July 2020 – Page 16

Due to President’s Day, the Monday night ratings will be delayed until some time tomorrow.

Ratings are expected tomorrow in the early afternoon.

Raw is not expected to pull a good number, even though they are coming off a stronger than usual number for the Daniel Bryan retirement show the previous week. Between a main event of Big Show vs Braun Strowman and going head-to-head with the Grammy Awards, and several shows that have hit seasonal 17 year lows, it doesn’t look good. The only thing that could save it is if there was lingering interest from the show the week before.

The preliminary numbers for the Grammy Awards on CBS were just under 24 million viewers, making it among the most-watched non-football shows of the past year.

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On Monday, the relationship between WWE, WWN, and Evolve Wrestling continued to develop as WWN announced that NXT General Manager William Regal will appear at Evolve’s next two shows in New York.

He will be available for pictures and autographs at both the March 19th event in Queens, NY, and the following night in Brooklyn. Regal will have an undisclosed role at both shows as well.

Regal first made an appearance at the Evolve 54 show in Orlando, held the same weekend as the Royal Rumble, where he helped set up the Evolve title match between Timothy Thatcher and former UFC fighter Matt Riddle, who WWE is said to be interested in. It’s fair to assume that Regal would be looking at talent for the Global Cruiserweight series scheduled to take place on the WWE Network this summer.

WWN also announced that a WWE representative will be on hand at the WWN Seminar/Tryout on March 31st in Dallas in conjunction with WrestleCon. The group will also be running three shows that weekend.

A cryptic tweet out of nowhere by Conor McGregor has shaken up the MMA world.

McGregor earlier today wrote:

“I have decided to retire young.

Thanks for the cheese.

Catch ya’s later.”

There was nothing more said, no doubt by design.

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With Ronda Rousey out of action, McGregor is the key draw for UFC business going into its planned biggest week in history in July when he was the headline UFC 200 against Nate Diaz.

McGregor has been unavailable to media and UFC has not said anything.

Whether this is a negotiating ploy, a legitimate retirement or just his own practical joke that will be explained that he’s always said he doesn’t want to fight a long time is unknown.

McGregor is a big spender, and he was likely to get his biggest paycheck to date for UFC 200. He had talked in the last year about a number of different business plans for the next few years but all of them involved building his name up bigger and continuing to fight.

There will no doubt be more on this as the day progresses.

In the moist heat of El Bagre’s harsh climate, Wilson Leudo fights off mosquitoes as he recalls how a commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or the FARC, paid a visit to his family home in 2002.

“He offered us a million pesos (£260) for my 14-year-old sister,” he says. “We refused, but the next day she’d gone. He just took her.”

It would be two years before Wilson saw his sister again. She had been repeatedly raped and forced to work as a cook, before managing to escape.

Just months later, Wilson’s brother would also disappear. “They tried to recruit him, but he refused to join their struggle, and for that, you pay a heavy price.”

Wilson tells his story with ease, but it does…

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Britain is poised to score a major diplomatic victory over Russia next week that will enable international weapons inspectors to point the finger of blame at states who use chemical weapons, The Telegraph can reveal.

The move will come at an emergency summit of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in the Hague which was convened at the UK’s request last month following a resurgence in the use of chemical weapons in recent years.

At present, chemical weapons inspectors are only able to determine if chemical weapons have been used, but not pass judgment on which government or entity was responsible for using them, even if the evidence is clear.

Attempts by Western powers…

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Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, has expressed hope that Wednesday’s visit to Moscow by US leader Donald Trump’s national security advisor will help improve bilateral ties amid tensions between Moscow and the West.

Hardliner John Bolton is in Moscow to lay the groundwork for a summit between the Kremlin chief and President Trump that may take place next month in Europe.

"Your visit to Moscow gives us hope that we can at least take the first step to reviving full-blown ties between our states," Mr Putin told Mr Bolton at the start of the Kremlin meeting after the two smiled and shook hand for the cameras.

