Daily update: WWE Hell in a Cell fallout, Alberto del Rio situation

We’re looking for your thoughts on last night’s Hell in a Cell show from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, with a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to Dave Meltzer

We’re also looking for reports tonight from Raw in San Diego, with dark matches and Superstars matches to Dave Meltzer

Smackdown and Main Event will be taped in Phoenix on Tuesday. 

Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw and the aftermath of Hell in a Cell.  You can send e-mail questions to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com

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Figure Four Weekly:

Jerry McDevitt cuts quite the legal promo on Konstantine Kyros as part of his latest screed in the ongoing legal battle over WWE’s alleged role in wrestlers’ brain damage.

Figure Four Weekly October 19, 2015: Latest Update On WWE Concussion Lawsuits

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Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The WWE’s record low ratings, even with bringing in all the big names on Monday, is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer newsletter.  We look at the ratings, the competition, the build to Hell in a Cell, and what type of programming is and isn’t working in ratings now.  We also look more at John Layfield’s interview with Eric Bischoff and WCW and how pro wrestling has changed since the death of WCW, as well as more on the political goings-on in Mexico, what modern era wrestlers have had the most four star matches and a wrestling show in a few weeks that you don’t know of that is going to have a paid attendance of more than 30,000 people.  CLICK HERE FOR A FULL WRESTLING OBSERVER PREVIEW

Check out the latest issue:  Wrestling Observer Newsletter October 26, 2015: Raw ratings woes continue, More Eric Bischoff notes

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CLICK HERE FOR A FULL WRESTLING OBSERVER PREVIEW

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MONDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • The whole Alberto Del Rio situation and how it went down is discussed on today’s Observer radio up on the site.  Del Rio did contact AAA in advance, even if it was this past weekend, so they weren’t blind sided like with Myzteziz, and both sides are on good terms.  The right thing to do would be to come back and at least drop their world title.  Del Rio is expected on tonight’s show.  They really should have brought back Ricardo Rodriguez with him.  A superstar can say things negative about the company and come back with a great deal.  A lower level guy will have a harder time coming back when you say negative things about the boss.  Losing Del Rio and Myzteziz was a huge blow to AAA.    
  • Brock Lesnar flew home so is not on tonight’s show.  Undertaker wasn’t advertised for tonight although one would expect some follow-up on last night’s angle with the Wyatt Family.  Tonight’s NFL game is the Arizona Cardinals vs. Baltimore Ravens.  Usually there is a ratings bump after PPVs, but the ratings after the last two PPVs were disappointing.
  • The only injury from last night reported was a bruised nose suffered by Charlotte.  They were checking her this afternoon to see if there was a break, but the belief was that wasn’t the case.
  • Besides those shown on the show, other celebrities and such at ringside last night included Rick Rubin, Dennis Haskins, The Soska Sisters (who have written WWE movies in the past), Candice Michelle, Michelle McCool, and MMA Horsewomen Shayna Baszler (who was shown but not ID’d), Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir.  Ronda Rousey wasn’t there as she’s training for a fight and did the NFL pregame show.
  • HBO will be doing Countdown to Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez specials on 11/7 and 11/19.
  • WWE stock closed at $20.81 per share today, down one cent from Friday.
  • Dave Bautista talks playing Mr. Hinx in James Bond
  • The WWE video game comes out tomorrow.     Here is a trailer.

This news comes on the heels of 2K’s reveal of the WWE 2K16 Creation Studio app, which will be available for free download on iOS and Android mobile devices shortly after the game’s launch. Through the Creation Studio app, players can take photos of their faces and upload the images directly into WWE 2K16 . Once the image is uploaded, players can seamlessly create personalized Superstars or Divas. Additionally, players can upload logos onto created Superstars, Divas, Arenas, Shows and Championships. A blog post with more details on WWE 2K16 Creation Studio app

  • Dolph Ziggler did some press with the Phoenix (AZ) New Times to help promote Tuesday’s Smackdown taping. He talked about ex-girlfriend and comedy star Amy Schumer, quoting Skid Row in a promo, living in Phoenix, and doing comedy.
  • From this past weekend’s WWE NXT show at the Aftershock show in Sacramento, NXT got some mainstream music buzz for Slipknot lead singer Corey Taylor slapping Baron Corbin during his match with Samoa Joe. Here’s the video .

UFC

  • The UFC show in Dublin did 54,000 viewers in The Netherlands on Saturday.  Bellator on Spike in The Netherlands did 28,000 viewers (thanks to Bronco Groen)
  • Vitor Belfort was scheduled on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour show this afternoon.  Before the show started, Belfort’s wife called Helwani up and wanted assurances that subjects like his TRT usage, past steroid test failure and in particular the controversial test result before the Jon Jones fight that was reported in Deadspin by Josh Gross would not be talked about.  Anyway, he refused the stips and Belfort pulled out of the interview.  Belfort faces Dan Henderson in UFC’s next television main event on 11/7 from Sao Paulo.

