mobanmarketDAILY UPDATE
The Latest News
Alicia Fox replacing Alexa Bliss at WWE Evolution
Impact drops below 100,000 viewers following time change
Street Profits vs. Chris Dickinson & Jaka confirmed for EVOLVE 114
Twitter to simulcast first half hour of WWE Evolution
Ronda Rousey defends WWE holding Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia
Impact Wrestling results: Johnny Impact vs. Fenix
NJPW Road to Power Struggle results: ACH/Taguchi vs. Roppongi 3K
Don Callis set to commentate future NJPW events
Lucha Underground results: Seven to Survive match
The Latest Audio
F4D: Lance Storm on Crown Jewel, Evolution, Mae Young Classic, more! 10/26
WOL: Crown Jewel, Women’s Evolution PPV, tons more! 10/26
B&V&G: Granny, NXT, Mae Young Classic! 10/25
For this week, the only poll we’re doing is on the WWE Evolution PPV on Sunday.
NEW JAPAN WORLD PRO WRESTLING TONIGHT AT 8 P.M. EASTERN ON AXS TV
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada – winner goes to the Tokyo Dome main event
MLW ON BEIN SPORTS TONIGHT AT 8 P.M. EASTERN
Jimmy Havoc vs. Sami Callihan in a spin the wheel make a deal match
PCO vs. L.A. Park
CMLL TONIGHT AT 9:30 P.M. FROM ARENA MEXICO
Principe Diamante & Star Jr. vs. Misterioso Jr. & Sagrado
Drone & Fuego & Pegasso vs. Dragon Rojo Jr.& Okumura & Polvora
Cibernetico match for Rey de Infraumdo (basically a Halloween theme elimination match) with Guerrero Maya Jr., Esfinge, Audaz, Black Panther, Triton, Flyer, Cuatrero, Forastero Templario, Virus, Kawato San and tiger
Angel de Oro & Mistico & Niebla Roja vs. Cavernario & Dark Magic & Negro Casas
Caristico & Diamante Azul & Valiente vs. Bestia del Ring & Rush & El Terrible
NEW JAPAN SUPER JUNIORS TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT SATURDAY AT 5:30 A.M. FROM KORAKUEN HALL ON NEW JAPAN WORLD
Tomoaki Honma & Shota Umino & Yota Tsuji vs. Ayato Yoshida & Ren Narita & Yuya Uemura
Tomohiro Ishii & Hirooki Goto vs. Minoru Suzuki & Taka Michinoku
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Togi Makabe & Toa Henare vs. Kota Ibushi & Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens
Kazuchika Okada & Toru Yano & Baretta & Chuckie T & Rocky Romero vs. Jay White & Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa & Gedo
Ryusuke Taguchi & ACH vs. Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask
Volador Jr. & Soberano Jr. vs. Sho & Yoh
Chris Sabin & Kushida vs. Taiji Ishimori & Robbie Eagles
Bushi & Shingo Takagi vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Desperado
Saturday has WWE in Corbin, KY with a joint show with Braun Strowman, A.J. Styles, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, Dolph Ziggler, Jeff Hardy, Bobby Lashley and none of the women, plus NXT runs in Orlando. We’re looking for reports on both shows to [email protected].
UFC FIGHT NIGHT FROM MONCTON, NEW BRUNSWICK ON SATURDAY
Fight Pass at 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Jessin Ayari vs. Stevie Ray
Arjan Bhullar vs. Marcelo Golm
Te Edwards vs. Don Madge
FS 2 at 8 p.m. Eastern
Talita Bernardo vs. Sarah Moras
Chris Fishgold vs. Calvin Kattar
Thibault Gouti vs. Nasrat Haqparast
Sean Strickland vs. Nordine Taleb
FS1 at 10 p.m. Eastern
Alex Garcia vs. Court McGee
Ed Herman vs. Gian Villante
Jonathan Martinez vs. Andre Soukhamthat
Misha Cirkunov vs. Patrick Cummins
Michael Johnson vs. Artem Lobov
Volkan Oezdemir vs. Anthony Smith
Sunday has WWE in Asheville, NC with Braun Strowman, A.J. Styles, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, Dolph Ziggler, Jeff Hard and Bobby Lashley.
