THE ROUND-UP
THE LATEST NEWS
WWE officially announces Roman Reigns for Royal Rumble
Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier booked for July’s UFC 226
HBO releases trailer, reveals premiere date for Andre the Giant doc
NXT Albany, NY, live results: Kairi Sane back in action
WWE Royal Rumble notes: Pre-show matches, Maria Menounos
UK title number one contender’s match set for pre-TakeOver tapings
Impact Wrestling results: World title on the line at Genesis
THE LATEST AUDIO
WOL: WWE Royal Rumble added matches, odds, NXT Takeover, tons more! 1/26
Wrestling Weekly: Men’s and women’s Rumbles, Jerry Jarrett, Blassie 1/26
B&V&G: Granny, NXT, THURSDAY NIGHT POTPOURRI! 1/26
So this weekend, particularly tomorrow, is insane.
We’re doing four polls this weekend, for tonight and tomorrow night’s New Japan New Beginning shows in Sapporo, NXT Takeover tomorrow and WWE Royal Rumble on Sunday.
You can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match for each show to [email protected].
We’re looking for reports on tonight’s Raw show in Wilkes-Barre, PA and NXT show in Toms River, NJ (Johnny Gargano & Roderick Strong vs. Andrade Cien Almas & Lars Sullivan) at [email protected].
NEW JAPAN WORLD PRO WRESTLING ON AXS TV AT 8 P.M. EASTERN TIME
Kota Ibushi vs. Cody
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jay White
BELLATOR MMA AT 9 P.M. EASTERN ON THE PARAMOUNT NETWORK
Steve Kozola vs. Jake Smith
Kendall Grove vs. A.J. Matthews
Saad Awad vs. J.J. Ambrose
Lorenz Larkin vs. Fernando Gonzalez
LEGACY FIGHTING AT 9 P.M. EASTERN ON AXS TV
CMLL FROM ARENA MEXICO AT 9:30 P.M. EASTERN
Flyer & Robin vs. Akuma & Espanto
Electrico & Astral & Star Jr. vs. Cancerbero & Nitro & Raziel
Audaz & Starman & Drone vs. Disturbio & Misterioso Jr. & Virus
Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja & Stuka Jr. vs. Forastero & Cuatrero & Sanson
El Terrible vs. Diamante Azul for the Mexican national; heavyweight title
Atlantis & Dragon Lee & Volador Jr. vs. Ultimo Guerrero & Gran Guerrero & Euforia
AAA GUERRA DE TITANES TONIGHT AT 10 P.M. EASTERN FROM JUAN DE LA BARRERA GYM IN MEXICO CITY AIRING ON TWITCH
Lanzelot vs. Australian Suicide for cruiserweight title
Lady Shani vs. Faby Apache for Reina de Reinas title
Psycho Clown vs. Rey Escorpion in a chain match
El Hijo del Fantasma vs. El Texano Jr. in a cage match for the Latin American title
Johnny Mundo vs. Dr. Wagner Jr. for the AAA Mega heavyweight title with Vampiro as referee
NEW JAPAN NEW BEGINNINGS IN SAPPORO EARLY SATURDAY MORNING AT 4 A.M. EASTERN ON NEW JAPAN WORLD
Michael Elgin vs. Katsuya Kitamura
Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Manabu Nakanishi & Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask & Kushida vs. Takashi Iizuka & Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi & Desperado & Taka Michinoku
Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens
Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa & Bad Luck Fale vs. Togi Makabe & Toa Henare & Ryusuke Taguchi
Kota Ibushi & Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs. Cody & Marty Scurll & Hangman Page
Will Ospreay & Yoshi-Hashi vs. Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi
Kazuchika Okada & Hirooki Goto & Gedo vs. Seiya Sanada & Evil & Bushi
Jay White & Sho & Yoh vs. Young Bucks & Kenny Omega
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Minoru Suzuki for the IC title
We’re also looking for reports Saturday on the Raw house show in Baltimore and Smackdown in Richmond, VA to [email protected].
