MON UPDATE: Ronda Rousey on ESPN, Divas match set, WrestleMania tickets

We’re looking for your thoughts on UFC 192, WWE in Madison Square Garden, TNA Bound for Glory and AAA Heroes Inmortales so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match at Dave Meltzer

We’re looking for live reports from Raw tonight in Boston with dark matches, Superstars matches and anything else notable that wouldn’t have been on the air itself to Dave Meltzer 

Brock Lesnar is on tonight’s show.

We’re also looking for reports on these weekend shows:

*NXT yesterday in Louisville at the Louder than Life Music and Food Festival

*WWE Friday night in Trenton

Tuesday has Smackdown/Main Event tapings in Philadelphia.  No John Cena here, with Randy Orton, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns being the biggest stars.

NXT TAKEOVER WEDNESDAY FROM FULL SAIL UNIVERSITY IN WINTER PARK, FL at 8 p.m. on the WWE network

Bayley vs. Sasha Banks for the NXT title in a 30 minute Iron Woman match

Dusty Rhodes tag team tournament semifinals & finals

JJ Jordan & Chad Gable vs. Rhyno & Baron Corbin

Samoa Joe & Finn Balor vs. Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson

Apollo Crews vs. Tyler Breeze

Asuka vs. Dana Brooke

WrestleMania Tickets go on sale 11/6

WWE announced today that WrestleMania tickets go on sale at 11/6 at 10
a.m. Eastern time for the 4/3 show at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, where the
company will attempt to break its all-time attendance record.

The company announced tickets will top at $2,360 for the first eight rows
of ringside, the Golden Circle VIPs, with $1,180 for the rest of ringside
and the lowest tickets will be priced at $18.

The $2,360 tickets will include a WrestleMania take home chair.  Tickets on sale at ticketmaster.com.

Figure Four Weekly:

The newest issue of Figure Four Weekly is now up for subscribers (subscribe to the site here and get access to Figure Four, the Observer, tons of audio, and more) featuring a look back at how exactly WWE lost the WWF name. Forget the stories you’v heard, this detailsexactly what the World Wildlife Fund objected to, what WWE agreed to and why, what scandals worried the fund, and more.  On top of that, we have all the usual stuff like Vinny’s reviews and international news from Dr. Lucha Steve Sims and and Alan”4L” Counihan.

The recent Figure Four Weeklywith a look at the crazy story of why Gawker thinks the FBI may have helped Hulk Hogan cover up his racist and homophobic comments. A judge has ordered the FBI to turn over the records of their investigation, and what Gawker is saying in court about what has and hasn’t been turned over paints a very interesting picture.

Also, now available for the first time on Kindle (meaning Kindle devices and anything with the Kindle app) is Fall Guys, the seminal 1937 book that has been described as being like the 1930s version of the Wrestling Observer. It was surprisingly not on Kindle already, so we put together a nice version with a full table of contents w/ chapter marks, proper formatting on everything, etc. Right now it’s available from the American, Canadian, and Australian Amazon/Kindle stores OR you can also buy it from anywhere in the world on PayHip, who will provide you with both Kindle and ePub (every other e-reader) format files, and you can either sideload them to your device or have them email it to your Kindle.

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Wrestling Observer Newsletter

If you saw the JBL interview with Eric Bischoff, or even if you didn’t, we have what is already one of the most talked about and praised issues of the Wrestling Observer this year up on the site right now.  The main theme is fact vs. fiction, covering both the WWE historical view of the Monday Night Wars and the Eric Bischoff version, going through every point and cutting through things like outright B.S., faulty memories and interesting truths.

The new double issue also covers SummerSlam in Brooklyn, the real story behind the UFC announcing a show in Madison Square Garden, Jon Jones’ legal punishment and future, coverage of both of the New Japan PPV shows this past week as well as a look at their direction as they build toward King of Pro Wrestling and later, the Tokyo Dome show, UFC in Japan and a look at that business, the retirement of Rich Franklin, a Hall of Famer running for Mayor, the retirement show of Genichiro Tenryu, more concerning drug testing questions, SummerSlam PPV numbers and what we can learn from them, as well as the death of German legend Axel Dieter Sr.

The latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter:  October 6, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Analysis of Bischoff Network interview, Jones plea and tons more. 

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 Meltzer

You can also order print issues at www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

Rates are:

For the United States, it is $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52.  In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to moonsault@mediaplusint.com  For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.

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.

We look at Eric Bischoff and his role, both good and bad, in what the pro wrestling industry has turned into.  We look at the WCW boom, the creation of Nitro, the early war, the NWO era, the peak and the fall of WCW.

We look at the mistakes made, the fall of WCW, the emergence of Bill Goldberg, the real origination of the streak idea,   We look at the rapid decline of the company and why.  We look at how and when things went down, as well as why, how history shows the merger excuse doesn’t hold water, the complete b.s. of the WWE’s Monday Night War narrative.  We look at the dying days of WCW and Eric Bischoff’s plan he never got a chance to implement.

We look at Eric Bischoff’s background, how he got into wrestling, his first meeting with Verne Gagne, his WWF tryout as an announcer, his connection with Japan, the unique case of Sonny Onoo, and the death of the AWA.

We look at the sale of Georgia Championship Wrestling, Vince McMahon’s one-year run on TBS and problems with Ted Turner, where Bill Watts fit into the scene then, and the scene prior to the launch of Nitro.

We look at WCW before Bischoff got power, what really happened with Jim Ross and WCW, , moves by Bill Watts, .  We look at the first Nitro, the real story behind Lex Luger, what Lex Luger really got, what really happened in WCW with HHH and Mick Foley, Foley getting into WWF, the story behind Bischoff’s firing of Steve Austin, the cruiserweight division and its double-edge sword, what was the point of no return, the Montreal screw job and why so many, even in wrestling, missed key points in that story, Mike Tyson at WrestleMania, Kevin Nash as a booker, DX invades Nitro and the Bischoff vs. McMahon challenge to a fist fight and the story behind the PPV that went 30 minutes over.

In the UFC Madison Square Garden announcement, we look at the thought process behind the strategy.

FOR A FULL WRESTLING OBSERVER PREVIEW CLICK HERE

If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today.  With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today.

New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues have to let us know what major stories of the past 11 years you are most interested in and we’ll send the issue with the best coverage of that story. We’ve got coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits into those descriptions over the past 11 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue.

Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.

MONDAY NEWS UPDATE

  • Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw and the latest wrestling news with Wresting Observer radio tonight.  You can send in questions for the show to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com
  • Ronda Rousey will become the first female athlete ever to anchor ESPN Sports Center for the 6 p.m. Eastern time airing of the show on Wednesday.
  • Rousey is also booked for the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday night and will be on Mike & Mike, First Take and the midnight Sports Center all on ESPN on Wednesday.
  • WWE has announced Charlotte vs. Nikki Bella for the Divas title at Hell in a Cell.  The original lineup we were given for the show had that as a three-way with Paige, so we’ll see if they shoot it in that direction or they changed ideas. 
  • Bruno Sammartino turns 80 tomorrow.  We are also scheduled to have him as a guest on our show on Thursday, so if you’ve got any questions, send them to me and I’ll try and get them in.  Some Italian media:  Chiet Today, Abruzzo and Ansa.it
  • Brian Pillman passed away 18 years ago today.  He was someone greatly missed, a sardonic genius in many ways.  We’ve got two issues that cover who he was and his legacy in football and wrestling

October 13 1997 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Life and Death of Brian Pillman

October 20 1997 Wrestling Observer Newsletter The Fallout of Brian Pillman’s Death

