DAILY UPDATE
Latest News:
Bayley vs. Dana Brooke added to WWE SmackDown
‘FOX’s New Year’s Eve with Steve Harvey’ to include WWE match
NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome live results: Eight-man tag action
Henry Cejudo to be stripped of UFC 125-pound title
Killer Kross to make MLW debut at Fightland
Lana-Lashley wedding segment set for final WWE Raw of 2019
Latest Audio:
Left My Wallet: Tony Deppen 12/20
B&V: Bryan and Vinny review AEW and NXT head-to-head! 12/19
WOL: NXT vs. AEW, commercials, CREEPERS, more! 12/19
WOR: AEW and NXT reviews, hits and misses, title changes, RAW ratings, more! 12/19
We’re looking for reports from the Smackdown tapings in Brooklyn tonight with any dark matches or anything not on the live show as well as reports from PWG in Los Angeles to [email protected]
For tonight, they’ve announced two non-title matches, Bayley vs. Dana Brooke and New Day vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro. There are no 205 Live tapings tonight. The Lio Rush & Keith Lee vs. Damien Priest & Tony Nese match for Wednesday’s NXT show is expected to be taped tonight as well.
It’s a slow weekend, with the major events being two Bellator shows, a UFC show and a huge kickboxing event. WWE is off after tonight until the day after Christmas. UFC has its last show of the year late tonight.
New Japan has its final show of the year later tonight/early tomorrow U.S. time. It is also Jushin Liger’s last match at Korakuen Hall.
CMLL AT ARENA MEXICO TONIGHT AT 9:30 P.M. ON THE CMLL YOUTUBE PAGE
Ultimo Dragoncito & Shockercito vs. Pierrothito & Mercurio
Los Cancerberos vs Drone & Stigma & Fuego
Esfinge & Guerrero Maya Jr. & Rey Cometa vs. Hechicero & Polvora & Vangellys
Templario vs. Audaz
Angel de Oro & Titan & Valiente vs. Cuatrero & Forastero & Felino
Volador Jr. & Diamante Azul & Caristico vs. Gilbert El Boricua & Negro Casas & Ultimo Guerrero
BELLATOR SALUTE TO THE TROOPS TONIGHT AT 10 P.M. EASTERN FROM THE BLAISDELL CENTER ARENA IN HONOLULU ON PARAMOUNT NETWORK
Joey Davis (170.3) vs. Chris Cisneros (170.7)
Tywan Claxton (145.6) vs. Braydon Akeo (145.6)
Alejandra Lara (126.8) vs. Veta Arteaga (125.7)
Toby Minsch (141.4) vs. Erik Perez (135.2)
Josh Barnett (251.6) vs. Ronny Markes (250)
Minsch missed weight by 5.4 pounds and Lara by 0.8 pounds. Both were fined 20 percent of their purse. Prelims are on DAZN starting at 8:45 p.m. Eastern
UFC FROM BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA AT 2 A.M. EASTERN LATE TONIGHT ON ESPN+
Ryan Benoit (10-5) vs. Heili Alateng (13-7-1)
Amanda Lemos (6-1-1) vs. Miranda Gragner (5-0)
Said Nurmagomedov (13-1) vs. Raoni Barcleos (14-1)
Matt Schenll (14-4) vs. Alexandre Pantoja (21-4)
Omar Morales (8-) vs. Dong Hyun Ma (16-10-3)
Seungwoo Choi (7-3) vs. Suman Oktaran (8-1)
Ciryl Gane (5-0) vs. Tanner Boser (17-5-1)
Liu Pingyuan (13-6) vs. Kyung Ho Kang (16-8)
Jun Yong Park (10-4) vs. Marc-Andre Barriault (11-3
Mike Rodriguez (10-4) vs. Da Un Jung (12-2)
Charles Jourdain (9-2) vs. Doo Ho Choi (14-3)
Aleksander Rakic (12-1) vs. Volkan Oezdemir (16-4)
Chan Sung Jung (15-5) vs. Frankie Edgar (23-7-1)
NEW JAPAN FROM TOKYO KORAKUEN HALL EARLY SATURDAY AT 4:30 A.M. EASTERN ON NEW JAPAN WORLD
Togi Makabe & Tiger Mask & Yuya Uemura vs. Tomoaki Honma & Ryusuke Taguchi & Yota Tsuji
Sho & Yoh & Robbie Eagles vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo
Sanada & Bushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
Hirooki Goto & Juice Robinson & David Finlay & Toa Henare vs. KENTA & Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
Will Ospreay & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Evil & Hiromu Takahashi
Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi vs. Jay White & Chase Owens
Jushin Liger & Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi vs. Kazuchika Okada & Yoshi-Hashi & Rocky
BELLATOR SATURDAY NIGHT FROM THE BLAISDELL CENTER ARENA AT 10 P.M. EASTERN ON DAZN
Nainoa Dung (155.7) vs. Zach Zane (155.9)
Cheyden Leialoha (135.7) vs. Raufeon Shots (135.7)
Bruna Ellen (125.8) vs. Julianna Velasquez (125.1)
Jason Jackson (170.6) vs. Kiichi Kunimito (170-.1)
A.J. McKee (144.6) vs. Derek Campos (144.9) in the featherweight tournament
Ilima-lei Macfarlane (124.8) vs. Kate Jackson (124.4) for the flyweight title
Raw for Monday was taped last Monday in Des Moines.
