THURS UPDATE: Daniel Bryan vows return, Wrestemania week, Storm in TNA, Cima in WWE, Huge weekend

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By dave@wrestlingobserver.com”>Dave Meltzer

We’re looking for reports on tonight’s TNA tapings in Orlando as well as tonight’s NXT show in Fort Pierce, FL at dave@wrestlingobserver.com”>Dave Meltzerdave@wrestlingobserver.com”>.

We’ll be doing weekend polls on tomorrow night’s ROH iPPV show in Baltimore, Saturday night’s UFC show in Chicago and we’ll be doing polls on the Friday, Sunday and Wednesday G-1 shows since they are the major noes this week at dave@wrestlingobserver.com”>Dave Meltzerdave@wrestlingobserver.com”>

Smackdown tonight on Syfy:

Dean Ambrose vs. Sheamus

Neville vs. Adam Rose

Rusev vs. Kevin Owens

Bella Twins vs. Naomi & Sasha Banks

Seth Rollins vs. Cesaro non-title

New Japan has a G-1 show tomorrow morning from Kyoto at 5:30 a.m. Eastern on New Japan World with A block matches:

Kota Ibushi vs. Doc Gallows

Bad Luck Fale vs. Togi Makabe

A.J. Styles vs. Toru Yano

Tetsuya Naito vs. Katsuyori Shibata

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan

For tomorrow night, we’ll be looking for reports from the TNA tapings in Orlando, the WWE house show in Bakersfield and the GFW tapings in Las Vegas.  There is also a big PWG show in Reseda, CA headlined by the Young Bucks vs. Jack Evans & Angelico.

There will be a live iPPV at www.rohwrestling.com on Friday night from the William J. Myers Pavilion in Baltimore

Jay Lethal vs. Roderick Strong for the ROH title

Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian vs. Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Michael Bennett & Matt Taven vs. Hanson & Ray Rowe for the tag titles

Adam Page vs. ACH no DQ

Cedric Alexander vs. Moose

Rocky Romero & Trent Baretta vs. Mark & Jay Briscoe

Adam Cole vs. Dalton Castle

Silas Young vs. Will Ferrara

Donovan Dijak vs. Takaaki Watanabe

New Japan has a G-1 show Saturday morning from Kagawa at 5 a.m. Eastern on New Japan World with B block matches

Tomohiro Ishii vs. Yujiro Takahashi

Satoshi Kojima vs. Michael Elgin

Hirooki Goto vs. Karl Anderson

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Yuji Nagata

Kazuchika Okada vs. Tomoaki Honma 

UFC on FOX 16

Fight Pass at 4:15 p.m. Eastern

Zak Cummings vs. Dominique Steele

Jessamyn Duke vs. Elizabeth Phillips

Andrew Holbrook vs. Ramsey Nijem

Daron Cruickshank vs. James Krause

FOX at 6 p.m. Eastern (3 p.m. Pacific)

Bryan Caraway vs. Eddie Wineland

Kenny Robertson vs. Ben Saunders

Danny Castillo vs. Jim Miller

Tom Lawlor vs. Gian Villante

Takanori Gomi vs. Joe Lauzon

Edson Barboza vs. Paul Felder

Jessica Eye vs. Miesha Tate for the No. 1 contender position

T.J. Dillashaw vs. Renan Barao for the bantamweight title

Saturday night will have WWE in Los Angeles at the Staples Center and Odessa, TX, while ROH will be taping four hours of television in Baltimore.

Sunday is the biggest G-1 show of the weekend live on New Japan World at 5 a.m. Eastern from Hiroshima with some key A block matches

Bad Luck Fale vs. Doc Gallows

Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Toru Yano

Togi Makabe vs. Katsuyori Shibata

A.J. Styles vs. Kota Ibushi

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tetsuya Naito 

Sunday has WWE house shows in Lawton, OK and Amarillo.

Raw will be Monday night in Oklahoma City.  Brock Lesnar is not advertised for the show.

Smackdown is Tuesday night in Tulsa.  Roman Reign and Seth Rollins are advertised as the top stars on the show.  Dolph Ziggler is being advertised on the show, so in theory he should be returning this week although what is advertised and what happens aren’t necessarily the same thing.

The return of the Undertaker and build to SummerSlam, Battleground coverage, the rise of NXT and situation with ROH, the G-1 Climax tournament and some major UFC stories are the major stories in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. 

The latest Wrestling Observer: July 27, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: The Undertaker returns at Battleground, NXT/ROH insanity with Liger booking

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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 concerns the build to SummerSlam.  We look at advertising that has already been cut for the show, what are the possibilities for Sting, the Lesnar-Undertaker angle, the booking of WWE right now, the situation with the women, plus full coverage of Battleground with match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results on the show.

