THE ROUND-UP
The Latest from the F4W Staff
NEWS
Impact Wrestling rebranding as Global Force Wrestling
Kairi Hojo gets new WWE name, announced for Mae Young Classic
NXT St. Petersburg, FL, live results: Evie and Gunner debut
Impact Wrestling results: The final build to Slammiversary
Evie gets new in-ring name, confirmed for WWE Mae Young Classic
AUDIO
WOL: New Japan Long Beach, packed weekend, Mae Young Classic, more! 6/30
FREE! Wrestling Weekly: Les Thatcher celebrates his 57th year in wrestling 6/30
B&F&G: Granny’s Weekly Wrestling Report, NXT, Lucha Underground, more! 6/30
Classic Audio: June 30, 2007 Bryan and Vinny Show: ECW, TNA, Benoit Situation 6/29
We’re looking for reports on today’s WWE show in Tokyo at Sumo Hall and the NXT show in Fort Pierce, FL to [email protected].
For the weekend, we’re doing three polls, for the Saturday night New Japan show in Long Beach, the Sunday night New Japan show in Long Beach and the Sunday night Impact show in Orlando, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected].
NEW JAPAN WORLD PRO WRESTLING ON AXS TV TONIGHT AT 7 P.M. EASTERN
Tetsuya Naito vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for IC title
Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega for IWGP title
LEGACY FIGHTING ALLIANCE TONIGHT AT 9 P.M. ON AXS TV
Justin Rader (6-2) vs. Emmanuel Rivera (6-0)
Tyler Shinn (7-3) vs. Kendall Carnahan (5-0)
Derrick Adkins (9-4) vs. Dan Moret (11-3)
Braden Smith (7-1) vs. Manny Meraz (9-3)
Cortez Coleman (13-7) vs. Chris Harris (8-1)
Richard Odoms (12-3) vs. Jared Vanderaa (5-0) for the heavyweight title
CMLL LIVE FROM ARENA MEXICO IN MEXICO CITY AT 9:30 P.M. EASTERN
Drone & Pegasso & The Panther vs. Sanson & Forastero & Cuatrero
Guerrero May Jr. & Rey Cometa & Titan vs. Polvora & Ripper & Virus
Atlantis & Blue Panther & Soberano Jr. vs. Dragon Rojo Jr. & Mephisto & Sam Adonis
Misterioso Jr. & Pierroth & Rush vs. El Terrible & Vangellys & Rey Bucanero
Block A in Universal Champion of Champions one-night tournament: Volador Jr., Dragon Lee, Angel de Oro, Valiente, Negro Casas, Shocker, Luciferno, Hechicero
PRO FIGHTERS LEAGUE ON NBC SPORTS NETWORK FROM DAYTONA BEACH, FL TONIGHT AT 10:30 P.M. EASTERN
Jason High (20-6) vs. Caros Fodor (11-5)
Joao Zeferno (21-8) vs. Herman Terrado (14-3-1)
Smealinho Rama (10-2) vs. Ronny Markes (16-5)
Jon Fitch (29-7-1) vs. Brian Foster (27-9)
This is the debut show for the promotion, and will be held at the Daytona International Speedway.
Saturday has WWE Raw at Sumo Hall in Tokyo and Smackdown in Odessa, TX. We’re looking for reports on those shows to [email protected].
NEW JAPAN MARATHON ON SATURDAY ON AXS TV FROM 8 A.M. TO 8 P.M.
Details in the news section
NEW JAPAN SATURDAY FROM THE LONG BEACH CONVENTION CENTER AT 8 P.M. ON AXS, FIGHT NETWORK AND NEW JAPAN WORLD (outside U.S.)
