by David Bixenspan | [email protected] | Follow @davidbix
Tonight:
Tough Enough airs live at 8:00 p.m. ET on USA Network with an episode titles “Friend or Foe?” One of the three remaining men is being eliminated this week. The promo shows them training at Full Sail Live.
Total Divas airs at 8:00 p.m. ET n E! with an episode titled “No Holds Barre.” The Bella Twins start a new business but their brother, JJ, tries to take it over, while Trinity cares for her stepkids and and Eva Marie plans on using some kind of NEW DANGEROUS MOVE to prove herself.
SmackDown and Main Event will be taped in Green Bay, WI. If you’re attending and would like to send us a spoiler report, then please send it to [email protected].
****
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 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.
****
A look at the WWE shows next week in Brooklyn is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer. We also have full coverage of the G-1 Climax tournament and how it all builds for the Tokyo Dome and the fall season, as well as coverage of all the G-1 matches this past week. We also have a look at the Teamsters attempting to unionize UFC fighters, the UFC’s letter sent to fighters and morale issues. We also have a look at the AAA TripleMania PPV show, UFC ratings increases, the brawl at the WSOF show, UFC suing Wanderlei Silva and Layla retiring.
The issue is on the site right now at August 17, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Summerslam build, Unions courting UFC fighters
Web site subscriptions, which include access to both current and older newsletters as well as every audio show in the history of the site are at Sign up here for as low as $9.99 per month!
You can also order the print Observer right now and get it delivered to your door via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to Dave Meltzer
You can also order at www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected]
Rates are:
For the United States, it is $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.
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 the WWE events in Brooklyn with three straight full houses and look historically at the only other promotion that has been able to do it historically and the record, as well as updates on the NXT and SummerSlam shows and more details on the NXT card as well as the probable main event stipulation and ticket demand.
We have a complete look at the G-1 Climax tournament, including updates on the last few days, the standings, the Sumo Hall preview and coverage of all the shows this past week with star ratings.
We’ve got a look at the attempts to unionize UFC fighters, the real story behind the attempt, the letter sent by UFC to all of its fighters and why they probably could have written it better, and a look at UFC business.
We also look at the wealth of Vince McMahon, Rosa Mendes being pregnant, WWE injury updates, lawsuits, weird match, Tough Enough, new names, insider trading, Raw advance, Diva search news plus notes on all the weekend WWE & NXT events.
We look at TripleMania, all the problems with the show, what happened with the Spanish language broadcast, mistakes made in booking, how the card had to change from its original plans, the letter AAA sent out after, the retirements and Hall of Fame ceremony, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings.
We also have coverage of this past week’s UFC show, with business notes, the Johnson-Dariush scoring, and match by match coverage with bonuses.
We also look at the brawl at the WSOF show with The Diaz Brothers and Khabib Nurmagomedov, as well as the problems in the Jake Shields vs. Rousimar Palhares fight.
We’ve also got notes on the retirement of Layla from WWE and highlights of her career.
We also look at the lawsuit WWE has filed against Wanderlei Silva for alleging the company fixes fights.
We look at the CMLL Anniversary show, an injury to the best older wrestler in the business, a New Japan star comes to Mexico and a rundown on the main events the past two weeks at Arena Mexico.
We also look at another Rey Mysterio match, as well as the next major Dragon Gate show lineup and highlights from the past week.
We also look at New Japan stars heading to NOAH.
We also look at the beginning of talks for an international group to return to PPV, as well as a look at the Fire Festival, one of Genichiro Tenryu’s last matches and a set up for an angle with one of the biggest stars of the 80s vs. one of the biggest stars of the 90s.
We’ve got notes on the funeral of Roddy Piper, more on the Hulk Hogan tapes story, Hogan’s first public appearance, two Roddy Piper moves that haven’t come out, one of the biggest stars of the last ten years suffering a major health issue, a former star gets his number retired, a U.K. star returns after cancer, a retirement that probably isn’t a retirement, a Japanese promotion running in October in California, a wrestler having his first match in 20 years, the second oldest living wrestler and his background, big shows in Puerto Rico and news no two different wrestling Halls of Fame.
