Daily Update: WWE house shows, GFW, UFC 214

THE ROUND-UP

The Latest from the F4W Staff

NEWS

AUDIO

We’re looking for reports from last night’s NXT show in Milwaukee, tonight’s Raw show in Buffalo, and tonight’s NXT shows in Green Bay and Crystal River, FL to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

For this weekend, we’ll be doing polls on UFC 214 tomorrow night as well as tomorrow’s New Japan show in Nagoya. We’re only doing polls for G-1 for the Nagoya show.

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

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada from the 2016 G-1

LION FIGHTS AT 9 P.M. EASTERN ON AXS TV

CMLL FROM ARENA MEXICO AT 9:30 P.M. EASTERN

We’re looking for Saturday reports on Raw in Erie, PA, Smackdown for one of the biggest house shows of the year as the final event from the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit (which will also have Brock Lesnar vs. Samoa Joe for the Universal title so it’s a rare WWE show with Lesnar, John Cena and A.J. Styles on the same show), NXT shows in St. Paul, MN and Fort Pierce, FL, and ROH in Concord, NC (Young Bucks vs. Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley for tag titles, Cody & Marty Scurll & Hangman Page vs. Bully Ray & Briscoes, Kushida vs. Kenny King for the TV title, Jay Lethal vs. Beer City Bruiser no DQ, Flip Gordon vs. Punishment Martinez, Kelly Klein vs. Deonna Purrazzo, Brandi Rhodes & Sumie Sakai vs. Jenny Rose & Mandy Leon, War Machine vs. Jonathan Gresham & Jay White, Chuck Taylor & Baretta vs. Leon St-Giovanni & Shaheem Ali) to submissions@wrestlingobserver.com.

NEW JAPAN G-1 CLIMAX TOURNAMENT SATURDAY IN NAGOYA AT 5 A.M.EASTERN TIME ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • Michael Elgin & David Finlay vs. Seiya Sanada & Bushi
  • Toru Yano & Jado vs. Evil & Hiromu Takahashi
  • Minoru Suzuki & Taichi vs Tama Tonga & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Kenny Omega & Chase Owens
  • Juice Robinson & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Kazuchika Okada & Gedo
  • Yuji Nagata vs. Togi Makabe
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Bad Luck Fale
  • Hirooki Goto vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Yoshi-Hashi
  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Tomohiro Ishii

UFC 214 ON SATURDAY NIGHT FROM THE HONDA CENTER IN ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA

Fight Pass at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time

  • Joshua Burkman vs. Drew Dober
  • Jarred Brooks vs. Eric Shelton
  • Alexandra Albu vs. Kailin Curran

FXX at 8 p.m. Eastern

  • Andre Fili vs. Calvin Kattar
  • Renato Moicano vs. Brian Ortega
  • Renan Barao vs. Aljamain Sterling
  • Jason Knight vs. Ricardo Lamas

PPV at 10 p.m. Eastern

  • Jimi Manuwa vs. Volkan Oezdemir
  • Robbie Lawler vs. Donald Cerrone
  • Cris Cyborg Justino vs. Tonya Evinger for women’s featherweight title
  • Tyron Woodley vs. Demian Maia for welterweight title
  • Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones for light heavyweight title

PROFESSIONAL FIGHT LEAGUE ON SATURDAY NIGHT AT 9 P.M. FROM EVERETT, WASHINGTON ON NBC SPORTS NETWORK

  • Rex Harris (10-2) vs. Bruno Santos (15-2)
  • Jake Shields (31-9-1) vs. Danny Davis Jr. (13-11-1)
  • Yushin Okami (31-10) vs. Andre Lobato (25-6)
  • Andre Harrison (16-0) vs. Steven Rodriguez (10-2) for featherweight title

Sunday has WWE Raw in Youngstown, OH and Smackdown in Saginaw, MI.

