THE ROUND-UP
The Latest from the F4W Staff
NEWS
Don West and Robert Flores to call Impact’s Slammiversary PPV
NJPW Lion’s Gate Project 6 results: A look at the young lions
Lucha Underground results: Cueto Cup begins on a show that ends in murder
WWE NXT results: Triple threat elimination match
AUDIO: Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather media call
AUDIO
WOR: Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez talk to Matt Riddle! 6/15
JNPO Classic: Chuck O’Neil on ‘Uncle Brock’; GSP vs. Nick Diaz booked 6/15
WOR: Mayweather vs. McGregor, Smackdown, Money in the Bank, more! 6/15
F4D: Mayweather vs. McGregor, Smackdown, Impact, Geek of the Week! 6/14
FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: Figure Four Weekly 6/12/2017: Okada and Omega deliver another classic
After shaping the modern New Japan main event scene with his all-time classic series against Hiroshi Tanahashi, IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada is now firmly entrenched in his next rivalry which will go down among the greatest of all time. June 11th 2017 might go down as one of those wrestling dates that we just don’t forget.
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WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: June 19, 2017: Conor McGregor/Floyd Mayweather on, Okada/Omega classic, more
The Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight is actually happening, and the story behind it is the lead in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Plus, coverage of Dominion, with Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega II and one of the best shows in recent years, as well as an examination of Demetrious Johnson’s issues with Dana White, New Japan’s future booking, the Long Beach show, G-1, Money in the Bank and more.
Look at the ramifications and stipulations of Mayweather-McGregor and why it’ll be the most talked about fight for years to come, the key to whether it can do record numbers, the price tag, role of the media, and the real question of sanctioning and why it was.
Relive Omega vs. Okada II, the key to the story of the match, the next direction, the story behind Omega vs. Cody Rhodes, booking the finish, and why the circumstances weren’t the best to have a classic match. Understand the background of the match, the business of the match, why New Japan has so many different directions it can take right now, the U.S. title tournament, and when Omega-Okada airs on U.S. television. Check out the lineups for Long Beach, secondary market ticket demand, early thoughts on G-1 as well as the New Japan World shows for the rest of the month and notes on the main events.
Inside, there is match-by-match coverage with star ratings for Dominion, poll results and an amazing stat regarding poll results.
This issue also runs down the Money in the Bank show. Look at the card, what to look for in the show, ticket prices, a new segment added to the show, and also look at Great Balls of Fire and the direction things are headed toward SummerSlam.
Finally, more notes on the build to the Lesnar vs. Joe match, questions about the Cena return, lots of notes about SummerSlam and the top matches on the show, lots of injury updates, Kurt Angle talks former drug addiction, and why Finn Balor wasn’t at Raw.
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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].
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WON BACK ISSUE: May 22, 2000 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Jumbo Tsuruta passes away, ECW Hardcore Heaven review, more
Tomomi Tsuruta, who started out as an instant sensation and went on to be one of the most enduring stars in pro wrestling history, passed away at 4 p.m. on 5/13, from complications after undergoing a kidney transplant operation in the Philippines. He was 49. Tsuruta was an undisputable Hall of Fame calibre performer. He was a major star in pro wrestling literally from the first week of his career in Japan.
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THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I have an interview up on the site with Matt Riddle today talking a bunch of different subjects, including that he knows Kevin Von Erich from Twitter, although not where he lives.
Bovada has placed an over/under on PPV buys for Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. The over/under is 4.99 million buys.
Something that hasn’t been brought up regarding the 8/26 date for Mayweather-McGregor is that this year’s TripleMania is scheduled for that day. It may be smart of them to move it back a day. AAA wants to get it on PPV in the U.S., and 8/26 would be a dead end game. Even in Mexico, trying to put on a big show on the day of that fight will make it very difficult to get the usual level of publicity.
WWE sent out a survey to people who attended WrestleMania this year asking about their interest in seeing a Mania in New York, London, Toronto, and other cities.
Tomorrow will be a big night on television/streaming as CMLL has a loaded show including a sub-10 minute Dragon Lee vs. Cavernario match, and the probable last match of the career of Katsuyori Shibata, against Kazuchika Okada with the Jim Ross/Josh Barnett soundtrack will air on AXS TV at about 8 p.m. Eastern time.
Regarding the 7/1 live New Japan show on AXS TV. The show is scheduled for four hours, from 8 p.m. to midnight, but AXS is covering it like a sports event. They are not going to pressure New Japan to rush the show if things go long and actually have a five hour window, until 1 a.m., for the show. From midnight to 1 a.m. they are scheduled to run Sunday’s Omega vs. Okada II match, but that can be joined in progress if the live show goes long. Omega vs. Okada II will air first on 6/30.
WWE
NXT this weekend has a tour with a show tonight in Richmond, VA, tomorrow in Bel Air, MD and Saturday in Poughkeepsie. We’re looking for reports on all of these events.
Baron Corbin will be the honorary starter at the NASCAR Drivin for Lineman 200 race on Saturday at the Gateway Motorsports Park in St. Louis, the day before Money in the Bank.
Congrats to Brian Myers (Curt Hawkins) and his wife Elizabeth on the birth of a daughter, McKenzie Rose Myers.
Here’s a story on WWE’s history at the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore.
UFC/MMA
Last night’s episode of Ultimate Fighter did 442,000 viewers, the largest number to see the show over the past two seasons.