UFC FROM CHARLOTTE ON SATURDAY
Fight Pass at 4 p.m. Eastern
Austin Arnett vs. Cory Sandhagen
Niko Price vs. George Sullivan
FS1 at 5 p.m. at 5 p.m. Eastern
Vinc Pichel vs. Joaquim Silva
Justine Kish vs. Ji Yeon Kim
Juliana Lima vs. Randa Markos
Maria Romero Borella vs. Kaitlyn Chookagian
Mirsad Bektic vs. Godofredo Pepey
Bobby Green vs. Erik Koch
FOX AT 8 p.m. Eastern
Frank Camacho vs. Drew Dober
Gregor Gillespie vs. Jordan Rinaldi
Andre Fili vs. Dennis Bermudez
Ronaldo Jacare Souza vs. Derek Brunson
NXT TAKEOVER FROM THE WELLS FARGO CENTER IN PHILADELPHIA ON WWE NETWORK AT 8 P.M. SATURDAY NIGHT
Nikki Cross vs. Lacey Evans (for TV on Wednesday)
Roderick Strong vs. Tyler Bate (for TV on Wednesday)
Kassius Ohno vs. Velveteen Dream
Aleister Black vs. Adam Cole in an Extreme rules match
Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Authors of Pain for the tag titles
Ember Moon vs. Shayna Baszler for the women’s title
Andrade Cien Almas vs. Johnny Gargano for the NXT title
NEW JAPAN NEW BEGINNINGS IN SAPPORO AT 1 A.M. EASTERN LATE SATURDAY NIGHT ON NEW JAPAN WORLD
Katsuya Kitamura vs. Juice Robinson
Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask & Ryusuke Taguchi & Shota Umino vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi & Desperado & Taka Michinoku
Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Hikuleo (Leo Tonga)
Togi Makabe & Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Manabu Nakanishi & Toa Henare vs. Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa & Chase Owens
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Michael Elgin vs. Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka
Kota Ibushi & David Finlay & Kushida vs. Cody & Marty Scurll & Hangman Page
Kazuchika Okada & Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi & Will Ospreay & Gedo vs. Tetsuya Naito & Evil & Bushi & Seiya Sanada & Hiromu Takahashi
Young Bucks vs. Sho & Yoh for IWGP jr. tag titles
Kenny Omega vs. Jay White for U.S. title
WWE ROYAL RUMBLE PPV AT 5:30 P.M. EASTERN TIME SUNDAY ON WWE NETWORK
30 Man Royal Rumble
30 Women Royal Rumble
Brock Lesnar vs. Kane vs. Braun Strowman for Universal title
A.J. Styles vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn in a handicap match for WWE title
Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan vs. Sheamus & Cesaro for Raw tag titles
Usos vs. Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin in a 2/3 fall match for Smackdown tag titles
Bobby Roode defends the U.S. title in an open challenge (pre-show match)
Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. The Revival (pre-show match)
Kalisto & Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado vs. Drew Gulak & Jack Gallagher & TJP (pre-show match)
On Monday will be Raw from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia and a Smackdown house show in Newark, DE.
Smackdown, 205 Live and Mixed Match Challenge will be Tuesday in Philadelphia. The mixed match challenge match is Braun Strowman & Alexa Bliss vs. Sami Zayn & Becky Lynch.
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly 1/22/2018: Recapping WWE Raw 25
With a rare opportunity to present an episode that reached a bit beyond WWE’s usual audience, Raw’s 25th anniversary show took place in New York City on Monday night. It was the most-anticipated Raw of the year, with WWE putting their full promotional force behind the event and inviting seemingly every available name from the past. With a rare opportunity to present an episode that reached a bit beyond WWE’s usual audience, Raw’s 25th anniversary show took place in New York City on Monday night.
WON NEWSLETTER: January 29, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Enzo Amore rape allegations, WWE Raw 25, plus tons of news
The most detailed coverage of the Enzo Amore allegations and firing is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer. Look at all sides of the story, from the allegations by Philomena Sheahan, details of who was in the room, why WWE was so quick to fire him, her claims, claims of people who know her, what is in the text message, the problem with the police investigation, what is next for 205 Live and plans that have been scrapped.
Also have a look at the WWE this week, including Raw 25, angles on the show, WrestleMania current plans, future of Brock Lesnar, Royal Rumble, the Takeover special, what audience flocked to Raw that usually doesn’t, how Raw viewer patterns have changed since the last similar special, what age group nearly doubled from last week, and how the gender split changed.
Read about the history of Raw, why it was moved quickly from the Manhattan Center, the move to two hours, how close the show came to being canceled and why it wasn’t, when the show started making the company significant money, how Raw and Vince McMahon in 2005 were responsible for the start of a major sports franchise, the story of Raw going to Spike and back to USA, and what are really the longest lasting wrestling shows in U.S. television history.
Full coverage of Raw 25 inside this issue.
Check out the Podcastone situation and why people are leaving, more on the 2019 Royal Rumble plans, more on WWE stock and the move being made for a cheap WWE Network sub and the reason, George Barrios says strange things about WWE talent contracts, Hogan talks Bullet Club and the smoke to that fire, Cena movie gets Academy Award nomination, Cena up for lead for another movie, success of Dwayne Johnson’s current movie, funny quotes from Michaels & HHH about Goldberg being a Hall of Famer from a few years ago, and more WWE injuries.
