THE ROUND-UP
THE LATEST NEWS
Jazzy Gabert says neck injury ‘disqualified’ her from working for WWE
Reigns vs. Joe IC title match set for WWE Raw on New Year’s Day
WWE Hartford & Pittsburgh live results: The holiday tour continues
Impact Wrestling results: The best of 2017, part two
THE LATEST AUDIO
JNPO: Inside the launch of POST Wrestling 12/29
FREE WOL! Rousey vs. Asuka or Charlotte, RIZIN, US Title tournament, tons more! 12/29
Best of 2017 Audio – Part 2 12/29
B&V&G: Granny, NXT, THURSDAY NIGHT POTPOURRI! 12/29
WOR: Kenny Omega on his big 2017, Chris Jericho, and the future 12/28
We’re looking for reports on tonight’s WWE Raw show in Albany, NY, headlined by John Cena vs. Roman Reigns, and the Smackdown show in Hershey, PA, headlined by A.J. Styles vs. Jinder Mahal.
NEW JAPAN WORLD PRO WRESTLING ON AXS TV AT 8 P.M. EASTERN
Tonight is a three-hour Omega vs. Okada marathon, showing all three of their matches from 8-11 p.m., then replayed at 11 p.m. Eastern (8 p.m. Pacific) for the West Coast. At 2 a.m. they will air a replay of Power Struggle which includes Omega vs. Baretta, the Omega-Jericho challenge and Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi
CMLL FROM ARENA MEXICO LIVE AT 9:30 P.M. EASTERN
Magia Blanca & Robin vs. Arkangel de la Muerte & Metalico
Blue Panther Jr. & Star Jr; & The Panther vs. Puma & Sagrado & Tiger
Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja & Titan vs. Cuatrero & Forastero & Sanson
Cavernario & Mr. Niebla & Negro Casas vs. Johnny Idol & Okumura & Sam Adonis
Marco Corleone & Mistico & Valiente vs. Gran Guerrero & Ultimo Guerrero & Shocker
Volador Jr. vs. Caristico for NWA historic welterweight title
Saturday night has Raw in Toronto headlined by Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe and Smackdown in Tampa headlined by A.J. Styles vs. John Cena vs. Jinder Mahal.
UFC 219 FROM THE T MOBILE ARENA IN LAS VEGAS SATURDAY NIGHT
Fight Pass at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time
Mark De La Rosa vs. Tim Elliott
FS 1 at 8 p.m. Eastern time
Omari Akhmedov vs Marvin Vettori
Matheus Nicolau vs. Louis Smolka
Rick Glenn vs. Myles Jury
Michal Oleksiejczuki vs. Khalil Rountree
PPV at 10 p.m. Eastern time
Marc Diakiese vs. Dan Hooker
Carlos Condit vs. Neil Magny
Cynthia Cavillo vs. Carla Esparza
Edson Barbova vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov
Cris Cyborg Justino vs. Holly Holm for UFC women’s featherweight title
RIZIN ON FITE TV A 1 A.M. EASTERN LATE SATURDAY NIGHT AND ON REGULAR PPV AT 5 A.M. SUNDAY MORNING
Yamato Fujita vs. Mitsushisa Sunabe kickboxing
Manel Kape vs. Koji Horiguchi in semifinals of bantamweight tournament
Takafumi Otsuka vs. Shintaro Ishiwatari in semifinals of the bantamweight tournament
Rena Kubota vs. Irene Rivera in the semifinals of the women’s super atomweight tournament
Kanna Asakura vs. Maria Oliveira in the semifinals of the women’s super bantamweight tournament
Tenshin Nasukawa vs. Yuat Hammamoto kickboxing
Chelsea LaGrasse vs. Shinju Auclair
Takanori Gomi vs. Yusuke Yachi
Mirko Cro Cop vs. Tsuyoshi Kosaka
Finals of the women’s atomweight tournament
Finals of bantamweight tournament
Raw will be Monday night from Miami with Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe for the IC title and Enzo Amore vs. Cedric Alexander for the cruiserweight title.
Smackdown and 205 Live will be Tuesday night from Orlando.
