Tag: summer struggle in jingu

NJPW Summer Struggle in Jingu live results: EVIL vs. Tetsuya Naito

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Five title matches will take place today at NJPW Summer Struggle in Jingu, held at Jingu Stadium. 

In the main event, former Los Ingobernables de Japon member EVIL, now part of Bullet Club, will defend the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental titles against LIJ leader Tetsuya Naito. EVIL won the titles from Naito at Dominion in July and turned on him after winning the 2020 New Japan Cup the day prior. 

In the semi-main, Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi will defend the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships against former champs Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi. 

In another LIJ vs. Bullet Club match, Hiromu Takahashi will defend the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship against Taiji Ishimori. 

Shingo Takagi will look to make his fourth successful defense of the NEVER Openweight Championship against Minoru Suzuki. 

The finals of the 2020 KOPW tournament will take place. Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano, SANADA and El Desperado will face off in a four-way to determine the provisional 2020 King of Pro Wrestling. The winner will go on to defend the title for the rest of the year. The title holder at the end of the year will be the 2020 KOPW. 

The only match without a title at stake will feature Master Wato against Yoshinobu Kanemaru in the opener. 

Our live coverage begins at 4 a.m. Eastern time.

**********

The venue looked great. The wrestlers entered from the dugouts. 

Yoshinbou Kanemaru defeated Master Wato (w/Hiroyoshi Tenzan) (7:32)

They didn’t get much time and they botched a couple of spots. Not a smooth start to the show. 

Wato got some early offense with a back elbow. Kanemaru cut him off and hit a leg slice over the barricade. Wato got tied to the tree of woe and Kanemaru hit a sliding dropkick in the corner. 

Wato came back with a tornillo, springboard elbow and a monkey flip for a near fall. Kanemaru missed a moonsault but landed on his feet. Kanemaru shoved the ref down. They botched a spot. Kanemaru hit an inverted DDT. 

Kanemaru swung a whiskey bottle but Wato ducked it. Wato went for a facebuster but it looked as though they botched that one as well. 

Wato went for RPP but Kanemaru trapped him with a sunset flip and got the flash pin. 

Toru Yano defeated Kazuchika Okada, El Desperado & SANADA to win KOPW 2020 (7:02)

The other three guys started going at it while Okada was posing on the buckle during his entrance. 

They did some comedy spots with Yano. Yano exposed a buckle and Desperado and SANADA got sent into it. Yano teased a dive but Desperado pulled him out of the ring. 

Okada and SANADA teamed up to hit some offense on Desperado and Yano. SANADA locked Yano in the paradise lock and left him in the hold for a long time. Okada hit a shotgun dropkick and SANADA bumped Yano to break the hold. 

Desperado hit Guitara de Angel on Okada for a two count. Okada blocked a Pinche Loco attempt and slapped on the Money Clip. Desperado pulled the ref down by his shirt and the ref bumped. 

With the ref still recovering, Yano hit a low blow on Okada and used a schoolboy for the pin. 

Yano pinned Okada. What?

NEVER Openweight Championship match: Minoru Suzuki defeated Shingo Takagi to win the title (14:57)

This was an awesome match. 

They began beating the hell out of each other right away and spent the first several minutes just trading strikes and chops. 

Suzuki got a sleeper applied. Shingo fought the hold forever. Suzuki switched to a Gotch-style piledriver attempt. Shingo hit a backdrop out of it. Shingo missed a sliding lariat. Shingo hit a DVD. 

Shingo missed a sliding lariat but hit Made in Japan for a near fall. He went for Last of the Dragon but Suzuki fought it off. Suzuki hit a series of headbutts. 

They did a couple of misdirection spots that ended with Suzuki hitting a dropkick. You know it’s a special match when Suzuki busts out the dropkick. 

They traded headbutts on the mat. They traded strikes as they climbed back to their feet. Suzuki hit another headbutt. They traded strikes again. 

Suzuki went back to the rear naked choke. Shingo teased passing out but Suzuki gave up the hold and went for another Gotch piledriver. Suzuki pointed to the sky, hit the piledriver and got the pin. 

