WED UPDATE: Anderson Silva claims tainted “sexual performance” supplement led to failed drug test, small Hulk Hogan FBI update

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by David Bixenspan | davidbix@wrestlingobserver.com | Follow @davidbix

Tonight:

* NXT at 8:00 p.m. ET on WWE Network has Solomon Crowe vs. Tye Dillinger, Baron Corbin vs. Axel Tischer, Finn Balor vs Marcus Louis, and Becky Lynch vs. Bayley for the NXT Women’s Championship shot at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn.

* UFC Tonight airs on to Fox Sports 1 8:00 p.m. ET.

* Impact Wrestling at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on Destination America kicks off the TNA vs. GFW shenanigans with Jeff Jarrett in charge for the night.

* UFC Ultimate Answers, a new show, airs at 9:00 p.m. ET n Fox Sports 1.

* UFC Ultimate Insider, focusing on the T.J. Dillashaw vs. Renan Barao fight from a few weeks ago, airs at 9:30 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1.

* Best of WEC has a new episode focusing on the middlewight and light heavyweight divisions at 10:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1 

* ROH at 11:00 p.m. ET on Destination America has Watanabe vs. ACH War Machine vs. J. Diesel and Donovan Dijak,  Adam Page vs. Tim Hughes. and reDRagon vs.The Kingdom.

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The new issue of Figure Four Weekly is now up for subscribers (subscribe to th site here and get access to Figure Four, the Observer, tons of audio, and more) featuring a chat with Konnan about the state of AAA heading into TripleMania XXIII. We discuss the company’s improvements in production, advantages over WWE and differences in philosophy, how to listen to fans, and much more. Plus, as always, we have  all of the usual reviews and international news, including Dr. Lucha’s TripleMania preview.

Last week’s FREEFigure 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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The latest Wrestling Observer: August 10, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Roddy Piper passes away, WWE Q2 results & analysis

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We look at UFC 190 and the storyline that led to Ronda Rousey setting her highest PPV mark.  We look at how things have changed for Rousey since February, the interest level of her fight,  Rousey vs. Cyborg, ratings in Brazil and the U.S. and match-by-match coverage.

