Tag: hulk hogan

NJPW holds ceremony honoring Hulk Hogan

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Shortly after WWE’s tribute to Hulk Hogan on SmackDown, another promotion on the other side of the world honored him with their own 10-bell salute.

NJPW — where Hogan was a superstar in the 1980s along with the success he had in the United States — held a memorial ceremony for Hogan prior to the start of Saturday’s G1 Climax event in Tokyo. Company president Hiroshi Tanahashi and former referee Tiger Hattori stood in the ring with a picture honoring Hogan. The roster surrounded them at ringside for a 10-bell salute.

Backstage, Hattori spoke about his history with Hogan — which dates back to before Hogan even entered the wrestling business.

“Personally, I can’t believe it. It was too soon, to be honest,” Hattori said about Hogan’s death. “Before he became a professional wrestler, I lived in Tampa, Florida for 17 years, and Hogan’s mother happened to live near my house. So I was about 17 when I first met him. I was in my second year of high school or something like that.

“So I was teaching amateur wrestling at Hiro Matsuda’s gym. He came there as a student, but after about six months he broke his leg. I thought he had disappeared, but then he started coming back. After a while he went to Georgia to make his debut, and then he came back to his hometown of Tampa.”

Hattori remembered Hogan as a wrestler he had a lot of respect for.

“He was definitely outstanding, more than your average wrestler. He was big in size, but I don’t know, I think he was just a little different,” Hattori said. “He had such great success so it’s sad that he passed away so early, but I have a lot of respect for him as a professional wrestler.

“I bet he’s up there again wrestling in heaven. We’ve lost a truly wonderful person. I hope we’ll see another wrestler like him. I want to say thank you for all the great times we had.”

Hogan first wrestled for NJPW in 1980 and competed for the promotion until 1985 before returning in the early 1990s. He returned again in 2003 for his final NJPW match, facing Masahiro Chono.

The 71-year-old Hogan died on July 24 of cardiac arrest after weeks of complications stemming from a neck fusion surgery.

WOR: Hulk Hogan biography, Mark Briscoe interview

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

Dave Meltzer and I, Garrett Gonzales, are back with our Friday edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, talking about all the big news from today’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

For the first part of the show, we talked about Dave’s story on Hulk Hogan. Dave also talked about the media that he did as well as how big this story was from a non-wrestling fan perspective.

We also talked about Netflix’s engagement report with the WWE viewership numbers, AEW Dynamite ratings from Wednesday and new information on the HBO Max numbers, as well as Will Ospreay.

Then, Mark Briscoe joined the show. He talked about the Player’s Tribune documentary Two In One: The Briscoe Story.

You can also watch our interview with Mark on the free YouTube section of our channel.

Click here to listen (sub needed)

Shane McMahon honors Hulk Hogan: ‘Hulk’s legacy is truly immortal’

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Shane McMahon has paid tribute to Hulk Hogan.

McMahon on Friday quote tweeted his father Vince McMahon’s statement on X and responded with a message of his own, thanking Hogan for everything he did not only for WWE, but also for the McMahon family.

“My dad could not have been more eloquent about what he wrote about the Hulkster. What a deep loss for us all. Hulk’s legacy is truly immortal. Thank you Terry for everything that you did for both the McMahon and WWE family. We will all miss you. God speed Brother,” he wrote.

Vince released a rare statement on Thursday shortly after Hogan’s death, saying that the world “lost a treasure today” and called the six-time WWE Champion and Hall of Famer “the greatest WWE Superstar of ALL TIME.”

On SmackDown, WWE paid tribute to Hogan with a ten bell salute. There was also a video narrated by Triple H that covered Hogan’s extensive career from his beginnings in the territories in the 1970s through his most recent appearances, including his final on the Raw Netflix premiere this past January.

WWE pays tribute to Hulk Hogan on SmackDown

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Image: WWE

WWE paid tribute to Hulk Hogan on SmackDown.

The open to Friday’s show had the entire WWE roster on stage for the traditional ten bell salute. Former WWE stars Ted DiBiase, Jimmy Hart, B. Brian Blair, Gerald Brisco, Sgt. Slaughter, and Hacksaw Jim Duggan were also seen. Triple H said a few words before the bell rang ten times.

After the bell salute, a video tribute aired narrated by Triple H that ran over Hogan’s life and career, ranging from early appearances to winning the WWE Championship in 1984, the formation of the nWo, and more recent footage including his final WWE appearance at the Netflix premiere of Raw in January.

“Gone but not forgotten, The Incredible Hulk Hogan,” were the final words said in the video by longtime WWE announcer Mean Gene Okerlund.

Later in the show, Cody Rhodes took time to thank Hogan before focusing on his street fight against John Cena at next week’s SummerSlam PLE.

