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By Dave Meltzer

We’re looking for your thoughts on all three weekend New Japan shows from Sumo Hall, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to Dave [email protected]”>

The go-home Raw for SummerSlam is tonight at the Target Center in Minneapolis.  John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Undertaker and the entire crew will be at the show.  The show is built around a Lesnar/Undertaker final angle for SummerSlam.  Dolph Ziggler is also expected to return (he is there) to shoot an angle with Rusev as they at least had been scheduled for Sunday’s show.  We’re looking for reports on the dark matches, Superstars matches and anything else not evident from the live show.  Check out our live coverage of Raw:  WWE Raw Live Coverage and Results: Brock Lesnar vs. Undertaker highlights SummerSlam go-home show

We’re also looking for reports on the Evolve shows over the weekend in New York as well as the WWE show yesterday in Bemidji, MN at Dave [email protected]”>

Smackdown and Main Event will be taped Tuesday night in Green Bay.  

A look at the WWE shows next week in Brooklyn is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer.  We also have full coverage of the G-1 Climax tournament and how it all builds for the Tokyo Dome and the fall season, as well as coverage of all the G-1 matches this past week.  We also have a look at the Teamsters attempting to unionize UFC fighters, the UFC’s letter sent to fighters and morale issues.  We also have a look at the AAA TripleMania PPV show, UFC ratings increases, the brawl at the WSOF show, UFC suing Wanderlei Silva and Layla retiring. 

The issue is on the site right now at August 17, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Summerslam build, Unions courting UFC fighters 
   
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The Wrestling Observer ranges weekly from 35,000 to 50,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA internationally. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sties and has the most complete look at the pro wrestling and MMA business anywhere, plus history pieces available nowhere else.

We look at the WWE events in Brooklyn with three straight full houses and look historically at the only other promotion that has been able to do it historically and the record, as well as updates on the NXT and SummerSlam shows and more details on the NXT card as well as the probable main event stipulation and ticket demand.

We have a complete look at the G-1 Climax tournament, including updates on the last few days, the standings, the Sumo Hall preview and coverage of all the shows this past week with star ratings.

We’ve got a look at the attempts to unionize UFC fighters, the real story behind the attempt, the letter sent by UFC to all of its fighters and why they probably could have written it better, and a look at UFC business.

We also look at the wealth of Vince McMahon, Rosa Mendes being pregnant, WWE injury updates, lawsuits, weird match, Tough Enough, new names, insider trading, Raw advance, Diva search news plus notes on all the weekend WWE & NXT events. 

We look at TripleMania, all the problems with the show, what happened with the Spanish language broadcast, mistakes made in booking, how the card had to change from its original plans, the letter AAA sent out after, the retirements and Hall of Fame ceremony, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings.

We also have coverage of this past week’s UFC show, with business notes, the Johnson-Dariush scoring, and match by match coverage with bonuses.

We also look at the brawl at the WSOF show with The Diaz Brothers and Khabib Nurmagomedov, as well as the problems in the Jake Shields vs.  Rousimar Palhares fight.

We’ve also got notes on the retirement of Layla from WWE and highlights of her career.

We also look at the lawsuit WWE has filed against Wanderlei Silva for alleging the company fixes fights.

We look at the CMLL Anniversary show, an injury to the best older wrestler in the business, a New Japan star comes to Mexico and a rundown on the main events the past two weeks at Arena Mexico.

We also look at another Rey Mysterio match, as well as the next major Dragon  Gate show lineup and highlights from the past week.

We also look at New Japan stars heading to NOAH.

We also look at the beginning of talks for an international group to return to PPV, as well as a look at the Fire Festival, one of Genichiro Tenryu’s last matches and a set up for an angle with one of the biggest stars of the 80s vs. one of the biggest stars of the 90s.

We’ve got notes on the funeral of Roddy Piper, more on the Hulk Hogan tapes story, Hogan’s first public appearance, two Roddy Piper moves that haven’t come out, one of the biggest stars of the last ten years suffering a major health issue, a former star gets his number retired, a U.K. star returns after cancer, a retirement that probably isn’t a retirement, a Japanese promotion running in October in California, a wrestler having his first match in 20 years, the second oldest living wrestler and his background, big shows in Puerto Rico and news no two different wrestling Halls of Fame.

We also have an update on the status of Lucha Underground, what changes have to be made, the audience watching the show, what to look out for, notes on the contracts the performers have, update on Vampiro and coverage of both weeks of Ultima Lucha.

