Daily Update: Booker T & Graves, Rosemary injury, UFC in Chicago

THE ROUND-UP

THE LATEST NEWS

THE LATEST AUDIO

We’re looking for reports from today’s WWE afternoon shows with Raw in Omaha, Smackdown in Little Rock and NXT in Knoxville to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

NEW JAPAN FROM KORAKUEN HALL AT 5:30 A.M. MONDAY MORNING ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Shota Umino & Tetsuhiro Yagi & Ren Narita
  • Manabu Nakanishi & Tomoyuki Oka vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Hikuleo
  • Katsuya Kitamura vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan
  • Rocky Romero & Sho & Yoh vs. Taichi & Desperado & Taka Michinoku
  • Juice Robinson & Toa Henare vs. Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano
  • Michael Elgin & Togi Makabe & Kushida vs. Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Jay White vs. David Finlay
  • Kazuchika Okada & Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi & Will Ospreay & Gedo vs. Tetsuya Naito & Seiya Sanada & Evil & Bushi & Hiromu Takahashi in an elimination match

Raw will be Monday night in Des Moines. Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt has been announced and there will be two more elimination chamber qualifying matches. 

NEW JAPAN FROM KORAKUEN HALL AT 5:30 A.M. TUESDAY MORNING ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask & Kushida vs. Shota Umino & Tetsuhiro Yagi & Ren Narita
  • Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Tomoyuki Oka vs. Hikuleo & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Manabu Nakanishi vs. Katsuya Kitamura
  • Rocky Romero & Sho & Yoh vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Desperado & Taka Michinoku
  • Juice Robinson & David Finlay & Toa Henare vs. Jay White & Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii
  • Michael Elgin & Togi Makabe & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka & Taichi
  • Yoshi-Hashi & Will Ospreay & Gedo vs. Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi & Bushi
  • Evil & Sanada vs. Kazuchika Okada & Evil for IWGP tag titles

Smackdown is Tuesday in Kansas City with Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn with the winner facing A.J. Styles for the WWE title at Fast Lane, Bobby Roode vs. Rusev for the U.S. title, Kalisto vs. Lince Dorado and Hideo Itami vs. Roderick Strong in the cruiserweight title tournament plus Jimmy Uso & Naomi vs Goldust & Mandy Rose in the Mixed Match Challenge.

​F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Rousey’s arrival highlights big Royal Rumble Weekend

The most newsworthy week in recent WWE history capped off with Ronda Rousey appearing at the end of the Royal Rumble on Sunday night. Instead of participating in the women’s Royal Rumble match itself, Rousey closed the show with an appearance that initially did little to reveal what’s next for her in WWE. She came out to “Bad Reputation” by Joan Jett, her old UFC walkout song, while wearing one of Roddy Piper’s leather jackets. 

WON NEWSLETTER: February 5, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Rebirth of the XFL, Ronda Rousey signs WWE contract

Coverage of some of what will be the biggest stories of the year is in a giant news double issue of the Observer this week.

Our lead story covers the WWE PPV appearance of Ronda Rousey, the plans for her, her training, why this was the perfect timing for WWE, a look at other fighting celebrities in pro wrestling, where she is most valuable to the company and thoughts on if she’ll be a success or not, including what has to be guarded against.

This issue contains the most in-depth look at the old XFL, Vince McMahon’s new XFL, what went wrong the first time, and whether the 180 degree about-face will work. Also, look at the differences in the landscape between then and now, and what the real keys are to success or failure.

Detailed coverage of the Royal Rumble, including a chart on both Rumble matches, records for the Rumble, business from the Rumble, who put the Rumble together, notes on the surprises, Rey Mysterio and his current situation, changes made the day of the show, plans for Elimination Chamber an updated WrestleMania card, and match-by-match coverage with poll results and star ratings.

Read about the Takeover show in Philadelphia, what did and didn’t work, business notes, probable directions coming out of it with match-by-match coverage and star ratings.

Look at the making of the Daniel Cormier vs. Stipe Miocic fight and UFC’s plans for as many as three champion vs. champion matches on the July show. Also look at the Cormier/Cain Velasquez dynamic with both men commenting as well as the new season of Ultimate Fighter.

Have a look at New Japan Pro Wrestling, with the Omega-Cody angle, a twist that wasn’t on television in Sapporo, ticket sales for Long Beach and putting that into perspective, an update on Hiroshi Tanahashi and when he’s scheduled to return, the Bullet Club breakup angle, the three different incredible sell jobs of the weekend and how they are different, the business from the two Sapporo events, the lineup for this week’s New Japan World live shows, and coverage of both Sapporo shows, with star ratings and poll results.

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. 

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WON BACK ISSUE: January 15, 2001 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2000 Year End Awards, final ECW PPV reviewed, plus tons of news

In what may have been the swan song of the promotion, ECW promised a “holy shit” surprise, which prompted debates over methods of promotion today as well as if there is any future left with the company in the wake of losing its New York television, cancelling next month’s PPV and not even producing a new TV show in the go-home week before a PPV show.

SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

Our weekend Observer radio show is up right now.

Booker T on his radio show claimed that the reason he was let go from announcing Raw was because there was fear he would beat up Corey Graves and said if he catches Corey Graves on the street he’s going to do something to do him. He’s not going to do it at work or at the arena. He is still working with WWE and will be doing pregame show panel stuff after being taken off the Raw commentary for Jonathan Coachman.

Jumanji this weekend became the first movie in 20 years to be released in December and still be No. 1 for a full weekend in February. The previous one was The Titanic. The movie is estimated to do $11 million this weekend, beating Maze Runner: The Death Cure at $10.2 million.

Rosemary from Impact was injured last night in a match with Jessicka Havok on an AAW show in LaSalle, IL. They were about 3:00 into the match when she was injured, and went right to the finish. Rosemary kicked Havok, and got hurt and rolled out of the ring. They could tell she was hurt, she immediately took a tombstone piledriver and the match ended. Havok broke character and helped her to the back. She couldn’t put any weight on her right leg. (thanks to Sean Becker)

Colby Covington, who is the No. 3 contender for the UFC welterweight title, worked a match on the Wrestle Pro show last night in Rahway, NJ, beating an opponent called Tyquil Woodley, a takeoff on Nyquil and Tyron Woodley. Covington has been doing stuff for months with TNA.

Dick Beyer received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays from the Japanese consul general in New York in a ceremony that took place yesterday in Buffalo. Beyer said that he hopes to attend the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and that when he’s there he can coach amateur wrestlers.

UFC announced a PPV show on 6/9 in Chicago and the belief is that C.M. Punk will be fighting on the show. Punk teased as much on Twitter. 