Hogan passed away on Thursday at the age of 71 after suffering from cardiac arrest at his home. He had been dealing with complications from neck fusion surgery that took place back in May. Tributes have poured across social media in the last 24 hours including from TNA & NJPW, Eric Bischoff, Steve Austin, Vince McMahon, The Rock, President Donald Trump, Linda McMahon, and more.

WWE SmackDown live results: Hulk Hogan tribute

Posted on by Marc Quill

With SummerSlam fast approaching, Cody Rhodes will appear tonight on WWE SmackDown inside Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. He’ll continue the build to his upcoming Undisputed WWE Championship street fight against John Cena ahead of the August 2-3 PLE.

Rhodes made the match official during a contract signing last week after it turned into a brawl with Cena, who tried to back out of the SummerSlam match until Rhodes retaliated and put Cena through a table to send a message.

The Wyatt Sicks’ Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy will have their first defense of the WWE Tag Team titles against Andrade and Rey Fenix, who won a fatal four-way bout on last week’s SmackDown to earn a shot on tonight’s show.

Alexa Bliss will be in action to take on Roxanne Perez, ahead of her and Charlotte Flair teaming up to take on Perez and Raquel Rodriguez for the Women’s Tag Team titles at SummerSlam. Last week, Bliss helped her partner Flair pick up the win against Rodriguez in singles action.

Randy Orton, Jelly Roll, Drew McIntyre, and Logan Paul are all scheduled for tonight’s show in advance of their tag match at SummerSlam.

WWE has also announced that tonight’s SmackDown will pay tribute to the late Hulk Hogan, who passed away yesterday at the age of 71. Several legends are expected to be in attendance.

Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

Following the WWE signature open, we went inside to the Rocket Arena to see the entire SmackDown locker room stood on the stage, with a memorial graphic for Hulk Hogan. Paul “Triple H ” Levesque talked about Hogan’s legacy as he then asked for a ten-bell salute in Hogan’s memory. We then got a video tribute for Hogan’s career.

– Once we got back from the break, Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett briefly talked about Hogan some more before being interrupted by Logan Paul.

Logan Paul hosts live edition of Impaulsive TV

The so-called “Maverick” opened things with his Impaulsive TV set inside the ring. He asked why the Cleveland fans weren’t chanting for their hometown hero. Paul said that Cleveland did raise him, but it didn’t make him. In fact, he supposedly “made” Cleveland. Paul said that he and the crowd inside the Rocket Arena had nothing in common, because while he made it out, he didn’t. Paul talked about how tonight was about giving back to the community, by way of holding a special live edition of his Impaulsive TV show. Paul disparaged Jelly Roll for a bit before the man himself interrupted him.

Jelly said that the only thing Paul inspired was “little asshole kids filming themselves to be assholes”. He noted that Cleveland did not like Paul at all, as the Impaulsive TV host got him to shut up. Paul put himself and Drew McIntyre over as two of the most impressive stars in WWE right now. He asked Jelly Roll just who the hell he thinks he is. Jelly responded that he was the guy that was going to put Paul in a bodybag and ship him back to West Lake.

Jelly called Paul a “silver spoon kid” as he said that he was getting in the ring not just for himself, but for those who had been ever picked on by high school jocks. Jelly talked about how he was a WWE fan for his entire life, and how the company represented him and “every single one of us”. Jelly discussed how his story has inspired millions of millions of people as he called Paul “soft as Charmin” and a “Prime-peddling punk-ass bitch.”

Drew McIntyre entered the ring as he and Paul outnumbered Jelly Roll. At this point, Jelly said that he didn’t come alone as Randy Orton walked down the ramp to even the odds. Once Orton entered the ring, we got a fight right off the bat. McIntyre got the upper hand on Orton with a rake to the eye as he went after Jelly Roll. In the ring, McIntyre asked Paul to go after Jelly. Orton pulled McIntyre out of the ring, which allowed Jelly to fight back with elbows and a shoulder block.

Paul kicked Jelly in the midsection as he loaded up his fist for his signature punch. Jelly recovered and delivered a Black Hole Slam, which sent Paul scurrying.

I’ve been clear in the past about how how this feud wasn’t working for me at all, but I have to give some credit to Jelly Roll, as his work at the Performance Center has seemingly paid off. Other than that, the tag match at SummerSlam is still something I’m not looking forward to very much.

**********

– We got a video from Andrade & Rey Fenix discussing their chances against The Wyatt Sicks in their WWE Tag Team Championship match tonight.

Alexa Bliss (w/ Charlotte Flair) vs. Roxanne Perez (w/ Raquel Rodriguez)

Bliss went for consecutive early roll-ups on Perez,, to no avail. Perez slammed Bliss’s head down on the mat to gain a momentary advantage as she then slapped Bliss in the face. That seemed to anger Bliss, who threw Perez in the corner as the action spilled outside. Bliss dove onto Perez on the outside, as Charlotte Flair and Raquel Rodriguez stared one another down to take us to the break.