We also look at the ROH show in Brooklyn, TNA Hall of fame ceremony, and upcoming TNA house shows.

We also look at McGregor vs. Aldo, a big show vs. normal show, Las Vegas vs. Cowboys Stadium, Rousey vs. Cyborg update, Lawler vs. McGregor, UFC financials, how much it costs them every year just in interest on their bond, what kind of profits they are making, lots of ratings into, Rousey business notes, the Aldo drug testing fiasco, Overeem vs. Dos Santos, Punk vs. Pendred, fighter already talking about coming out of retirement, and lots of new UFC fights.

We also have notes on Josh Thomson and Bellator, Bellator’s next major show, Josh Koscheck blasts UFC and more Bellator fights.

We have an update on Chris Leben after his arrest, new WSOF shows, a crime fighter returns to MMA and notes on weight cutting.

If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today.  With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today.
 
New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues have to let us know what major stories of the past 11 years you are most interested in and we’ll send the issue with the best coverage of that story. We’ve got coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits into those descriptions over the past 11 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue.
 
Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.

MONDAY’S NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer Radio, talking Raw, more G-1, as well as talking other news and taking your e-mail questions to [email protected]
Steve Austin will be in New York at least for the 2K video party on Thursday night.
The expected Randy Orton vs. Sheamus match at SummerSlam is now official.
Junior Dos Santos and Alistair Overeem have been teasing a fight on Twitter.  UFC has been trying to put that fight together for more than a year.
Bellator announced Josh Thomson’s debut with the promotion on 9/19 in San Jose against Mike Bronzoulis, which is the company’s next major event.  They have one show before that in Temecula, CA at the end of the month.
ROH officially announced Final Battle as a PPV show on 12/18 in Philadelphia at the 2300 Arena, plus they will have a TV taping there as well.
Cathal Pendred, who had a Twitter battle with C.M. Punk, which the belief is Punk won handily, now wants Punk in a fight in UFC on his interview today on the MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani.  I don’t expect that to happen.
Three more matches have been announced for the ROH TV tapings in Philadelphia on Friday night, which is sold out.  They are ACH vs. Caprice Coleman, IWGP jr. tag champs Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Donovan Dijak & J Diesel, and Moose vs. Takaaki Watanabe vs. Adam Page vs. Will Ferrara. 
WXW TV with Alan Counihan on commentary
At this writing, the only trending on twitter stuff we’ve got related to wrestling and Combat Sports mentions of Josh Thomson and 462 of Evolve Wrestling.
C4 Wrestling on Saturday night raised $24,430 for cancer research in Canada, so good for them.  They had a show in Ottawa:  Sebastian Suave & Evan Dams won round one of the Fighting Back Invitational, Jonathan Rukin & Neon Ninja Facade won round two of the Fighting Back Invitational, PCP Crazy FN Manny b George Gatton, Addy Starr b Cecil Nyx, Too Cold Scorpio b Michael Von Payton, Izzy Deadyet b Dan Barry, Roderick Strong b Mathieu St-Jacques, Jonathan Rukin won over Facade, Sebastian Suave and Evan Adams to win the Fighting Back Invitational, Ultimo Dragon & Super Smash Brothers b Pinkie Sanchez & EYFBO. (thanks to Pat Laprade)
The Brooklyn Cyclones took out a half page ad in the New York Daily News pushing that wrestling and boxing is coming to MCU Park, with the ROH show on 8/22 and a boxing show called Brooklyn Brawl at the Beach on 8/25 (thanks to Joe Puccio)
Ultra Wrestling from Friday night in Greenville, SC:  Brice Anthony & Boomer Payne b Josh Cutshall & Tracer X, Joe Harrison b Zane Riley, TK Stark & Jett Black b Alex Kai & Mason Myles, Anthony Jannazzo b Jeff Connelly-DQ, Josh Powers b Matt Hardy.  Next show is 9/12 in Laurens, SC. (thanks to Thomas Simpson)
