Monday night’s Labor Day edition of Raw on the USA Network did just 2.916 million viewers, down 12 percent from the previous week. In addition to the holiday, Monday marked the first week of the season against big competition from football.

While ESPN’s juggernaut staple Monday Night Football doesn’t return until next week, Monday’s NCAA game between Georgia Tech and Tennessee averaged 5.134 million viewers to take the top spot on cable.

Raw did finish second for the night in both total viewership and in the 18-49 demo, with a 1.04 rating as compared to 1.67 for the football game.

The show was down five percent year-over-year from Labor Day in 2016, which did 3.063 million viewers.

This was the first time since July 3rd that Raw failed to top three million viewers. Hour one opened with 3.069 million viewers and both hours fell from there, which buckles the recent trend of hour two usually being the highest rated.

Raw fell to 2.975 million viewers for the second hour and hour three, with an 18-minute overrun, fell all the way to 2.75 million. The 10.4 percent drop from the first to third hour was bigger than usual.

THE ROUND-UP

The Latest from the F4W Staff

NEWS

Jeff Hardy to undergo surgery for torn rotator cuff
AUDIO: Dave Meltzer reviews WWE No Mercy on Live Audio Wrestling
Maria Kanellis-Bennett & Mike Bennett expecting first child
Cesaro visiting dental surgeon, expected back this week
Asuka to make her main roster debut at WWE TLC
NJPW reveals full card for King of Pro Wrestling
WWE No Mercy live results: Lesnar vs. Strowman; Cena vs. Reigns
ROH TV taping results: Fallout from Death Before Dishonor

AUDIO

WOL: No Mercy fallout, Strowman loss, Cena vs. Reigns, more! 9/25
Wrestling Weekly: Bobby Heenan, WWE No Mercy, mailbag 9/25
WOR: WWE No Mercy, New Japan, Bellator, tons of news and more! 9/25
B&V: WWE No Mercy 2017 PPV recap show! 9/24

Raw is from Ontario, CA. Neither Brock Lesnar nor John Cena are being advertised for Raw this week even though both will be in Southern California the night before. SmackDown has a house show tonight in El Paso, TX.

SmackDown and 205 Live will be taped Tuesday night in Glendale, AZ.

FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: Figure Four Weekly 9/18/2017: Remembering Bobby Heenan 

When someone passes away, whether it’s a celebrity or someone in our lives, a usual lament is that we didn’t appreciate them enough while they were alive. It’s typical human nature for us to not fully grasp how important someone is until they’re gone. But in the sadness that has surrounded the death of Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, it’s clear that wasn’t the case with him.

Subscribers click here to continue.

WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: September 25, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: The deaths of Bobby Heenan and Otto Wanz 

It’s a double issue this week of the Observer with major stories on Bobby Heenan and his career as well as Heenan behind the scenes, a story on the WWE Network and behind the different ideas they’ve talked about, as well as lengthy pieces on historical figures Otto Wanz and Ruben Juarez.

Look at Henan’s different roles in wrestling, how he got started, the WCW era, the AWA years, leaving WWE and why he may have never been brought back by WWE full-time.

Find out all the different ideas thrown out in the recent WWE Network survey, as well as the viability of some of them.

With Otto Wanz, look at his AWA title, his biggest career matches, how he got started in boxing and wrestling, a story regarding he and Arnold Schwarzenegger, the heyday of the CWA and how it was different from every other promotion in the world and what made it such a great territory to learn in, and what made him famous as a celebrity in Austria.

This issue contains details on the Vince McMahon/Kevin Owens angle, WWE bringing back the Starrcade name, the sale of WCW to WWF in 2001, the legacy of Starrcade, the first Starrcade, how Vince McMahon destroyed Starrcade and helped drive Jim Crockett Promotions out of business, the new Starrcade show, the next NXT Takeover show, more on Ric Flair, Ronda Rousey in WWE notes, Nikki Bella on Dancing With the Stars, Chris Jericho’s cruise idea in detail, and a Shayna Baszler update

Get an update on the Impact promotion and its move of TV to Ottawa, looking at the plans, the GFW name, the building they are going to, the pros and cons of moving, the situation with Jim Cornette, what happens to the ATT angle, and much more.

This issues runs down of the CMLL 84th anniversary show, the two mask vs. mask matches and match-by-match coverage with star ratings.

