PRIDE LIVES~! (Bellator MMA Live: Shamrock vs. Gracie)
Bellator MMA is live from Houston, Texas with a rematch for the ages as MMA pioneers Ken Shamrock and Royce Gracie meet for a third time! Internet sensation Kimbo Slice meets his former bodyguard Dada 5000.
By: PeachMachine
TONIGHT
Bellator MMA Live: Shamrock vs. Gracie, Bellator’s biggest show so far this year, and the match nobody asked for and most can’t believe is being allowed to happen, Ken Shamrock (52) vs. Royce Gracie (49), and the freakshow match that would make Pride fans proud, Kimbo Slice vs. Dada 5000, airs live tonight for free on Spike TV at 9 pm eastern. Hey, it’s Texas. These men first fought back in 1993, when Gracie (14-2-3) earned a submission victory over Shamrock (28-16-2) at UFC 1. At UFC 5, in their second meeting, Gracie and Shamrock fought to a draw. Can Ken get into that win column? If he does, will it be by ankle lock submission? Is the Kimbo match fixed? All these questions could possibly be answered tonight, but most likely, more questions will just be raised. The show airs live at 9 pm eastern and is scheduled to end at 12:15 am eastern. That’s 3 hours and 15 minutes. Given the fact that both main event fights could last a combined total of 11 seconds, expect a lot of filler.
As a lead in to the show, Spike will air Kimbo Slice: The Truth at 7:30 pm eastern. Maybe he’ll reveal his secet choke defense he used to beat Shamrock. I really hope it’s Kimbo being interviewed by R-Truth and Little Jimmy. After the show, Spike will air Unrivaled: Benson Henderson. It is scheduled from 12:15 am eastern – 12:45 am eastern. Set your DVR’s carefully. Or don’t.
BELLATOR FULL CARD
PRELIMS AT 6 P.M. EASTERN ON SPIKE.COM
Manny Lozoya (142) vs. Jacob Norsworthy (141.8)
Jason Langellier (158.4) vs. Anthony Ivy (154)
Mike Trinh (128.8) vs. Angel Zamora (129.4)
Isaac Villanueva (185.8) vs. Richard Knepp (184.8)
Adrian Yanez (134.6) vs. Ryan Hollis (134.8)
Ruben Esparza (184.2) vs. CJ Hancock (185.6)
Davis Sylvester (144.2) vs. Jeremy Mahon (144.4)
Justin Wren (247) vs. Juan Torres (259.8) (Justin Wren is the friend of Joe Rogan’s who lives in Africa and works with the pygmy people.)
LIVE ON SPIKE AT 9 P.M. EASTERN
Emmanuel Sanchez (149.2) vs. Daniel Pineda (148.2)
Emanuel Newton (205) vs. Linton Vassell (205.4)
Melvin Guillard (156) vs. Derek Camps (155)
Kimbo Slice (232) vs. Dada 5000 (265)
Ken Shamrock (201.2) vs. Royce Gracie (190.8)
Our own Paul “Ace” Fontaine will be covering the show here. Tweet at him all night @PaulAceFontaine. He loves it when you comment on his scoring, especially when you disagree.
LATE FRIDAY
NEW JAPAN WORLD PRO WRESTLING RETURNS AT 9 P.M. EASTERN ON AXS TV
Togi Makabe vs. Tomohiro Ishii for Never Open weight title
CMLL LIVE FROM ARENA MEXICO AT 9:30 P.M. EASTERN AT www.clarosports.com
Oro Jr. & Star Jr. vs Arkangel de la Muerte & Metalico
Marcela & Princesa Sugei & Skadi vs. Dallys & Reyna Isis & Tiffany
Angel de Oro & Esfinge & Guerrero Maya Jr. vs. Dragon Rojo & Olimpico & Virus
Mascara Dorada vs. Mephisto for CMLL welterweight title
Atlantis & Maximo Sexy & Valiente vs. Rush & La Mascara & Marco Corleone
RESURRECTION FIGHTING ALLIANCE AT 10 P.M. EASTERN FROM OREM, UTAH ON AXS TV
Ricky Steele (135) vs. L.J. Schutlz (135.5)
James Nakashima (171) vs. Brad Darrington (170.5)
Devin Lopez (186) vs. Joe Rodriguez (184.5)
Curtis Blaydes (264) vs. Luis Cortez (265.5)
Thiago Alves (159.5) vs. David Putvin (160.5)
Thiago Moises (154) vs. David Castillo (155) for lightweight title
EARLY SATURDAY AM
NEW JAPAN/ROH JOINT SHOW FROM TOKYO KORAKUEN HALL LIVE ON NEW JAPAN WORLD AT 1:30 A.M.