NEW JAPAN G-1 CLIMAX TOURNAMENT SUNDAY IN GIFU AT 3 A.M. EASTERN TIME ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • David Finlay & Katsuya Kitamura & Tetsuhiro Yagi vs. Bad Luck Fale & Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens
  • Togi Makabe & Shota Umino vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Desperado
  • Yuji Nagata & Tomoyuki Oka vs. Tomohiro Ishii & Yoshi-Hashi
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Kota Ibushi & Hirai Kawato
  • Hirooki Goto & Jado vs. Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi
  • Toru Yano vs. Evil
  • Minoru Suzuki vs Tama Tonga
  • Michael Elgin vs. Seiya Sanada
  • Kenny Omega vs. Satoshi Kojima
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Juice Robinson  

Monday has Raw in Pittsburgh featuring Samoa Joe vs. Braun Strowman vs. Roman Reigns plus The Miz interviews Jason Jordan. Smackdown has a house show in Fort Wayne, IN on Monday.

NEW JAPAN G-1 CLIMAX TOURNAMENT TUES DA IN KAGOSHIMA AT 5:30 A.M. EASTERN TIME ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • Michael Elgin & Jushin Liger vs. Toru Yano & Jado
  • Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Hirai Kawato vs. Minoru Suzuki & Taichi & Desperado
  • David Finlay & Juice Robinson vs. Seiya Sanada & Bushi
  • Kenny Omega & Chase Owens vs. Evil & Hiromu Takahashi
  • Kazuchika Okada & Gedo vs. Tama Tonga & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Yoshi-Hashi vs. Bad Luck Fale
  • Togi Makabe vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Tomohiro Ishii vs. Yuji Nagata
  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Hirooki Goto
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi

Smackdown and 205 Live will be taped Tuesday in Cleveland, with John Cena vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, winner faces Jinder Mahal at SummerSlam, and A.J. Styles vs. Kevin Owens.  

FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: Figure Four Weekly 7/24/2017: Battleground brings Smackdown to lowest point since brand split

Only days after the one-year anniversary of WWE’s most recent attempt at a brand split, SmackDown hit its lowest point since last summer with Battleground. It wouldn’t be much of an issue if this were an outlier. Bad pay-per-views are bound to happen and there will always be excuses for them. Stipulations marred things at Battleground, dragging down both John Cena vs. Rusev and the main event.

Subscribers click here to continue.

WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: July 31, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Status of rights fees, WWE Battleground review, more

What in many ways is the biggest business news story in sports, the changes in television and future of huge rights fees, in looking at UFC’s opening up negotiations for its 2019 TV deal, is the lead story in the current issue, because it also is the first in a new era of declining cable and perhaps money coming from other places, and will probably indicate how WWE’s negotiations go a year later.

The new issue is a double issue including a feature on the first MMA events ever held in the U.S. that have been forgotten over time, and what pro wrestling star was part of the catalyst for the organizers in coming up with the idea.

Look at what is being said publicly vs. privately regarding what UFC is hoping for out of its new deal, the aspect of timing, what it means to the overall value of UFC as well as WWE going forward, the value of UFC to FS 1 and FS 2, how Fight Pass fits in, the future of PPV for UFC, where ESPN stands and other networks and interest levels.

Read about WWE heading into SummerSlam, with the new matches, new matches being teased, matches announced and current storylines. Explore the situation with Brock Lesnar, the U.S. title match at Battleground with the unique finish, the schedule of Chris Jericho, as well as full coverage of Battleground with match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.

This issue updates the G-1 Climax tournament, including a look at how the style has changed over three years, the tournament quality, the good and the bad of the business and physical demands, who is killing it, standings, schedule and a look at all the key matches.

Check out how TV ratings are going to be changing and have changed, talk of a second Superstar shakeup coming soon, a study of what characters are most popular on YouTube videos, why the pyro cutback was made, Ric Flair 30 for 30 piece, Dwayne Johnson once again talks like he was thinking of going into UFC ten years ago, notes on newcomers headed to WWE, new action figure line, new TV shows  notes, Bruno Sammartino update, and The Broken Hardys update in detail with claims.