What a war. 

*****Intermission*****

IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship match: Taiji Ishimori defeated Hiromu Takahashi to win the title (13:30)

This was a good match but not at the level of Hiromu’s best matches as he had to sell his shoulder a ton instead of doing his usual insanity. 

Hiromu’s left shoulder was taped and Ishimori went after it right away. Ishimori fought for a la Mistica. Hiromu blocked the first but Ishimori got it on his second attempt. Ishimori got the Yes Lock applied but Hiromu reached the ropes for an immediate break. 

Ishimori avoided a sunset bomb and sent Hiromu into the barricade. Hiromu came back with a shotgun dropkick off the apron and Ishimori flew into the barricade. Hiromu hit a falcon arrow for a near fall. 

Ishimori avoided a German into the buckle and hit a poison rana. Hiromu popped up and hit the German into the buckle. Hiromu hit a Dynamite Plunger for a near fall. Both hit German suplexes and both no-sold them. Hiromu hit a lariat into a double down. 

Ishimori blocked Time Bomb II. Hiromu blocked a Yes Lock attempt. Ishimori hit a lungblower into another double down. Ishimori blocked a flying headscissors and used the Yes Lock. Hiromu fought to the ropes to force a break. 

Hiromu blocked a Bloody Cross. Ishimori hit a buckle bomb and a lariat. Hiromu agaiin blocked the Bloody Cross and hit a DVD into the buckle. Hiromu hit Time Bomb but Ishimori kicked out. 

Ishimori hit an inverted Bloody Cross and used the Yes Lock. Hiromu fought the hold but Ishimori rolled him back to the center of the ring and kept the hold applied. Hiromu tapped out. 

IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi to retain the titles (16:00)

This was a good match that didn’t have enough time to kick into high gear. With consecutive losses in title matches for Ibushi and Tanahashi this felt like the end of this program, which is fine. They’ve had a ton of matches this summer. 

Tanahashi sold for the first several minutes as this followed the pattern of the matches these teams have had all summer. Ibushi tagged in and ran wild. He hit a standing moonsault for a near fall.  

Ibushi had a lengthy exchange with Taichi. They traded high kicks into a double down. 

Tanahashi and Sabre tagged in and went after Sabre’s taped right knee. Tanahashi got a measure of revenge on Sabre and Ibushi and Tanahashi hit the assisted dragon screw on Sabre’s right leg that Sabre and Taichi have been hitting on Tana recently. 

Tanahashi and Ibsuhi hit Golden Blades on both guys. Ibushi blocked an iron glove shot from Taichi with a high kick. Ibushi and Taichi brawled to the floor, leaving Tana and Sabre in for the finish. 

Tanahashi hit a standing High Fly Flow. He went for a second High Fly Flow but missed. Taichi jumped in and Sabre and Taichi hit Tanahashi with Zack Mephisto. Taichi held Ibushi at bay while Sabre pinned Tanahashi. 

IWGP Heavyweight Championship & IWGP Intercontinental Championship double title match: Tetsuya Naito defeated EVIL (w/Dick Togo) to win the titles (26:20)

These guys worked incredibly hard but all of the interference and a couple of key botches kept this from being the classic IWGP title match they were going for. EVIL is a good brawler but still not at the level of the best guys in the world. 

They built the match around going after each other’s necks. 

Naito and Togo started brawling before the bell. EVIL used the distraction to jump Naito. Togo exposed a buckle and Naito got sent into it. 

EVIL took Naito outside and hit him with a chair. He did his chair swing against another chair against the post spot. 

Back inside, EVIL hit a neckbreaker for a near fall. Naito came back with a swing DDT and a one-legged dropkick. Naito took out Togo with a baseball slide and hit a combinacion cabron on EVIL in the corner. Naito hit a neckbreaker for a near fall. 

Naito used a crucifix. Togo jumped on the apron with a chair and distracted the ref. Naito gave up the hold and went after Togo. EVIL used Red Shoes to assist in hitting a mid kick. EVIL hit a lariat to the back of the neck and a double stomp in the corner. 