Mark & Jay Briscoe & Rocky Romero & Baretta & Will Ospreay vs. Young Bucks & Bad Luck Fale & Yujiro Takahashi & Marty Scurll
Jushin Liger & Volador Jr. & Dragon Lee & Titan vs. Seiya Sanada & Evil & Bushi & Hiromu Takahashi
Jay Lethal vs. Hangman Page in first round of U.S. title tournament
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Juice Robinson in first round of U.S. title tournament
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kushida & Jay White & David Finlay vs. Billy Gunn & Yoshitatsu & Yohei Komatsu & Sho Tanaka
Tama Tonga & Tanga Roa vs War Machine for IWGP tag titles
Tetsuya Naito vs. Tomohiro Ishii in first round of U.S. title tournament
Kenny Omega vs. Michael Elgin in first round of U.S. title tournament
Kazuchika Okada vs. Cody for IWGP heavyweight title
WWE has a Smackdown brand house show in Hobbs, NM on Sunday.
NEW JAPAN SUNDAY FROM THE LONG BEACH CONVENTION CENTER AT 8 P.M. ON NEW JAPAN WORLD
Semifinals & finals of the U.S. title tournament
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Billy Gunn for IC title
Young Bucks vs. Rocky Romero & Baretta for IWGP jr. tag titles
TNA SLAMMIVERSARY PPV AT 8 P.M. EASTERN TIME SUNDAY FROM ORLANDO
Bobby Lashley (with King Mo) vs. Alberto El Patron (with Dos Caras) for the Impact & GFW titles
James Storm vs. Ethan Carter III in a strap match
LAX vs. Drago & El Hijo del Fantasma vs. Laredo Kid & Garza Jr. vs. Taiji Ishimori & Naomichi Marufuji for the Impact & GFW tag titles in a four-promotion match
Sonjay Dutt vs. Low Ki 2/3 falls for the X Division title
Jeremy Borash & Joseph Park vs. Josh Matthews & Scott Steiner to determine the lead announcer on Impact
Rosemary vs. Sienna for the Impact & GFW women’s title
Eddie & Alisha Edwards vs. Davey Richards & Angelina Love in a Full Metal Mayhem match
Moose & DeAngelo Williams (NFL star) vs. Chris Adonis & Eli Drake
Raw will be Monday in Phoenix. Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman will be on the show. There will also be a Monday night house show in Amarillo, TX.
Smackdown and 205 Live will be in Phoenix on Tuesday. John Cena returns on the July 4th show, plus there will be a Battle Royal for the U.S. title shot and a return women’s title match with Naomi vs. Lana.
FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: Figure Four Weekly 6/26/2017: Cody Rhodes’ bet on himself continues to pay off
Cody Rhodes may have already completed most of the goals that he famously listed in a tweet after leaving WWE, but his biggest accomplishment since wasn’t something that was mentioned then. Rhodes defeated Christopher Daniels to win the Ring of Honor World Championship in the main event of Best in the World last Friday night.
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WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: July 3, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Summerslam plans change, Cody Rhodes wins ROH World title, more
A look at changes in WWE booking leading to SummerSlam, including a main event change and how this likely effects the WrestleMania plans for New Orleans is the lead item in the new double issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Look at SummerSlam, Great Balls of Fire, Battleground and the Brock Lesnar vs. Samoa Joe program and how it’s viewed.
There is a feature on Cody Rhodes winning the ROH title, interpromotional champion vs. champion matches in the last 30 years and how rare they are, the last time one person won a major world title from two organizations at the same time, the last match of this type in the U.S. and how it came without any hype and its purpose was very different, plus different reactions to Cody Rhodes, the trickiness of the finish, the ticket demand for Long Beach, what show last year exceeded it, and father and son combos who both held world heavyweight titles.
This issue features the 2017 G-1 Climax tournament, including all tournament matches, the broadcast plans and times, key matches to look out for and more.
Check out the NXT Takeover card for 8/19 in Brooklyn, an idea floated for Asuka’s booking, the arrival of Bobby Fish, more teases regarding Daniel Bryan wrestling again, more on how WWE has changed from a medical standpoint over the years, WWE TV in India, a new TV commercial regarding John Cena, WWE looking to find out why people have canceled network or don’t watch the programming anymore, Mike Bennett talks his WWE signing, Raw guys on Smackdown shows and Smackdown guys on Raw shows this summer, an update on Io Shirai coming to WWE and her injury situation, an update on the Mae Young Classic and broadcast plans, the promotion of the Mae Young name and lots of new wrestlers in the tournament.
