Daily Update: UFC Rotterdam, ROH War of the Worlds, Holm's next fight
UFC had a good show today, particularly the main card. Alistair Overeem finished Andrei Arlovski in the second round in a match that figured to end one way or the other via knockout early. Overeem immediately challenged the winner of the Fabricio Werdum vs. Stipe Miocic heavyweight title next this coming Saturday to a fight in Madison Square Garden in November, and then Overeem said when he won the title, he wanted to defend it early next year in Amsterdam. Either Overeem or Cain Velasquez (if he beats Travis Browne at UFC 200) should get the next shot.
UFC ON SUNDAY MORNING FROM ROTTERDAM, HOLLAND
(SPOILER ALERT: WINNERS IN BOLD and UNDERLINED)
Flyweight Ulka Sasaki (125) vs. Willie Gates (125)
Welterweight Leon Edwards (169.5) vs. Dominic Waters (170)
Flyweight Kyoji Horiguchi (125) vs. Neil Seery (126)
Lightweight Yan Cabral (156) vs. Reza Madadi (155)
Lightweight Josh Emmett (156) vs. Jon Tuck (156)
Middleweight Magnus Cedenblad (185) vs. Garreth McLellan (184)
Lightweight Rustam Khabilov (155) vs. Chris Wade (155)
Women’s Strawweight Karolina Kowalkiewicz (115) vs. Heather Jo Clark (116)
Light Heavyweight Nikita Krylov (205) vs. Francimar Barroso (204)
Women’s Bantamweight Germaine de Randamie (135) vs. Anna Elmose (135)
Welterweight Albert Tumenov (170) vs. Gunnar Nelson (170)
Heavyweight Antônio Silva (266) vs. Stefan Struve (265)
Heavyweight Alistair Overeem (244) vs. Andrei Arlovski (248)
We’re looking for your thoughts on tonight’s ROH War of the Worlds show so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]
We’re also looking for reports on today’s WWE shows in Sioux Falls, SD (A.J. Styles, Sheamus, Roman Reigns, Sami Zayn, Cesaro, Dolph Ziggler, Miz, Charlotte, Natalya) and Rio Rancho, NM (Big Show, Kane, Dean Ambrose, Rusev, Alberto Del Rio, New Day, Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch).
ROH WAR OF THE WORLDS PPV AT 8 P.M. EASTERN TONIGHT FROM THE FRONTIER FIELDHOUSE IN CHICAGO
Crazy Mary Dobson vs. Kelly Klein (dark match)
Jushin Liger & Cheeseburger vs. Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian
Roderick Strong vs. Dalton Castle vs. Adam Page for No. 1 contender for TV title
Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin & Kushida & Matt Sydal vs. Young Bucks & Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
Tetsuya Naito vs. Kyle O’Reilly non-title
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Michael Elgin vs. Kazuchika Okada & Moose
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Bobby Fish for TV title
War Machine vs. Mark & Jay Briscoe for ROH tag title
Jay Lethal vs. Colt Cabana for ROH title
Sunday: WWE has shows in Sioux Falls, SD (A.J. Styles, Sheamus, Roman Reigns, Sami Zayn, Cesaro, Dolph Ziggler, Miz, Charlotte, Natalya) and Rio Rancho, NM (Big Show, Kane, Dean Ambrose, Rusev, Alberto Del Rio, New Day, Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch).
Monday: Raw is in Omaha; ROH is in Dearborn, MI (Jay Lethal & Tetsuya Naito vs. Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly, Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin vs. Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian, War Machine vs. Kazuchika Okada & Gedo non-title, Tomohiro Ishii vs. Moose non-title, Kushida vs. Dalton Castle non-title, Jushin Liger vs. Roderick Strong, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Michael Elgin vs. Rhett Titus & Kenny King, Matt Sydal & ACH vs. Silas Young & Beer City Bruiser.
Tuesday: Smackdown and Main Event will be taped in Des Moines, IA.
