Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including the now-obvious angle with Rock, Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes, how it was pushed on RAW, the big press event on Thursday, the latest on Stardom, RAW report from Monday night, mailbag and more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Timestamps:
Start: Anniversary of the death of El Santo, deaths of Carl Weathers, Rich Caster, Asahi, Bruiser Muir
5:29: The latest on The Rock/Cody Rhodes/Roman Reigns
12:07: Stardom/Rossy Ogawa updates, Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura hair vs. hair match
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including SummerSlam ticket sales, NXT tonight, the world famous RAW report, Cody vs. Roman at WrestleMania and Solo doing his first job the week before, and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including the death of Billy 2 Rivers, the MLW lawsuit vs. WWE, AEW and NXT this week, Okada and Naito invading NOAH, ratings, the New Japan Cup, your RAW report, WrestleMania and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Timestamps:
Start: Billy Two Rivers passes away
6:02: MLW lawsuit against WWE dismissed, MLW refiling
8:00: Kazuchika Okada & Tetsuya Naito appear at Pro Wrestling NOAH event, NJPW Cup lineup
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including the Royal Rumble on Sunday, Cody’s merch sales, odds for the show, more on the Briscoes and WBD, a lawsuit over the Luchasaurus mask, Kenny Omega visa update, and tons more. Plus, JORDAN CLEARWATER joins us to talk NWA and New Japan Strong! A fun show as always so check it out~!
It’s been announced that Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hirooki Goto in an interim AEW World Championship eliminator match has been added to Dominion. The winner of that match will advance to compete for the interim AEW World Championship at Forbidden Door.
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NJPW has released the full card for Dominion that will take place later this month.
The card will take place June 12 at Osaka-Jo Hall. New championship matches have been added in addition to the IWGP World Heavyweight title match between champion Kazuchika Okada and challenger Jay White.
Juice Robinson will be defending the United States title against Will Ospreay, who issued a challenge, and SANADA, who returned at the Best of the Super Junior finals after recovering from injury. Tama Tonga will defend the NEVER Championship against Karl Anderson, Shingo Takagi will face Taichi for the KOPW 2022 provisional trophy, and Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale will defend the IWGP Tag Team titles against the United Empire’s Jeff Cobb and The Great-O-Khan.
Hiromu Takahashi, who won the Best of the Super Juniors, will not get his championship match against Taiji Ishimori at Dominion. That will instead take place June 21 at Korakuen Hall.
The full card is as follows:
Kazuchika Okada vs. Jay White for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
Interim AEW World Championship eliminator match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hirooki Goto
Juice Robinson vs. SANADA vs. Will Ospreay for the IWGP United States Championship
Tama Tonga vs. Karl Anderson for the NEVER Openweight title
Shingo Takagi vs. Taichi for the provisional KOPW 2022 trophy
Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale vs. Jeff Cobb & The Great-O-Khan for the IWGP Tag Team titles
EVIL, SHO, and Yujiro Takahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr., Yoshinobu Kanemaru, and El Desperado for the NEVER Openweight Six-Man titles
Toru Yano vs. Doc Gallows
Tetsuya Naito, BUSHI, and Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Phantasmo, Ace Austin, and Taiji Ishimori
TJP, Francesco Akira, and Aaron Henare vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, Master Wato, and Hiroyoshi Tenzan
This week, we continue to see the build to WrestleMania 38 as Kevin Owens might have given us the greatest troll job ever. We go into the build itself to his confrontation with Steve Austin and how we think it’s going given the storylines.
Seth Rollins lost his mind this week as he doesn’t have a path to WrestleMania which begs the question: where’s Cody Rhodes?
AEW and DDT have come to a partnership agreement. What does it mean and is it leading to their video library coming to an AEW streaming service?
We also discuss another great episode of Dynamite and the hints that we might be seeing Bret Hart return soon in AEW. Also, is CM Punk the next title challenger for Hangman Page?
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including the life of Scott Hall, Big E. update on his broken next, Cody Rhodes, New Japan Cup, AEW ticket sales, Rampage, Smackdown, mailbag and tons more. A packed show as always so check it out~!