Look at T.J. Wilson’s new role, the most-watched shows on the WWE Network, the company’s worth, NXT television for the month of July, as well as notes on all the WWE & NXT house shows from the past week, highlights of the shows and business notes on the shows.
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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 Dave Meltzer, or by using PayPal directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to [email protected]. For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52. If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.)
If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can choose one free classic issue, or two free classic issues with a 40-issue subscription.
WON BACK ISSUE: June 5, 2000 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Pillman Memorial show, potential shift in the pro wrestling landscape, more
The entire pro wrestling landscape is expected to change greatly over the next few weeks. But there would be no such thing as intelligent speculation on how it’s going to end up. There are basic points of change for all three major companies in the United States. WWF is attempting to move its television from USA Network to what would become a revamped TNN, with Sunday Night Heat moving to MTV.
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FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE
Just a quick note to say thank you to all the people who have contacted me in the last few days. It is hard to put into words how the last few days have been. My father really is one of the most wonderful people I’ve ever encountered. Two weeks ago he was 90 years old, still out dancing a few nights a week, taking mass transit an hour in each direction to go to the theater and going to late night movies with me and my kids if there was a Saturday or Sunday without a wrestling or MMA big show. If he had any idea anything was wrong, he kept it to himself. We and he didn’t learn of his cancer until less than two weeks ago and didn’t know about that his kidneys were rapidly failing until Tuesday. He was still doing crossword puzzles on Wednesday, but last night he was bedridden and barely eating, fully comprehended everything going on but could barely talk, still saying he was going to go on the computer and print out some records I needed, even though he could barely move, and still said he wasn’t feeling any pain.
He was so brilliant that he used to be nicknamed Einstein and if you saw the movie Hidden Figures and the references to the computer language Fortran, that was referenced at the end of the movie, he was one of the people who was behind creating that. I don’t think about wrestling when I think about him, but he always took me to shows in San Jose, big events at the Cow Palace like when Danny Hodge and Bruno Sammartino came in, and any sports events I wanted to see, and when I think about going on family vacations to Los Angeles when I was very young and being taken to the Forum to see the Lakers with Jerry West and Elgin Baylor, and the Olympic to see Dory Funk Jr. vs. Peter Maivia, or on a Hawaiian vacation and seeing the old Hawaiian Warriors and Baba vs. The Sheik and Gene Kiniski and Curtis Iaukea, not to mention seeing Jack Brisco vs. Johnny Valentine in Miami Beach, countless Dusty Rhodes matches, seeing Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays live, Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Rick Barry, Nate Thurmond, Bobby Hull, Gordie Howe, Stan Mikita, Jean Beliveau, Oscar Robertson and even Bob Cousy, Ann Calvello & Joanie Weston, Mike Gammon and Tony Roman, and he wasn’t even a sports fan. It tells me how fortunate I was to have such a wonderful father.
There was a point in our life when we lived in Wappingers Falls, NY and he worked in San Jose, where for more than one year he would work Monday through Friday, take the red-eye flight out of San Jose, be back Saturday morning and then fly out Sunday later afternoon until finally moving us because of how hard it was, because he wanted us to grow up and know our relatives. I also want to thank everyone from this site and MMA Fighting who have been so understanding.
The Kenny Omega vs. Kazuchika Okada match from Osaka on the 11th is airing tonight on AXS. The match will air in its entirety, as the one-hour usual show length has been changed to two hours and they will only air the Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tetsuya Naito and Omega vs. Okada matches within the two hour show.
Before the live show in Long Beach, AXS TV is doing a New Japan marathon tomorrow starting at 8 a.m. Eastern and 5 a.m. Pacific to showcase many of the best matches of the year so far. If your cable company doesn’t have AXS, Sling TV is doing a free week. For the top matches, all times Eastern:
Omega vs. Okada from the Tokyo Dome will air at 8 p.m.