We returned with Bliss mounting a comeback on Perez as she unleashed her flurry of offense, topped off by a dropkick on the button. She blasted Perez with her flipping neckbreaker and lined up for the Sister Abigail DDT. Perez raked Bliss in the eye, which allowed Rodriguez to interfere with a strike to Bliss. Perez headed up top for the moonsault and connected. The cover, but Bliss kicked out as Flair threw Rodriguez over the timekeepers’ area.

Rodriguez recovered and kicked Flair in the face outside the ring. Bliss had Perez dead to rights with the Twisted Bliss, but she leapt outside to take out Rodriguez instead. As Bliss tried to enter the ring, Perez rolled her up and did the classic heel trick of holding the ropes for leverage to pick up the sneaky win.

Roxanne Perez def. Alexa Bliss via pinfall

A fine match and the cheating victory by Roxanne does make the “series” even between the SummerSlam opponents in singles action ahead of next week’s Women’s Tag Team Championship match.

**********

– After Cathy Kelley interviewed Jade Cargill, Chelsea Green appeared and talked trash about Cargill. Unbeknownst to Green, Cargill was behind her and attacked her as she dragged her to the ring and we got an impromptu match.

Jade Cargill vs. Chelsea Green

The match began before the break with Cargill hitting her pump kick on Green. As we resumed SmackDown, Cargill continued her dominance with splashes in the corner, followed by a one-handed chokeslam. On the apron, Alba Fyre provided a momentary distraction, which allowed Green to hit a jumping neckbreaker for a near-fall.

Green tried to deliver the Un-Pretty-Her, but Cargill reversed and finished this short match off with Jaded.

After the match, the Secret Her-vice pounced with the attack on Cargill until WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton ran in to make the save. The two SummerSlam opponents cleared the ring of Alba Fyre and Piper Niven in short order. We then got a tense staredown between Cargill and Stratton, as the latter held the WWE Women’s Title in her hands momentarily.

A short one, and likely meant to set up a tag match for Cargill and Stratton versus the Secret Her-vice next week on the go-home-to-SummerSlam edition of SmackDown.

Jade Cargill def. Chelsea Green via pinfall

**********

– Backstage, Charlotte Flair attempted to give words of encouragement to Alexa Bliss after her match. She stated that they could become true friends if they won the WWE Women’s Tag Titles at SummerSlam.

Cody Rhodes addresses SummerSlam and John Cena

With a new track jacket and the crowd’s cheers, Cody Rhodes walked down to the ring. He started by talking about how Hulk Hogan’s death elicited complicated emotions, but that his contributions to WWE and sports entertainment could not be ignored.

Rhodes shifted gears by discussing the violence that was to come at the Street Fight at SummerSlam. He said that doing the right thing sometimes don’t look like the right think and that what he did to John Cena last week was just a taste of what’s to come. Rhodes said that he didn’t want to the John Cena who is counting the days before he left, but he wanted to fight the “real” John Cena. That’s because Rhodes wanted to fight the very best to prove that he can be the very best. He dared Cena to come to his last SummerSlam like it is his first. Rhodes wanted all the “hustle, loyalty, and respect” so he and Cena could beat it out of each other.

The reason Rhodes wanted to fight against the “real” John Cena was because he wanted to know if that story that he was on was real, and that the only person who had the answer to that question was Cena himself. “I’ll see you next week,” said Rhodes to conclude his promo.

Just your standard Cody Rhodes promo to sell the SummerSlam match against John Cena, but he at least delivers these promos well and it helps build excitement ahead of next week.

**********

– Jacob Fatu addressed last week’s events that involved Solo Sikoa’s attempted frame-up of him. Fatu warned Sikoa that he was going to dogwalk his ass at SummerSlam inside the steel cage. The Miz walked up behind Fatu and claimed that he was the “main character” and he got himself a match against Fatu cleared tonight. Miz brazenly slapped Fatu across the face before he walked off.

– Aleister Black and Damian Priest traded barbs about one another in a video promo ahead of their showdown on next week’s SmackDown.

The Miz vs. Jacob Fatu

Fatu rocked Miz with his running spinning elbow as he lived up to his boast prior to this match and began to indeed “dogwalk” Miz early on. Miz avoided a running hip charge from Fatu, but couldn’t avoid a strike that left him stunned in the corner. Before Fatu could continue his charge, Solo Sikoa and his M.F.T.s walked down in unison, which allowed Miz to take charge with a blow to Fatu’s knees. Miz then jettisoned Fatu into the ring post, which sent him outside the ring. The M.F.T.s looked on at their fallen rival as we headed to a break in the action.

