DAILY UPDATE
Latest News
MLW Fusion results: Tom Lawlor & Von Erichs vs. Contra Unit
WWE Main Event results: Match stopped due to Dana Brooke injury
WWE Spokane live results: Seth Rollins vs. Baron Corbin
Latest Audio
DragonKing Dark: Dark superhero movies 6/23
WOR: Stomping Grounds preview, AEW TV, UFC recap, more! 6/23
JNPO: The newest media thorn in the UFC’s side 6/22
We’re looking for reports on these shows:
*NXT Thursday in San Antonio
*NXT Friday in Houston
*NXT Sunday in Oklahoma City
We’re looking for reports at [email protected]
We’re also looking for your thoughts on Stomping Grounds, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]” target=”_blank”>[email protected]
WWE STOMPING GROUNDS PPV FROM THE TACOMA DOME AT 6:30 P.M. EASTERN TIME ON WWE NETWORK
*Seth Rollins vs. Baron Corbin for Universal title with a special referee – Will be interesting as expectations for this are low, but I can’t see Rollins having two average matches in a row on PPV. Plus, he pretty much put himself out where he has to deliver a big performance as he claimed WWE was the best wrestling in the world and got nothing but mocking responses for it, including by Chris Jericho. So I expect a much better match than two weeks ago. Rollins is a -270 favorite to win.
*Kofi Kingston vs. Dolph Ziggler cage match for WWE title – The problem with a WWE cage match is it’s supposed to have no interference and guarantee a decisive winner, but it usually means lots of interference and a gimmicked ending. Kingston at -1200 is a gigantic favorite to retain.
*Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre – The expectation here is that Shane McMahon interferes, and maybe Elias as well. Because of that, Reigns is a -175 favorite. Their last match was nothing special, but the track record of both guys would indicate it should be much better here.
*Becky Lynch vs. Lacey Evans for Raw women’s title – This is a big test for Evans. Their last match was also so-so and Evans needs a good match here. Their house show match last night was said to be a big improvement over their first match. Lynch is a -245 favorite.
*Bayley vs. Alexa Bliss for Smackdown women’s title – This was a really bad feud a few years back. Bayley is a strong -490 favorite to retain.
*Samoa Joe vs. Ricochet for U.S. title – On paper this should be a great match. Win or lose, it’s important for Ricochet to have an NXT level performance. There’s no reason he shouldn’t except if he either has a bad night or is overproduced. Joe is a -290 favorite to retain.
*Big E & Xavier Woods vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn – Tag match that should be good. Logically, if Owens is being moved back into the title picture, that he should score the pin here. Logical rarely goes hand in hand with decision in WWE. Owens & Zayn are -135 with money coming in on New Day late.
*Tony Nese vs. Akira Tozawa vs. Drew Gulak for cruiserweight title – These matches are always good and always struggle getting a reaction since the 205 Live guys are never on television and positioned as not being important. Nese is a -230 to win while Tozawa is +365 and Gulak is +425.
*Daniel Bryan & Rowan vs. Heavy Machinery for Smackdown tag titles – The crowd reaction in Washington should be most interesting. Bryan & Rowan are -420 favorites.
Raw is Monday night from Everett, WA.
NEW JAPAN FROM SENDAI AT 5:30 A.M. EASTERN MONDAY ON NEW JAPAN WORLD
Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Yuji Nagata & Yota Tsuji
Ren Narita & Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe & Kota Ibushi vs. Tetsuya Naito & Evil & Sanada & Bushi & Shingo Takagi
Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa vs. Juice Robinson & Mikey Nicholls non-title
Sho & Yoh & Toa Henare & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jay White & Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens & Taiji Ishimori
Tiger Mask & Jushin Liger & Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii & Kazuchika Okada vs. Douki & Minoru Suzuki & Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Lance Archer & Taichi
El Phantasmo vs. Ryusuke Taguchi for British commonwealth jr. title
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Yoshi-Hashi for British Commonwealth title
Smackdown and 205 Live are Tuesday night from Portland, OR.