Okada vs. Minoru Suzuki will air at 10 a.m.
Hiromu Takahashi vs. Dragon Lee will air at 11 a.m.
Tetsuya Naito vs. Michael Elgin will air at Noon
Okada vs. Katsuyori Shibata will air at 3 p.m.
Omega vs. Tomohiro Ishii will air at 5 p.m.
Omega vs. Okada II will air at about 6:40 p.m.
Tomorrow night’s Long Beach show will be blocked on New Japan World live, and only air on AXS in the U.S. It will air on The Fight Network in Canada, which also has a free week this week, and will also be replaying the show multiple times during the week. The show will air later on New Japan World. In the U.K., you can watch it on New Japan World. The Sunday show will air live on New Japan World and air on television first next Friday with a four-hour window from 8 p.m. to midnight. The live show is slotted tomorrow night from 8 p.m. to midnight, but it can go until as late as 1 a.m. if needed.
New Japan has a press conference today at 4 p.m. Pacific time at the Marukai store in Gardena, CA. All eight participants in the U.S. title tournament will be there as well as a contract signing with Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Billy Gunn and a photo square-off like in UFC with Kazuchika Okada and Cody. New Japan will also be doing UFC style press conferences after the show with the headliners.
Snoop Dogg will be one of the announcers on an alternative commentary option for Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contenders show on Fight Pass. Snoop Dogg & Urijah Faber will be doing one set of commentary. There will be another commentary team as well, allowing you to switch back and forth.
WWE
Want to send our sympathies to Jeremy Fritz (Eric Young), whose mother passed away due to cancer recently.
Randy Orton will be missing some shows in July. He is filming a movie called “Changeland” that Seth Green is doing in Thailand. He will be doing Tuesday’s tapings and then go to Thailand for what appears to be two weeks, returning for the Battleground go-home show on 7/18 in Birmingham.
The storyline behind the Naomi vs. Lana third Women’s Championship match that was announced for this Tuesday is that Lana had her shoulder up at the count of three.
A story on a prospective wrestlers who WWE recruited and was in camp last week for a tryout.
John Cena talks to the Wall Street Journal.
UFC
Right now you can get +200 odds if you bet that Mayweather vs. McGregor will do less than 5 million buys. Odds are at BetOnline.ag.
Nate Diaz missed his third drug test by not being where he said he would be over the last 12 months, so has been suspended. USADA rules are that you have to give USADA your whereabouts and three missed drug tests leads to a suspension.
Fox Sports announced for next weekend’s two show sin Las Vegas, the broadcast team will include Michael Bisping, Dominick Cruz and Kenny Florian.
UFC announced a partnership with Performance Inspired, Mark Wahlbergs’s company, as the official sports supplement of the promotion.
MISCELLANEOUS
We wish a Happy Birthday today to Terry Funk, who turns 73.
Eternal Con: The Long Island Comic Con takes place this weekend at the Nassau Coliseum. Among those appearing are C.M. Punk, Mick Foley, Noelle Foley, Tommy Dreamer, Ryback, Bully Ray, Velvet Sky, Greg Valentine and The Nasty Boys along with media guest and comic book artists.
AAW on 8/5 in LaSalle, IL at the Knights of Columbus with Keith Lee vs. Bob Holly, ACH vs. Mat Fitchett, Brubaker vs. CJ Esparza plus Rey Fenix, Sami Callihan, AR Fox, Jake & Dave Crist, DJZ, Chuck Taylor, Dezmond Xavier and Jessicka Havok.
Cody Rhodes debuts for AAW on 8/31 in Berwyn, IL at the Eagles Club.
The Armed Forces Network will be airing tonight’s PFL debut show form Daytona Beach to servicemen around the country.
MCW’s annual Shamrock Cup will be 7/14 and 7/15 at the MCW Arena in Joppa, MD. Lio Rush, Joey Janela, Anthony Henry, Shaheem Ali and Leon St. Giovanni will appear in the tournament. Guests at the Fan Fest will be Ricky Steamboat, Mick Foley, The Godfather, Ricky Morton, Robert Gibson and Vickie Guerrero.