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Wednesday Daily Update

  • Last night, Marc Raimondi of MMAFighting was the first English speaker to report that tomorrow at the Nevada State Athletic Commission hearing, Anderson Silva’s defense for testing positive for the anabolic steroid steroid drostanolone is that he was taking “a supplement for the purpose of enhancing sexual performance” tainted by the drug. They tsted the supplement and found drostanolone in it, though when it comes to the other metabolites he tested positive, he just speculates that another supplement might have ben contaminated. You can read the full Silva filing here as a PDF on Google Drive.
  • With regards to his positive test for benzodiazapines, which are not explicitly banned, Silva does admit to taking a pill to get to sleep the night before the fight when he was so anxious that he just couldn’t fall asleep. While he’s supposed to disclose any medications on the pre-fight medical questionaire, he signed the questionaire earlier that day, so he maintains he did not fail to disclose. 
  • However, Ariel Helwani reports that Steve Mazzagatti’s refereeing in the Rousimar Palhares vs. Jake Shields fight is not an issue that will be dealt with at the hearing, while Palahares and Shields’ actions, as well as Silva’s drug test failures, will be. The hearing will be streamed on UFC Fight Pass.
  • Didn’t get a Google Alert about this until today, but WTVT in Tampa did a story on Monday about the closed FBI investigation into the alleged attempt to extort money from Hulk Hogan via the videos of him and Heather Cole having sex that were shot without his knowledge. Most of the substance of the story had to do with Los Angeles-based lawyer Keith Davidson, who was the target of a FBI sting, but there was a new piece of information as they got the FBI to confirm that Matt “Spice Boy” Loyd, a former producer and sidekick of Bubba the Love Sponge Clem,  is “relevant to the sex tape investigation and has provided information to agents on the case.” Loyd’s involvement had been the subject of speculation by Bubba fans since the leak three years ago.
  • Meanwhile, Hogan fell for another tweet from a “fan” using a British celebrity’s photo, this time a photoshop of Liverpool radio presenter Pete Price at Hogan’s restaurant.
  •  VegasFuel Energy Drink announced that Michael “EC3” Hutter has signed on as their national spokesman. The energy drink is in “over 10,000 locations nationwide,” consisting of Rite Aid and GNC chain stores as well as thousands of independent businesses.
  • RIP Roddy Piper: your favorite matches & moments – part 3 of 3, amazing video list
  • NJPW G1 Climax Tournament 8-12 live results: Ishii vs. Honma, Okada vs. Nagata
  • WWE Tough Enough Episode 8 Results and Recap
  • Dave has an article about th surprisingly strong UFC ratings from Saturday at MMAFighting.
  • Chikara announced the full field for this year’s King of Trios tournament. The biggest names are The Bullet Club (A.J. Styles & The Young Bucks), Team AAA (Aero Star, Drago & Fénix, and Team bWo (Stevie Richards as Big Stevie Cool, Blue Meanie as Da Blue Guy, & Nova as Hollywood Nova). The full lineup is:
    Arcane Horde (Kodama, Obariyon, & Oleg the Usurper)
    Battleborn (Kevin Condron, Lucas Calhoun, & Missile Assault Man)
    Battle Hive (Amasis, Fire Ant, & Worker Ant)
    Bruderschaft des Kreuzes (Jakob Hammermeier, Nøkken, & Soldier Ant)
    The Bullet Club (A.J. Styles & The Young Bucks)
    Crown & Court (El Hijo del Ice Cream, Ice Cream Jr., & Princess KimberLee)
    Dasher’s Dugout (Dasher Hatfield, Icarus, & Mark Angelosetti)
    The Devastation Corporation (Blaster McMassive, Flex Rumblecrunch, & Max Smashmaster)
    The Gentleman’s Club (Chuck Taylor, Drew Gulak, & the Swamp Monster)
    Nightmare Warriors (Frightmare, Hallowicked, & Silver Ant)
    The Snake Pit (Eddie Kingston, Ophidian, & Shynron)
    Team AAA (Aero Star, Drago, & Fénix)
    Team Attack! (Mark “Mandrews”, &rews, Morgan Webster, & Pete Dunne)
    Team bWo (Big Stevie Cool, Da Blue Guy, & Hollywood Nova)
    Team Fight Club: Pro (MK McKinnan, Trent Seven, & Tyler Bate)
    United Nations (Juan Francisco de Coronado, Mr. Azerbaijan, & The Proletariat Boar of Moldova)
  • Jushin Thunder Liger cut a promo for NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn that went up on the NXT Twitter account.
  • You can vote to name an alien plaent after Jumbo Tsuruta. Really.
  • Bill Goldberg visited the San Diego Chargers’ practice yesterday.
  • The Daily Beast talked to Brian Cage about wearing a Donald Trump shirt at TripleMania. 
  • Volume 3 of WWE’s Best of WCW Monday Nitro series came out yesterday on DVD and Blu-Ray.
  • On the latest Between the Sheets podcast, Kris Zellner and I are joined by Brian Last to talk about the week that was August 4 – August 10, 1995, including Cactus Jack turning heel in ECW, a terrible Clash of the Champions, and SMW Fan Week, which Brian attended. Not only did that week include the SMW Super Bowl of of Wrestling show, but when the SMW fans went to the USWA show in Louisville as part of the SMW vs. USWA feud, they needed a police escort out of the building in an amazing story that Brian tells in vivid detail.
  • From a GFW press release about Roddy Piper’s last movie: Ridgerock Entertainment Group and Global Force Wrestling have teamed up for  events to promote the Jan. 8, 2016, theatrical release of THE MASKED SAINT (Freestyle Releasing). The joint agreement will showcase the film’s commitment to the integrity of professional wrestling and focus on family entertainment.  This coincides with the mission of GFW, which has brought new excitement and true family entertainment to the  world of professional wrestling. This exciting partnership will be kicked off during GFW’s second TV taping at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Friday, Aug. 21.
  • Evolve is now selling Blu-Rays of their latest shows in their store at DGUSA.TV. Also, they’re doing a ticket giveaway for this weekend: We are offering a free ticket giveaway for EVOLVE 47 this Saturday and EVOLVE 48 this Sunday. To enter simply email Help@DGUSA.tv. Please put the show you can attend in the subject. We will give away one pair of ringside seats to EVOLVE 47 and EVOLVE 48. There will be two separate winners, one for each event. You can enter the contest for each event. The winners will be drawn at random on Thursday morning. Good luck!