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F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly 12/25/2017: Looking at WWE’s women’s Royal Rumble announcement
The road to WrestleMania took a not-entirely-unexpected turn last week when it was announced on Raw that the first-ever women’s Royal Rumble match would be taking place next month. While there are still plenty of specifics to be worked out, the announcement itself made all of the sense in the world. The women’s division shouldn’t be an afterthought in the build to WWE’s biggest show of the year.
WON NEWSLETTER: January 1, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2017 In Review
Our 2017 year in review issue of the Observer is up on the site, with full business coverage of the year as well as a breakdown of the biggest pro wrestling news stories of 2017, updating them with a lot of new information on them. There is a major feature on the history of New Japan Pro Wrestling at the Tokyo Dome, as well as an update on where John Cena at WrestleMania stands.
Have a look at the biggest crowds of the year, who has headlined the most major shows, where John Cena stands among the all-time biggest drawing cards as well as where other current WWE stars stand.
There is a PPV breakdown of the year, a breakdown of biggest live crowds and who drew the most, a look at the biggest gates of the year and an update on the ten biggest drawing cards in pro wrestling history.
Examine Vince McMahon’s stock sale, thoughts on buying an NFL franchise or starting his own league and the stock price concerns.
In this issue, an update with the planned main event for WWE’s PPV in March, update on Dean Ambrose, more WWE injury notes, T-shirt selling strong, Brock Lesnar’s schedule, Daniel Bryan update, Ronda Rousey update, former member of WWE Board of Directors is the latest major executive having to step down, Angle talks Jordan angle, Gerald Brisco awarded, plans for March, Velveteen Dream update, what WWE is looking for in talent right now, and the most-watched shows on the WWE Network.
There is also a huge feature on the history of New Japan Pro Wrestling at the Tokyo Dome dating back to 1989. Look at why the first show took place, what legendary video game character came from the first show, why there were so few stadium shows before the Tokyo Dome opened, and a look at that first show. Check out the first main event and the move that came from another sport to pro wrestling that ended up as the finisher of one of the biggest stars ever years later.
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: December 11, 2000 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: ECW Massacre on 34th Street review, WWF Rebellion, more
Amidst rumors of the company being down for the count, Extreme Championship Wrestling put on a strong PPV show on 12/3, but more importantly, everyone was paid for one pay period (meaning everyone is now five weeks behind in pay). Nobody quit the promotion, which some had talked about doing if they weren’t paid again. The morale, which rises and falls based on whether or not the checks come, was said to be better coming out of the show.
FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE
UFC held a press conference this afternoon with Daniel Cormier, Volkan Oezdemir, Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou for the 1/20 show in Boston. They announced that 2018 will be pushed as the UFC’s 25th anniversary year. Ngannou said that Miocic was intimidated by him but wouldn’t show it. Miocic didn’t appear to be. Oezdemir said he’d beat Cormier quickly and Cormier said that he knows he lost the fight to Jon Jones but when something bad happens, he gets up, dusts himself off and makes it right. Miocic said he was going to break the all-time record for heavyweight title defenses which he would with a win at the show.
The much talked about Gabi Garcia vs. Shinobu Kandori fight didn’t happen today. I think it’s pretty clear a higher power is preventing this fight. Or maybe in this case a lack of discipline. Garcia weighed in at 235.8 pounds when she was supposed to weight 209. Kandori, who won a bronze medal in the world judo championships more than 30 years ago at 145 pounds, weighed in at 162. So it was going to be a 74 pound weight difference and more than 20 years of age as well, but at a 74 pound weight difference, the fight was canceled. Garcia did a long interview apologizing for missing weight so badly. I don’t know what she said exactly but from those there live, it was described as like the worst opening segment on Raw that would never end.
Results from the show:
Kiichi Kunimoto beat Satoru Kitaoka via decision
Kana Watanabe beat Shizuka Sugiyama via decision
Kai Asakrua beat Kizaemon Saiga via second round knockout
Jae Hoon Moon beat Anthony Birchak via split decision
Hiroyuki Takaya beat Battaryn Azjavkhlan via decision
Cindy Dandois beat King Reina via decision
Jiri Prochzaka beat Karl Albrektsson via strikes in round one
Takafumi Otsuka beat Khalid Taha via guillotine in round three
Shintaro Ishiwatari beat Kevin Petshi via knockout in round one
Manel Kape beat Ian McCall via ref stoppage in round one
Kyoji Horiguchi beat Gabriel Oliveira via strikes in round one
James Thompson, a longtime MMA vet who is best known for his exploding ear against Kimbo Slice on CBS, was suspended for one year due to testing positive for the steroid Drostanolone from the 12/15 Bellator show in Newcastle, England. Thompson lost his fight that night to Philip Defiles. Thompson once beat Bobby Lashley in India, although Lashley beat him in the first round in a rematch.
