaves town match, Rex Andrews b Ricky Starks, Angel Blue b Alejandra the Lion, Big Daddy Yum Yum b Brysin Scott & Danny Ramos, Nobe Bryant b Brent McKenzie. (thanks to Steve Fullhart)
  • Bill Goldberg threw out the first pitch at last night’s San Diego Padres game.

Daily Professional Wrestling History: Jim Herd strips Ric Flair of the WCW World Title

12th Annual F4W Empire Vegas Convention

Greetings friends and fans of the F4W / Wrestling Observer website. It’s time to announce the details of the 12th annual F4W / Wrestling Observer Empire Las Vegas Convention~!

This year’s event will be taking place in Las Vegas from August 16th to the 20th and will again be in conjunction with WWE’s SummerSlam weekend a.k.a. Super China Buffet Day~! There will still be the usual events, but our big draw will be WWE’s summer blockbuster PPV, SummerSlam. As per tradition, we will all gorge ourselves at a Las Vegas buffet, and then watch SummerSlam in a rented out movie theater. All information and ticketing prices are available now. Sign up ASAP as spots are limited for some events. 

This year will also feature a Future Stars Wrestling show which will include the first ever Gladys Gibson Doubles Match Classic! Already booked for the show are the teams Mia Yim & Leva Bates, Shotzi Blackheart & ???, Samantha Heights & Brittany Blake, and Miranda Alize & Kylie Rae. Also appearing will be Kris Wolf along with many more future stars. There may even be a classic star or two making an appearance. You won’t want to miss this show! Check out the convention’s Facebook page for all additional information.

CONTACT INFORMATION