Daily Update: Johnny Walker, Young Bucks injured, UFC 198 fallout

From Robert Walker, the son of Johnny Walker, regarding his surgery earlier today: “Thank you everyone so much for your thoughts and prayers. The doctor came out of surgery and explained that everything went extremely well and couldn’t have gone any better. Dad is in the ICU recovery for the next few days and should have him up and moving soon. As you may or may not know, an aneurysm on the aorta is a ticking time bomb and could rupture at any  minute. He now has dodged a second bullet with this one, as this is the second one for him. Mom is really watching over him and we are truly blessed. Thanks again to all.” (thanks to Crimson Mask)

We’re looking for your thoughts on yesterday’s UFC 198 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 looking for reports on these shows also to [email protected]

Today’s WWE house show in Columbia, SC (Roman Reigns, Sheamus, Chris Jericho, Miz, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Cesaro, Dolph Ziggler, Usos, Cass, Charlotte, Natalya)

Today’s WWE house show in Charlottesville, VA (Dean Ambrose, Rusev, Big Show, Kane, Erick Rowan, Braun Strowman, New Day, Paige, Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch and Kalisto.  Friday’s WWE house show in Greeneville, NC

Raw will be Monday in Greensboro. The only thing announced for Raw is that The Shining Stars will debut as a tag team.

Smackdown will be Tuesday night in Greenville, SC.

THE ROUND UP

Johnny Walker awaiting major aneurysm surgery
ROH Global Wars NYC live results: Lethal & Strong vs. Bullet Club vs. Okada & Ishii
UFC 198 Curitiba live results: Fabricio Werdum vs. Stipe Miocic
Bellator 154 live results: Phil Davis vs King Mo
NXT Portland, OR, live results: Finn Balor vs. Samoa Joe erupts into post-match brawl

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Figure Four Weekly 5/9/2016: Hogan and Gawker fight over verdict – Hulk Hogan is suing Gawker a second time, this time for leaking the contents of sealed documents to the tabloids. Now we have the verdict. Find out all the details in this weeks issue of Figure Four Weekly.

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

READ IT HERE: May 16, 2016 Wrestling Observer newsletter: Potential UFC sale, WWE releases, plus tons of news

Our lead story updates the talks of a UFC sale, plus an updated look at how the WWE is doing as a business, a look at WWE cuts, the booking behind the ROH Global Wars PPV and how New Japan and ROH are working together even more closely than on the surface, Global Wars coverage, a look at the status of a lot of ROH talent, coverage of the UFC debut in Holland, the hidden story of just how much of the male audience has been lost by WWE, as well as what WWE can learn from the NBA, and historical bios on Billy Wicks and Kato Kung Lee.

There is also a look at the ESPN story on the potential sale of the UFC, what we know is legit, numbers being thrown around, who actually owns UFC, Dana White’s reaction to the story, moves UFC has made, Dana White’s long-term future if there is a sale, timing of the sale and sustaining the brand popularity.  Plus there’s also a look at the various companies listed that are in talks of buying.

An update on WWE financials is in this issue, plus a look at the WWE Network numbers, what last year’s patterns tell us about the numbers, the company’s profits and losses, how well every division does for WWE and what is the most important for the bottom line, how well the company is doing financially compared to last year, what is projected by WWE this year for the WrestleMania quarter, update on injured wrestlers and their returns, Vince McMahon talks WWE injuries, and how much cash on hand the company has right now.

There is also a look at how WWE is going to be changing how it reports information and what information they are going to be keeping secret as compared to the past. Also, there is a look at the dichotomy between social media numbers and WWE network subscribers and what it says.

CLICK HERE FOR A FULL PREVIEW

Current subscribers click here to continue reading.

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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 NEWS

We had a ton of news to cover in last night’s weekend show, between UFC sale talk, TNA, WWE business, UFC title change and biggest show ever in Brazil last night, Bellator’s moves and more. 

It doesn’t look good for either of the Young Bucks as far as being in the Best of the Super Juniors tournament which starts on Saturday at Korakuen Hell. Both were supposed to see doctors today regarding Nick’s rib injury and Matt’s hand injury. Nick likely needs to rest for several weeks.

New Japan will be broadcasting seven of the 14 shows from the tournament live and all tournament matches will be available this year on New Japan World. It’s a tough schedule so the guys are going to have to pace themselves, but there is a Ricochet vs. Will Ospreay Korakuen Hall main event on the 5/27 show at Korakuen Hall. 

NXT is running an angle based on the pull-apart brawl last night at the house show in Portland, OR involving Samoa Joe and Finn Balor. William Regal will be doing a live interview on Tuesday morning on Facebook regarding the match at the next Takeover show on 6/8. I don’t know this, but it sounds like they are going to announce the stipulations for the match.

For those into this kind of history, yesterday was 42 years to the day of what many consider the biggest angle in the history of Florida wrestling, when Dusty Rhodes turned babyface against Pak Song and Gary Hart at the Tampa Sportatorium. The match was Eddie & Mike Graham vs. Rhodes & Song.

WWE

The most read story this past week on Rolling Stone’s web site was an interview with Damien Sandow.

