THE ROUND-UP

The Latest from the F4W Staff

NEWS

Vince McMahon’s return boosts WWE SmackDown ratings
WWE Raw ratings hold steady against first week of Monday Night Football
Otto Wanz passes away at 74 years old
Lucha Underground recap: The 100th episode
WWE NXT results: Chaos reigns in Full Sail
Daniel Cormier regains UFC gold without throwing a punch
WWE Honolulu, HI, live results: Jinder Mahal vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

AUDIO

WOL: McMahon headbutt fallout, SmackDown and Raw ratings, feedback, more! 9/14
JNPO: Dave Doyle on the PWG BOLA experience 9/14
WOR: McMahon headbutt, Smackdown, Mae Young Classic, Jon Jones, more! 9/14
F4D: Smackdown, Geek of the Week, 1997 Royal Rumble, tons more! 9/13

FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: Figure Four Weekly 9/11/2017: Is the WWE main roster ready for Asuka?

With her vacating the NXT Women’s Championship and the storyline of both brands negotiating for her to join them, it appears that it won’t be very long until Asuka arrives on the main roster. That segment with her relinquishing the title aired on NXT TV last week, with there having been no announcement of how the next champion will be decided. But whoever it is, whether it’s someone currently in NXT or one of the Mae Young Classic finalists, they’ll have a difficult time living up to the standard that Asuka set.

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WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: September 18, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Vince McMahon returns to TV, Mae Young Classic finals, more 

The return of Vince McMahon for an angle with Kevin Owens and the copying of the Okada-Shibata spot is the lead in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer. This issue has a run through of the next few WWE PPV shows.

Look at the mechanics behind it, the double standard involved and the WWE’s attempt to heat up the product as football season starts.

Read a full rundown of the Mae Young Classic finals including thoughts on all 32 competitors, who has signed, who is likely to be signed, and who isn’t likely to be signed. Plus, look at business notes on the tournament, both on where the shows stood in WWE Network ratings and public interest as compared with the early weeks of the cruiserweight classic, as well as some very interesting notes about what caused the peaks of interest.

This issues has an update on the condition of Big Show, why Asuka is going to Raw, WWE headed to India, Mick Foley’s knee replacement, Foley’s next book, Ric Fair’s next book, return of injured wrestler, market value of WWE, plus notes on the weekend NXT shows and the first show of the Raw overseas tour.

Coverage of UFC 215, what happened to Ray Borg, the judging of Amanda Nunes vs. Valentina Shevchenko, what Shevchenko did wrong, how close a fight it really was, plus business notes on the show and match-by-match coverage with poll results.

Check out New Japan’s first big show since G-1 ended, the Destruction in Fukushima, and what went wrong, why it went wrong and the main event booking, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.

Details on the ratings for all the national shows over the past week, including a breakdown of who was watching all of the WWE shows, plus results of the major league arena events held all over the world this past week, as well as notes on the various TV shows.

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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.

WON BACK ISSUE: August 21, 2000 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Steve Austin to return, WCW Thunder canceled, more

Steve Austin this past week received medical clearance from Dr. Lloyd Youngblood to return to active wrestling in eight weeks, most likely at the October PPV. Austin, who had been on the sidelines since November and had neck surgery in January that put his career in jeopardy, got what was regarded as a cautious okay after exams on his neck on 8/10 and on his knees on 8/12. After the neck exam, Youngblood suggested he stay out another two months to be on the safe side. 

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THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE
NXT is taping its next round of television episodes at Full Sail University tonight. Shane Thorne returned for his first match since suffering a knee injury in January as TM61 faced Wesley Blake & Steve Cutler. Triple H also did a promo thanking everyone for being there after Hurricane Irma and saying that the area is NXT’s home as well.
Shayna Baszler is backstage at tonight’s tapings.
WWE.com ran a story on Erica Wiebe, who won gold in freestyle wrestling at the 2016 Olympics, visiting the Performance Center and being on the radar of WWE scouts.
WWE also has an interview with Shelton Benjamin about his return to the company.
UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway was backstage at WWE’s house show in Honolulu, Hawaii last night and will be appearing on an upcoming video on Xavier Woods’ “UpUpDownDown” YouTube channel.
Some live reports from the show in Hawaii indicated that Kofi Kingston may have suffered a knee injury in a match where The New Day defended their tag titles against Dolph Ziggler & Baron Corbin, though Kingston was able to get through it and finish the match.
As Ric Flair continues to recover, he tweeted out a photo with Charles Barkley visiting him today.
The Miz passed Honky Tonk Man today to become the third-longest reigning Intercontinental Champion in WWE history in terms of total days. Pedro Morales and Don Muraco are ahead of him.
Kairi Sane did interviews with Rolling Stone and NBC Sports after winning the Mae Young Classic.
Matt Hardy thanked the fans for their role in bringing The Hardys back to WWE.
Today marks one year since TJ Perkins won the Cruiserweight Classic and became WWE Cruiserweight Champion.
Pro Wrestling
CBS Sports interviewed The Young Bucks about their careers, The Hardys, and Marty Scurll joining Bullet Club.
Pro Wrestling Sheet reported that Mr. 450 has been cleared in his domestic violence case that stemmed from an alleged incident over WrestleMania weekend.
Ring Rust Radio had Taya Valkyrie on as a guest for their most recent episode.
WrestleCircus uploaded their Tessa Blanchard vs. Britt Baker match from earlier this month.
UFC/MMA
Jon Jones posted a statement about his drug test failure on Twitter today when responding to a fan asking him to tell the truth: “Dude the truth is I would never do steroids, I put that on my children and I put that on my Heavenly Father.”
UFC on Fox uploaded video of Daniel Cormier’s appearance on UFC Tonight last night where he talked about Jones’ test failure and getting the light heavyweight title back.
Jones has been removed from the UFC’s fighter rankings. Demetrious Johnson, Conor McGregor, Stipe Miocic, Max Holloway, and Cody Garbrandt are now the top five in the pound-for-pound category.
Georges St-Pierre reiterated that he’ll go back into retirement upon his next loss.
Dustin Poirier will be facing Anthony Pettis at UFC Fight Night in Norfolk on November 11th.
Max Holloway is waiting on a new contract before his next fight.
Valentina Shevchenko believes that her next fight will be at flyweight.
Mark Hunt wrote a piece for Players Voice about the effects fighting has had on him, his disdain for cheaters, and continuing his career.

Today in Professional Wrestling History: Vince McMahon wins WWF title

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