EVIL went for Darkness Falls on the apron. Naito blocked and hit a neckbreaker off the apron. Naito hit a top rope frankensteiner for a near fall. EVIL blocked Gloria and sent Naito into the exposed buckle. 

EVIL hit a top rope superplex and Darkness Falls for near falls. Naito got sent into the exposed buckle but popped out of the corner and hit a tornado DDT into a double down. Naito hit a rolling kick in the corner and followed up with Gloria. 

Naito hit an inverted swing DDT out of the corner for a near fall. Naito went for Destino but EVIL blocked with an eye rake. EVIL took the ref and Togo hit Naito with a chair. Naito blocked Everything is EVIL and hit a series of elbow strikes to the back of the neck. 

Togo jumped on the apron. Naito sent EVIL into Togo. Togo took a bump off the apron. 

Things fell apart quickly here. EVIL pulled Red Shoes into Naito’s path as he came off the ropes. Naito didn’t bump Red Shoes but went down anyway and sold his head. EVIL then threw Red Shoes into the exposed buckle and Red Shoes rolled to the floor. 

Togo jumped in and EVIL and Togo hit a Magic Killer. BUSHI ran in for the save. Gedo ran in and raked BUSHI’s eyes. Gedo and BUSHI brawled to the floor. 

Naito blocked a chair shot from EVIL. Togo choked Naito out with a ligature. SANADA ran in and hit EVIL and Togo with dropkicks. SANADA hit a TKO on Togo. BUSHI hit a codebreaker on Gedo and SANADA hit a plancha to Togo. BUSHI and SANADA dragged Togo and Gedo to the back. 

Naito hit an enzuigiri and a flying forearm. Naito hit Destino. EVIL kicked out at two. Naito went for another Destino. EVIL grabbed the ref and hit a low blow on Naito. EVIL hit a lariat for a near fall. 

They did a series of counters and Naito flubbed a Valentia. Naito blocked a low blow, hit Valentia, hit Destino and got the pin. 

**********

Naito closed the show with a promo and posed in the ring as fireworks went off in the background. That was a great visual. 

NJPW Summer Struggle results: Final build to Jingu Stadium

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Recommended matches —

  • Shingo Takagi, SANADA & BUSHI vs. Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & DOUKI 
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi & Master Wato vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & Yoshinobu Kanemaru 

Report —

Korakuen Hall was again the venue for the second straight night. 

Yota Tsuji defeated Yuya Uemura (9:12)

This was a well-worked opener and the crowd was into it. They built the match around Uemura selling his abdomen. 

Uemura opened up with some Ricky Steamboat arm drags. Tsuji cut him off and worked over the abdomen. Uemura came back with uppercut forearms. Tsuji hit a dropkick to the abdomen and used a spear for a near fall. 

For the finish, Tsuji busted out a giant swing before using a crab. Uemura fought the hold for a long time before tapping out. 

Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima & Tomoaki Honma (9:46)

This was not good but it was relatively short. 

Nagata and Goto started off. Nagata hit some kicks and went after Goto’s left leg. Honma jumped in for some comedy spots. He missed three consecutive kokeshis. YH and Ishii entered to do some trios spots with Goto. 

Kojima and Ishii tagged in for some spots. Kojima hit his machine gun chops. Ishii hit a powerslam and both tagged out. Honma and YH tagged in. Honma hit a bulldog before missing a fourth kokeshi. 

Honma’s teammates cleared the opposing apron and helped Honma hit a kokeshi for a near fall. Honma hit a diving kokeshi for another two count. 

Ishii and Goto got in for a triple team on Honma. Honma stumbled after taking two lariats and YH missed whatever move they had planned. 

YH used the butterfly lock and Honma tapped out. 

**********

The teams continued brawling after the match. Ishii and Nagata went at it. YH and Kojima traded strikes. The brawl was worse than the match for YH who did not have a good night. 

**********

Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano & SHO defeated Yujiro Takahashi, Gedo & Jado (12:08)

I never need to see Okada and Yujiro in the same ring together after today. This feud has been detrimental to both guys and a waste of Okada. I understand keeping him away from the title picture while you build EVIL but this has been worst feud of the year stuff. 