Wednesday: ROH will be taping television in Toronto at the Ted Reeve Arena (Jay Lethal vs. Donovan Dijak, Matt Sydal vs. Kazuchika Okada, Young Bucks & Kenny Omega vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Michael Elgin & Yoshitatsu, Kushida vs. Kyle O’Reilly, Tetsuya Naito vs. Moose, Tomohiro Ishii vs. Will Ferrara).
THE ROUND UP
ROH Global Wars 2016 live results: Jay Lethal vs. Colt Cabana; loads of NJPW stars
EVOLVE 61 results: WWE Cruiserweight Classic qualifying matches; big surprise appearance
ROH TV results: Briscoes vs. Anderson & Gallows from Honor Rising
Johnny Lezcano/Kato Kung Lee passes away at 69
ROH TV results: Briscoes vs. Anderson & Gallows from Honor Rising
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Figure Four Weekly 5/2/2016: Hulk Hogan suing Gawker – Hulk Hogan is suing Gawker a second time, this time for leaking the contents of sealed documents to the tabloids. Find out all the details in this weeks issue of Figure Four Weekly.
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
READ IT HERE: May 9, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: WWE Payback review, Hulk Hogan suing Gawker, tons more
The claimed new era with Shane and Stephanie McMahon on Raw, fallout of Payback, lineup for Extreme Rules and current WWE situation is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer. There is also a detailed story on Hulk Hogan’s latest lawsuit and his claims of how the sex tape went from Bubba the Love Sponge to the National Enquirer, including details of Hogan being blackmailed by people with the tape and the FBI sting operation regarding the tape and why it didn’t end there.
Next there is a detailed look at Ryback’s situation with WWE, New Japan’s Dontaku show and the Super Juniors tournament, the economic value of Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor to a show, and plans for a new PPV show next month.
The lead story updates the status of Shane McMahon, the story behind Payback and how it leads to Extreme rules, the injury to Enzo Amore, the booking that gets almost nobody over and the match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
As it regards the Hogan story, this issue examines all the players involved, his latest lawsuit and more details on the FBI sting operation regarding the sex tape.
Ryback’s complaints about WWE, how things went down in his meeting with Vince McMahon, notes about WWE contracts, how wrestlers are paid in WWE and why that isn’t the case anywhere else, his philosophy about everyone being paid the same and more, all in the latest Observer issue.
Finally, more on the Adam Rose situation, changes to the WWE Network, notes on a WWE network survey, notes on Camp WWE, how the show changed and why, notes on some WWE firings this past week, as well as new hirings, update on WrestleMania 2018, Paul Heyman reality show update, Bruno Sammartino honored, notes on contract situation with different talent, DVD plans for the next 18 months, injury updates and returns, fallout of Ric Flair TMZ as well as notes regarding his podcast and other future Flair projects, notes on the next Takeover lineup, update on Bryan Danielson, More on the cruiserweight tournament, lots of WWE business updates and a former giant Olympian talks about his WWE offer and plans of eventually going there. All this and much more in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
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All the news from the ESPN coverage of the drug deaths in professional wrestling, and more will be in the latest back issue. Check out the latest online Wrestling Observer BACK ISSUE: March 29, 1999 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: ESPN program on drug deaths in the pro wrestling industry, ECW Living Dangerously review, more. There is also a full break down of ECW’s Living Dangerously PPV, plus tons of news and notes.
SUNDAY UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight covering ROH, UFC, WWE cuts, new UFC fights, Billy Wicks, Kato Kung Lee as well as take your questions that can be sent to [email protected].
UFC officially announced these two fights as July main events. The main event on 7/13 in Sioux Falls, SD, which will be an FS 1 card, is Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chiesa. Take this as a lesson for all UFC fighters. Chiesa specifically asked for this fight in his promo after beating Beneil Dariush, and had he not done that, I doubt he’d be getting it. If he wins it, he takes a big jump in title consiidereation and at lightweight, I don’t think he was going to be in line for a long time with all the depth otherwise.
The other fight announced is the next FOX main event, which is Holly Holm vs. Valentina Shevchenko. That is in the main event slot above Glover Teixiera vs. Anthony Rumble Johnson, which tells you how much star power they believe Holm has.
