Daily Update: WWE Hell in a Cell preview, AJ Styles injured

WWE HELL IN A CELL SUNDAY FROM THE STAPLES CENTER IN LOS ANGELES AT 7:30 P.M.

  • Brock Lesnar vs. Undertaker Hell in a Cell match – I don’t sense this was built up to its maximum for the blow-off of the angle that started with the most shocking WrestleMania moment of all-time.  I’d like to see something past a finish here, such as an angle giving up future directions on both guys.  Neither guy is advertised for Raw, which doesn’t mean they won’t be there.  If there is no interference, Lesnar should win, but having Undertaker conclusively lose what would be remembered as his biggest feud is an interesting decision.  Vince McMahon has more money tied into Lesnar.  The surprise element would be the shocking interference turn.
  • Seth Rollins vs. Kane for WWE title vs. Kane’s job as Director of Operations – The stakes are significant with Kane’s job as part of it, since without that stip, nobody is believing Rollins has a chance to lose.  With the stip, you can always do a one or two month deal given the weakness on the face side and with the exception of Reigns, lack of obvious challengers for the title.  Plus, even though Reigns is being groomed for a title shot, it’s doubtful it comes that soon.    
  • Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt Hell in a Cell match – Reigns should go over, and probably transition to Braun Strowman, as not promising as that sounds.  
  • John Cena vs. ? for U.S. title – There’s been more talk about this match in the last 24 hours than anything.  As noted elsewhere, Samoa Joe is scheduled to be in Sacramento wrestling today.  In fact, we just got a call that Joe was in Sacramento at the moment of this writing.  Tyler Breeze is at this moment also in Sacramento signing autographs.  It’s a little over a one hour flight, so it’s not impossible, but I don’t see them having talent in Sacramento right now if they are going to be on the show tonight.  That also seems to indicate no Breeze involvement with Ziggler in his match.  Chris Jericho starts touring this coming weekend, which doesn’t rule him out as just coming in and losing, but I don’t think they’d go with him as the mystery guy twice in a row.  Dean Ambrose makes sense because it’s his time and a win over Cena would do him good.  If Cena is to retain, Ambrose is the last guy I’d put in the spot.  If Cena was to retain, maybe I’d go with Cesaro who would at least have a fantastic match, and it’s not like losing will hurt him given how he’s booked.  There are the Daniel Bryan rumors today, which would be a huge pop if he’s cleared.  Given the babyface situation, that would be the best case scenario timing wise, but his situation has always been about whether they believe it’s best for him to ever wrestle again..
  • Big E & Kofi Kingston vs. Dudleys for tag titles – The Dudleys have come up short several times but this doesn’t feel like the right time for New Day to lose.
  • Kevin Owens vs. Ryback for IC title – Owens needs to win and a new challenger needs to be set up for him.
  • Charlotte vs. Nikki Bella for Divas title – Nikki winning is a step backwards,.  With Paige’s promos and all, her getting involved in the title program next makes sense.
  • Neville & Dolph Ziggler & Cesaro vs. Rusev & Sheamus & King Barrett (preshow match at 7:30) – The heels won at TV.  It’s the faces turn tonight.  Doesn’t really matter either way, but it’s more star power than they’ve had for a preshow match.

We’re looking for your thoughts on tonight’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@wrestlingobserver.com” target=”_blank”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com

We’re looking for reports on yesterday’s ROH show in Dayton at Dave Meltzer

Raw will be live in San Diego on Monday night.

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

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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

You can also order the print Observer right now and get it delivered to your door via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to dave@wrestlingobserver.com” target=”_blank”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com

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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

  • Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Hell in a Cell and the latest news, plus you can send e-mail questions to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com
  • I want to thank everyone for all the nice messages yesterday for my birthday.  It means a lot.   
  • A correction from the Jay Lethal vs. Roderick Strong ROH TV title change listing on the site.  Strong won the match and TV via Texas cloverleaf submission, not a pin.