  • There will be a press conference on Thursday at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time in Tokyo Mid Town at Canopy Square in Minato-Ku featuring Nobuyuki Sakakibara and Fedor Emelianenko.  They will be announcing the birth of a new promotion, modeled after Pride, that debuts on New Year’s Eve at the Saitama Super Arena in a show that will air in the U.S. on Spike TV with Emelianenko as the headliner.  Emelianenko’s opponent will be named.  Tito Ortiz today said that it wouldn’t be him and Scott Coker has said that it won’t be Kimbo Slice.
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Roderick Strong and Mark & Jay Briscoe vs. Alex Shelley & Kushida will be on Wednesday’s ROH TV show.
  • Tigre Uno suffered a separated shoulder in the last minute of the X title match at Bound for Glory last night.  That was a gutsy performance still scaling the cables, but using his legs instead of his arms for the power, to do the planned win.
  • Lots of new ROH matches with New Japan talent have been added to New Japan World.
  • Paul Levesque will be doing a media conference call tomorrow.
  • Jim Ross will be doing a private meet and greet at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Dallas the day before WrestleMania 32, on 4/2.  It will run from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Maple Conference Room in the lobby of the hotel.  Tickets are $50 and can be purchased HERE
  • Congratulations to Ariel Helwani on the 300th episode of the MMA Hour today.  On today’s show, Rampage Jackson told Helwani that he thinks he’s fought his last fight.  He’s currently tangled up in legal issues with Bellator. 
  • The movie “Navy Seals vs. Zombies that stars Chad Lail (Gunner in TNA) will be released tomorrow on DVD ad Blue Ray.  Former NBA player Rick Fox is also in the movie. as well as former Olympian LoLo Jones. 