Jado and Okada began. Okada and SHO hit some comedy elbows to Jado’s back. SHO got a tag and got cut off. Bullet Club worked SHO over. 

Okada got a hot tag and got a near fall on Yujiro with a back elbow. Yujiro hit a German and got a near fall as Yano saved. Did Okada really need Yano to save him from Yujiro? 

SHO tagged back in and Jado nailed him with a kendo stick. Jado tried to use the stick a second time but Yano hit a low blow. Yano exposed a buckle and blocked a Gedo brass knuckles shot with the corner pad before sending Gedo into the buckle. 

SHO used a backstabber and applied a cross armbreaker and Gedo tapped out. 

Shingo Takagi, SANADA & BUSHI defeated Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & DOUKI (9:19)

Suzuki-gun tried an attack before the opening bell but it backfired. Shingo sent Suzuki into the barricade. DOUKI missed an enzuigiri on BUSHI in the ring. 

Desperado helped DOUKI cut BUSHI off and DOUKI hit an enzuigiri on the second try. Suzuki beat Shingo down on the outside before tagging in to torture BUSHI. Shingo tried to save but got dropped by one Suzuki forearm strike. DOUKI continued to beat down BUSHI before BUSHI hit a rana and both tagged out. 

Shingo and Suzuki tagged in and delivered an awesome preview of their NEVER title match coming up Saturday. They beat the hell out of each other. Suzuki went for a Gotch-style piledriver but Shingo blocked. Shingo missed a sliding lariat. Suzuki got a choke and went for the Gotch again but Shingo hit a DVD. 

Desperado and SANADA tagged in for a preview of the KOPW match on Saturday. Desperado shoved the ref and hit a right hand to SANADA. DOUKI got a tag and hit Daybreak for a near fall. 

Suzuki and Shingo jumped in and continued brawling. SANADA used a moonsault press to set up Skull End on DOUKI. DOUKI tried to reverse and cradle SANADA but SANADA kept the hold and used a spinning Skull End for the submission. 

**********

Suzuki and Shingo had a pull-apart after the match. Suzuki went after Shingo with a chair. Shingo tried a headbutt before they were pulled apart. 

**********

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi & Master Wato (w/ Hiroyoshi Tenzan) defeated Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & Yoshinobu Kanemaru (11:40)

Suzuki-gun attacked the babyfaces as they made their entrance. Kanemaru hit a drive-by kick on Wato and knocked Tenzan off the apron. Suzuki-gun commenced with an extensive beatdown on Wato. 

Wato came back with a dropkick and Taichi and Ibushi got tags. They traded kicks. Ibushi got the best of the exchange and Tanahashi demanded a tag. Tana missed a second rope senton and Taichi tagged Sabre. 

Sabre and Tanahashi both fought for a backslide. Sabre eventually settled for a cobra twist. Wato made the save and broke the hold. 

Sabre and Taichi tried their tandem dragon screw move on Tanahashi but Ibushi saved. Tana and Ibushi hit Sabre with a tandem dragon screw instead. 

They did some cool twists and turns as they neared the finish. Kanemaru tried to hit Tanahashi with a whiskey bottle but Wato saved. It looked as though Kanemaru was done for after taking a springboard forearm from Wato and a Kamigoye from Ibushi. 

Tanahashi went up top for High Fly Flow. Sabre and Taichi tried to shove him off but Ibushi and Wato held them away and Tana hit High Fly Flow for the pin. 

**********

Tanahashi & Ibushi and Sabre & Taichi jawed at each other after the match but there was no further physicality.

Tanahashi and Ibushi did a full 1987 Hogan must pose routine in the ring before leaving. 

**********

EVIL & Taiji Ishimori (w/ Dick Togo) defeated Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi (11:58)

When you are only doing six match shows and a third of the matches have this constant ref bump, heel manager interference, tag partner distracts the ref while the other partner cheats stuff, it really wears out its welcome. 

