mobanmarketTHE ROUND-UP
The Latest from the F4W Staff
NEWS
NJPW announces full card for World Tag League finals
Rich Swann arrested for domestic battery and false imprisonment
NXT Venice & Tampa, FL, live results: Roderick Strong vs. Adam Cole
NJPW World Tag League: The finals are set
UFC Fight Night 123 live results: Cub Swanson vs. Brian Ortega
CMLL Arena Mexico results: Mistico vs. former Mistico in trios match
AUDIO
WOR: HHH beats Jinder, Elgin, Raven, UFC Fresno, tons more! 12/10
JNPO Classic: Marcus Davis and the reality of post-UFC life 12/8
WOL: WWE lawsuit, GSP vacates title, Tanahashi injury, tons more! 12/8
Dr. Keith Presents: Calm Down Captain Lou!!! 12/8
We’re looking for reports on last night’s WWE house show in Pikeville, KY, tonight’s WWE house show in Louisville, KY, tonight’s Arolucha tapings in Nashville and yesterday’s OTT show in Dublin, Ireland to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.
We’re looking for your thoughts on tonight/tomorrow’s New Japan tag team tournament finals so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.
EVOLVE ON SUNDAY AT 7 P.M. EASTERN FROM MELROSE, MA MEMORIAL HALL
Jason Kincaid vs. Jarek 1:20
AR Fox vs. DJZ
Fred Yehi vs. Austin Theory for FIP title
Matt Riddle vs. Walter
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Jake for Evolve title
NEW JAPAN WORLD TAG LEAGUE FINALS FROM THE FUKUOKA CONVENTION CENTER MO AT 4:30 A.M. EARLY MONDAY MORNING ON NEW JAPAN WORLD
Kota Ibushi & Kushida vs. Cody & Marty Scurll
Rocky Romero & Sho & Yoh vs. Kenny Omega & Young Bucks
Kazuchika Okada & Will Ospreay vs. Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi
World Tag League championship match
Raw will be Monday from Cleveland. Matches announced are Roman Reigns vs. Cesaro, Dean Ambrose vs. Samoa Joe, Seth Rollins vs. Sheamus and Kane vs. Braun Strowman. There is also a Smackdown brand house show in Terre Haute, IN.
Smackdown will be Tuesday from Cincinnati. Kevin Owens vs. Shinsuke Nakamura with Sami Zayn and Randy Orton in the corners, plus an A.J. Styles/Jinder Mahal face-to-face confrontation, will be on the show.
FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: Figure Four Weekly 12/4/2017: Looking at WWE’s match of the year candidates
While there’s still some time for WWE to shape how the company’s 2017 will be remembered, the beginning of December marked the end of this year’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards calendar. The insane output of high-end matches New Japan Pro Wrestling had during the voting period will rightfully lead to a strong showing in the Match of the Year category, but WWE’s in-ring year shouldn’t be forgotten.
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WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: December 11, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: UFC 218 review, Impact management changes, more
There are a number of different features in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, including why last week’s UFC show is so important historically, an update on the Shane McMahon-Daniel Bryan storyline, the changes in direction at Impact once again and the new power structure, a look at the Clash of Champions show, the Konnan / Crash split, U.S. TV coverage of Wrestle Kingdom and how New Japan is doing on U.S. TV, the idea behind a 205 Live tour and much more.
Look at the last three UFC events and why they are important, including lessons regarding the value of titles or shows that on paper look to be filled with action and what it means to the public. Read our poll results for UFC 218 and full coverage of the show including the good and bad of China, the creation of the women’s flyweight title, two match-of-the-year candidates, as well as questions regarding sport vs. spectacle and the message being sent.
Examine the business numbers for the shows including UFC 218 preliminary PPV numbers.
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Look at the changes at the top with Impact, Don Callis’ background in wrestling, who looks to be gone from Impact next, and the directives the company is under.
