TUESDAY UPDATE: Notes on Jimmy Snuka murder charges, Bram released from jail, Nogueira retires, & more
by David Bixenspan | davidbix@wrestlingobserver.com | Follow @davidbix
Tonight:
Total Divas airs on E! at 9:00 p.m. ET with “Clash of the Divas.” Paige gets in trouble again, Nattie plays matchmaker with her sister and Big E, and Bryan doesn’t like Brie wearing overly revealing clothing.
SmackDown and Main Event will be taped in Miami. If you’re attending the taping, please send reports/results to to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com:
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Figure Four Weekly:
The new 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 hands-on look at WWE 2K16 from the 2K/WWE media event last week. There are also notes on WWE’s lawsuit against their Thai TV partner, including how this type of litigation is familiar territory for WWE and one past suit is exceptionally bizaree. 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.
Last week’s FREE Figure Four Weekly is still up with 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:
A complete rundown of the WWE’s weekend in Brooklyn, with all the business notes, surprises and what is known about the future direction is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. We also cover the decision to have Holly Holm replace Miesha Tate as Ronda Rousey’s opponent next, a UFC business year-in-review story, ROH big weekend, New Japan next tour, 2017 Mania and Daniel Bryan future note.
The latest Wrestling Observer: Wrestling Observer Newsletter August 31, 2015: SummerSlam weekend wrap-up, UFC business
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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.
We have rundowns of NXT Takeover, SummerSlam and Raw from Brooklyn. We look at the Night of Champions card and what is and isn’t confirmed, the unique aspect of that weekend no PPV, the returns of Sting and the Dudleys, Dudleys tag title reigns, Jushin Liger’s WWE future, New Japan stars at SummerSlam, Bray Wyatt’s new Wyatt family member and his booking, Jon Stewart, Lesnar and Undertaker’s finish, business notes, NXT in the U.K., Wrestlers complaining about fans at Raw, as well as more on the problems in the WWE Diva Division and what isn’t working.
We look at UFC’s 2015 business numbers and what they show about the UFC audience, the appeal of the audience to advertisers, how it compares with the audience at other sports, how much of this year’s increases have to do with Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey and what their effects are on business as a whole. We also look at who the new fans UFC has brought in this year are.
We also have full coverage of UFC from Saskatoon, with match-by-match coverage and business notes on the show.
We look at two major stars returning to a major promotion after seven years and their first programs, the CMLL Anniversary show main event, notes from the Arena Mexico shows from the past weekend Ultimo Dragon taping TV in Mexico City.
We also have notes on a top woman star being injured, a booker getting bad pub from television, a promotion so hot that their sold out events are going to be broadcast in movie theaters as well as upcoming tournaments in Japan.
We also have a look at the New Japan business and how it has increased over recent years, More on A.J. Styles challenging for the IWGP title, New wrestlers debuting in Japan including names not announced yet, lineups for the New Japan World shows in September, Hiroshi Tanahashi talks neck problem, Tanahashi talks theories of wrestling and Ricochet in New Japan.
We also look at WrestleMania in 2017, the Madison Square Garden network special the 2K 16 launch party, the next Stone Cold podcast, an update on Daniel Bryan and well as some of his own philosophies of wrestling, Dolph Ziggler talks contract, the end of Tough Enough, more on NXT talent and pay, stars with new deals, the WWE Divas title, HHH talks NXT, other stars talk who they’d like to see in WWE, Jericho talks Hogan and more.
We also note an indie show in Japan that outdrew Brock Lesnar and WWE at Sumo Hall, as well as the 40th anniversary of the pro debut of one of this era’s biggest stars.
We note the death of Duke Myers, his career highlights, GFW’s latest TV taping and everything that happened, Taz getting a new gig, Wale and pro wrestling, Terry Funk wrestling again in a few months, Jim Ross talk show, Leroy McGuirk into NWA Hall of Fame, Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Red, Alberto El Patron in Europe, promoter critical of Sabu and an update on Len Rossi.
We also look at the future of Lucha Underground, ROH/New Japan relationship update, next ROH PPV show, ROH weekend shows in Philadelphia and Brooklyn notes as well as the upcoming show.
We also update TNA.
We look at UFC’s marketing its fall and winter shows, what main events all UFC ‘s upcoming dates, Plans for the debut in Melbourne, Australia, and more notes on drug testing UFC athletes.
We also look at the next FOX show, lots of new fights, Ronda Rousey T-shirt sales, Anthony Johnson situation, Two UFC women fighters pregnant and new Fight Pass series.