Last night’s Canelo Alvarez vs. Amir Khan fight, which Alvarez won via knockout, had 2 million Google searches which is a very substantial number. It clearly shows a lot of interest in Alvarez as it was the most searched thing in the U.S. yesterday. No pro wrestling or MMA searches made the weekend listing, although nothing would at this point since UFC just ended and it’s not a major show. Over the past week, the only thing from pro wrestling or MMA to crack the searches were the death of Jordan Parsons, Payback (500,000 on Sunday) and the injury to Enzo Amore.
There was a big angle last night at the Evolve show in Queens, NY. Ethan Carter III showed up and cut an anti-NXT promo, talking about silly drills and six minute TV matches where you’re not allowed to use your best moves and how he and Drew Galloway made it without the WWE. He did a hell of a performance. They’re doing a program against Johnny Gargano, who is a WWE contracted wrestler. Clearly Evolve is doing nothing right now that WWE wouldn’t have given the okay to. TNA talent based on the contracts that most have are allowed to work indies like Evolve or anywhere as long as it’s not on television.
WWE & Professional Wrestling
Regarding Kenneth Crawford, who fell off the top ropes and was knocked out at the Friday night NXT show in Citrus Springs, FL, he is believed to be okay as all his tests came back negative, so that’s good news.
WWE is cutting the price for quick sale on all Ryback merchandise.
Kurt Angle has agreed to a date on 11/30 in Glasgow, Scotland on ICW’s biggest show in its history at the SSE Hydro.
The names announced for the NXT tour of the U.K. in June are Samoa Joe, Austin Aries, Scott Dawson, Dash Wilder, Manny Andrade, Nia Jax, Alexa Bliss, Tye Dillinger and Riddick Moss. Bobby Roode was also announced but then the post announcing him was deleted.
The Hype Bros (Mojo Rawley & Zack Ryder) worked the New Mexico house shows this weekend against The Social Outcasts.
Kevin Owens and Tyler Breeze have started a fund to raise money for the Fort McMurray, Alberta fire victims. As of this morning, less than 24 hours into the fund raiser, they had reached $21,122 of their $30,000 goal.
There have been hints of a unique angle late in tonight’s ROH show.
UFC & MMA
Bond has been set at $450,000 for Dennis Wright, who was arrested in the hit-and-run accident that killed Bellator fighter Jordan Parsons.
On today’s UFC show, Stefan Struve wore an armband during his fight with Bigfoot Silva to honor Parsons
BBC radio on weight cutting in MMA can be heard here. (thanks to Daniel Webb)
Invicta results from last night in Costa Mesa, CA:
Laura Howarth b Alexa Conners via split decision 29-28, 28-29, 29-28
Rachael Ostovich b Ariel Blake via spilt decision 29-28, 28-29, 29-28
Christine Stanley b Shannon Sinn via decision 30-27, 30-27, 29-28
Megan Anderson b Amanda Bell via ref stoppage from strikes 5:00
Kaline Medeiros b Alline Serio via ref stoppage from punches 4:04 second round
Charmaine Tweet b Latoya Walker via ref stoppage from strikes 3:41
Angela Hill b Livia Renata Souza via split decision 48-47, 47-48, 48-47 to win the strawweight title
Tonya Evinger b Colleen Schnedier via unanimous decision to retain the welterweight title 49-45, 50-44, 50-44
MISCELLANEOUS
Combate Americas is offering free tickets to tomorrow night’s show at the Los Angeles Exchange to Observer readers and web site readers. If you want to attend, send me your name by 4 p.m. tomorrow. Readers who attend can also meet up with Konnan
Bobby Heenan returned from the hospital to his home yesterday after being in for a few days after a fall and due to low blood pressure.
Jeff Jarrett, Kongo Kong, Jennifer Blake and Moose are scheduled for a TV taping for Fiber TV1 on 6/5 at the Don Kolov Arena in Mississauga, ONT at Santino Marella’s Battlarts Gym.