Also look at the New Japan Destruction in Hiroshima show, the angles, why King of Pro Wrestling looks like one of the best shows of the year, new lineup for Destruction in Kobe and match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.

Subscribers clike here to continue.

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 28, 2000 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Hall of Fame issue 

In our largest one year inclusion in history, seven new members were named to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in a balloting of performers, front office people, reports, historians and some well known wrestling experts. Four of the newcomers were voted on by the largest voting panel to date and three others were chosen largely by lobbying from historians providing research as to why they clearly belonged.

Subscribers click here to continue.

MONDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight covering Raw and the latest news. You can send e-mail questions to the show to [email protected]

The advance for Raw tonight is the lowest in recent memory. It’s well down from last week in San Jose, but won’t look as bad since tonight’s arena is smaller. It is above the SmackDown advances the last two weeks. Neither John Cena nor Brock Lesnar were advertised for the show tonight. Nia Jax vs. Bayley is scheduled. There will be a Miz IC title defense, which from last night’s show, could be against Jason Jordan but that’s not definite. One would think there will be a Braun Strowman rehab segment and they’ll start the set up for the next Raw PPV, which is TLC on 10/22 in Minneapolis. Neither Cena nor Lesnar are scheduled for the TLC show.

Jeff Hardy was diagnosed today with both a torn rotator cuff and torn labrum. He will be undergoing surgery on 10/3. The public story is that the injury took place last Monday on Raw, but he’s been hurt since July.

A Muay Thai promotion in Singapore called the Asian Fighting Championships did their first show on Saturday and one of the fights was a celebrity bout between an online celebrity named Steven Lim and a night club singer, Sylvester Sim, who is best known for placing second in the 2004 version of Singapore’s American Idol. Neither had any training or fighting experience. Sim then dropped out and was replaced by Pradip Subramaniam, a 32-year-old competitive bodybuilder who is now a promoter. They were to fight two two minute rounds.  Subrananiam was knocked down and the fight was stopped, and he died shortly after in the hospital. The preliminary cause of death was cardiac arrest. There is a lot of controversy because of the idea of non-fighters fighting and no regulation or medical testing done before the fight. (thanks to Kelvin Chen) Stories on this are at here and here.

WWE
2K announced that WWE 2018 is currently in development for Windows PC and will be available on the same launch day as the versions for PS 4 and Xbox One.
Tonight’s NFL game opposite Raw is the Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals. Nikki Bella is also in week two of Dancing with the Stars. Raw should be up coming off the PPV, at least in theory.
Charlotte Flair was on SportsCenter today promoting the release of “Second Nature,” a dual Ric & Charlotte Flair autobiography that has just come out.
WWE Story Time will air on the network after Raw tonight.
Steve Austin was referenced on Rick & Morty, the sci-fi cartoon on Cartoon Network. On last night’s episode, Rick’s daughter started talking all tough and Rick started sarcastically calling her Stone Cold Steve Austin, and they later posted his picture on the Rick & Morty Facebook page. (thanks to Jake Koch)
A Steve Austin interview from today is here:
If there can be another era as red hot as the Attitude Era:
“I would love to see another moment in they call sports entertainment these days, but I would love to see a period of time where things just ramp up and become as hot as they were back in the day, and I hope that would be the case. Do I think that will happen? Man, with the trends and even how people watch football or go to stadiums is changing. Everybody that’s watching anything on TV is either streaming it or changing the way they watch or consume it. So, it’s just a different world.”
If Cena and Reigns’ reactions show a shift in the heel/face dynamic in wrestling:
“I think it’s just the way those people take those characters. I think heels and faces are still heels and faces…Here’s the thing everybody loves and respects John Cena whether they are hating on him or loving him. That guy has had an unbelievable career. Roman because I think people think that he was shoved down there throat for so long have a tendency to want to boo him. He’s got a ways to go he’s still learning and developing, but Cena you look at the career that guy’s had, it’s been flat out amazing. People appreciate and respect that guy I don’t care what they say.”​