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. 

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WON BACK ISSUE: July 3, 2000 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: WWF wins lawsuit to go to Viacom, King of the Ring review, more

Delaware Chancery Court Judge William Chandler ruled in favor of the World Wrestling Federation and Viacom on 6/27 in the lawsuit filed by the USA Network, which will result, officially, in September, for all WWF cable programming moving to Viacom stations TNN and MTV. Chandler ruled against USA Network’s claim that their right of first refusal in the contract, which expires in September, only pertains to the four wrestling shows on the network and not to an overall marketing deal between Viacom and the WWFE as a company.

Subscribers click here to continue.

FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE

For the weekend WWE house shows, there are mostly full lineups. John Cena and Randy Orton will be working all the Smackdown shows. Brock Lesnar’s only show will be Saturday night in Detroit, which is a Smackdown show. Great Khali and Chris Jericho are not advertised for anything including TV.

Here’s the announced lineup for one of the biggest WWE house shows of the year on Saturday night in Detroit:

  • Brock Lesnar vs. Samoa Joe for the Universal title
  • John Cena vs. Rusev
  • Randy Orton & Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Jinder Mahal & Dolph Ziggler
  • New Day vs. Usos vs. Fashion Police for tag team titles
  • Naomi & Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair vs. Natalya & Carmella & Tamina

GFW announced that its 8/6 show in Bridgeport, CT was canceled. The reason given was unforeseen circumstances and logistical challenges. Tickets will be refunded. Anyone who has a ticket can also use that ticket for the 8/4 show in St. James, NY or the 8/5 show in Staten Island, NY.

Ratings for Impact were down for the second straight week. Thursday’s show was watched by 286,000 viewers on Pop TV, which is in comparison to last week’s 322,000.

The Bellator PPV from 6/24 in Madison Square Garden with Chael Sonnen vs. Wanderlei Silva and Fedor Emelianenko vs. Matt Mitrione will air tonight on Spike starting at 9 p.m.

Elias Samson is now solely listed as “Elias” on the WWE roster page.

WWE

  • Bo Dallas discussed conspiracy theories with Chris Jericho on today’s episode of Talk is Jericho.
  • WWE.com interviewed Kofi Kingston about his accomplishments as a tag team wrestler.
  • The WWE movie “Pure Country: Pure Heart” with Shawn Michaels will be available on DVD and Blu Ray on Tuesday at Walmart and on Digital.
  • Michaels talked to Channel Guide Magazine about his role in the movie and coaching in NXT.
  • Tickets go on sale today for both Raw and Smackdown tapings on 10/2 and 10/3 in Denver at the Pepsi Center.

