Injuries to WWE and ROH talent

A.J. Styles is off the weekend WWE house shows due to an injury. He was holding his back on Raw and he's had back problems dating back months although it is not confirmed it was a back injury. Style was working the Carolinas run with shows on Friday night in Greenville, Saturday night in Raleigh and Sunday in Columbia. I expect he'll be at Raw in Greensboro since it's the go-home show for Extreme Rules.

Nick Jackson of the Young Bucks was injured in the first Young Bucks match last night in Toronto. He was scheduled in the team ROH vs. Bullet Club main event at last night's fourth hour of the tapings but wasn't able to wrestle. It is believed to be a broken rib, but that isn't official. He is most likely off Saturday's ROH show in New York.

We're looking for reports tonight on the NXT shows in Seattle at the Paramount Theater and Bartow, FL. Please send to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

SMACKDOWN TONIGHT ON USA NETWORK AT 8 P.M.

Sin Cara vs. Rusev

Becky Lynch vs. Dana Brooke

Kofi Kingston vs. Aiden English

Usos vs. Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows

R-Truth & Tyler Breeze vs. Goldust & Fandango

Sami Zayn & Cesaro vs. The Miz & Kevin Owens

THE ROUND UP

If you've ever wanted to WATCH our radio shows here on the site, check out our new Youtube page! No full video shows, but lots of video clips, full free audio shows that you can tell your friends about, and much more to come! Make sure you subscribe today!

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

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Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.

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.

THURSDAY UPDATE

Ray Leppan (Adam Rose) was given $1,000 bond and was released today after posting the bond, after appearing before the judge this morning.

Impact did 280,000 viewers on Tuesday night, which is the lowest number since they have only had one airing on Tuesdays.

Jushin Liger did return last night in Toronto on the ROH show and is scheduled for the New York show. Speaking of ROH, we got tons of people raving about the Kyle O'Reilly vs. Kushida match at the tapings last night. It was taped as the main event on the third hour of tapings. I'll try and get an exact air date later. Donovan Dijak worked heel against Jay Lethal, flip flopping their roles in the angle.

The Fight Network announced the hard launch of "AAA: Lucha Libre Worldwide" on 5/5 at 10 p.m. The show will air every Thursday at 10 p.m., right after CMLL. There was a chance that the AAA show would fall apart on the station because the station cut a deal with rival CMLL and are airing the shows back-to-back.

The WWE Network has added more than 100 episodes of Smackdown from 2000 to 2002 billed as the rise of the McMahon-Helmsley era. Are you sure that isn't 2014 to 2016?

WWE

Someone from WWE sent this out as a guide for women looking to either get in or get into the planned women's tournament where outside talent will be used and it becomes something of a tryout:

*Stop gigging on indie shows.

*Get in your best shape possible

*Start working on promos

Devon Nicholson was invited to the next WWE tryout camp on 5/19 to 5/21 in Orlando, and then last week was sent a letter that said they were uninviting him. No explanation was given. Nicholson was originally in the camp upon recommendation from Gerald Brisco.

Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen will be appearing on Saturday and Sunday at the Motor City Comic Con in Novi, MI at the Suburban Collection Showplace. The group appearing will be Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham and J.J. Dillon. Flair, who is now friends with University of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, said he'll be at a couple of the games this season on the sidelines.

A story on Tucker Knight returning home for the NXT show in Portland this weekend can be read here. WWE stock was down 29 cents per share today to $17.79.

Announced for the 7/16 show in Madison Square Garden is Roman Reigns vs. A.J. Styles, John Cena vs. Alberto De; Rio, Dean Ambrose vs. Chris Jericho plus The Vaudevillains, Apollo Crews, Karl Anderson, New Day, Charlotte, Ric Flair, Kevin Owens, Luke Gallows, Usos, Natalya and Stardust.

UFC

Sunday's UFC show did 60,000 viewers in Holland on Holland's version of Fox Sports. They had a big TV show preview with Bob Schreiber, Rico Verhoeven, Semmy Schilt and others including a famous Dutch actor Waldemar Torenstra, who is a big fan. Alistair Overeem appeared on RTL Late Night which is a major show in the country the day after the fight. (thanks to Hank Mulder)

Reuters tried to get comments from all of the companies listed in the ESPN story regarding purchasing UFC. None of the companies denied anything, all either not responding or issuing a no comment.

Currently, www.Bovada.lv has these odds

How much will UFC be sold for? The over/under is $3.99 billion

Will UFC be sold in 2016?

Yes +150

No -200

The new episode of "Dana White Lookin' For a Fight: Houston" debuts Monday on Fight Pass and Tuesday on YouTube. Dana, Matt Serra and Nick the Tooth do horseback riding, bull riding, meet with George Foreman and watch fights.