Jay White vs. David Finlay
Jushin Liger & Matt Sydal vs. Delirious & Gedo
Frankie Kazarian vs. Dalton Castle
Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly & Hirooki Goto & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows & Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga
Moose & Kushida vs. Tetsuya Naito & Bushi
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Michael Elgin & Roderick Strong vs. Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii & Yoshi-Hashi
Mark & Jay Briscoe & Toru Yano vs. Young Bucks & Kenny Omega for Never six man titles
Jay Lethal vs. Tomoaki Honma for ROH title
SATURDAY NIGHT
WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING ON SATURDAY NIGHT AT 9 P.M. FROM GARDEN GROVE, CALIF. ON NBC SPORTS NETWORK
Ozzie Alvarez (6-3) vs. Andrew Ramm (4-3)
Jamie Yager (6-4) vs. Greg Parker (5-1)
Timur Valley (10-1) vs. Chris Gutierrez (8-1-1)
Marlon Morales (15-4-1) vs. Joseph Barajaas (12-1) for the bantamweight title
SUNDAY
First, the UFC presents Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Cowboy at 9 pm eastern on Fox Sports 1 (Early prelims start at 5:30 pm eastern only on UFC Fight Pass, followed by the Fox Sports 1 prelims at 7 pm eastern).
UFC FROM THE CONSOL ENERGY CENTER IN PITTSBURGH
FIGHT PASS AT 5:15 P.M. EASTERN TIME
Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Anthony Hamilton
Sarah Moras vs. Lauren Murphy
Ashlee Evans-Smith vs. Marion Reneau
FS 1 AT 7 P.M.
Nathan Coy vs. Jonavin Webb
Oluwale Bamgbose vs. Daneiel Sarafian
Alex Garcia vs. Sean Strickland
Shane Campbell vs. James Krause
Joe Riggs vs. Chris Camozzi
Cody Garbrandt vs. Augusto Mendes
Dennis Bermudez vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri
Derek Brunson vs. Roan Carneiro
Cowboy Donald Cerrone vs. Cowboy Alex Oliveira
WWE FAST LANE FROM THE QUICKEN LOANS ARENA IN CLEVELAND
You may want to DVR the UFC and flip on the WWE Network and watch live as WWE presents Fast Lane at 8 pm eastern (kick off show starts at 7 pm eastern only on the WWE network). You can still buy WWE Fast Lane on regular PPV, but if you do, JBL thinks you’re an idiot. He’s probably right. Just order the network, people. It’s cheap and awesome. In my opinion, the best way to enjoy WWE is to skip all the TV and just listen to the B&V shows to stay up with the story lines, and then only watch the PPVs/Special Events and the NXT TakeOvers.
FAST LANE FULL CARD
Roman Reigns vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Brock Lesnar for the WrestleMania title shot
Kevin Owens vs. Dolph Ziggler for IC title
A.J. Styles vs. Chris Jericho
Charlotte vs. Brie Bella for Divas title
Big Show & Kane & Ryback vs. The Wyatt Family
Becky Lynch & Sasha Banks vs. Naomi & Tamina
Kalisto vs. Alberto Del Rio 2/3 falls for U.S. title (preshow match at about 7:30 p.m.)
We’re looking for reports on the WWE house show in Youngstown, OH with Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, Sheamus, Kevin Owens, Bray Wyatt, Kane, Big Show, Dolph Ziggler, Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks, Ryback and Rusev.
Bryan and Dave will be posting the first of two weekend shows tonight. They will cover Bellator and the first ROH show of the weekend in Japan. The Sunday Wrestling Observer Radio will cover FastLane, the second ROH in Japan, and UFC.
There will also be radio shows next weekend on both Friday & Saturday covering the ROH PPV from Las Vegas and the UFC Fight Pass from London.
We’re doing polls this weekend on the Bellator show tonight and the WWE Fast Lane show on Sunday, so thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]
We’re also looking for reports on tonight’s NXT shows in Asbury Park, NJ and Gainesville, FL to [email protected]
Raw will be Monday night in Detroit. Brock Lesnar is scheduled for the show.