Sid Vicious was scheduled for a rare match for AIW in Cleveland but he didn’t board his flight. After several phone calls went unanswered, the promotion used Swoggle’s phone to call him and he did answer. He claimed Donald Trump’s travel ban prevented him from flying to Cleveland due to an unpaid speeding ticket and he didn’t have his passport with him. I don’t know about you, but traveling within the U.S., I’ve never brought a passport or needed one. The promotion recorded the call and will be playing it either on a podcast or at the show tonight. But they wanted everyone to know ahead of time that Vicious won’t be appearing as advertised.
WWE
An article on the movie “Bumblebee” which features John Cena.
At least at last night’s show in Pittsburgh, they had raised T-shirt prices to $40.
UFC
MISCELLANEOUS
Jessie Godderz’s show “Tainted Dreams” returned to Amazon and Amazon Prime last night for it second season. Tainted Dreams is a fictitious story about a cast of a soap opera and their real lives, which in and of themselves are a soap opera.
Empire State Wrestling on 1/20 in North Tonawanda, NY at St. Johnsburg Fire Hall with Mark Haskins, Brian Cage and Braxton Sutter. Haskins faces Brandon Thurston.
AAW tomorrow night in Merrionette Park, IL at 115 Bourbon Street has Windy City Classic 13 with Rey Fenix vs. Jeff Cobb fot the AAW title, Eddie Kingston vs. David Starr street fight with the loser having to manage the winner for one year, Sami Callihan & Jake & Dave Crist vs. Myron Reed & Stephen Wolf & Trey Miguel, Matt Riddle vs. ACH, Sean Waltman & Paco vs. Connor Braxton & Jake Something, Davey Vega & Mat Fitchett vs. Curt Stallion & Brubaker, Zachary Wentz & Dezmond Xavier vs. Shane Strickland & Keith Lee, Teddy Hart & Penta 0M vs. AR Fox & Joey Janela. That is one loaded show.
Results from yesterday at Korakuen Hall for Basara promotions before 629 fans including a lot of Americans who arrived for the Tokyo Dome show:
The first round of the tournament was all matches with no ropes and the only way to win being pin, submission or ring out, and every match was won by ring out. The second round had ropes.
First Round: Isami Kodaka b Naoki Tanizaki ***, Yuko Miyamoto b Colt Cabana via ring out ***1/2, Fuminori Abe b Akito via ring out ***, Riho b Yasu Urano via ring out ***1/4, Second round: Isami Kodaka b Hamada via ring out ***, Hideki Suzuki b Yuko Miyamoto via ring out ***3/4, Fuminori Abe b Isami Kodaka ***, Hideki Suzuki b Riho via ring out ***, Fuma & Ryichi & Sagat & Kubo & Shino b Tsuakmoto & Sekine & Nkatsu & Nagano **1/2, Finals: Hideki Suzuki b Fuminori Abe ***1/4. (thanks to John Carrey)
MCW on 1/20 at the MCW Arena features Bruiser vs. Greg Excellent and on 2/17 they will have a meet and greet with Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham and J.J. Dillon as well as Rosa Mendes.
CWE from last night in Yorkton, Saskatchewan: Brian Logan b Canadian Cougar, Big Chief b Math Magician, A.J. Sanchez b Bull Bodar, Tony Kozina b Chyase Britton to keep jr. title, Kevin Lee Davidson b Jacob Creed. They run tonight in Melfort, Saskatchewan at the Kerry Vickar Centre with Jake Roberts appearing.
CWA on 1/13 in North Little Rock, AR at the Maumelle Event Center.
Today in Professional Wrestling History: Mick Foley wins his first WWF World title
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