Gunner talks the movie

  • Irv Muchnick talks the Jimmy Snuka case
  • wXw day three of the world tag team tournament from yesterday in Oberhausen, Germany:  Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly b Axel Dieter Jr. & Da Mack, Robert Dreissker & Julian Negro & Ilja Dragunov b Evil Uno & Stu Grayson & The Rotation, Big Daddy Walter & Zack Sabre Jr. b Chris Brookes & Jonathan Gresham, Michael Dante b Tommaso Ciampa, Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows & Absolute Andy & Bad Bones John Klinger b Jurn Simmons & Tyler Bate & Kevin the Roadster & Marius van Beethoven, A.J. Styles b Tommy End, Karsten Beck b ACH to keep wXw title, Big Daddy Walter & Zack Sabre Jr. b Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly to win tournament.
  • WWE stock closed today at $17.95, up 65 cents.
  • The WWE 24 episode of NXT airs tonight on the WWE Network after Raw.
  • A.J. Styles vs. Donovan Dijak was announced for the 10/23 ROH show in Kalamazoo, MI.
  • Daniel Bryan said if WWE doesn’t clear him to wrestle, he will absolutely continue his career outside WWE.
  • A story on Titus O’Neil
  • Destiny World Wrestling on Saturday night in Mississauga, ONT:  Scotty O’Shea b Phil Atlas, Marko Estrada b Aaron Draven, Randy Reign b Markus Burke, Mathieu St. Jacques & Thomas DuBois b Jersey Boyz, Stone Rockwell b Jimmy Nutts, Jennifer Blake b Xandra Bale, Rey Mysterio Jr. won three-way over P.J. Black and Ricochet to win Destiny heavyweight title (thanks to Steven Ashe)
  • Any historians or trivia note know of any Chinese born champions in pro wrestling in the U.S. or Canada?
  • Michael Venom Page, one of the most entertaining strikers in MMA, will face Charlie Ontiveros on the 10/23 Bellator show from the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT. 
  • Cher tweeted support of Nick Diaz, writing “Lift the NSAC ban from MMA fighter Nick Diaz.” 
  • Mecca Pro Wrestling on 11/7 in Kingston, ONT at the Royal Canadian Legion.  Their show no 10/10 in Iroquois, ONT has been canceled.
  • The Ryan Ferris Healthpile in Bernwood, WV is raising money to help former wrestler Nick “Bully” Busick in his battle fighting esophageal cancer.  A lot of are businesses have donated money to help him with his treatments.
  • Dynamo Pro Wrestling from Saturday night in Fenton, MO:  Brandon Espinosa b Justin D’Air, Jayden Fenix won six-way over Keon Option, Ozzie Gallgher, The Sntich, Da’Marius Jones and Danny Adams, Shawn Santel & Mauler McDarby won three-way over Rocket Mapache & Jackal and Shorty Biggs & Outtkast, Mike Outlaw b Elvia Sliaga, Jack Gamble & Jon Webb b Michael Magnuson & Dave DeLorean, Ricky Cruz b Jake Dirden to win their title (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
  • Pro Championship Wrestling on Saturday night in Granite City, IL:  Pierre Abernathy & Danny Adams b Jake Dirden & Mike Outlaw, Austin Blackburn b Everett Connors, Davey Vega b Evan Gelistico, Mark Sterling won three-way over Mikey McFinnegan and Billy McNeil, Mat Fitchett b Zakk Sawyers, Adam Caster b Nate Redwing, K.C. Karrington won a four-way over Makaze, Jeremy Wyatt and Steven Kennedy.
  • Hoosier Pro Wrestling on Saturday night drew a full house to see the return of Jimmy Valiant in Columbus, IN:  Eddie Felson b Shawn Kemp, Cousin Cooter b Dynamite Dillen, Drax O’Brien b Troy Van Zant, Jimmy Valiant & Doink the Clown b Shawn Cook & Billy Bart, Lightning  Bolt b Tom Van Zant-DQ, Clint Poe b Jon Wall, Flash Flanagan & Timmy Danger NC Cowboy Marc Houston & TJ Kemp.  Next show is 11/7 as the 17th anniversary show and will be headlined by NWA champion Jax Dane.
  • Rob Van Dam will be at the 2015 Central Canadian Comic Con in Winnipeg on 10/31 and 11/1.
  • Victory Commonwealth Wrestling on 10/15 in Ajax ONT at The Reaper’s headlined by Nick Watts vs. Bishop in a ladder match.
  • Great Canadian Wrestling on 12/5 in Oshawa, ONT at Harmony Hall.
  • Pro Wrestling Eclipse on 11/28 in Oshawa, ONT at Royal Canadian Legion #43.
  • Top Rope Promotions from Saturday night in Brockton, MA before 200 fans:  Ted Goodz b TK O’Ryan, Franky Vain & Brutal Bob Evans b Craig Costa & Will Worthington & Marshall McNeill, Brad Hollister b Antonio Thomas (former WWE wrestler), Scotty 2 Hotty b Mike McCarthy, Nick Steele b Vinny Marseglia, Kongo b  Christian Casanova, Chuck O’Neill (former UFC fighter) b Ryan Waters.
  • Pure Wrestling Alliance TV taping on 10/24 in Kitchener, ONT at the Alpine Club.  They are taping for Rogers TV. 
  • Chavo Guerrero vs. Bobby Jaggers was the new match added today to NWAClassics.com
  • Canadian Wrestling Elite on 10/16 in Fannystelle, Manitoba at the Fannystelle Hall. 
  • Forbes on the Madison Square Garden WWE show
  • Chikara Pro has started a subscription service
  • Jeff Marek from Hockey Night in Canada and the MvsW podcast returns to the Winter Palace podcast to discuss the creation of Live Audio Wrestling, helping Trish Stratus make her way to the WWF, and previews the new NHL season with talk of 3 on 3 overtime, Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel, forecasts the Leafs and Wings seasons and more. Plus, talk about CMLL anniversary show fallout, Los Ingobernables t-shirts for sale online and other popular culture news.  Check it out here.

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

1971 – Jumbo Miyamoto & Aiko Kyo beat Maria Vagnone & Jane Sherrill in Chiba to win the WWWA tag titles

1980 – Vicki Williams beat Irma Gonzalez in Mexico City to win the UWA women’s title

1993 – Dandy beat Emilio Charles Jr. to win the CMLL middleweight title

1995 – Ultimo Dragon beat Gedo in Omiya to win the WAR Int. jr. title

2008 – Cyber Kong & Yamato beat Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino in Fukuoka to win the Open the Twin Gate tag titles

2010 – La Mascara beat Volador Jr. in Mexico City to win the Mexican National light hevyweight title

2012 – Dragon Rojo Jr. beat Prince Devitt (Finn Balor) in Mexico City to win the NWA Historic middleweight title