THURSDAY UPDATE: Akira Hokuto breast cancer surgery, Undertaker on Mexico tour, more
By Dave Meltzer
We’re sorry for all the issues with the changing of the web site the past few days. It’s been frustrating for all of us. Subscribers get the latest 15 radio shows and the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter
This weekend we’ll be doing our only poll on the New Japan Destruction in Kobe show which takes place late Saturday night/early Sunday. We didn’t do a poll for Wakayama because it was a lesser show. The only other major show is a UFC show, also from Japan, but that’s an FS 1 show.
We’re also looking for reports on tonight’s NXT show in Lakeland, FL as well as tomorrow’s shows which are WWE in Toronto, ROH in California, PA and NXT in Largo, FL. All arena reports and news can be sent to Dave Meltzer
Smackdown tonight at 8 p.m. on Syfy
Roman Reigns vs. Luke Harper
Lucha Dragons & Neville vs. All three members of New Day
Cesaro vs. Bo Dallas
Ryback & Dolph Ziggler vs. Kevin Owens & Rusev
Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose non-title
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.
THURSDAY’S NEWS UPDATE
–Hall of Famer Akira Hokuto underwent successful surgery on her right breast for cancer. This has made a lot of news in Japan where she’s well known far beyond the pro wrestling business.
—Subscribers get the latest 15 radio shows and the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter
–One of the matches on the October Mexico tour will be Undertaker & Kane vs. Braun Strowman & Luke Harper.
–This is the UFC coverage on Fox Sports for this weekend.
*Weigh-ins at 11 p.m. Friday night on FS 2 with Karyn Bryant, Brian Stann, Michael Bisping and Caroline Pearce (who will be live in Japan) covering.
*The preshow will be on Saturday at 7 p.m. on FS 2
*Prelims are Saturday at 8 p.m. on FS 2
*Main card is Saturday at 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. on FS 1
*Post-fight show is Saturday at 1 a.m on FS 1
*Ultimate Insider on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. on FS 2 with Daniel Cormier, Rashad Evans and Tyron Woodley
*Countdown to UFC 192 will air Monday at 9 p.m. Eastern on FS 1 pushing the Daniel Cormier vs. Alexander Gustafsson and Rashad Evans vs. Ryan Bader matches
–The Claro Sports web site will be airing tomorrow night’s Arena Mexico show live at 9:30 p.m. Eastern time. The show is headlined by Volador Jr. vs. Rush coming off last week’s Anniversary show.
–Part 2 of the John Layfield interview with Eric Bischoff airs tonight at 10 p.m. Eastern on the WWE Network.
–There are pre sales going on right now for the 12/10 and 12/11 UFC shows in Las Vegas. For 12/10, the password is DECEMBER. For 12/11, the password is TUF. The 12/10 show is a Fight Pass event headlined by Paige VanZant vs. Joanne Calderwood and 12/11 is Frankie Edgar vs. Chad Mendes plus the finals of the current season of Ultimate Fighter.
–Dana White last night after TUF said that he doesn’t think Conor McGregor will ever fight Urijah Faber. He brought up that McGregor is 20 pounds heavier walking around and that both guys career trajectory just doesn’t make the fight likely.
–Rey Hours is off the 9/27 Lucha Libre show in Whitby, ONT at the Live Act Theater. Ricky Reyes vs. Maybach Beta of Zero-One is the new headliner.
–Superkick’d on 10/10 in Toronto at The Great Hall with Moose and Seiya Sanada appearing. Also 10/30 in Toronto at the Lithuanian House with Zombie wrestling.
–Ronda Rousey was named to this year’s Fortune Magazine’s “40 Under 40” list of people under 40 who standout when it comes to wealth, power, achievement, ambition and influence. She was the only athlete, male or female, to make the list. She was cited by not just her UFC success and appearing in movies, but for overall appeal, influence on culture and popularity. Among the things cited for picking her were her acting, her doing WrestleMania, and her DNB promo which has been viewed 3.1 million times.
–TNA will be doing a taped PPV on 10/30 in New Orleans, called the Battle of New Orleans at the Lakefront Arena, an old Mid South building:
Kurt Angle vs. Eric Young cage match
Gail Kim vs. Awesome Kong cage match
The Wolves vs. EC 3 & Tyrus for tag titles
Bobby Roode vs. Matt Hardy for King of the Mountain title
Abyss vs. Robbie E Monster’s Ball
Plus appearances by Jeff Hardy and Chris Melendez.
No word on when this will air on PPV, but it’ll be in the One Night Only series.
–Aljamain Sterling, one of the top bantamweights in UFC, is talking about giving up fighting and going to school to get his Master’s Degree. He cited he’s been looking for a fight with Bryan Caraway by the end of this year. If not, he may return to college in January to go for his Master’s as well as take a full-time or part-time teaching job. He’s got one fight left on his UFC contract and hasn’t been happy with pay and the Reebok deal. He noted he’s only had three fights since 2013.
