Daily Update: UFC fallout, Jon Fitch, Dana White

DAILY UPDATE

Latest News:

Simone Johnson to undergo knee surgery   
Sasha Banks to address Bayley on WWE SmackDown   
WWE Main Event results: Ali vs. Tozawa, Moss vs. Carrillo   
MLW Underground results & video: The road to Hybrid Hell   
Impact Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo booked for Bloodsport   
UFC on ESPN+ 35 live results: Michelle Waterson vs. Angela Hill  

Latest Audio:

DragonKing Dark: Mailbag and your feedback 9/13
WOR: Ratings, Smackdown and RAW, UFC, news and mailbag! 9/13


WON NEWSLETTER: September 14, 2020 Observer Newsletter: AEW All Out reviewed, more

A look at recent concussion and head trauma issues in wrestling as it relates to Matt Hardy and other recent situations in other companies is the lead story in the new issue of the Observer.  We go through Hardy vs. Sammy Guevara, how it was handled, Reby Hardy’s reactions, AEW’s releases, as well as look at many other high profile situations in the last few years in New Japan and WWE, including Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar and how that match pretty much tells you that there will always be exceptions to concussion protocol.

Also in this issue:

Other risks taken in AEW of late, along with complete coverage of All Out, with business notes inculding PPV numbers, poll results,match-by-match coverage and star ratings.

WWE’s new policy on third party bookings, with WWE clarifying many issues, talent reactions, how things seemed to change during the week, as well as reaction from others in wrestling along with Andrew Yang.

G-1 Climax tournament including the blocks and favorites.

Appellate court ruling that threw out a series of lawsuits against WWE on different grounds.  We look at the legal technicalities regarding why these cases had little chance from the start, the one aspect still open and reactions from both lawyers.

Latest firings by WWE, who was involved , why they were done now, plus a look at the career of Gerald Brisco.

Finn Balor vs. Adam Cole, Clash of Champions card, PPV schedule change, NXT UK TV show note, Styles talks retirement, AOP firing notes, Canadian ratings, Where WWE ranks in sports ratings, Cena new TV show, Lawler talks why WWE announcing has changed, WWE star nominated for an award, next week’s TV, WWE current market value as well as the most watched shows for the week on the WWE Network.

Complete coverage of this past Saturday’s UFC show.

The formation of a new pro wrestling group by a major corporation and how it differs from any group in the world as far as its main platform.

Ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.

Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week. 


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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I have our weekend show up on the site right now. We also have a very well received show with Debbie Malenko talking about the in-ring heyday of the All Japan women’s office and working with the likes of Aja Kong, Manami Toyota and Akira Hokuto.

Here is footage of the Akira Hokuto vs. Debbie Malenko match, heavily edited unfortunately, that is talked about on the show from January 4, 1993 at Korakuen Hall, hours before that year’s Tokyo Dome match. The injury that ended her career was during this early 1993 match with Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada vs. Malenko & Sakie Hasegawa.

Jon Fitch announced his retirement after his loss to Neiman Gracie last night at the Bellator show in Uncasville, CT. 

On the main event decision with Michelle Waterson vs. Angela Hill last night, to show how close it was, media scores were 50% for Waterson and 50% for Hill. Judge Derek Clearly gave Hill the first two rounds and Waterson the last three.  Judge Sal D’Amato gav Hill only the first round.  Judge Chris Lee gave Hill rounds 1, 2 and 5,.  I gave the last three to Waterson but rounds two and five were very close so anything from 49-46 Waterson to 48-47 Hill are viable scores, so the judging wasn’t bad even though in a close fight, people are guaranteed to blame the judges..

The finish of Wednesday’s Chris Jericho & Jake Hager vs. Sonny Kiss & Joey Janela match did 580,000+ viewers in 18-49 (translates to 0.45 in the demo) and nearly 1.2 million viewers.

The only thing in combat sports that trended on Google this week was Conor McGregor on Sunday with 200,000, which was No. 11. Nothing from pro wrestling made the list and last night’s UFC show did not crack the top 20 which would be a rare thing.

MMA reporter Dave Doyle noted that last night’s Bellator show, the last on Spike, ends 21 straight years of combat sports on the station that was TNN, The National Network, Spike and Paramount.  It started with ECW on TNN, then WWE Raw for five years (2000-2005), UFC from 2005 to 2010, Impact (2004 to 2014), and finally Bellator (2012 to 2020). 

