MON UPDATE: Piper magazine, Cyborg, ROH, Paige on Rousey, Tough Enough, Raw

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By Dave Meltzer

We’re looking for your thoughts on yesterday’s TripleMania show, as well as Saturday and Sunday’s G-1 shows, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to Dave Meltzerdave@wrestlingobserver.com”>

We’re also looking for live reports from Raw in Everett, WA tonight with dark matches, Superstars matches and anything else not evident on the live show to Dave Meltzerdave@wrestlingobserver.com”>, as well as for tomorrow night’s tapings in Portland, OR.

We’re also looking for reports on the WWE shows over the weekend in Sydney, Australia and Victoria, BC, today’s show in Vancouver, and the NXT shows in Starke, FL on Thursday ad Orlando on Friday.

G-1 Climax on Tuesday morning at 5:30 a.m. Eastern from Tokyo Korakuen Hall on New Japan World

Jay White & Mascara Dorada vs. Cody Hall & Yujiro Takahashi

Kushida & Captain New Japan vs. Karl Anderson & Tama Tonga

Hirooki Goto & Yohei Komatsu vs. Michael Elgin & David Finlay

Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata & Tomoaki Honma & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii & Yoshi-Hashi

Tetsuya Naito vs. Doc Gallows

Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Katsuyori Shibata

Kota Ibushi vs. Toru Yano

A.J. Styles vs. Bad Luck Fale

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Togi Makabe

Smackdown will be Tuesday night in Portland, OR.

G-1 Climax on Wednesday morning at 5:30 a.m. Eastern from Tokyo Korakuen Hall on New Japan World 

Tiger Mask & David Finlay & Jay White vs. Ryusuke Taguchi & Yohei Komatsu & Sho Tanaka

Toru Yano & Yoshi-Hashi vs. Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga

Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Togi Makabe & Kushida vs. Tetsuya Naito & Kota Ibushi & Mascara Dorada

Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuyori Shibata & Captain New Japan vs. A.J. Styles & Doc Gallows & Cody Hall

Karl Anderson vs. Yujiro Takahashi

Michael Elgin vs. Hirooki Goto

Satoshi Kojima vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Kazuchika Okada vs. Yuji Nagata

Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tomoaki Honma

The life and times of Roddy Piper is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.  We also have coverage of WWE financials and why the stock is going through the roof, the rise of Ronda Rousey and UFC 190 numbers, the G-1 Climax tournament update and the full story behind the 2002 pitch made to WWE about a gay asskicking wrestler.  

The latest Wrestling Observer: August 10, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Roddy Piper passes away, WWE Q2 results & analysis

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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 is an extensive look at the career of Roddy Piper.  We start by looking at the cause of death, and Piper’s role in the national expansion of WWF and the first WrestleMania.  We look at how Piper differed from almost every wrestler in WWF when he came in, why Piper didn’t work certain shows, Piper working outside WWF while under contract, how he flopped in his first WWF run, his runs in California, Oregon, Georgia and the Carolinas before WWF, the feud with Jimmy Snuka, the Hogan-Piper program, The War to Settle the Score, the original WrestleMania and how it changed the history of wrestling, his period in WCW, his relationship with Mad Dog Vachon, his issues with Kevin Nash, how he got started in pro wrestling, the story behind his babyface turns and the loss at WrestleMania to Bret Hart.

We also look at WWE business, why stock is up, what aspect of business looked deceptively good, a look in depth at the network numbers, how many people dropped and picked up subscriptions this past quarter as well as how all the other aspects of WWE business are doing.

We look at UFC 190 and the storyline that led to Ronda Rousey setting her highest PPV mark.  We look at how things have changed for Rousey since February, the interest level of her fight,  Rousey vs. Cyborg, ratings in Brazil and the U.S. and match-by-match coverage.

We also go in-depth on the G-1 Climax tournament with the updated schedule, standings and match-by-match coverage.

We also have an update on John Cena, more on the injury and surgery, Cena actually going to a show this weekend but fans didn’t see him, Shawn Michaels return, will fans respect Cena more, update on the SummerSlam card and matches being built, Cena vs. Rollins future, WrestleMania note, note on Daniel Bryan’s book, Update on Ryback, Update on a 2002 angle proposed for a gay wrestler and funny story behind it, Bryan’s plan for the IC title, more on womens’ division, Eva Marie note, Tough Enough notes, Ultimate Warrior book, Cesaro section notes, WWE lawsuit notes, Pat Patterson book, sister of current WWE star gets a tryout and Owen Hart DVD news.  We also have coverage of the NXT and WWE shows over the weekend and business notes on the shows. 

The Observer is the world’s most detailed weekly pro wrestling publication, in its 32nd year of publication, and is read by the biggest names in the pro wrestling, industry, MMA industry, sports world and on Wall Street.