WWE

Afternoon results

Enzo & Cass beat Jason Jordan & Chad Gable

Bull Dempsey beat Elias Sampson

Bayley beat Alexa Bliss

Samoa Joe beat Baron Corbin

Evening results

Apollo Crews beat Tye Dillinger

Emma beat Carmella

Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson beat Vaudevillains to keep tag titles

Finn Balor beat Tyler Breeze to keep NXT title

OTHER WRESTLING

  • John Gaburick talks TNA trying to find an Indian superstar
  • A.J. Styles didn’t wrestle on the ROH shows this weekend due to a back injury.  He was at both shows.  The impression I have is that he’ll be wrestling on the New Japan PPV show on 11/7.  At least he’s still listed for it.
  • Young Bucks vs. Ricochet & Matt Sydal and Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Rocky Romero & Baretta are the semifinals of New Japan’s tag team tournament on the 11/1 show at Korakuen Hall.  The finals will be on the PPV show on 11/7 in Osaka.
  • USA Championship Wrestling ran its show to honor Lance Russell last night in Jackson, TN.  Results saw Alex Taylor b Kevin Zion, Daniel Eads b Nathan Star, LT & Tony Falk b Johnny Dodson & Derrick King, Danny Dollar b Kevin White, Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson b Rude & Pokerface, Chase Stevens & Thorn b Young Lions, Matt Starr b Matt Boyce to win the U.S. title, Jerry Lawler b Terry Funk-DQ.  People went crazy for the main event, on their feet the whole time.  Funk bled.  Objects were used.  Funk was beating up referees until Lawler stopped him with a fireball.  The highlight of the show was also Russell & Dave Brown conducting interviews with area legends like Funk, Bill Dundee, Koko  B. Ware, Danny Davis, Rocky Johnson and Jim Cornette.  I heard it was a great time for those who grew up on the product.    
  • The Lawler-Funk fireball
  • At Saturday’s Prairie Wrestling Alliance show in Calgary, Alberta, Canda, it was announced that Paul Ellering’s daughter Rachel Ellering will make her debut teaming with Lance Storm Nov 21st to battle Brett Morgan and Gisele (no, not THAT Gisele.) Also on last night’s show, MVP beat Morgan in the main event.
  • Promoter Danny Duggan of CWE sent out a release stating that he had booked George Murdoch (Tyrus) for an August tour, and had sent a deposit.  Duggan said that before the tour, Murdoch told him  TNA required him to be in Japan during those dates so he had to cancel and would sent back the deposit.  He said that it’s now 10/23, months later, and that Murdoch has not returned the deposit and Murdoch’s agent is no longer returning his messages.  Duggan wrote that if anyone has any questions on this or wants to resolve it he’s at dannyduggan@gmail.com
  • New matches from Houston at NWAClassics.com are Steve Williams vs. Angel of Death in a chain match and One Man Gang vs. Jim Duggan.
  • The Empire Wrestling Federation in Covina, CA is trying an iPPV on 11/6 at 11 p.m. Eastern headlined by Mega King vs. Gary Yap’s Man in Black.  We’ll have more on that as the show approaches.
  • Dave Bautista has been in the U.K. this past weekend promoting his role as Mr. Hinx, a lead villain in the Bond movies.  He was on Soccer AM, a popular show there, yesterday morning.
  • CHIKARA Pro from last night in Jeffersonville, IN:  Ophidian & Shynron b Drew Gulak & Orange Cassidy, Prakash Sabar b Farmer Frog, Lucas Calhoun & Missile Assault Man b Arik Cannon & Darin Corbin, Blind Rage b Eddie Kingston, Juan Francisco de Coronado & Boar of Moldova b Jakob Hammermeier & Soldier Ant, Blaster McMassive b Chuck Taylor, Icarus & Dasher Hatfield & Mark Angelosetti & Kimber Lee b Hallowicked & Race Jaxon & Hype Rockwell & Heidi Lovelace (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
