Daily Update: UFC's statement on Lesnar, Cody Rhodes, Cro Cop and Silva

Here is the official statement from the UFC regarding Brock Lesnar:

“The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Brock Lesnar of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection on June 28, 2016. USADA received the testing results from the June 28, 2016 sample collection from the WADA-accredited UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory on the evening of July 14, 2016.

“USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case. It is important to note that, under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, there is a full fair legal review process that is afforded to all athletes before any sanctions are imposed. The Nevada State Athletic Commission also retains jurisdiction over this matter as the sample collection was performed in close proximity to Lesnar’s bout at UFC 200 in Las Vegas.

“Consistent with all previous potential anti-doping violations, additional information will be provided at the appropriate time as the process moves forward.”

Here is Brock Lesnar’s response: “We will get to the bottom of this.” 


Weekend Schedule

Our only weekend poll will be for Sunday/Monday’s G-1 Climax show from Sapporo, so you can send a thumbs up, down, or in the middle along with best and worst match to [email protected].

TODAY

We’re looking for reports on WWE in Madison Square Garden (Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens for WWE title, John Cena vs. A.J. Styles, Chris Jericho vs. Neville, New Day vs. Wyatts), Bangor, ME (Miz, Cesaro, Sami Zayn, Big Show, Kane, Vaudevillains, Darren Young, Charlotte, Sasha Banks, Enzo, Cass, Dudleys), NXT in Louisville and Largo, FL and ROH TV tapings in Philadelphia (Jay Lethal vs. Colt Cabana for ROH title, Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian vs. Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley vs. War Machine for tag titles, Donovan Dijak vs. Lio Rush, Stuka Jr. vs. Kamaitachi, Will Ferrera vs. Jay White, Silas Young & Beer City Bruiser vs. Briscoes, plus Bobby Fish, Adam Cole, Young Bucks, Adam Page, Rocky Romero, Baretta, Rhett Titus, Kenny King, Caprice Coleman, Cheeseburger, Jonathan Gresham, B.J. Whitmer, Taeler Hendricks, Veda Scott, Mandy Leon, Jenny rose and Sumie Sakai.

EVOLVE 64 iPPV AT 4 P.M. FROM QUEENS, NY

Timothy Thatcher vs. Marty Scurll for Evolve title
Roderick Strong vs. Matt Riddle
Drew Galloway vs. Drew Gulak
Johnny Gargano vs. Cedric Alexander
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. TJ Perkins
Tracy Williams vs. Tony Nese vs. Fred Yehi vs. Darby Allin

SUNDAY

WWE is in Glens Falls, NY (Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, John Cena, A.J. Styles, Chris Jericho, Neville, New Day, Wyatts) and Augusta, ME (Miz, Cesaro, Sami Zayn, Big show, Kane, Vaudevillains, Darren Young, Charlotte, Sasha Banks, Enzo, Cass, Dudleys).

EVOLVE 65 iPPV SUNDAY AT 7 P.M. EASTERN FROM MELROSE, MA AT MEMORIAL HALL

Timothy Thatcher vs. TJP for Evolve title
Drew Galloway vs. Johnny Gargano
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Tony Nese
Tommaso Ciampa vs. Cedric Alexander
Marty Scurll vs. Matt Riddle

MONDAY

G-1 CLIMAX TOURNAMENT OPENING AT 2 A.M. MONDAY EASTERN / 11 P.M. SUNDAY PACIFIC TIME ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

Katsuyori Shibata & Manabu Nakanishi & Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Tomoaki Honma & Kushida & Ryusuke Taguchi & Captain New Japan
Katsuhiko Nakajima & Toru Yano vs. Juice Robinson & Satoshi Kojima 
Yoshi-Hashi & Gedo vs. Kenny Omega & Yujiro Takahashi
Yuji Nagata & Michael Elgin & David Finlay vs. Tetsuya Naito & Evil & Bushi
Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Tomohiro Ishii
Togi Makabe vs. Tama Tonga
Hirooki Goto vs. Bad Luck Fale
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Seiya Sanada
Kazuchika Okada vs. Naomichi Marufuji

Raw will be in Providence, RI. Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins for the WWE title will headline, plus they will announce the General Managers of Raw and Smackdown.