"We never sought confrontation," Mr Putin said in televised remarks, adding he regretted that the Russia-US ties were not "on top form."

Mr Bolton said it was important to keep talking and complimented Mr Putin on his handling of the football World Cup, currently taking place in Russia.

"Even in earlier days when our countries had differences our leaders and their advisors met and I think that was good for both countries, good for stability in the world and President Trump feels very strongly on that subject," he said.

Donald Trump gives a press briefing with John Bolton and Larry Kudlow at the G7 summit in the Charlevoix city of La Malbaie, Quebec, CanadaCredit:
LEAH MILLIS/REUTERS

"So again we are most appreciative of your courtesy and graciousness here and I look forward to learning how you handle the World Cup so successfully, among other things."

The United States will co-host the 2026 World Cup with Mexico and Canada.

Mr Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier in the day the meeting would be used to discuss "the sad state" of bilateral relations as well as top international issues.

Vladimir Putin meets with John Bolton in MoscowCredit:
REUTERS

Mr Trump said this month that Russia should be re-admitted to the G7 group of industrialised democracies, from which it was suspended for its annexation of Crimea in 2014.

A former US ambassador to the UN, Mr Bolton is known for his hawkish stances and has repeatedly called for tough sanctions against Russia.

"We negotiate with Russia at our peril," he wrote in a column for the Daily Telegraph in 2017.

Earlier Wednesday Mr Bolton met behind closed doors with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the first deputy head of Russia’s security council, Yury Averyanov.

Trump-Putin summit could coincide with World Cup final

There has been speculation that a meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Putin that could coincide with the World Cup final.

The timing of the summit has raised questions about whether Mr Trump, who bragged this month about bringing the 2026 World Cup to North America, could defy expectations and visit the Russian capital for the final of the 2018 tournament.

Benjamin Netanyahu is also considering coming to the game, and Mahmoud Abbas has already accepted an invitation from Mr Putin to attend, raising the possibility of an Israeli-Palestinian summit at the international sporting event.

Any summit is expected to happen when Mr Trump travels to Europe in July. He will attend a Nato summit in Brussels on July 11-12, where discussions may be strained by his decision to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and the European Union, all major trade and security partners of the United States.

Read more | Russia investigation

Then on July 13 he will begin his long-delayed visit to the UK and stay until at least the next day, holding talks with Theresa May and meeting the Queen at Windsor Castle.

The World Cup final is on July 15 at Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium, the main venue of the 1980 Olympic Games, which the United States boycotted.

The timing of the championship match after Mr Trump’s UK visit has led to rumours that he could meet with Mr Putin on that day and perhaps even come to Moscow for the game.

The US president has been basking in football-related goodwill after Fifa awarded the 2026 World Cup to a combined bid from the United States, Mexico and Canada on June 13.

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Former Miss Americas are rallying in support of Gretchen Carlson, another former winner brought in to reform the pageant, after state officials pushed for her resignation.

Their move reveals deep divisions over the direction of an organisation that was rocked by a 2017 email scandal and is trying to modernise for the #metoo era.

Ms Carlson, Miss America 1989 and an early figure in the #MeToo movement, announced last month that the pageant was dropping the swimsuit element of the competition.

However, some former directors and state officials said they felt pressured to make the change or risk broadcasters dropping the pageant from television.

Representatives from 22 state pageants signed a petition calling for the resignations of the new Miss America board, including Ms Carlson and Regina Hopper, its chief executive, according to The Press of Atlantic City.

Gretchen Carlson leads the Miss America board of trusteesCredit:
Miss America Organisation

But in a letter to the newspaper, 30 former Miss Americas said they "fully support" Carlson and the board members "who are and have been working tirelessly to move our programme forward”.

The Miss America organisation is regrouping after a December scandal in which emails surfaced in which its then chief executive and board members mocked winners’ intelligence, looks and sex lives. They were forced to resign.

Today, the organisation’s top three posts are held by women and the new leaders have begun making changes.

