Daily Update: Fighting Spirit Unleashed, wXw changes, BTE
THE ROUND-UP
THE LATEST NEWS
WWE Raw live results: Super Show-Down go-home show
Daniel Bryan posts defense of Brie Bella following Liv Morgan injury
Jazz to defend Women’s title at NWA 70th Anniversary Show
Alberto El Patron returning to MMA for Combate Americas
Liv Morgan appears, doesn’t wrestle at WWE house show
PROGRESS Hello Wembley results: WALTER vs. Tyler Bate
Triple threat IWGP title match set for NJPW King of Pro Wrestling
Finals set for NJPW Junior Heavyweight title tournament
NJPW Fighting Spirit Unleashed live results: Cody vs. Juice Robinson
THE LATEST AUDIO
WOL: New Japan, RAW, upcoming WWE shows, tons more! 10/1
WOR: Fighting Spirit Unleashed, Bellator, RIZIN, more! 10/1
We’re looking for reports from Raw in Seattle with the Main Event matches and anything else not on the show, as well as the Smackdown brand house show in Kennewick, WA to [email protected].
We’re doing three polls this weekend:
Friday’s ROH show from Las Vegas on PPV
Saturday’s Bellator show on DAZN from San Jose
Today’s NJPW show in Long Beach on NJPW World
You can send in thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match from each show to [email protected].
Raw is Monday in Seattle as the go-home show for the Australia card, with both Shawn Michaels and Undertaker appearing, plus Ronda Rousey vs. Ruby Riott and Bobby Lashley vs. Kevin Owens. There will be a Smackdown brand house show in Kennewick, WA on Monday night.
Tuesday has Smackdown, Mixed Match Challenge and 205 Live all from Portland, OR and the Moda Center. Announced are Rusev & Lana vs. Jimmy Uso & Naomi, Finn Balor & Bayley vs. Jinder Mahal & Alicia Fox, Akira Tozawa vs. Jack Gallagher and Kalisto vs. TJP.
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: A look at the connection between Evolution and Crown Jewel
When WWE returns to Saudi Arabia on November 2, they’ll be doing so just five days after their Evolution pay-per-view. People are always going to link WWE’s 10-year deal with Saudi Arabia with how it contradicts the company’s “women’s evolution” messaging, but Evolution and Crown Jewel taking place on the same week makes them feel even more connected.
WON NEWSLETTER: October 1, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: NJPW Destruction in Kobe, tons of news
The names on the 2018 Hall of Fame ballot and thoughts on who are favorite, who may get eliminated after this year, newcomers to the ballot and more is one of the lead stories in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Look at the New Japan Long Beach show, as well as early thoughts on King of Pro Wrestling and Wrestle Kingdom and the Tanahashi vs. Okada match, the Gedo turn on Okada and post-show angle with full coverage of Destruction in Kobe.
Read about the Liv Morgan injury, what went wrong to lead to the injury and what went wrong after the injury.
Also look at the WWE stock and if it’s ventured past logical boundaries, WWE profits so far this year and comparing to other entertainment companies, more on the lawsuit against WWE, Shawn Michaels wrestling again, Sasha Banks update, next MSG show, and a Big Show update.
There are also notes on the NXT tapings as well as from all the WWE & NXT arena events from the past week with results, business notes and other reactions.
Look at UFC fighter Abdul Razak Alhassan, who is being charged with two counts of sexual assault and the details behind the charges.
Read full coverage of UFC’s show this past weekend in Sao Paulo, Brazil, business notes, retirements and a major record set.
This issue has coverage of one of Dragon Gate’s biggest shows of the year and the changes in the company.
ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to Dave Meltzer, or by using PayPal directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $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 [email protected]. 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.)
If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can choose one free classic issue or two free classic issues with a 40-issue subscription.
MONDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight covering Raw and the rest of the latest MMA and pro wrestling news. You can also send e-mail questions to the show to [email protected].