We also look at the booking of  Jushin Liger to NXT on 8/22, ticket sales for the show, plans for the NXT show, how the Liger booking affects ROH and has caused such a political turmoil.  We look at the NXT card as well as the competing ROH show.  We look at the Liger booking, ROH working with New Japan, ratings with New Japan stars vs. shows without New Japan stars, NXT touring, the next NXT vs. ROH head-to-head in September, the next ROH PPV show and much more.

We also have full coverage of the G-1 Climax tournament, with all of the shows planned for the next week, as well as full coverage of opening night in Sapporo with match-by-match-coverage, star ratings and poll results.

We also look at a major story concerning fighters for UFC to address which is the banning of IVs for rehydrating after weigh-ins starting October and why the story is far more significant than people realize.

We also look at a potential alliance between ESPN and WWE and the ethical debate regarding the coverage.  We also look at the Hogan/Gawker lawsuit and each side’s case, an update on the Dr. Christopher Amann lawsuit against C.M. Punk and Colt Cabana, an update on Dolph Ziggler and what he claims is his contract status, Undertaker working more than just SummerSlam, Stephanie McMahon talks gay characterizations in future WWE creative as well as a look back from former creative members regarding different suggestions on gay characterizations in the past.  We look at more WWE banned terms and how some were changed and why.  We also look at how the characters are being described for Camp WWE, which is really hilarious.

We’ve also got notes on Chris Jericho working more house shows, Tough Enough notes, John Cena in the movies, how the WWE Network free month has changed, as well as what to look for over the next week in WWE stock.

We also have full coverage of the next month of NXT TV tapings, as well as coverage of all the WWE and NXT house shows this past week and business notes from the shows.

We also have notes on TripleMania being on U.S. PPV for the first time on 8/9, including price point, why it’s happening now, and its history as well as broadcast information.

We also have coverage of both UFC events held over the past week, with the Mir vs. Duffee and Bisping vs. Leites shows.  We’ve got business notes and stories behind both events.

We also have notes on the third season of New Japan World on AXS, including highlights of the new season, all the matches airing from 8/14 to 12/11 including when the Wrestle Kingdom 9 matches will air, as well as notes on the schedule for 2016.

We also look at Dragon Gate’s Kobe World Festival show and CMLL’s Sin Salida show, which were two of those two company’s biggest events of the year.

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.

We also have our regular features such as the most complete look at ratings, plus results of the major house show events each week in pro wrestling and MMA, and complete inside rundowns of all the TV shows.

Also in this week’s issue:

–62nd anniversary of pro wrestling at Arena Puebla.

–What pro wrestling star appeared in the Latin American version of ESPN The Body magazine

–Notes on All Japan’s next title bouts

–Pro Wrestling NOAH stars jr. tournament

–A look at a near riot at a pro wrestling show in Japan with details on it

–Lots of New Japan business talk

–Changes being made by New Japan

–How New Japan continues to try and copy WWE

–Who New Japan considers its business partners

–Plans for all three New Japan Sumo Hall shows in August, as well as the annual King of Pro Wrestling show

–Notes on the first major New Japan shows after G-1

–Big Japan runs its biggest event of the year

–Notes on the death of wrestling historian Fred Hornby

–Coverage of Tommy Dreamer’s House of Hardcore show

–Notes on the GFW TV tapings this week

–Notes on GFW going to the U.K.

–Notes on PWG this week

–Wrestling stars in TV movie roles

–The retirement of Serena Deeb and her farewell as well as career highlights

–What TV show did a major promotion get invited to be on and why did they decide against it

–Why did ROH send a cease and desist latter to GFW

–A look at the ROH show in Las Vegas this past week as well as a possible future direction of Austin Aries

–Notes on the next ROH TV tapings and schedule

–Update on Kurt Angle’s condition

–Story behind MVP leaving TNA and all BDC footage being taken down due to legal issues with Lucha Underground

