“In fighting, a lot of things work, but nothing works forever.”
Frank Shamrock, after the September 20, 1996, match where relatively inexperienced Lion’s Den fighter Jerry Bohlander scored a unanimous decision (yes, they had judging in UFC back in 1996) over BJJ world champion Fabio Gurgel at a time when many people thought fighting and world championships in BJJ were synonymous.
On November 12, 1993, Royce Gracie showed much of the world that everything they thought they knew about fighting was a myth. On May 27, 2006, Royce Gracie and those who clung to the belief pure Jiu Jitsu was the supreme fighting system found out that evolution had made everything he thought he knew about fighting also became a myth.
In what will likely go down as among the most historic moments in UFC history, Gracie, the original conqueror of the UFC and dominant fighter of its first year, returned after an 11-year absence and proved the saying that, “You can’t go home again.” Not when the neighborhood, that he and his brother built, had been completely refurbished.
It’s been more than two years since former MMA Junkie editor and current ESPN.com writer Dann Stupp was on my podcast and with such a big fight card this weekend, there was no better time to bring him back to Josh Nason’s Punch-Out.
In our 45-minute chat found below, we hit on several topics:
A high-level preview of Saturday’s UFC 235 which is an on-paper contender for fight card of the year
Why the unheralded Anthony Smith getting a shot at light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is so important
Is the matchmaking right for Ben Askren vs. Robbie Lawler?
Why did I feel nothing inside when the UFC announced an interim lightweight title fight between Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier?
The sad turn of events for the family of Matt Hughes
Why a bad knockout loss Saturday could end the career of Diego Sanchez
Hear that and more on a new JNPO immediately. Can you do no less?
Wrestling Observer Radio with Dave Meltzer and myself, guest co-host Garrett Gonzales, is back.
We first talk about Matt Hughes and the story that his wife and brother filed restraining orders against him. We then talk about the Raw ratings, which were the best in sixth months. We discuss the possibility of WrestleMania 36 being in Tampa Bay and why they would go back to Florida so soon. We also look at the New Japan Anniversary show lineup.
We then recap Smackdown Live and talk about the main storylines, including Vince McMahon changing the Fast Lane main event to Daniel Bryan vs. Kevin Owens. Lastly, we talk 205 Live, ONE FC, how the newsletter (and Dave’s hand) is coming along, as well as a followup on last night’s AAF/XFL story.
Timestamps:
Start – 6:10: Matt Hughes
6:10 – 12:24: Raw ratings, SmackDown changes
12:24 – 13:46: Roman Reigns’ return
13:46 – 17:28: WrestleMania 36 in Tampa
17:28 – 22:19: NJPW Anniversary card
22:19 – 40:48: SmackDown
40:48 – 41:29: 205 Live
41:29 – 42:44: Vitor Belfort and ONE
42:44 – 45:22: Dave gives an update on the Observer
45:22 – 47:55: Thoughts on Jerry Jarrett interview
47:55 – end: AAF/XFL
It appears that WWE has officially taken the first steps towards Ronda Rousey, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte Flair all being involved in the main event of WrestleMania 35.
An angle where Vince McMahon suspended Lynch for 60 days and announced that Charlotte would be taking her place at WrestleMania closed last Monday’s episode of Raw. Charlotte aligned with Vince and fully turned heel, with Vince calling her someone with charisma, someone with charm, and someone who knows their lane and stays in it.
The show didn’t sell out, even in one of WWE’s best markets. The show had more good than bad, with the highlight being the main event, the men’s Chamber match where Daniel Bryan retained and the crowd got so strong behind Kofi Kingston in the Mustafa Ali slot that Vince McMahon changed plans for Fast Lane to put Bryan vs. Kingston on top.
The show was the brainchild of Motoko Baba, to run a big Baba celebration show in 2019, 20 years after his early 1999 death. With her passing away last year, it was her nieces and nephews who put the show together.
All but one count of Mark Hunt’s lawsuit against the UFC, Dana White and Brock Lesnar on the grounds they conspired against him to allow a juiced up Lesnar to fight him at UFC 200 was thrown out of court.
The 2020 Royal Rumble will take place on 1/26 at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Most likely that would also mean Takeover on 1/25 at the Toyota Center, Raw on 1/27 and Smackdown on 1/28.
FOX this weekend started advertising 10/4 as the debut of the new Friday Night Smackdown show.
“Fighting with My Family,” the Dwayne Johnson Seven Bucks Entertainment movie about Growing Up as Paige, which has its big national release on 2/22, has gotten great word-of-mouth so far.
Chris Jericho noted that while he and Gedo are on the same page, that New Japan management hasn’t talked with him about a new deal.
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TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE
by Joseph Currier and Bryan Rose
WWE
SmackDown tonight will be at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The main focus of tonight’s show will be a contract signing between Daniel Bryan and Kofi Kingston for their WWE title match at Fastlane. Johnny Gargano will face Cesaro, while Aleister Black and Ricochet will take on Shinsuke Nakamura and Rusev.
The tournament to determine Buddy Murphy’s challenger for WrestleMania will begin on tonight’s 205 Live with Kalisto vs. Tony Nese and Brian Kendrick vs. Drew Gulak in first round matches. There will be two more first round matches left in the eight-man tournament after tonight.
WWE sent out a statement saying “We have nothing to announce at this time” when asked about reports of WrestleMania 36 taking place in Tampa, Florida next year. The Tampa Bay Times notes that the Tampa Bay Sports Commission declined to comment and directed inquiries to WWE.
