FRI UPDATE: Akbar interview, Mr. Wrestling II, Sheffield update, Strikeforce weights, Linda, more

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Not the busiest of weekends coming up.

We're looking for reports on tonight's ROH TV tapings in Philadelphia at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The WWE Raw crew is currently in Tokyo. The Smackdown crew is doing two house shows and television for next week was already taped.

Saturday night has the weekend's biggest event, the Strikeforce show on Showtime, featuring King Mo vs. Rafael Feijao for the light heavyweight title, Ronaldo Jacare Souza vs. Tim Kennedy for the vacant middleweight title, Bobby Lashley vs. Chad Griggs and Jorge Gurgel vs. K.J. Noons from the Toyota Center in Houston. The second night of ROH tapings in Philadelphia take place at the Arena as well. Smackdown has a Saturday night house show in Lubbock, TX, while the Raw crew is running its second show at Sumo Hall in Tokyo.

Sunday is the WWE's debut in China, with a free show in Shanghai as part of the World Expo going on. There is also a Smackdown house show in Odessa, TX.

Raw on Monday was already taped last week in Los Angeles, and Smackdown and NXT were taped in Fresno.

TNA has new tapings on Monday and Tuesday night at the Impact Zone in Orlando.

Smackdown tonight has:
* Rey vs. Alberto Del Rio in his debut
* Drew vs. Christian
* Dolph vs. Kofi
* Luke & Serena (debut) vs. Big Show & Kelly. Wow.
* Kane cuts a two-hour promo about Undertaker

A look at the return of Bryan Danielson, the life and death of Lance Cade, SummerSlam, and details on the court sentencing where names of big name pro wrestlers and a UFC superstar came up as receiving steroids years ago, as well as UFC heading to Toronto are the lead stories i this coming Monday's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

We look at the return of Danielson, details behind it, the time line, who pushed for Danielson to be brought back, how WWE jumped the gun on announcing it while at the same time trying to keep it a secret and the lengths they went to do so. We also have thoughts on the status of the Nexus angle after this week, the long-term goal of the Nexus angle, plans for Night of Champions, early signs regarding SummerSlam buy rate as well as other business numbers for the show.

We also have match-by-match coverage with star ratings as well as poll results on the show.

We also look at the details of the death and wrestling career of Lance "Cade" McNaught, who passed away. We look at the start of his career under Shawn Michaels and what people were saying about him when he was a teenager already in wrestling. We look at details of his last few days, the chain of events that led to him being fired after being under contract for eight years, how he got brought back and why he never made it back to television. We look at the main event angle he was told he would be getting, and how and why it changed. We also look at what pro wrestling legends in Japan he was brought in to be the comedy version of and the next generation version of.

We also look at Cade and the WWE Wellness policy and their policy of paying for rehab, what he said after being released, the early effect of the Cade death on the Linda McMahon campaign with the media stories and questions being asked. We look at Linda McMahon's response to the questions and the Democrats replies.

We look at the early career of Cade in Japan and WWE developmental, his start on Raw, his tag team with Trevor Murdoch, why the split happened and what was planned for him in both 2009 and 2010 that never materialized.

The issue will be on the site today along with a back issue from June 1993 new to the site. All are available right now for web site subscribers in the Wrestling Observer listings on the top of the page. You can also get the Observer delivered by mail, with details below. For those who are web site subscribers, not only do we have issues once and in big news weeks, twice every week, but also release one back issue per week, covering 1993. That was one of the most important year in wrestling history due to the emergence of new companies like UFC, Pancrase, ECW, Michinoku Pro and K-1 which all revolutionized the industry.

We also look at Ontario sanctioning MMA, and what that means for UFC and other promotions, as well as why it happened now. We look at the people responsible for it, and look at two major obstacles when it comes to MMA in both Ontario and Canada as a whole.

We also look at the sentencing hearing for J. Michael Bennett of Applied Pharmacy, and the names of the MMA superstar and pro wrestlers who were names, as well as others not named, what they were getting, and the time frame of it. We look at one of the key doctors in question and his relationship with one of the best known WWE stars of the modern era.