–How it all went down

–How TNA is changing its contracts

–Notes on TNA’s Bound for Glory PPV

–Notes on TNA production

–Why the Stitch Duran story is such a big deal

–Duran runs through what happened

–UFC 189 PPV notes

–Thoughts on UFC 190 on PPV and wide variety of estimates

–A look at plans for UFC to run AT&T Stadium in Dallas

–Why UFC won’t run a Friday night PPV

–How Pacquiao did when he headlined Texas Stadium

–Potential matches for later this year

–A look at the fourth quarter for UFC this year

–Notes on Ronda Rousey winning ESPY awards

–More on Rousey and Mayweather and story behind the diss

–UFC 191 matches

–UFC 192 main event

–More on Fedor in UFC

–Aldo threatens to sue Chael Sonnen

–Another drug test failure

–Mike Swick retires

–Cerrone accuses Dos Anjos of PEDs

–Coverage of this past week’s Bellator show and who to watch for from the show

–Tito Ortiz talks his future 

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THURSDAY’S NEWS UPDATE

  • WWE officially announced a 12 cents per share dividend, which they have been paying for some time.  But it was officially announced for this quarter earlier today.
  • We’ll have an interview with Stitch Duran up on the site today regarding what happened this past week as well as talking about his role as a cut man and fights that would have ended differently that went down in history due to the work of cut men.  
  • Daniel Bryan has been doing New York media promoting his book.  He’s still been vague about his injuries and said that there are people who believe he won’t come back, but he insists he will come back, doesn’t know when, but is just awaiting a doctor to give him clearance.  He also noted that Steve Austin has reached out to him and given him advice on how to adjust his style to have more career longevity.
  • They are expected to officially announce the October Hell in a Cell PPV for the Staples Center in Los Angeles at Saturday night’s house show.  The PPV date is 10/25.
  • The WWN Live Experience has announced its schedule for WrestleMania weekend.  The location is not announced but these are the plans:

Friday April 1

Evolve at 4 p.m.

Viva La Lucha at 8 p.m. ‘

Kaiju Big Battel at midnight

Saturday April 2

Evolve at Noon 

Shimmer at 4 p.m.

WWN Supershow at 8 p.m.

Wrap up party at midnight   

  • Dasha Fuentes has started doing interviews on the NXT broadcast team.  She was training originally to wrestle but had been switched to the announcing side after an injury.
  • Former Team Alpha Male coach Duane Ludwig said that T.J. Dillashaw is the only member of the team who actually wants to be a champion in an interview on The Fight Club on Tuesday, saying he’s the hardest and most focused trainer on the team.  He said Dillashaw and Danny Castillo are the hardest trainers but Castillo overtrains. 
  • After all the heat it was getting after the firing of Stitch Duran by UFC, Reebok tweeted yesterday:  “UFC Fans.  We have no input on decisions of UFC employment or fighter compensation.  Our focus is providing the best gear for fighters and fans.”
  • James Storm (and I presume Austin Aries as well) are in Orlando working the TNA tapings even though their contracts expired several weeks ago, working on a per-match basis.
  • Sheamus made some news yesterday as a passenger on a flight that had to make an emergency landing.  He was one of 159 passengers on a flight from Denver to Los Angeles which was forced to land in Grand Junction, CO when a passenger became ill.  Oxygen masks were deployed after a medical event caused a chain reaction of passengers to feel sick and lightheaded.
  • Reporter Jeremy Botter last night said that Carlos Condit, and not Johny Hendricks, would be getting the next shot at welterweight champion Robbie Lawler.  Hendricks instead looks to be facing Tyron Woodley.
  • Fox Sports schedule for UFC this weekend.
  • The weigh-ins are tomorrow at 5 p.m. Eastern on FS 1 with Ariel Helwani, Daniel Cormier, Brian Stann, Anthony Pettis and Karyn Bryant.
  • A replay of Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler II will air at 6 p.m. tomorrow on FS 1
  • On Saturday night after the live show ends on FOX, there will be a post-game show on FS 1
  • FS 2 will be doing a show on Ronda Rousey’s book tour, plus Beneil Dariush’s lief story at 5 p.m. Eastern on Sunday on FS 2
  • Countdown to UFC 190, Rousey vs. Correia will air on Monday night at 9 p.m. on FS 1
  • Today would have been the 36th birthday of Perro Aguayo Jr., who passed away in the ring in Tijuana on 3/21.  
  • Regarding a question last night on Observer radio on Cima’s WWE tryout.  In early 2009, Cima, using a name like Ciba, wrestled Jamie Noble in a dark match.  He was in Southern California at the time scouting and doing an indy show.  He made contact with WWE and did a dark match at a taping.  Nothing was ever going to come of it as he was the key guy with Dragon Gate.   (thanks to Jae Church)
  • Bill Simmons, who appeared on Raw recently, signed a multi-year exclusive deal with HBO after ESPN and he split up.  There was at least talk of Simmons to Yahoo but I don’t think it ever get to the serious point.
  • Maxdome, which distributes WWE PPVs in Germany, will be airing UFC 190 as a PPV in that market for $14.99 Euro according to their Facebook page.  The show will have exclusive German language commentary, which isn’t the case with Fight Pass, which carries the show in Germany with English commentary. (thanks to Sebastian Essner)
  • Amy Schumer talks her sex scene with John Cena
  • Acclaim Pro Wrestling on 9/12 in Ottawa at 379 Waverly St.
  • Renegade Wrestling Alliance on 9/20 in Burlington, ONT at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Centre featuring an old school Battle Royal.
  • On last night’s Lucha Underground they pushed that Ultima Lucha will be two weeks, airing over the next two Wednesdays, featuring the season finale matches.
  • The King of the Mountain match from the Slammiversary PPV aired last night on Impact as a filler for what was supposed to be a Beatdown Clan segment that had to be pulled for legal reasons due to Hernandez appearing.
  • CWE tomorrow at 3 p.m. at the Rock Garden Campground in Richer, Manitoba for a free show for registered campground guests.
  • Sam Shaw is now taking bookings at showbis@aol.com based out of Jacksonville.  Others who can be booked through Bill Behrens include Moose (Atlanta), Christopher Daniels (Los Angeles), Frankie Kazarian (Los Angeles), A.J. Styles (Atlanta), Matt Sydal (Tampa), Drew Galloway (Tampa), James Storm (Nashville), Eric Young (Nashville), Abyss (Cincinnati), Devon (Orlando), Jay Lethal (Tampa, can only take dates outside the U.S.) and many more.
  • Jake Roberts will be doing talk shows to the following locations in a few weeks:

