MON UPDATE: Major interest in last night’s show, Cena movie, Diaz to jail, Lawlor fights Saturday

By F4W Staff
Published: 20 Jul 2015, 20:58

We’re looking for your thoughts on last night’s WWE Battleground, today’s New Japan G-1 opening night and today’s Dragon Gate Kobe World Festival with a thumbs up, thumbs down and thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to Dave Meltzerdave@wrestlingobserver.com”>

We’re looking for reports from tonight’s Raw in Kansas City. Brock Lesnar is advertised on the show. We’re looking for Superstars matches, dark matches and anything else not evident on the live show at dave@wrestlingobserver.com”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com

We’re also looking for reports on last night’s WWE show in Danville, IL and NXT show in Venice, FL.

Smackdown will be Tuesday night in Lincoln, NE.

The Conor McGregor phenomenon and the new direction of women in WWE and a history of women in WWE are the lead stories in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

The issue is on the site right now at July 20, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: UFC 189 report, WWE calls up NXT women

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The Wrestling Observer ranges weekly from 35,000 to 50,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA internationally. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sties and has the most complete look at the pro wrestling and MMA business anywhere, plus history pieces available nowhere else.

Our lead story talks about the Conor McGregor phenomenon, how it ushered in the new era of UFC, the business notes on the show, McGregor’s popularity in Ireland, why iPPV numbers probably set records, U.K. reaction, what to learn from McGregor vs. Mendes, how risky a gamble this fight was, similar gambles from the past, the story of the fight, McGregor vs. Aldo next, Ultimate Fighter and a full rundown of UFC 189.

We also look at WWE’s bringing up Charlotte, Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks this past week, and a look back at the history of women performers in WWE dating back to the Wendi Richter vs. Fabulous Moolah match in 1984. We look at the forgotten best women’s matches in main roster history and best workers, and failed attempt to market athletic women, what really happened with Aja Kong, We also look at the different ways this can go, how the angles changed, how the angle was done, as well as how UFC made it work and what was the same and different.

We also look at what may be UFC’s biggest event of 2016, the UFC 200 show.

We also look at the NXT show in Brooklyn and the busy weekend in the New York area, notes on when the next WWE network number will be released and what it would be up to, as well as break-even, and the peak number. We look at advance sales for Battleground and the card, Lennox Lewis admits to almost doing a mixed match with Brock Lesnar in 2003, the story behind that fight and why it never happened, William Regal explains what WWE is looking for in new talent in a fascinating interview, notes on the future of Smackdown, who are planned to be focal point of NXT, Ziggler, Cody Runnels, update on Tyson Kidd, key WWE exec gets fired and new major WWE stock purchase by one of the richest men in Holland.

We also look at an update on several legal proceedings involving WWE suits, notes on Tough Enough, as well as a rundown of the weekend NXT and WWE house shows with business notes on the shows.

We also look at this year’s UFC induction ceremony, how it has changed, its future goals, and the speeches by Bas Rutten, B.J. Penn, Matt Hughes Frank Trigg, Lori Blatnick and many others. We look at the histories of all the inductees as well.

We also have more on Fedor Emelianenko being shopped around for a comeback at the age of 38. We look at who he is, what he said just a few months ago about a comeback, if it is realistic to expect a match with Brock Lesnar, what Fedor said directly a few months ago about a match with Lesnar, as well as how UFC or Bellator can use him.

We also look at UFC’s Sunday show in Las Vegas and business notes on the show.

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–A look at the big weekly event at Arena Mexico

–Build to CMLL’s big summer show

–A major big show controversy and a lot of buck passing involved

–Top matches for this year’s TripleMania

–A look at this past week’s AAA TV taping

–Wrestling returns to Royal Albert Hall in London

–A major star celebrates 30th anniversary of his pro debut

–Third generation legend makes debut

–Wrestle-1 announces its own tournament

–Coverage of Wrestle-1 show from the past week

–Notes on the G-1 debut card

–Shinya Hashimoto death anniversary show

–More on Dusty Rhodes and one of his most famous angles

–A look at the build of Starrcade 85

–GFW’s road shows and TV tapings

–A look at the Waterloo wrestling Hall of Fame and this year’s inductions

–A match of the year candidate

–Former WWE star falls into more problems

–One match which features champions from New Japan, a top star of Evolve, the TNA world champion, a Lucha Underground champion, anther TNA wrestler as well as a WWE wrestler and an ROH wrestler all in the same match