Hiromu and Naito tried an immediate double team on EVIL but their plan was thwarted by Dick Togo. Togo exposed a buckle and EVIL and Ishimori took turns sending Naito into it. 

Naito managed a tag to Hiromu. Hiromu hit a flying headscissors and a shotgun dropkick off the apron. Ishimori came back and hit a sliding German on Hiromu. 

EVIL and Naito tagged back in. Naito used a crucifix hold. Togo jumped on the apron and took the referee, then distracted Naito. Naito hit a dropkick in the corner on EVIL. Naito went for a top rope frankensteiner but Togo pulled him off while EVIL took the referee. 

EVIL hit a German for a near fall. Naito hit a swing DDT into a double down. Hiromu got a tag and hit EVIL with a shotgun dropkick. EVIL blocked a Dynamite Plunger but Hiromu hit a lariat. 

Hiromu and Naito hit tandem dropkicks. Naito and Ishimori brawled to the floor. Hiromu went for Time Bomb but EVIL blocked. Naito tried to help Hiromu but he got hit with a shotgun dropkick by mistake. 

Ishimori used a mistica on Hiromu, then took the ref. EVIL hit Hiromu with a chair, then hit Everything is EVIL for the pin. 

**********

EVIL taunted Naito after the match. Togo attacked Naito from behind and choked him out. 

EVIL closed the show with a promo. 

Live English commentary returning for NJPW Summer Struggle in Jingu

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Live English commentary is returning for NJPW’s next major show.

For the first time since the promotion resumed events, there will be live English commentary for Summer Struggle in Jingu on Saturday, August 29. NJPW announced that Kevin Kelly and Chris Charlton will be on commentary for the show:

August 29 will see NJPW return to Jingu Stadium for the first time in 21 years. With hot action in the open air setting of Jingu amped up for five title matches on the card, it seems only right to keep our great fans around the world up to date with what’s happening, as it’s happening!

We’re excited to have live English commentary for Summer Struggle on NJPW World August 29. Kevin Kelly and Chris Charlton will be on the call for this huge event! Wherever you are on August 29, be there with NJPW World!

Charlton responded to NJPW’s announcement: “WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY.”

Leading into Summer Struggle in Jingu, NJPW has Summer Struggle shows at Korakuen Hall on August 26 and August 27 that will air live on NJPW World. The first of those shows will feature four qualifying matches to decide who advances to the KOPW 2020 finals at Summer Struggle in Jingu.

Summer Struggle in Jingu will begin at 4 a.m. Eastern time. Here’s the lineup for the show:

  • IWGP Heavyweight Champion & IWGP Intercontinental Champion EVIL defending both titles against Tetsuya Naito
  • IWGP Tag Team Champions Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. defending against Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi defending against Taiji Ishimori
  • NEVER Openweight Champion Shingo Takagi defending against Minoru Suzuki
  • KOPW 2020 finals
  • Master Wato vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru

NJPW reveals full lineup for Summer Struggle in Jingu

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW has announced the full lineup for Summer Struggle in Jingu on August 29. 

Four matches were officially added to the card today. Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. are set for their first IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship defense. They will face former champions Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi in a rematch from last month’s Dominion event. 

No team has made a successful defense of the IWGP Heavyweight Tag titles this year, as the belts have jumped from David Finlay and Juice Robinson, to Guerillas of Destiny, to Tanahashi and Ibushi to Taichi and Sabre. 

NEVER Openweight champion Shingo Takagi will defend his title in Jingu against Minoru Suzuki. Takagi has made three successful defenses since winning the NEVER title at The New Beginning in Saporro in February. Suzuki has one prior reign with the NEVER title. 

A four-way to decide the provisional King of Pro Wrestling Champion will be held. The winners of four first round matches on August 26 will face of on the 29th in Jingu. 

The first round matches are Kazuchika Okada vs. Yujiro Takahashi, Satoshi Kojima vs. El Desperado, SHO vs. SANADA and Toru Yano vs. BUSHI. A fan vote will be held to determine special stipulations for the first round matches. 

Master Wato vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru was also made official for Jingu. Wato has been feuding with much of Suzuki-gun since his return from excursion. 