F4W NEWSLETTER: Recapping WWE TLC 2019 Joseph Currier gives his thoughts on WWE’s final PPV of the decade.
WWE’s final pay-per-view of the decade took place on Sunday night and exemplified some of the changes we’ve seen over the past 10 years.
TLC 2019 was very much a B-level PPV in the WWE Network era. Not only were the top men’s and women’s singles titles from each brand not defended, there were no singles titles on the line at all. Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens and AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton seemed like they were being built up as non-title matches that would help anchor the card, but they didn’t end up getting added. The show even ended with an angle instead of a match. After Asuka & Kairi Sane’s tables, ladders, and chairs match against Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair, a locker room brawl that featured Roman Reigns and Baron Corbin continued. The image that closed the show was Reigns spearing Corbin from an elevated area onto a pile of bodies. It felt like the ending of an episode of Raw or SmackDown instead of a major event.
Current subscribers click here to continue reading.
WON NEWSLETTER: December 23, 2019 Observer Newsletter: TLC and Final Battle reviews, more
We’ve got complete coverage of the last series of major shows held around the world in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer, as well as bios on a number of wrestlers who have passed away in recent weeks.
TLC coverage, focusing on the behind-the-scenes of the Kairi Sane situation, who knew,when did they know, the channels where the ball was dropped and what can and needs to be learned from it. We note the business of the event, the U.S. popularity levels, plus have match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
A look at exactly how AEW was formed, including what match made Tony Khan feel opposition was viable and what conversation with what major person in television made it happen, as well as who was contacted first to be part of it. We also have the story from the market rep who got Bullet Club shirts into Hot Topic.
DVR numbers for pro wrestling shows right now as well as how meaningful they are and what it says about audiences. We also look at how and why the dynamic of how people watch wrestling on Wednesdays has changed over the past several weeks. We also look at wrestling viewership in Canada.
Big names who have signed new WWE deals and a major name who has not, a WWE overseas TV deal, how many people buy WWE video games, pro wrestling offers to Daniel Cormier, Cain Velasquez’s next WWE show, the story behind Chelsea Green and Deonna Purrazzo on Raw and what it means short and long-term, a reboot of a WWE tag team, new feuds being started in WWE, most-watched shows on the WWE Network, WWE stock value and a look at all the WWE & NXT shows held over the past week with business notes and highlights.
Also have full coverage of UFC 245, with business notes, notes about the fighters who elevated their games, the title picture, plus match-by-match coverage.
ROH as it goes into 2020, who is going, who is staying, what is unknown, what kind of deals are being offered plus Final Battle coverage, with business notes, poll results, match-by-match coverage and star ratings.
A look at AAA Guerra de Titanes, the creation of the new top stable, the debut of Sin Cara, thoughts and problems with the new name he’s using and more.
Bio on Randy Colley, best known as Moondog Rex, including his legal issues with WWE, what happened with the fans that ruined what would have been his biggest career break, other gimmicks he had, the birth of the Moondog gimmick and his biggest matches.
The NWA, its YouTube numbers, its television tapings direction for the next several weeks, its net PPV show, as well as coverage of its Into the Fire show with poll results.
2010 cable numbers for the stations that carry pro wrestling and MMA and what they mean.
Notes on the career of Alberto Munoz, who was supposed to become a legend, and what happened in 1973 that ended that dream.
Dragon Gate’s Final Gate show with coverage of the event.
A personal look at how a law that was poorly thought out will affect reporters and web sites that use people from California and how adhering to it will make it nearly impossible for anyone in the state to start out in the field, and for the vast majority who work for publications outside the state, to likely lose their jobs.
Look at the life of Scottish Hall of Fame Andy Robin, and his protege, Hercules the Bear.
Regarding the Wednesday numbers, we’ve got full details, demos that each side won, how every segment did and what match ended up as the difference maker.
We also have full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.
Current subscribers click here to continue reading.
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 [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
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If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE
I’m doing a show and a meet and greet at Toudoukan’s in Tokyo at 11 a.m. on 1/4, several hours prior to the first of the two Tokyo Dome shows. I’ll just tell you this, if you are going to Japan, whether you want to see the show or not, you need to go to Touduokan’s. Ticket info can be found here. Jim Valley and I will also be doing a podcast from Toudoukan’s.
