Daily Update: AEW Dark, SmackDown, Conor-Khabib

DAILY UPDATE

Latest News:

Latest Audio:

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Harper, Sin Cara & The Ascension get WWE releases Joseph Currier looks at WWE’s latest departures.

WWE took a step forward this past weekend by resolving their situations with a few wrestlers who wanted out of the company.

In quick succession on Sunday, WWE announced that Luke Harper, Sin Cara, and The Ascension had been released: “WWE has come to terms on the releases of Jonathan Huber (Luke Harper), Sin Cara, and Ryan Parmeter (Konnor) and Eric Thompson (Viktor) of The Ascension. WWE wishes them all the best in their future endeavors.”

Harper’s release saga was nearly eight months long. He went public with his request via a statement he posted online on April 16. He spent the next five months off of television before then returning in a pretty significant angle at Clash of Champions, helping Erick Rowan defeat Roman Reigns in their no disqualification match.

Current subscribers click here to continue reading.

WON NEWSLETTER: December 16, 2019 Observer Newsletter: TLC card mystery, Kelly Klein/ROH issues, more

A look at plans as they are for the WWE’s TLC PPV is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.  We look at what was on the boards this week for the card, ways it may change, why zero matches had been announced nine days before the show and Vince McMahon’s philosophy regarding PPV shows these days. The new issue also covers: 

Issues with ROH, from its concussion policy, to its relationship with New Japan, with comments from both Joe Koff and Harold Meij. We look at the claims regarding a concussion policy, why ROH cut off negotiations with women’s champion Kelly Klein after first offering her more than double of her prior contract and more.

The economics of WWE, PPV vs Network and which would have been better, Orlando wants big shows, Ciampa says he’d rather retire than move to the main roster, why he said it, changes with WWE Network, TV ratings in Canada and Germany, new WWE fire, WWE in sports survey, NXT the next two weeks, Raw announcing, Carmella tarts new business, stock value, most-watched shows on WWE Network, as well as a rundown of all the weekend arena dates.

New Japan tag team tournament matches of the past week.

AAA’s TripleMania Regia, the big angle shot, the usage of rival CMLL’s old heel stable, plus the return of Kenny Omega, as well as hopes to use more AEW talent on major shows coming up.  We also have match-by-match coverage.

History of Starrcade, how it started, the roles of key people like Dusty Rhodes, Ric Flair, Harley Race and Dory Funk Jr.  We look at every main event in Starrcade history, and how Vince McMahon tried and failed to sabotage the first show, but succeeded in sabotaging the fifth show. We look at how Starrcade came to be, the match in 1983 that created the first Starrcade, the Flair vs. Race program and how it was built, the Roddy Piper vs. Greg Valentine angle, what killed wrestling on Thanksgiving, plus a rundown of Sunday’s show in Atlanta.

Preview of Tito Ortiz vs. Alberto El Patron, how Combate Americas came into this world, Campbell McLaren’s role in the birth of MMA, how Alberto got into pro wrestling, his MMA career before WWE, why he was not allowed to fight on the Los Angeles Coliseum show and the realities of this fight as a PPV from a business standpoint.

Full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.

In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.

Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week. 

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@wrestlingobserver.com or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

Pro Wrestling

  • Bea Priestley vs. Kris Statlander, Private Party vs. SCU (Scorpio Sky & Frankie Kazarian), and PAC, Jack Evans & Angelico vs. Orange Cassidy & Best Friends have been announced for tonight’s AEW Dark tapings. The show will air on YouTube next Tuesday.
  • Vickie Guerrero made an appearance as a guest commentator on the AEW Dark tapings tonight.
  • Chris Van Vliet has an interview with Santana & Ortiz.
  • Brandi Rhodes will deliver a keynote address at next month’s National Association of Television Program Executives conference.
  • The NWA uploaded a 10 Pounds of Gold episode about Nick Aldis and James Storm’s title match at this Saturday’s Into the Fire PPV.

MMA

Daily Pro Wrestling History: NXT TakeOver: R Evolution

CONTACT INFORMATION