A Raw show was announced for 12/4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Sneaker shopping with New Day and Wale is here.
MISCELLANEOUS
Evolve from Saturday night in Summit, IL: Cedric Alexander b Fred Yehi, Fred Yehi b ?, Jason Kincaid b Anthony Henry, Austin Theory b James Drake, Stevie Fierce won four-way over Bryce Benjamin, Matt Knicks and GBA for the Freelance title Darby Allin b DJZ, Chris Dickinson & Jaka b ACH & Ethan Page, Zack Sabre Jr. b Keith Lee to keep the Evolve title, Matt Riddle b Tracy Williams in an anything goes match to keep the WWN title (thanks to Sam Fain)
There is an event at the former Fort Homer Hesterly Armory in Tampa tomorrow night, now the Bryan Glazer Jewish Community Center. Kevin Sullivan, J.J. Dillon , Brian Blair and others will be attending and there is also a private dinner with Sullivan and Dillon and a Q&A session. Jody Simon (Joe Malenko) and Jonard Solie, the son of Gordon Solie. are among the organizers.  Joe Malenko, now 61, will be wrestling in a tag team match tomorrow. A camera crew will be there shooting a documentary:  “Lords of the Ring:  The History of Championship Wrestling from Florida.” A story on that is here.
Black Label Pro from Saturday night in Crown Point, IN before 200 fans: Simon Grimm (Simon Gotch) won over B-Boy, Space Monkey and Kevin Lee Davidson, Dasher Hatfield won over Joe Gacy and Mordecai, Sammy Guevara b Keith Lee-DQ, Ethan Page b Ernest the Cat Miller-DQ, Tom Lawlor b Matt Riddle, Dominic Garrini won over Leva Bates, Rory Gulak, GSP and Donovan Danhausen, Darby Allin b Super Crazy, Sandman b ?, Tom Lawlor won over Darby Allin, Dominic Garrini, Sammy Guevara, Simon Grimm and Dasher Hatfield.  The next show is in November with Meng & Barbarian vs. Nick Gage & ? (thanks to Fraser Coffeen)
IPW from Saturday night in Auckland, New Zealand: Charlie Roberts b Devin Lockheart, Curtis Castlewood b Liam Fury, FIST won tag team gauntlet, Mr. Burns b Alex Savage, Ashlee Spencer b Frankie Quinn, Book Duncan b Dave O’Connor, Rueben de Jong b Vinny Dunn. Next show is 10/14 (thanks to Steve Ogilvie)
A story about a college class being offered in the subject of pro wrestling history in Pittsburgh is here.
Anarchy Wrestling from Saturday night in Cornelia, GA: Lazz b Torque Chris Crunk b Mikey Spencer, Alex Rudolph b Jake Garvin, Jacob Ashworth b Kyle Hammer, Markus Cross b Griff Garrison, AJ Gray won three-way over Billy Buck and Jeremy Foster, Crystal Rose b Rahne Victoria, Brad Cash b KT Hamill, Hate Junkies b Team TAG and Lynch Mob, Cyrus the Destroyer b Gunner Miller-COR. Next show is 10/14 (thanks to Matt Griffin)

CONTACT INFORMATION

Poll opinions: [email protected]
​Feedback: [email protected]
Show results and news tips: [email protected]
Wrestling Observer Radio questions: [email protected]

Support the Empire~! with F4W shirts. Grab yours today!

​

Last week, Dave Palumbo, who handles the nutrition and supplementation for Paul “Triple H” Levesque, made comments on an episode of Matt Riviera’s podcast that the WWE’s drug policy allows for use of Hormone Replacement therapy (shooting testosterone) as well as HCG and HGH.

The actual quote in question was, “They’re allowed to take hormone replacement. They can go to an HRT place and get testosterone replacement, 100 mg a week, whatever they prescribe nowadays,” said Palumbo, a former well-known competitive bodybuilder. “Those are acceptable. A lot of the wrestlers do it, and it’s not for me to say whose using what, but they’re very minimal doses.”

Today, WWE responded to the comments that Palumbo made by saying that he was misinformed on the subject and the drug policy does not allow for use of those substances unless an endocrinologist and the WWE’s medical staff approved of it for legitimate medical need.

Federal agents searched a US mail facility near Miami on Thursday night racing to find who sent 10 pipe bombs to prominent Democrats and critics of Donald Trump as leads pointed to Florida as the possible origin of the packages.

Investigators were treating the devices as "live" explosives, not a hoax, said James O’Neill, police commissioner of New York City, where two of the parcels have surfaced since the bomb scare began on Monday with a device addressed to billionaire Democratic Party donor George Soros.

A federal law enforcement source told Reuters the devices were thought to have been fashioned from bomb-making designs widely available on the internet.

Investigators believe the packages, which were intercepted before reaching their intended recipients, all went through the US Postal Service at some point, that source said. None detonated and no one has been hurt.

