THE ROUND-UP
THE LATEST NEWS
Jay Lethal denies allegations made by Taeler Hendrix
WWE Main Event results: Jinder Mahal in action, The Ascension win
Fandango to undergo surgery for torn labrum
Danny Hodge found safe after being reported missing
WWE MSG live results: Undertaker, Ronda Rousey in action
Daniel Cormier calls out Brock Lesnar after UFC heavyweight title win
Brock Lesnar cageside for UFC 226, reportedly fighting Miocic-Cormier winner
NJPW G1 Special in San Francisco live results: Kenny Omega vs. Cody
UFC 226 live results: Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier
THE LATEST AUDIO
WOR: Hiromu, Hodge, UFC Lesnar, G-1 special, King of Indies, more! 7/8
A WWE Raw house show is in Bridgeport, CT tonight. Ronda Rousey vs. Nia Jax is also on this show.
Monday has Raw in Boston. There is also a Smackdown house show in Augusta, ME.
Tuesday night is Smackdown and 205 Live from Manchester, NH including Asuka vs. James Ellsworth in a lumberjack match and Cedric Alexander vs. Hideo Itami for the cruiserweight title.
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Looking at WWE’s Universal title picture
Three months removed from the crowd rejecting the main event of WrestleMania, the Universal Championship picture is still a bit of a mess. It seemed like things were finally starting to fall into place with the announcement of a multi-man number one contender’s match for Extreme Rules. But, without all that much of a real explanation, the match was canceled the next week.
WON NEWSLETTER: (July 9, 2018): Death of Matt Cappotelli
A look at the life and brief wrestling career of Matt Cappotelli is the lead item in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Learn in this story why Cappotelli, who only had 37 matches in the WWE in his career, was so well liked by the people who knew him best. Find out about his battles with cancer, how fate got in the way of three different WWE startups and the plan for him to win a championship immediately after his call-up.
Look at the back story behind his interview after he learned he had cancer, his second battle with cancer, the Bob Holly situation and what could have been with the angle, his grudge match with Holly in OVW, plans for him in WWE and more.
Read more on Oscar De La Hoya and his MMA plans for Tito Ortiz vs. Chuck Liddell and the money deal and business involved.
Find out about Max Holloway being pulled from this week’s UFC show.
This issue has full coverage of the ROH Best in the World PPV as well as Jay Lethal’s ROH title win, including star ratings and poll results.
WWE’s Extreme Rules is updated.
Read more about the Leslie Smith case and how this could affect pro wrestling and MMA going forward and which companies it likely will and won’t affect.
Coverage of WWE’s return to Japan this past week is in this issue.
There are notes on a Daniel Bryan interview, a show during SummerSlam week, as well as a list of talent at the recent WWE tryouts and their backgrounds. Look at a new WWE Network special, next week’s TV, and the most-watched shows on the WWE Network this past week. Also, Seth Rollins talks the Shield reunion that never seems to happen.
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].
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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.
SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE
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We don’t have much of an update on Hiromu Takahashi other than he was still in the hospital this morning. The original belief was that he suffered a broken neck from the Phoenix plex spot that went awry. He did finish the match after the injury (and others have in the past with similar injuries including the famous Bruno Sammartino vs. Stan Hansen match in 1976).
We’ve got a ton of new weekend shows on the site including a show already done today, one done last night, a live Q&A show done yesterday morning, as well as interviews with Hiroshi Tanahashi, Cody & Brandi Rhodes, Juice Robinson and Jay White. We want to thank AXS TV for being so helpful in getting us all the interviews over the weekend and Hiroshi Tanahashi and Cody & Brandi Rhodes who had so much to do and so many interviews to do but basically gave us no time limit for our interviews. We also want to thank everyone who came to the Q&A both for coming and asking questions.
UFC 226 was the No. 1 searched topic on the Internet yesterday with more than 1 million searches. Big shows of late have been doing 500,000 to 700,000, so that indicates a good PPV number, but not necessarily a great one. At 2 million, you’d expect a great number. Francis Ngannou was the 8th most searched for item today after Dana White buried him at the press conference. The New Japan show didn’t crack the list, but no events outside WWE in pro wrestling ever do.
Brock Lesnar was not in the UFC’s drug testing pool as of this past week. He is in the process of doing so, which means the earliest he would be able to fight would be the late January PPV show. WWE was certainly aware of what happened. We had reported weeks ago that this was something that UFC wanted (Lesnar to in person challenge the winner) and that the idea was open, but we didn’t know for sure until yesterday afternoon that Lesnar was coming.
