THE ROUND-UP
THE LATEST NEWS
NXT Paris live results: TakeOver preview title matches
Cards revealed for NJPW Strong Style Evolved UK
Netflix releases trailer for GLOW season two
Adam Cole vs. WALTER title match set for EVOLVE 107
Title matches, G1 announcements set for NJPW Kizuna Road
Kenny Omega vs. Cody to headline NJPW Cow Palace show
The New Day vs. The Elite set for Street Fighter V bout at E3 2018
THE LATEST AUDIO
WOL: Raw, Dominion, UFC 225, MITB, NXT Takeover, tons more! 6/11
B&V: NWA World Championship Wrestling from 1988! 6/10
We’re looking for reports from the Saturday night WWE show in Monroe, LA, the Sunday show in Tupelo, MS, the non-Raw stuff from tonight in Little Rock (Main Event matches, dark matches, etc.) and tonight’s Smackdown brand house show in Jonesboro, AR as well as all the NXT weekend shows to [email protected].
We’re doing polls this weekend for both the Dominion show and UFC 225, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match for each show to [email protected].
Tonight has the live Raw from Little Rock with Roman Reigns vs. Jinder Mahal, Sasha Banks vs. Natalya vs. Ember Moon vs. Alexa Bliss and Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens vs. Finn Balor vs. Bobby Roode plus a face-to-face confrontation with Nia Jax and Ronda Rousey.
Tuesday has Smackdown and 205 Live in Memphis with Andrade Cien Almas vs. Sin Cara and Jack Gallagher & Drew Gulak & Brian Kendrick vs. Gran Metalik & Kalisto & Lince Dorado announced. There is also an NXT show in Antwerp, Belgium.
DANA WHITE’S TUESDAY NIGHT CONTENDERS SERIES AT 8 P.M. EASTERN ON FIGHT PASS
Dashawn Boatwright vs. Alonzo Menifield
Chris Curtis vs. Sean Lally
Greg Hardy vs. Austen Lane
Rico Disciullo vs. Montel Jackson
Will Santiago vs. Kevin Holland
NEW JAPAN LION’S GATE ON WEDNESDAY AT 6 A.M. EASTERN ON NEW JAPAN WORLD
Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura
Ren Narita vs. Shinsuke Sayama
Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Dinosaur Takuma vs. Manabu Nakanishi & Toa Henare
Yuji Nagata vs. Tomoyuki Oka
Shota Umino vs. Ayato Yoshida
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: CM Punk stepping back into the octagon
With Dr. Chris Amann’s defamation lawsuit against him and Colt Cabana still being tried at the start of fight week, CM Punk’s return to the UFC has almost become an afterthought. But in his hometown of Chicago on Saturday night, Punk will be stepping back into the Octagon just a few months short of the two-year anniversary of his loss to Mickey Gall. His opponent, Mike Jackson, is a 33-year-old photographer and combat sports personality with more fighting experience than Punk but just as many professional MMA bouts.
WON NEWSLETTER: WON Preview (June 11, 2018) CM Punk and Colt Cabana win lawsuit, more
The most in-depth look at the Dr. Christopher Amann vs. C.M. Punk and Colt Cabana trial is the lead story in the new issue of the Observer.
Look at the background of the case, the real reasons it happened, key moments that tipped the jury in the direction, testimony that came out that made WWE look bad and the lack of reaction to it.
Find out the effect on Punk’s fight preparation, Punk’s feelings on the timing, the moral victory aspect, the goal, and why it went to trial. Look at the major mistakes made by Amann’s attorney, and holes in WWE medical practices that are likely to be closed that current talent may not like.
This issue goes into detail on Punk’s last pro wrestling match, the 2014 Royal Rumble, what was planned what went wrong, how it went wrong, and how everyone reacted.
Look at the Dominion show, the card, the build, the storylines, who should win and how the decisions should take place, as well as looking at the Hiromu Takahashi vs. Taiji Ishimori match, Chris Jericho’s return to WWE, and full details of the last two nights of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament.
Find out about UFC weigh-ins after Dana White wants them moved back to the afternoon, with a look at the direct statistics saying what has changed over the past two years and comments from White about why he thinks it’s not working.
Look at the Shawn Michaels comeback talks, a rundown of Money in the Bank, value of WWE stock and why it rose this past week, Cena storyline, WWE pushing for an Emmy nomination, and new wrestlers that are signed and others who are getting tryouts.
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.
MONDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight for Wrestling Observer Radio. We’ll be talking Raw, New Japan, Hall of Fame, and UFC weekend fallout as well as taking your e-mail questions to [email protected].
Ton of stuff this coming week with WWE having four network specials in four days to go along with Raw and Smackdown, including taping a network special in England on Monday and Tuesday, the same days as Raw and Smackdown. Honor Club has two weekend shows and New Japan World has live shows this week on Wednesday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. It’s really something that Shota Umino is getting a main event spot on Wednesday coming off his match with Daisuke Sekimoto a few weeks back.
Dana White said after Saturday night’s show that Rashad Evans, who is 38, told him he was retiring. Evans released a statement the next morning but didn’t say he was retiring.
UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker told Ariel Helwani today on the MMA Hour that he will be getting surgery on his right hand when he returns back home to Australia. He said he hopes to defend his title before the end of the year.
The new season of Lucha Underground debuts Wednesday night on El Rey at 8 p.m.
It was 35 years ago today that the Road Warriors, Mike Hegstrand & Joe Laurinaitis, debuted on World Championship Wrestling as a team. There is a good article talking about the start of the career of a tag team that literally every promotion tried to copy.