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MONDAY’S NEWS UPDATE

  • Bryan and I will be back tonight covering Raw, the fallout from AAA, as well as taking your e-mail questions to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com
  • The Wednesday morning G-1 show looks to be the best lineup (check the schedule part of the report) of the B block to date.  Ishii vs. Honma is a rematch of one of the year’s best matches, and Goto vs. Elgin could be a sleeper given Elgin’s impressive showing to date.  Okada vs. Nagata and Nakamura vs. Kojima are also both strong matchups.
  • WWE is releasing a Roddy Piper commemorative magazine on 8/31 with an introduction by HHH, photos of matches and old Piper’s Pits and tributes from various wrestlers.
  • George Lockhart, the nutritionist for Cris Cyborg, said today on the MMA Hour that she could make 135 pounds on 12/5.  It’s at www.mmafighting.com  I’m also on the show as the first guest talking December 5 and UFC’s potential big winter season.
  • As noted earlier, Ryback is in Everett, WA.  Whether he’s actually on Raw or not, we don’t know but one would think given there are just two weeks before SummerSlam that he will be.  Dolph Ziggler’s return is imminent.  He was at the house show in Vancouver last night and is scheduled for Raw next week in Minneapolis.
  • ROH announced for the 8/22 show in Brooklyn a match with Rocky Romero & Baretta & Matt Taven & Michael Bennett vs. ACH & Matt Sydal & Young Bucks.  
  • Paige talks Ronda Rousey, WrestleMania and her effect on pro wrestling 
  • John Cena and the NXT roster will be appearing on Tough Enough.  As noted before, during the week, they taped the Tough Enough crew doing matches in the gym with NXT talent as the audience. 
  • The advertised dark match for tonight is Randy Orton & Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins & Big Show & Bray Wyatt.  Show replaced Sheamus, so at the time the new advertising was done they didn’t expect Sheamus would be able to wrestle tonight.  With concussions, there is no way of knowing when someone will be ready. 
  • Stephen Amell from the TV show “Arrow” is on tonight’s show, presumably doing an angle with Stardust.
  • Amir Khan, the well known boxer, was announced as part of the new ownership and management group for the Super Fight League promotion, which is looking to expand onto television in the U.S.  It has produced 41 live events, mostly in India, and was formed for television in India, including five in the U.S.  Announced with Khan as part of the management group is Bill Dosanjh as CEO, George Chung as Digital Media Executive and Brian Halquist, a Seattle based MMA promoter.  A show in the U.S. is expected to be announced soon.
  • Trainwreck, its first weekend with a full nationwide release (it had preview screenings before in some cities) was No. 1 at the box office in Australia. (thanks to James Stanios)
  • Sasha Banks will be a guest this week on Talk is Jericho that drops on Wednesday.
  • Paul London will be doing seminars on 8/13 at the PWX Wrestleplex in McKeesport, PA at 7:30 p.m., and on 8/15 in Strongsville, OH at Wrestling Geekfest at 9 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Strongsville.  Cost for each is $35.  For any questions, you can send to JoeDombrowskiPR@gmail.com
  • 2K 16 had the following new characters announced for its video game:  Booker T, Col. Mustafa, Emma, Eva Marie, Gen. Adnan, Kalisto, Kane, Lord Steven Regal of WCW, Sin Cara, Summer Rae, Tamina Snuka, HHH, Steve Austin, Seth Rollins, Daniel Bryan, Dean Ambrose, Bad News Barrett, Paige, Finn Balor, Alexa Bliss, The Rock and Andre the Giant.
  • Invicta has announced a show on UFC Fight Pass on 9/12 from the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City headlined by Tonya Evinger defending the bantamweight title against Pannie Kianzad. 
  • Tier One Wrestling on 10/2 in Queens, NY at the R Studios at 100-17 Atlantic Avenue.
  • Championship Wrestling Entertainment on 8/14 in Port St. Lucie, FL at the Civic Center with Santana Garrett & Su Yung vs. Grace Storm & MJ Night.
  • Nova Pro Wrestling on 8/15 in Orlando at the Northwest Community Center featuring an appearance by Larry Zbyszko, a Battle Royal and an NWA women’s title defense of Santana Garrett.