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: WWE’s women’s division since WrestleMania 35
More than two months removed from the first women’s WrestleMania main event, the WWE women’s division is struggling to regain the momentum it had earlier this year.
In a rematch from Money in the Bank, Becky Lynch will defend her Raw Women’s Championship against Lacey Evans at Stomping Grounds. Bayley and Alexa Bliss will look to improve upon their underwhelming feud from 2017 as they face off for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at the pay-per-view.
WON NEWSLETTER: June 24, 2019 Observer Newsletter: AEW does another sell out, Stomping Grounds struggles
A look at what we can learn from the ticket sales to AEW’s All Out show, the ticket demand, how it compares with WrestleMania’s and major UFC events, details on the number, why the secondary market tickets are so limited, why ticket demand was so strong out of the block, reaction of the ticket industry, details on the process used for selling the ticket and what the number mean, and rate of sales for the biggest WrestleMania.
Also have a look at WWE Stomping Grounds, including ticket demand, lineup, thoughts on the matches, interest in Super Showdown and more.
Read a preview of the G-1 Climax tournament, with the lineups, who are the favorites, different storyline directions, what matches will air on television, live broadcast times of every show on the tour and more.
Take a look at Adrian “Lionheart” McCallum and his recovery from a broken neck to become a U.K. star, and the sad ending of his life.
Also look at cities being considered for WrestleMania, what city is a favorite for the next two years, value of WWE to FOX and FOX Friday numbers, WWE gets an Espy, full card for next Takeover, update on XFL, death of AAF and how they are related, more Ric Flair legal issues, funny stories on WWE names, new movie with WWE stars, new TV deal, WWE salaries and revenue, and a WWE star honored.
This issue has a complete rundown of Bellator in Madison Square Garden, the plight of Aaron Pico, notes on the new fighters, pushed fighters who lost and match-by-match coverage.
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 [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back talking Stomping Grounds and the rest of the latest news tonight. You can send questions to the show to [email protected]
Regarding the story Bryan broke last night, on Monday before Raw at a meeting Vince McMahon said that real sports don’t have action during commercial breaks so they won’t anymore. So that’s why they are doing two or three fall matches, elimination matches and did that hokey spot in the Daniel Bryan vs. Seth Rollins match on Monday. So that’s the rule right now. It’s one of those rules a lot of people expect will be forgotten about soon.
Rafael Lovato Jr. beat Gegard Mousasi via decision is an off-TV (in the U.S., was on in the U.K. on Ch. 5) to win the Bellator middleweight title last night at the O2 Arena in London.
For the weekend, the only combat sports stuff that trended was the Paulie Malignaggi vs. Artem Lobov Bare Knuckle boxing match that was the second most searched item on Google yesterday with 200,000. I’ll bet this is like Ortiz-Liddell where people were curious but didn’t actually buy the show, but hopefully we’ll have PPV numbers this week. Still, that’s what the AEW show did and probably what Stomping Grounds today will do. The UFC show was 14th with 20,000. Bellator didn’t even get 20,000, although I didn’t expect that they would.
For AEW, the Leva Bates vs. Kylie Rae match for Sunday wasn’t supposed to be announced and we’re told it’s probably changing. The plan is for a three fight preshow at 7:30 p.m. Eastern and the main show starts at 8:30 p.m. Eastern. The preshow is Alex Jebailey vs. Michael Nakazawa in a hardcore match and a tag team title tournament match with Scorpio Sky & Frankie Kazarian vs. Private Party vs. Trent Baretta & Chuckie T. There will probably be a third match announced this week which is the spot Bates vs. Rae would have.
NHK News in Japan did a very good English language piece on New Japan Pro Wrestling, covering MSG & Dominion. Among those interviewed are Fumi Saito from this site, several fans, Harold Meij and lots of Japanese history talk,. From a pure facts standpoint it’s so much better than American media wrestling stories and there are Rikidozan clips and talk in the piece. (thanks to Jonathan Ridgeway, Elizabeth Combs and others)
WWE
This is what is being advertised right now for the Extreme Rules PPV in Philadelphia on 7/14. This could call change, and odds are it will:
Kofi Kingston vs Dolph Ziggler vs. Kevin Owens for WWE title
Seth Rollins vs. Baron Corbin tables match for Universal title
Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre & Shane McMahon
Lacey Evans is a +400 to be special ref, with the idea of playing on all the Rollins/Becky Lynch couple push that has started on Raw.