Read about the WWE Smackdown direction leading into the PPV show, and the long-term of Daniel Bryan and where things currently stand.
This issues goes into detail on the Konnan / Crash split, the different factors that led to it, what Konnan said about it, the Aroluxe deal and what this means long-term for Crash.
Have a look at the New Japan TV deal in the U.S., viewership update on the show, plans for Tokyo Dome coverage and what led to numbers increasing.
Check out WWE’s plans for a 205 Live tour, including plans for the division.
Also, look at Jim Johnston leaving WWE and his work in the promotion, why the WWE stock price is rising and what UFC has to do with it, more WWE injuries, and WWE Week on the USA Network.
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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 Dave@WrestlingObserver.com.
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 moonsault@mediaplusint.com. 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: November 20, 2000 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Shinya Hashimoto fired from NJPW, Wrestlemania X7 sets records
Shinya Hashimoto, who headlined more big gates at the Tokyo Dome than any wrestler in history, was shockingly fired by New Japan Pro Wrestling on 11/13 after a weekend filled with turmoil after news got out he was negotiating with Pro Wrestling NOAH. The story was among many things that is threatening the future of the All Japan/New Japan relationship, which started off with the big success on 10/9 at the Tokyo Dome and has since seemed to start falling apart.
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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE
Rich Swann has been released from jail in relation to his arrest late last night. WWE immediately suspended him and he’ll remain suspended until the case is cleared. ABC News picked up the Swann story.
The main event of NJPW’s World Tag League finals tonight is Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa vs. Sanada & Evil for the championship of the tournament, with the winners most likely facing Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. for the IWGP tag titles on 1/4 at the Tokyo Dome. The Tokyo Dome card will be finalized, or at least close to finalized at a press conference at 1 a.m. Eastern time tomorrow night which will be carried live on New Japan World.
The ESPN 30 for 30 piece on Ric Flair will air on BT Sport 2 in the U.K. on 12/15 at 10 p.m.
Last night’s Vasiliy Lomachenko vs Guillermo Rigondeaux fight was the second highest rated boxing match on cable television so far this year. Lomachenko beat Rigondeaux in a one sided fight. The show did a 1.3 rating based on the top media markets peaking with the main event at 1.5. The top five markets for the show were Las Vegas (3.0), Tulsa (3.0), Oklahoma City (2.7), Knoxville (2.5) and Norfolk (2.3). The fight was also the third most searched for item on Google last night with 200,000. Nothing from UFC or pro wrestling made the weekend list. No. 6 was a college wrestling story.
Nick Aldis beat Tim Storm to win the NWA title at last night’s CZW Cage of death show in Sewell, NJ. Austin Idol was brought in (much of the crowd had no idea who he was) before the match and he introduced Brian Hebner as the referee for the match. Here is footage of the match.
WWE
Dwayne Johnson was in Minneapolis yesterday filming a Super Bowl commercial for the movie “Skyscraper.”
At the Smackdown brand house show last night in Pikeville, KY, the main event was A.J Styles vs. Baron Corbin. Kevin Owens wasn’t on the show.
A story on Ric Flair and the politically connected Campbell family.
By the way, for those who don’t know it, at almost every UFC event, people do the Ric Flair “Whooo.” It’s now become part of the audience.
MISCELLANEOUS
Combat Zone Wrestling from last night in Sewell, NJ: Dan O’Hare & Shlak won pre-show match over Kody Rice, Dan Berry, Shane Sabre, G-Raver and Blackwater, Matt Tremont b Jimmy Lloyd, Conor Claxton b Alex Colon, David Starr b Ethan Page (best match on the show), The Rep won over Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz, Jake & Dave Crist and Alex Reynolds Nick Aldis b Tim Storm to win the NWA title, Jimmy Jacobs b Jimmy Havoc in a bloodbath that included spikes and staples, Greg Excellent & Chrissy Rivera b Ace Romero, MJF b Joey Janela to win the CZW Wired TV title, Rickey Shane Page won over Shane Strickland and Joe Gacy to keep the title in the cage of death match with panes of glass, a scaffold made of glass, a regular scaffold, barbed wire tables, a drill and light tubes. There was a post-show angle where Game Changer Wrestling talent attacked CZW and claimed that this isn’t an angle, it’s a shoot (which of course means it’s an angle). Before the show the crowd was told this was the last show at Rastelli’s Kids Complex. Apparently the place is usually a place for cheerleaders and some of their mothers weren’t thrilled about CZW being in the venue. They also announced Will Ospreay will work the CZW show over WrestleMania weekend.