Timestamps:
Start: Scott Hall to be taken off life support following three heart attacks
9:11: Big E breaks neck
17:44: The latest on Cody Rhodes
19:44: NJPW Cup update
22:13: AEW ticket sales update
26:15: Briscoes reportedly not going to AEW
27:52: Hiroshi Hase elected governor of Ishikawa Prefecture
In their fourth AEW singles match, Allin pinned Rhodes with a cradle to win the TNT Championship at Full Gear.
In ending Cody’s second reign, Allin joins Rhodes and Brodie Lee as the only wrestlers to wear the TNT title.
Allin and Rhodes first faced off at Fyter Fest 2019, going to a 20 minute time limit draw. Rhodes then beat Allin on the January 1, 2020 edition of AEW Dynamite. Cody won the second meeting with a quick roll-up. Their third match aired on the April 29 edition of Dynamite. In that bout, Cody reversed a Coffin Drop into a cradle to again barely escape with a victory.
The match was also notable for the return of Cody’s surname. In addressing the live crowd following Wednesday’s Dynamite, Cody said “It feels really good to be Cody Rhodes again.” WWE filed a cancellation notice for the Cody Rhodes trademark on November 2, clearing the way for Cody to use the name.
On a media call Thursday, Cody said that he would not use the Rhodes name in wrestling, but in outside ventures.
AEW TNT Champion Cody spent nearly an hour with the media Thursday, answering questions about whether a trilogy match with Nick Aldis will ever happen, why he will stick to the stipulation of never challenging for the AEW World title, Dark, and why the TNT title means so much to him.
To hear the audio, click the red button below.
Here are some highlights:
While he is happy to get the Rhodes last name back, he won’t use it in the wrestling space. His real goal was to use it for third party ventures (ex. Go Big Show, acting gigs). He didn’t provide any details on the negotiations but said it was a “no hard feelings” type arrangement.
He reiterated that he will never challenge for the AEW World title because stipulations matter. He later put over how much the TNT title meant to him, how it’s the “ace” title, and that maybe someday, Jon Moxley could challenge him for it.
He said that Tony Khan reached out to Billy Corgan about making the Serena Deeb-Allysin Kay NWA women’s title match and that the “bridges are down” when it comes to bringing in new talent.
He talked about his early comments regarding AEW being more “sports-centric” and that he was referring to his own work.
He put over the company’s medical and concussion protocols and said the roster was having a meeting with Chris Nowinski today. He added that wrestling is violent and he thinks some fans have forgot that. However, while it’s violent, he said it can’t be so much that talent is injured. “We do ourselves no favors by running a sloppy shop.”
He said the credit for the current format of AEW Dark goes to Khan with indie talents in competitive matches. The name came from the Universal Dark Universe monster movies.
He said he was “genuinely pissed” about not being no. 1 in the PWI 500 and said if wrestlers tell you they don’t care about it, they aren’t successful. He had a whole idea that was ruined because he didn’t get the honor.
He said he and Khan are on the same page with treating legends as luminaries as he didn’t like how Dusty Rhodes was treated toward the end of his career.
He was asked about whether he and Nick Aldis will face each other a third time and he was very doubtful that it would as he’s happy about how the second match turned out.
Darby Allin will get a shot at the TNT title next month.
Allin was shown in the crowd during tonight’s AEW Dynamite, watching the match between Cody and Orange Cassidy for Cody’s TNT title. It was here that the announcers mentioned that Allin would challenge for the title at Full Gear, which takes place on November 7.
The match ended up going to a 20 minute time limit draw. It was later announced that the two would wrestle again for the title in a rematch that will take place on the October 28th Dynamite.
Already announced for Full Gear are the finals of a tournament that will determine the next challenger for the AEW World title. FTR will also defend their AEW Tag Team titles against the winners of a fatal four way match between Private Party, The Butcher & The Blade, Alex Reynolds & John Silver, and The Young Bucks that will take place on next week’s Dynamite.
A rematch between Cody and Orange Cassidy for the TNT title has been set.
The two wrestled for twenty minutes last night on Dynamite, reaching a draw. After a back and forth match, Cassidy caught Cody in his mouse trap pinning combination, but time expired before the referee could count to three.
It was later announced on the show that the rematch will take place on the October 28 edition of Dynamite.
Darby Allin was shown in the crowd, observing the match. After the two went to a time limit draw, he applauded. Announcers said that he would be getting a TNT title shot at Full Gear, which takes place on November 7.