The petition from the state pageant officials expressed a vote of "no confidence" in the board of trustees. It cited a lack of transparency and adherence to best practices, The Press said.

But the former Miss Americas said in their letter that they "hope the voices of our majority can and will be heard”.

Ms Hopper told The Press on Friday that "there are always those who disagree with or find it hard to accept change", but that the organisation welcomes anyone who wants to move forward with a revitalised programme dedicated to providing scholarships and opportunities to young women.

Suzette Charles, Miss America 1984, said things had begun to “unravel" in the organisation.

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"There’s been a lot of dismay with (Carlson’s) leadership," she said. "We thought she would regard this program with reverence and keep this tradition alive."

1959

Kansas City, Kansas:
– NWA World Heavyweight Champion Pat O’Connor beat Lee Henning in 2 out of 3 falls
– Dino Bravo and Bob Ellis beat Dick the Bruiser and The Mighty Atlas
– Rip Hawk beat Lou Spindola

1980

Miami, Florida:
– Bugsy McGraw defeated Nikolai Volkoff by dq
– Texas Death Match: Dusty Rhodes defeated Leroy Brown
– Florida Tag Titles: Jack Brisco & Jim Garvin defeated Bryan St. John & Stan Lane to win the titles
– Florida TV Title: Steve Keirn defeated Don Muraco
– Super Destroyer & Mr. Saito & Dick Slater defeated Manny Fernandez & Mr. Florida & Hector Guerrero
– Gordon Nelson beat Butcher Brannigan
– Geoff Portz defeated Barry Windham

1983

JCP Final Conflict: Greensboro, North Carolina:
– Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood defeated Sgt. Slaughter & Don Kernodle in a steel cage for the NWA World Tag Team Championship
– NWA World Champion Ric Flair fought NWA US Champion Greg Valentine to a 60-minute time-limit draw

Landover, Maryland:
– Andre the Giant won a 20 man battle royal
– WWF World Champion Bob Backlund pinned WWF IC Champion Don Muraco in a Texas Death Match

Baltimore, Maryland:
– Rocky Johnson defeated Superstar Billy Graham by countout
– Big John Studd defeated WWF World Champion Bob Backlund by dq

1984

New Orleans, Louisiana
– Mr. Wrestling II defeated The Junkyard Dog in to win the Mid South North American Heavyweight Title

Toronto, Ontario, Canada:
– Rick Martel no contest Dino Bravo
– Nick Bockwinkel beat Billy Robinson
– AWA Tag Team Champions Ken Patera & Jerry Blackwell beat Leo Burke & The Destroyer
– Jim Brunzell beat Blackjack Mulligan
– Greg Gagne beat Bob Boucher
– Richard Charland beat Baron Von Raschke
– Gino Brito Jr beat Tito Senza

1987

Tokyo, Japan:
– NWA World Champion Ric Flair defeated the Great Wajima

Sunrise, Florida:
– Barry Windham fought Lex Luger to a 20-minute time-limit draw
– NWA Tag Team Champions Rick Rude & Manny Fernandez defeated Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson
– NWA US Champion Nikita Koloff pinned Arn Anderson
– NWA TV Champion Tully Blanchard defeated Dusty Rhodes via disqualification

1988

Chicago, Illinois:
– Randy Savage, WWF Tag Team Champions Rick Martel & Tito Santana defeated WWF IC Champion the Honkytonk Man, Bret
Hart, & Jim Neidhart in a steel cage match

1989

– Jeff Jarrett & Kerry Von Erich defeated The Stud Stable, Robert Fuller & Jimmy Golden, to win the World Class Tag Team Titles

1990

Memphis, Tennessee:
– Jerry “The King” Lawler defeated Jimmy Valiant in for the USWA Unified Heavyweight Title

1992

Camp LeJune, North Carolina:
– Sting and Ron Simmons defeated WCW US Champion Rick Rude and Larry Zbyszko
– Rick and Scott Steiner defeated Steve Austin and Bobby Eaton

