DAILY UPDATE
Latest News
WWE announces Performance Center tryout attendees
Ben Askren vs. Robbie Lawler rebooked for UFC 235
Tag team street fight, Lio Rush set for next week’s WWE 205 Live
NXT UK results: Dave Mastiff vs. Eddie Dennis
NXT UK results: Joe Coffey vs. Trent Seven
WWE NXT results: Tyler Breeze answers Ricochet’s open challenge
WWE 205 Live results: Alexander vs. Nese, Murphy vs. Metalik
Latest Audio
FREE WOL: Smackdown and RAW ratings, Dave Meltzer interview, more! 12/13
Wrestling Weekly: Mailbag on WWE, keeping kayfabe, best trainees 12/13
Pacific Rim Podcast: The life and wrestling times of Mr. Saito 12/13
WOR: Raw ratings, Smackdown, TLC, New Japan, TV deals, more! 12/13
We’re looking for reports tonight from the MLW show in Miami to [email protected].
This weekend we’ll be doing polls for the Saturday New Japan show and TLC on Sunday, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected].
IMPACT TONIGHT AT 10 P.M. EASTERN ON POP TV
Trevor Lee vs. Trey Miguel
Rich Swann vs. Dave Crist
Rey Fenix vs. Santana
Brian Cage vs. Moose
NEW JAPAN FROM TOKYO KORAKUEN HALL AT 4:30 A.M. EASTERN FRIDAY MORNING ON NEW JAPAN WORLD
Tomoaki Honma & Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask & Kushida vs. Toa Henare & Ayato Yoshida & Yuya Uemura & Ren Narita
Shota Umino vs. Shingo Takagi
Hirooki Goto & Rocky Romero vs. Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka
Tomohiro Ishii & Sho & Yoh vs. Taichi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Desperado
Tetsuya Naito & Evil & Sanada & Bushi vs. Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa & Taiji Ishimori
Kazuchika Okada vs. Gedo
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Togi Makabe & Toru Yano & Will Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi & Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: The revitalization of the new Daniel Bryan
When Daniel Bryan announced his emotional return to the ring, it was fairly inconceivable that he’d end up being a vicious and pompous environmentalist heel just eight months later. But the character change has revitalized Bryan and taken him to the highest points since the immediate aftermath of announcing his comeback. With Bryan completely buying into the change, “the new Daniel Bryan” has been far better in execution than it would have sounded on paper.
WON NEWSLETTER: December 17, 2018 Observer Newsletter: Fantastic Tokyo Dome card, death of Larry Hennig
A look at New Japan going into the Tokyo Dome, notes on lots of new television deals and a story on the life of Larry Hennig heads up this week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Our lead story is a preview of the Wrestle Kingdom 13 show, with the lineup, storylines, tag team tournament rundown, this weekend’s shows and full coverage of the tag team tournament finals with match-by-match coverage, star ratings and poll results.
Look at the glory days of the AWA with a story on the life of Larry Hennig. Start with his legit sports background, why he never wrestled or played football in college, how he got started in pro wrestling, and his rise to fame as a heel in the AWA.
Look at one of the 60s most successful tag teams, Harley Race & Larry Hennig, and their feud with Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher. Also look at the rest of Hennig’s career all over the world.
Also look at the future of Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt, George Bush’s connection to pro wrestling, WWE week on USA, WWE rules for what U.K. talent can do, injury and illness updates, John Cena talks on future, notes on and WWE tryouts.
Also look at ONE attempting to become a significant player on the U.S. scene with its deal with TNT, its big signings, but also a look at the company’s real economic numbers.
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.
THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE
The 2018 Hall of Fame issue will be out in six days. There will be seven new members that were voted into the Hall of Fame by a panel of reporters, current and former wrestlers and others in the business as well as historians. The issue will breakdown the voting in detail.
With UFC’s 1/26 PPV show canceled, this is the update on where the fights are being rescheduled:
Yana Kunitskaya vs. Marion Reneau will be on 3/9
Anthony Hernandez vs. Markus Perez will be on 2/2 in Fortaleza
Cynthia Calvillo vs Cortney Casey will be on 2/17 in Phoenix.
Joseph Benavidez is not being rescheduled, but he is being paid to be ready in case either Henry Cejudo or TJ Dillashaw are injured as the replacement for the 1/19 show in Brooklyn and the flyweight title bout.