–On the radio show, we talked about how nobody but WWE has been able to run Madison Square Garden (although there is the annual amateur wrestling Grapple at the Garden show) since the late 50s other than the McMahon family. It should be noted that both WCW and AAA ran shows at the Paramount, adjacent to the Garden, but neither were allowed to run the Garden itself.
—A story on places in Australia where MMA in a cage is still banned after Victoria passed the law to allow it and the 11/15 show is getting off to huge ticket sales
—Rolling Stone talks to Kazuchika Okada, even if he doesn’t say very much past that he’s not interested in going to WWE
–2K today revealed the MyCareer gameplay trailer for WWE 2K16, featuring details on how players will be able to define their legacy through critical choices while rising through the ranks from NXT to WWE to earn a spot in the WWE Hall of Fame. Players will train, compete against others, conduct personality-driven interviews, interfere with rivals and even form the ultimate tag team. For more CLICK HERE
—Kenny King talks his decision to go to ROH from TNA
–WWE stock today closed at $17.65 per share, up five cents.
–NWA Vendetta from Friday night in Santa Maria, CA: Stryder b Ricky Almernara, Midnight Delight & Tab Jackson b Ballard Brothers & Holly Renee, La Generica b Kiara Dillon, Judah Matthew over Alexander Bernard, Jimi Mayhem and Ricky Ruffin, Mike Rayne b Shiloh, Classic Connection b Von Dooms-DQ, Matt Riviera b Sigmon-DQ, Sunami b Dylan drake and Jeckles the Jester. Next show is 10/30 with Sonjay Dutt.
–The PWA show on 9/27 in Dundas, ONT has been moved to December.
–IWA Mid South tomorrow night in Clarksville, IN at the Colgate Gym. They also announced the 2015 Ted Petty Invitational on 12/11 as a one-night 12 man tournament with Timothy Thatcher, Kongo Kong, Jonathan Gresham, Masada, Chris Hero and Too Cold Scorpio.
–The Jake Roberts documentary will play on 10/2 in Yonkers, NY at the Alamo Drafthouse. DDP will be appearing for a Q&A.
–There is a presale going on for WWE tickets for 11/28 in Kansas City at the Sprint Center going on today using the code word RING. It ends on Friday at 10 p.m. Advertised for the show are Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, Ryback, Seth Rollins, Bray Wyatt, Sheamus and Rusev.
–Elkmania 3 on Saturday in Beverly, MA at the Beverly/Salem Elks Lodge at 7 p.m.
–Renegade Promotions Battle of the Best on 11/8 in Burlington, ONT at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center headlined by Derek Wylde vs. Tyson Dux.
–AAA star will work for rival promotions in Tijuana next week. On 10/2 at Auditorio Municipal, Alberto El Patron & Rey Mysterio Jr. & Rey Hours vs. Brian Cage & Daga & El Hijo del Fantasma plus Pentagon Jr. vs. Bestia 666 for the The Crash cruiserweight title and Psycho Clown & Pimpinela Escarlata & ? vs. Cibernetico & Taya Valkyrie & Black Mamba, plus a four-way for the X trophy with Angelico vs. Matt Cross vs. Seiya Sanada vs. Fenix are the top bouts. The next night at Salon Casa Blanca, a different promotion as Psycho Clown & Fenix & Angelico vs. Daga & El Hijo del Fantasma & Pentagon Jr.
–Evolve on 10/18 in Deer Park, NY at the Sportatorium has:
Timothy Thatcher defending the Evolve title against either Drew Gulak or Trevor Lee (based on who wins a match the night before in Brooklyn)
Trent Baretta & Rocky Romero vs. Anthony Nese & Caleb Konley
Willie Mack vs. Lee/Gulak loser
T.J. Perkins vs. Tracy Williams
Matt Riddle vs. Chris Dickinson
–The next Glory event on Spike will be 10/9 from Denver. There is also a show on 11/6 in Milan, Italy.
–CZW has a live iPPV on 10/10 at streamCZW.com from Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ and on 10/17 from Laval, Quebec at Scratch a Laval. Vampiro will be on the 10/17 show.
–Infinity Pro on Saturday night in Bloomington, IN at the National Guard Armory with OI4K headlining plus Crazy Mary Dobson vs. Lufisto.
ON THIS DAY IN PRO WRESTLING HISTORY INTERNATIONAL (thanks to Graeme Cameron)
1940 – Earl McCready beat John Katan in Dunedin, New Zealand to win the British Empire title
1951 – Enrique Llanes (the uncle of the Guerreros) beat Sugi Sito in Mexico City to win the NWA middleweight title
1963 – Gori Guerrero beat Ali Bey in El Paso to win the NWA light heavyweight title
1995 – Mima Shimoda & Akira Hokuto beat Takako & Kyoko Inoue in Kawasaki to win the WWWA women’s tag title
2004 – Nicho beat L.A. Park in Tijuana to win the XLWA heavyweight title