WED UPDATE: Jimmy Snuka hearing rescheduled, Linda McMahon update, Tank Abbott on Ronda Rousey

Show notes for tonight:

UFC Tonight airs at 7:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1.

NXT at 8:00 p.m. ET on WWE Network has Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder vs. Chad Gable & Jason Jordan in th Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, Eva Marie vs. Carmella, Bull Dempsey vs. Tyler Breeze. the introduction of Kana/Asuka, and The Vaudevillains (c) vs. Blake & Murphy for the NXT Tag Team Championship.

A rerun of last week’s episode of The Ultimate Fighter airs at 8:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1. It’s titled “Crowded House” and was a very solid start to the regular (post-elimination round) seasom

Impact Wrestling at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on Destination America features  Ethan Carter III defending the TNA World Heavyweight Championship against Rockstar Spud and a big announcement from Dixie Carter about Bound For Glory.

The Ultimate Fighter at 10:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1 is titled “Recognize the Enemy.” Conor McGregor tries to push Urijah Faber into fighting T.J. Dillashaw and one of the coaches does not react well to how this week’s fight goes.

ROH at 11:00 p.m. ET on Destination America has Michael Elgin vs. Silas Young, Caprice Coleman vs. ACH, and a main event trios match with Kazuchika Okada & Roppongi Vice vs. The Briscoes & Hirooki Goto.

Please send reports from major shows, recommended links, etc. to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com:

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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 a look back at how exactly WWE lost the WWF name. Forget the stories you’v heard, this detailsexactly what the World Wildlife Fund objected to, what WWE agreed to and why, what scandals worried the fund, and more.  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.

The recnt 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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Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

We’ve got a look at WWE right now with the issues that have led to ratings setting record lows as well as an update on TNA, New Japan, GFW, ROH and everyone else in the battle for No. 2, as the lead stories in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.  This issue also has a detailed look at the Nick Diaz situation and why it is far more complicated than most are making it out to be, Atlantis vs. La Sombra in one of the year’s biggest matches, a history of the CMLL anniversary shows, a look at Thomas Hauser’s article on USADA, an update on Dr. Christopher Amann’s lawsuit against C.M. Punk and Colt Cabana, what led to the Mayweather flop on PPV and New Japan builds for two PPVs this month.

The latest issue of the Wrestling Observer: September 14, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Huge Weekend Preview, WWE/CMLL/ROH/Bellator

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.

The lead story looks at what is and isn’t misleading about the record low ratings for Raw and Smackdown over the past two weeks, the rate of decline, the future of Smackdown, and why wrestling even with lower ratings may be far more valuable to the USA Network when the current contract is over.  We look at the problems that are inherent, those that can be addressed and those that can’t.  We look at why this past week’s Raw rating was far more sobering than the week before as well as how wrestling and every combat sport is changing from an economic situation worldwide.  We look at interviews, finishes, making stars and dropping the ball on stars.  We also look at Night of Champions.

We update the TNA television situation, what promotion had a strong growth year, and the future of No. 2, as well as an update on all of TNA’s TV deals.

We go in depth on Nick Diaz, and what are the key elements of the story, why he got a five year suspension, how Diaz has blown his prime years in fighting, the commissioners discuss the suspension and the deliberations leading to it.  We talk about why comparisons to Anderson Silva and Jon Jones aren’t valid in this case, detail the controversies over the test results, the legal issues involved, and Diaz talks about what happened in childhood that led him to where he is.

We also look at the situation with Jake Shields and the commission ruling on his post-match punch to Rousimar Palhares, as well as his comments on what happened.

We also look at what contracted talent was told about Hulk Hogan, as well as a double standard that is too obvious, the next Takeover special, Update on Lana, Dwayne Johnson makes former WWE writer a major executive in his company, what happened at the recent NXT talent meeting, Daniel Bryan talks about creating new stars, and his health situation as well as PPV matches he wants.

We look at plans for the November European tour, WWE performers and Twitter, Paige talks in detail about her incident with Alicia Fox that turned into a fight of sorts with two other women and how it all went down.  Jimmy Noonan talks issues with WWE security including a story when a fan kicked the ass of a main event wrestler inside the ring one night and how that fan ended up as a wrestler.

We look at another sports star that WWE is bringing in for a tryout, four cast members from Tough Enough who have now signed contracts, this week’s NXT shows, and the father of a WWE wrestler who is an all-time legend in slow-pitch softball.

We’ve got notes on the WWE TV shows as well as the next month of NXT shows, as well as reports on WWE business over the past week, and highlights from all the house shows.

We look at the Atlantis vs La Sombra match, the build to the match, why the match is so big, the last angle and what happened with Dr. Wagner Jr. an L.A. Park.  We also look at a history of the CMLL Anniversary shows, with the big names that have appeared on them and the most famous matches over the years.

We look at Thomas Hauser’s article on USADA and how it related to Floyd Mayweather, what about the article had validity and what was a stretch.  We look at USADA’s drug testing in UFC and what the results so far say, the concept of retroactive TUE’s, a scary aspect of a contract Manny Pacquiao was given and wouldn’t sign, rumors of Mayweather positive tests, and the story behind Erik Morales failing four tests before a fight for Clenbuterol and still fighting.