Cody on Twitter noted he would away from pro wrestling because of another project, a network show which was the reason he went back to his dark hair color. I expect all the details to be announced in the upcoming days.
Fans were heckling Taelor Hendrix on her Friday night booking in San Antonio chanting “Jay Lethal,” “ROH” and things a lot worse at her. She lashed back at them. Hendrix claimed she stopped being booked on ROH TV in 2017 when she refused to sleep with Jay Lethal. ROH, as noted yesterday, said it was Hendrix who quit the promotion and was still being booked when she quit. Lethal also responded saying there was nothing to the story and then asked not to use his words to attack himself or his accuser. “There is already too much hate going around in this world, so let’s not add to it.” He said he was confident the accusations will be proven to be completely unfounded and noted ROH is doing an investigation. Here’s the deal, whatever you want to believe, please don’t heckle either person involved regarding this situation. It’s just hurts it for the fans who want to be entertained.
WWE
With the movie “Skyscraper” coming out this weekend, Dwayne Johnson will be on Live with Kelly and Ryan on Tuesday, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Wednesday.
MISCELLANEOUS
There will be two world premieres of the movie 350 days, which is playing as a one-day Fathom Event at theaters around the country. The New York premiere will be at the Regal Union Square 14 at 5 p.m. with J.J. Dillon, Greg Valentine, Tito Santana and Joel Gertner there along with Associate Producer Evan Ginzberg and Executive Producers Darren Antola and David Wilkins. The movie is a documentary starring Bret Hart and Superstar Billy Graham. The California premiere will be at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood with Sabu, Melissa Coagtes, Ernest Miller, Gene LeBell, Ric dragon, Benny the Jet Urquidez, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian, Scorpio Sky and Rock Riddle plus women from the original GLOW show. There is a chance we’ll be at that one.
Nathaniel Whitlock, who managed in Memphis in 1989-90 and at other periods as Nate the Rat, passed away on Friday. No other details are available at this time.
An interesting note is that the Manny Pacquiao vs. Lucas Matthysse WBA welterweight title match on 7/14 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia will be airing exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+, the new streaming service and not on television where the fight would be expected to draw a huge rating. That tells you how seriously ESPN is taking this service, if the millions per show deal with UFC didn’t tell you.
The ITV World of Sport wresting show will debut on 7/28 at 5 p.m., or one week later than had it originally been talked about.
MCW Pro Wrestling on 7/13 and 7/14 in Joppa, MD has the annual Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup. Some first round matches are 2 Cold Scorpio vs Drew Adler, Joe Gacy vs. Dante Cabellero, Anthony Henry vs. Joe Keys Ken Dixon vs. Brandon Scott, Kekoa vs. James Drake and Rayo vs. John Skyler. Also appearing on 7/13 are Mark Henry, Danielle Moinet (Summer Rae), Milena Roucka (Rosa Mendes), and Brian Pillman Jr.
This was a subject brought up on one of our radio shows. The term cruiserweight was first used in boxing in 1917 in the U.K. (thanks to Damien Lynch).
Future Stars of Wrestling promoter Joe DeFalco reported that they were working with Impact for three nights of television tapings in November. in Las Vegas.
Riptide Wrestling from Friday night in Brighton, East Sussex, UK: Chris Ridgeway & Damon Moser b Bea Priestly & Toni Storm, Charlie Morgan b Flash Morgan Webster, Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis won three-way over Gideon Gray & Kurtis Chapman and TK Cooper & Travis Banks, Millie McKenzie won eight-way elimination over Adam Brooks, Cara Noir, Jinny, Kid Lykos, LK Mezinger, Lucky Kid and Veda Scott, Chuck Mambo b Eddie Dennis-DQ, Walter b Mike Bailey (who heard they tore down the house), Jordan Devlin b Jack Sexmith, Chris Brookes b Naoki Tanizaki-DQ (thanks to Paul Sosnowski)
Bar Wrestling announced for 7/14 Jeff Cobb vs. Eli Drake, Shane Strickland vs. Scorpio Sky, Brody King vs. AR Fox and Priscilla Kelly.