MISCELLANEOUS
While a lot of the numbers in here are ridiculous, such as Double or Nothing getting 800,000 PPV buys, because if they did, the business would totally be different, this is a story on the changes in wrestling from a professor. I guess this would be the accuracy opposite to the NHK piece. (thanks to Chris Cruise)
Kambi is adding both New Japan Pro Wrestling and AEW to its odds for gambling on pro wrestling. They did New Japan for the 2018 Tokyo Dome show but are doing it with tons of different things you can get on regarding G-1. You can bet on the final match, with both Kota Ibushi vs. Jay White and Ibushi vs. Tetsuya Naito as co-favorites at +275. A Japanese wrestler winning is -333 while a foreigner winning is +220. You can also vote for highest rated match of the tournament (Tanahashi vs. Okada and Okada vs. Ibushi are both +500 as the favorites. There are 15 different things you can bet on.
For AEW you can get -250 odds betting that C.M. Punk won’t be at the show or +175 that he will be on the show. You can also bet who the next WWE star will be to show up in AEW with Gallows & Anderson both at -111, Nakamura at +175, The Revival at +250 and Sasha Banks and Paige at +500.Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley are both -115 favorites in their All Out main event. The over-under star rating is ****1/2.
The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame has shot a piece on the New Japan/ROH show in MSG.
Combat Zone Wrestling Tournament of Death 18 from the Colossal Sport Academy in Voorhees, NJ: The show opened with a ten bell salute with Lyle Williams, a local photographer who recently passed away, as well as Adrian “Lionheart” McCallum. Dan O’Hare b Shlak in a doors of death match, Conor Claxton b Jimmy Lyon, Jimmy Loyd b John Wayne Murdoch in a pane of glass death match, Casanova Valentine b Big F/N Joe with a barbed wire boards light tubes bundles death match, The Rep b Ken Broadway & Matt Travis, Conor Claxton b Jimmy Loyd in an exploding bat light tubes death match, Dan O’Hare b Casanova Veltine in a thumbtacks and barbed wire board death match, Matt Tremont b Mance Warner in a fans bring the weapons match, Conor Claxton b Dan O’Hare with a side slam into light tubes. Next show is 7/12 which will be the Lyle Williams Memorial show, and they also have a CZW vs. wXw from Germany show on 8/10 (thanks to Bob Magee)
The final night of World Series Wrestling from earlier today in Sydney, Australia before a sellout 700 fans: Rey Fenix b Flip Gordon, Jude London & Mat Diamond b Mick Moretti & Brody King, Joey Janela b Joey Ryan no DQ, Jeff Cobb b Jack Bonza, Jordynne Grace b Jessica Troy, Marty Scurll b Penta 0M to keep the WSW title.
Fenix vs. Gordon said to be the show-stealer. During Ryan vs. Janela, Ryan stapled a photo of Jim Cornette on Janela’s face and Janela started talking about outlaw mud show wrestlers. Janela cut an anti-Cornette promo. Janela may have injured his hand. We’re awaiting word. Brian Cage didn’t wrestle today as he was injured on Saturday in Melbourne. (thanks to Dann and Helen Lennanrd)
Combate Americas main card results from Friday night in Hidalgo, TX:
Cee Jay Hamilton b David Fuentes via split decision at 30-27, 30-27, 28-29
Desiree Yanez b Paulina Vargas via injury stoppage 1:54 of round three
Enrique Gonzalez b Alejandro Martinez via split decision 30-27, 29-28, 27-30
Ricky Palacios b Cooper Gibson via armbar 4:02 of round one
For those coming to Chicago for All Out,Warrior Wrestling will be running a show the next say, 9/1 in the market. AAW will be running shows on both the Thursday and Friday night. The Warrior Wrestling tickets go on sale 7/8.