TUESDAY

The WWE draft and the beginning of split brands takes place from Worcester, MA. 

WEDNESDAY

SUPER J CUP FIRST ROUND AT 5:30 A.M. EASTERN TIME ON NEW JAPAN WORLD FROM KORAKUEN HALL IN TOKYO

Matt Sydal vs. Kaji Tomato
Gurukun Mask vs. Kenou
Yuma Aoyagi vs. Taichi
Jushin Liger vs. Eita
Titan vs. Will Ospreay
Bushi vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Daisuke Harada
Kushida vs. Taiji Ishimori

THE ROUND-UP

WWE Bridgeport, CT, live results: Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins vs. AJ Styles 
NXT Highland Heights, KY, live results: Finn Balor vs. Bobby Roode: Nakamura, Samoa Joe 
The Week In British Wrestling: Sabre Jr. and Ospreay impress for RevPro
WWE Cruiserweight Classic puts the sport in sports entertainment
WWE SmackDown results: Dean Ambrose & Sami Zayn vs. Seth Rollins & Kevin Owens 


​If you’ve ever wanted to WATCH our radio shows here on the site, check out our 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

READ IT HERE: Figure Four Weekly 7/4/2016: Jimmy Snuka to appear at Wrestlecon – Jimmy Snuka, who was found too incompetent to stand trial for murder charges, is signing autographs at Wrestlecon 2017.

Subscribers click here to continue reading.


Wrestling Observer Newsletter

READ IT HERE: July 18, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: UFC sold for 4 billion dollars, UFC 200 review, notes on the WWE draft, more – Details on the sale of UFC for 4 billion dollars, recap of UFC 200, notes on the WWE draft, plus tons more.

The most detailed look at how the UFC got sold and the business ramifications of the sale is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Also inside, a look at the Brock Lesnar deal, where things stand going forward with Lesnar, a lot of updated thoughts on the WWE draft, the future of John Cena and notes on how that affects WWE business, Battle of Los Angeles, and coverage of all the UFC shows.  

This issue contains a copy of the letter that all the UFC fighters were sent by management and what they were told about the sale.  

An in depth look at how the original partners came together and the 2001 sale of the UFC to Dana White & The Fertittas, how much money White and the Fertittas probably got in the sale, plus a lot of things about the sale that haven’t gone public yet. There’s also a look at White’s new contract with the company, and the company’s business numbers for 2015.  

Inside, examine how things are likely to change, where Lorenzo Fertitta is likely to go, the new owners and where their money came from, other bidders, and how the deal almost fell through. Plus, take a look at Lorenzo Fertitta & Dana White’s role in the company going forward, how the source of the money to buy the company changed in recent weeks, why they were able to get $4 billion and what rivalry outside sports is key in them increasing revenue.  

Finally, this issue considers where Lesnar stands coming off his win over Mark Hunt, how the deal with Lesnar was first made, a look at a clause in every WWE contract and what it specifically says about MMA, and a look at why C.M. Punk was able to get out of the clause. Plus, take a look at future MMA prospects with Lesnar, how much money he really got from the show, how he changed a lot of the criticism of his career, and why he’s more valuable now than before.  

Subscribers click here to continue reading.


You can also order the print Observer right now and get it delivered to your door via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to Dave Meltzer.

You can also order print issues at www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
 
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Wrestling Observer Newsletter BACK ISSUE

READ IT HERE: June 7, 1999 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Fallout from the death of Owen Hart – Details on the funeral of Owen Hart, how the media covered the story, and more.


SATURDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE & Professional Wrestling

The Baltimore Sun has a Q&A with Rich Swann about his time in WWE and the Cruiserweight Classic.
Cody Rhodes tweeted yesterday, “I own Rhodes. He was with me for my first breath and I was with him for his last. There’s no piece of paper on Earth that takes my name away.” It would seem to suggest that the WWE has tried to prevent him from using the Rhodes name.
New Japan World now has an option to purchase their service via PayPal.

