THE ROUND-UP
THE LATEST NEWS
WWE Raw ratings down eight percent coming off post-PPV bump
ROH announces Tag Team title match for Death Before Dishonor
WWE Raw video highlights: Strowman aligns with Ziggler & McIntyre
Two more matches confirmed for WWE Super Show-Down
Tag title match, Bellas vs. Riott Squad set for WWE Raw next week
Ronda Rousey vs. Alexa Bliss official for WWE Hell in a Cell
Trish Stratus makes surprise appearance on WWE Raw
WWE announces Reigns vs. Strowman Hell in a Cell match
Shawn Michaels set for next week’s WWE Raw
WWE Raw live results: Reigns & Strowman confrontation
THE LATEST AUDIO
WOL: Braun Strowman heel turn, Becky Lynch, RD Reynolds and more! 8/28
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Mid-1960s wrestling timeline 8/28
WOR: Death of Ed Cohen, RAW, Braun Strowman turn, All In, more! 8/28
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Becky Lynch’s contrived heel turn
After telling a nearly perfect story between Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair heading into SummerSlam and at the pay-per-view, it didn’t take long for WWE to undo everything that they had seemingly been building up. WWE followed up on SummerSlam by officially confirming Lynch’s heel turn on last week’s episode of SmackDown. Lynch cut a promo about her frustrations with Charlotte and having the opportunity to become SmackDown Women’s Champion stolen from her, but WWE had Lynch direct her anger at the audience as well.
WON NEWSLETTER: (August 27, 2018) Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Summerslam and NXT Takeover Brooklyn reviews, more
It’s a big news and history issue of the Observer out this week. Look at the decision to make Roman Reigns Universal champion, how WWE went about doing it, the Becky Lynch situation, the future of Brock Lesnar, the business of SummerSlam, and a rundown of All In ticket sales and Madison Square Garden ticket sales for ROH that has a very interesting lesson.
There is a long story on the career of Villano III, the famous match of the year with Atlantis and go back to 2000 for the atmosphere of that unique show.
Run down NXT Takeover Brooklyn, with business of the how, match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
Also run down plans for the NXT Evolution top of the card, exactly where the WrestleMania main events stand, how the Mae Young Classic finals had to be changed, the U.K. women’s tournament, and more on Matt Riddle signing with WWE.
Also look at L.A. Park vs. Rush, what happened to the match, the politics behind it, the CMLL anniversary show and Impact going head-to-head in Mexico City with the anniversary show.
Examine AAA’s TripleMania show and the controversy regarding Alberto El Patron and the show.
Read about New Japan’s biggest matches for the next seven weeks, including Long Beach and King of Pro Wrestling.
Also look back at the G-1 Climax tournament with a look at the consistency of work, the biggest matches and much more.
Read a huge history piece on Walt Harris and 1960s Northern California pro wrestling and the heyday of Roller Derby.
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].
Rates in the United States are $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to [email protected]. For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52. If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.)
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.
TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
Tonight’s SmackDown in Toronto, Ontario, Canada has Carmella getting her Women’s title rematch against Charlotte Flair, Cesaro & Sheamus vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. The Colons, and The New Day celebrating their Tag Team title win from last week. The winner of tonight’s triple threat will advance to face the winners of another triple threat in a number one contender’s match to decide New Day’s challengers for Hell in a Cell.
Buddy Murphy vs. Kalisto and Brian Kendrick vs. Akira Tozawa have been announced for tonight’s 205 Live.
Jason Sensation, who appeared on WWE TV in the late 1990s as an Owen Hart impersonator, created a scare before last night’s Raw by tweeting that he brought a gun through security and was going to kill himself at the show. Authorities were informed and the Toronto Police issued a statement saying that they were with Jason and that he was never at the arena: “We are with Jason Sensation now he was never at the Scotiabank Arena, all is in order.” Jason sent out a tweet today apologizing to anyone who was affected and said that he was detained and forced to stay in the hospital: “I’ve been detained by Police & forced to stay in the Hospital after sending out that awful, thoughtless tweet last night. I honestly wasn’t thinking strait. I am sincerely sorry & apologize to everyone & anyone this affected, especially my loved ones, @WWE & @TorontoPolice.”
There was a storyline on last night’s Raw where Kevin Owens got on the microphone and said “I quit” after unsuccessfully challenging for Seth Rollins’ Intercontinental title. Owens’ profile has been moved to the alumni section of WWE.com as part of the angle.
Natalya paid tribute to her father by pointing to the sky after defeating Alicia Fox on Raw. She also tweeted after the match: “Right about now, I’d be texting my dad about my night and how it all went…especially after I wrestled. I know my dad was there watching me tonight on #Raw. I did that dropkick just for him. I hope I made him proud!”
Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall announced that they’ll be reuniting as the nWo for a Q&A event at Mango’s Tropical Cafe in Orlando, Florida on October 27. The top 100 VIP bidders will receive priority seating, a picture with Hogan, Hall, and Nash, and more.
WWE stock closed at $83.75 per share today, up about two percent on the day.
WWE announced that they’ll be holding a four-day tryout in Cologne, Germany this November for athletes from Germany and mainland Europe.
Ruby Riott defeated Ember Moon and No Way Jose defeated Tyler Breeze on this week’s Main Event tapings.
With last night’s SmackDown-brand house show in his hometown of Peterborough, Bobby Roode appeared on the event and defeated fellow Raw wrestler Mojo Rawley.
WWE uploaded a video where Sasha Banks and Bayley mocked the storyline issues between Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch.
Charlotte appeared on Breakfast Television in Toronto to promote tonight’s SmackDown.
2K Sports uploaded Charlotte and Ric Flair’s episode of WWE Photoshoot that ties in with the Flair special edition of WWE 2K19.
WWE posted a photo gallery of higher quality pictures of the NXT United Kingdom Women’s Championship.
Paige did an interview with Impact’s Alicia Atout while at a show for Blackcraft Wrestling.
Nia Jax and Nikki & Brie Bella will be appearing at theCURVYcon in New York City on September 7 and 8 and will be keynote speakers for a “Body Positive Besties: Supporting Each Other in Our Journey” panel on the second day.
Xavier Woods told Give Me Sport that The New Day will never turn against each other and he has no desire to go to work and not work with his friends.
Aleister Black posted video of himself squatting 335 pounds in the gym four weeks after undergoing groin surgery.
ESPN.com published a story on Shelton Benjamin and improvising during matches.
Pro Wrestling
The latest episode of Being the Elite is the go-home show for All In and features the final build to some of the matches on the show, including an appearance by Rey Mysterio and a fiery promo from Marty Scurll where he says he isn’t going to be there to mess around or make people laugh against Kazuchika Okada.
Nick Jackson, who has been dealing with a virus/flu since flying home from the East Coast this weekend, tweeted abot All In today: “This is a special time. Soak it in! Let’s continue this movement and change wrestling together. There is no limitations or boundaries on what we can or can’t do. This week is proof of that! I’m All In or nothing at all!”
The NWA also uploaded Nick Aldis and Cody’s face-to-face segment from Saturday’s ROH TV tapings in Philadelphia ahead of their NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship match at All In.
NJPW officially announced Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, Tetsuya Naito, EVIL, and SANADA for Fighting Spirit Unleashed in Long Beach, California on September 30. Matches for those wrestlers have yet to be announced. Juice Robinson vs. Cody Rhodes for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, The Young Bucks vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa for the IWGP Tag Team titles, and Will Ospreay vs. Marty Scurll in a semifinal IWGP Junior Heavyweight title tournament match are set for the show.
Travis Banks noted that, while he thought he’d be cleared to wrestle sooner rather than later after dislocating his shoulder, that hasn’t been the case and he still doesn’t have a return date.
Sam Gradwell wrote that doctors found a suspected re-injury or “loosening” of his left ACL that was reconstructed in 2012 while undergoing a physical at NXT UK’s shows this weekend. He said he’s awaiting the results of an MRI and hopes the damage is minimal, but he isn’t cleared to wrestle in the meantime.
Tom Lawlor will face Joey Janela at MLW’s War Games event in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on September 6.
Shimmer provided an update on their streaming service yesterday, noting that it should be up and running within about a week. Shimmer 1-61 will be available in the archive at launch.
Fire Pro Wrestling World was released on the PS4 today.
UFC/MMA
Floyd Mayweather invited Conor McGregor to train at the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas for his fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Dave Meltzer has an article for MMA Fighting on tickets for Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. McGregor being the second most in-demand in UFC history, only behind the company’s debut at Madison Square Garden.
Robert Whittaker doesn’t think it’s fair when the UFC gives title shots to fighters who miss weight.
MMA Fighting reported that Paige VanZant vs. Rachael Ostovic is in the works for the UFC’s first show on ESPN on January 18. Robbie Lawler vs. Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson is also being targeted for that event.
Daniel Cormier appeared on Live with Kelly and Ryan yesterday.
Brendan Schaub said that the success of Logan Paul and KSI’s celebrity boxing match shows how poorly the UFC does at promoting fights at times.
ESPN’s Brett Okamoto tweeted that the California State Athletic Commission is in the final process of approving Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz’s licenses for their fight for Golden Boy Promotions.
Daily Professional Wrestling History: WWF SummerSlam 1989
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