Daily Update: WWE notes, Ortiz/Liddell, James Storm/MLW

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THE LATEST NEWS

THE LATEST AUDIO

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Looking at Shawn Michaels potential return

While retirements in professional wrestling are almost always temporary, the direction that WWE went in on last Monday’s episode of Raw was still genuinely surprising. What seemed like it would be a by-the-numbers segment with Shawn Michaels promoting Triple H and The Undertaker’s match at WWE Super Show-Down, which is being billed as the last time they’ll ever face each other, turned into a full-blown tease of Michaels coming out of retirement.

WON NEWSLETTER: September 10, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: All In reviewed, HBK to return, more

The story of All In is the focus of this week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Take the most detailed look at the business and ramifications of what is one of the most unique major events in pro wrestling history.

Examine the business of the show, the realities of the popularity level, the lessons of the show, the behind the scenes story of the NWA title promotion, wrestling vs. sports entertainment, the timing issues, the last famous show with a similar timing issue, the controversy regarding the Joey Ryan angle, and the story behind Chris Jericho being there.

Look at the Shawn Michaels-Undertaker segment, where things stand today about going forward, famous retirement stips and the angle on Raw leading to everything, as well as more on the show in Australia coming up next month.

Find out about Daniel Bryan’s WWE status, update Dave Bautista and his thoughts on wrestling again, notes on a taped December Raw show, Kevin Owens quitting, Evolution PPV business notes, Toni Storm update, new WWE signee proposes to girlfriend on stage right before coming to Orlando, NXT major star to Evolve, and Big Cass talks what got him fired.

Read notes on NOAH’s big show at Sumo Hall featuring Hideo Itami’s return to the promotion against Naomichi Marufuji.

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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THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • Dave Bautista has yet to be invited to the 1000th episode of SmackDown. He tweeted: “Surprise surprise!! I wasn’t invited! And it’s in my hometown.! Guess by now I shouldn’t be shocked anymore.”
  • 21st Century Fox CFO John Nallen spoke to The Wrap about SmackDown coming to FOX in 2019: “It’s a 50 to 52-week-a-year sport with no repeats. It’s a new novella every week. For us to have that kind of appointment programming, that audience, every week of the year, is a really unique opportunity for us.”
  • WWE released a press release today announcing The World of The Rock, a comprehensive visual novel of The Rock’s WWE career. It will be out on October 2nd for $24.99, and will be published by DK.
  • A collection featuring the “biggest losers” in WWE history will reportedly be coming to the WWE Network on Monday. Curt Hawkins will be the host.
  • Roman Reigns will be appearing on ESPN’s College Gameday as their guest game predictor at 11:30 a.m. Eastern time on Saturday morning.
  • Triple H is sending a custom WWE championship title to Jack Etienne, CEO of the London Spitfire who won the Overwatch League’s first finals.
  • Brie Bella spoke to Yahoo Sports about returning to the ring after giving birth last year. She also responded to the reaction to her botched suicide dive from Raw: “With any type of physical body change, it changes so much. Even last week on Raw when I did the suicide dive and it was less momentum than I should have had, I forgot that I’m 10 pounds heavier than what I was. Gravity doesn’t lie. That was a little different for me. I don’t mind if I fail or if I succeed. No matter what, I want to look back with no regrets. If I fail, last week for example, I went to sleep at night and I was kind of bummed out, but I learned something about myself. I learned where my body is at, where I am at.”
  • Ahead of him guest refereeing Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman at Hell in a Cell on Sunday, Mick Foley appeared on Busted Open Radio and said he hopes that he’ll get involved in the match in some way.
  • Washington City Paper spoke to the Velveteen Dream about his background, his work prior to WWE and becoming the Velveteen Dream.
  • Kassius Ohno (formerly known as Chris Hero) posted a tweet yesterday marking his 20th anniversary in pro wrestling.
  • Aiden English has started a YouTube show based on whiskey.

Pro Wrestling

  • Despite debuting at the last set of tapings, PWInsider is reporting that James Storm is already done with MLW. They also noted that MLW tried to book a show at Center Stage in Atlanta but were “told that the attempt was dropped at the request of another promotion using the venue.”
  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Chris Brookes has been added to Revolution Pro Wrestling’s Global Wars UK show at Brixton Recreation Centre on October 14.
  • Minoru Suzuki vs. Timothy Thatcher has been signed for Over the Top Wrestling’s Fourth Year Anniversary show. WALTER will also defend the OTT World title against Will Ospreay.
  • Impact Wrestling issued a press release saying that they have signed an agreement with COMDA Advertising Connections ahead of Bound for Glory.
  • Hart Foundation vs. Rich Swann, ACH and a mystery partner has been added to MLW’s television taping on October 4.
  • Dave Meltzer made a brief appearance on this week’s Art of Wrestling podcast with Colt Cabana, which covers Revolution Pro Wrestling’s TV tapings and Wrestling MediaCon. Dave’s appearance starts at 29:48.
  • Congratulations to Shane Strickland, who became engaged yesterday.

UFC/MMA

  • According to Brett Okamoto, Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz will be holding a press conference for their upcoming fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas this Friday at 10 a.m..
  • Golden Boy Promotions has also released the poster for Liddell vs. Ortiz.
  • Melvin Guillard has been arrested in relation to him attacking people at a bar last week. He is also facing domestic violence charges for allegedly attacking his girlfriend back in April. In regards to the bar fight, he was charged with 2nd and 3rd degree assault, and is currently being held on $5,000 cash bond.
  • ESPN is reporting that Michael Chiesa is moving up to welterweight and is hoping for a bout in that weight class for UFC 232.
  • BJ Penn vs. Ryan Hall has been officially announced for UFC 232. The PPV is taking place at the T-Mobline Arena in Las Vegas on December 29.
  • FloCombat is reporting that a Gilbert Melendez vs. Arnold Allen bout is also being targeted for UFC 232.
  • Alistair Overeem talked to ESPN about moving to a new gym, as well as realizing that that end of his career is near. I’m 38 years old, and that’s important to note,” he said. “I fully realize the end of my career is coming. It’s just coming. You can’t fight forever. I’ve had a beautiful career. Twenty-one years … crazy. Twenty-one years of fighting. The end is coming, but I can still do this right now. And I can still go all in.”
  • DAZN, who is already set to stream Bellator content, has also signed a deal with Combate Americas to bring 13 fight nights a year to the distribution service. Their deal will start this weekend with a card from Phoenix, Arizona starting at 7 p.m. PT.
  • Bellator has signed bantamweight Weber Almeida to a multi-fight deal. He is a training partner of Lyoto Machida, who also recently signed with the promotion.
  • Alexander Shlemenko vs. Anatoly Tokov is set for Bellator 208.

Daily Professional Wrestling History: WCW Fall Brawl 1998

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