Authorities have branded the parcel bombs, coming less than two weeks before national elections that could alter the balance of power on Capitol Hill, as an act of terrorism, though they have declined to say whether the devices were built to be functional.

Bomb experts and security analysts say that based on the rudimentary construction of the bombs it appeared they were more likely designed to sow fear rather than to kill.

But the episode sparked an outcry from Mr Trump’s critics who said his frequent expressions of inflammatory rhetoric against perceived enemies among Democrats and the press was stoking a climate ripe for politically motivated violence.

After first calling for "unity" and civil discourse on Wednesday, Mr Trump lashed out again on Thursday at the "hateful" media, while his supporters accused Democrats of unfairly suggesting the president was to blame for the bomb scare.

On the day before the pay-per-view, the card for Impact Wrestling’s biggest show of the year lost one of its matches.

Impact announced today that Taya Valkyrie, who had been scheduled to face Rosemary in a Red Wedding match (a first blood match) at Bound for Glory, wouldn’t be able to make the PPV or their subsequent television tapings. In their announcement, Impact noted that Valkyrie not being there is due to circumstances out of their control and they look forward to her being back in the promotion in 2018.

Valkyrie expanded on the announcement, writing on Twitter that her missing the shows is due to personal reasons. She hyped up that the Red Wedding match will still happen when she returns in January.

Impact has yet to confirm whether or not Rosemary will still wrestle at Bound for Glory. In the show’s Knockouts title match, Sienna will defend her championship against Gail Kim and Allie.

Bound for Glory will take place at the Aberdeen Pavilion in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada tomorrow night, with the venue also set to host five days of Impact tapings from November 6-10.

The man charged with opening fire in a Pittsburgh synagogue and killing 11 worshipers has pleaded not guilty to all 44 counts against him, including hate crimes and firearms offences.

Robert Bowers, 46, an avowed anti-Semite, appeared defiant and determined in court on Thursday. Dressed in a red jumpsuit and with a bandaged left arm, he walked into the courtroom with what appeared to be a swagger.

He spoke little, other than to say he understood the charges against him, and that some of them could result in the death penalty, followed by entering a plea of "not guilty."

Mr Bowers was injured during a shootout with police during the massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighbourhood in what is believed to be the worst anti-Semitic attack in US history. He had appeared in court on Monday shackled to a wheelchair.

His appearance in court on Thursday came as funerals for three more victims were planned during the day.

Funerals will be held for Sylvan Simon, 86, his wife, Bernice, 84, and for Richard Gottfried, 65.

Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty against Mr Bowers.

He is accused of bursting into the synagogue and opening fire with a semi-automatic rifle and three pistols in the midst of the Sabbath prayer service as he shouted "All Jews must die."

Six people, including four police officers, were wounded before the suspect was shot by police and surrendered.

The attack, following a wave of pipe bombs mailed to prominent Democrats and other critics of President Donald Trump, has heightened national tensions days ahead of US congressional elections on Tuesday.

The midterm elections will decide whether Mr Trump loses the Republican majority he currently enjoys in the Senate and House of Representatives.

The Pittsburgh massacre also has fuelled a debate over Mr Trump’s rhetoric and his self-identification as a "nationalist," which critics say has led to a surge in right-wing extremism and may have helped provoke the synagogue bloodshed.

The Trump administration has rejected the notion that he has encouraged white nationalists and neo-Nazis who have embraced him, insisting he is trying to unify Americans, even as he continues to disparage the media as an "enemy of the people."

In the fallout from Survivor Series, a return in the women’s division and an Intercontinental title main event took place on last night’s episode of Raw.

Paige returned to WWE television for the first time in over a year. She didn’t come alone, bringing Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose from NXT with her as they interrupted a fatal four-way number one contender’s match. The three also attacked Alexa Bliss backstage.

For the first time in his career, Roman Reigns won the Intercontinental Championship last night. He defeated The Miz to complete WWE’s Grand Slam of title wins.

Also on Raw, Samoa Joe faced Finn Balor, Kurt Angle sent a warning to Triple H in the opening segment before Triple H backed away from Braun Strowman, and Dean Ambrose took on Sheamus.