Smackdown and Main Event will be taped on Tuesday night in Indianapolis.
If you’ve ever wanted to WATCH our radio shows here on the site, check out our new Youtube page! No full video shows, but lots of video clips, full free audio shows that you can tell your friends about, and much more to come! Make sure you subscribe today!
Figure Four Weekly 2/8/2016 Kevin “Mordecai” Thorn voices issues with WWE Network royalties, more
Former WWE Superstar Kevin Thorn voices his frustrations with the amount of money WWE pays in royalties for the WWE Network, plus more.
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
The Latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Feb 22, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: WWE 2015 Financial Report, Kevin Randleman passes
The 2015 business of WWE is the lead in a packed issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. We go through the keys to the current business: biggest revenue streams, why the stock was down, compare with the past, the truth about television ratings, house show business, social media effect, Vince McMahon talks ratings, what ratings mean right now and in the future, network numbers, both good and bad signs regarding those numbers, why numbers declined and will go up soon and what kind of seasonal gain can be expected.
The career of Kevin Randleman, his most famous matches, comments from Bas Rutten, comments he made about first getting into fighting, plus his career as a pro and college wrestler.
We also have a piece looking at matches that in one night changed promotions or made superstars, and how that fits in with this past week’s Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kenny Omega match. A full rundown of the New Beginnings in Osaka and New Beginning in Niigata shows, with match-by-match coverage, story behind both shows, star ratings and poll results. We also look at the big shows coming up for New Japan.
Lots more about Daniel Bryan, details on his medical issues, lots of things not really put into perspective, Brie Bella;s retirement, Wade Barrett situation, Titus O’Neil suspension and fine, FastLane notes, the weirdness of the Fast Lane main event as it pertains to the company’s future, WWE injury updates, more on John Cena’s injuries, Cesaro talks his own injury and Bryan retirement, WWE Network notes, notes on wrestlers who received tryouts last week, Jericho vs. Styles notes, WWE star opening up a wrestling themed restaurant, plus highlights of all the NXT and WWE house shows over the past week and business notes.
WWE’s new Global Cruiserweight series concept, how the tournament will work, the schedule, the scouting of participants and more.
Bellator’s deal with Rampage Jackson and details of how it happened.
PLUS MUCH MORE! CLICK HERE FOR A FULL WRESTLING OBSERVER PREVIEW
You can also order the print Observer right now and get it delivered to your door via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to Dave Meltzer
You can also order print issues at www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected]
Rates are:
For the United States, it is $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 get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today. With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today.
Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.
Check out the latest Online Wrestling Observer BACK ISSUE: Jan 11, 1999 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Finger Poke of Doom, Awards results, Sam Muchnick passes away
Details on World Title changes in 3 promotions including the Finger Poke of Doom, full results of the Observer Awards, plus tons more.
FRIDAY UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight covering today’s Bellator show and ROH/New Japan show plus taking e-mail questions that can be sent to [email protected]
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer talks about the city bidding to get WrestleMania in either 2017 or 2018 in this article.
Dwayne Johnson will be hosting the MTV Movie Awards on 4/10.
King Mo Lawal and Tito Ortiz had a confrontation at the Bellator Fan Fest last night. Here is the footage.
Scott Coker talks promoting fights at a press conference, Bellator kickboxing, Rampage Jackson, Benson Henderson, and Alistair Overeem.
I talk about the second Ken Shamrock vs. Royce Gracie fight which drew the largest non-boxing sports PPV number in history at that time in 1995 in this article.
The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega press conference “apologizing” for what happened in Niigata.
In a salary cap move, James Laurinaitis, the son of Road Warrior Animal, was released by the Los Angeles Rams today.
WWE
Here are the odds for Sunday’s WWE Fast Lane show. Keep in mind that any odds until an hour before the show I consider fairly useless in predicting.
Roman Reigns -600
Dean Ambrose +800
Brock Lesnar +640
Kevin Owens -900
Dolph Ziggler +500
Alberto Del Rio +220
Kalisto -300
Charlotte -530
Brie Bella +350
A.J. Styles -675
Chris Jericho +425
Ryback & Big Show & Kane +300
The Wyatt Family -420
Becky Lynch & Sasha Banks -900
Naomi & Tamina +500
Vito LoGrasso claimed that if it wasn’t for his lawsuit, Daniel Bryan would be going to WrestleMania and who knows what would have happened if he had continued wrestling. It is possible that played a factor in how the story played out. Actually more than possible. However, he also said a year ago, CTE was laughed at. It may have been something people were skeptical on seven years ago, but not last year.