Here is the full card for Summer Struggle in Jingu, which will be held on Saturday, August 29. The show will air live on NJPW World at 4 a.m. Eastern time. 

  • IWGP Heavyweight & IWGP Intercontinental Championship match: EVIL (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito
  • IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship match: Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs. Taiji Ishimori
  • IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi
  • NEVER Openweight Championship match: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Minoru Suzuki
  • NJPW King of Pro Wrestling Provisional Championship match: Four-way, competitors determined by KOPW tournament matches on August 26
  • Master Wato vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru

NJPW introduces KOPW 2020 title focusing on stipulation matches

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A new title of sorts was introduced today in New Japan Pro Wrestling.

During this morning’s press conference, Kazuchika Okada explained what this new title, the KOPW 2020 title, would be. He explained that wrestlers competing for the title would pick the stipulations for the title match. The stipulations would then go to a fan vote.

Beginning on August 26, eight wrestlers will square off in a first round set of four matches. The winners of those four matches will move on to a fatal four way match at Jingu Stadium on August 29. The match will not have a unique stipulation, as it was explained that a fatal four way match is already unique in of itself. 

The winner of the Jingu Stadium match will be declared the provisional champion. The provisional title will be contested until the end of the year, where one final title match will take place. The winner of that match will then officially become the KOPW 2020 champion, receiving a trophy. The process would then start again in 2021.

Summer Struggle in Jingu will take place on August 29 at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo.

Three title matches announced for NJPW Summer Struggle in Jingu

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The top two matches for Summer Struggle in Jingu have been announced.

In a press conference held this morning, it was confirmed that IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental champion EVIL will defend both titles against Tetsuya Naito. This comes after EVIL defeated Naito at Dominion to win the titles following interference from EVIL’s new partner, Dick Togo. 

Naito confronted EVIL at the end of Sengoku Lord last weekend, setting up the title match for next month.

Hiromu Takahashi will also defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Taiji Ishimori on this card. It was Ishimori who attacked Hiromu after losing his double title match to EVIL at Sengoku Lord. Naito eventually ran in for the save.

NJPW chairman Naoki Sugabayashi also noted that although IWGP rules say titles must be defended every six months, the period during the state of emergency won’t count against Hiromu.

Additionally, a new championhip, the KOPW 2020 title, will be determined in a fatal four-way match. Four matches will take place on August 26, with the winners advancing into this match. Competitiors fighting for the championship will name their stipulations and will allow fans to vote on the matches they would want to see.

Summer Struggle in Jingu will take place on August 29 at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo.

Daily Update: Raw, NJPW, Adam Cole-Pat McAfee

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

DAILY UPDATE

Latest News:

Latest Audio:

JOB LISTING: Web/UI Developer(s)

  • Experience with OnLamp(Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP)
  • GITHUB and Linux command line experience while be helpful as well.
  • CMS – Drupal and WordPress. vBulletin
  • Possible experience with AWS(s3 specifically), Dreamhost, UI development
  • Cloud based hosting experience a plus
  • Javascript also a huge plus

While this is a diverse request this doesn’t have to be just one person! If you fit any part of this please feel free to inquire.

This is not just for projects related to F4WOnline.

WON NEWSLETTER: July 27, 2020 Observer Newsletter: Extreme Rules review, Good Brothers podcast, more

A look at the very good, and the very bad, of Extreme Rules is the lead story in the new double issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. We also have a back-of-the-book feature on Carlton Haselrig, one of the greatest American heavyweight wrestlers in the history of the sport of wrestling.

The new issue also covers:

Interest levels in Extreme Rules and with the rating the next day, the lesson that tells us about certain types of angles, the background of Seth Rollins vs. Rey Mysterio, along with match-by-match coverage, star ratings and poll results on the show.

An examination of all facets of the Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson departure from WWE, including what makes sense, what doesn’t, why, how come they were signed, how come they were given such a strong offer to stay, their release, A.J. Styles, angles set up for them in New Japan and AEW last year, the booking of Raw under Paul Heyman and much more.  This is a very detailed look not only at Gallows &  Anderson, but the roles of a number of different people and how Raw fell off the creative tracks

Impact Slammiversary with match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results on the show.

