WED UPDATE: TNA Finally Confirms Destination America Cancellation, Total Divas ratings drop big, & more
by David Bixenspan | davidbix@wrestlingobserver.com | Follow @davidbix
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 Tye Dillinger vs. Martin Stone, Apollo Crews vs. Solomon Crowe, Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa vs. Baron Corbin & Rhyno in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, and Bayley vs. Mary Dobson.
A rerun of the two hour season premiere of The Ultimate Fighter airs at 8:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1 with the elimination fights to get into the house.
Impact Wrestling at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on Destination America features the TNA vs. GFW Lethal Lockdown match for control of TNA.
The Ultimate Fighter at 10:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1 is titled “Crowded House.” The fighters move in and Dana Whites adds a twist to the competition. From the promos, this appears to be something along th lines of each eoach picking a fighter who lost in his elimination fight to add to the team.
ROH at 11:00 p.m. ET on Destination America has redrawn vs. Donovan Dijak and J Diesel, Dalton Castle vs. Cedric Alexander, and War Machine vs. The Kingdom.
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 at the latest in the concussion lawsuits filed against WWE on behalf of various wrestlers by Konstantine Kyros. 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 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 look at next weekend, which is one of the biggest weekends of the year with Bellator and CMLL having their biggest shows, plus a WWE PPV show and an ROH PPV, is one of the lead stories in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. We also have a look at the 2015 Hall of Fame ballot, tons more on the Jimmy Snuka case, An update on TNA and the future of Kurt Angle, a letter UFC sent to all its fighters about unionization, plus full coverage of UFC 191 and Battle of Los Angeles, and thoughts behind Raw & Smackdown doing record low numbers.
The latest issue of the Wrestling Observer: September 14, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Huge Weekend Preview, WWE/CMLL/ROH/Bellator
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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 look at next week’s big shows, including a preview of CMLL’s main event, why L.A. Park is already gone from the promotion, and a preview of both Raw and Night of Champions.
We’ve got more on the Jimmy Snuka case, with a background of WWE in 1983, Vince McMahon purchasing the company from his father, what was and wasn’t known in wrestling at the time, the first Snuka arrest, the decision made on Hulk Hogan being the face of the company’s expansion, the role Snuka’s autobiography played in his indictment, the corner saying why he felt there was no indictment and his quotes on the subject, new evidence, Buddy Rogers before his death talks about the subject, another coroner weighs in, a lawyer who investigated the case in 1983 weighs in, how Snuka handled his finances fro that point on, Snuka’s run in New Japan, the famous Brody & Snuka walking out on the tag tournament finals, what Vince McMahon was doing to protect Snuka, key Allentown officials talk cover-up rumors, WWE talks those rumors and more.
We also update the Kurt Angle TNA situation and why Angle said he was leaving the company when his contract expires in January. We look at the situation with Destination America, what talent knows and how WWE fits into all this right now.
We look at the letter sent by UFC to all of its fighters regarding unionization and our thoughts on the subject.
We’ve got a look at the 2005 Hall of Fame ballot, a look at the new candidates and their credentials, candidates for the future, understanding of the process, as well as how everyone on this year’s ballot fared last year.
We also look back at research into the biggest draws of all-time on the ballot, as well how the candidates have done in various awards, in drawing power for their era, as well as match quality, how difficult it is to be voted in, and notes on a lot of this year’s modern candidates.
We have an update on Ronda Rousey and WrestleMania, an upcoming WWE wedding, John Cena injury notes, WWE asks fans about PPV start times and thoughts, update on Amanda from Tough Enough and what appears to be her new deal, WWE pulling out all stops for next months tour of Mexico and why, Dean Ambrose talks acting, Nikki Bella as Divas champion, Eric Bischoff appearing on WWE Network, Undertaker’s future, the signing of Kana and she talks coming to WWE, Zahra Schreiber talks her firing, some NXT matches, a WWE wrestler on a sabbatical, as well as the WWE business notes from the past week and highlights from all the house hows.
We also look at Hulk Hogan’s overseas talk shows, the death of Tommy Rogers of The Fantastics, Dave Brown retires from WMC TV and how it was celebrated locally, Axl Rotten’s future goals, CHIKARA King of Trios, Jeff Jarrett TV talks and the final GFW ballpark shows of the year and what is left on the schedule, Bob Backlund’s autobiography, update on Batista, the death of Jerry Prater, an instrumental figure in Florida wrestling in the 70s and the heyday of wrestling programs and magazines, the Carlos Maynez tribute show this past week featuring legends from the past, a Roddy Piper movie not released and the Darrell Dawkins connection with pro wrestling.