–A look at Tommy Dreamer’s next show

–Update on Alberto Del Rio

–Update on Lucha Underground

–Movie being made about a Lucha Underground star

–More on ROH over WrestleMania weekend

–This week’s upcoming ROH show in Las Vegas

–A look this past week’s ROH show

–More on the future of TNA

–Update on Davey Richards

–Something to watch for when it comes to UFC fans

–Update on Travis Browne situation

–This week’s UFC show on FS 1 and Fight Pass Titan show

–More on C.M. Punk and his debut

–More on fighters and prospective TV show ideas

–Cris Cyborg, UFC and Invicta

–New UFC fights

–Lawsuit filed regarding Bellator

–This week’s Bellator show

–Notes on how new Bellator announcer used to write for a wrestling newsletter

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MONDAY’S NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw, G-1 and the rest of the pro wrestling and MMA news, as well as taking your questions that can be sent to the show to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com
“Trainwreck,” the Amy Schumer movie that has gotten real strong word-of-mouth, greatly exceeded industry expectations by taking in $30.2 million over the weekend. John Cena is in the movie as a one-time boyfriend of Schumer. It was No. 3 behind Ant-Man and Minions.
I haven’t seen it yet, but people are raving about the Dragon Gate show that took place earlier today on iPPV. G-1 was nothing close to the level of opening night last year, and not even as good as Battleground, even though Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi was a classic with Tanahashi turning back the clock a few years to where he was the best overall guy in the business.
No serious injuries coming out of last night’s show. There were 500,000 searches for the show, way above usual for a “B” show, which is about 200,000. That was likely due to Undertaker, who was the most searched name yesterday. It was No. 2 for the day behind Mick Fanning.
The belief is the ratings tonight will be well up from recent weeks due to bringing back Undertaker.
On Twitter, there were 397,000 tweets regarding the show, and there have been 10,100 on Raw tonight. Last night when they said it was No. 1 on twitter, at that moment it was No. 3 even among the subjects that I had numbers on, although there Twitter algorithms are unique in that you don’t trend based on being the top thing talked about, but on a percentage over usual. Many subjects trend with 100 tweets.
TMZ is reporting that Nick Diaz was sentenced to two days in jail, with credit already for one day served, on DUI charges from September. He will also get three years informal probation and must complete a DUI education course.
Smart money didn’t come in last night on Battleground for whatever reason. There were no super long odds, and the longest odds of 15-to-1 and 17-to-1 were for The New Day and Roman Reigns, who both lost. (thanks to David Taylor)
The next G-1 show is from Shizuoka on Thursday morning at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time. There will be shows Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week.
Tom Lawlor from the site will be fighting Saturday night on FOX against No. 15 ranked Gian Villante in his first fight in two years. The fight will air at 7:30 p.m. Eastern, on the show headlined by T.J. Dillashaw vs. Renan Barao for the bantamweight title.
Figures Toy Company has reached an action figure deal with Tama Tonga of New Japan Pro Wrestling. The list of those they have deals with in their new set are A.J. Styles, The Young Bucks, Brian Myers (Curt Hawkins), Cliff Compton, Doc Gallows, Amber Gallows, Joey Ryan and Kenny Omega.
ROH has started on TV in South Bend, IN on WSJV, the Fox station, Ch. 28, at Noon on Saturdays (thanks to Brian Schoonaert)
EWF from Saturday night in San Bernardino: Tarasso b Sergio Santana, Brute Baretto b Tyler Ray, Uptown Andy Brown b J Jaeger, Arian Quest b Fidel Bravo, Friar Roman & Archimedes b V Garayt & Viking Warrior, Iron Man Mike Maze b Billy Blade (thanks to Frank Mott)
Premier Wrestling on 9/19 in San Jose at Del Mar High School with JR Kratos (8-2) defending the Premier title against Jeff Cobb (6-2-1), plus Timothy Thatcher, Gabriel Gallo, Brian Tannen, Joe Graves, Marcus Leis, Alexander Hammerstone, Nicole Savoy, Kahmora, Raze and Kikyo Nakamura. Tickets go on sale on 8/1 at www.premierwrestle.com
The Premier Boxing Championships has a show on 8/2 on Bounce TV headlined by Juan Carlos Payano vs. Rau’shee Warren that will be live from Full Sail University, the home of NXT.
Pro Wrestling Eclipse on 8/16 in Oshawa, ONT at the Legion with Johnny Devine, Roderick Strong and Jennifer Blake.
Funkdafied Wrestling Federation from Saturday night in Warsaw, IN: Chase Matthews b Danny Shay, Jack Thriller b Roger Lanier, Scotty Young b Anthony Toatele, Police Department b Rougues, Joey Janela b Beast, Russ Jones b Tank, Honky Tonk Man & Lightning Bolt Johnson b JD Smooth & KC Huber (thanks to Leonard Brand)
Absolute Intense Wrestling on 8/14 in Strongsville, OH at the Holiday Inn.
Legacy Fighting Championships airs on AXS TV on Friday night
ACW from yesterday in New Port Richey, FL: Wayne Van Dyke won five-way over Bucky Wells, Aaron Epic, Josh Hess and Riptide, Nathan Vain b Beastly Brody, Kennedy Kendrick b Martin Stone, Maxwell b Earl Cooter, Rhett Giddins & Francisco Ciatso b C.J. O’Doyle & Diemos, Santana Garrett b Su Yung-DQ, Jason Cade & Aaron Solo b First Degree, Sideshow b Sean Swag in a cage match (thanks to Al Haft)
There is a Lucha Libre show on Friday night in Pharr, TX at the Los Portales Flea Market with Alebrije & Blue Demon Jr vs. Silver King & Spawn. There is also a show Sunday in Houston at Club LaBoom with Demon Jr. & Alebrije vs. Pentagon Black & Pierroth.
On Friday in Tijuana at Auditorio Municipal there is a hair vs. hair ladder match with Nicho vs. Pagano.
Evolucion Lucha Libre on 8/8 at Auditorio Municipal in Tijuana has Rush & La Sombra vs. L.A. Park & El Hijo de L.A. Park (thanks to Kris Zellner)