WWE EVOLUTION PPV SUNDAY AT 7 P.M. EASTERN FROM THE NASSAU COLISEUM ON THE WWE NETWORK
Sasha Banks & Bayley & Natalya vs. Ruby Riott & Sarah Logan & Liv Morgan
Battle Royal
Trish Stratus & Lita vs. Mickie James & Alicia Fox
Toni Storm vs. Io Shirai in the Mae Young Classic final
Kairi Sane vs. Shayna Baszler for the NXT women’s title
Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair for the Smackdown women’s title in a last woman standing match
Ronda Rousey vs. Nikki Bella for the Raw women’s title
Raw is Monday from Charlotte, NC. There is also a Smackdown house show Monday night from Macon, GA.
Smackdown, Mixed match Challenge and 205 Live are Tuesday in Atlanta. Announced so far is Tony Nese vs. Mustafa Ali with the winner getting a cruiserweight title shot, Brian Kendrick vs. Jack Gallagher, Braun Strowman & Ember Moon vs. Jinder Mahal & Alicia Fox and Rusev & Lana vs. Charlotte Flair & A.J. Styles
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Roman Reigns reveals leukemia diagnosis
Roman Reigns opened the October 22, 2018 episode of Raw by revealing that he’s battling leukemia. After missing the weekend house show events, Reigns came out wearing street clothes and addressed the audience while using his real name. He announced that he’s been living with leukemia for the past 11 years, and unfortunately it’s back. Reigns then relinquished the Universal Championship.
WON NEWSLETTER: October 29, 2018 Observer Newsletter: Roman Reigns diagnosed with leukemia
The most in-depth look at the Roman Reigns battle with leukemia is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Look at what is known about his first bout with leukemia, walk through the weekend, the turns done this past week, what happened throughout the day on Monday, who knew what and what kind of word was going around, a look at his interview, and candidates for the company’s top spot position.
Also look at Crown Jewel and Evolution, including business notes on the Evolution show, Hulk Hogan and Crown Jewel.
Find out what is being talked about for the future of the WWE Network, including ideas for new content, new promotions, and a second tier
Also look at Daniel Cormier and WWE and what it’s all about, Cena book, more WWE injuries, next MSG show and why it’s so important, shows this week, and the Tegan Knox injury.
Examine the next month of NXT television, as well as a look at every house show from WWE and NXT from the past week with results, highlights and business info.
Read about the proposed Ben Askren vs. Demetrious Johnson trade, the valuation of ONE, and why UFC would do this regarding an existing lawsuit.
Look at the state of the NWA with its 70th anniversary show, including the Nick Aldis vs. Cody match, the aftermath, the rest of the show, the business notes and the NWA going forward.
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.
FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE
Cesar Sayoc, 56, the nut job who is charged with illegal mailing of explosives after crude pipe bombs were sent to Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton, as well as Robert DeNiro and George Soros, was linked in news stories today to both pro wrestling and MMA. Sayoc was described as a heavy steroid user who wanted to be a pro wrestler, and he also had MMA stickers on his truck from both the Combat Night MMA promotion in Florida and American Top Team, which is Dan Lambert’s Gym in Coconut Creek, not far from Sayoc’s home in Aventura. Lambert told ESPN that nobody at his gym knows Sayoc and they checked the membership database and his name wasn’t there.
With Roman Reigns out of action, Dean Ambrose going heel and Braun Strowman going face, they had to revamp all the Raw house shows. The 12/26 Madison Square Garden show is the framework of what the Raw crew is now doing. The main event will be Seth Rollins vs. Ambrose in a cage match for the IC title, Strowman (who is likely to be champion by this point) vs. Drew McIntyre & Dolph Ziggler in a handicap match, Ronda Rousey vs. Mickie James for the women’s title, Finn Balor vs. Bobby Lashley and Johnny Gargano & Pete Dunne & Ricochet & Aleister Black & Velveteen Dream vs. Tommaso Ciampa & Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong & Adam Cole.