We also have all the details of the arrest and suspension of Tiffany, reaction of those involved and WWE reaction, as well as who is getting her spot. We also have updates on WWE's business, what wrestler made a big impact on non-wrestling television, Smackdown vs Raw 2011 cover art, Linda McMahon campaign an this week's comments, WWE champion and legend fights for his life, as well as the son of a legendary world known singer debuts in a WWE match on television but his name isn't mentioned.

We also look at the foreign star who did a WWE tryout and what happened, as well as the MMA world champion who said that his goal in a few years is to wrestle in WWE, as well as what WWE star convinced him not to start with WWE a few years back when he was first going to be signed.

We also look at Alberto Del Rio, WWE star and why a restaurant named after him fell through, WWE scouting for new talent, the new Batista, as well as a lot of name changes about to happen, as well as a former college football signed.

We also have a look at this year's G-1 Climax tournament, including notes on Satoshi Kojima's win, the atmosphere at the final night show, business overall, the booking of the show, the future IWGP title matches coming out of the tournament, reaction to Kojima, final standings and full coverage of the finals.

We also have coverage of this year's AAA Verano de Escandalo show, including brothers battling, father and son battling and the return of Perro Aguayo Jr.

We also look at the ratings for every national MMA and pro wrestling television show in the U.S., as well as the segment-by-segment numbers for the major shows. We look behind the scenes for some interesting notes on the Raw rating, why the number was where it was, how the Strikeforce show did, as well as match-by-match for the TNA Whole Fn Show.

We also have our weekly results from the major league arena events held around the world as well as the major TV show reviews.

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-- David Wills has an audio interview with Skandar Akbar, who passed away yesterday, here.

-- Latest on Johnny "Mr. Wrestling II" Walker is that he will have his open heart surgery on Monday.

-- The update on Skip Sheffield is that he appears to have broken his left ankle at the house show in Honolulu and will likely need surgery, which is about the most horrible timing of anything in awhile.

-- Stikeforce weigh-ins for tomorrow night:
1. "King Mo" Lawal (203.75) vs. Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante (203.5)
2. Tim Kennedy (185) vs. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza (184.75)
3. Jorge Gurgel (154.75) vs. K.J. Noons (156.25)
4. Chad Griggs (228.5) vs. Bobby Lashley (246)
5. Daniel Cormier (249) vs. Jason Riley (256.5)
6. Andre Galvao (170.75) vs. Jorge Patino (---)
7. Rocky Long (146.25) vs. Vinicius "Draculino" Magalhaes (144.5)
8. Kier Gooch (155.5) vs. Adam Schindler (155.5)
9. Jose Santibanez (154.25) vs. Reynaldo Trujillo (155.25)
10. Humberto DeLeon (127.25) vs. Chad Robichaux (131)
11. Chad Cook (205.25) vs. Arteneus Young (204)

Patino has not weighed in yet. Robichaux was a pound over and has an hour to make weight for the fight. Noons missed weight by 1/4 pound but Gurgel said that was fine and he won't have to weigh in again.

-- My entry into In Media Res' pro wrestling week is now up here. It is part of a theme week organized by Shane Toepfer of Georgia State University. My actual entry was almost three times as long, and I'll post it on the front page later this weekend.

-- Matt Wiman is out of the 9/15 Austin, TX UFC show. He was scheduled against Efrain Escudero, well Mac Danzig, but Danzig got hurt a few days ago. If you're keeping score, that's 17 card changes in 25 days.

-- Today FM, one of the most-listened-to stations in Ireland, did a deal on Linda McMahon today which you can listen to here. Thanks to Vincent, who writes, "It was pretty negative towards the company but did credit the McMahons for making the WWE the success it is. They focused mainly on drug issues like steroids, pain killers as well as concussions and the fact that wrestlers are independent contractors. As mainstream pieces on wrestling go, it wasn't the worst."

-- Shawn notes that on IMDB the WWE Films project Big Red is now listed as "That's what I am."

-- We will have former ROH booker Adam Pearce on the show sometime next week, we're just hammering out a time.

-- Larry Sweeney is back and cut one of the better promos of his career here. For those that have the info he is looking for bookings from now through November.