For this coming Friday, the replay of last night’s NJPW Fighting Spirit Unleashed show is scheduled for a four hour window on AXS from 8 p.m. to midnight. The show will be slightly less than four hours so they will replay the G-1 Kenny Omega vs. Kota Ibushi match on Friday night as well, so you get five incredible matches in one night.
wXw just announced major changes in the company. Co-owner and CEO Christian Jakobi is taking a leave of absence due to occupational burnout. He has been running the promotion and the training school and was working ridiculous hours, as well as running and booking the events and handling administrative duties. He was also an on-air talent and worked in character development and promo classes at the school. The weekly Shotgun television show that was on their streaming service has been canceled because it wasn’t getting the numbers they were hoping for. Instead, they will run feature events to advance storylines and deliver higher caliber matches. The final episode of Shotgun will be on Wednesday. They will tape a show called Shotgun XXL on Sunday for airing on 10/19. They will tape on 10/27 and 11/24 in Cologne and 12/16 in Bielefeld. Jakobi’s weekly Q&A show on YouTube is also going on hiatus. They will also change their touring schedule and run shorter tours putting an emphasis on quality rather than quantity. They still expect to run 65 to 80 shows in 2019. They are also no longer handling their own ticket sales but will work with EventBrite and Eventim. Jakobi worked as Ilja Dragunov’s on-screen manager on Progress in the build for the Ilja Dragunov vs. Pete Dunne match. It’s also clear that WWE and wXw now have a working agreement similar to Evolve, Progress and ICW. Robbie Brookside, a WWE coach, was at the wXw school last week along with SVP of Talent Development Canyon Ceman. They were scouting talent for a November tryout camp.
After a few week hiatus, Being the Elite is back.
Liv Morgan appeared at last night’s Raw house show in Abbotsford, BC. She didn’t wrestle or take any bumps. Her status as of yesterday was that she was cleared to do promos and be at ringside. She was to undergo Impact testing in Seattle at Raw this afternoon. If cleared, she could wrestle tonight and would wrestle on Saturday in Australia. If she doesn’t pass, then the Bellas & Ronda Rousey vs. Riott Squad match would change. Last night, Alicia Fox took her place as part of the Riott Squad so that could be the backup for Saturday.
Ronda Rousey is also scheduled for tonight’s tapings along with Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. Undertaker is not being advertised, but he was at least scheduled to be there as of a few days ago.
ROH Honor Club will be streaming Friday night’s Arena Mexico show featuring the World Grand Prix tournament starting at 9:30 p.m. Eastern time for subscribers.
ACH is expected to be in the Super Juniors tag team tournament that starts in two weeks in New Japan.
WWE
The Australia show on Saturday is scheduled for a four-hour window from 5-9 a.m. Eastern time.
Stephanie McMahon, The Miz and co-WWE President Michelle Wilson were at a leadership breakfast put on by Ad Week this morning in New York. It’s not impossible, but it would be a chore for Stephanie to be on the show tonight.
WWE was filming a Halloween special for the WWE Network at Matt Hardy’s home this past week called “Broken Universe.” It will double as a pilot for the show. The same family cast as in Impact, his wife, father-in-law (Senor Benjamin) and sons as well as Vanguard 1 are all to be part of the cast.
For those in this area, NXT tickets for California house shows on 11/15 in San Jose and 11/16 in Visalia will go on sale at NXTTickets.com on Friday at 10 a.m. Pacific time.
Kevin Nash isn’t impressed with today’s wrestlers. Here’s what he said about the criticism from people about The Undertaker vs. Triple H at WWE Super Showdown this weekend and why neither guy is facing a younger talent when the latter can really use it: “No one cares about the young guys. When I watched Summerslam that (Undertaker and Tripe H) package caught my eye and made me want to see that match. I don’t know if I want to see Roman Reigns versus Undertaker again. What more of a rub can you give than that? He’s [been] given rubs before and they just aren’t getting over.”
UFC
Daniel Cormier today said that he expects that UFC will strip him of his light heavyweight title, and that the 12/29 Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson fight will determine the new champion. Cormier also said that before he retires he does want the winner of that fight at 205 for the title.
