THE ROUND-UP
THE LATEST NEWS
WWE SmackDown ratings up slightly this week
Report: Jon Jones-Alexander Gustafsson title fight set for UFC 232
Kevin Owens out of Mixed Match Challenge, next week’s matches set
Edge confirmed for WWE SmackDown 1000
WWE SmackDown video highlights: Two World Cup qualifiers
Dustin Poirier injured, UFC 230 fight against Nate Diaz off
THE LATEST AUDIO
F4D: Smackdown, Choppin Block, UFC 229, Snickers review 10/10
WOL: WWE and UFC news plus Jordynne Grace and more! 10/10
B&V&C: Retro Raw and Nitro from 19 years ago this week! 10/9
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Recapping WWE Super Show-Down
Going into Super Show-Down in Melbourne, Australia on Saturday, it wasn’t entirely clear whether it would be more of a major stadium show or a glorified live event. There were elements of both on display at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Without even factoring in entrances or the post-match angle, Triple H vs. The Undertaker was nearly 30 minutes long. It was obvious that they were attempting to deliver on the epic “last-time ever” main event that had been promised.
WON NEWSLETTER: October 8, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Massive UFC 229 expectations, plus tons of news
Headed up with a major history piece on the 30-year history of Ted Turner’s involvement with pro wrestling and coverage of a week of so many major events, it’s a double issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter this week.
Preview UFC 229 and why it is expected to be the biggest non-boxing PPV in history. Look at projections, some real numbers, some comparisons, and why Dana White says it wasn’t in Madison Square Garden.
The big story looks at Ted Turner and how he first got connected to pro wrestling in 1972, the role of Ray & Ann Gunkel, the wrestling war in Georgia that led to the two hour Saturday night block, the roles of Jim Barnett and Ole Anderson, and the first-ever Omni sellout.
Also look at the decision made by UFC and USADA to no longer announce drug test failures and why it wasn’t well thought out, as well as the reputation of USADA taking such a hit and the sad ironies of this.
Look at WWE Super Show-Down, ticket sales and ramifications.
Read the update on the 1,000th episode of Smackdown, WWE plans for NXT and ideas that have been talked about, major execs selling WWE stock.
Look at the big questions facing Bellator as they try and build their brand, as well as surprising notes of the Bellator brand vs U.S. pro wrestling companies and Saturday’s show in particular.
This issue has full coverage of ROH’s Death Before Dishonor with match-by-match coverage, business notes, polls and star ratings for the show.
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.
WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
A triple threat match for the North American Championship headlines the episode of NXT that premieres on the WWE Network at 8 p.m. Eastern time tonight. NXT North American Champion Ricochet faces Adam Cole and Pete Dunne, and Keith Lee vs. Kona Reeves is also airing tonight.
The second round of the Mae Young Classic will come to an end on tonight’s episode after NXT. Mia Yim vs. Kaitlyn, Io Shirai vs. Zeuxis, Xia Li vs. Deonna Purrazzo, and Tegan Nox vs. Nicole Matthews are the matches that are airing this week. Meiko Satomura, Lacey Lane, Rhea Ripley, and Toni Storm advanced on last week’s show.
Ahead of him returning to the company, WWE is advertising Rey Mysterio for his first set of appearances. He’ll return on SmackDown 1000 next week and face Shinsuke Nakamura in a World Cup qualifying match. He’s also advertised for:
Hartford, Connecticut — October 20 (house show)
Boston, Massachusetts — October 21 (house show)
White Plains, New York — October 22 (house show)
Newark, New Jersey — October 23 (SmackDown episode)
Atlanta, Georgia — October 30 (SmackDown episode)
Cardiff, Wales — November 3 (house show)
Aberdeen, Scotland — November 4 (house show)
Birmingham, England — November 5 (house show)
Manchester, England — November 6 (SmackDown episode)
NXT’s house show that was scheduled to take place in Jacksonville, Florida tomorrow has been postponed until November 30 due to Hurricane Michael.
On what was a down day for the market, WWE stock closed at $82.68 per share this afternoon. That’s down 4.95 percent on the day and gives the company a $6.45 billion market capitalization.
WWE Network News reported that four matches will be added to the Network’s hidden gems section tomorrow. They are: Johnny Rodz vs. Carlos Colon (WWWF, 1977), Konnan vs. Art Barr (WWF, 1992), Super Crazy vs. El Hijo del Santo (WWF Super Astros, 1998), and Eddie Guerrero vs. Nova (OVW, 2002).
John Cena appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon last night.
Buddy Murphy spoke to Yahoo Australia about winning the Cruiserweight title at Super Show-Down.
Kane (Glenn Jacobs) and Tom Prichard are opening a wrestling school in January 2019.
Pro Wrestling
During a Twitch stream, Kenny Omega said he’s working with a fractured rib.
Northeast Wrestling’s show at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, New York on November 9 will stream live on the Highspots Wrestling Network. Omega vs. Fenix will be taking place at the event.
Omega appeared on ESPN eSports and discussed the Elite vs. New Day Street Fighter battle from E3.
Marty Scurll is the second wrestler to be confirmed for ROH’s Survival of the Fittest tournament in Columbus, Ohio on November 4. It was announced yesterday that Tracy Williams will make his ROH debut in the tournament.
Cody Rhodes vs. Kenny King, Sumie Sakai, Madison Rayne & Jenny Rose vs. Britt Baker, Karen Q & Kelly Klein, and Jeff Cobb vs. Shane Taylor have been added to ROH’s TV tapings at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia on Sunday.
AXS TV announced that Women of Wrestling’s premiere episode will air on Friday, January 18..
Rapper Bodega Bamz will play LAX to the ring for their Concrete Jungle Death Match against The OGz at Sunday’s Bound for Glory PPV.
Nick Gage vs. Joey Ryan is set for Joey Janela’s LA Confidential on November 16, which is the Friday of Survivor Series weekend.
UFC/MMA
Kevin Lee vs. Al Iaquinta will be the main event of the final UFC on Fox, which is taking place in Milwaukee on December 15.
Following his win over Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov and his father met with Vladimir Putin today.
A UFC official told Newsday that Sijara Eubanks will stay on the UFC 230 card and face Roxanne Modafferi at Madison Square Garden on November 3.
Daniel Cormier and Stipe Miocic have been going back and forth on Twitter, with Miocic saying he would have defeated Cormier nine times out of 10. Cormier told Miocic not to be thirsty and that he could have the next title shot if Brock Lesnar doesn’t make it.
Daily Professional Wrestling History: Jeff Hardy wins TNA World title at Bound for Glory 2010
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