Pro Wrestling Eclipse on Sunday in Oshawa, ONT:  Jesse Amato b Crimson Axe, Tyler Tirva b John Atlas, Jennifer Blake & Xandra Bale b Kaitlyn Diamond & Jewels Malone, Cody Deaner NC John Greed, Tarik b Roderick Strong-DQ, Cody Deaner & Johny Devine b John Greed & Rex Atkins. (thanks to Dave Musgrave)
Mike Carpenter at [email protected] is looking or a DVD of the 6/3 TNA & ROH TV shows on Destination America.
Jeff Jarrett will be having a tryout camp on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Las Vegas at the Future Stars of Wrestling Facility.  There are ten spots left.  Two of the people at the tryout will work Jarrett’s Friday night TV tapings in Las Vegas.  Jarrett will be doing evaluations.  A seminar will be at 5 p.m. before the tryouts and included in the $200 cost.  For more info you can contact Joe DeFalco at [email protected]
Premier Wrestling on 9/19 in San Jose at Del Mar High School at 6 p.m.  Tickets are on sale at www.premierwrestling.com with $5 of regular prices.  JR Kratos (8-2) vs. Jeff Cobb (6-2-1) for the Premiere title is the main event, plus Nicole Savoy (2-1) & Kahmora (0-1) vs. Raze (0-1) & Kikyo Nakamura (0-0), and Timothy Thatcher (3-2-1) vs. Joe Graves (2-0-1), Gabriel Gallo (3-0) vs. Dom Vitalli (1-2).
Trainwreck. which includes John Cena, was No. 1 at the box office in Australia for the second weekend in a row. (thanks to James Stanios)
Former XPW star Pogo the Clown (Joe Applebaumer) headlines a 9/19 show in Denver at The Watering Bowl.  They are billing this as possibly his last match.  Hernandez is also on the show.
APW Bayshore Bash on 9/11 in Daly City, CA features JR Kratos vs. Chris Masters for their title, MVP vs. Dylan Drake, Juventud Guerrera vs. Joey Ryan vs. Marcus Lewis, Reno SCUM vs. Jeckles & Jinxx, Timothy Thatcher vs. Gangrel, Boyce LeGrande vs. Will Cuevas and Sione Finau vs. Idris Jackson.
Capital City Championship Combat on 9/26 in Ottawa at the Vanier Columbus Club.
Billy Jack Haynes went on a rant on Facebook wanting a street fight UFC rules with Steve Austin, blaming Austin for what happened with Roddy Piper.  The world doesn’t need this.
Legacy Wrestling on 8/22 in Palmyra, PA with Matt Cross and AR Fox.
Things pro wrestlers do that would be creepy if you or I did them
A story on Jim Cornette
Publicity for Barbie Blank, the former Kelly Kelly, who stars in a reality show about wives and girlfriends of sports stars on E!
Here is the release on the show, which debuts right after Total Divas, with the idea of keeping the Total Divas audience with Kelly Kelly.
Premiering Tuesday August 18th at 10:00pm ET/PT, this new one-hour, eight episode series gives you a front row seat to the real competition, taking viewers on a wild ride into the world of some of today’s hottest professional athletes from the perspective of the women who stand by their side, otherwise known as WAGS (Wives and Girlfriends of Sports Stars).  These WAGS are playing the most competitive sport out there: getting and keeping that pro-athlete man.  As part of an elite, exclusive group, the WAGS are close friends who are bound together by a strict hierarchy, unspoken rules and plenty of drama – and those who have the coveted ring and a husband with a contract are the ones with all the power!  As in sports, this game is all about getting that “W” and this pack knows how to play the field…Jump into the competitive, fast-paced, glamorous world of “WAGS” when the new series premieres on Tuesday, August 18th at 10:00pm ET/PT on E!

ON THIS DAY IN PRO WRESTLING HISTORY INTERNATIONAL (thanks to Graeme Cameron)

1966 – Skull Murphy beat Mark Lewin in Brisbane to win the IWA title

1968 – Mario Milano & Dominic DeNucci beat Cyclone Negro & Baron Scicluna in Melbourne to win the IWA tag title

1978 – Steve Rickard beat Professor Toru Tanaka in Auckland to win the British Commonwealth title

1991 – Combat Toyoda beat Megumi Kudo to win the FMW womens title

2003 – Hiroyoshi Tenzan beat Jun Akiyama in Tokyo to win the G-1 Climax tournament

2008 – Hirooki Goto beat Togi Makabe in Tokyo to win the G-1 Climax tournament

2014 – El Hijo del Fantasma won over Daga, Fenix, Australian Suicide, Bengala, Angelico, Drago, Jack Evans, Joe Lider and Pentagon Jr. in Mexico City to unify the AAA Fusion and cruiserweight titles, and Taya Valkyrie beat Fabi Apache to win the Reina de Reinas title.