  • XICW from last night in Warren, MI:  Jay Maynard b Maserati Rick, Jeff Brooks & Dickie Bronson b Idris Abraham & Aaron Tl, Willie Watts b Chris Moore, Movado b MK Ultra, Jake Something b Hakim Zane, Zach Gowen b Sonjay Dutt to win the lightweight title, DBA & Malcolm Monroe III  Jaimy Coxx b Vinny Scarboni & Sonny Scarboni & Palmer Cruise, Rhino b Joe Coleman & Mark Gjoka & Johnny Delicious in a handicap match, Orlando Christopher b PJ Black (thanks to Leonard Brand)
  • World Women’s Wrestling on 11/22 in Beverly, MA at the Cove Community Center with Mistress Belmont & Alexxis Neaeh vs. Nikki Valentine & Vanity Vixen.
  • GOUGE from last night in Fuquay Varina, NC:  Old School & Waylon Maze b Fabulous Frankie & Luscious Lance, Otto  Schwanz b Encore, Juan Jremi b Jimmy Jack Funk Jr.-DQ, Seymour Snott b Mickey Gambino-DQ, Roni Nicole b Jennifer Blaze, Timmy Lou Retton b Chet Sterling
  • Prairie Wrestling Alliance from last night in Calgary:  Richie Rage b Shaun Moore, Frenteico b Tony Cage, Deryck Crosse b Galico, Fabian RiBerio b Gabriel, Western Lions b Colton Kelly & Reid Matthews, Mephisto b Alexander Prime, MVP (former WWE star) b Brett Morgan.
  • Lance Storm will wrestle again on 11/21 in Calgary, teaming with Rachel Ellering, the daughter of Paul Ellering, who he is training, to face Brett Morgan & Gisele for PWA. (thanks to Dwayne Soper)
  • Lucha Xtreme TV from last night in Fresno:  Big Dogg b Danny Fernandez, Brandon Groom b Jesse Poole, Sktizo b Prince Nagi, Guerrera de la Muerte b Jake O’Brien-COR.  
  • Santana Garrett had two matches today in Stardom as they had both a noon and evening show in Tokyo.  In the afternoon main event, she teamed with Hiroyo Matsumoto to beat Io Shirai & Mayu Iwatani.  In the evening show, she teamed with Hiromi Mimura to beat Kris Wolf & Datura.
  • Riot Pro Wrestling from last night in Melbourne, FL:  Archangel b Gabriel Black, Aaron Epic b Derick Jordan and Mike Reed and Aryeh Amor, Siniestro & Night Stalker b Josh Parker & JW Outlaw, CJ O’Doyle b Dalton Murphy, Lince Dorado & Jon Cruz & CT Brown b Jason Static & Josh Hess & Slade Porter, Chico Adams b Leo the Lion, Shaniah  Ariyana & Grace Storm b ML Knight & Cherry Layne, Rhett Giddins NC JD Amazing (thanks to Al Haft)
  • Maryland Championship Wrestling from last night in Windber, PA:  Sexy Steve & Jimmy Stars b Drake Carter & Shaun Cannon, Rob Locke b Rayo, Big Ron b Jeremiah & Chef Home Boy RD, Fenix Fury & Meya b Amber Rodriguez & Chuck Lennox, Brandon Scott b Drolix, Oakley Woods b Mega Pixel, Bill Collier & Jimi the Hippie b Tommy Valor & Omega, Ryan McBride b The Bruiser to win the MCW title.  Mick Foley was on the show.  Next shows are 11/13 in Waldorf, MD and 11/14 in Joppa, MD with Ric Flair, Baby Doll, JJ Dillon, Tully Blanchard and Tessa Blanchard.
  • Gold Rush Pro Wrestling from last night in Pacifica, CA:  Manny Mars b Alexander G. Bernard, Shamrock b Rik Luxury, Suburban Commandos b Jeff Cobb & Tony Vargas, Mr. Prime Time b Boyce LeGrande 2/3 falls, Lisa Lace b Kikyo Nakamura-DQ, Mike Matthew b Virgil Lynn, Thunder Rosa b Cheerleader Melissa to win the Lady Luck title, Drake Frost & Matt Carlos b Doc Atrocity & Synn in a cage weapons match, JR Kratos b Dylan Drake to retain Gold Rush title (thanks to Matt Mann)