OTHER WRESTLING

  • In the ‘why didn’t this happen earlier’ department, OVW is teaming up with Against The Grain Brewing and a local distributor to launch Poffo’s Pilsner , a beer that is a tribute to Randy Savage, Angelo, and Lanny Poffo. The launch, paired with the Brews & Bruises event that features the Danny Davis Tag Team Invitational, is set for 11/21.
  • Rhyno is working a tag team main event for Mecca Pro Wrestling on 11/7 in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
  • Daniel “James Bond” Craig talks about tearing his meniscus in an on-screen fight scene with Batista on the Spectre set.
  • Jessie Godderz talks Impact Wrestling , doing an FX show directed by John Singleton, and how The Miz was inspiration.
  • Mick Foley did an appearance for Maryland Championship Wrestling over the weekend as a guest enforcer. The group runs against on 11/13 (Waldorf, MD) and 11/14 (Joppa, MD) with Ric Flair, JJ Dillon, Tully and Tess Blanchard, and more.
  • A story on Dick Bourne’s new book on the history of the U.S. title in Jim Crockett Promotions from 1975 to 1988
  • New England Championship Wrestling is bringing in World Women’s Wrestling for a 11/22 show in Beverley, MA.
  • Masked Republic today announced a deal with Rey Mysterio Jr. for Mysterio licensed products.
  • Here’s an interview about the new Jim Crockett Promotions U.S. Championship history book.
  • NWA Smoky Mountain Wrestling on 11/21 for Thanksgiving Thunder at the Civic Auditorium in Kingsport, TN headlined by Jax Dane vs. Arrick Andrews for the NWA title, Raymond Rowe vs. Jason Kincaid and Kid Kash vs. Chase Owens.
  • The Word judo team championships air at www.ippon.tv tomorrow at 10 a.m. Abu Dhabi time.
  • Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Low Ki will headline Jersey All Pro Wrestling’s 19th anniversary show on 11/14 in Rahway, NJ.  There will also be a raffle to benefit the family of former promoter Fat Frank Iadevaia, who passed away while he was trying to put this show together.  A prize  in the raffle include lots of signed WWE items including an NXT title belt replica signed by former JAPW wrestlers on the WWE roster like Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Cesaro, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Samoa Joe, Finn Balor, Solomon Crowe, Sara Del Rey, Drake Younger and Bandido Jr., as well as a signed poster with Charlotte, Sasha Banks, Bayley and Becky Lynch.  Also appearing  on the show will include Shelly Martinez, Joey Ryan, Candice LaRae, MVP, Matt & Jeff Hardy, Homicide, Hernandez and Ricochet.
  • That date for Ricochet conflicts with opening night of the second season of Lucha Underground tapings.
  • CHIKARA results from last night in Columbus, OH:  Dasher Hatfield b Ophidian, Icarus b Boar of Moldova, Oleg the Usurper b Ashley Remington, Princess Kimber Lee b Jakob Hammermeier, Eddie Kingston b Blaster McMassive, Hallowicked & Chuck Taylor & Arik Cannon b Mark Angelosetti & Fire ant & Heidi Lovelace, Lucas Calhoun won Royal Rumble. (thanks to Paul Seibert and Patrick Brandmeyer)
  • Ken Kennedy, Dalton Castle and Prince Puma headline for Destiny World Wrestling on 12/6 in Mississauga, ONT at Santino Marella’s Battlarts Gym.  Also getting awarded at the show will be Rocky Johnson and brother Ricky Johnson.
  • Derek Wylde suffered a back injury over the weekend and is off the 11/8 CCW show in Burlington, ONT at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Centre.  Ethan Page takes his place in the main event against Tyson Dux.
  • All Pro Wrestling Halloween Hell takes place on Friday night in Daly City, CA at the Pacelli Eevnts Center at 145 Lake Merced Blvd.  JR Kratos defends the Universal title against Jeckles, plus MVP vs. Timothy Thatcher, Jody Kristofferson vs. Almighty Sheik, Jeff Cobb vs. Gangrel and Will Cuevas vs Boyce LeGrande.  
  • Jessie Godderz talks breaking into wrestling

ON THIS DAY IN PRO WRESTLING HISTORY INTERNATIONAL (thanks to Graeme Cameron)

1963 – Bert Royal beat Tommy Mann in  Manchester to win the British middleweight title

1966 – Bert Royal beat Peter Preston in Sheffield in a tournament final to win the British middleweight title

1982 – Harley Race beat Giant Baba in Obihiro to win the PWF title

2001 – Jeff Jarrett beat Road Dogg in Sydney in a tournament final to win the vacant WWAS title and Juventud Guerrera beat Psicosis on the same show to win the cruiserweight title.

2002 – Shinya Hashimoto & Naoya Ogawa beat Nathan Jones & Jon Heidenreich in Tokyo to win the Zero-One IC tag titles

2007 – Masato Tanaka beat Takao Omori in Tokyo to win the Zero-One Max heavyweight title

2012 – Akitoshi Saito & Go Shiozaki beat KENTA & Maybach Taniguchi in Niigata to win the GHC tag title