SmackDown returned from the break with Fatu fighting back against Miz, flooring him with a clothesline followed by the running senton. In the corner, Fatu teed off on Miz with repeated headbutts. Fatu knocked Miz out with the hip attack as the M.F.T.s pulled Miz out of the ring. This prompted Fatu to respond with a dive to the outside, which took out nearly the entire group.

In the ring, Fatu finished Miz off with the pop-up Samoan Drop. However, the Samoan Werewolf did not have any time for a celebration, as he got immediately ambushed by the M.F.T.s. Jimmy Uso evened the odds as he emerged with a steel chair. He cleared past Tama Tonga and J.C. Mateo with the chair. However, Tala Tonga withstood Uso’s attack and took him down. Fatu recovered and managed to fend off the M.F.T.s one by one, which left Sikoa alone in the ring and prone in the corner.

Fatu trapped Sikoa with a chair wrapped around his neck and looked to deliver a vicious hip attack, but Tala Tonga entered the fray and floored Fatu with a clothesline. Chokeslam by Tonga, was soon followed by Sikoa delivering the Samoan Spike to Fatu. The M.F.T.s stood tall in the ring as the United States Champion trashtalked his SummerSlam foe.

It was nice to see the Miz back in action for this match, and I think it was imperative for Sikoa and the M.F.T.s. to get their heat back since last week, they were the ones on the receiving end of the humiliation from Fatu and Jimmy Uso.

Jacob Fatu def. The Miz

**********

– The Street Profits and #DIY had a disagreement backstage, as Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa said they had a plan for the Wyatt Sicks later on in our main event.

– Backstage, Zelina Vega confronted Giulia until Kiana James appeared as the Women’s United States Champion’s “official representation”. We learned that Giulia would be defending her U.S. Championship next week against Vega.

SummerSlam Saturday Card

  • Gunther vs. CM Punk (World Heavyweight Championship)
  • Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez vs. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss (Women’s Tag Team Championship)
  • Roman Reigns & Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed
  • Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill (WWE Women’s Championship)
  • Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross

SummerSlam Sunday Card

  • Street Fight: John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Champipnship)
  • Dominik Mysterio vs. AJ Styles (Intercontinental Championship)
  • Steel Cage Match: Solo Sikoa vs. Jacob Fatu (United States Championship)
  • No DQ, No Countout: Becky Lynch vs. Lyra Valkyria (Women’s Intercontinental Championship)
  • Triple Threat: Naomi vs. IYO SKY vs. Rhea Ripley (Women’s World Heavyweight Championship)

WWE Tag Team Championship Match: The Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis) vs. Andrade & Rey Fenix

Fenix started off on the offense against Gacy as he and Andrade looked to be in chemistry early on. The two had Gacy and Lumis draped across the middle rope as they hit the double team kick barrage on the champs.

Andrade went right away for the Three Amigos, as things picked up immensely with Lumis pulling Fenix off the top rope. This allowed Gacy to hit his signature handspring-into-lariat against Fenix, which took us to the final commercial break of the evening.

We returned to our main event with Fenix connecting on a superkick against Lumis, who was the legal man for the Wyatt Sicks. Andrade got the hot tag as he was a house of fire against both Lumis and Gacy. He nailed Gacy in the corner with the running Meteora, but that only got the two. Andrade looked for The Message, but Gacy reversed, as Lumis tagged in and got his helping of a double team attack on Andrade. Fenix tried to interject, but he got thrown aside.

Andrade countered the assisted powerbomb of the Wyatt Sicks with double knees. Fenix leapt to the outside to eliminate Lumis at ringside. This allowed Andrade to deliver The Message on Gacy. One, two…. Nikki Cross pulled the referee out of the ring to cause the disqualification.

Erick Rowan entered the ring and began to lay waste to Andrade. Fraxiom and The Motor City Machine Guns tried to interject, but also got waylaid by the massive Rowan. The two teams recovered as the fight continued to break down,. The Street Profits joined the fray and took out Rowan. #DIY walked down the ramp with SmackDown GM Nick Aldis in tow.

In the ring, the Street Profits took turns in taking flight to eliminate everyone outside the ring.

Nick Aldis addressed the situation as he declared that at SummerSlam, the entire SmackDown tag team division will compete in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match. We ended the night in total bedlam with everyone brawling in and out of the ring as referees and security officials failed to contain the chaos caused by SmackDown’s tag division.

Rey Fenix & Andrade def. The Wyatt Sicks via Disqualification

**********

A wild, wild ending to our main event for the night, with an equally-chaotic match being set up for SummerSlam in the process. The SmackDown tag division shined with their TLC match on an episode of SmackDown a few months back, so them getting PLE time to run it back (with the added element of the Wyatt Sicks thrown in) should make for an entertaining bout.