ONE and Turner Sports announced their new three-year deal today. Most of the ONE shows will be on B/R Live, the Turner streaming service starting with the 1/19 show. There will be 24 shows streamed live. TNT will televise at least 12 one hour taped highlights of ONE events annually.
Rene Lassartesse (real name Edouard Probt), passed away yesterday at the age of 90. Lassartesses would have been among the oldest living pro wrestlers. He was from Switzerland and was a regular in Europe from 1953 to 1986, won several tournaments and wrestled major stars like Antonio Inoki, Andre the Giant, Leon White, Otto Wanz, Horst Hoffman and many of the there biggest stars. He also trained Franz Schumann, Karsten Kretschmer, Eddy Steinblock, Mile Zrno, Robby Brookside and Bobby Gaetano. (thanks to Markus Gronemann)
John Cena returns on 12/26 but will be gone starting 1/20 to film a movie in Vancouver. He will be doing nine shows. He said he won’t be doing any television during that period.
Weigh-ins for tomorrow’s Bellator show from Honolulu which airs on Paramount at 10 p.m., one hour later than usual:
Derek Campos (144.2) vs. Sam Sicilia (145.5)
Alejandra Lara (125.1) vs. Juliana Velasquez (124.2)
Daniel Crawford (146) vs. A.J. McKee (146)
Javy Ayala (263.4) vs. Frank Mir (250.4)
Brent Primus (154.9) vs. Michael Chandler (153.9) for the lightweight title
This is the first of the two shows in Hawaii, as there will also be a DAZN show on Saturday night with the main card starting at 10 p.m.
Scott Coker updated the welterweight Grand Prix tournament saying that the Rory MacDonald vs. Jon Fitch first round fight looks to be in March, and then he wants the semifinals of the tournament in May and June and the finals in September.
WWE
The movie “Fighting With My Family” about Paige will open in New York and Los Angeles on 2/14 and open on 2/22 everywhere else.
WWE Performance Center competition is this week. There are four captains leading teams competing in ten different events. The four team captains are Shayna Baszler, Tommaso Ciampa, Rhea Ripley and Ricochet. Among the event are Taste Test Challenge, Video Game Challenge, Puzzle Challenge, Name that Tune, On Site Relay race, three point shooting, volleyball, truck push, egg toss and off site relay.
Not that this means anything, but the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit is advertising Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose for the IC title and Baron Corbin vs. Braun Strowman for the 12/28Raw TV taping. They are taping Raw on Friday that week so they don’t have to run a show on New Year’s Eve, which is a Monday.
Apollo Crews and Mojo Rawley were at last night’s Sacramento Kings game for WWE Night. They played WWE music all night. They were promoting Monday’s Raw in Sacramento with discounted tickets. Crews was born in Sacramento. (thanks to Mike Millerick)
UFC
FOX announced Daniel Cormier, Paul Felder and Jon Anik as announcers for Saturday night’s final show on FOX. The analysts will be Tyron Woodley, Michael Bisping, and Karyn Bryant while Megan Olivi will be doing the interviews.
The controversial 1/19 show in Brooklyn at Barclays Center is listing top bouts of Henry Cejudo vs. TJ Dillashaw for the flyweight title, Paige VanZant vs. Rachael Ostovich (they are the semi, think about that), Glover Teixeira vs. Ion Cutelaba, Allen Crowder vs. Greg Hardy, Joanne Calderwood vs Araine Lipski, Randy Brown vs. Chance Rencountre, Alonzo Menifield vs Vinicius Moreira and Belal Muhammad vs. Geoff Neal. Tickets to on sale to the general public tomorrow and are priced from $200 down to $90.
Livinha Souza vs. Sarah Frota has been added to the 2/2 show in Fortaleza, Brazil.
MISCELLANEOUS
In a story covered in the current Observer, Zak Bevis, the brother of Page, was guilty of two counts of threatening behavior but found not guilty of making threats in an incident at a bar in Norwich, England. He was sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge and pay 60 pounds in compensation to two staff members he was convicted of making threatening behavior toward.
Bellator announced Andrey Koreshkov vs. Lorenz Larkin on he 3/29 show in Temecula, CA at the Pechanga Resort Casino.
Defy Wrestling has a show tomorrow night in Seattle at Washington Hall with Shane Strickland defending the Defy title against Artemis Spencer, plus Pentagon Jr. vs. Chris Ridgeway and Ethan HD & Mike Santiago vs. Dr. Kliever & Drexl, as well as Jack Evans vs Brian Cage and Brody King vs. Schaff.