1993

Radnor, Pennsylvania:
– Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka defeated Glenn Osbourne in a tournament final to become the ECW Television Champion

Erie, Pennsylvania:
– Rick & Scott Steiner defeated the Beverly Brothers
– WWF World Champion Bret Hart defeated Bam Bam Bigelow

1994

Dresden, Germany:
– 2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell defeated Paul Orndorff & Paul Roma
– Vader pinned Cactus Jack (match where Cactus Jack lost his ear)
– Sting & Ricky Steamboat defeated WCW US Champion Steve Austin & Ron Simmons

1995

Denver, Colorado:
– WCW Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell & the Patriot
– Randy Savage & Sting defeated Avalanche & Big Bubba
– WCW US Champion Vader defeated Jim Duggan

1999

Trenton, New Jersey:
– ECW Tag Team Champions Rob Van Dam & Sabu defeated Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley
– Jerry Lynn defeated Lance Storm

Anaheim, California:
– WWF Tag Team Champions Owen Hart & Jeff Jarrett defeated Triple H & X-Pac
– Steve Austin & Mankind defeated WWF World Champion the Rock & Kane in a Texas Tornado match

2000

Albany, New York:
– WWF Tag Team Champions the Dudley Boyz defeated Matt & Jeff Hardy and Edge & Christian in an elimination match
– The Rock & Kane defeated WWF World Champion Triple H & X-Pac

ECW Living Dangerously: Danbury, Connecticut:
– Lance Storm & Justin Credible defeated ECW Tag Team Champions Mike Awesome & Raven and Tommy Dreamer & Masato Tanaka in
a Three-Way Dance to win the titles
– In the finals of the ECW World TV Title Tournament, Super Crazy pinned Rhino to win the title

2004

Tokyo, Japan:
– American Dragon Bryan Danielson & Curry Man defeated Gedo & Jado to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles

2005

Tokyo, Japan:
– Kensuke Sasaki defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan to win the IWGP Heavyweight Title

2006

TNA Destination X: Orlando, Florida:
– Christopher Daniels defeated Samoa Joe & AJ Styles in an Ultimate X Match to win the TNA X Division Title
– NWA champion Christian Cage defeated Monty Brown
– The Diamonds in the Rough (David Young and Elix Skipper) (with Simon Diamond) defeated Shark Boy and Norman Smiley
– Alex Shelley defeated Jay Lethal
– Lance Hoyt defeated Matt Bentley
– Team Canada (Bobby Roode and Eric Young) defeated The Naturals
– The James Gang (BG & Kip James) & Bob Armstrong defeated LAX
– Chris Sabin defeats Petey Williams, Sonjay Dutt & Puma
– Jeff Jarrett, Abyss & America’s Most Wanted defeated Rhino, Ron Killings & Team 3D

Michael Hutter aka Ethan Carter III did a Facebook post earlier today regarding his missing scheduled shows on April 2 for Southside Wrestling and April 3 for Preston City Wrestling in England.

“Unfortunately, due to a previously unforeseen opportunity to continue building a rapport between TNA Wrestling and one our of television network partners, I was forced to cancel my appearances with both Southside and Preston City Wrestling April 2-3. Canceling is not something I take lightly.”

Hutter confirmed what Preston City promoter Steven Fludder had informed us of, that despite how TNA framed the story, Hutter never asked Fludderfor a deposit. He did say that the plane tickets hadn’t been purchased and that he felt he was out more than anyone financially, because he had printed up U.K.-specific T-shirts and EC3 foam fingers to sell at the shows.

Hutter said that neither TNA nor the promotions are to blame for this, and if there was any heat, he would take it. “A set of circumstances arose and I had to make a decision, so blame me.”

He said he promised to make it up to the promotions.

