By Dave Meltzer
We’re looking for reports on tonight’s WWE show in Hampton, VA (John Cena vs. Kevin Owens, Dolph Ziggler vs. Rusev) and GFW show in Waterloo, IA (Nick Aldis vs. Chris Mordetzky) at Dave Meltzer
Our only poll this weekend will be on the UFC 191 PPV tomorrow night from Las Vegas.
New Japan World on AXS TV at 9 p.m.
Tetsuya Naito vs. Kazuchika Okada
Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Desperado for IWGP jr. title
Shine iPPV from Ybor City, FL at www.WWNLive.com at 9 p.m. Eastern
Santana vs. Allysin Kay for the Shine championship
Vanessa Kraven vs. Athena
Jessicka Havok vs. LuFisto
Tracy Taylor vs. Su Yung no DQ street fight
Leah Von Dutch vs. Brandi Wine
Cherry Bomb vs. Taylor Made
Leva (Blue Pants) & Mia Yim (Jade in TNA) vs. Andrea & Jayme Jameson
Crazy Mary Dobson vs. Jessica James
Thunderkitty vs. Amanda Carolina Rodriguez
UFC 191 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas
Fight Pass at 7 p.m. Eastern
Nazareno Malegarie vs. Joaquin Silva
Joe Riggs vs. Ron Stallings
FS 1 at 8 p.m. Eastern
Clay Collard vs. Thiago Trator
Jessica Andrade vs. Raquel Pennington
Click Here: United Kingdom Rugby Shop
John Lineker vs. Francisco Rivera
Paul Felder vs. Ross Pearson
PPV at 10 p.m. Eastern
Paige VanZant vs. Alex Chambers
Corey Anderson vs. Jan Blachowicz
Anthony Rumble Johnson vs. Jimi Manuwa
Frank Mir vs. Andrei Arlovski
Demetrious Johnson vs. John Dodson for flyweight title
WWE runs Saturday night in Charlottesville, VA (John Cena vs. Kevin Owens) and Wildwood, NJ (Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt, Ryback vs. Big Show, Luke Harper vs. Dean Ambrose) and GFW in Clinton, IA.
WWE runs Sunday in Fairfax, VA (John Cena vs. Kevin Owens) and Salisbury, MD (Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt, Ryback vs. Big Show, Luke Harper vs. Dean Ambrose).
Raw will be Monday night in Baltimore.
Smackdown and Main Event are taped Tuesday night in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
It’s a gigantic news week in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter with the main feature story on everything that led to the indictment of Jimmy Snuka after 32 years, plus Irv Muchnick, who has reported on the story for years gives his views on the proceedings, and we also look at Hulk Hogan’s attempt at redemption of his character, the full story behind the shooting at the Performance Center, notes from Battle of Los Angeles, the retirement of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Hayabusa walks to the ring, Bram gets arrested, WWE fires Zahra Schreiber, UFC brings back Travis Browne, a rundown of the PPV business in WWE in 2015 and the latest monthly business report from WWE & TNA.
The latest Wrestling Observer: September 7, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Snuka indicted, shooting at WWE Performance Center and tons more
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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.
Our lead story goes back to 1983 with an in-depth look at the death of Nancy Argentino, how the media caused the case to be reopened, a look at the charges against Jimmy Snuka, the different statements on the subject by Snuka, Snuka’s lawyer speaks, notes on documentation and testimony from the time, lots of notes regarding evidence, where Jimmy Snuka stood in the wrestling business in 1983, how Buddy Rogers fits into this story, what Snuka told police the morning after Argentino died as well as testimony from those who treated Argentino before her death.
We also look at the autopsy report, the police report from that time, the strange question that was never answered regarding the case being dropped, what Snuka has said to different people, the brawl in Syracuse before Argentino’s death, how the pro wrestling business in 1983 is so completely different from today and the previous legal action regarding this case.
Irv Muchnick also does a piece on the indictment talking about several points from the indictment.
We also look at Hulk Hogan appearing on Good Morning America and Nightline in a way to get his job back and repair his public image. We look at the WWE reaction, what Hogan said, what does and doesn’t hold up, the timeline issues with his various stories, neighbors of his growing up contradict his story and more.
We also look at the story of the man who was shot in front of the Performance Center, the circumstances of the shooting, and the different things he had done in recent months regarding his obsession with wrestling.