Rock N Roll Wrestling last night in Wollogang New South Wales: Captain Keato b Jackson Kelly, Eric Fisher & The Tradie b Hunter Hayes & Morgan Rose, Otis NC Cave Man Ugg, Robbie Eagles b Robbie Zuko, Matty Wahlberg b JT Robinson & Ricky South, Tenille Dashwood (first match back in Australia) b Indi Hartwell
Rock N Roll Wrestling from today in Campbelltown, New South Wales: Big Fudge b Jax Jordan, Cave Man Ugg b Matty Walhberg, Hunter Hayes & Eric Fisher & Ricky South b The Tradie & Morgan Rose & Captain Keato, Tenille Dashwood b Indi Hartwell, Jack Bonza b JT Robinson, Robbie Eagles b Beach Bum Booty (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
At the Kings of Lucha Libre 3 event last night in Corona, NY, a mach with Dr. Wagner Jr. vs. Psycho Clown was stopped by the New York State Athletic Commission mid-match. They were brawling in the crowd, hitting each other chairs, throwing around garbage cans. The bell started ringing. They ignored the bell and kept fighting. They ended up in the ring and when Psycho Clown rolled up Wagner, the ref counted in three. A commissioner was at the show and brawling in the crowd is not allowed and there were a lot of little kids there and Psycho was way over with the kids (thanks to Matt Singer).
Rise of the Knockouts from last night in Naperville, IL with Josh Matthews and Sonjay Dutt announcing and they heavily plugged Slammiversary: Tessa Blanchard b Kris Wolf, Thunder Rosa & Holidead b Ray Lyn & Karen Q, Madison Rayne b Kikyo, Kimber Lee b Shazza McKenzie, Su Yung b Saraya Knight in a falls count anywhere match where Knight bled, Dust & Raven’s Ash won four-way over Charlie Evans & Jessica Troy, Chelsea Green and Britt Baker and Kylie Ray and Miranda Alize, Tessa Blanchard b Mercedes Martinez to win the Rise title in a 30 minute Iron Man match by taking two of three falls. (thanks to Jake Koch)
Shotzi Blackheart is out of action with a broken ankle suffered at a show in Los Angeles on Friday night.
USA Championship Wrestling from last night in Humbolt, TN: Jake Law b Nathan Starr, Mike Anthony b Blake Christian-DQ, Matt Starr b Johnny Morton, Matt Riviera b Brandon White, Star Power b Mike Anthony & Jake Law.
River City Wrestling from Friday night in Kirby, TX: Rob Love b Brandon Groom, Barbi Hayden b Taeler Hendrix, Heavy Hearts b The Pillars, Rebel b Paige Turner to win women’s title, Nick Aldis b Lance Hoyt to keep NWA title, Crimson Cadet won four-way over Laredo Kid, Dr. Maldad and Baby Black, Abyss b Joey Spector
Smash vs. CZW on 7/15 in Toronto at the Phoenix Concert Theater. They also run 7/14 in London, ONT at the Music Hall and 7/13 in Sarnia, ONT at the River City Vineyard.
Superkicked on 7/20 in Toronto at the Great Hall.
Interviews with Jay Lethal and Flip Gordon are here.
Here are parts one and two of a two-part interview with Dalton Castle.
Daily Professional Wrestling History: Rey Mysterio wins WCW Cruiserweight title
12th Annual F4W Empire Vegas Convention
Greetings friends and fans of the F4W / Wrestling Observer website. It’s time to announce the details of the 12th annual F4W / Wrestling Observer Empire Las Vegas Convention~!
This year’s event will be taking place in Las Vegas from August 16th to the 20th and will again be in conjunction with WWE’s SummerSlam weekend a.k.a. Super China Buffet Day~! There will still be the usual events, but our big draw will be WWE’s summer blockbuster PPV, SummerSlam. As per tradition, we will all gorge ourselves at a Las Vegas buffet, and then watch SummerSlam in a rented out movie theater. All information and ticketing prices are available now. Sign up ASAP as spots are limited for some events.
This year will also feature a Future Stars Wrestling show which will include the first ever Gladys Gibson Doubles Match Classic! Already booked for the show are the teams Mia Yim & Leva Bates, Shotzi Blackheart & ???, Samantha Heights & Brittany Blake, and Miranda Alize & Kylie Rae. Also appearing will be Kris Wolf along with many more future stars. There may even be a classic star or two making an appearance. You won’t want to miss this show! Check out the convention’s Facebook page for all additional information.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Poll opinions: [email protected]
Feedback: [email protected]
Show results and news tips: [email protected]
Wrestling Observer Radio questions: [email protected]
Support the Empire~! with F4W shirts. Grab yours today!