MON UPDATE: Summerslam stays in Brooklyn, Hornswoggle suspended

We’re looking for your thoughts on Sunday’s New Japan Destruction in Kobe show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to Dave Meltzer

Raw will be live from Buffalo tonight.  Even though Brock Lesnar is headlining both the MSG special the following Saturday and the next PPV, at this point he is not advertised for the show.  That would make sense to change but we haven’t heard that it is.  In fact, nothing has been advertised for the show at this point past the normal names being there..

We’re also looking for reports on Saturday night’s WWE show in Rochester, NY and NXT show in Fort Pierce, FL.

Smackdown will be taped in Albany, NY.  No John Cena or Randy Orton scheduled for Albany.

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

We’ve got a double issue of the Observer this week because of coverage of so many big shows and all the stuff that has come out of the past week with WWE. Sept. 28, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Sting, Night of Champions, Bellator Dynamite, more

Our lead story covers the Sting injury, the Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar Hell in a Cell match and the interesting back story and questions it brings up, lots of long-term looking at where WWE is headed as well as full coverage of the Night of Champions show.  We also cover the second season news for Lucha Underground, the Atlantis vs. La Sombra mask vs. mask match, Akira Hokuto’s announcement about her breast cancer, Bellator’s Dynamite show and what went right and wrong, New Japan’s Destruction in Okayama, ROH’s All-Star Extravaganza, the Pro Wrestling NOAH angle where they tease the end of the company, USADA responds to Thomas Hauser, Josh Gross’ story on the Vitor Belfort drug test and why it’s not nearly as simple as people are making it out to be, AAA’s next major show and record low ratings.

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

Our lead story covers the WWE weekend, notably the Sting injury and Undertaker-Lesnar announcement.

We go through the injury, including Sting’s interview comments after the fact and his description of Seth Rollins and the injury, as well as his current thoughts on if he will wrestle again.  We also talk about what he does and doesn’t know, what he’s said publicly about the injury, why the match wasn’t stopped, and what we can learn from it.

We also look at how the Lesnar vs. Undertaker Hell in a Cell match changes WrestleMania, and look at those potential changes.  We look at the different directions they can go with the key talent for next year’s show.  We also look at the rest of Hell in a Cell as far as what is on the books and what name isn’t listed yet in the top matches.  We look at the problem in the arena at the end of Night of Champions.

We’ve got complete Night of Champions coverage, with records, business, poll results, match-by-match coverage and star ratings.