We also look at Battle of Los Angeles, how the tournament went, highlights from the weekend and celebrities at the shows.
We also look back at the career of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, including his new job with UFC, his becoming the top heavyweight in the sport at one time, his background, his debut in RINGS, his move to Pride, his fight with Bob Sapp, his three fight series with Fedor and his UFC run.
We look at the arrest of Thomas “Bram” Latimer of TNA, police details of what happened, TNA’s response and what is next for him.
We’ve got a story on Hayabusa, one of the best high flyers from 15-20 years ago and his attempted recovery from near paralysis.
We’ve got a look at Travis Browne and his reinstatement in UFC.
We look at the firing of Zahra Schreiber, the girlfriend of Seth Rollins, by WWE.
We also look at WWE & TNA business when it comes to house shows, merchandise, ratings and other categories for the past month.
We also have a PPV chart with how all the shows in the first seven months of the year have been, and compared them with the last few years.
We also look at WWE signing one of the major international women stars and why she’s not going to be wrestling in NXT, the return of Dr. Wagner Jr. & L.A. Park to Arena Mexico and how it got over, top pro wrestling star gets a reality show gig, and some major title changes.
We also look at maneuvering for the 2017 and 2018 WrestleMania, and the favorites, the 10/3 Madison Square Garden WWE live special, notes on lots of indie stars on WWE’s radar, ticket sales for NXT in the U.K., a new WWE movie, Update on Wade Barrett, action figure sales, announcing changes, SummerSlam edits, lots of notes on various WWE lawsuits, Dean Ambrose talks Renee Young, Fan tries to attack Ambrose, Sara Lee in NXT, plus notes on all the WWE & NXT house shows over the past week.
We also look at a number of top stars who worked recently in Bolivia, the last AAA TV taping and AAA wrestlers in a bodybuilding contest.
We update Wrestle-1 and the three generations of green mist stars trios match.
We also look at the Dragon Gate summer tag team tournament and its big show in Fukuoka and what came out of it.
We look at All Japan’s last major show and its current singles tournament.
We look at Pro Wrestling NOAH’s next major show, including a title match that was set up in the U.S., a well as the bracketing in the upcoming junior heavyweight tag team tournament.
We look at the weekend IGF show, a record that will be set at the next Tokyo Dome show, and the NWA title change.
We also look at U.S. stars who usually don’t tour Japan that are going shortly.
We’ve got more on the planned bio movie on Chris Benoit, Angelo Mosca getting his number retired, the weekend GFW shows and angles, Preston City Wrestling’s weekend show, former TNA star retires and a unique main event, plus early notes on this year’s WWC Anniversary show.
We also update the TNA TV situation, the Lucha Underground TV situation, the next ROH PPV show, new roles for people in ROH and notes from the weekend show.
We also look at changes in UFC main events, can UFC sell 70,000 tickets to its November show with Ronda Rousey, Rousey talks when she expects to retire, Cyborg, the date with the marine and notes about live shows on Fight Pass this month. We also look at this week’s PPV show, talks about the Jan. 2 Las Vegas card, a star fighter retires, Chad Mendes wants a rematch with McGregor, what happened recently with Jose Aldo, Rousey T-shirt sales, plus lots of more fights.
We also have a look at Bellator’s next major show, including the updated card, as well as plans for the big November show. We look at the Fan Fest with Fedor and Sakuraba, as well as notes on last week’s show.
We also look at the arrest of Chris Leben, and new restrictions on weight cutting that is being tried out for in California.
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
FRIDAY’S NEWS UPDATE
UFC will be holding a press conference today at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time today from the MGM Grand Garden Arena which will be streamed live on the site. Those attending will be Daniel Cormier, Ronda Rousey, Jose Aldo, Conor McGregor, Rafael dos Anjos, Alexander Gustafsson, Holly Holm, Luke Rockhold, Donald Cerrone, Josh Barnett, Roy Nelson, Dustin Poirier, Joe Duffy, Vitor Belfort, Dan Henderson, Matt Brown, Kelvin Gastelum, Frankie Edgar and Chad Mendes.
VIDEO: Watch today’s UFC GO BIG Campaign Launch Event
Also check out the Weigh-ins right after: UFC 191: Johnson vs. Dodson 2 weigh-in results and live video
VIDEO: UFC 191 Countdown
Check out Ryan Fredrick’s preview piece: UFC 191 Preview: 5 storylines to watch, betting odds & predictions
The UFC show on 12/12 added Gunnar Nelson vs. Demian Maia in a battle of the two of the best submission guys in the company to the loaded show which last night added Urijah Faber vs. Frankie Saenz and Max Holloway vs. Jeremy Stephens.