-- For those who listened to yesterday's Dr. Lucha show, Rush vs. Loco Max is up here. Perro Aguayo Jr. apparently being in no condition to perform is up here. And El Periquito in trouble is up here

-- NDP wants integrity watchdog to probe MMA lobbying. This is in regards to MMA in Ontario.

-- Wrestling bear kills a man

-- Well, this is something else. Politician stakes political future on wrestling match vs. pro. Tristan Patterson, the Republican candidate for the state House District 20 race, will be facing promoter Donald Brower at a show Saturday night. "If Brower wins, Patterson has to drop out of the race and endorse his Democratic opponent, Rep. Dewey Hill. Hill, the incumbent for the district that covers Columbus County and part of Brunswick County, was hospitalized earlier this week in Wilmington for bypass surgery. The election is Nov. 2. If he loses, Patterson also has to wear a New Jersey Devils hockey jersey and condemn the Carolina Hurricanes, said Brower, who hails from northern New Jersey. If Patterson wins, Brower has to declare southeastern North Carolina the best place to live in the country and back Patterson on the campaign trail." I hope Brower isn't a Democrat and decides to shoot on him.

-- Mike Benoit talks the death of Lance Cade here

-- Alex Marvez talks with Scott Norton here

-- What show are you most interested in this week?
Strikeforce on Saturday night 33.6%
TNA television 30.3%
Smackdown television 22.6%
Lucha Libre on MTV 2 6.2%
Bellator 5.8%
Superstars 1.5%

Who won this fight?
Dominick Cruz 70.6%
Joseph Benavides 13.7%
Draw 15.7%

Who do you most want to see next against Dominick Cruz?
Scott Jorgensen 37.3%
Urijah Faber 34.0%
Miguel Torres 12.4%
Brian Bowles 3.9%
Takeya Mizugaki 3.9%
Damacio Page 3.3%
Joseph Benavides 2.6%
Waggney Fabiano 2.6%

-- Michael Schiavello vs. Tito Ortiz airs on HDNet tonight at 10 PM. Probably a lot of people talking about this one tomorrow since it is, well, Tito Ortiz.

-- A Night for Billy, which is a fundraising show to raise awareness so Lupus, takes place in Madison, Indiana on October 16, 2010 at 821 W Main St, Madison, Indiana. Doors will open at 6:30pm. Bell-time will be at 7:30pm. Tickets: $15 VIP Package(includes front row ticket, event t-shirt, and event bracelet) $10 Front Row Seating, and $5 General Admission. For advance ticket information please call (812) 593-9873. Main event is Iron Man Rob Conway & Khris Kaliber vs. The Sinister Human Torch Zodiak & Damien Divine. Billy was William Brown, a long-time fan who passed away after a lifelong battle with Lupus.

-- Rubber Guard Radio has an interview with Rudy Boy Gonzalez discussing Shawn Michaels, Lance Cade, Daniel Bryan and more here

-- All-Star Wrestling of Florida Full Throttle Friday Night in Tampa, Friday Aug 20th, 2010, Strokers Billiards 11236 W. Hillsborough Ave. Tampa, Florida. $5 ALL Seats.

-- Wrestling for a Cause, Inc. presents SANFORD SHOWDOWN Benefiting Sanford Seminoles Pop Warner Football, Friday, August 20, 2010, Bell Time: 7:00pm, Seminole High School Competition Gymnasium, 2701 Ridgewood Avenue, Sanford, Florida 32773

-- Matt writes: Bryan Danielson officially cancelled on us for our October 2nd Russellmania III show in Russellville, AR for Traditional Championship Wrestling. He has refunded our deposit and a replacement will be name next week at traditionalwrestling.net

-- Dave Meltzer is on Over the Top Radio, formerly the Drunkcast, tonight here. Show is at 5 Central this week.

-- Jeff writes: On Thursday August 19th we welcomed ROH wrestler Colt Cabana to our show to discuss the Tila Tequila incident at Gathering of the Juggalos 2010, his thoughts on Tyler Black possibly leaving ROH from WWE, his feud with Kevin Steen & Steve Corino and more. You can download the show directly by clicking here or heading to www.wheelhouseradio.com