UFC & Mixed Martial Arts

FOX will air a “Road to the Octagon” special for next weekend’s show headlined by Holly Holm vs Valentina Shevchenko today at 5 pm eastern. Main card fighters Gilbert Melendez, Edson Barboza, Felice Herrig and Kailin Curran are also featured in the special.
Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic and Wanderlei Silva will be competing in an openweight tournament for RIZIN that starts on September 25th.
Results from RFA 40 Friday night on AXS TV – Former UFC flyweight Chico Camus beat Csar Sklavos via decision in the main event
UFC Fight Pass has two live shows this weekend. Victory FC 52 from Omaha airs tonight at 7 pm eastern with a main event for the group’s welterweight title with Maki Pitolo (7-2) squaring off with Kassius Holdorf (9-2). Former Bellator fighter and regional vet Dakota Cochrane (24-10) takes on Jason Witt (7-2) in the co-main. Shooto Japan airs at 5 AM eastern Sunday morning from Korakuen Hall with a main event of Ryohei Kurosawa (9-1) vs Ryuto Sawada (6-2) for the men’s strawweight title.
Kimbo Slice was posthumously inducted into The Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame.
Dennis Wright of Boca Raton, Florida has pleaded not guilty in the hit and run death of MMA fighter Jordan Parsons.

Variety

This week on 6:05 Superpodcast with Brian Last and David Bixenspan, Don Laible returns to the show to talk about his friendships with Eddie Gilbert, Killer Kowalski, John Studd, and others, Bob Barnett returns to discuss the ’90s Los Angeles lucha libre scene, the best matches he ever shot, and more, plus Brian and David take listener questions among all the usual fun.
For an episode, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows brought back their Talk’n Shop podcast with Chris Jericho and AJ Styles as guests on Jericho’s podcast feed.
More has come out on the University of Minnesota drug scandal. This new information involves emails showing that the Athletic Director knew before the police investigation began.