UFC
Dana White said that the work of referee Chris Tognoni in the Mike Rodriguez vs. Ed Herman match was, “the worst I’ve ever seen.  He’s f***ing Mazzagatti-level.  Some Mazzagatti-level s*** right there. That was one of the worst things I’ve ever seen.”  Rodriguez had the fight won after knocking Herman down with a knee to the chest. Herman sold it as a low blow and Tognoni ruled it a low blow. Herman came back to win via Kimura submission in the third round.  White also said the company is paying Rodriguez his win bonus, feeling he won the fight via TKO.  White was also furious at the commission for not having Tognoni watch a replay when the match was stopped to give Herman time for a complete recovery. Most states say that you can only use a replay to look at the finish of a fight and since the fight wasn’t finished, that would seem to make it a forced finish but I do know people have interpreted the Nevada rule differently.
The movie “Bruised” which was Halle Berry’s directorial debut and stars Berry and Valentina Shevchenko as MMA fighters premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival this past weekend and Netflix offered nearly $20 million for the fights.  The deal was confirmed between Endeavor, which owned the movie as well as UFC and Netflix.
Raulian Paiva is off the 10/31 show due to a torn ACL in his right knee, which will require surgery. He was to face Amir Albazi.
MISCELLANEOUS 
Reports are that the Champion Carnival matches from today with Jiro Kuroshio beating Suwama and yesterday with Yoshitatsu beating Kento Miyahara are must-see bouts.
The Friday night New Japan show on New Japan World from California is starting a new Lion’s Break Crown series which will feature a singles tournament but using the younger wrestlers this time. They also announced ACH & Alex Zayne vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa.
Results from last night’s Warrior Wrestling show in Chicago Heights, IL before 200+ fans:  Daga b Isaias Velazques, Thunder Rosa b Kimber Lee, Warhorse b Joey Janela, Alex Shelley b TJP, Elayna Black b Dan the Dad, Brian Cage b Benjamin Carter, Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz & Dezmond Xavier b Chris Bey & Myron Reed & Jordan Oliver, Kylie Rae b Tessa Blanchard to win Warrior Wrestling women’s title.  The crowd was held down being an outdoor show on a day it was raining most of the day and there was a rain delay after the Janela match. Lots of raves about Carter’s performance in the match with Cage.  Blanchard was said to have shown no signs of rust and brawled all over the stadium and was said to be the best match of the Rae-Blanchard series.  (thanks to many including Robert D’Andrea, Lance LeVine, Debra Ketchner, Dave Gould and others)
 Ryan Reynolds noted that he was to work on “Red Notice,” a high-priced Netflix movie he and Dwayne Johnson star in that both got huge guarantees for.
Fight Network UK programming is no longer on Showcase TV in the U.K. as of the end of August.  Impact Wrestling remains on 5Star but ROH would no longer be on television in the U.K.
ROH did return this past weekend with new programming with the start of the Pure championship tournament. It was a very sports-like presentation. .
Mr. Chainsaw Pro Wrestling from last night in Kalkaska, MI: This was scheduled as an outdoor show but moved indoors due to the rain: Jumal Kyng b Christopher Saint & Dickie Watts, Max Morrison b Conrad Loucks, Tommy Vendetta b Rhino, Drew Jacobs & TJ Meyer b Jake Price & Isaiah Broner, Effy b Nolan Edwards, Rohit Raju won over Mitch Hewitt, Sean Tyler, Nate Bock, Blake 182 and Chase Burnett, Jack Verville b Neil Gerard in a loser must retire match (thanks to Leonard Brand)
Lariato Pro Wrestling from Dublin, GA last night before 200 fans:  Spi-ral b Fry Daddy, Roman Rozell b Tyzin, Bryce Cannon b Clyde Braddock, Francisco Ciatso & Storm Thomas won over Scott Beah & LandonHale and Paul White &Caleb Scott, Heath (Slater) b Jay Bradley, Doc Gallows b Brad Attitude, Eric Young won over Lazer and Micah Taylor in a cage match to win the Lariato title.  Next show is 10/10. Charlie “Scarry” MacGowen, who started as a referee during the heyday of Georgia Championship Wrestling, worked the show.   
Bob Kapur talks to Hiram Garcia of Seven Bucks Entertainment about his photo book on Dwayne Johnson.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: WCW vs. NWO at Fall Brawl 1998


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