Jon Jones and GSP are going back-and-forth on Twitter after GSP said that someone who failed a steroid test shouldn’t be viewed as the greatest of all-time. Jones responded insinuating that GSP had brain damage saying steroids make you more creative than hungry and again was mad that people have said steroids gave his kick added power that knocked out Daniel Cormier. Jones said he identified a weakness and executed it. St-Pierre said that when Jones said he threw the kick that KO’d Cormier and it wasn’t the PEDs, said, “Actually it’s not true. That’s the performance-enhancing drugs that threw the kick because you wouldn’t have thrown the kick if you would have not taken them.” GSP said it affects recuperation, and makes someone a better athlete.
MISCELLANEOUS
L.A. Park is back in Puebla for the third week in a row tonight. CMLL is streaming the show live at 10 p.m. Eastern. Park and El Hijo de L.A. Park & Volador Jr. vs. Cavernario & Bestia del Ring & El Terrible headlines.
KSW, the Polish MMA group, has its 10/6 show from SSE Wembley on FITE TV starting at 1 p.m. that day Eastern time. KSW is the most innovative promotion in the world when it comes to promotional videos.
ONE Kingdom of Heroes takes place on 10/6 in Bangkok Thailand at the Impact Arena.
Kyle Fletcher of the Aussie Open tag team, who has been wrestling full-time in the U.K. is scheduled for a PWA tournament returning on 10/20 in Sydney.
A Simon Gotch fight challenge has been added to the 10/4 MLW tapings in Queens, NY at the Melrose Ballroom.
Defy Wrestling announced a 10/27 show in Seattle called Dia de los Muertos, so a heavy Lucha theme. Rey Fenix, Flamita and Bandido are booked on the show. Flamita & Bandido challenge Defy tag team champions Mike Santiago & Ethan HD. Also scheduled are Brody King and Shane Strickland.
AAW from Saturday with the Jim Lyman Cup finals in Chicago: ACH b Myron Reed, DJZ b Rey Fenix, Sami Callihan b Rich Swann, Sammy Guevera b Darby Allin, Mat Fitchett & Davey Vega & Trey Miguel b Trevor Lee & David Starr & Eddie Kingston, Kylie Rae b Scarlett Bordeaux, ACH b DJZ, Sami Callihan b Sammy Guevara, AR Fox won six-way over Paco, Steven Wolf, Ace Romero, Moose and MJF, Brody King & Jimmy Jacobs b Jake Crist & Shane Strickland, Sami Callihan b ACH to win the Lyman Cup.
Jazz will be defending the NWA women’s title at their 10/21 70th anniversary show in Nashville. They will also have a tournament to crown the new National champion with Colt Cabana, Scorpio Sky, Jay Bradley, Mike Parrow, Sam Shaw and Ricky Starks. They also announced that former NWA champions Dory Funk Jr., Jeff Jarrett, Colt Cabana, Tim Storm and Blue Demon Jr. will be at the event.
Former ECW champion Pete Polaco, Justin Credible, had a court hearing earlier today in regard to multiple violations of a protective order filed in March by his wife.
John Hennigan, using the name Johnny Mecca, won the Future Stars of Wrestling Mecca title in a tournament beating Shane Strickland, Brian Cage and Chris Bey. Taya Valkyrie won the women’s title from Heather Monroe, so it was kept in the family.
A TV news piece on Toa Henare. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
Results from SIW-USA’s Wrasslin’ at the Ranch show from this past Saturday in Brandon, Florida: International Superstars d Dirty Blondes, Omar Amir d Cash Flo, Anthony Santa d Fabulous Faboo, Barrington Hughes d The Progressive Liberal Dan Richardson, Jenna VanMuscles d Zeda Zhang, Chris Silvio d Matt Sydal to retain the SIW Italian Championship.
4 time World Champion and former football player Sid Vicious comments on the 2020 XFL relaunch in this clip recorded earlier today by Hannibal TV.
Daily Professional Wrestling History: Samoa Joe vs. Kenta Kobashi
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