Sunday Update: Sami Zayn Evolve appearance, Adam Rose injury

We’re looking for reports on these shows for this weekend at Dave Meltzer.

*WWE Friday night in Merida, Yucatan

*WWE last night in Lubbock, TX

*WWE last night in Mexico City

*WWE tonight in Monterrey, Mexico (Undertaker, Kane, Ric Flair, Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, Chris Jericho Sheamus, Cesaro, Bray Wyatt)

*WWE tonight in Abilene, TX (John Cena vs.. Seth Rollins in a 30 minute Iron man match)

Evolve on iPPV at 8 p.m. Eastern Sunday from The Deer Park, NY Sportatorium at www.WWNLive.com

Timothy Thatcher vs. Trevor Lee for the Evolve title

Rocky Romero & Trent Baretta vs. Anthony Nese & Caleb Konley

Willie Mack vs. Drew Gulak

TJ Perkins vs. Tracy Williams

Matt Riddle vs. Chris Dickinson

Andrew Everett vs. Peter Kassa

Ethan Page vs. Matt Cage

Monday has Raw from Dallas, TX with the go-home show for Hell in a Cell, with Undertaker, Brock Lesnar, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin all in town, plus the Austin podcast with Brock Lesnar.

Tuesday has Smackdown tapings in Austin, TX with Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Bray Wyatt and Sheamus as the headliners.

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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 details on all facets of Hulk Hogan’s lawsuit against Gawker, including a better understanding of Gawker’s defense, what else the judge has sealed to protect Hogan, and more. On top of that, we have all the usual stuff like Vinny’s reviews and international news.

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Wrestling Observer Newsletter

A complete look at Mistico/Myzteziz/Original Sin Cara and his leaving AAA, and what it means to the Mexican scene, and his history including WWE is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.  We also look at NXT Takeover, full details behind the new Rizing Fighting Championships in Japan including what role pro wrestling will play and the Hall of Famer scheduled to headline, New Japan’s going forward with notes on upcoming shows and King of Pro Wrestling, Rusev & Lana and the TNA title tournament.  CLICK HERE FOR A FULL WRESTLING OBSERVER PREVIEW

The latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Wrestling Observer Newsletter October 19, 2015: Mistico to CMLL, Tokyo Dome main event plus tons more

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.

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

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 for 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.

CLICK HERE FOR A FULL WRESTLING OBSERVER PREVIEW

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. 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.

SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

  • Bryan and I will be back for Wrestling Observer Radio tonight talking weekend news, previewing this coming week as well as taking e-mail questions.  Because there was no major show this weekend, we will have more time than usual for questions so you can send them to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com
  • Due to the appearance of Sami Zayn, Evolve set its all-time attendance record last night in Brooklyn. Zayn did his interview after the event ended. He said that he was a pro wrestler with Evolve and has an indy-sized hold in his heart, and thanked everyone for supporting the promotion and said this was the ground floor of something very big, and then put over Johnny Gargano as a future Evolve champion. They used Gargano being on NXT to promote a match with Ethan Page where if Gargano lost, he would leave Evolve.  However, Gargano won.
  • Evolve Results: Andrew Everett won four-way over Matt Cage, Anthony Nese and Peter Kaasa, Matt Riddle b Jonathan Gresham, Chris Dickinson b Tracy Williams, Trevor Lee b Drew Gulak to win a shot at the Evole title tonight, Tony Nese & Caleb Konley b Milk Chocolate (Brandon Watts & Randy Summers), Willie Mack b Earl Cooter, Rocky Romero & Trent Baretta b Timothy Thatcher & TJ Perkins, Johnny Gargano b Ethan Page in an I quit match to stay in Evolve.
  • Nick Newell, the WSOF fighter who garnered a lot of publicity because he was born with one arm, announced his retirement last night after a decision over Tom Marcellino.  He announced it while the TV show was on a commercial break, said the sport was getting too hard and it’s time to pass on his wisdom. 
  • Adam Rose, who was taken out on a stretcher at Friday night’s show in Merida, didn’t work last night in Mexico City.  It was described to us that he had his bell rung and was okay.  He took a kick from Fandango and there was concern of a concussion.
  • Even with all the big names advertised locally, including Steve Austin, as of Friday there were still 3,000 tickets remaining for Raw tomorrow night.
  • I don’t know when he will officially start on TV, other than it is supposed to be really soon, but Tyler Breeze is now considered on the main roster. He could start this week although I was told it could be bumped a week or two.
  • Golovkin vs. Lemieux was the fifth most searched term (behind other sports terms) yesterday with 200,000.  That would be an early indication of a PPV number in the range or a normal UFC show, but not a big one.
  • In last night’s John Cena vs. Seth Rollins Iron Man Match, Cena won three out of five falls in the 30 minutes in Lubbock. 
  • If you don’t know why Kazushi Sakuraba created the Japanese MMA boom, here’s a story on his role and why he’s fighting again on New Year’s Eve
  • Rycklon Stephens, who was Big Ryck in Lucha Underground and Ezekiel Jackson in WWF, told promoters in Germany, where he worked today, that today was his last pro wrestling match. (thanks to Markus Gronemann)
  • Patrick Clark of Tough Enough, who has signed a WWE developmental deal, starts tomorrow at the Performance Center. 
  • TNA’s Jessie Godderz is playing the role of a pro wrestler in an FX movie called “Snowfall.”  The movie is directed by John Singleton, who also directed 2 Fast 2 Furious.  The movie will air sometime next year.
  • Stardom drew 200 fans on Friday in Covina, CA:  Act Yasukawa & Kyoko Kimura & Kris Wolf b Shayna Baszler & Brittany Wonder & Datura when Kimura used the sleeper on Wonder in 12:32, Mayu Iwatani b Nicole Savoy in 6:53 with a dragon sleeper, Kellie Skater & Hiroyo Matsumoto b Kairi Hojo & Kahmora at 13:16 when Matsumoto pinned Hiroyo in 13:16 after a back drop drive, Perez & Santana Garrett b Hudson Envy & Thunder Rosa in 16:19 when Garrett pined Rosa with a springboard moonsault in 16:19, Io Shirai b Mia Yim to retain the Wonder of Stardom title after a moonsault in 13:44. 
    Perez wrestling in place of Cheerleader Melissa was just Melissa as President of Stardom USA making the ruling as Perez had been billed as a referee.  Melissa faces Baszler on today’s show in Baldwin Park. A few UFC fighters were there including Josh Barnett and Jessamyn Duke. We were told it was an amazing show with no bad matches and the crowd into everything (thanks to Chris Horcasitas and Sonny Gutierrez)
  • The German tag team tournament covered in the recent Observer that included both New Japan champions, Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows, as well as Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish, is available
  • Kurt Angle will be appearing this coming Saturday for an autograph signing at Frank & Son’s Collectibles in the City of Industry, CA.