Overall, a strange SmackDown that seemed to be more about setting the stage for the go-home show next week than anything else, on top of the Hulk Hogan tribute at the beginning that made for an unusual night of wrestling action.

Daily Update: Hulk Hogan, WWE SummerSlam, The Smashing Machine

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest Headlines

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • Notes from the new issue:
  • Life of Hulk Hogan, notes on his death, WWE expansion, comparisons with Rikidozan, Santo and Dwayne Johnson, the complicated legacy, the story behind the tape that ruined his legacy, last WWE appearance, Bobby Heenan comments,  Jimmy Hart’s first connection with Hogan, first match with Andre and how it got him to national TV,  lies about his career, meeting Superstar Billy Graham the start of his career and the real story on Hiro Matsuda, Ed Leslie, Austin Idol, New Japan Pro Wrestling, the Terry Funk hotel room story, never doing jobs, the myths about the AWA title, leaving the AWA, his most famous match with Inoki,  his return to WWF, the first WrestleMania, record breaking attendance, WrestleMania III payoff,  Ultimate Warrior, WestleMania VII with Sgt. Slaughter, the Zahorian and McMahon steroid trials, Jerry McDevitt, going to WCW, the rise and fall of WCW,  the Sting & Goldberg matches, the end in WCW and return to WWE, the TNA run and life after wrestling.
  • Updates on SummerSlam
  • Notes on Buff Bagwell
  • The most detailed look at what we’ve learned about both viewing habits on Netflix as well as actual numbers for Smackdown, NXT, PPVs and shows from the past.
  • Complete UFC 318 coverage and retirement of Dustin Poirier
  • G-1 notes
  • TNA Slammiversary coverage
  • The most detailed look at the TV ratings over the past week
  • CMLL anniversary show taking shape
  • MJF headed to Arena Mexico
  • The amazing Friday night show this past week
  • The weekend battle of Mexico City
  • A look at why CMLL is on fire
  • Omos update
  • Stardom major show coverage
  • All Japan big matches
  • NOAH and the two GHC title bouts
  • Real American Freestyle update
  • How the financial situation after WWE has changed for certain women after leaving the company
  • A look at Ed Don George and his being honored this past week
  • More on Cowboy Bob Ellis
  • AEW on MAX update as well as DVR numbers
  • Bryan Danielson talks a lot about many different things
  • The Ali Act and the attempt to change it to benefit TKO
  • Dana White on Jon Jones
  • Lots of new UFC PP main events
  • Diego Sanchez arrested
  • Ben Askran returns home
  • Changes in the WWE workplace
  • Notes on Survivor Series this year
  • Punk on his promos
  • Goldberg talks
  • McIntyre  with Logan Paul
  • A celebrity out of the video game after his situation with WWE has changed
  • WWE weekend house shows

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Friday Update

Garrett Gonzales and I did a show today where I answered a lot of questions on Hulk Hogan from those who read today’s story, we talked about WWE on Netflix and what we’ve learned from the latest numbers about how viewing habits have changed, and have a great interview with Mark Briscoe as well.  Bryan and I will be back  Sunday talking about the news of the weekend.

The Hulk Hogan issue of the Observer is out right now on the site.  We’ve gotten so much positive response to it and man, this was one tough issue to put together on such a short timeline.  There is so much in this story that we’ve never talked about before, notes on his life, background, trace through his career, fabrications, realities, and so much more.

There are at least two documentaries by major networks being worked on regarding Hulk Hogan.  One will be out in early August.  Apparently Netflix is doing a third one as well, but it’s a WWE production, which means most likely bad on the historical accuracy side.  Hopefully not.  I’d say good luck, because it’s quite the subject.  I think even more than Andre, the Hogan story has always been very myth oriented. Not Rikidozan in Korea level of myth, but it’s been amazing reading Hogan history and seeing how little people understand what wrestling was pre-1984.

Hulk Hogan’s beach merch shop in Clearwater, FL is shutting down, but the Hulk Hogan  Sam Sports Bar across the street from Madison Square Garden is still scheduled to open up.

Ike Richman,  the former PR director at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, noted that Hulk Hogan wrestled 55 times in the building.  That’s third all-time behind Bob Backlund with 72 and Tony Garea with 58.  (thanks to  Chuck Langerman)

Arena Mexico is sold out tonight even with AAA having a show head-to-head at Juan de la Barrera Gym.  AAA also sold out.  WWE has a show tomorrow night at Arena Ciudad (a totally loaded show that I expect will draw well and sell out or come close).   CMLL sold out with  a main event of Mascara Dorada vs. Neon in the Leyenda de Plata tournament final and those two are likely going to have a mind blowing match that will either hit huge or miss huge.  Probably the former.   Mistico faces Hechicero.  AAA at Juan de la Barrera Gym is Alberto El Patron vs. Mesias and if Mesias wins Alberto must leave AAA, El Grande American (Ludwig Kaiser) vs. Octagon Jr., and Natalya & Lola  Vice have a three-way match with Dalys & Chik Tormenta and Faby Apache & Lady Shani.