We update the situation with Dr. Christopher Amann’s lawsuit against C.M. Punk.  We look at the response to the suit filed by Punk and Colt Cabana, WWE’s response and what the key issues in the suit are.

We’ve got notes on the Floyd Mayweather-Andre Berto PPV number and lessons that it has taught.

We also run down this past week’s New Japan show at Korakuen Hall and how it builds the next two PPV shows.

We’ve also got ratings from all the television shows this past week along with results from all the major arena events.

We also update on the last two AAA TV tapings, Genichiro Tenryu’s last match at Korakuen Hall, the Dragon Gate Summer Adventure tag team tournament, the All Japan Open singles tournament, the NOAH jr. heavyweight tournament, New Japan talks about their relationship with WWE and more.

We look at the Japanese female wrestler who broke her record for most world championships, and a new Hall of Fame mixed tag team.

We’ve got notes on Hulk Hogan’s latest media and what he said that simple time lines can disprove, notes on Jimmy Snuka including why there will be a lot more coverage of his story coming up, as well as why his hearing this week was canceled.  We look at the U.S. gold medalists in the world wrestling championships and what wrestler looks like a great UFC or WWE prospect.  We also update GFW and where television stands, look at a star indie wrestler sent to prison, Podcasts involving wrestling personalities, two pro wrestlers at the 1980 Olympic team reunion, an update on House of Hardcore, an update on Kelly Kelly, whatever happened to Chuck Palumbo, former UFC star getting a pro wrestling break, a wrestling show uncovered by a historian that drew 80,000 fans in 1936, the daughter of a WWE Hall of Famer starting wrestling training, and a well known pro wrestler competing under another name in pseudo MMA combat.

We also look at some significant negotiations going on with ROH and a look at the weekend events.

We also look at the Jarrett/Dixie Carter deal, Earl Hebner into the TNA Hall of Fame and his background, an update on Bram and Kurt Angle and Angle’s wrestling schedule.

We look at ticket sales for UFC 194 and how early sales have been, more big fights announced, a UFC signee who will start after competing in the 2016 Olympics, Ronda Rousey in the ESPN poll of the greatest female athlete of all-time, as well as lots of new UFC fights.

We also look at a new Bellator deal, and Scott Coker’s hopes for this week’s show.

We also look at a proposed Chael Sonnen vs. Josh Barnett grappling match, and the return of Ben Askren.

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.

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Wednesday Daily Update

— Jimmy Snuka’s preliminary hearing has been scheduled for two weeks from today. Irv Muchnick has a blog post about the investigators on his website.

— If you’ve been wondering what Linda McMahon is up to, she hosted a $2,700 per ticket fundraiser for Chris Christie’s presidential campaign last night.

— Cameron/Ariane Andrew and VINCENT! appeared on AfterBuzz TV’s Total Divas post-show last night. They talked about her confrontation with Paige and the issues much of the cast had with Eva Marie among other things.  “I’m doing my own training, like what I’m not supposed to be doing. I want to be the best that I can possibly be and if it means like being a rebel, and if I get in trouble for it, at least I can say I got in trouble because I want to be better.”

— Barbie “Kelly Kelly” Blank is trying to gather fan supprt for her to play Pamela Anderson’s old C.J. Parker character in the new Baywatch movie starring Dwayne Johnson:

https://twitter.com/TheBarbieBlank/status/646758874696052737

— Tank Abbott kind of challenges Ronda Rousey.  “[Rousey] is a girl. It’s all about this emotional stuff. I will tell you this: I don’t care, I will fight any woman on this Earth for free. I will. She will have to make me a sandwich – that’s what I get for winning.” He says he’ll pay $100,000 to any woman who can beat him. “You can’t be, like, a tranny. You gotta be a female. Born a female.” Lovely.

— RollingStone.com interviews Kazuchika Okada. Really.  On ROH’s talent: “They’re at the same level. I wanted to wrestle against new people, but it’s very similar to wrestling in Japan. I really appreciate ROH for letting me wrestle in the United States.”

— WWE posted a teaser for the Eric Bischoff’s 10 most controversial moments special on WWE Network. The topic? His “challenge” to Vince McMahon.

— Added to EVOLVE 50 on October 18th in Deer Park, NY: Roppongi Vice (Trent Baretta & Rocky Romero) vs. The Premier Athlete Brand (Caleb Konley & Anthony Nese), TJ Perkins vs. Tracy Williams, and Matt Riddle vs. Chris Dickinson. 

— Really well dne video on Jesse Neal’s final match.

—  Professional wrestling returns to the North Shore as ELKMANIA 3 emanates from the Beverly/Salem Elks Lodge, 39 Bow Street, Beverly, MA on Saturday September 26th, 2015. Doors open at 6:30 PM. Bell time is at 7:00 PM. Tickets cost $10.00 and are on sale Silver Moon Comics & Collectibles located inside of the East India Square Mall, Salem, MA. Tickets will be available at the door, but purchase in advance is highly recommended!

— WWE released SummerSlam 2015, yesterday on DVD and Blu-Ray. The next archival/specialized release is Sting: Into the Light, which comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray on October 13th. Also, WWE’s “Owen: Hart of Gold” Owen Hart DVD set is now available for pre-order on Amazon (the Blu-Ray version isn’t listed yet) and they also have a special collectible “coffin edition” of “Undertaker: The Streak” coming out on November 17th.