We also have an update on the status of Lucha Underground, what changes have to be made, the audience watching the show, what to look out for, notes on the contracts the performers have, update on Vampiro and coverage of both weeks of Ultima Lucha.
We also look at the ROH show in Brooklyn, TNA Hall of fame ceremony, and upcoming TNA house shows.
We also look at McGregor vs. Aldo, a big show vs. normal show, Las Vegas vs. Cowboys Stadium, Rousey vs. Cyborg update, Lawler vs. McGregor, UFC financials, how much it costs them every year just in interest on their bond, what kind of profits they are making, lots of ratings into, Rousey business notes, the Aldo drug testing fiasco, Overeem vs. Dos Santos, Punk vs. Pendred, fighter already talking about coming out of retirement, and lots of new UFC fights.
We also have notes on Josh Thomson and Bellator, Bellator’s next major show, Josh Koscheck blasts UFC and more Bellator fights.
We have an update on Chris Leben after his arrest, new WSOF shows, a crime fighter returns to MMA and notes on weight cutting.
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.
The Observer is the world’s most detailed weekly pro wrestling publication, in its 32nd year of publication, and is read by the biggest names in the pro wrestling, industry, MMA industry, sports world and on Wall Street.
We also have our regular features such as the most complete look at ratings, plus results of the major house show events each week in pro wrestling and MMA, and complete inside rundowns of all the TV shows.
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.
****
Monday Daily Update
— After 53 years and broadcasting and 38 years at WMC TV-5 in Memphis, Tennessee, legendary former Memphis wrestling co-host Dave Brown announced yesterday that he’s retiring from his job as WMC’s Chief Meteorologist. His last day is August 31st, the day before his 69th birthday. Yes, as much as we think of him and Lance Russell as contemporaries, he’s actually 20 years younger than Lance, who got him his break in television when he had been working in TV. Brown will still be affiliated with the station as Chief Meteorologist Emeritus, with Ron Childers taking over his old role.
The only reason Dave Brown isn’t talked about more as an all-time elite pro wrstling announcer is that he happened to be sitting next to Lance Russell for decades with Lance as the senior partner in their team. I don’t know if I’d put him quite on the Lance Russell/Jim Ross/Gordon Solie greatest of all time level, but if h isn’t, he’s just below them and above just about veryone lse. Here’s to hoping this might be his ticket into this year’s Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame class. He was a huge part of Jerry Jarrett succeeding in his split from Nick Gulas, as part of the deal for WMC giving Jarrett the Saturday morning time slot was that Brown would leave Gulas’s station, WHBQ, to work for WMC doing both the weather and wrestling (Russell retired from WHBQ, where he was program manager) to work full-time for Jarrett instead of WMC).
WMC did a really fantastic special last year with them reminiscing about all sorts of great Memphis wrestling moments that I highly recommend.
— Triple H tweeted a poster with new matches for NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn with an earlier start time. It’s not 100% clear if they’re all airing live or if the new matches are being taped for upcoming weeks of TV.
— Syfy announced today that Haven, the show Adam “Edge” Copeland is a regular on, will be wrapping up after the season that starts airing in October.
— Fred “Darren Young” Rosser posted on Instagram about why he’s OK with the Darren Young character not being gay. Interesting read.
— Paul “Triple H” Levesque’s quarterly conference call with wrestling media is tomorrow. We’ll have the audio here on the site as soon as it’s over.
— Grantland has an extensive article by Tom Breihan about New Jack of all people. Haven’t gotten a chance to read this yet but I’m told it’s fantastic.
— Enuhito has a translation of Jushin Thunder Liger’s explanationof how he ended up booked for NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn. Most amusing anecdote: He attended one of the NXT shows in Philadelphia incognito, which, for him, means that he was unmasked.
— The Toronto Star based a piece about “shifting gender equality in pro wrestling” around a Becky Lynch interview. Well, at least that’s the idea. Flavorwire had an article yesterday about the idea that pro wrestling fandom is breeding male feminists, but it was more inherently flawed.