We also update things on Lucha Underground.
We look at next week’s ROH matches.
We look at a TNA wedding, lineups for the upcoming TNA shows, U.K. TNA ratings and updating Impact.
We also have Conor McGregor talking his future, McGregor vs. Faber and why it didn’t happen, key UFC announcements over the pat week including new shows, new main events and new title matches, the retirement of Sam Stout, Rousey doing “Road House,” next UFC TV events, update on Charles Oliveira, UFC’s most popular markets, how much Rousey and McGregor are carrying things right now and former UFC star buys $2.75 million mansion from a rock star.
We also look at Alexander Shlemenko’s attempt to get his steroid punishment over turned and his arguments, plus a new Bellator show was announced.
We also update Fedor Emelianenko and his situation, as well as a former WWE star debuts this week as an MMA announcer and top pro wrestling stars attending. We also look at the results of the latest medical study on injuries suffered in boxing vs. MMA and where each is more and less dangerous than the other.
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Wednesday Daily Update
— The big news of the day is Dixie Carter telling Sports Illustrated that TNA is, as of right now, done with Destination America after the end of the year. The article actually has another passage that says they’re done as of February, and we’re waiting to hear back as to what it’s actually supposed to say. Regardless, it looks like Destination America is doing exactly what Spike did last year, which is give TNA some extra time to find a new network.
— Fpr the first time I can remember, a major New York media outlet, in this case WNBC TV, did a story on how the law banning professional MMA in the state left a loophole allowing unregulated amateur MMA. Chris Weidman and Dr. Sherry Wulkan (of the New Jersey commission) were used as the primary MMA-friendly voices in the piece. State Assemblywoman Deborah Glick represented the other side:”Just because New Jersey has been stupid enough to authorize this, as have many other states, does that mean you have to?” Disgraced former Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver said he was surprised that people are paying to se amateur MMA in NY, but said he was willing to introduce a law to ban or heavily regulate to amateur fights. They even went to a show with pro wrestling and MMA on the same card side by side to point out that the commission only had jurisdiction over the pro wrestling. Very well done story, well worth checking out.
— Last night’s Total Divas drew 804,000 viewers, way down from last week’s 1.143 million even with Paige’s boyfriend proposing.
— Video of Ronda Rousey blasting the Nevada State Athletic Commission at the UFC 193 press conference today is on YouTube via Submission Radio’s channel.
— News from Kris Zellner’s Lucha Report (full, illustrated verson here):
EMLL officially announced yesterday that their talent can no longer work shows that Dr. Wagner Jr. & L.A. Park are booked on as they have been vetoed from the promotion permanently. The promotion basically is making the indie promoters choose one or the other and CaraLucha & Lucha Libre Boom have chosen Park & Wagner at least for their 9/16 & 9/19 shows respectively. There are other promoters that are still trying to decide so we will see what happens as the days go on.
Tomorrow is a huge day in Mexico as it is Dia de la Independencia (Mexican Independence Day) and there are boatloads of shows taking place including the usual Tuesday night Arena Mexico show,
— Bob Backlund’s book was officially released yesterday in both physical and digital formats. WWE’s next home video release is SummerSlam 2015, which comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray this Tuesday. WWE’s next archival release is Sting: Into The Light on DVD and Blu-Ray four weeks from yesterday.
— Dave has an article at MMAFighting about Metamoris booking Josh Barnett vs. Chael Sonnen.
— Devon Nicholson’s Hannibal TV has new interviews with Frenchy Martin about Hulk Hogan and Dino Bravo.
— Debbie Combs vs. Prissie Purcell is today’s new match for NWAClassics.com subscribers.
— Future Stars of Wrestling returns to the Silverton Casino in Las Vegas, Fri Sept 25th for Paid in Full. FSW Champion Brian Cage defends against Kevin Kross, Tag Team Champs Reno Scum take on The Pistoleros, along with former WWE Tag Team Champion Paul London, teaming with No Limits Champ Jakob Austin Young vs Brandon Gatson and Ryan Taylor. Also see Lucha Underground’s Willie Mack and more. More details here.