Orlando Pro Wrestling from Friday night in Orlando: Jody Kristofferson b Josh Parker, Matt Palmer b Chasyn Rance, JD Amazing b Bobby Venom, Chasyn Rance & Nova Girl b Palmer & MJ Knight, Jody Kristofferson b JD Amazing, Josh Parker b Bobby Venom, Nova Girl b Chasyn Rance, Chasyn Race b Alex Todd, JD Amazing b Josh Parker, Chasyn Rance b Siniestro (thanks to Al Haft).
Dynamo Pro Wrestling on Friday from St. Louis: Mike Outlaw b CJ Shine, Rocket Mapache b Da’Marius Jones, Brandon Espinosa b Justin D’Air, Makaze b J-Mal Swagg, Ricky Cruz b Barackus-DQ, Ricky Cruz & Mike Outlaw & Rocket Mapache b Brandon Espinosa & Da’Marius Jones & Barackus (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
Dynamo Pro Wrestling from last night in Fenton, MO: Rocket Mapache b CJ Shine, Keon Option & Justin D’Air b Billy McNeil & Jayson Khaos, Outtkast b Kiyoshi Shizuka, Ozzie Gallagher b Makaze, Elvis Aliaga b Danny Adams, Mike Outlaw b Mike Sydal, Jack Gamble & Jon Webb b Shawn Santel & Mauler McDarby to win tag titles, Brandon Espinosa b Ricky Cruz to win the Missouri State title
Acclaim Pro Wrestling on 6/11 at the SPK Dom Polski Polish Combatants Centre in Ottawa, ONT. Courtney Rush (Rosemary in TNA).
Glory 30 takes place on Friday night at the Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario, CA. The show will be half on ESPN and half on Fight Pass.
Great North Wrestling from last night in Kingston, ONT before 250 fans: Freak Nation b Demolition Ax & Smash (original team), Hannibal b Soa Amni, Giant Darko won three-way over Nathan Banner and Jeremy Prophet, Vanessa Kraven b Lady Yasmine, MVP b Catalyst, Paul Rosenberg b Harley Davidson-DQ, Grapecrusher b Mercenary, Blade b Crow. Next show is 6/4 in Smiths Falls, ONT at the Memorial Center with Hannibal vs. Al Snow and a Battle Royal (thanks to Anthony Ambros)
House of Hardcore results from last night in Niagara Falls, ONT: Bull James b Eddie Kingston, Colt Cabana b Chris Hero, Magus (Nick Aldis) b Cody Deaner, Rhino b Moose, Tony Nese won three-way over Alex Reynolds and RJ City, Tommy Dreamer & Mickie James b Pepper Parks & Cherry Bomb, Bobby Roode b Eric Young with Jim Korderas as referee.
Lucha Xtreme TV results from last night: Parker of the Fresno Grizzlies won a local sports mascots Battle Royal, Anthony Idolo b Hunter Freeman, Manny Fernandez b Tommy Wilson. They have TV tapings at 7 p.m. on Saturday night at the Sierra Beer Garden in Fresno headlined by Homicide, and have matches this coming Sunday in Selma, CA at Pioneer Village during the Taco Slam Fest from Noon to 5 p.m. (thanks to Jon Southerland)
Hoosier Pro Wrestling from last night in Columbus, IN: Timmy Danger b Scarecrow, Tim Lutz & Cooter b KC Huber & Justin Cane, Johnathaon Wolf b Executioner #3, Haley Shadows b Amazing Maria in a Hardcore match, Dynamite Dillen b Drax O’Brien, Shawn Cook NC Eddie Diamond, TVZ b JKO, Vic the Bruiser b Lightning Bolt. Next show is 6/4 with Rob Conway (thanks to Jerry Wilson)
Here’s a great match from Wednesday night at Arena Mexico if you like the flying style featuring Mascara Dorada & Mistico & Caristico vs. Ultimo Guerrero & Rey Escorpion & Euforia
An interview with Tommy Dreamer can be read here.
Today in professional wrestling history: Benoit wins WWF IC Title; Edge defeats Undertaker for WWF World Title
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