Reigns also thanked Robin Roberts and everyone at Good Morning America after his appearance: “Thank you to @RobinRoberts and everyone from @GMA. Thank you for the support and the platform to raise awareness for leukemia research. Now, it’s time to get ready to go back to work!! @WWE”
David Arquette was at Raw in Atlanta last night. Ric Flair tweeted a picture with him backstage before the show.
Flair also sent out a tweet about the angle where he was attacked by Batista at the end of Raw: “I Want To Thank @WWE For Throwing Such A Wonderful Birthday Celebration With Some Of My Closest Friends. As For @DaveBautista… Be Careful Whose Party You Crash, Big Man! #WOOOOO”
After Raw went off the air last night, Shawn Michaels hit Sweet Chin Music on Jinder Mahal and Kurt Angle gave Mahal an Angle Slam onto Flair’s birthday cake.
This week’s Total Bellas drew 424,000 viewers, which is down from last week’s 426,000 viewers.
Check here if you would be interested in volunteering for WrestleMania Axxess.
Pro Wrestling
PWInsider is reporting that CM Punk is looking to have the lawsuit brought on by Colt Cabana tossed out, claiming that Cabana has failed to explain why the suit should move forward after the initial filing was tossed out.
NJPW announced that Yujiro Takahashi will miss their next series of shows due to an eye injury. The announcement noted that Takahashi’s return date is undecided at this point.
ROH’s Ian Riccaboni and his wife Sarah welcomed the birth of their second child: “Nora is here! Mom is a warrior. Happy and healthy.”
UFC/MMA
Matt Hughes has been hit with a restraining order from both his wife and brother after allegations of domestic and physical abuse. Audra Hughes described in court documents that a pattern of abusive behavior that started in 2017 after Hughes’ truck was struck by a train. Mark Hughes also filed a restraining order, alleging that Matt roughed up his son and attacked a tractor in a dispute over who owned the tractor. Both restraining orders were granted.
Ed in San Antonio presents the WRESTLEMANIAWeekend Events (more to be added):
Sunday, April 6th, at 12:00 pm: Lunch (all you can eat) at Churrascaria Plataforma ($90 per person), located at 316 W. 49th street in Manhattan. Purchase tickets here~!
Luxury Bus to MetLife Stadium for Wrestlemania: We will depart from the Hilton Midtown (site of Wrestlecon) located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas. Departure time is 4:00 pm and will return from MetLife approximately 30 mins after the event. Times are subject to change, and cost $67.00 per person for the round trip. Purchase tickets here~!
UFC Hall of Famer and former welterweight champion Matt Hughes, one of the first UFC stars made by television in 2005, is at a Springfield, IL, hospital following an accident Friday morning.
According to police, the accident took place in Raymond, IL, where Hughes, driving a pickup truck, crossed railroad tracks and moved directly in front of an oncoming train. Hughes was transported to HSHS St. John’s Hospital by airlift.
Hughes, 43, a two-time UFC welterweight champion who worked as an office liaison to the fighters until recently, was, according to White, believed to have suffered head trauma in the accident. White said that the accident took place when Hughes was helping out a friend.
The issue is serious enough that White canceled a trip to Paris for a public appearance.
Hughes, a two-time All-American wrestler at Eastern Illinois University, fought from 1998 to 2011, ending his career with a 45-9 record. He was best known for his fights with Georges St-Pierre, B.J. Penn, and Royce Gracie, as well as for the finish of his second fight with Frank Trigg, which is played in an in-arena video montage at almost every live UFC event.
Following his recent release from UFC after his position was eliminated, Hughes had expressed interest in a comeback with Bellator.
The hospital made a statement on Facebook:
“Former UFC fighter and Hillsboro native Matt Hughes was airlifted to HSHS St. John’s Hospital in the noon hour on Friday, June 16, 2017. The HSHS St. John’s Regional Trauma Team stabilized him and continues to help him in his recovery.
Hughes’ family asks that you respect their privacy during this difficult time. They ask that you keep Matt in your thoughts and prayers.”
Two very surprising names were among those in yesterday’s round of layoffs at UFC — two of the building blocks of the promotion, Chuck Liddell and Matt Hughes.
Both fighters were believed to have jobs for life, but were let go in cost-cutting measures by new owners WME IMG.
Liddell was UFC’s top star after beating Randy Couture when UFC hit television in 2005, as light heavyweight champion. Liddell’s fight with Tito Ortiz set a PPV record for the company at the time, and he continued to be a major drawing card until his retirement in 2010. At that time he was named Executive Vice President of Business Development.
Hughes was a two-time welterweight champion and perhaps the most dominant UFC fighter of his era. He had previously set a PPV record months earlier with his win over Royce Gracie, and was in one of the company’s most classic fights with Frank Trigg.
Hughes, after retiring in 2013, was named Vice President of Athletic Development and Government Relations.
A number of employees were let go on Thursday, the second round of major layoffs in attempts by the company to increase the profit margin by greatly reducing costs.
The timing of Liddell and Hughes being let go comes just days after a number of UFC fighters, Cain Velasquez, Donald Cerrone, T.J. Dillashaw, Tim Kennedy, and Georges St-Pierre, who followed Hughes as the dominant welterweight, announced the formation of Mixed Martial Arts Athletes Association, trying to pressure WME IMG into providing more benefits such as a pension and health care for former fighters.