At the 9/19 Bellator show in San Jose, in the prelims, at two different times they will experiment with two fights going on at the same time. There will be a ring and a cage both set up. So they will have a kickboxing match inside the ring and the MMA match going on inside the cage. It’s going to be a long show as they’ve got 20 fights on the card. There will be 16 MMA fights and four kickboxing bouts.
While not officially announced, there are reports from Brazil that Miesha Tate vs. Amanda Nunes will be taking place. That bout has been talked about ever since Tate was pulled from the Ronda Rousey fight. No date or place is confirmed.
We’ll see what happens. Finn Balor and Samoa Joe are scheduled to headline for NXT in Jacksonville tonight. Balor was on Twitter saying he was hiking in Ireland. Balor was also advertised the last time NXT was in Jacksonville and wasn’t there.
Dean Ambrose on why he avoids social media in an interview “There’s a whole world of weirdos out there.”
Tommy Dreamer’s House of Hardcore promotion runs 11/13 in Philadelphia at the 2300 Arena and 11/14 in New York at the Elmcor Center in Queens, NY.
Funny thing on WWE.com. They are doing a Where are they now? For Maria Kanellis, it says, “Today, she’s an actress, podcaster and honor student at Johnson & Wales University, where she’s studying for a degree in event management.” That’s all true, but what is her actual job today?
Ryan Couture vs. Nick Gonzalez has been added to the 9/25 Bellator show in Hidalgo, TX at the State Farm Arena. Couture vs. Gonzalez will air on the Spike.com prelims.
CMLL on Tuesday night in Guadalajara: Exterminador & Malefico b Magnum & Metatron, Cancerbero & Raziel & Virus b Esfigne & Pegasso & Starman, Metalico b Omar Brunetti, Angel de Oro & Brazo de Plata & Stuka Jr. b El Terrible & Rey Bucanero & Rey Escorpion, Atlantis & Marco Corleone & Valiente b Negro Casas & Mr. Niebla & Shocker-DQ (thanks to Kris Zellner)
The new match added to NWAClassics.com today is Black Gordman vs. Omar Atlas. Gordman was actually as far as I can tell, the inventor of the DDT. He was doing it in Texas when Jake Roberts was starting out as a referee. He brought the move into the U.S. in the 60s from Mexico.
C.W. Anderson faces Matt Saigon in the main event for ECWA on 9/19 in Woodbury Heights, NJ at the Community Center.
Pro Wrestling Illustrated released its top 500 this year at www.pwi-online.com the top ten is Seth Rollins, John Cena, A.J. Styles, Roman Reigns, Shinsuke Nakamura, Randy Orton, Jay Briscoe, Rusev, Alberto el Patron and Kevin Owens.
Tickets for NXT in Nashville went on sale at 10 a.m. local time today and they are almost sold out in a 2,000 seat concert hall. Ringside at $105 sold out almost immediately (thanks to Chris Kunkel)
Irv Muchnick on Toronto radio talking the Jimmy Snuka case
Notes from yesterday’s UFC press conference. Paige VanZant got more media attention than anyone else. She was swarmed. The next most attention was Demetrious Johnson, followed by Frank Mir. Not many paying attention to John Dodson. Anthony Johnson was super friendly to fans, above and beyond. Lots of fans were from England and Ireland. Dana White took photos with every fan there for a long time after it was over.
ON THIS DAY IN PRO WRESTLING HISTORY INTERNATIONAL (thanks to Graeme Cameron)
1902 – George Hackenschmidt beat Tom Cannon in Liverpool, England to win the European Greco-Roman heavyweight title. This was the win that set up Hackenschmidt coming to the U.S. as European champion for his first match with Frank Gotch in 1908.
1980 – Giant Baba beat Harley Race to win the NWA title in Saga
1989 – Cuchillo beat Super Astro in Monterey to win the UWA junior light heavyweight title
1992 – Bestia Salvaje bet Dandy in Mexico City to win the CMLL middleweight title
1994 – Pierroth beat Vampiro in Monterrey to win the FILL heavyweight title
2012 – Titan beat Polvora in Mexico City to win the Mexican national welterweight title