UFC

  • Everyone made weight for their fights at UFC 214, which had been a question given that Daniel Cormier struggled to make weight in his last fight against Rumble Johnson.
  • Jon Jones said that he thinks Cormier is a good guy, but he’s “f*cking around with the wrong era” and facing Jones in his prime.
  • Dan Wetzel wrote about Jones’ return to the UFC.
  • The UFC uploaded the fifth episode of Embedded for Saturday’s PPV.
  • A story about the UFC 215 show in Edmonton.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • A Go Fund Me has been set up for former WWE Tough Enough winner Matt Cappotelli as he battles a horrible form of brain cancer.
  • An article on the New Japan announcing team of Kevin Kelly and Don Callis.
  • A video on New Japan production. (thanks to Zach Alexander)
  • Kenny Omega appeared on the Squared Circle Pit podcast.
  • ESPN posted an article on the dying art of the pro wrestling promo.
  • The Fite APP will be broadcasting the Rizin show live starting a 1 a.m. Eastern time, or right after UFC ends, late Saturday night. There will also be a second showing at 8 p.m.
  • Remi Bonjasky, the former K-1 Grand Prix winner, comes out of retirement to face Bellator’s Melvin Manhoef for the WFL in October in Almere, Holland. Spike in The Netherlands will broadcast the show live. (thanks to Henk Mulder)
  • The announcing crew for the Professional Fight League show on Saturday night from Everett, WA will be Mike Corey, Randy Couture, Bas Rutten and Kayla Harrison.
  • Prairie Wrestling Alliance Summer Heat on 8/12 in Calgary at the Cedarbrae Community Centre and 8/19 in Edmonton at the Northgate Lions Center.
  • CCW on 9/24 at the Glencoe Fair in Glencoe, Ontario with Chris Masters vs. British Brawler headlining a free fair show.
  • CCW on 9/10 at 2 p.m. in Mildmay, Ontario for a free fair show headlined by Cody Deaner vs. Rob Rage.
  • New England Championship Wrestling on 8/12 in Wakefield, MA at the Americal Civic Center with the 2017 Tag Team Classic.
  • AIW on 8/26 in Cleveland features the AIW debut of Sandman.
  • Legacy Fighting on AXS TV on 8/25 in Prior Lake, MN from the Mystic Lake Showroom headlined by Chad Curry vs. Nick Barnes. Kelly Kobold, the only woman to have fought both Gina Carano and ODB, will be on the show.
  • One announced a new television deal with Claro Sports. Claro, which broadcasts CMLL every Friday night, will also be doing One shows live to break One into the Latin American market.
  • MCW Tribute to the Legends on 9/30 at the MCW Arena in Joppa, MD with Bill Goldberg, Bill Apter, Joey Matthews, Madison Rayne, Rosemary, Jillian Hall and Gary Michael Cappetta. 
  • Big Time Wrestling returns to Dorton Arena in Raleigh, NC on 9/22 with Terry Funk & Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson vs. Jerry Lawler & Brian Christopher & Doug Gilbert, Billy Gunn vs. Gangrel, plus appearances by Kevin Nash, Sgt. Slaughter, Tommy Rich, Jimmy Valiant, George South and more. The same crew is working 9/23 in Spartanburg, SC at the Memorial Auditorium.
  • Battlarts on 8/19 at the Dan Kolov Arena in Mississauga, ONT. 
  • NWL on 8/4 has its debut in Joplin, MO with Dak Draper vs. Stevie Richards as the main event. They also run 8/5 in Kansas City with Draper vs. Thor Theriot vs. Blaine Meeks plus Marti Belle and Stevie Richards.

Today in Pro Wrestling History: Eddie Guerrero wins ECW TV title

F4W Online / Wrestling Observer Vegas Convention Event Info

August 17-21; All times are TBA; Full information on the group Facebook page; Activities subject to change

For ticketing information go to https://f4wvegas.brownpapertickets.com/

  • Thursday: Meet at the High Roller for Bowling at the Link; Party at Carnival Court at Hurrah’s
  • Friday: Kiss Mini Golf tournament at the Rio; Dinner at Texas de Brazil; Suite party (location TBA)
  • Saturday: Burgers with Granny for lunch; Future Stars of Wrestling show featuring Stephan Bonnar, Phil Baron, Shotzi Blackheart, and co-main events: 3-way match with Leva Bates vs. Mia Yim vs. Hudson Envy, and “Filthy” Tom Lawlor vs. Thomas Santell (f.k.a. Antonio “The Promise” Thomas); NXT viewing party at the Sci-Fi Center
  • Sunday: SUPER CHINA BUFFET DAY at the Wicked Spoon Buffet at 1pm; SummerSlam viewing party at the Sci-Fi Center
  • Monday: Goodbye lunch at Chen Chen at NY NY
  • All website members will also receive a 15% discount on any purchases from the Las Vegas Fight Shop for the entirety of the convention

Texas de Brazil, Wicked Spoon, NXT and Summer Slam will all be sign up and pre-paid events, prices and collection begin in mid July~!

Pro Wrestling Tees is now carrying our latest line of F4W shirts. Support the Empire~! Grab yours today!

CONTACT INFORMATION

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