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Wrestle Pro taped stuff for Impact and the Impact twitch channel (will air this coming week) last night in Rahway, NJ before 1,000 fans: Johnny Clash b CPA, Team Espana b Beach Bums and Job Security, Chris Queleling & Delroy & Habib b Kevin Matthews & Chris Steeler & Talon, Colby Covington b Tyquil Woodley, Matt Sydal & Chris Payne b Heavenly Bodies, Moose b Shawn Donovan, Alberto El Patron b Fallah Bahh, Bobby Wayward b Teddy Hart, Craig Steele over Buster Jackson, John Hartnett, Joe Keys, Richard Sharp, and Micah Jennings, Anthony Bowens won three-way over Eli Drake and Matt MacIntosh, Johnny Impact b Dan Maff, Tenille Dashwood (Emma) b Angelina Love. (thanks to Bob Nichnadowcz)
  • Defy Wrestling from Friday night in Seattle before a sellout of 700 fans: Schaff b Dave Turner, Nicole Matthews b Hawlee Layne, Artemis won elimination match, Penta 0M & Rey Fenix b Amerikan Gunz, Brody King b ACH, Joey Janela b Randy Myers, Shane Strickland b Matt Sydal to keep the Defy title. Penta & Fenix were surprises and they got an incredible reaction.
  • Revolution Pro from today in London: Kurtis Chapman won three-way over Flash Morgan Webster and Chris Brookes, Josh Bodom b Dan Magee, Adam Brooks b Phantasmo, David Starr b Speedball Mike Bailey, Sammii Jaynes b Nina Samuels, Aussie Open b Gideon Gray & No Fun Dunne, Zack Sabre Jr. b Travis Banks (best match on show). (thanks to Ben Hart)
  • The MLW lineup for Thursday at Gilt Nightclub in Orlando has four first-round matches in their title tournament with Matt Riddle vs. Jeff Cobb, MVP vs. Tom Lawlor, Shane Strickland vs. Brody King and Jimmy Havoc vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman, along with Sami Callihan vs. Darby Allin, Austin Aries vs. ACH, Priscilla Kelly vs. Chelsea Green, Jimmy Yuta & Jason Cade vs. Simon Gotch & Seth Petruzelli and Mike Parrow & ? vs. Saieve Al Sabah & Vandal Ortagun.
  • Highlights from the last PWG show.
  • HWP and WWP on 2/10 in Hamilton, ONT at The Jet Hall.
  • Santino Brothers Wrestling on Friday night in Belle Gardens, CA: Jake Atlas b Matt Vandagriff, Hoss Hogg & Jesse James b Delilah Doom & Eli Everfly, Douglas James b Tyler Bateman-DQ. (thanks to Jake Koch)
  • Femmes Fatales 20 on 2/24 in Ottawa at the Vanier Columbus Club has Mercedes Martinez vs. Vanessa Kraven, Nicole Savoy vs. Tessa Blanchard and Jessicka Havok vs. Samantha Heights.
  • Gina Carano is starring in a movie called “Scored Earth” about a bounty hunter in post-apocalyptic times. The movie wasn’t screened for critics.
  • EPW from last night in Perth, Australis before 400-500 fans: Scotty Ryan b Taylor King, Tyler Jacobs & Dan Steel & Jarred Slate b DelCano & Taco Nacho & Allyson Cruz, Tipane NC Jonathan Wimbledon, David Nero won three-way over Kiel Steria and Jay Taylor, Julian Ward b Gavin McGavin-DQ, Warship b Davis Storm, Logan Grey & Alex Kingston b Marcius Pitt & Damien Slater in a Three Stages of Hell mach. Second and third falls of the main event, a tornado match and a street fight, said to be excellent. Pitt and Slater debut with New Japan on the Australia tour in a few weeks and they were pushing for a match with the Young Bucks. They were pushing future New Japan and Progress dates. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • AAW from last night in LaSalle, IL before 400 fans: Myron Reed b Trey Miguel, Dave & Jake Crist b Zero Gravity, Trevor Lee b Shane Strickland, Ace Romero won over Dante Leon, Donovan Danhausen, Space Monkey, Sage Cainan, MJL and Gringo Loco, Jeff Cobb b A.R. Fox, Sami Callihan b Matt Riddle, Mike Hartenbower & Kody Rice & Paco & Mat Fitchett b Brubaker & Connor Braxton & Curt Stallion & Jake Something, Penta 0M b Eddie Kingston, Jessicka Havok b Rosemary to keep the AAW title, ACH b Rey Fenix to win the AAW title with a brainbuster (thanks to David Gould)
  • Stardom today in Kobe: AZM & Momo Watanabe & HZK b Starlight Kid & Xia Brookside & Miranda, Kagetsu & Sumire Natsu & Hana Kimura b Jungle Kyona & Natsuko Tora & Kaori Yoneyana, Mayu Iwatani & Tam Nakano & Mary Apache b Shiki Shibusawa & Konami & Hiromi Mimura, Viper b Kay Lee Ray, Io Shirai b Nicole Savoy. Momo Watanabe issued a challenge to Shirai after the match. (thanks to Jake Koch)
  • I Believe in Wrestling from Friday night in Orlando: Richard King b Jay Sky, Jason Dugan & Rey Xion b Slade Porter & Anthony Campos, Renee Michelle b Chelsea Durden, Chico Adams b Andrew Maerlin, Carlos Gabriel b Mike Austin, Jesse Neal b Faris Hakeem, Amber Nova & Axx Clover b Chasyn Race & Jerrelle Clark, Aaron Eric b Deon James.
  • Best of the West has a live TV taping on 2/10 in Merced, CA at American Legion Post 83 with Eli Drake vs. JR Kratos. It will air live at 9 p.m. Eastern on Twitch. It will build for an iPPV show on 3/17 at Fresno City College with Drake, James Storm and Funnybone on Fite TV.
  • Lucha Xtreme TV results from yesterday in Fresno: Matt Vandergrift b Alfonso Alvarez, Calder McCall b Snipes, Koto Hiro b Shaggy McLovin to win TV title. (thanks to Jon Southerland)
  • Austin Aries was announced for the 3/24 show in Christchurch, New Zealand for the UCW group on a show called Cyberlsam.
  • EWF from last night in Covina, CA before a sellout 250 fans: Dicky Mayer b Akiyori Takizawa (from the K Dojo promotion in Japan), Maritza Janett b Allie Parker, Jorel Nelson & Devioin Foreman b Che Cabrera & Rico Dynamite, A Broomstick (Andy Brown) b Fidel Bravo-DQ, Adrian Quest b Shunsuke Sayama (From K Dojo), Super Beatle b Ty Ray in a loser leaves EWF tables match. A Broomstick stemmed from an angle on a prior show where Fidel Bravo said he could wrestle a broomstick and have a good match, but when the match was to start, Andy Brown came out with a mask saying his wrestling name was A Broomstick.
  • Hoosier Pro Wrestling from last night in Columbus, IN: Dillen Swango d Buck Sexto, Echo the Clown b Scarecrow, Drax O’Brien b Fireball, Lightning Bolt b JC Bunyan, Butcher Manson b Duke the Nuke, Flash Flanagan & Ace Jackson b Kenny Kage & Tim Lutz, Omega Pit Bull b Vic the Bruiser in a strap match. Next show is 3/3 at the 4-H Fairgrounds in Columbus, IN.
  • C4 on 3/17 in Ottawa at the Vanier Columbus Club with Kobe Durst vs. Mathieu St-Jacques.
  • XICW on 3/11 in Fraser, MI at the Lio Club Banquet Hall with Shane Douglas, Jimmy Jacobs and Kongo Kong. 
  • Trina Michaels interview where she talks about wanting to work with Joey Ryan and 2018 likely being her last year in wrestling.

Today in Professional Wrestling History: Sabu & The Tazmaniac win ECW Tag Team titles

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

Support the Empire~! with F4W shirts. Grab yours today!

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