THE ROUND-UP
THE LATEST NEWS
WWE Raw posts record-low ratings for second straight week
Janela out for ‘at least a year’ with knee injury, stripped of WWN title
More returns advertised for WWE SmackDown 1000
UFC to announce a surprising main event for November’s MSG show
Toronto’s UFC 231 officially gets a championship headliner
Two matches announced for tonight’s WWE SmackDown
Neville returns to the ring for Dragon Gate
WWE Raw video highlights: Undertaker & Kane lay out HHH & HBK
NJPW reveals full card for King of Pro Wrestling
Conor McGregor predicts KO of Khabib, wants to fight Anderson Silva
NWA announces National title tournament participants
THE LATEST AUDIO
WOL: RAW live thoughts, Australia show, HBK, tons more! 10/2
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: HOF ballot discussion, pt. 1 10/2
WOR: RAW live and on TV, Being the Elite, New Japan, tons more! 10/2
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: A look at the connection between Evolution and Crown Jewel
When WWE returns to Saudi Arabia on November 2, they’ll be doing so just five days after their Evolution pay-per-view. People are always going to link WWE’s 10-year deal with Saudi Arabia with how it contradicts the company’s “women’s evolution” messaging, but Evolution and Crown Jewel taking place on the same week makes them feel even more connected.
WON NEWSLETTER: October 1, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: NJPW Destruction in Kobe, tons of news
The names on the 2018 Hall of Fame ballot and thoughts on who are favorite, who may get eliminated after this year, newcomers to the ballot and more is one of the lead stories in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Look at the New Japan Long Beach show, as well as early thoughts on King of Pro Wrestling and Wrestle Kingdom and the Tanahashi vs. Okada match, the Gedo turn on Okada and post-show angle with full coverage of Destruction in Kobe.
Read about the Liv Morgan injury, what went wrong to lead to the injury and what went wrong after the injury.
Also look at the WWE stock and if it’s ventured past logical boundaries, WWE profits so far this year and comparing to other entertainment companies, more on the lawsuit against WWE, Shawn Michaels wrestling again, Sasha Banks update, next MSG show, and a Big Show update.
There are also notes on the NXT tapings as well as from all the WWE & NXT arena events from the past week with results, business notes and other reactions.
Look at UFC fighter Abdul Razak Alhassan, who is being charged with two counts of sexual assault and the details behind the charges.
Read full coverage of UFC’s show this past weekend in Sao Paulo, Brazil, business notes, retirements and a major record set.
This issue has coverage of one of Dragon Gate’s biggest shows of the year and the changes in the company.
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
SmackDown, Mixed Match Challenge, and this week’s 205 Live tapings are taking place at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon tonight. This is SmackDown’s go-home show for Super Show-Down, and Paige will start the episode by addressing Samoa Joe’s actions after the storyline last week where he showed up at what WWE said was AJ Styles’ house. Daniel Bryan vs. Shelton Benjamin and Carmella & R-Truth vs. Zelina Vega & Andrade “Cien” Almas are set, Becky Lynch will reveal a Super Show-Down surprise ahead of her title defense against Charlotte Flair on Saturday, and WWE is advertising a segment where The New Day will reveal Big E’s family’s secret pancake recipe. That will be part of the final build to New Day defending their Tag Team titles against Cesaro & Sheamus at Super Show-Down.
Finn Balor & Bayley vs. Jinder Mahal & Alicia Fox and Rusev & Lana vs. Jimmy Uso & Naomi are scheduled for Mixed Match Challenge. Kalisto vs. TJP and Akira Tozawa vs. Jack Gallagher will be taped for 205 Live.
Whether or not she’s been cleared to return to the ring hasn’t been confirmed, but Liv Morgan tweeted “In other news, See you in Australia @BellaTwins @RondaRousey” and “We’re gonna kick all the ass” last night. WWE also continued to promote The Riott Squad vs. Ronda Rousey & The Bellas at Super Show-Down with Morgan still in the match.
WWE stock closed at $91.87 per share today, down 2.49 percent on the day.
