mobanmarketTHE ROUND-UP
The Latest from the F4W Staff
NEWS
NXT TakeOver War Games live results, news & recap
UFC Fight Night 121 live results: Fabricio Werdum vs. Marcin Tybura
WWE officially adds Natalya to SmackDown’s Survivor Series team
ROH San Antonio, TX, live results: Stephen Amell teams with Bullet Club
AUDIO
JNPO Classic: The strange story of Nick Diaz’s removal from UFC 137 11/18
WOL: Survivor Series, War Games, Royal Rumble, Max Smashmaster, more! 11/17
Wrestling Weekly: McDaniel shoots Slater, muscle cars, mailbag 11/17
We’re looking for reports on ROH show in Dallas (Kenny King vs. Frankie Kazarian for TV title, Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin vs. Rey Cometa & Esfinge for tag titles, Dalton Castle & Jay Lethal vs. Young Bucks, Matt Taven vs. Cheeseburger, TK O’Ryan vs. Flip “Gordon, Vinny Marseglia vs. Jonathan Gresham) to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.
UFC FROM SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Fight Pass at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time
Rashad Coulter vs. Tai Tuivasa
Jarrel Lausa vs. Eric Shelton
Alex Chambers vs. Nadia Kassem
FS 1 at 8 p.m. Eastern time
Damien Brown vs. Frank Camacho
Anthony Hamilton vs. Adam Wieczorek
Will Brooks vs. Nik Lentz
Ryan Benoit vs. Ashkan Mokhtarian
Shane Young vs. Alexander Volkanovski
Elias Theodorou vs. Daniel Kelly
Bojan Velickovic vs. Jake Matthews
Tim Means vs. Belal Muhammad
Bec Rawlings vs.; Jessica Rose-Clark
Fabricio Werdum vs. Marcin Tybura
NXT TAKEOVER HOUSTON AT 8 P.M. EASTERN FROM THE TOYOTA CENTER
Kassius Ohno vs. Lars Sullivan
Aleister Black vs. Velveteen Dream
Kairi Sane vs. Peyton Royce vs. Nikki Cross vs. Ember Moon for women’s title
Drew McIntyre vs. Andrade Cien Almas for NXT title
War Games: Eric Young & Killian Dain & Alexander Wolfe vs. Authors of Pain & Roderick Strong vs. Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly & Adam Cole
We’re looking for reports from ICW Fear and Loathing from Sunday in Glasgow, Scotland and ROH on Sunday night in Oklahoma City (Survival of the Fittest six-way finale, Kenny King vs. Chris Sabin for TV title, Christopher Daniels vs. Marty Scurll, Dalton Castle vs. Frankie Kazarian, Deonna Purrazzo vs. Mandy Leon).
NEW JAPAN TAG LEAGUE SUNDAY FROM TAKASAKI ON NEW JAPAN WORLD (will air on delay)
Baretta & Chucky T vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
Michael Elgin & Jeff Cobb vs. Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano
WWE SURVIVOR SERIES AT 6 P.M. EASTERN SUNDAY NIGHT FROM THE TOYOTA CENTER IN HOUSTON
Raw vs. Smackdown elimination match: HHH & Kurt Angle & Braun Strowman & Samoa Joe & Finn Balor vs. Shane McMahon & John Cena & Shinsuke Nakamura & Bobby Roode & Randy Orton
Brock Lesnar vs. A.J. Styles non-title
The Miz vs. Baron Corbin non-title
Charlotte Flair vs. Alexa Bliss non-title
Sheamus & Cesaro vs. Usos non-title
New Day vs. The Shield
Raw vs. Smackdown elimination match: Bayley & Sasha Banks & Alicia Fox & Nia Jax & Asuka vs. Becky Lynch & Naomi & Carmella & Tamina & ?
Enzo Amore vs. Kalisto (pre-show match at 6:30 p.m..)
NEW JAPAN TAG LEAGUE MONDAY FROM TOKOROZAWA ON NEW JAPAN WORLD (will air on delay)
Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Hangman Page & Yujiro Takahashi
Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
Raw will be Monday night from the Toyota Center in Houston.
NEW JAPAN TAG LEAGUE TUESDAY FROM YAMANASHI ON NEW JAPAN WORLD (will air on delay)
David Finlay & Katsuya Kitamura vs. Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr.
Togi Makabe & Henare vs. War Machine
FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: Figure Four Weekly 11/13/2017: AJ Styles becomes a two-time WWE Champion
Adding another accomplishment to his already phenomenal career, AJ Styles became a two-time WWE Champion at last week’s SmackDown tapings in Manchester, England. Styles defeated Jinder Mahal to win the title, putting an abrupt end to a reign that seemed destined to go longer. The switch came less than two weeks before Mahal’s planned non-title champion vs. champion match against Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series
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WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: November 20, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Survivor Series card changes, McGregor incident, more
A preview and an update on Survivor Series is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, looking at that show and the Takeover show.
Look at Conor McGregor’s behavior at the Bellator show in Dublin, and the tricky position punishing him is from all sides because of the money he generates. Also look at the fight out of left field for McGregor that people are already knocking heavily but would do gigantic business, how this may have already cost UFC a major main event.
The renewal of Lucha Underground, what is expected to change, notes no decreasing costs, and why some talent is happy but a lot of talent is less happy about this news. Also look at the Arolucha promotion, who is involved, when it’s scheduled to tape, and how the renewal of Lucha Underground greatly impacts them.