This is the third anniversary of the death of Dusty Rhodes, one of the industry’s all-time biggest stars, at the age of 69.
There are still some tickets left for our Q&A on 7/7 in the morning at the Westin Hotel near the San Francisco Airport before the New Japan show. We’ll be taking questions and signing stuff and doing photos.
WWE
Steffanie Newell was apparently injured working at the Download Festival in Derby, UK over the weekend. She debuted under her new name. She was supposed to wrestle as Nixon Newell, the name she made well known in the U.K., against Progress champion Jinny on yesterday’s show in Sheffield. But they said she was injured and Dakota Kai took her place and Jinny won with her acid rainmaker finish. Newell was there and challenged Jinny to a title match.
Alicia Fox is backstage at Raw today. That doesn’t mean she’ll be on the show.
Noam Dar has been cleared to return after knee surgery.
So here’s a weird one. If you go to the WWE Network Hidden Gems page, there is a Sgt. Slaughter vs. Kokina Maximus (who later became Yokozuna) match from the AWA library. After the match, there is significant time left in the video. It rolls right into Kokina’s WWE tryout match video with no commentary. Howard Finkel announces him as Kokina and not as Yokozuna.
MISCELLANEOUS
The new season of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contenders debuts tomorrow night on Fight Pass. Much of the talk has been a battle of former NFL players with Greg Hardy (0-0), who was a genuine NFL star, facing Austen Lane (2-0).
MLW has announced the 7/12 show in Orlando at Gilt Night Club headlined by Shane Strickland vs. Low Ki in what is billed as Salina de la Renta putting up a $60,000 bounty on Strickland.
The Smashing Pumpkins will be on The Tonight Show tonight at 11:35 p.m. on NBC. That means William Corgan, the head of the NWA will be performing.
The French cable channel Game One aired the complete ROH 16th anniversary show in prime time on Saturday night. It was a onetime deal and no other ROH TV shows are scheduled in France. Game One is a Viacom-owend channel aimed at teenagers. They are run by the same people who ran New Japan last month on a one month deal, and the ROH and New Japan shows used the same French language announcing team. This is the third different channel ROH has run on in France, but none of the airings lasted more than a few months. (thanks to Tony Bouin)
Wrestle Rampage on Saturday night in Adelaide, Australia: Mike Boomer & Kazarn Crowe b Dean Valente & Link Barnett, Tyler Trench b Nick Golfis, Robby Heart b Robbie Eagles, Jonah Rock b AJ Isteria, Rufio & Pat Graham & Tommy Knight b Willy Gibson & Havoc & Corey Adams, Greg Graham b Charlie Carter. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
Paul Lazenby, a former wrestler and MMA fighter as well as television announcer and actor/stunt man, has returned to play the role of Marcus Fenix on “Gears of War 5.”
ECWA on 6/16 in Atlantic City, NJ at the Bourbon Room.
Joey Ryan has been announced for Empire State Wrestling on 6/30 in North Tonawanda, NY at the St. Johnsburg Fire Hall. Ace Romero and Pepper Parks (Braxton Sutter) are also on the show.
Defy Wrestling from Saturday night in Seattle before 545 fans: Kimber Lee b Nicole Matthews, Shane Strickland b MVP, Dezmond Xavier b Scorpio Sky, Brody King b Super Crazy Sonico b King Khash, Artemis Spencer & Billy Suede b Drextl & Dr. Kliever,Schaff b Kaimana, Ethan HD & Mike Santiago b Clark Connors & Carl Randers. Next shows are 7/13 in Seattle and 7/20 in Portland, OR. They also have Progress and Defy back-to-back in Seattle on 8/9 and 8/10 at Washington Hall.
Action Wrestling on 6/29 in Tyrone, GA has Tracy Williams vs. Arik Royal as the main event.
Top results from yesterday’s Championship Wrestling from Hollywood TV tapings: Ray Rosas b Scorpio Sky to win the UWN TV title, NWA champion Nick Aldis b Crimson & Jocephus, CZW champion MJF b Suede Thompson, Hollywood Heritage champion Willie Mack b Tito Escondido, Reno Scum won a four-way to keep the tag titles. (thanks to Jake Koch)
WCWF on Saturday night at 6 p.m. in Yuba City, CA at the Yuba Sutter Fairgrounds with Rik Luxiry, and Joe DeSoul headlining.
Eve Shevolution from today in London: Jetta b Bobbi Tyler, Louise James b Jayde, Addy Starr b Rhio, Sammi Jaynes b Sadie Gibbs, Charlie Morgan b Skye Smitson, Kris Wolf b Rebel Kenney. (thanks to Jake Koch)
Innovative Wrestling on Saturday night at the Kingsport, TN Civic Auditorium with 100% of the proceeds going to the Patriot Foundation.
Rise announced a 7/7 show on Twitch with Su Yung vs. Saraya Knight falls count anywhere, Tessa Blanchard vs. Kris Wolf, Madison Rayne vs. Kikyo and a four-corners elimination match to crown the first champion plus a singles title match. The next day they are taping TV with Tessa Blanchard vs. Madison Eagles, Deonna Purrazzo vs. Kyle Rae plus Kimber Lee, Thunder Rosa, Holidead and Shazza McKenzie.
Daily Professional Wrestling History: Okada vs. Omega II
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, Hudson Envy & Shotzi Blackheart, Samantha Heights & Brittany Blake, and Miranda Alize & Kylie Rae. Kris Wolf will also be appearing 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!