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: January 8, 2001 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Paul Heyman considering selling ECW, more on Wrestler of the Year, more
Citing a number of factors, including the enormous pressure he’s been under over the past year, the large company debt and what he sees as the future landscape of the business, Paul Heyman said he was in serious negotiations to sell either a majority share or all of Extreme Championship Wrestling.
FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE
Just days after Cormier saying he wouldn’t take the fight, UFC has announced Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier for the heavyweight title as the main event on the 7/7 show in Las Vegas. The two will also be coaches for the spring season of The Ultimate Fighter.
The UFC also announced eight-man lightweight and featherweight tournaments for the reality show featuring all undefeated fighters:
Lightweight:
Thailand Clark (7-0, Fort Worth)
Joe Giannetti (6-0, Nowell, MA)
John Gunther (6-0, Cleveland)
Jose Martinez (4-0, Lorain, OH)
Richie Smullen (3-0-1, Arklow, Ireland)
Mike Trizano (6-0, Ramsey, NJ)
Allan Zuniga (13-0, San Miguel Costa Rica)
Featherweight:
Jay Cucciniello (8-0, Malaga, Spain)
Tyler Diamond (9-0, Oroville, CA)
Bradn Katona (6-0, Dublin, Ireland)
Bryce Mitchell (9-0,Cabot, AR)
Suman Mokhtarian (8-0, Sydney, Australia)
Dulani Perry (4-0, Houston)
Kyler Phillips (5-0, Surprise, AZ)
Ricky Steele (5-0, Boise, ID)
For the weekend house shows, no John Cena on anything except for the Rumble. Brock Lesnar is working against Kane at the house show in Baltimore tomorrow night for the Universal title. Randy Orton isn’t working the Richmond Smackdown show, but he is working the Newark, DE show. Aside from that, all the major names are scheduled for the house shows.
ROH has switched its upcoming shows and the 2/9 show in Concord, NC, that was to be a TV taping will now be a house show. The TV taping will now be on 2/10 at Center Stage in Atlanta. The Atlanta matches are now in Concord with Cody & Marty Scurll & Adam Page vs. Matt Taven & Vinny Marseglia & TK O’Ryan and Jay Lethal vs. Jonathan Gresham. One match in Atlanta for TV will be Chuckie T & Baretta vs. Mark & Jay Briscoe.
A long discussion about all the ramifications of the Montreal screw job and the behind-the-scenes of what happened between me and Chris Jericho on today’s episode of Talk is Jericho. It’s really fascinating looking back at how much pro wrestling changed because of all this.
WWE
The company announced the signing of Mohamed Fahim a 28-year-old boxer from Egypt, to a developmental deal. Fahim was signed off the April tryout in Abu Dhabi.
The company will be releasing a Best of Shane McMahon DVD on 6/11.
This is a great piece on Kassius Ohno, really should be put on television.
Detroit Free Press on the XFL relaunch.
A story on Bobby Fish returning home for last night’s NXT house show in Albany, NY, with notes about him previously working as a substitute teacher while also wrestling.
UFC
Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje was announced for a 4/14 show in Glendale, AZ at the Gila River Arena.
UFC announced that Roy Jones Jr. will be doing a retirement fight on 2/8 in Pensacola, FL, at the Bay Center that will air on Fight Pass. Jones (65-9) will face Scott Sigmon (30-11-1) in a cruiserweight main event. Jones, in his prime, may have been the best boxer in the world, gaining international fame out of the 1988 Olympics and turning pro the next year.
Michael Oleksiejczuk has been provisionally suspended for a drug test violation taken on 12/30, the night he won a decision over Kalil Rountree.
MISCELLANEOUS
Progress Wrestling is headed to Australia with shows on 4/17 in Perth, partnering with Explosive Pro Wrestling, 4/18 in Sydney, partnering with Pro Wrestling Australia, 4/20 in Melbourne, partnering with Melbourne City Wrestling and 4/21 in Ivercargill, New Zealand.
Shine has an iPPV tonight from the Orpheum in Ybor City, FL and FITE TV.
LuFisto vs. Rain for Shine championship
Ivelisse & Mercedes Martinez vs. Isla Dawn & Lady Chardonnay Darcy for the tag titles
Priscilla Kelly & Aerial Monroe & Vanessa Kraven vs. Candy Cartwright & Kiera Hogan & Dementia D’Rose
Santana vs. Renee Michelle
Holidead vs. Dynamite DiDi
Leva vs. Brandi Lauren
Jordynne Grace vs. Natalia Markova
Stormie Lee vs. Tesha Price
Sahori, a AAA and CMLL star during a 20-year-career, passed way yesterday at the age of 41 due to a long battle with cancer.