Other title matches that took place on tonight’s anniversary show had FTR retain the AEW Tag Team titles over Best Friends, Hikaru Shida retaining the AEW Women’s title against Big Swole, and Jon Moxley retaining the AEW World title over Lance Archer in a no disqualification match.
Cody defeated Mr. Brodie Lee in a bloody dog collar match to win back the TNT Championship on last night’s AEW Dynamite.
After a brutal brawl that saw both men’s faces turned into the proverbial crimson masks, Cody pinned Lee after hitting Cross Rhodes on the chain that linked the dog collars.
The match also saw John Silver, Alex Reynolds, and Arn Anderson get physically involved.
After Cody retained, Orange Cassidy appeared on the stage to respond to the new champ’s request to defend the title on next week’s Dynamite.
Dynamite was billed as the 30 Years of Chris Jericho show, and Jericho went on last. He teamed with Jake Hager in a winning effort against Serpentico and Luther.
Following the main event, MJF interrupted a Jericho promo and offered him gifts. The two teased a confrontation, but they ended the segment celebrating together.
A series of shout-outs aired throughout the episode, with various wrestling legends and Jericho’s celebrity friends congratulating him on his anniversary.
FTR successfully defended their AEW Tag titles against the TH2 duo of Angelico and Jack Evans. After the match, Best Friends confronted FTR and informed them that they will be their opponents in a Tag title match next week.
In the show opener, Brian Cage defeated Will Hobbs with a Drill Claw to retain the FTW Championship. Cage and Ricky Starks threatened Hobbs after the bout, but Darby Allin made the save.
For more of what you missed, including Big Swole vs. Serena Deeb, scroll down.
Cody became the first two-time TNT Champion Wednesday, defeating rival Mr. Brodie Lee for the title in a bloody dog collar match on AEW Dynamite.
The end came when Cody wrapped the chain connecting the dog collars around Lee’s face and hit a Crossroads, one of multiple he hit during the match, on Lee to get the pin. Both men were bloodied up during the physical encounter that spilled outside the ring with the chain being involved prominently.
Lee beat Cody for the title in August in a match that went just three minutes. His near-two month reign saw him defend the belt twice in wins over Orange Cassidy and Dustin Rhodes. Cody was injured in storyline and returned on last week’s Dynamite to accept Lee’s challenge.
Afterward, Cody was joined by Brandi Rhodes, Dustin Rhodes, and Arn Anderson in the ring with Tony Schiavone. He did an emotional babyface promo saying that when he came back with dark hair, people wanted him to go to the dark side but that he does this for the fans and this is why he wrestles.
Greg Valentine was in attendance, a nod to one of the most famous dog collar matches in pro wrestling history when he faced Roddy Piper at the first Starrcade.
The show opened with a video package. A lot of the current roster appeared and put over Jericho as a legend.
Jim Ross, Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz and Ricky Starks were at the announce desk. They previewed the show. JR called Starks “Ricky Skaggs.”
Kip Sabian, Miro and Penelope Ford were ringside playing an arcade game.
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Brian Cage defeated Will Hobbs
Hobbs has a ton of potential. He’s also still green. Cage is a guy who needs a good dance partner and this was tough. It picked up once they hit the near falls.
The announcers put over Hobbs fighting for his brother, who was tragically murdered.
Cage quickly cut Hobbs off and worked him over. Cage hit a facebuster for a two count. Hobbs came back with a back suplex, clotheslines and a sit-out spinebuster for a near fall.
Cage used a pumphandle driver for two. They traded German suplexes. They hit simultaneous clotheslines and went down. Hobbs used another spinebuster for a two count.
Hobbs went up top and missed a frog splash. Cage followed with a Drill Claw for the pin.
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After the match, Starks joined Cage in the ring. Taz cut a promo and told Hobbs he was im[ressive and it was time to play the option game. Hobbs could join Team Taz or get beat down.
Darby Allin entered and made the save, threatening Cage and Starks with his skateboard.
Taz said that one day soon, Allin will learn not to stick his nose in Team Taz business.
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Slash, Dennis Miller, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Bully Ray and Ted Irvine sent in video tributes for Jericho’s anniversary.
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Lance Archer sent in a video promo. The audio quality was awful but the content was good.