Stephanie McMahon’s interview in Ad Age covering wrestling during the pandemic, testing and what changes look to be permanent, as well as race relations.

The current plan for WrestleMania and how it has shifted, the new WWE Board of Directors, next week’s Raw show, NXT North American title thoughts, notes on the next Takeover, update on Wendy Barlow and COVID, WWE producer let go, WWE loses major international deal and how it went down, WWE TV personality get bullied by fans, idea nixed for Raw this past week and all the different changes to the show, Adam Cole-Pat McAfee angel, Bellas update, sports ratings and Canadian TV ratings for the past week, another example of WWE marketing that ha led to the situation they are in, market value of WWE and the most-watched shows of the past week on the WWE Network.

This past weekend’s UFC show.

A feature on Haselrig, a Pennsylvania sports legend who could have been an Olympic medalist or an all-time great NFL player, but drugs curtailed his career, but not before he set a heavyweight record that may never be beat and another record that almost surely will never be beat.

Ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.

Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week. 

ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

MONDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw, BTE, and the rest of the pro wrestling and MMA news with Wrestling Observer Radio. You can send questions to [email protected] for the show.

Some notes on tonight’s Raw which was taped last week:

  • Drew McIntyre vs. Dolph Ziggler with stips to be announced at ringside
  • Asuka vs. Sasha Banks for the Raw women’s title
  • Angel Garza & Andrade vs. Viking Raiders vs. Ricochet & Cedric Alexander for a shot at the Street Profits tag title
  • Dominick Mysterio confronts Seth Rollins
  • Randy Orton opens the show saying who his next victim will be. The original idea was Drew McIntyre
  • Follow-up regarding Kairi Sane
  • Nia Jax returns (according to PWInsider)

New Japan has a press conference at 4 a.m. tonight to announce the 8/29 Tokyo Jingu Stadium card, which looks to be headlined by Evil vs. Tetsuya Naito for both titles.

Today is the 98th birthday of Joe D’Orazio, the oldest living pro wrestler. Joe was the co-promoter of MatSports wth George Kidd, as well as a wrestler, referee and trainer after his in-ring career ended.  He was also a wrestling writer and at one point was known as “the guy who knows everything about the business” in the U.K. 

Hong Kong, Japan and Australia, three places where COVID-19 was thought to be under control, have rebounded with higher numbers. This is not good news as far as eradicating the disease any time soon. 

They are teasing that the Adam Cole-Pat McAfee angle will continue as Triple H invited McAfee to NXT. “Look Pat, I’ll open it up to you,” he told McAfee during his show today (h/t Cageside Seats). “I don’t know if Florida is on your plans any time soon – I know you get down there sometimes. So any time you’re around, come on the show, I’ll promote your show, I’ll promote you, just like we’ve done before. But, you know, for you guys… and if you don’t want to do it that way, if you just want to just you and him sit in a room with nothing else around it and no promotion, not the show or anything like that, I’m fine with that too. This is you and him, man to man. But if you want to do that separately and because you’re in Florida, whatever that is, jump on the show – cool with that too. If he wants to come up and be on your show, we can do it however you want. But I do think the two of you should sit in a room.” 

WWE

  • Paul Levesque turns 51 today.  Dolph Ziggler also turns 40 and Adam Page turns 29.

AEW

  • Chris Jericho announced he would be releasing a record book in October covering every one of his matches.  He and Alex Marvez have traced down every match in his career and want to release it in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of his debut.
  • Jericho will also be one of the stars of a movie called “Kilroy Was Here,” a horror movie that was announced over the weekend at the San Diego Comic Con. (thanks to Joe Puccio)
  • Wednesday’s AEW lineup:
    Jericho & Jake Hager & Sammy Guevara & Ortiz & Santana vs. Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus & Orange Cassidy & Chuck Taylor & Trent
    Kenny Omega & Adam Page vs. Stu Grayson & Evil Uno for the tag titles
    Jon Moxley & Darby Allin vs. Brian Cage & Ricky Starks in a tornado match
    Cody vs. Warhorse for the TV title
    Hikaru Shida vs. Diamante non-title
    MJF State of the Union address