We also look at a major wrestler signing, Alberto Del Rio in negotiations to be an announcer, early UFC promoter back running live shows and huge One championship bout.
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Tuesday Daily Update
— Here’s the recommended reading to catch up on Jimmy Snuka being charged with the 1983 murder of girlfriend Nancy Argentino:
* The Allentown Morning Call’s 2013 article that led to the grand jury investigation.
* Justice Denied, the ebook that Irv Muchnick wrote with Nancy Argentino’s family. All proceeds go to battered women’s charities.
* Irv Muchnick’s site has the press release and grand jury presentment (w/ evidence) as PDFs
* The Allentown Morning Call’s story on the charges and another from LehighValleyLive.com.
* Sarah Cassi of LehighValleyLive.cm has done an excellent job providing up to date information on her Twitter account.
* TMZ was first to obtain the grand jury record and apparently, Snuka’s changing story, including the differences between his police statement and the account in his book, is what swayed the grand jury.
* The Morning Call talked to Irv Muchnick.
— WWE issued this statement: “WWE expresses its continued sympathy to the Argentino family for their loss. Ultimately this legal matter will be decided by our judicial system.”
— To clear up some confusion from what the Morning Call initially reported, Snuka was not arrested at home in New Jersey. He surrended into custody in Pennsylvania. They’ve since edited their article.
— There’s a ton to go over, but from skimming the presentment and reading the mainstream articles so far, it looks like Snuka’s conflicting statements and history of domestic abuse were deciding factors on top of the forensic evidence. Snuka’s then-wife and Buddy Rogers’ widow are among the witnesses who testified.
Also, Irv Muchnick deserves a credit for staying on top of this story the way he did for so long. While it was known to MSG ringside regulars and some newsletter readers in the ’80s, it didn’t blow up until his article (written for the Village Voice, who never ran it) got attention in the late ’90s via his website.
— Statement from The Gulfport Police Department about the arrest of Thomas “Bram” Latimer (he’s since been released): Professional Wrestler Arrested on Domestic Violence Charges
Gulfport, FL—On 8/30 at approximately 6:00 AM, officers responded to a call about a disturbance in an apartment at 3205 58th Street South. There they encountered Thomas R. Latimer and a woman who identified herself as his girlfriend. The officers observed evidence indicative of a physical altercation, and their investigation revealed that, after the couple had been arguing, the woman felt threatened and sought refuge in her bedroom. Latimer followed her into the bedroom, closed the door, and refused to allow her to leave. He then pushed the woman onto the bed and was holding her down by her neck. Latimer, who is a wrestler with TNA Impact Wrestling, was charged with domestic battery by strangulation and false imprisonment. Both are felony charges, and he is currently being held in the Pinellas County Jail.
— UFC officially announced the retirement of Antoinio Rodrigo “Minotauro/Big Nog” Nogueira today. He’s getting a company ambassador job with the UFC.
— Jim Ross has two articles about Scott Hall at FoxSports.com:
* On Razor Ramon.
* On addiction and Recovery.
— Paige VanZant talks about PEDs and women’s WMMA at MMAFighting.
— From Allan Blackstock: Preston City Wrestling (PCW) ran a show outside of the Preston City limits for the first time in their 4 year history on Saturday (8/29/15). This was a bought show by Blackpool Council and was free to attend. I estimated there were approx 1,200 in the ballroom at any one time. This is the same venue that NXT will be running on December 13th. The venue has a capacity of 3,000, Viper & Mr Anderson def. So Scandalous (Ryan Smile & Damian Dunne), Mickie James def. Toni Storm, The Wolves def. Martin Kirby & Joey Hayes, Dave Mastiff def. Nick “Magnus” Aldis, Lionheart def. Sha Samuels by disqualification, Noam Dar def. Ashton Smith by submission, Dave Rayne def. Gilligan Gordon, Mr Anderson & Too Cool def. Bubblegum, Rampage Brown & Iestyn Rees It was a family show with all the faces going over. Match of the day was the Wolves over Kirby/Hayes in a ***1/4 match.
— Pro Wrestling Eclipse Rocktoberfest has ben postponed until Oct 4th.
— No new WWE DVDs this week, but Monday Night War vol. 2 comes out a week from today on DVD and Blu-Ray.
— NWA Classics added a Midnight Express vs. Fantastics match today.
— Kris Zellner and myself were joined by Les Moore on the latest Between the Sheets podcast, covering August 25-31, 1991. Topics include SummerSlam ’91/Ultimate Warrior being suspended by the WWF, Randy Savage threatening to quit, Ric Flair threatening to sue a newsletter writer, and much more.