Archer said he and Jon Moxley tore it down in NJPW in a Texas Death match earlier this year. Archer said he’s learned a lot since then and promised to beat Mox for the title next week.
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AEW World Tag Team Championship match: FTR (w/Tully Blanchard) defeated TH2
This had its moments but this was a styles clash if there ever was one.
The Young Bucks were shown backstage watching this match on a monitor at an awkward angle. Hey, Nick Jackson is back. Remember how they awkwardly pretended he was there when he clearly wasn’t for two weeks on Dynamite and BTE?
Evans and Angelico got some offense early. Evans was flying and JR was in full burial mode, crapping on the babyfaces for leaving their feet while executing their offense.
FTR cut Evans off after Blanchard took the referee and worked him over through an ad break. Evans sold his leg.
Angelico and Evans made a comeback. Angelico hit an assisted 450 for a near fall. FTR came back with a German/dragon suplex combo for a two count.
Evans hit a high kick and a moonsault on Dax for a two count as Cash made the save.
Angelico missed a dive and got dropped on the apron by Cash.
Evans used a cradle for a two count on Dax. Evans hit some very clunky offense here.
Dax hit Evans with a tiger driver for a near fall. Dax hit a superplex on Evans. Cash followed with a top rope splash for the pin.
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The Young Bucks superkicked a camera operator backstage after the match.
Best Friends entered wearing weenie t-shirts. They sent FTR packing and announced that they will be getting a Tag title shot next week on Dynamite.
This was not a great comedy segment or a serious segment to build up a title match.
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MJF sent in a video tribute to Jericho. MJF said he is proud of Jericho and inspired by him.
Shaquille O’Neal sent one in and said Jericho is above a legend.
Gene Simmons sent in a video, as did Don Callis and Lars Ulrich.
DDP called Jericho his brother and congratulated him.
The TNT Championship match is next.
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TNT Championship match: Cody defeated Mr. Brodie Lee to win the title
Greg Valentine was in the crowd for this.
Sometimes you’ll hear about tmatches with plunder and how the wrestlers had a match that just happened to involve the weapons. This was not that. This was a bloody brawl.
John Silver and Anna Jay accompanied Lee to the ring. Silver took a forearm from Cody right away and took a bump off the apron. Silver bled. Jay helped him to the back so this was just Brodie and Cody.
Brodie hit a boss man slam for a two count and worked on Cody.
They brawled around ringside and brought a chair into the ring. Lee threw the chair at Arn Anderson. Arn climbed in the ring. Alex Reynolds ran in. Arn hit Reynolds with a spinebuster. Lee hit Arn in the gut with the chain.
Cody used a cutter and a moonsault. Lee hit a thrust kick and a powerbomb for a two count. They did a hanging spot and a superplex spot. Cody ducked a discus lariat.
Cody used the chain to deliver right hands and Cross Rhodes for the pin.
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Cody cut a great promo after the match. He said people thought because he changed his hair he should change his attitude and turn on the fans. Instead, Cody said he’s sticking with the people and it’s not pandering, it’s his life’s work. He said these are the people who have been with him since he was a teenager. I didn’t do this justice, just watch the promo.
Cody said he’s going to defend the title next week.
Orange Cassidy came to the stage. Cody gave him a thumbs up. Cody vs. Cassidy next week.
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Wardlow, Colt Cabana and Hangman Page were added to the AEW World title tournament.
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Alex Marvez interviewed Kenny Omega. Marvez asked how Omega felt about being in the tournament.
Omega said he’s won tournaments all over the world. He downplayed Page’s involvement.
Omega said he’ll win the tournament and take the title off whoever the champion is. Omega referred to Page as a tag team wrestler.
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Big Swole defeated Serena Deeb
It seems like there’s always one women’s match a week, it’s usually on around 90 minutes into the show after a long match at the top of the hour, and there’s usually a commercial break in the middle of it.
That’s a pretty tough spot to be in week after week.
Swole and Deeb tried. Deeb is a veteran. Swole has had good matches and bad. They didn’t have much of a chance of having a good match in this position.
They had a miscommunication right off the bat. Deeb went for a misdirection lariat but Swole was too close to the ropes and this looked bad. Deeb was in control before a commercial break.
Swole made a comeback after the break. They did a fake noggin knocker spot in the corner into a double down.