— Brooklyn Daily has an article about tomorrow’s celebrity softball gam with WWE talent before a Brookyln Cyclones game at MCU Park. That is, of course, the venue ROH is running on Saturday opposite NXT.
— At The Big Lead: Is This the ECW Match Weezer References in El Scorcho?
— Chris Hero has signed with Figures Toy Company to produce his first ever action figure as part of our Rising Stars of Wrestling toy line.
— GFW has announced a meet and greet before this Friday’s TV taping with: The Bullet Club (Karl Anderson/Doc Gallows/”Bullet Babe” Amber Gallows), Shelton Benjamin, Eric Young, Candice LeRae, Karen Jarrett, Killer Elite Squad (Davey Boy Smith Jr and Lance Archer), and Nick Aldis (Magnus).
— Submission Radio has nw interviews with Demetrious Johnson and Johny Hendricks up covering all sorts of rlevant MMA topics.
— From a press release about the Jake Roberts documentary: Slamdance joins forces with the filmmakers behind “The Resurrection of Jake The Snake” for a multi-city theatrical release of the 2015 Slamdance Film festival favorite documentary beginning in Portland, Oregon on September 2, 2015. The Portland Film Festival will host the film’s release with a special event screening and a Q&A session moderated by UFC superstar Chael Sonnen with Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Diamond Dallas Page and director Steve Yu. The event format is a key element of the film’s continuing theatrical release with personal appearances by Jake “The Snake,” filmmakers and special guests.
The theatrical release marks the initiation of Slamdance Presents, a new distribution moniker for Slamdance’s world premier programs dedicated to creating theatrical and other commercial opportunities for independent filmmakers.
— On the latest Between the Sheets podcast, Kris Zellner and I are joined by indie wrestling’s foremost ring announce, Emil Jay, to talk about the week that included the 1992 G1 and start of the WWF/USWA deal.
— NWA Smoky Mountain returns to Kingsport, TN on Saturday, September 5 for Battle of the Belts 2015 at the Civic Auditorium. Bell time for this event is at 8:00 p.m. This event will be a showcase of champions featuring five NWA sanctioned title matches. In the Main Event, NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion Steve Anthony makes his NWA Smoky Mountain debut when he defends his title against Kingsport’s Own Vince Brent. Can “The Prodigy” bring the championship back to NWA Smoky Mountain? We will find out on September 5 in Kingsport!
— King Kong Bundy will be appearing From 11am to 2pm at Collector’s Realm in Dutchess Marketplace at 461 Route 9 in Fishkill, NY, which is part of Home Depot Plaza just south of I84 (exit 13)
— Adam Mingione has two tickets to this Saturday’s sold-out NXT Takeover show in Brooklyn that he’s looking to sell: Section 223, row 18, seats 2 & 3. Anyone interested in buying them should email him at [email protected].
— Empire State Wrestling runs Saturday, August 22nd at St. Johnsburg Fire Hall, 7165 Ward Road, North Tonawanda, NY, with these bouts: Chris Hero vs. Bill Collier, Candice LeRae vs. RJ City, Johnny Gargano vs. Will Calrissian, Rich Swann vs. Aaron Draven, Dick Justice vs. Brandon Thurston, Plunkett vs. Bobby Sapphire, Jonny Puma & Frankie Feathers vs. Double Down, Chris Cooper vs. Vince Valor, and more.
— Crossfire Wrestling runs Saturday, August 22nd, at Bissell’s Hideaway, 205 Metler Road, Ridgeville, Ontario. Bell time 4 pm. There will be a 10-man battle royal with the winner facing champion Jeremy Elliot, Kaitlin Diamond vs. Jewels Malone, The Italianos vs the Rochester Wrecking Crew, and more. the next day, Sunday August 23rd at 4:30pm, there will be a Crossfire contract signing at Grand Central, 4573 Queen St., Niagara Falls, ON, for steel cage match on Sunday September 27th between The Infamous Jay Moore and Jeremy Elliott. Patrick Porter from 91.7 GIANT FM will be the host and fans are welcome to attend.