Stardom from Saturday at noon in Osaka: Death Yama-san b Saya Iida, Andras Miyagi & Natsuko Tora b Tam Nakano & Starlight Kid, Toni Storm b Xia Brookside, Hana Kimura & Jungle Kyona & Konami & Zoe Lucas & Bobbi Tyler b Momo Watanabe & Utami Hayashishita & Bea Priestley & AZM & Leo Onozaki, Mayu Iwatani & Arisa Hoshiki & Saki Kashima b Kagetsu & Hazuki & Natsu Sumire.
Evening show in Osaka: Xia Brookside b Leo Onozaki, Kagetsu & Natsu Sumire & Andras Miyagi b Tam Nakano & Starlight Kid & Saya Iida, Hazuki & Natsuko Tora b Bea Priestley & AZM, Toni Storm & Arisa Hoshiki & Saki Kashima & Mayu Iwatani b Konami & Jungle Kyona & Death Yama-San & Zoe Lucas, Momo Watanabe & Utami Hayashishita b Hana Kimura & Bobbi Tyler to keep Goddesses of Stardom titles (thanks to Shannon Walsh and wrestlingwithdemons.net)
Robbie Eagles vs,. Emman on 7/6 for Malaysia Pro Wrestling
Scarlett Bordeaux is working 7/28 for FWA in Sydney.
Ice Ribbon from yesterday in Saitama: Banny Oikawa b Mochi Miyagi, Maika Ozaki & Saori Anou b Giulia & Ibuki Hoshi, Risa Sera & Tsukushi & Suzu Suzuki b Satsuki Totoro & Miyako Matsumoto & Akane Fujita, Tsukara Fujimoto won the Triangle Ribbon title in a three-way over Maya Yukihi and Tequila Saya. (thanks to Tomi Yamada and Shannon Walsh)
Sgt. Slaughter will be doing a meet and greet on 6/29 before the Boise Hawks baseball game.
GOUGE from last night in Fuquay Varina, NC: Lynzee Pike b Curtis Cash in an intergender match, No Direction b Simply Safeish, Waylon Maze b James Anthony, Seymour Snott b The Goat, Jimmy Jack Funk Jr DDQ Brent Meyers, Snooty Fox b Roc Richards. Next show is tentatively 7/20 in Raleigh at the Trophy Brewing Company.
USA Championship Wrestling on 7/13 in Jackson, TN at the Oman Arena with Doug Gilbert vs. Matt Riviera in a bunkhouse match. Appearing at the show are Road Dogg, Bob Armstrong and Bill Dundee.
Universal Wrestling Enterprises on Thursday in Marion, MI: Scotty D & Jimmy Blaze b Mike Idol & Jamie Race, Kavan O’Reilly b Kyle Blanchard, Kris P Bacon & Mongo b De La Sombra & Jay Nova, Eric Freedom b Max Morrison, Greeko Suave b Chavo Guerrero Jr. & Jimmy Jacobs (thanks to Leonard Brand)
Stardom today in Shimane: Xia Brookside b Saya Iida, Natsu Sumire won three-way over Death Yama-San and Leo Onozaki. Toni Storm & Arisa Hoshiki b Zoe Lucas & Bobbi Tyler, Hazuki & Kagetsu & Andras Miyagi & Natsuko Tora b Momo Watanabe & Utami Hayashishita & Bea Priestley & AZM, Saki Kashima & Mayu Iwatani & Tam Nakano b Hana Kimura & Jungle Kyona & Konami to win Artist of Stardom titles. (thanks to Shannon Walsh)
Shawn Spears has pulled out of 7/6 and 7/7 dates for Smash Wrestling in Toronto and London, ONT. Orange Cassidy will be he rpelacement, facing Psycho Mike Rollins in Toronto and Cody Deaner in London.
The Hannibal TV’s full career interview with WWE Hall of Famer Paul Orndorff who unfortunately is now suffering from memory issues due to his battles with cancer and numerous concussion. Orndorff is join by Brian Blair for the last 20 minutes to discuss their days as travel partners.
Daily Pro Wrestling History: Steve Austin wins the 1996 King of the Ring
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!