The current issue didn’t have a match rating for Mistico & Atlantis Jr. & Bandido vs. Zandokan Jr. & Barboza & Difunto from last Friday but it would be ****1/2.  The heat was off the charts and the rudo team was just incredible.  The only negative is that the entire show tried to do too many matches due to the tournament so every match felt too short.  But in many ways that match was something to see as The Fantasmas trio never looked better.  

I expect a huge rating for Smackdown tonight with the Hogan tribute show in Cleveland.

Notable in the WWE announcement of each night of SummerSlam is that it feels like they’ve loaded night one with the Gunther match, the Roman Reigns match and the Randy Orton match.  Night two has the biggest match in John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes and the three-way women’s match with Naomi vs. Iyo Sky vs. Rhea Riipley that on paper looks to have the best chance at being the top match.  

Happy Gilmore 2 is up on Netflix right now.

Xelhua vs. Virus in a Pure rules match will be taped at Collision tomorrow in Chicago at the Aragon Ballroom.  It will air on ROH, not Collision.  Also wrestling on the show will be Magnus, Rugido, Volador Jr., Hechicero and Neon.  Neon is also on the card at Arena Coliseo tomorrow night.  The guy can fly but that’s asking a lot.

The head-to-head Saturday in Mexico City has WWE with Cody Rhodes, Gunther, Dominik Mysterio, Penta, Fenix, Jey Uso, Stephanie Vaquer,  Mr.  Iguana, Pagano, Psycho Clown and Jacob Fatu.  CMLL runs Arena Coliseo with the Sky Team vs. Averno & Zandokan Jr. & Anel de Orto and the return of El Hijo del Villano III teaming with brother Villano III Jr. against Templario & Titan.  I just noticed that Neon is booked in Mexico City and Chicago at the same time.  

G-1 tonight at  2 a.m. Eastern and 11 p.m. Pacific from the Ota Ward Gym in Tokyo

  • Yoshi-Hashi vs.  Great O’Khan
  • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. El Phantasmo
  • Ren Narita vs. Shota Umino
  • Konosuke Takeshita vs. Shingo Takagi

Pete Dunne will be on the 8/2 Bloodsport show in Rutherford, NJ.

Impact TV tapings from last night for next week:

  • Xia Brookside & Lei Ying Lee beat ?
  • Indi Hartwell and Dani Luna defeated Jody Threat and Ariana Grace
  • The Rascalz beat The Nemeths
  • After the match, The Nemeths cut a promo. Nic said their loss at Slammiversary was a fluke, but are invoking their rematch clause vs the Hardys at Emergence.
  • Ryan made fun of Rhode Island’s lack of sports teams and their ugly children. Home Town Man came out and demanded an apology. Shockingly they didn’t apologize. Nemeth’s laid out HTM and unmasked him, but security covered him up. Rascalz ran back down to run them off.
  • A LOT of people left after the live Impact, even though they announced there were more matches to go.

After Impact…

  • KO Champion Jacy Jayne vs Masha Slamovich. Masha wins by DQ when Ash by Elegance came  in and hits Masha with the KO Tag Team Title. The match went around 5 minutes and was disappointing if only because they didn’t have the time to have a better match with a better finish.
  • X-Division Champion Leon Slater vs Cedric Alexander vs Jason Hotch. Leon retained in a great, but short match.
  • Moose and Eddie Edwards vs AJ Francis & Trick Williams. Moose pinned Trick with a Spear after KC Navarro accidentally hit Trick with his crutch.
  • Matt cut an end of show promo, saying Trick’s title reign will be short and then talked about how special this run has been.
  • My guesstimate was the crowd was around 400. Only around 100 remained at the end of the show. They cut the arena down quite a bit. When AEW was here a few years ago for Rampage and Battle of the Belts, they probably did around 2500 for comparison. (thanks to Arya Witner)

Looking for reports on these shows this weekend:

  • WWE in Cleveland tonight (dark matches only)
  • RevPro Summer Sizzler today.
  • TNA tonight in Kingston, RI
  • WWE tomorrow night in Mexico City
  • WWE Sunday in Monterrey, Mexico
  • Looking for results, finishes and highlights to [email protected]

The world premiere of The Smashing Machine, the Dwayne Johnson movie where he plays Mark Kerr, a former rival of Kurt Angle in amateurs, and later at one point considered the top heavyweight in MMA before his career was derailed, will be at the Venice International Film Festival.