The death of Joanie “Chyna” Laurer is believed to be from an accidental drug overdose. The belief is that she was dead for probably two plus days when found on Wednesday night. Nobody had seen her since Sunday but she did a tweet on Monday morning. She was surrounded by prescription medication, but there were pills left in the bottles which would seem to rule out suicide.

We’re looking for reports on today’s WWE shows in Paris and Sheffield, NXT in Kingston, RI as well as the second night of TNA tapings in Orlando to [email protected]

Our weekend poll will be for Saturday’s UFC 197 show.

BELLATOR LIVE FROM THE MOHEGAN SUN CASINO TONIGHT AT 9 P.M. EASTERN ON SPIKE TV

Michael Page (170) vs. Jeremie Holloway (171)
Brent Primus (156) vs. Toninho Furia (156.75) – Furia missed weight
Brennan Ward (171) vs. Evangelista Cyborg Santos (168.25)
Patricio Pitbull Freire (146) vs. Henry Corrales (146)
Andrey Koreshkov (170) vs. Benson Henderson (170) for welterweight title

NEW JAPAN WORLD PRO WRESTLING RETURNS AT 9 P.M. EASTERN TONIGHT ON AXS TV

Kazuchika Okada vs. A.J. Styles for the IWGP heavyweight title from Osaka Jo Hall – This was an incredible match when it happened and the matches are a step above when you watch them with the JR/Josh Barnett commentary.

CMLL LIVE FROM ARENA MEXICO AT 9:30 P.M. AT WWW.CLAROSPORTS.COM

Angelito & Stukita vs. Nitrito & Pequeno Olimpico
Esfinge & Pegasso & Triton vs. Cuatrero & Escandalo & Virus
Angel de Oro & Rey Cometa & Stuka Jr. vs. Euforia & Olimpico & Ripper
Block B of the incredible partners tournament
Teams: Atlantis & Gran Guerrero, Brazo de Plata & Kraneo, Caristico & Cibernetico, Dragon Lee & La Mascara, Maximo Sexy & El Terrible, The Panther & Tiger, Titan & Vangellys and Ultimo Guerrero & Rey Escorpion
Mistico & Volador Jr. & Mascara Dorada vs. Barbaro Cavernario & Felino & Mr. Niebla

LEGACY FIGHTING TONIGHT AT 10 P.M. ON AXS TV FROM TULSA AT THE HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO

Aaron Robinson (153.2) vs. Justin Radar (145.8) – Robinson blew weight badly here
Derrick Adkins (155.5) vs. Daryl Wilson (155.6)
Bilal Williams (170) vs. Ed Cline Jr. (170.6)
Charles Byrd (172.4) vs. Trey Houston (169.6) – Byrd missed weight
Evan Thompson (184.4) vs. Andrew Todhunter (184.6)
Marcelo Nunes (182.4) vs. Rafael Lovato Jr (184.4) for the middleweight title

NEW JAPAN FROM KORAKUEN HALL ON NEW JAPAN WORLD LATE TONIGHT/TOMORROW AT 5:30 A.M.EASTERN TIME

Ryusuke Taguchi & Manabu Nakanishi & Tiger Mask vs. Rocky Romero & Trent Baretta & Gedo
Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. David Finlay & Jay White
Tama Tonga & Tanga Roa vs. Captain New Japan & Juice Robinson
Katsuyori Shibata & Kushida vs. Yuji Nagata & Jushin Liger
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Michael Elgin & Juice Robinson vs. Kenny Omega & Bad Luck Fale & Yujiro Takahashi for Never six man titles
Kazuchika Okada & Hirooki Goto & Tomohiro Ishii & Yoshi-Hashi vs. Tetsuya Naito & Seiya Sanada & Bushi & Evil in an elimination match