WWE is in India, what the show cancellation and Jinder Mahal title loss means, the business in India, and claim of biggest match ever in India.
Read about Daniel Bryan’s statements about returning to wrestling next year, and more on CTE. Take a look in depth at the economics of WrestleMania, how many tourists came to the show, how much tourists spent in Orlando and just how much more important WrestleMania is for a locale than even a few years ago.
Examine the James Ellsworth cut, lots more on the Ric Flair 30 for 30, John Cena movie, update on WWE U.K., Chris Jericho cruise and 2018 schedule, the Randy Orton/Kevin Owens twitter back-and-forth, reaction to Owens & Zayn being sent home, Starrcade notes, Notes on indie asking price of a WWE wrestler just cut, injury updates, the next U.K. TV tapings, former WWE star talks coming out of retirement, as well as the current company value and most watched shows on the WWE 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: October 30, 2000 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Death of Yokozuna, Bret Hart leaves WCW, more
Rodney Anoia, who was the heaviest superstar in the history of pro wrestling and a two-time WWF champion under the name Yokozuna, passed away suddenly on 10/23 in a Liverpool, England hotel room a few weeks after his 34th birthday. Anoia was the most successful of the huge Samoan clan of wrestlers started by Afa & Sika Anoia, his uncles, when they began wrestling in the early 1970s. He was one of the biggest stars in the business around the world during his WWF run, which lasted from late 1992 through 1996.
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SATURDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
With Shawn Michaels refereeing the match, Drew McIntyre retained his NXT Championship against Adam Cole at last night’s house show in San Antonio. Michaels gave Kyle O’Reilly the Sweet Chin Music at one point. In a post-match promo, Michaels responded to chants of “one more match” by assuring the crowd that he’s “too old for this sh*t.”
Earlier in the show, Triple H came out and addressed the crowd ahead of TakeOver in Houston tonight.
USA Today interviewed Triple H about the return of War Games.
McIntyre and AJ Styles appeared on the Madd Hatta Morning Show in Houston to promote this weekend’s WWE events.
WWE sent out an email to current Network subscribers offering them their first month free. They later issued a correction noting that the email was sent in error and apologized for any confusion, saying they hope you’ll enjoy Survivor Series.
Another WWE Network offer sent to some people advertised that you could buy Survivor Series as a one-time purchase and access Network content through Monday for $24.99. With the first month being free to new subscribers and it being $9.99 to anyone else, that wouldn’t seem to be much of a deal. Much of the appeal of still offering traditional PPV is to reach people without good internet connections, but you’d need one to watch Survivor Series with this option anyway.
The Calgary Herald spoke to Bret Hart about being cancer-free after his battle with prostate cancer, the Montreal Screwjob, and what his life is like now.
WWE extended its condolences to Malcolm Young’s friends, family, and fans following his passing. Young was the co-founder of AC/DC and WWE used some of their songs as the themes for SummerSlam 1998 and WrestleMania 25.
James Ellsworth sent out another message thanking the fans after being released by WWE: “Thank you to all the wrestling fans for your overwhelming support, I’d always do anything to entertain you, and will continue to for years.”
Former Performance Center trainee Leo Gao, who was let go earlier this month, also tweeted some comments about his release.
Yesterday marked 21 years since The Rock debuted at Survivor Series 1996. He tweeted about the anniversary: “Crazy it all started 21yrs ago today. Made my @wwe debut. My #1 goal was buy my parents their first home. 3yrs later in ‘99 I was able to. No idea where this crazy road would lead me, I just knew I was willing to work my ass off and that I loved the hell outta Waffle House”
Pro Wrestling
NJPW’s World Tag League kicked off at Korakuen Hall overnight, featuring the debuts of Jeff Cobb, Sami Callihan, and Chuck Taylor. Callihan & Juice Robinson defeated SANADA & EVIL in the main event and Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI beat Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka in the show’s other tournament match. Cobb got over well in his first spot, throwing Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano, Taylor, and Trent Barreta around in an undercard eight-man tag match.
Stephen Amell, the star of “Arrow,” teamed with the Bullet Club against The Addiction, Flip Gordon & Scorpio Sky in the main event of last night’s ROH show in San Antonio. Amell was put through a table and hit an Indytaker for the finish.
Ratings for Impact were up this week and at the level the show did two weeks ago. The episode, which featured Eli Drake defending his Global Championship against Petey Williams and Gail Kim announcing her retirement, averaged 272,000 viewers. It did 250,000 and 275,000 the previous two weeks.
Hot Topic’s website is having a sale where a lot of NJPW shirts are available for $10 each. (thanks to reader Jake Koch)
The BBC ran a profile piece on Viper (who was Piper Niven in the Mae Young Classic).
UFC/MMA
Cris Cyborg has come to terms on a new contract with the UFC.
Tyron Woodley called out Nate Diaz for UFC 219, saying all he needs is the contract sent for him to agree to the fight.
For the first time in over a year, Cat Zingano will return to the Octagon as she faces Ketlen Vieira at UFC 222 in March 2018.
Rashad Evans is returning to light heavyweight for his next fight.
Today in Professional Wrestling History: Team WWF vs. The Alliance at Survivor Series 2001
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