Matt Sydal worked his first match in a long time on 7/19 in  Beziers, France, losing to Ultimo Dragon

Mercedes Mone performs on Sunday for Prime Time Wrestling in Koslow, Poland, facing Diana Strong from Poland.

James Ellsworth, Reggie B. Fine and WWEID wrestler Aaron Roberts are on tomorrow’s Memphis Wrestling TV show.

MCW on Sunday at 7 p.m. at the North Point, Flea Market in Baltimore at 2401 North Point  Blvd.  Matt Riddle, Patrick Clark (Velveteen Dream) and Nick Comoroto are on the show.

Hulk Hogan’s wife Sky: I ‘truly believed’ he would overcome health issues

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Though Hulk Hogan was battling serious health issues before his death, his wife Sky Daily believed that he would kick out and they would be able to spend more time together.

Hogan (Terry Bollea) passed away of cardiac arrest on Thursday following weeks of rumors about his health as he was dealing with complications from neck surgery. Those complications had him in and out of the hospital, but Daily still believed that her husband would recover.

“I wasn’t ready for this…and my heart is in pieces,” she wrote in an Instagram tribute today. “He had been dealing with some health issues, but I truly believed we would overcome them. I had so much faith in his strength. I thought we still had more time.

“This loss is sudden and impossible to process. To the world, he was a legend… but to me, he was my Terry. The man I loved. My partner. My heart.”

Hogan and Daily — a yoga instructor — wed in 2023, with this being Hogan’s third marriage. He is survived by his two children, Brooke and Nick, from his first marriage with Linda Hogan.

Daily asked everyone to keep Hogan’s family in their prayers as they navigate this difficult time.

“Hulk loved his fans so much and despite his growing physical discomfort, he did everything he could to show up, sign autographs, take photos, and connect with the people who supported him through it all,” Daily wrote. “You meant everything to him.

“He was a believer in Christ, and I take comfort knowing his soul is at peace and he’s been welcomed home. Please keep his family and all of us who loved him in your prayers as we try to navigate this new reality.”

Eric Bischoff unable to attend Hulk Hogan WWE SmackDown tribute: ‘I will be there in spirit’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Though he wishes he could be there, Eric Bischoff won’t be in attendance when WWE pays tribute to Hulk Hogan on SmackDown tonight.

Bischoff posted a tweet this afternoon saying WWE invited him to SmackDown for the show, but he will not be able to make it in time. The episode is being held at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, and Jimmy Hart, Sgt. Slaughter, and “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase are among the legends who will be there for the Hogan tribute.

“I appreciate the invitation and wish I could be in Clevland in time. But I will be there in spirit,” Bischoff wrote. “And so will Hulk.”

Bischoff and Hogan were good friends and business partners for decades, and the two were working together on a new venture called Real American Freestyle prior to Hogan’s passing. That organization –which offers amateur wrestling stars the chance to continue their careers as professionals — plans to continue on despite Hogan’s death. The inaugural RAF show is scheduled for August 30 and will air on the streaming service Fox Nation.

In the weeks preceding his death, Hogan had been experiencing health complications after undergoing neck fusion surgery. He died in Clearwater, Florida on July 24 of cardiac arrest.

WWE paying tribute to Hulk Hogan on SmackDown, legends set to attend

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Update —

TMZ reports that WWE is bringing legends Jimmy Hart, Sgt. Slaughter, and “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase to Cleveland to be in attendance for tonight’s tribute to Hulk Hogan on SmackDown.

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While there are no details about the exact plans, WWE has confirmed that it will honor Hulk Hogan on SmackDown tonight.

WWE.com’s preview for tonight’s show now lists a Hogan tribute in addition to the other matches and segments that will be taking place. The show is being held at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.

“WWE will pay tribute to the legendary icon and WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan, tonight on SmackDown at 8 ET/7 CT on USA,” the promotion wrote.

Hogan, the most famous wrestler in company history, died of cardiac arrest on Thursday after experiencing weeks of complications following a May neck surgery. WWE paid tribute to him yesterday with a post on the company’s website, with Paul “Triple H” Levesque then authoring a social media statement where he credited Hogan for helping make WWE what it is today.

Here is the full SmackDown preview for tonight:

WWE SmackDown (Friday, July 25) —

  • Cody Rhodes addresses his upcoming street fight with Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena at SummerSlam
  • WWE pays tribute to Hulk Hogan
  • WWE Tag Team Champions The Wyatt Sicks (Dexter Lumis & Joe Gacy) defend against Andrade & Rey Fenix
  • Alexa Bliss vs. Roxanne Perez
  • Randy Orton, Jelly Roll, Logan Paul, and Drew McIntyre appear

Fight Game: Hulk Hogan’s complicated legacy

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

John LaRocca and I, Garrett Gonzales, are back to discuss the latest happenings in the world of pro wrestling.