More coverage from last night —
WOR: Changes to Royal Rumble main event, Raw, NXT call-ups, more! 11/21
Roman Reigns completes WWE Grand Slam with IC title win
Paige returns, Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose debut on WWE Raw
WWE Raw live results: Fallout from Survivor Series
WWE Raw video highlights —

Triple H backs away from Braun Strowman

Finn Balor vs. Samoa Joe

Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson promote WWE Shop’s Black Friday sales

Asuka vs. Dana Brooke

Roman Reigns appears on Miz TV, sets his sights on the Intercontinental title

Dean Ambrose vs. Sheamus

Kurt Angle makes a fatal four-way match to decide Alexa Bliss’ next challenger

Paige returns to WWE TV, Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose debut

Paige, Mandy Rose, and Sonya Deville attack Alexa Bliss backstage

Kane interrupts Braun Strowman vs. Jason Jordan

Enzo Amore runs down what “The Zo Train” is thankful for

Swann, Alexander, Tozawa & Ali vs. Gulak, Nese, Daivari & Dar

Matt Hardy attacks Elias during a performance

Roman Reigns defeats The Miz to win the Intercontinental Championship

Raw fallout: The Shield powerbombs Miz through the announce table

Raw fallout: Roman Reigns thanks his family after his IC title win

Raw fallout: Matt Hardy will reach his breaking point if Elias continues to push him

Raw fallout: Samoa Joe says Finn Balor learned a lesson in their match

Raw fallout: Asuka reacts to still being undefeated

Raw fallout: Drew Gulak will face Akira Tozawa in a street fight on 205 Live

The Democrats have taken control of the House of Representatives in the midterm elections, delivering a bitter blow for Donald Trump after a campaign that became a referendum on his leadership.

The Republican Party went into Tuesday’s elections in control of the chamber with a 43-seat majority. However, Democrats rode a wave of dissatisfaction with the US President to gain the 23 seats needed to win control of the House. 

The lower chamber of the US Congress, the House is made up of 435 seats.  The number of seats each US state receives depends on its population size. California, the most populous state, has 53 representatives while seven states – Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South…

To continue reading this article

Start a 30-day free trial for unlimited access to Premium articles

• Unlimited access to Premium articles 
• Subscriber-only events and experiences
• Cancel any time

Free for 30 days

then only £2 per week

Try Premium

Save 25% with an annual subscription

Just £75 per year

Save now

Register for free and access one Premium article per week

Register

Only subscribers have unlimited access to Premium articles.Register for free to continue reading this article
RegisterOr unlock all Premium articles.
Free for 30 days, then just £1 per week
Start trial
Save 40% when you pay annually.
View all subscription options  |
Already have an account? Login

New Tag Team Champions were crowned on last night’s Christmas Day edition of Raw.

Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan won the titles from Cesaro & Sheamus in the main event and then celebrated with Kurt Angle after the show went off the air. Their win came after WWE had teased whether they would be able to work together earlier in the night.

Also on Raw, Roman Reigns got disqualified in an Intercontinental Championship defense against Samoa Joe, Asuka declared herself for the women’s Royal Rumble and laid out Alexa Bliss with a kick to the head, and John Cena was put in a program with Elias for the night in his return to WWE television.

More coverage from last night —
WOR: RAW report, new tag team champions, Jason Jordan, top stories of 2017, more! 12/26
Cruiserweight title match, Lesnar return set for WWE Raw next week
WWE Raw live results: John Cena returns on Christmas Day
WWE Raw video highlights —

John Cena gives his hat and T-shirt to a fan in the audience

Elias interrupts John Cena, lays him out with a cheap shot

John Cena vs. Elias

Hideo Itami vs. Brian Kendrick

Sasha Banks, Bayley & Mickie James vs. Paige, Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville

Heath Slater vs. Kane

Finn Balor vs. Curt Hawkins

Matt Hardy attacks Bray Wyatt, vows to delete him

Cedric Alexander, Mustafa Ali & Akira Tozawa vs. Enzo Amore, Drew Gulak & Ariya Daivari

Alexa Bliss ruins Enzo Amore and Nia Jax’s moment under the mistletoe

Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe for the Intercontinental Championship

Braun Strowman vs. Curtis Axel & Bo Dallas

Asuka announces herself for the women’s Royal Rumble, kicks Alexa Bliss in the head

Cesaro & Sheamus vs. Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan for the Raw Tag Team Championship

Raw fallout: Kurt Angle celebrates with the new champions

Raw fallout: Paige promises that Absolution will continue to dominate the women’s division