Hirai Kawato’s debut at Arena Mexico was moved from this coming Tuesday to a week from tonight due to some immigration issues.
Jim Ross will be doing a talk show Sunday at Noon at the Diamond Club at the Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia. It’s only set up for 100 tickets and everyone will get an autographed copy of his book and also get to talk with and get a cell phone photo and do a Q&A with Ross and Jeremy Borash of Impact Wrestling.
Jushin Liger, Rocky Romero and Puma King headline for Pro Wrestling Revolucion on 3/10 in San Francisco at John O’Connell High School.
Lanny Poffo has set up a Kickstarter program for a comic book based on his WWE gimmick called, “The Genius Lanny Poffo, Wrestling’s Smartest Man.”
NWL debuts tomorrow night at the Turner Rec Center in Kansas City with a six-way match for a shot at the NWL title, with Bolt Brady vs. Niles Plonk vs. Davey Vega vs. Leonel Howlett vs. Jet Royal vs. Mike Outlaw, plus ACH vs. Thor Theriot and Marti Belle vs. Hudson Envy.
Regarding the Judge Mathis show with former wrestler John Nord, the story is that Nord owed the plaintiff $4,750 in credit card bills. Mathis gave him a credit for $1,750 because Nord gave him 205 dolls to swell online and awarded the plaintiff $3,000. The case airs at the 28:50 mark. (thanks to Joe Puccio and Albert Frye)
Pro Wrestling Eclipse on 2/10 in Oshawa, ONT at the Legion.
Innovate Wrestling tomorrow night in Bristol, TN at the Patton-Crosswhite VFW with a ring ropes made of barbed wire death match with Travis Dykes vs. Toby Farley.
A correction from yesterday in the Vulcan Wrestling show in Sydney. The main event was a 30 minute draw between Darius Vega and Mike Valuable. We had reported it as a win for Vega.
MascaraMania 2 on 4/21 in Toronto at the Alliance Banquet Hall.
Smash Wrestling on 3/31 in Sarnia, ONT at the River City Vineyard.
A video of Adnon Kaisy, before he was a Sheik in the AWA, wrestling Ian Campbell in Iraq when he was the top star in the country.
The NWA has put together a video of NWA title stuff between 2002 and 2009 when TNA controlled the title belt.
An interview with Jake Roberts promoting his one-man show. Said Roberts, “My stuff isn’t really comedy. It’s me telling things that happened, you know? Maybe Andre sitting on me and farting for 40 seconds, which was amazing. It’s unbelievable that anybody can fart that long., It was rude, it was crude, I’m just grateful I lived through it. That’s just very, very mild for what I go for. I go for the most insane stuff that would happen. There were some crazy things going on back in the day. I didn’t help the situation much with that damn snake around all the time, always getting me in trouble. It would show up in the craziest places, whether it be the shower, strip joint or whatever. The good thing is I have 38 years to pull from. There are a lot of stories to be told. A lot.”
Today in Professional Wrestling History: Mankind wins WWF World title on Halftime Heat
WRESTLING OBSERVER / F4W – WRESTLEMANIA 34 in NEW ORLEANS
Here we go again! It’s back to New Orleans for Wrestlemania 34 and a huge weekend of spectacular professional wrestling related fun and wackiness. EdinSanAntonio Productions along with the Wrestling Observer / Figure Four Empire~! is proud to present the annual Wrestlemania weekend trip details. This huge weekend includes a number of website “members only” events. Below are the two events currently scheduled. Click here for full event details.
WOR Podcast Taping: Purchase TICKETS for the Wrestling Observer Radio LIVE MAILBAG~!
WHAT: Wrestling Observer Radio LIVE Podcast Recording with Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez
WHEN: Friday, April 6th, 2018 – 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Doors open at 8:45 a.m. for VIP ticket holders and at 9:15 a.m. for general admission)
WHERE: The Bourbon Room, Royal St. Charles Hotel in downtown New Orleans; 135 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130
WO/F4W Brunch: Purchase TICKETS for the Wrestling Oberver BRUNCH~!
WHAT: All you care to eat brunch buffet on the morning of Wrestlemania
WHEN: Sunday, April 8th, 2018 – T11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Court of Two Sisters restaurant in downtown New Orleans; 613 Royal St., New Orleans, LA 70130
CONTACT INFORMATION
Poll opinions: [email protected]
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