Swole hit a headbutt to the chest for a two count. Deeb looked to apply a hold but Swole cradled her for two. Deeb ducked a forearm strike and tried an underhook suplex. Swole blocked.
They tried another misdirection spot. This one was better. Swole hit another headbutt to the chest and a rolling elbow for the pin.
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Jon Moxley cut a pre-taped promo from a bar.
Moxley said next week is the anniversary show but he doesn’t have time to celebrate. He said he knows sometime his ticket will be up and maybe it’ll be Archer.
Moxley said last time they fought, Mox barely left Tokyo with his teeth in his head. He said it’s a coin flip whether or not he keeps the title and Archer has chased him halfway around the world to finish the job.
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Kip Sabian & Miro in action was announced for next week in addition to the three title matches.
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Serpentico and Luther entered for the main event.
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We got another round of celebrity messages for Jericho from Lance Storm, Kevin Smith, Eli Roth, Gabriel Iglesias, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Steel Panther, Ultimo Dragon and Paul Stanley.
This match was more about the story than the work.
Jericho and Luther got in and traded chops. Jericho was selling for Luther and Serpentico before a commercial.
A good chunk of the match took place during the final commercial break. This also seems to happen every week. Jericho hit a Lionsault during the break. Hager got in and out during the break.
Serpentico and Luther made their comeback. Serpentico hit a tope. Luther hit a flip dive off the post and a top rope bulldog.
Luther and Jericho had a good but slow brawl. Jericho called for his baseball bat. Luther intercepted it and used it on Jericho for a near fall.
Guevara jumped on the apron. Jericho hit a Judas Effect and pinned Luther.
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Jericho started to cut a promo after the match but he was interrupted.
MJF entered with Wardlow and a surprise for Jericho.
MJF revealed Clownico the Clown and a framed MJF poster as gifts.
Jericho hit the clown with a Judas Effect and broke the poster over his head.
Jericho told MJF he hated clowns and not to ever interrupt him again.
Both sold this with a pregnant pause as if they were about to throw hands.
Instead, they laughed it off.
The heel locker room entered to toast Jericho in the ring as credits rolled, a la the end of Saturday Night Live.
We’ve got a double -issue this week of the Observer with the full rundown of Harold Meij being out in New Japan, WWE’s social media policy as it relates to talent, and extensive G-1 coverage.
Our lead story looks at the Harold Meij era of New Japan, how he got there, the turmoil behind-the-scenes, why he’s leaving, his last words to his fan club, why the guy who handled running a wrestling company during a pandemic is out while in the pandemic and a lot of behind-the-scenes stories regarding New Japan and AEW never making a deal, and whether this can change things, and what the key issues are. The changes he made to the company, the business record and issues in dealing with talent and others and the inherent issues of a non-Japanese person in charge of a major Japanese company. This is the most inside version of what happened there since 2018 and from people who know the situation the best.
Also in this issue:
WWE’s latest when it comes to talent and social media, WWE policy, Andrew Yang and why this could be the worst time to make these decisions.
WWE Clash of Champions, NXT Takeover, Hell in a Cell, the COVID issues in AEW & WWE and how they spread, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
G1 Climax tournament, with standings, best matches, behind-the-scenes,why crowds aren’t quick to sell out, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results of every show.
XFL start, changes in WWE tapings and why 205 Live will be taped with NXT ad not Smackdown, we look at declines in WWE interest and reasons why WWE draft dates, Reigns vs. Rock, Reigns talks C.M. Punk, new Dwayne Johnson TV show looked at, new WWE signings, update on WWE injuries, one of the top college wrestlers already publicly talking about going to WWE, more on TV ratings in U.S. and Canada, former TNA champion talks how close he came to joining WWE, Cena starring in new movie, Zayn talks politics, Rusev talks problems with WWE creative, update on Raw Underground, where tribal chief comes from, WWE market value and the most watched shows on WWE Network over the past week.
UFC 253, with business notes, the main themes of the show plus match-by-match coverage and poll results.
The treatment of women in pro wrestling with notes from a recent BBC article with thoughts from several women involved.
87th anniversary show of CMLL, and the plight of Lucha Libre with no fans.
Jerry Lawler 50th anniversary show.
2020 Hall of Fame ballot in each category, with the top candidate, last year’s highest that haven’t gotten in, as well as a list of those who have been elected in the past five years.