CZW on 7/8 at Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ with Davey Richards defending the CZW title against Lio Rush, Shane Strickland and Joe Gacy, plus Trevor Lee, Matt Tremont, AR Fox, Sami Callihan, Dezmond Xavier, Dave & Jake Crist and more.
Brew City Wrestling on 7/1 and 7/2 at 5 p.m. at Henry Meier Festival Park as part of the World’s Largest Music Festival.
Shine will be doing a tournament to crown the Nova champion on 7/14 and 7/16 in Ybor City, FL, at the Orpheum featuring ACR, Priscilla Kelly, Holidead and Ivelisse.
Wrestling Revolver and Rockstar Pro on 8/4 at the Rockstar Pro Arean in Dayton, OH with Rey Fenix, AR Fox, Matt Tremont, Ethan Page, Trevor Lee, Sami Callihan, and Jake & Dave Crist.
Junction City Wrestling on 7/16 at 2p.m. and 4 p.m. in Toronto at the Aleyards outside of 100 Symes Avenue.
Smash Wrestling on 7/8 in Sarnia, ONT at the Station Music Hall.
Smash Wrestling on 7/9 in London, ONT at the London Music Hall with MVP.
Smash Wrestling on 7/16 in Toronto, ONT at The Phoenix with Colt Cabana and Jay White.
CWE on 8/1 in First Nation, Manitoba. Nikita Koloff will appear in a non-wrestling role and wrestling on the show will be Silas Young, Kaito Kiyomiya, Jonathan Gresham, Ethan Page, Kelly Klein, Phil Atlas and more.
House of Hardcore on 8/11 in Freehold, NJ at iPlay America has Bully Ray, Tommy Dreamer, Sami Callihan, Jake Hager, Ricky Morton, Robert Gibson, MVP, Bobby Fish, Rhett Titus and Bull James.
House of Hardcore on 8/12 at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia has Dreamer, Sandman, MVP, Spirit Squad, and Swoggle.
Pro Wrestling Phoenix from last night in Omaha: Zac James b Robert Storm, Moonshine Russell & Duke Cornell b Tim Boston & Brandon Wallace, Dalton Lee Roth b Carson Rockwell, Lars Metzger & Johnny Ruckus DCOR Clay Cooper & Nathen Edwards, Willy Sweet b Purple, Paul & Joey Daniels b Con Aritest & Cuco Santiago, Hype Gotti b Pat Powers & Devin Carter. Next show is 7/19 in Omaha at the Waiting Room Lounge headlined by Robbie E.
A story on wrestling in Appalachia. (thanks to Chris Cruise)
Today in Pro Wrestling History: Buddy Rogers wins NWA World title
F4W Online / Wrestling Observer Vegas Convention Event Info
August 17-21; All times are TBA; Full information on the group Facebook page; Activities subject to change
Thursday: Meet at the High Roller for Bowling at the Link; Party at Carnival Court at Hurrah’s
Friday: Kiss Mini Golf tournament at the Rio; Dinner at Texas de Brazil; Suite party (location TBA)
Saturday: Burgers with Granny for lunch; Future Stars of Wrestling show featuring Stephan Bonnar & Phil Baron, and co-main events: 3-way match with Leva Bates vs. Mia Yim vs. Hudson Envy, and “Filthy” Tom Lawlor vs. Thomas Santell (f.k.a. Antonio “The Promise” Thomas); NXT viewing party at the Sci-Fi Center
Sunday: SUPER CHINA BUFFET DAY at the Wicked Spoon Buffet at 1pm; SummerSlam viewing party at the Sci-Fi Center
Monday: Goodbye lunch at Chen Chen at NY NY
Texas de Brazil, Wicked Spoon, NXT and Summer Slam will all be sign up and pre-paid events, prices and collection begin in mid July~!
Pro Wrestling Tees is now carrying our latest line of F4W shirts. Support the Empire~! Grab yours today!
CONTACT INFORMATION
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