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

1985 – Chamaco Valaquez beat La Fiera in Mexico City to win the NWA middleweight title

1989 – Lola Gonzalez beat Zuleyma in Tijuana to win the WWA women’s title

1994 – Dick Slater beat Nobutaka Araya to win the IWA title

1996 – Jushin Liger & El Samurai beat Lance Storm & Yuji Yasuraoka in Tokyo to win the WAR Int. jr. tag title and Rey Misterio Jr. beat Psicosis on the same show to win the WWA welterweight title

2000 – Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan beat Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi in Sapporo to win the IWGP tag title and Tatsuhito Takaiwa beat Liger to win the IWGP jr. title

2001 – Masayuki Naruse beat Minoru Tanaka in Sapporo to win the IWGP jr. title and Gedo & Jado beat Liger & Samurai to win the IWGP jr. tag title

2002 – Koji Kanemoto beat Minoru Tanaka in Sapporo to win the IWGP jr. title

2007 – Negro Casas & Mistico beat Dr Wagner Jr. & Ultimo Guerrero in Mexico City to win the CMLL tag titles

2013 – Shinsuke Nakamura beat La Sombra in Akita to win the IC title

2014 – BxB Hulk beat Yamato in Nagoya to win the Open the Dream Gate title and T-Hawk & Eita beat Akira Tozawa & Shingo Takagi to win the Open the Twin Gate tag title

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7/19/15 WWE.com Exclusive: Lesnar Leaves WWE Battleground

7/19/15 WWE.com Exclusive: The Prime Time Players Beat The Odds

7/19/15 WWE.com Exclusive: Kevin Owens Is Not In The Mood To Be Interviewed

7/19/15 WWE.com Exclusive: Kevin Owens Gets In Touch With His Artistic Side

WWE Battleground Kickoff

GLOBAL FORCE NETWORK

#GFWAmped: Chris Mordetzky-Why Did You Leave WWE?

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#GFWAmped: Brian Myers-What Would It Mean To Be The First Ever GFW Global Champion?