Smackdown and AEW ratings based on the same opposition, as well as network vs. cable when it comes to other sports.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
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FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE
We will have a lot of stuff up on the site this weekend including G-1 coverage, plus tomorrow Garrett Gonzalez, Mike Tenay and I will be doing the first of a two-part series on the 2020 Hall of Fame ballot.
Regarding WrestleMania being in Tampa in 2021 at Raymond James Stadium, WWE has tried to lock down every building in Tampa. Highspots will also be running, likely a scaled down weekend out of the Bryan Glazer Jewish Community Center which is the old Fort Homer Hesterly Armory that housed the Championship Wrestling from Florida promotion run by Eddie Graham.
Key stuff on the weekend schedule:
CMLL tonight at Arena Mexico on iPPV on Mexico’s Ticketmaster site
UFC Saturday from Yaz Island in Abu Dhabi
Impact Victory Road on Saturday
NXT Takeover Sunday from the Performance Center in Orlando
G-1 on Monday in Takamatsu
We have polls, thumbs up,down or middle, best & worst match for the NXT and G-1 shows (including the Tuesday through Thursday shows this week) to [email protected]
CMLL features the A block of a women’s tag team tournamentwith Marcela & Skadi, Amapola & Metalica, Magnifica & Siluerta, Reyna Isis & Tiffany and Comandante & Seductora. The main event is Sanson & Forastero & Cuatrero vs. Euforia & Negro Casas & Gran Guerrero.
UFC on Saturday:
ESPN+ at 7:30 p.m. Eastern
Luigi Vendramini (156) vs. Jessin Ayari (156)
Casey Kenney (136) vs.; Alateng Heili (136)
Loma Lookboonmee (116) vs. Jinh Yu Frey (116)
Jordan Williams (182) vs. Nassourdine Imavov (185.5)
Charles Jourdain (145) vs. Joshua Culibao (145.5)
Court McGee (170.5) vs. Carlos Condit (171)
ESPN at 10: 30 p.m. Eastern
Dequan Townsend (186) vs. Dusko Todorovic (186)
Kyler Phillips (136) vs. Cameron Else (136)
Germaine de Randamie (136) vs. Julianna Pena (135.5)
Yorgan De Castro (261) vs. Carlos Felipe (263)
Holly Holm (136) vs. Irene Aldana (136)
Bellator on Saturday on the Bellator website:
Kiefer Crosbie (156) vs. Charlie Leary (159.2)
Andy Manzolo (184.4) vs. Charlie Ward (186)
James Gallagher (136) vs. Cal Ellenor (135.2)
The New Japan World show at 10 p.m. Eastern tonighthas Danny Limelight vs. Blake Christian and Clark Connors vs. Logan Riegel in the tournament semifinals, plus Karl Fredericks & TJP vs Flip Gordon & Brody King and David Finlay & Jeff Cobb & Rocky Romero & Misterioso vs.; KENTA & Jay White & Chase Owens & Hikuleo.
The Cody/Brodie Lee segment did more than 500,000 viewers in 18-49 making it one of the two or three biggest Wednesday segments with head-to-head competition of the year. If you look at the ratings pattern of Saturday’s show and the loss of the teenage boy audience to the NBA game primarily, had their not been a game, this would have been the most-watched head-to-head Dynamite of the year as the first 30 minutes averaged more than 1 million viewers until the NBA pregame show started.
Bellator star Paul Daley announced he would be retiring after his next fight, and will fight at 175 pounds. Daley said “health before wealth” when he made the announcement. Daley was supposed to face Derek Anderson yesterday in Milan, Italy but ended up hospitalized trying to cut weight.
WWE
The WWE Network debuts a WWE 24 on Drew McIntyre after NXT Takeover on Sunday.
Smackdown tonight has Sami Zayn vs. Jeff Hardy for the IC title, plus the Kevin Owens show with Alexa Bliss and a ceremony crowning Roman Reigns as the Tribal Chief of Smackdown.
Drew McIntyre, Mustafa Ali, Lacey Evans, Zelina Vega and Xavier Woods will be appearing tomorrow for a one-hour live stream at ameriecarese.org/Airlist2020 as well as the Americares YouTube Channel and Facebook page at 8 p.m. Eastern time. The annual benefit will honor frontline health workers and take supporters on a virtual journey to see the organizations’ work in Colombia, Jordan, Liberia, Malwai, The Philippines and the U.S.