8/2 in Hamilton, ONT at Club Asinthre

8/3 in Toronto at the Absolute Comedy Club with Jim Duggan as a guest

8/4 in Cornwall, ONT at Lai Maison Tavern with Jim Duggan as a guest

8/5 in Ottawa at Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club

8/6 in Ottawa at Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club

8/7 in Barry’s Bay at the Paul J. Kakabuski Center

8/8 in Kingston, ONT at the Royal Canadian Legion 560

8/11 in Westport, ONT at The Cove Country Inn

  • NWA Smoky Mountain Wrestling on 8/8 in Kingsport, TN at the Civic Auditorium featuring Matt Sydal, Davey Richards, Rob Conway, Cedric Alexander and Angelina Love.  Jason Kincaid vs. Sydal for the Southeastern title is the main event.  Richards faces Jordan Kage for the Smoky Mountain TV title.
  • Steel City Pro Wrestling on 8/23 in Hamilton, ONT at 242 James Street.
  • Smash Wrestling results from Sunday in Toronto before the PPV:  Brent Banks b Kevin Bennett, Candice LaRae b Vanessa Kraven, Tyson Dux b Takaaki Watanabe, Overdogs b Drew Gulak & Biff Busick, Super Smash Brothers b Goat Brigade in a tables match, Matt Cross b Tarik in an I Quit match, Chris Hero b Rich Swann, Johnny Gargano b Scotty O’Shea to retain the title’
  • CMLL is planning on continuing to stream its Monday night shows at Arena Puebla going forward.
  • Paul Lazenby has a front row ticket to tomorrow night’s GFW show in Las Vegas but will be unable to attend.  If anyone is interested you can contact him at lazenby.paul@gmail.com
  • Evolve on 8/15 in Woodside, Queens, NY at La Boom

Timothy Thatcher vs. Zack Sabre Jr. in an Evolve title match

Johnny Gargano vs. Ethan Page

Rich Swann vs. Drew Gulak

Chris Hero vs. Mike Bailey

Trent Baretta vs Rey Hours

Biff Busick vs. Tracy Williams 

  • Ric Flair is coming to Fall River, MA on 7/31 at the PAL Hall as part of a show that also includes Brutal Bob Evans, Michael Bennett, Matt Taven and Biff Busick.
  • CZW has an iPPV on 8/8 in Voorhees, NJ at Flyers Skate Zone headlined by Matt Tremont vs. Pepper Parks.
  • Former pro boxer Lorenzo Hood debuts with Bellator against Raphael Butler on the 8/28 show in Temecula, CA, which is the show headlined by Melvin Guillard vs. Brandon Girtz.
  • Global Proving Ground MMA on 7/25 in Pennsauken, NJ at the Event Center.
  • Magic Mike XXL with Kevin Nash was No. 2 at the Australian box office this past weekend (thanks to James Stanios)   
  • Nazareno Malegarie vs. Joaquin Silva was announced for the 9/5 UFC show in Las Vegas.  Both lost in the semfinals of TUF Brazil.  Frankie Edgar has agreed to fight on the card, but doesn’t have an opponent. 
  • Kevin Eck, who knows Patrick Clark personally, talks about his elimination from Tough Enough
  • Brian Fritz interviewed Patrick Clark
  • A trailer for the new James Bond movie with Batista
  • A story on Ronda Rousey

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

1989 – The Killer beat Enrique Vera in Mexico City to win the UWA jr. heavyweight title

1999 – Takao Omori & Yoshihiro Takayama beat Johnny Ace & Bart Gunn in Sendai to win the All Japan world tag titles