A big fight with Robert Whittaker vs. Jared Cannonier was announced for the 3/7 UFC PPV show in Las Vegas. The winner will likely get a shot at the middleweight title. Based on process of elimination, that would favor Yoel Romero as the next challenger for champion Israel Adesanya.
Sometimes pro wrestler Josh Barnett has his first MMA fight in several years in tonight’s Bellator main event against Ronny Markes. Earlier this week, at the open workouts, Barnett did a pro wrestling match with training partner Erik Hammer while Ilima-lei Macfarlane, who headlines tomorrow night’s Bellator show with a flyweight title defense against Kate Jackson, did a hula dance. I’ve mentioned this before, but Macfarlane in Honolulu is like watching the biggest hometown pro wrestling star you’ve seen at their peak, plus the last time she was in Hawaii she had one of the best ring entrances in MMA history.
Tickets for the Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone fight went on sale today and just on first day advance it is one of the five biggest gates in Nevada MMA history.
Liz Carmouche has officially signed with Bellator. If Macfarlane wins tomorrow, it will be likely she defends against Carmouche which would be a battle of best friends and training partners..
WWE
Adam Copeland (Edge) has said he is still not medically cleared to wrestle.
NXT has gotten back on television in France on la chaine L’equipe every Saturday at 9 p.m., or right after Raw and Smackdown.
A story on WWE marketing with KFC.
What is being billed as the final spoken word tour of William Regal take place on 1/11 in his former home of Blackpool, England, the night before Takeover. Tickets are on sale now. For more info, check here.
A story on Keith Lee. (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)
A news feature on Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville.
AEW
Lance Archer was at the AEW show in Corpus Christi.
MISCELLANEOUS
One of the biggest kickboxing matches in years, the Rico Verhoeven (55-10, 16, KOs) Glory heavyweight title defense against Badr Hari (106-13, 92 KOs) takes place tomorrow at the GelreDome in Arnhem, Holland. The show has sold out with 31,000 tickets sold. It airs on UFC Fight Pass starting at 3 p.m. Eastern time. Verhoeven weighed in at 260.6 pounds and Hari at 244.5 pounds.
For those who want to see the Ric Flair vs Jerry Lawler angle which inspired the Jericho vs. Jungle Boy angle, check it here.
Today’s New Japan Pro Wrestling show from Korakuen Hall is up for free on New Japan World.
Another pro wrestler is going into MMA next month. German Figueroa, who was better known as El Gran Apolo and Leon Apolo in the WWC and IWA for a generation in Puerto Rico as well as in TNA. He’s 44 years old and will fight on the 1/25 Combate Americas show in San Juan against John Colloway (0-3). The show also features Amanda Serrano, a seven-division world boxing champion, who faces Dahianna Santana, herself a boxer. This will be the first time an MMA show from Puerto Rico will air live in the U.S. in 23 years.
Jim Cornette has filed a federal lawsuit against William J. Molnar Jr. and Brandon Graver (G-Raver) for selling T-shirts that contain his image and uses the term “F*** Jim Cornette.”
Marty Scurll and Flip Gordon are booked for Northeast Wrestling on 1/25 in Waterbury, CT.
Vince McMahon probably isn’t going to like this. The former Lingerie Football League, which had a name change to the Legends Football League, has now changed its name again to the Extreme Football League. Vince only owns the rights to XFL, but not Extreme Football League. This will be a 7 on 7 all women’s league built around women playing football in fairly skimpy clothing. It’s been around for a while, and a few pro wrestlers have come out of the league, and before she got into pro wrestling, Summer Rae was the most heavily promoted player in that league.
Will Ospreay vs. Dowie James was announced for a 1/11 show in Melbourne, Australia put on by Melbourne City Wrestling.
Alberto El Patron returns to defend his Qatar Pro Wrestling championship on 2/21 in Doha, Qatar. Announced for the show are Alberto, Matt Sydal and Eric Bischoff.
Generation Championship Wrestling has announced Alex Riley’s return to pro wrestling for a show over WrestleMania week.
NFC on 1/25 in Atlanta at District Atlanta.
Erick Stevens debuts in MLW on the 1/11 show in Dallas. for the show at the NYTEX Sports Centre. Alexander Hammerstone vs. Aerostar for the National championship was also announced for that show.
Impact has added a show on 1/11 in Arlington, TX, in the same market, although it will be a 1 p.m. start, held at The Backyard.
Impact pulled David Sahadi from working the MLW show that night.
Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling on 12/28 in East Carondelet, IL.
For those going to Japan, the Pro Wrestling NOAH show on 1/4 at Korakuen Hall, head-to-head with the New Japan show at the Tokyo Dome, is now sold out.
WSU has a doubleheader scheduled with shows at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at The Coliseum in Voorhees, NJ.
11 former WWE wrestlers discuss steroids at this link.
Daily Pro Wrestling History: Daily Pro Wrestling History (12/20): TNA Final Resolution
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