Between this show and others in the area, Kathy Fitzpatrick, who has headed the area Toys for Tots drive at wrestling shows, has counted more than 600 toys donated. CZW fan Bob Manning also should be noted as he drove through a snowstorm from Glen Burnie, MD with $1,000 worth of toys, a full truck, which he bought from $865 raised by a Go Fund Me among area wrestling fans. The toys will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House at Cooper Hospital, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and other agencies and groups.
NWL from Friday night in Overland Park, KS: Christian Rose b Jojo Bravo, Jet Royal & Sharkbait Gutierrez & Fuego del Sol b Niles Plonk & Everett Connors & Rasheed Ali, Ace Steel & Michael Strider b Besties in the World, Carolina Rodriguez b Savanna Stone, Leo Howlett b Jimmy Jacobs in a no holds barred match, Jeremy Wyatt won Rumble to become NWL champion. (thanks to Brian Hoops)
Rise on 4/13 in Berwyn, IL is advertising Mercedes Martinez vs. Taya Valkyrie, a Team Bull Nakano vs. Team Madusa match and Delilah Doom vs. Deonna Purrazzo for the Phoenix of Rise title.
Alex Silva beat Yoshitaka Naito to win the One strawweight championship on yesterday’s show in Bangkok, Thailand.
A movie called “Dead by Friday” that features Larry Zbyszko is now available on Amazon Prime. It was one of Richard Hatch’s last movies before he passed away. Zbyszko plays a mob boss leader, and in typical fashion, his name is misspelled in the credits.
The IPW UK biggest show of the year, called Undisputed, on 12/17 at the Casino Rooms in Rochester, Kent, UK, sold out more than a week in advance. There will be a few standing room seats made available. Austin Aries vs. Mark Haskins is the main event plus Abyss vs. Jimmy Havoc in a Monsters Ball match for the vacant IPW title. It will stream live at Noon Eastern time next Sunday.
Legacy Fighting, which airs after New Japan on AXS on Friday nights, has its first show of 2018 on 1/12 from Costa Mesa, CA at the Orange County Fairgrounds, headlined by Curtis Millender vs. Nick Barnes. They also run 1/19 in Phoenix at the Comerica Theatre with Brendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez for the middleweight title and Ryan Spann vs. Alex Nicholson for the light heavyweight title. They run 1/26 from the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in Lake Charles, LA.
Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling from last night in East Carondelet, IL: Jimmy D d Waco, Keith Smith Jr. b Shawn Santel, Dave Vaughn b Freddie Fury, Gary Jackson & Moondog Rover b Big Texan & Mauler McDarby, Clint Poe b Bobby D, Flash Flanagan b Marc Houston-DQ, Ken Kasa b Curtis Wylde .(thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
Lucha Xtreme from yesterday morning on Fresno TV: Gary Galaxy b Kevin Duquets, Shaggy McLovin b Matt Vandergrift, Robby Phoenix b Chazz Herra and Viagio in a three-way to keep the U.S. title. They have a TV taping on 12/17 at the Long Field Center in Hanford,CA at 3 p.m. Admission is free with two canned food items for the Hanford food bank. (thanks to Jon Southerland)
AWS 16th anniversary show on 3/24 in South Gate, CA features former WCW personality Daffney.
Today in Professional Wrestling History: Terry Funk wins NWA World title
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