  • I Believe in Wrestling on 8/22 in Orlando.
  • Pro Wrestling alliance on 8/22 in Port Richey, FL at the Jewish Community Center.
  • Full Impact Pro iPPV from Friday night in Ybor City, FL: Tyranus & Chico Adams & Wayne VanDyke b Josh Parker & Russell Payne & Dustin Dirk, Mark Silva b Arik Royal, Nuclear Kassarole b Flying Solow, Gary Jay b Zane Riley, Bolt Brady b Earl Cooter, Maxwell Chicago b Jonny Vandal to keep Florida Heritage title, Martin Stone b Blake Edward Belakus, Deimos b Josh Hess, Monster Tarver (Michael Tarver) b Rhett Giddins, Hooligans b The Savage to win FIP tag titles, Caleb Konley b Trevor Lee to keep FIP title,
  • Coastal Championship Wrestling from Saturday night in Coral Springs, FL:  Jesus DeLeon b Senior Entertainment, Ace Mayhem b Byronic Hero, Kahagas & Rico Casanova b Pablo Marques & Lanny Poffo, Santana Garrett b Tammy Lynn to keep NWA womens’ title, Dan Embry b Craig Classic, Headbanger Mosh b Kiny Tony, Stefan Guadaluupe won Battle Royal (thanks to Al Haft).
  • Kayfabe Dojo Wrestling from Saturday night in Rochester, NY:  Ryan Cassidy b Cloudy, Victor Lord b Terrell Kenneth, Ron Falco & Bobby Dipinto b Vanguard 2.-DQ, Jason Savior b Charlie Locke, Rob Sweet b Jet Rebel, Mattick b Miliman, Coleman Jackson b Cheech, Gabreal Saint NC Coconut Jones, Interstate Mayhem b Eric Rosecroft & Steve Gage, Frank Burlington b Rik Matrix, Michael McKinger won over Vince Valor, LaDiva, Michael Templar, Professor Wessler, Frankie Feathers and Krist Worthless, Hellcat b Eric Young (thanks to Todd Brantley)
  • The NWAClassics.com web site has released a number of new matches of late, including Andre the Giant vs. Stan Stasiak from the 70s.  Other new Houston matches they’ve posted include a Lou Thesz vs. Wild Bill Longson NWA title match, Killer Tim Brooks & Vida Negra vs. Tiger Conway Jr. & Bella Karina, Mark Lewin vs. Gary Hart in a paint match, a six-man tag match from the 50s with Duke Keomuka and Ray Gunkel, Tim Horner vs Rip Oliver, Jose Lothario & Terry Taylor vs. Chavo & Hector Guerrero, Billy Jack Haynes vs. Kamala, King Parsons vs. Jack Victory and Ernie Ladd vs. Brad Armstrong.
  • Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling on 8/22 in East Carondelet, IL featuring Flash Flanagan vs. Tokyo Monster Kahagas.
  • Greg Valentine is doing a Roddy Piper Memorial dog collar match with Phil Monahan on 8/22 for the CIW promotion in Jackson, MI.  This is billed in honor of the series of dog collar matches that Piper had with Valentine in late 1983, the most famous being at the first Starrcade show.
  • CaraLucha from Saturday night at Arena San Juan Pantitlan:  Jimmy Madrid & Principe Aereo b Imperio Negro & Ying Sang, Keira & Ludark Shaitan b Felina Metalca & Krazy Star, Los Magnificos I & II b Rayo Star & Sky Man, Akuma & Demus 3:16 b Kilvan & Yoruba, Polvora won three-way over Jinzo and Toxin Boy, Barbaro Cavernario & Rey Hechichero & Ultimo Guerrero DDQ Halloween & Damian 666 & Bestia 666 (thanks to Kris Zellner)
  • New Era Wrestling from Friday night in El Paso before 300 fans:  Piranita & The American b Minotauro & Super Can, Aydan Colt & Pierre Montero b Sub Zero & Zodiaco, Ultimo Samuray b  Metro, Rey Largarto & Triano b El Hijo del Impostor & Dragon.  Next show is 8/21 (thanks to Albert Cerda)

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

1982 – Devil Masami & Tarantula beat Yukari Omori & Mimi Hagiwara in Fukushima to win the WWWA tag titles and Noriyo Tateno beat Chigusa Nagayo to win the Japanese jr. title

1986 – Villano I beat Fishman in Acapulco to win the UWA light heavyweight title

1989 – Vader beat Riki Choshu in Tokyo to win the IWGP heavyweight title and Naoki Sano beat Jushin Liger to win the IWGP jr. title

1997 – Kensuke Sasaki & Kazuo Yamazaki beat Manabu Nakanishi & Satoshi Kojima in Nagoya to win the IWGP tag titles and Shinjiro Otani beat El Samurai to win the J Crown

1999 – Arkangel de la Muerte beat Super Delfin in Kawasaki to win the CMLL welterweight title

2003 – Hulk Ogan (Naoya Ogawa pretending to be Hogan) beat The Predator (Sylvester Terkay) in Nagoya to win the Zero-One U.S. title

2014 – Kazuchika Okada beat Shinsuke Nakamura at the Seibu Dome to win the G-1 Climax tournament