The WWE European tour ends Saturday with shows in Malaga, Spain headlined by HHH vs Dean Ambrose and Glasgow, Scotland, headlined by Roman Reigns vs. Sheamus for the WWE title. We’re looking for reports on those shows as well as the NXT show in Poughkeepsie (Samoa Joe vs. Finn Balor, Asuka vs. Alexa Bliss, Jason Jordan & Chad Gable vs. Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder), the TNA tapings in Orlando and ROH in San Antonio (Jay Lethal vs. ACH vs. Roderick Strong vs. Moose vs. Jay Briscoe vs. Kyle O’Reilly and whoever pins Lethal in this match will get an ROH title match later on the show, Adam Page vs. B.J. Whitmer in a street fight, Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian vs. Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley, Young Bucks vs. Delirious & Cheeseburger, Bobby Fish vs. Kenny King, Silas Young vs. Mark Briscoe and Will Ferrara vs. Rhett Titus).

UFC 197 ON SATURDAY FROM THE MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA IN LAS VEGAS

Fight Pass at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time

Efrain Escudero vs. Kevin Lee
Clint Hester vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima
Cody East vs. Walt Harris

FS 1 at 8 p.m. Eastern time

Glaico Franca vs. James Vick
Carla Esparza vs. Julianna Lima
Danny Roberts vs. Dominique Steele
Chris Kelades vs. Sergio Pettis

PPV at 10 p.m. Eastern

Yair Rodriguez vs Andre Fili
Rafael Natal vs. Robert Whittaker
Edson Barboza vs. Anthony Pettis
Demetrious Johnson vs. Henry Cejudo for the flyweight title
Jon Jones vs. Ovince Saint Preux for the interim light heavyweight title

NEW JAPAN FROM KORAKUEN HALL ON NEW JAPAN WORLD LATE SATURDAY/EARLY SUNDAY AT 5:30 A.M.EASTERN TIME

Jay White vs. David Finlay
Tiger Mask & Ryusuke Taguchi & Captain New Japan vs. Rocky Romero & Trent Baretta & Yoshi-Hashi
Katsuyori Shibata & Kushida & Juice Robinson vs. Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi & Jushin Liger
Kazuchika Okada & Gedo vs. Seiya Sanada & Bushi
Hirooki Goto & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tetsuya Naito & Evil
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Michael Elgin & Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma & Yoshitatsu vs. Kenny Omega & Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga & Tanga Roa & Yujiro Takahashi in an elimination match
We’re looking for reports on Sunday from the TNA tapings in Orlando.
Raw is Monday night in Hartford, CT. It’s the go-home show for Payback and will include the in-ring debut of Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows, facing the Usos.
Smackdown and Main Event will be taped Tuesday in Manchester, NH.

NEW JAPAN FROM FUKUOKA’S HAKATA STAR LANES LIVE ON NEW JAPAN WORLD ON WEDNESDAY AT 6 A.M.

Captain New Japan & David Finlay vs. Juice Robinson & Jay White
Manabu Nakanishi & Tiger Mask & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Yoshi-Hashi & Rocky Romero & Trent Baretta
Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma & Yoshitatsu vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Tama Tonga & Tanga Roa
Katsuyori Shibata & Kushida vs. Yuji Nagata & Jushin Liger
Kazuchika Okada & Hirooki Goto & Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo vs. Tetsuya Naito & Seiya Sanada & Bushi & Evil
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Bad Luck Fale
Kenny Omega vs. Michael Elgin for IC title

THE ROUNDUP

Watch the McGregor-free UFC 200 press conference; news & notes
UFC 197 : Observer Panel Picks Jones vs St Preux; Johnson vs Cejudo
TMZ: UFC refuses to put Conor McGregor back on UFC 200
Conor McGregor releases statement regarding UFC 200
Joanie “Chyna” Laurer passes away at 45

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Figure Four Weekly 4/18/2016: The media’s involvement in the Hulk Hogan/Gawker lawsuit verdict – All the inside information you would ever want to know about how NOT to release a sex tape.