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Impact on Tuesday night on AXS
    Eddie Edwards vs. Trey for Impact title
    Deonna Purrazzo vs. Kimber Lee
    Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. Reno Scum
  • This is a news story from a few months back regarding Pro Wrestling Revolucion in San Jose marketing COVID masks with Lucha Libre designs. What I can tell you is my kids love these masks.
  • MLW announced a distribution deal with Digital Original Entertainment (DOE), a streaming network that will launch on Pluto TV starting in the fall.  MLW Fusion will air on the platform starting in September.
  • OVW announced that their weekly television shows will be available on Amazon Prime in more than 200 countries.
  • Ashley Cummins (7-5) vs. Alesha Zappitella (7-2) will fight for the vacant Invicta atomweight (105 pound) title on 9/17 in Kansas City.   The co-main event will be a bantamweight fight as former title challenger Lisa Verzosa (5-1) faces Raquel Canuto (6-6).
  • Former WWE wrestler, model and actress Natalie Eva Marie announced she would be hosting a new show about women’s wrestling on Now the News, called “Faces and Heels,” following seven women.  The first episode will air on 7/30 on her Facebook page.  
  • Gordon Solie passed away 20 years ago today at the age of 71.  Gordon Solie, Lance Russell and Larry Matysik were considered the top three wrestling announcers of the 70s although with Solie’s CWF show airing outside Florida and later Georgia Championship Wrestling going national, he was the one who got the most publicity as being the Dean of Wrestling announcers.  Actually Russell started before Solie but Solie was the voice of wrestling in the Southeast to a generation.
  • Paradigm Pro Wrestling Heavy Hitters 2 before 125 fans (sold out) in Sellersburg, IN on IWTV:  Freddie Hudson b Cole Radrick to wim PPW title, Tom Lawlor b Calvin Tankman under UWFI rules, Bobby Beverly b Ron Mathis under street fight rules, Mo Atlas b Devantes under UWFI rules, Nolan Edwards b Kevin Ka under street fight rules, Dominik Garrini b Gary Jay under UWFI rules, Aaron Williams b AJ Gray under UWFI rules, Brett Ison b Bradley Prescott IV under street fight rules, Erick Stevens b Big Perc under UWFI rules, Flash Thompson b Justin Kyle under UWFI rules, Chris Dickinson b Lee Moriarty under UWFI rules, Matt Justice b Stephan Bonnar under street fight rules, Bobby Beverly won elimination match to win the Heavy Hitters title over Williams, Isom, Dickinson, Garrini Stevens Thompson, Justice, Atlas, Edwards and Lawlor.  They also did angles to set up Lawlor vs.; Bonnar in a UWFI rules street fight. (thanks to Gary Wilson)
  • A story on Limitless Wrestling in Maine taping shows for paid streaming on a closed set to try and stay in business. (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)
  • USA Championship Wrestling features an angle with Jerry Lawler and Matt Riviera.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Kurt Angle wins WWE title at Vengeance 2003

CONTACT INFORMATION

Summer Struggle in Jingu stadium event announced by NJPW

Posted on by Bryan Rose

New Japan Pro Wrestling will return to Jingu Stadium next month for the Summer Struggle in Jingu event.

The company made the announcement at this morning’s Sengoku Lord show prior to intermission. The outdoor stadium, located in Tokyo, holds up to 37,933 people, though the number of people attending will be smaller due to social distancing.

This will be the second time the promotion has held an event at the stadium. The last show, Battle of Last Summer, was held on August 28, 1999. In the main event, The Great Muta defeated The Great Nita (Atsushi Onita in a gimmick similar to Muta’s) in what was described as a no rope explosive barbed wire barricade explosive landmine double hell deathmatch. Muta ended up emerging as the winner.

After this morning’s card, NJPW will start the Summer Struggle tour on July 26 at Korakuen Hall, running through August 16 in Shizuoka.