UFC

UFC last night announced Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira as the Pioneer entrant (which means they started their career before 2001) in the 2016 Hall of Fame. At least this is a pick that nobody can criticize.
UFC was the most searched term on the Internet yesterday with more than 500,000 searches. Generally that will correlate to in excess of 300,000 buys. It’s not a sure thing, but it is an indicator. No. 6 was Cris Cyborg at 50,000, so she was searched for more than Stipe Miocic.  
In picks last night, myself, Front Row Brian and Ryan Frederick all went 4-1, Mike Sempervive, Jason Nason, Steve Juon, John Pollock, David Bixenspan and Mike Sawyer went 3-2 and Paul Fontaine went 2-3.   
Matt Brown can be seen getting the old school heat of fans wanting to get at him during his ring entrance last night.

MISCELLANEOUS

Pro Wrestling Phoenix results from Thursday night in Omaha for its 11th anniversary show: Paul Daniels & Joey Daniels b Mad Dog McDowell & Jon West, Cuco Santiago won four-way over Robert Storm, Purple and Dalton Lee Roth, Zac James b Preston Maxwell in a falls count anywhere match, Devin Carter b Con Artiest, Colt Cabana b Pat Powers, Branden Juarez b Mark Sterling.  Next show is 6/1 in Omaha at the Waiting Room Lounge.
AAA had a show tonight at Arena Jose Suliman in Monterrey that was canceled. 
Smash Wrestling on 6/24 in Renfrew, ONT at the R C a F Association featuring the Super Smash Brothers vs. Well Oiled Machines.  
IWA Mid  South on Thursday night in Clarksville, IN with Spring Heat 2016 with Reed Bentley vs Lee Byford for the IWA title, Tracy Smothers & JC Rotten vs. Bomb Shelter and more. 
IWA Mid South results from this past Thursday saw Matt Cage beat Jonathan Gresham, Michael Elgin beat Chris Hero to become the No. 1 contender for Bentley’s title and Bentley beat John Wayne Murdoch to retain the title.
Damien Sandow will be in Puerto Rico on 5/28 for the Summer Madness show in Bayamon.
Mega Pro Wrestling from Friday night in Racine, WV:  Kevin Tyler b Dan Richards, Misty James b Red Velvet, The Sound b LB 4LB, Kevin Tyler & Bobo Brown b Beau James & Rusty Shank, Jason Kincaid b JB Cool, Eric Darkstrom b Cedric Alexander (thanks to John Cooper)
Mega Pro runs 6/10 in East Bank WV at the Middle School and 6/19 in Chesapeake, WV at the Dr. Lisa Curry Memorial Annex for a 3:30 p.m. show.  
World League Wrestling from last night in Troy, MO:  Roy Lewis b Cody Jones, Mark Sterling b Justin D’Air, Stacy O’Brien & Lucy Mendez b Heather Patera & Paloma Starr, Kyle Roberts b Karim Birgante, Jon Webb b Jayden Fenix-DQ, Leland Race b Superstar Steve Fender with Ricky Steamboat as referee (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
GOUGE results from last night in Smithfield NC:  Madd Max Morrison & Roc Richards b Ryan Miller & Encore, Old School b Ryker Ramon, Juan Jeremi b Jimmy Jack Funk Jr.-DQ, Jimmy Jack Funk Jr. & Mickey Gambino b Juan Jeremi & Waylon Maze, Timmy Lou Retton b Victor Andrews.  Next show is 7/4 as part of a fireworks celebration in Raleigh with matches all day on Hargett Street starting at 2:30 p.m. and ending at 9 p.m.
Combat Zone Wrestling from last night in Voorhees, NJ:  Tim Donst b John Silver, Dave Crist b David Starr, Alex Colon b Preacher, Joe Gacy b Greg Excellent, Joey Janela b Chris Dickinson, Jonathan Gresham b Devon Moore-COR, Nate Carter & Mia Yim (Jade) b Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz, Matt Tremont NC Danny Havoc.  After the show DJ Hyde announced that CZW would be shooting a TV pilot in August.  John Zandig also showed up for the first time in four years between the former owner (Zandig) and current owner (Hyde).  Hyde talked about having to rebuild all the bridges Zandig burned.  Zandig said CZW has gone soft.  Dan Maff & Monsta Mack b Pepper Parks & Bkl Jeez to win the tag team titles.  Next show is the annual Tournament of Death on 6/11 at 179 Ebenezer Church Rd., in Townsend, DE with a 2 p.m. start time.  Matches announced are Danny Havoc vs. Alex Colon in a light tubes death match, Tim Donst vs. Rickey Shane Page in a stipulation of Donst’s choice and more.
This week’s 6:05 Superpodcast with Brian Last and David Bixenspan includes part two of their chat with John Arezzi discussing his reporting of the WWF sex and steroid scandals on the early 1990’s, being on the panel of the notorious wrestling episode of Donahue, bringing Vince Russo into the wrestling business and forming a short lived partnership with him, promoting international tours under the IWAS banner and more. Plus: Brian and Bix review the documentary “Lovestruck,” have an extended discussion about wrestling families, and much more!
Leva “Blue Pants” Bates, still out with an ankle break, has her pro wrestling shirts for sale here, if you’d like to help support her.
If you are interested in attending the 10th annual Wrestling Observer / F4W convention in Las Vegas, EdinSanAntonio has all the information up on Facebook, or email him at [email protected].

Today in professional wrestling history: Rock & Roll Express wins SMW Tag Team Titles; AJ Styles wins NWA/TNA Title

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