The Summer Slam Events Calendar

TONIGHT – Beyond Wrestling presents “Flesh” – Bell time: 2:30 PM EDT, Melrose Memorial Hall, 590 Main Street, Melrose, MA 02176. Tickets are on sale now.
TONIGHT – EVOLVE 65, Bell time: 7:00PM, Melrose Memorial Hall, 590 Main Street Melrose, MA 02176. Watch on live iPPV in HD, the WWN Roku Channel or the FITE App!
TONIGHT – Lucha by the Water ft Blue Demon Jr! – Harbourfront Centre Theatre, 231 Queens Quay West, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2G8, 3-6 pm. Tickets here.
TONIGHT – Premier Wrestling at the IFDES Lodge and Portuguese Hall in Gilroy, CA with Joe Graves vs. Gabriel Gallo for the Premier. Tickets here.
July 21- TNA IMPACT WRESTLING moves to Thursday nights on Fight Network
July 22 – Ignite Wrestling in Fort Pierce, FL at the National Guard Armory on a show with Lince Dorado, Mr. 450 Hammet, Lio Rush, Martin Stone, Los Ben Dejos, and more
July 22 – AIW runs on 7/22 in Cleveland, OH, with Ethan Page vs. Josh Prohibition vs. Josh Alexander, and Johnny Gargano & Candice LeRae vs. Ethan Carter III & Karlee Perez
July 22 – The Lou Thesz Hall of Fame weekend show in Waterloo, IA, featuring Ricochet vs. Sami Callihan, Wes Brisco, B. Brian Blair, Jessika Havok, Tessa Blanchard, a steel cage match and more – This is the weekend Dave Meltzer will be honored.
July 22 – Bellator 159 from Mulvane, KS. Darrion Caldwell vs Joe Taimanglo. Melvin Guillard vs David “Caveman” Rickells
July 23 – ECWA returns to Woodbury Heights, NJ; ECWA Champion Sean Carr vs. Greek God Papadon in the Main Event
July 23 – Live Pro Wrestling, Glengarry Sports Palace, 170 McDonald Blvd. Alexandria, Ontario
July 23 – UFC on FOX from Chicago – Holly Holm vs Valentina Shevchenko.          
July 23 – Chikara Pro announced a doubleheader event at Toronto’s Franklin Horner Community Center.
July 23 – AAW  in Merrionnette Park, IL, with Sami Callihan vs. Pentagon Jr., Zack Sabre Jr., Marty Scurll; Tommaso Ciampa; Fenix; Johnny Gargano, and plenty more. Here’s what you missed on their last show.  
July 23 – Masters of Ring Entertainment in Wilmington, NC, as part of Pro Wrestling Fan Expo 3 will feature Jeff Jarrett vs. ECIII vs. James Storm, announced by Jarrett.
Merritton Community Centre 7 Park Ave St. Catharines, ON
July 24 – WWE presents Battle Ground PPV at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. It will be the fourth event under the Battleground chronology, and the first event under the newly reinstated WWE brand extension.
July 24 – Crossfire Wrestling – Merritton Community Centre, 7 Park Avenue St. Catharines ON, for our 5 year Anniversary show “BRING THE HEAT V”
July 24 – PWEclipse – Summer Surrender, Oshawa, Ontario
July 24 – Fenix vs. Pentagon Jr. headlines for Lucha Libre New York at Club LaBoom in Queens, NY
July 29, 30, 31 – ECCW returns to the Agrifair 2016 Abbortsford, BC with three shows per day. Friday and Saturday shows start at 12:00PM – 3:00PM – 8:00PM. Saturday July 30 wil feature “The Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart. Sunday’s shows start at 11:00AM – 2PM and 5PM
July 30 – UFC 201 – LAWLER VS. WOODLEY from Atlanta, GA
July 30 – WSOF 32: Moraes vs. Hill 2 – Live on NBCSN from Everett, Washington. Also featuring Ben “Phoenix Jones” Fodor vs Caros Fodor in a brother vs brother fight
July 30 – Smash Wrestling – Oshawa Music Hall, 39 King St E, Oshawa, Ontario L1H 1B2
July 31 – BATTLEWAR 36; Les Foufounes Électriques, 87 Sainte-Catherine Street East, Montreal, QC
Aug 4-6 –  !BANG! TV – Professional Wrestling Spectacular, 3 charity shows in 3 days. – More information.
Aug 5 – NEF Presents Dana White: Looking for a Fight. More info here.
Aug 6 – UFC FIGHT NIGHT – RODRIGUEZ VS CACERES, from Salt Lake City, UT
August 6 – Absolute Intense Wrestling Girls Night Out in Cleveland at Our Lady of Mt Carmel with Crazy Mary Dobson, Allysin “Sienna” Kay, Veda Scott, Shayna Baszler, Annie Social, Kelly Klein, Heidi Lovelace, Lufisto, Nicole Savoy and more.
BIG WEST WRESTLING presents BOWLING, BODYSLAMS & BBQ, Lake City Bowling & Billiards: Kelowna, BC
August 12 – Zack Sabre Jr. vs.. Jeff Cobb has been added to the Revolution Pro show in London at York Hall in Bethnal Green.
Aug 13 – wXw NOW – The End (Tommy End’s final show in Germany, booked by The Sumerian Death Squad)
Aug 13 – NWA Mid South Wrestling in Dyresburg, TN at the Herb Welch Wrestle Plex headlined by Matt Riviera vs. Jeremy Moore.
Aug 19 – The Hardys, Drew Galloway, Ethan Carter III and Mickie James appear for House of Glory Wrestling in Jamaica, NY.  That’s the Friday before SummerSlam.
Aug 20 – UFC 202 – DIAZ VS MCGREGOR 2, from Las Vegas, NV
Aug 21 – WWE Presents THE SummerSlam PPV event at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. It will be the twenty-ninth event under the SummerSlam chronology and the second consecutive SummerSlam to be hosted in the Barclays Center.
Aug 21 – Chavo Guerrero Jr. will appear for Smash Wrestling on in Pickering, Ontario at Super Showdown lV.
Aug 21 – Octagon & Tinieblas Jr. vs. Fuerza Guerrera & Pirata Morgan headlines in Houston at the Arena Theater.  
Aug 26 – CONFLICT Wrestling: “Black or White”
Aug 27 – UFC FIGHT NIGHT – TBA VS TBD from Vancouver, BC. I’m already pumped.
Aug 28 – Destiny wrestling proudly presents “SUMMER HEAT”.

Daily Pro Wrestling History (07/15): 


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