We skipped the Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down winners and losers of the week segment so we could get right into the meat of the show which was a discussion on the life, times, and complicated legacy of Hulk Hogan.

We went over his early career through the lens of our childhood from the time we saw him in Rocky III and then through our adult eyes until his passing on Thursday, July 24.

We also talked about the following:

  • AEW Dynamite angles
  • The newest matches for SummerSlam
  • JC Mateo’s acting

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF – Exclusive Subscriber only Podcasts

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

Report: Netflix working on Hulk Hogan docuseries since 2024

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A Netflix docuseries focused on Hulk Hogan has reportedly been in the works since 2024.

On Thursday, Hogan — the most famous pro wrestling star in U.S. history — passed away of cardiac arrest at 71 years old. Hollywood insider Matthew Belloni wrote about Hogan’s passing for Puck News and shared that WWE, Hogan, and Netflix had been working together on a docuseries. More than 20 hours of new interviews with Hogan were filmed for the project.

Belloni wrote in his newsletter:

The Hulkster died mid-documentary: Hulk Hogan, who died today at 71, will be remembered for mainstreaming pro wrestling and bringing down Gawker. He also left behind an unfinished docuseries on his life that Netflix has quietly been working on since last year, per sources. Director Bryan Storkel and producer Connor Schell’s Words + Pictures have been collaborating with WWE and Hogan on the multipart series, which will include more than 20 hours of new interviews with Hogan that were shot before his passing. There’s no release date yet.

Netflix is the broadcast home of WWE Raw in the United States and carries a wider array of WWE programming in international markets. The partnership between the two companies officially kicked off with Raw making its Netflix debut on January 6, which ended up being the last appearance Hogan ever made for WWE.

While this project does not have a premiere date yet, a new docuseries titled “WWE: Untold” will debut on Netflix on July 29. It aims to give viewers an inside look at WWE creative and some of the company’s stars.

Jimmy Hart mourns death of ‘best friend’ Hulk Hogan

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Just days after claiming that Hulk Hogan was doing “phenomenal” amid his health issues, legendary wrestling manager Jimmy Hart is mourning the loss of his best friend.

Hart was one of Hogan’s closest associates, working with him on-screen for decades and traveling everywhere with Hogan as his real-life manager. He expressed love for Hogan’s family following Thursday’s tragic news and reflected on the times he and Hogan shared together.

“What can you say when losing a best friend. First to Hulk’s family I love you. I am here for you all,” Hart wrote. “Hulkster you always kept me close to you through everything it was an honor. We traveled the world back and forth. Wherever we went Hulkamania was ALIVE brother!! The fans always came out and we loved every minute of it. You made more people smile than I’ll ever be able to count. Those are the memories I’ll forever cherish. Thank you for a 4 decade ride. I will keep the Megaphone going, Red and Yellow will live on, legends never die Baby!!! I love you Terry ‘Hulkamania’ FOREVER!!”

The 71-year-old Hogan passed away on July 24 after suffering cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida. In the weeks preceding his death, Hogan had been in and out of the hospital due to complications from a May neck surgery, but those close to him denied rumors that he was in grave condition.

Along with managing Hogan, Hart has been involved with his business ventures like the weekly karaoke event at Hogan’s Hangout. The Clearwater restaurant put out a statement yesterday asking everyone to respect the privacy of Hogan’s friends and family during this time.

“It is with a heavy heart and deep sadness that we confirm we have lost a legend. Our beloved Terry Bollea, known worldwide as Hulk Hogan, passed away today surrounded by his loved ones,” Hogan’s Hangout said on Thursday. “At this time of grief, we ask that everyone please respect the privacy of his family and friends.

“May we all take solace in the wonderful memories he left behind for the millions of fans worldwide whose lives he touched for more than four decades. He will be missed, but never forgotten.”

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The complicated history & legacy of Hulk Hogan

Posted on by Karl Stern

Join pro wrestling historian and author Karl Stern on the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show as he talks about the complicated history and legacy of pro wrestling legend Hulk Hogan who passed away Thursday at his Florida home.

Hogan, who began his pro wrestling career in the late 1970s, became one of the most famous wrestlers in history and a major pop culture star as well. From his movies to his reality show, he was one of the biggest media stars pro wrestling ever produced.

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

July 28, 2025 Observer Newsletter: The life & times of Hulk Hogan

Posted on by F4W Staff

Image: WWE

Dave Meltzer returns with a new Wrestling Observer Newsletter, led off by his obituary on the late Hulk Hogan who passed away Thursday in Florida due to cardiac arrest.

Dave also looks at the NJPW G1 tournament, a quick-hit preview of next weekend’s WWE SummerSlam, the latest news in AEW, CMLL, AAA, TNA, and other promotions, plus more history.

Click here to read.