FOR A FULL 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’S NEWS UPDATE

  • Bryan and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer Radio covering Raw, the UFC in Madison Square Garden, Rich Franklin and more.  You can send in questions for the show to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com
  • Check out WrestlingObserver.com’s coverage of Hornswoggle’s Wellness issue WWE: Hornswoggle suspended and SummerSlam location news:  WWE: SummerSlam staying in Brooklyn for the next two years (updated)
  • UFC also made a calculated legal move today: UFC announces April 2016 date for NY’s Madison Square Garden, new legal case, new injunction and more UFC News with veteran Rich Franklin announces retirement
  • Countdown to UFC 192 airs tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern and 6 p.m Pacific on FS 1.  It’ll cover Daniel Cormier vs. Alexander Gustafsson, Rashad Evans vs. Ryan Bader and Johny Hendricks vs. Tyron Woodley.
  • Most of the matches mentioned yesterday are on the 10/12 King of Pro Wrestling show at Sumo Hall in Tokyo, including Kazuchika Okada vs. A.J. Styles for the IWGP title, Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tetsuya Naito for the Tokyo Dome title shot, Togi Makabe vs. Tomohiro Ishii for the Never title, Kenny Omega vs. Matt Sydal for the IWGP jr. title and Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Rocky Romero & Baretta for the IWGP jr. tag titles.  The Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Karl Anderson match is not taking place here, but at another show, since Nakamura and Anderson are in a trios match.
  • The WWE had the most-viewed YouTube channel in August according to OpenSlate and Tubefilter with 454.6 million views.
  • The Epix Channel on Wednesday has a documentary called “Doped” about USADA and WADA with Thomas Hauser among those featured.  This story has been talked about for a few weeks.
  • Sunday’s Heroes Inmoratles show will air on iPPV at www.internetvluchalibreaaa.com
  • The SummerSlam panel on NXT with HHH, Finn Balor, Corey Graves, Sasha Banks, Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens will air on the WWE Network after Raw tonight. 
  • Jersey All Pro Wrestling has noted that they will be running their 11/14 show in Rahway, NJ at the Rec Center as advertised.  Promoter Frank Iadevaia passed away as he was planning the show.  They are doing this as a 19th anniversary show and a tribute to Iadevaia.  
  • Jake Koch said that he noticed on his TV listings that ROH will be airing on late Saturday night/Sunday morning at 2 a.m. on WMYD-TV 20 in Detroit.   
  • Jim Ross talks about the decision made in late 1976 over who would be world champion
  • Ross also writes for Fox Sports on Backlund
  • Mike Mooneyham writes about Lance Russell
  • Local story on a WWE house show in Trenton, NJ at
  • Nikki Bella interview, says being with John Cena has nothing to do with her career path
  • Wade Barrett talks acting and his latest movie
  • The Combat Zone Wrestling Cage of Death show in December will not air as a live PPV as originally scheduled, so that makes the second PPV date the company has canceled.
  • TNA is doing $5 off ticket discounts for its shows on 10/2 in Beckley, WV, 10/3 in Salem, VA as well as Sunday’s Bound for Glory in Concord, NC.  The Salem show features the Earl Hebner Hall of Fame induction.  The code for Beckley is BECK, for Salem it’s SALE and for Bound for Glory it’s TNATD
  • More on Bound for Glory tickets
  • High Risk Wrestling from Sunday in Cahokia, IL:  Mike Outlaw & Justin D’Air b A.J. Williams & LaMarcus Clinton, Adam Caster & Tony Kozina b Logan & Sterling Riegel, Nick Iggy & Kerry Awful b Tripp Cassidy & Josh Crane, Mark Sterling b John E. Rock, Monster Chaos b Karim Brigante, Mike Outlaw & Justin D’Air won three-way over Nick Iggy & Kerry Awful and Adam Caster & Tony Kozina to win tag titles, Blake Belakis won gauntlet over Dale Patricks, Jeremiah Plunkett, Mike Sydal, Jake Dirden and Ace Perry (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
  • Beyond Wrestling from Sunday in Somerville, MA before a sellout 350-400 fans, said to have sold out in advance:  Donovan Dijak b Andrew Everett, Brian Fury b Trevor Lee, Alexxis Neveah b Tessa Blanchard, Pinkie Sanchez & Draztik & Ortiz b Can Am Flip Connection, Chris Dickinson & Jaka b Ray Rowe & Hanson, Timothy Thatcher b Darius Carter, Bill Carr & Dan Barry b Crusade for Change, David Starr b Johnny Silver, Michael Bennett & Matt Taven b Chris Hero & JT Dunn, Ricochet b Shynron.  Next show is 1/31.  Said to be very good overall. (thanks to James Brown and Chris Silva)
  • Lucha Libre live on from yesterday in Whitby, ONT:  Aiden Prince b Idris Abraham,. Movado b Dan O’Haire, Alexia Nicole b Jon Atlas, Carter Mason & Luis Lyndon b Trent Gibson & Channing Decker, John Greed & Sebastian Suave b Vaughn Vertigo & Gabriel Fuerza, Too Cold Scorpio b Maybach Beta-DQ (thanks to Steven Ashe)
  • Pure Wrestling Association on 10/24 in Kitchener, ONT at the Alpine Club.
  • Pro Wrestling Phoenix on Saturday night from Council Bluffs, IA:  Zac James b Joey Daniels, Dalton Lee Roth b Pat Powers, Hype Gotti b Arik Cannon, L-Ray b Michael Ray, Ryan Slade b Pat Powers, Mark Sterling b Tony Cortez.  Next show is 10/28 in Omaha at the Waiting Room Lounge.
  • Premier Wrestling on 11/28 in Gilroy, CA at the IFDES Lodge Portuguese Hall in Gilroy for a show Embrace the Grind to honor George O’Brien, who passed away yesterday.  It will be a three-man round robin tournament, fought with rounds, featuring Jeff Cobb vs. Timothy Thatcher vs. Joe Graves.  For more info
  • There are Donald Trump T-shirts patterned after Ted DiBiase’s Million Dollar Man character
  • Absolute Intense Wrestling has a doubleheader on Saturday with a 3 p.m. women’s show headlined by Heidi Lovelace vs. Tessa Blanchard for the women’s title, Mia (Jade) Yim vs. Candice LaRae,  Marti Belle vs. Allysin, Veda Scott vs. Annie Social, Solo Darling vs. Angel Dust, Lu Fisto vs. Crazy Mary Dobson and more.  A 7:30 p.m. show has Ricky Shane Page vs. Alex Daniels, Johnny Gargano vs. Brian Carson plus Eddie Kingston, John Silver and Louis Lyndon.
  • Trine Michaels pitches Lucha Underground

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

1928 – Clarence Ecklund beat Ad Santel (one of Lou Thesz’s coaches and a noted hooker of the era) in Melbourne, Australia

1969 – Rusher Kimura & Great Kusatsu beat Jack Claybourne & Dr. Death (Moose Morowski) in Nagasaki to win the TWWA European tag team title

1990 – Steve Wright beat Fit Finlay in Hannover to win the CWA middleweight title

1995 – Psicosis beat Rey Misterio Jr. in Mexicali to win the WWA welterweight title

1997 – Shark Tsuchiya beat Aja Kong to win the FMW Independent world women’s title

1998 – Pierroth beat Black Magic (Norman Smiley) in Naucalpan to win the IWRG title

2003 – Zorro beat Mr. Aguila in Guadalajara to win the UWA light heavyweight title

2008 – Naomichi Marufuji beat Ryuji Hijikata in Nagoya to win the All Japan world jr. title

2013 – T-Hawk & Eita beat BxB Hulk & Yamato in Kobe to win the Dragon Gate Summer Adventure Tag League and become interim tag team champions

2014 – Go Shiozaki beat Suwama in Tokyo to win the singles tournament

2014 – Kota Ibushi & Kenny Omega beat Isami Kodaka & Yuko Miyamoto and Konosuke Takeshita & Tetsuya Endo to win the K-OD tag team titles