Tito Ortiz was on Submission Radio earlier today and said he will not fight Chuck Liddell and that at 42, he has no interest in fighting again. “I’m too old to be fighting. I’m 42 years old. I’m too old. I’m not a Randy Couture and I really don’t need the cash right now.” He said he has no temptation at all to fight again. “Not even a thought in my mind. I’m still like dying from neck pain. I have to get neck surgery here and I was supposed to get it a month and a half ago, and I just, insurance got denied, so I gotta wait.”
Randy Couture talks Mayweather vs McGregor.
MISCELLANEOUS
ROH announced these matches for its 6/24 TV tapings in Lowell, MA:
Ultimo Guerrero vs. Matt Taven
Kushida/Marty Scurll winner from 6/23 defends the TV title against Jay White
War Machine vs. Seek & Destroy
Bully Ray & Briscoes vs. Young Bucks & Hangman Page
Deonna Purrazzo vs. Kelly Klein vs. Karen Q
Mandy Leon vs. Jenny Rose
Newsweek has a story on the Netflix GLOW series.
Sporting News ran a story on Ethan Carter III. Some of the more interesting things he discusses: why the recent trip to India was hell on him personally, once again being the bad guy, if things are different since Anthem took over Impact Wrestling, being the face of the franchise, why he didn’t win the Impact Heavyweight Championship at Bound for Glory last year, and Slammiversary 15.
AAW on Saturday night at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park, IL, with Sami Callihan vs. Michael Elgin for the AAW title, Penta 0M vs. Trevor Lee for the Heritage title, John Morrison vs. Brian Cage, Low Ki vs. Abyss, War Machine vs. Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly, Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Mat Fitchett, Eddie Kingston vs. Jeff Cobb, Dezmond Xavier & DJZ & Zachary Wentz & DJZ vs. Stephen Wolf & Trey Miguel & Myron Reed, ACH vs. Garza Jr. and Chuck Taylor vs. Davey Vega vs. Jake Crist vs. Paco. That is one loaded lineup.
Style Battle on Flo Slam on Friday from Ybor City, FL at 9 p.m Eastern has Matt Riddle vs. Martin Stone plus a one-night tournament with first round matches of Fred Yehi vs. Maxwell Jacob Feinstein, Teddy Stigma vs. Francisco Ciatso, Anthony Henry vs. Matt Tremont and Joey Janela vs. Jimmy Lloyd.
Gene Simmons of KISS is trying to trademark the Jimmy Snuka “I love you sign” which he claimed he came up with in 1974.
FIP has a show on Flo Slam on Saturday night from Ybor City, FL at 6 p.m. Eastern with Matt Riddle vs. Jon Davis for the WWN title, Fred Yehi vs. Joey Janela, AR Fox vs. Martin Stone and Anthony Henry vs. Maxwell Jacob Feinstein.
Great North Wrestling will be getting a reality style documentary TV show on Ch. Z which is on many cable systems in Canada. The first live event recorded will be on 6/30 in Pembroke and the second will be on 8/5 in Ottawa. They will be taping shows through March 2018 and the series is scheduled for fall 2018.
Dory Funk’s BANG on Saturday night in Ocala, FL at the BANG TV Sound Stage with Dory Funk Jr., Dalton Drellich, Shane Chung and more.
Big West Wrestling at Lake City Bowling & Billiards in Kelowna, BC tomorrow night. You can bowl with the wrestlers at 6 p.m. before the show starts at 7:30 p.m. They have a show in the same location also on 7/14.
NCW on Saturday night in Ste-Therese, Quebec at the Centre Cultrurel Et Communautaire
C4 Championship Combat on Saturday night in Ottawa, ONT at the Vanier Columbus Club with LAX from Impact, Ethan Page and Mathieu St. Jacques.
MCW announced the annual Shamrock Cup on 7/14 and 7/15 at the MCW Arena in Joppa, MD with appearances from Ricky Steamboat, Mick Foley, The Godfather, Ricky Morton, Robert Gibson and Vickie Guerrero.
Jim Ross will be doing a talk show on 8/18 at the Gotham Comedy Club in New York.
The Manchester Arena will be reopening in early September after the terrorist bombing last month. WWE has TV tapings there on 11/6 and 11/7.
The Austin Idol Live podcast at AustinIdolPod.com talks with Jody Simon/Joe Malenko this week on training with Karl Gotch and other subjects.
Legends of Wrestling returns to the Bowie Baysox home game on 7/20 at Prince George’s Stadium with a guest appearance of Tommy Dreamer.
Cody Hall, who is living in Tokyo right now, is taking indie dates from Bill Behrens at [email protected] He’s looking for bookings between NOAH tours in the UK, Europe and Australia and would be open to US bookings but because of time and flight costs and issues they may be cost prohibitive.
There is a casting call for a new movie in Savannah, GA looking for paid extras who can work 6/17 to 8/2 in the area on a movie called The Peanut Butter Falcon starring Shia LaBeouf. Among the jobs of the extras will be to play backyard wrestling fans.
PWA on 7/8 at 1 p.m. in Tottenheim, ONT with a free event as part of Community Week.
Wrestling Bus Trips will be doing a trip to the CZW show for the Atsushi Onita vs. Matt Tremont match at Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ for $100 which includes transpiration and a ticket to the event. There will be pickups in Elmhurst and the Manhattan Center. For more info you can goo to [email protected]
ECWA on Saturday night in Woodbury Heights, NJ at the Community Center featuring Deonna Purrazzo.
Today in Pro Wrestling History: WCW Great American Bash 1997
F4W Online / Wrestling Observer Vegas Convention Event Info:
August 17-21; All times are TBA; Full information on the group Facebook page; Activites subject to change
Thursday: Meet at the Big Shoot 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: If Granny goes, Burgers with Granny for lunch; Future Stars of Wrestling show; 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!
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