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

READ IT HERE: APRIL 25, 2016 WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: CONOR MCGREGOR ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT, TNA SALE IMMINENT

In this week’s Observer the Conor McGregor/UFC issue as it relates to UFC 200, and the future and possible sale of TNA are the lead stories in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

The top story runs down how the McGregor situation went down, how much money is at stake for the UFC if McGregor isn’t on the show, Dana White’s claims, a look at the most likely replacement fights and evaluating them, the possible UFC 200 momentum, as well as a rundown of UFC plans for what was expected to be the biggest weekend in its history.

The second big story has to do with the potential sale of TNA to Aroluxe, the company looking at buying them, and the moves Dixie Carter has tried to make, where things stand, a look at the business of TNA and what is needed to turn it around, and more.

There is also an update on the condition of Bray Wyatt, a look at the next WWE PPV show, Notes on the Total Bellas TV show, update on Total Divas and how badly this season declined in audience, more on the WWE drug test failuers, more on Undertaker pulling out of the European tour and HHH wrestling on it, an update on Steve Austin, an update on the Global cruiserweight tournament, Brock Lesnar’s next match, how WWE affects the USA Network overall, former major star honored in Chickasaw nation Hall of Fame, upcoming major NXT dates, Bret Hart talks current WWE, Ryback talks WrestleMania, and notes on the November European tour including why TV location is so notable.

CLICK HERE FOR A FULL PREVIEW

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If you wanted to know just how big Giant Baba was to people who grew up in the 60s and 70s, the latest back issue will explain.
Check out the latest Online Wrestling Observer BACK ISSUE: February 15, 1999 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Reaction to the death of Giant Baba, 2 wrestlers have heart scares, plus tons more A look at the surprising public reaction to the death of Giant Baba, 2 wrestlers have heart attack scares, plus tons of news and notes.

FRIDAY’S NEWS UPDATE

The UFC held a press conference this afternoon in Las Vegas with all the headliners for International Fight Week and the elephant not in the room, Conor McGregor. It got embarrassing for Dana White, who said that Nate Diaz would be on the card but they don’t have a new opponent for him. Diaz, sitting there, said if he wasn’t fighting McGregor, he’s going on vacation. There was a promotional piece for UFC 200 that said three title fights, and that would, based on schedule, that either they go with Daniel Cormier vs. Tomorrow’s winner (Dana White did say that was a possibility) or Robbie Lawler vs. Nate Diaz. Nobody brought that up.

Everyone was pretty respectful with the exception of Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Claudia Gadelha. Jedrzejczyk was asked about the fight the two had that wasn’t filmed while on the set of Ultimate Fighter. Jedrzejczyk said she couldn’t remember. Gadelha on Wednesday night said that she got the better of the fight. They had a few words with Jedrzejczyk claiming Gadelha wanted to blow her kisses and she wanted to punch her. Gadelha said that maybe she needed a fist somewhere else, which was a sexual innuendo since she pretty much said that he (whoever he is) needed to basically put her in better mood and make her less of a bitch. Nobody else could touch that.

Eddie Alvarez said Rafael dos Anjos was the kind of opponent who will bring out a great fight in him. He said he knows fans want Tank Abbott fights but he can’t do that every time out and needs the right opponent, and Anthony Pettis was not that opponent.

The fans were booing when White kept saying that McGregor was off the show because he wouldn’t come to do the press and TV commercial. Here’s the deal, you can make a deal regarding the press conference but you can’t be in the main event and refuse to do the television commercial. Obviously there is more to the story than is playing out, even though White claimed the whole story is out there. White kept saying it’s unfair to everyone else who came, although Diaz said he didn’t care and that he feels McGregor needs the time to catch up. McGregor tweeted during the press conference that nobody else on stage had made the company $400 million in eight months. Well, he didn’t come close to that either.

White also said that they were looking at having McGregor’s next fight to be against either Frankie Edgar or Jose Aldo, whoever wins on 7/9, and would book that as soon as the 7/9 winner was ready. He said if McGregor didn’t take the fight, then the Aldo-Edgar winner would be the champion and White said that McGregor knows what’s going on. White was very careful not to say anything bad about McGregor, claimed he wasn’t mad at him or even frustrated and that you have to come and do the press.