Drew McIntyre, HHH,Zelina Vega and Charly Caruso will be appearing on 10/9 at the New York Comic Con virtual gathering at 3:30 p.m. Eastern. This will stream live on the New York Comic Con YouTube channel..
The company has moved its Madrid, Spain date to May 7, 2021.
MMA Fighting reported aht Mara Romero Borella, Jeff Hughes, Iuri Alcantara and Khadis Ibragmiov have all been cut by UFC.
Taila Santos vs Maryna Moroz has been added to the 12/5 show.
MISCELLANEOUS
Thanks to everyone who has purchased my 1997 Yearbook. I’m told sales are so strong that they are already planning on doing a second book on another year in history. The 685-page book is available on Amazon.com for the physical book or you can get it for Kindle or in the U.K. at www.WrestlingObserverBook.com.
Joey Ryan has filed a third lawsuit against a woman from Canada who made allegations against him.
Tom Farhat, the youngest son of The Sheik (Ed Farhat) passed away today from cancer. He worked behind-the-scenes for the past 20 years setting up the rings for MCW and AWWL shows that his brother Eddie Jr. (Captain Ed George) ran in Michigan. (thanks to Leonard Brand)
AAW results from last night in Merrionette Park, IL: Hakim Zane (Rohit Raju) b Travis Titan to keep the AAW Heritage title, Jake Something b Karam, Elayne Black b Skye Blue, Matthew Justice b Manders, Gringo Loco & Air Wolf & Angel Dorado b Ace Perry & Stephen Wolf & Try Miguel, Hyan b Christi Jaynes, Ace Austin & Mad Man Fulton b Davey Vega & Mat Fitchett to win AAW tag titles, Mance Warner b Jake Crist to keep the AAW title. ACH and Fred Yehi were announced for the 10/29 show.
Arcadian Vanguard has purchased the assets of Pro Wrestling Enterprises from Brian Bukantis and Arena Publishing. This includes the rights to the old magazines Wrestling Reveue, Wrestling News Ring Wrestling and all Norman Keitzer published magazines and programs which would include AWA, Mid South, WWF, Michigan and Los Angeles.
Bellator announced the signing of 11-0 Usman Nurmagomedov and former UFC stars Rustam Khabilov and Brett Johns to multi-year contracts. Nurmagomedov is the younger cousin of Khabib and trains out of San Jose, CA and was first trained by Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov in Dagestan.
Both Paul Sosnowski and I are looking for a copy of Rock Rims’ book “When It Was Big Time.” He can be reached at [email protected]
LFA tonight on UFC Fight Pass at 9 p.m. Eastern from the Hartman Arena in Park City, KS
Christian Natividad (135.2) vs,. Jose Holguin (135.6)
Slave Borschev (155.4) vs. Ali Zebian (155.4)
Rodney Kealohi (124.8) vs. Meh Monterrosa (125.4)
Jacob Thrall (134.4) vs. Ricky Furar (135.2)
Dakota Bush (155.8) vs. Brian Del Rosario (155.6)
Andre Fialho (177.8) vs. Antonio Dos Santos (180)
Kevin Wirth (134.4) vs. Askar Askar (135.8)
EPW from today in Western Australia: Davis Storm b Jordan Bishop, Zenith b Ryan, The Don b Chadwick Jackson-DQ, Gorgeous Garry & Toro Blanco b Casey Johns & Felix Young, Gavin McGavin b Dizzy Videl, Great George b Jesse Lambert, Dan Steel & Aaron Hawk b Taylor King & Jack Edwards to keep EPW tag titles. They are running again on Saturday.
Suplex Pro Wrestling runs 10/24 in Newcastle, Australia with a limited capacity.
Toa Henare’s Warrior Wrestling Academy has its first public show on 10/24 in Auckland New Zealand (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
NFC announced a $10,000 All Valley No Gi Jiu Jitsu tournament on 10/17 at Elite Edge Fitness in Atlanta.
Absolute Intense Wrestling on 10/9 in Indianapolis at 8 p.m. at the Marion County Fairgrounds with Matthew Justice vs. Joshua Bishop in a no rope barbed wire match for the Absolute title.