Victory FC on 5/21 in Topeka, KS will be on Fight Pass with the top two fights being Rob Morrow (24-20 vs. Kelvin Tiller (7-2) and Zak Bucia (14-7) vs. Jake Lindsey (10-4).

MISCELLANEOUS

Our best wishes to Smith Hart of the Hart family who will be starting extensive chemotherapy this week for cancer.

There will be two hours of New Japan on AXS tomorrow night starting at 8 p.m.

The first episode of All Japan Women Classics can be seen here. This is from a May 7, 1983 show headlined by Jaguar Yokota putting up her hair and the WWWA title against La Galactica, who put up her mask.

CZW and WSU have a doubleheader on Saturday in Voorhees, NJ at www.StreamCZW.com. A 4 p.m. Eastern show is headlined by Cherry Bomb vs. Allysin Kay for the WSU title. It's an all-women's show with Mia Yim (Jade in TNA), Veda Scott from ROH and Tessa Blanchard among others. The 8 p.m. men's show is headlined by Matt Tremont vs. Danny Havoc for the CZW title and Ready vs Hit Squad for the tag team titles.

Big Time Wrestling on Saturday night in Lincolnton, NC at the High School has a meet and greet at 6 p.m. and an 8 p.m. show. At the meet and greet will be Sting, Lex Luger, Magnum T.A., Ricky Morton, Robert Gibson and Buff Bagwell. Harold Jackson, the former WSOC TV sportscaster who is a big wrestling fan, will interview Sting in the ring during the show.

Northeast Wrestling results from Saturday night in Waterbury, CT: Kamaitachi b JT Dunn (said to be an incredible match), Michael Bennett b Chris Battle, Wrecking Ball Legursky b Bull Dredd in a street fight, Vinny Marseglia & Frankie Arion b Mark Shurman & Scotty Slade to win the tag titles, Jimmy Preston b Cam Zigami, Sumie Sakai b ?, Ron Zombie b Warbeard Hanson-DQ, TK O'Ryan b Donovan Dijak, Brian Anthony b Matt Hardy

Nova Pro Wrestling on 7/1 in Fairfax, VA at the Jewish Community Center of North Virginia with Donovan Dijak, Cedric Alexander, Veda Scott and more.

Total Combat Wrestling on 5/22 in Milan, Italy at the Elyon Club.

Lio Rush & Jason Kincaid vs. Kevin Cannon & Bobby Collins was announced for 5/10 in Souris, Manitoba.

Border City Wrestling on 5/28 in Tecumseh, ONT at the Royal Canadian Legion at 7:30 PM. headlined by Eric Young.

Marty Jannetty and Pete Rose will be signing on Saturday in Sacramento at the McClellan Conference Center at the Sacramento Sports Collection show. Admission is $7. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more info you can e-mail Roy Lucier at roywarrenlucier@yahoo.com. Supreme Pro Wrestling will have matches on the show at 10:30 a.m.

PWEclipse on 5/22 in Oshawa, ONT at the Legion has Tyler Tirva vs. Michael Elgin plus John Atlas vs. Phil Atlas.

New England Championship Wresting on 5/21 in Abington, MA at the High School with Slyck Wagner Brown vs. Brad Hollister in a lumberjack match for the NECW title.

Timothy Thatcher vs. Chris Hero for the Evolve title has been announced for 6/10 in Ybor City, FL. Also announced for that show is Drew Gulak & Tracy Williams defending the tag team titles against the Bravado Brothers. Cedric Alexander is on that show. Johnny Gargano & TJP vs. Drew Galloway & Ethan Carter III is the main event.

Damien Sandow, Jimmy Hart, The Godfather, Carlito and Ricardo Rodriguez are at the Heroes and Legends Convention on 10/22 in Fort Wayne, IN.

Atlantis & Caristico & Valiente vs. Cibernetico & Sharly Rockstar & Ultimo Guerrero headlines the 5/27 show at the Auditorio in Tijuana. There is also a border show on 5/29 in Mexicali at the Gimasio Municipal with Atlantis & Extreme Tiger & El Hijo del Rey Misterio & Valiente vs. Cibernetico & El Hijo del Solitario & Mr. Niebla & Sharly Rockstar.

AAA runs Tijuana at the Auditorio on 5/13 with Monster & Murder Clown & La Parka vs. Parka Negra & Villano IV & Zorro.

APW Camp Westlake tomorrow night in Daily City at the Pacelli Event Center with MVP, Gangrel, JR Kratos, Joey Ryan and Yoshitatsu.

GFW on 7/11 in Keyport, NJ at the St. Joseph RC Church has Colt Cabana vs. Damien Sandow.

Tommy Dreamer talks concussions and other subjects here.

An interview with Rocky Romero with The Sporting News is here.

Today in professional wrestling history: Koloff vs. Magnum Russian Chain match; Kevin Steen wins ROH World Title