  • Zane Ashley, the grandson of Bill Watts, was named defensive player of the month in Gwinnett County in Georgia.  He’s a junior at Peachtree Ridge High School.
  • Lou DiBella of Lou DiBella entertainment sent us this update on Prichard Colon, the boxer who is in rough shape from a fight in Fairfax, VA on a DiBella card yesterday afternoon.  He suffered a brain bleed as a result of the fight and underwent immediate surgery to relieve the pressure on the brain and is in critical condition. 
  • Terry Funk did a crazy concession stand brawl at last night’s AIW show in Cleveland.  Funk has his first match in a long time this coming Saturday night in Jackson, TN, against Jerry Lawler at Oman Arena.  Lance Russell will be there as well. 
  • 29 years ago today, WWF & Jim Crockett Promotions both ran shows on the same night in Philadelphia.  The JCP show sold out the Civic Center with Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes and The Road Warriors, while WWF drew 15,986 at the Spectrum for Hulk Hogan vs. Paul Orndorff
  • Maryland Championship Wrestling from Friday night in Felton, DE:  Chuck Lennox b Shawn Patrick, Oakley Woods b Funky White Boy, G-Fed b Sonny Deeds-DQ, Drolix b Brandon Scott, Hot Lanta Hustlers b Joe Kerr & Travis Banks, The Ecktourage of Kevin Eck b Sudden Impact (Lio Rush was there, Patrick Clark wasn’t) to win the tag titles, Shane Strickland b David Starr, Mickie James won four-way over Amber Rodriguez, Kimber Lee and Kennadi Brink, The Bruiser & Matt Hardy b King McBride & Ken Dixon. 
  • Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling from last night in East Carondelet, IL before a sellout 350 fans:  Bubba Troll won over Jimmy D and Daniel Gunner, Sean Vincent & Keith Smith Jr. b Curtis Wylde & Ax Allwardt, Chaz Wesson b Barackus, Brandon Espinosa b Bobby D, Chris Hargas b Shane Rich, Kahagas b Brent Myers, Flash Flanagan b Ron Powers-DQ.  Bill Apter was a special guest at the show. (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer and Larry Matysik)
  • 60 years ago yesterday, a 21-year-old Ray Stevens beat Chris Zaharias in 2/3 falls in what was advertised as the first day time pro wrestling show airing live from the WFLA  Studio in Tampa. 
  • To show how things were even as late as 1963, on October, 17, 1963 in Jacksonville, a semi-main event was billed as “Two World Famous Colored Men Wrestlers” as Bobo Brazil beat Roosevelt Hampton in two straight falls.
  • Lucha Xtreme TV from last night in Fresno:  Kikyo b Johnny Dynamo in an intergender match, Buddy Royal & Levi Shapiro b Prince Nagi & Super Tiger, Johnny Plinko b Al Azar.  Next taping is today at the Big Fresno Fair and is free with a fair admission (thanks to Jon Southerland).
  • Smash Wrestling from Friday night in Toronto:  3.0 b Goat Brigade, Courtney Rush b Penelope Ford, Franky the Mobster b Dalton Castle, Michael Bennett & Matt Taven b Overdogs, Brent Banks b Sonjay Dutt, Tarik & Gulak b Checkmate, Scotty O’Shea b Chuck Taylor.
  • Results from Friday night at Arena Neza:  Golden Bull & Ricky Gonzalez & Motocross b Bryan el Stripper & Chamaco Davila & Rey Neza, Lady Maravilla & Reina Dorada b Felina Metalica & Stefany Valker, Nino Hamburguesa & Goya Kong b Carta Brava Jr. & Taya Valkyrie, Psycho Circus b Daga & Joe Lider & Parka Negra, Dr. Wagner Jr. (sub for Myzteziz) & La Parka b Averno & Cibernetico-DQ (thanks to Kris Zellner)
  • Ultimo Guerrero vs. Shocker headlines for the FMLL light heavyweight title on Sunday in El Monte, CA at Florentine Gardens.
  • Rush & La Sombra vs. Volador Jr. & Mr Aguila headline this coming Saturday night in El Pas at the Southwest Universotu Event Center.   
  • Jake Roberts interview on Adam Carrola’s show
  • Grantland has a story on Andre the Giant
  • An article on the Stardom show from Friday

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

1970 – Stan Stasiak beat King Curtis Iaukea in Sydney to win the IWA title

1978 – Abdullah the Butcher beat Billy Robinson in Utsunomiya to win the PWF title

1994 – Chris Benoit & Shinjiro Otani beat Great Sasuke & Black Tiger (Eddy Guerrero) in Okayama to win the New Japan SG jr. tag team tournament

2009 – Team 3-D beat Brutus Magnus & Doug Williams, Bobby Roode & James Storm and Booker T & Scott Steiner in Irvine, CA to win the IWGP tag team titles

2013 – La Mascara & Rush beat Tama Tonga & Rey Bucanero in Mexico City to win the CMLL tag team titles

2013 – L.A. Park won the Antonio Pena Cup at Heroes Inmortales in Puebla

2014 – Doug Williams beat Joe Coffey in Motherwell, Scotland to win the Scottish heavyweight title

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