The Undertaker did a 37-minute out-of-character interview with pastor Ed Young
Tyler Breeze defeated Mojo Rawley and Mike Kanellis defeated No Way Jose on last night’s Main Event tapings.
WWE released the official promo video for Evolution.
Renee Young interviewed Kofi Kingston about breaking the record for most cumulative days as WWE Tag Team Champion.
Young spoke to The Mirror about her new role as a commentator on Raw and said she’d love to be an on-screen general manager if ever given the opportunity: “Would I like to do that? Oh my God, actually, I would love to do that. The way that I’m watching Paige navigate being the general manager of SmackDown, it looks like it it’s so much fun. Who gets to yell at Samoa Joe and kind of put a little bit of fear in his eyes? Not a lot of people get to do that. If that was an opportunity that came down my way, I would definitely wear that hat, that would be really, really fun.”
TV Insider has an interview with Shinsuke Nakamura to promote WWE 2K19.
Collections on Rey Mysterio and Sasha Banks are set to arrive on the WWE Network next month.
Ahead of Super Show-Down, WWE Global Warning (which also took place in Melbourne, Australia in 2002) will be added to the Network this Friday.
Pro Wrestling
ROH has announced two title matches for Glory by Honor night one in Baltimore on October 12. Jay Lethal will defend his ROH World Championship against Silas Young, and SoCal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky) will challenge for The Young Bucks & Cody’s Six-Man Tag Team titles. Marty Scurll vs. Shane Helms, ROH Tag Team Champions The Briscoes vs. Beer City Bruiser & Brian Milonas in a non-title match, Hangman Page vs. Shane Taylor, and Jonathan Gresham vs. Bully Ray are also set for Baltimore.
As was noted in our post on the card for the show, a new member of Los Ingobernables de Japon will debut at NJPW King of Pro Wrestling next Monday. They’ll team with Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI against Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano, Sho & Yoh.
Pentagon Jr. & Fenix will defend their Tag Team titles against LA Park & Hijo de LA Park in the main event of MLW’s TV tapings in Chicago on November 8.
WALTER defending his PROGRESS World Championship against Zack Sabre Jr. has been announced for PROGRESS’ show at the Electric Ballroom in Camden on October 28.
After wrestling for the promotion on their United States tour, LAX (Santana & Ortiz) are set to make their UK PROGRESS debut in Manchester on December 8. They’ll also be wrestling for PROGRESS in Sheffield on December 9.
WWN announced that Tracy Williams is no longer with EVOLVE: “We want to take a moment and thank Tracy Williams for all his contributions to EVOLVE. Tracy and EVOLVE have amicably parted ways. Tracy felt he has accomplished everything he could in EVOLVE and it was time to take a break from WWN. We give Tracy our highest recommendation. He is an excellent trainer, a credit to the locker room and a talented performer. Thank you, Tracy.”
IPW UK revealed that they’ll be producing a weekly series for the Fight Network on Sky channel 455 in the United Kingdom. They noted that the premiere date will be announced soon.
UFC/MMA
Rafael dos Anjos vs. Kamaru Usman will headline The Ultimate Fighter 28 finale on November 30.
Alexander Gustafsson wrote that he’s signed his bout agreement to face Jon Jones and challenged Jones to sign his: “@jonnybones, you are pissing me off! I signed my agreement. Where are you?? Are you chickening out again?? Stop being a coward! #chicken #signthecontract #scared” Their fight is targeted for UFC 232 in Las Vegas on December 29.
The UFC uploaded the first and second episodes of Embedded for Saturday’s Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor PPV.
While reacting to Valentina Shevchenko and Sijara Eubanks’ flyweight title fight headlining UFC 230 at Madison Square Garden, Joe Rogan said he doesn’t even know who Eubanks is.
Bellator’s Heavyweight Grand Prix finals will be held at The Forum in Los Angeles on January 26. The semifinals are taking place this month, with Fedor Emelianenko facing Chael Sonnen and Ryan Bader taking on Matt Mitrione.
Daily Professional Wrestling History: Demolition win WWF Tag Team titles
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