Defy on Saturday night has a Q&A with Bryan Alvarez, Lance Storm and Tom Lawlor at Washington Hall in Seattle.
The Impact Twitch channel show tomorrow night in Dayton has added Allie & Samantha Heights vs. Nevaeh & Jessicka Havok and LAX vs. Besties in the World vs. The Dirty, Matt Sydal vs. Ace Austin vs Trey Miguel vs. Clayton Gainz vs. Kevin Bennett vs. Ron Mathis. (thanks to Shannon Walsh)
Bill Behrens at [email protected] is taking bookings for D-Von Dudley, as well as D-Von and his sons Terrence and Terrell based in Orlando, a well as Luke Hawx out of New Orleans.
MCW on 12/29 in Perry Hall, MD at Perry Hall High School with Tito Santana, Billy Gunn, Tommy Dreamer and Melina. Kelly Klein faces Gia Scott with Mandy Leon as referee. Billy Gunn teams with son Austin Gunn vs. G-Fed & Dirty Money and Dreamer & Greg Excellent vs. The Hell Cats in an extreme rules match.
Dynamo Pro Wrestling on Saturday night in St. Louis at FUBAR.
Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling on 1/11 at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, BC with Artemis Spencer vs. El Phantasmo, Nicole Matthews vs. Nicole Savoy, Flamita vs. Rey Horus, plus a second show on 1/12 with Eddie Osbourne vs. Spencer vs. Horus vs; Flamita and Darby Allin vs. Ravenous Randy vs. Bishop vs. Tony Baroni.
Femme Fatales on 2/22 in Ottawa at St. Anthony’s Hall.
Tajiri and tommy Dreamer come to Toronto for a show on Sunday at 6 p.m. at the Eastminster United Church.
AAW on 12/29 in Merrionette Park, IL at 115 Bourbon Street has Brody King vs Sami Callihan for the AAW title, DJZ vs. Bandido for the Heritage title, ACH vs. Eddie Kingston and Jake Something & Curt Stallion & Quinn McKay vs. Besties in the World & Scarlett Bordeaux, plus David Starr Darby Allin, Jeff Cobb, Jimmy Jacobs and MJF.
In the Tuesday update with the item about Matthew McCounaghy saying he got thrown out of an arena in Treeport, it was the Hirsch Coliseum in Shreveport. (thanks to Paul Sosnowski)
80s Wrestling Con on 4/27 in Freehold, NJ at iPlay America with Ricky Steamboat, Wendi Richter, Afa & Sika and Slick.
MLW announced a Hart Foundation digital series called H2tv that will play on the MLW YouTube channel.
Battle Arts Academy on 1/20 in Mississauga,ONT has Josh Alexander vs. Pete Dunne, Tyler Bate vs. Aiden Prince, Shane Strickland vs. Michael Elgin and more.
Smash Wrestling films TV for The Fight Network on 1/27 in Toronto for a 2 p.m. show at the Phoenix Concert Theater.
NSW on 12/27 in Oshawa, ONT at Harmony Hall.
Sporting News has interviews with Dalton Castle, Madison Rayne and Rob Strauss:
Dalton Castle talks about his upcoming match with the “soup-stealing” Matt Taven at ROH Final Battle, his injury and return from it, his video series, finding some comfort level in wrestling and more.
Madison Rayne talks about her match at ROH Final Battle, how close she came to leaving wrestling, her awesome and unique year, signing with ROH and more talk.
Robbie E (Robert Strauss) talks about being one of the competitors on the upcoming NBC “Titan Games” show, interacting with The Rock, his new character, and his summer tryout with WWE.
IPW in the U.K. announced Nick Aldis vs. Jimmy Havoc for the NWA title on 12/23 in Maidstone, UK at Undisputed II, their biggest show of the year.
Here is go home edition of ROH’s The Pinnacle for Final Battle tomorrow.
TK O’Ryan did an interview with The Wrestling Estate ahead of Final Battle weekend where he’ll be facing RUSH in his ROH debut on Saturday in Philadelphia.
He also mentioned he’ll be teaming with Vinny Marseglia against the Best Friends and the Bouncers on the PPV, which ROH hasn’t announced yet.
Matt Taven did an interview with the Comedy Suplex Podcart to promote ROH’s Final Battle.
Ted DiBiase is speaking here.
Daily Pro Wrestling History: Starrcade 1989
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