WWE stock fell to $69.78, a drop of $5.90 per share today coming off the decision to go to Saudi Arabia. It was $77.37 when the decision was made and the drop was a combo of some disappointment in the third quarter results, even though it was the most profitable quarter in company history, weak house show numbers and merchandise numbers were a concern but given that this is no longer a company about engaging consumers as much as selling product to third parties, those are metrics that define popularity but they don’t define the financial future of the company which is all about the content market after 2024 and nobody can predict that.
The Impact audience falling to 98,000 last night in the first show in the new 10 p.m. slot is scary. Granted, every time Impact moves, it usually for some reason takes them about six weeks to get their audience back, but this was basically a drop in half.
Interesting that Evolve added the Chris Dickinson & Jaka vs. Street Profits title match on Sunday just two days before the show as opposed to giving it more time to build. They are using more WWE talent and starting this weekend the bouts with WWE talent will be allowed on their streaming service.
The price for entry for Evolution on the secondary market has fallen to $7.64, the lowest for any WWE PPV show by a wide margin since I’ve been tracking it. Primary tickets are almost sold out but that was a heavy scalper purchased show and they are taking a bath, and when it comes to pro wrestling, it’s usually the opposite.
WWE
For whatever this is worth, Nikki & Brie Bella on the Tonight Show tonight are being advertised as “professional wrestlers.” It used to be a strong WWE policy that the women had to be called divas, and later superstars, and could not be called pro wrestlers. (thanks to Shannon Walsh)
The Bellas will also be on “The View” on 10/31.
Brian Fritz talks to Toni Storm on her career and being in the finals of the Mae Young Classic at Evolution
MISCELLANEOUS
Defy tomorrow night in Seattle at Washington Hall has Shane Strickland defending the Defy title against Schaff, Mike Santiago & Ethan HD defend the tag titles against Flamita & Bandido, Rey Fenix vs. Artemis Spencer, Brody King vs. Jeff Cobb and MJF vs. Randy Myers. There will also be a Halloween costume party. You must be 21 or over to attend.
Some new matches from Australia are Brian Cage vs. Bandido for the Impact X title on 11/25 for World Series Wrestling in Perth, Brandi Rhodes vs. Shazza McKenzie for 11/26 in Sydney and Rhodes vs. Erika Reid vs. Indi Hartwell on 11/23 in Melbourne.
Stokley Hathaway will return to MLW on 11/8 in Chicago at Cicero Stadium.
Bruce Prichard is no longer working for MLW. Konnan will be taking over his role as senior producer and agent.
Pro Wrestling Phoenix from Wednesday night in Omaha: Kenny Jones b Cheffe Barbosa, Preston Maxwell b Jack Darling, Tim Boston b Paul Daniels, Brett Bishop b Joey Daniels, Seto Kobara b Logan James, Lars Metzger & Johnny Ruckus b Pat Powers & Devin Carter in an I Quit match, Con Artiest & Branden Juarez & Purple b Duke Cornell & Moonshine Russell & Willy Sweet. Next show is 11/28 at the Waiting Room Lounge in Omaha.
NFC MMA has tickets 50 percent off until 9 p.m. for its 12/7 show in Kennesaw, GA at the Electric Cowboy with Clay Harvison vs. Jon Cobb. The code to get 50% off is: CLAYVSCOBBTITLE
Lions Pride Sports has its one year anniversary show tonight in San Antonio. They also noted that there was a left of one of their championship belts.
CWE on 11/18 at The Tech in Sault Sainte Marie, ONT.
C4 Wrestling on 11/16 in Ottawa at St. Anthony’s Hall.
Demand Lucha on 12/13 in Toronto at the Opera House.
Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame talk with Matt Farmer and Brian Tramel.
An article on zombie-themed pro wrestlers, perfect for Halloween. (thanks to Sam Panico)
Daily Professional Wrestling History: WCW Halloween Havoc 1998
CONTACT INFORMATION
Poll opinions: [email protected]
Feedback: [email protected]
Show results and news tips: [email protected]
Wrestling Observer Radio questions: [email protected]
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