If you check the schedule, some big stuff tonight. Benson Henderson challenges for the Bellator welterweight title; one of the best matches of 2015 airs on New Japan on AXS; and the last hour from Arena Mexico, which should be at about 11 p.m. Eastern is filled with talent. The Friday night stuff when you’ve got guys like Mascara Dorada, Dragon Lee, Mistico, Volador Jr. with good catchers and bases as heels has been spectacular and tonight’s main event looks great.

WWE

Lots of rumors regarding Finn Balor coming off the Samoa Joe title win last night. The win was known and planned in advance. The Finn Balor ankle injury was almost surely storyline as it played into the match, although he has been dealing with nagging injuries. Balor’s teasing about seeing people on Monday is part of his regular stuff of always teasing a debut on Raw in some form. He is coming up at some point and pitches have been made for him. When that will be is uncertain.
WWE announced a Global cruiserweight series qualifying match on 5/1 in London at The Cockpit on the Revolution Pro Wrestling show with Noam Dar vs. Josh Bodom.
WWE stock closed up 30 cents per share today to $16.85.
WWE 2K 17 will be filming a TV commercial. They are looking for a male or female 25-50 who can look credible as a police officer in a dangerous situation, and a stung person 25-40 with training and credits. Pay is $500 per session.
American Grit, which I heard radio promotion for all day yesterday, did 2,170,000 viewers last night on ABC, down from week one. Of the four major networks, the show was the lowest rated in prime time by a substantial margin. In fact, Smackdown on USA beat it.
New Japan announced today that Wednesday morning’s show from Fukuoka, with some of the bouts from the canceled Kumamoto show, will air live on New Japan World.
A John Cena story is here.
Jim Ross talks the death of Joanie Laurer and his interaction with her.

UFC

Cain Velasquez talked about how he has to change his training so he makes it to the fight without getting hurt.
White said that if they were healthy, he would like Velasquez and Henry Cejudo to fight on the November show in Mexico City.
Yes, there is a UFC show tomorrow. Rolling Stone interviewed Jon Jones on his return.
Jim Ross talks about the Eddie Bravo Invitational submission tournament which will be on both UFC Fight Pass and Fite TV on Sunday.

MISCELLANEOUS

The 5/8 ROH PPV show from Chicago is now sold out, as expected. They have announced a preshow match as Crazy Mary Dobson vs. Kelly Klein. Also added to that show besides the matches listed in the new Observer is an eight-man tag with the Young Bucks & Tama Tonga & Tanga Roa (The Bullet Club) vs. Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley & Kushida & Matt Sydal.  Kushida & Shelley have been tag team partners for years. Sabin & Shelley were partners years before that.
There is nothing to stories going around of Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Archer coming in for the TNA tapings. They are in Japan for the NOAH tag team tournament and Smith has had no talks with TNA at all.
A fundraiser has been set up for Joe Doering for medical treatment to beat cancer and return to wrestling.
Lots of interest in both the death of Chyna and the Conor McGregor situation mainstream.  On Thursday, Chyna was the No. 1 search with 5 million searches, which is more than any previous pro wrestling death or pro wrestling story has gotten in years.  On Wednesday, the second most searched term was Conor McGregor with 1 million, which is the interest level of a blockbuster (as in 750,000+ buys) show would do. The most searched term was the Republican primary election results.
In Your Face Wrestling on 4/23 in Massena, NY at the Central High School with Tommy Dreamer & Shooter Storm vs. Myzery & Damien Barbarian.
NWA Mid South Wrestling at Resorts Casino 2 in Robinsonville, MS on 5/7 featuring an appearance by Kevin Nash.
Maryland Championship Wrestling has changed its name to MCW Pro Wrestling. They say the change is because they are promoting in Delaware and Pennsylvania now and are doing a subscription video network at MCWRageTV.
Interview with former Tough Enough winner Daniel Puder can be read here.

Today in professional wrestling history:

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