The WWE Network has added several new episodes of ECW shows that originally aired on TNN (now Spike).
Apollo Crews plugging tonight’s NXT show in Asbury Park.
Although I’ve seen some listings for Brock Lesnar on Tuesday’s show in Indianapolis, he is at this point not scheduled for this week’s Smackdown tapings.
UFC
Stefan Struve vs. Antonio Bigfoot Silva has been signed for the 5/8 show in Rotterdam, Holland.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Fight Network has a loaded weekend of live MMA. The RFA show on AXS TV airs live tonight at 10 p.m. World Series of Fighting, which is on NBC Sports on Saturday night at 9 p.m., airs live, plus they will have live coverage of the UFC show starting at 7 p.m. on Sunday.
On the anniversary of one of the most tragic nights in pro wrestling history, the plane crash that killed Bobby Shane, Austin Idol, a survivor of the crash, talks about that night with Bill Apter.
Reggie “The Crusher” Lisowski, years after his death, is in the news here a second straight day. The Milwaukee Admirals announced that for Sunday’s game at the Bradley Center, the first 5,000 fans will get a Crusher bobblehead. Also appearing at the game will be Ricky Steamboat, Bushwhacker Luke, Road Warrior Animal, Lisa Varon and Billy Gunn. Here is a story on the event and the background of Crusher, who was known as “The Man Who Made Milwaukee famous”
An article on Jake Roberts and the documentary on his resurrection so to speak.
In response to a radio show question on O.J. Simpson and CTE, Dr Bennett Omalu’s comments.
AAW tonight at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park, IL features Eddie Kingston vs. Sami Callihan for the AAW title, AR Fox vs. Matt Cage for the AAW Heritage title, Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa vs. Chris Hero & Drew Gulak, Abyss & Kongo Kong vs. Ryan Boz & Russ Jones in a Monsters Ball match and Mat Fichett & Davey Vega vs. Zero Gravity, plus Trevor Lee and Candice LaRae.
Baja Stars Wrestling from 2/20 in San Diego at the Montgomery-Waller Rec Center has Extreme Tiger & El Hijo del Rey Misterio vs. Mortiz & TJ Boy.
Atlantis & Delta vs. Euforia & Ultimo Guerrero headlines the 2/25 show at the Coliseum in Laredo.
Drago & Jack Evans vs. Black Cat & Daga and Fenix vs. Pentagon Jr. vs. Aero Star headlines the 3/25 show in Pharr, TX at the Pharr West Club.
Fenix vs. Laredo Kid vs. Pentagon Jr. headlines 2/26 in Mission, TX at the Salon los Portales.
AAA has a TV taping tonight in Queretaro featuring two four-man qualifying matches for Rey de Reyes with Electroshock vs. Jack Evans vs. Chessman vs. Villano IV and La Parka vs. Psycho Clown vs. Averno vs. Zorro.
CMLL results from Tuesday night in Guadalajara: Capitan Cobra & Neutron b Mr. Apolo & Carlos Roggi, Robin & Super Halcon Jr. & Vaquero Jr.. b Camorra & El Hijo del Signo & Malefico, Cancerbero & Disturbio & Raziel b Soberano & Starman & Triton, Maximo b Euforia to retain CMLL heavyweight title, Negro Casas & Niebla Roja & Ultimo Guerrero b Mascara Dorada & Mistico & Volador Jr. Casas pinned Volador Jr. in the third fall to set up a CMLL welterweight title match (thanks to Kris Zellner)
HCW in Budapest, Hungary from Saturday night: Hombre b Zafar Ameen, RP Tyson b Audrey Bride in an arm wrestling match, Dylan b Chris Dice, Ozzy Spencer & Grizzly Davidson b Gabriel Angelfire & Cyrus Cage, Dover b Michael Nuts, Tedd Wellington b Blake Steamer, Ron Corvus b Renegade, Matt Cross b Icarus, Nitro b Damon O’Connor. Next show is 4/24 a the Patonyl Lazlo Sportscsarnok in Budapest with Nitro vs. Icarus in a hair match (thanks to Ivan Pajic)
ON THIS DAY IN WORLD PRO WRESTLING HISTORY: Heavenly Bodies win SMW tag team titles; Plane crash kills Bobby Shane