Daily Update: Bumblebee, Logan & Rowe, Asuka vs. Becky Lynch

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NEW JAPAN WORLD PRO WRESTLING AT 8 P.M. EASTERN TIME

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi in the G-1 finals

MLW ON BEIN SPORTS AT 8 P.M. EASTERN

  • Tom Lawlor vs. Simon Gotch no holds barred
  • Andrew Everett vs. Dezmond Xavier
  • DJZ vs. El Hijo de L.A. Park
  • Brian Pillman Jr. & Davey Boy Smith Jr vs. Tommy Dreamer & Barrington Hughes

CMLL TONIGHT AT ARENA MEXICO AT 9:30 P.M. EASTERN TIME 

  • Star Jr. & Robin vs. Raziel & Cancerbero
  • Blue Panther Jr. & Black Panther & Drone vs. Virus & Okumura & Kawato San
  • Triton & Titan & Esfinge vs. Polvora & Luciferno & Felino
  • Mephisto vs. Angel de Oro
  • Kraneo & Valiente & Stuka Jr. vs. El Terrible & Euforia & Rey Bucanero
  • Volador Jr. & Diamante Azul & Caristico vs. Penta 0M & Ultimo Guerrero & Cavernario

This is the quietest weekend of the year. Almost every major promotion is off and we just have the regular TV shows. No UFC, Bellator, WWE, or anything else aside from CMLL this weekend. WWE returns to action Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Recapping WWE TLC

When Daniel Bryan announced his emotional return to the ring, it was fairly inconceivable that he’d end up being a vicious and pompous environmentalist heel just eight months later. But the character change has revitalized Bryan and taken him to the highest points since the immediate aftermath of announcing his comeback. With Bryan completely buying into the change, “the new Daniel Bryan” has been far better in execution than it would have sounded on paper.

WON NEWSLETTER: December 24, 2018 Observer Newsletter: 7 entrants into the Hall of Fame

Our biggest issue of the year, the 2018 Hall of Fame issue of the Observer is out right now.

Read detailed bios of the seven new inductees, a voting breakdown, as well as a voting breakdown among reporters, historians, current business professionals and former business professionals as well as a breakdown of how all the top candidates did with every group.

Read the explanation of the criteria, the voting, who will be on next year’s ballot, who was dropped from this year’s ballot, with histories of wrestlers and wrestlers in different parts of the world in different eras.

Read full coverage of the TLC PPV, with match-by-match coverage, star ratings, poll results and business, as well as some decision making background.

Look at the changes going forward in ROH in 2019. Read about who is leaving, who is coming, the nature of the Sinclair ownership, how the changes in the industry are going to greatly affect the independent scene almost immediately, the grab for talent, ROH’s key signings and who is coming in that they haven’t signed, and look at the chances for AEW.

Read about the situations with Bandido and PCO, and also run down the Final Battle PPV from ROH with match-by-match coverage, 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. 

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 moonsault@mediaplusint.com. 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.

FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE

We’ll be doing a show tonight with Garrett Gonzalez and Will Cooling talking Hall of Fame, AEW, independent wrestling in 2018, the UK scene, and the changing television scene. You can send questions to the show to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com.

“Bumblebee” starring John Cena opens tonight around the country. As far as how good it does, they are going in with expectations of a $26 million three-day weekend and $40-45 million through Tuesday night.

Ray Rowe of the War Raiders and Sarah Bridges of the Riott Squad (Sarah Logan) were married today in a Viking-style wedding. Congratulations to both of them.

The Asuka vs. Becky Lynch match announcement and then it being taken back was a communications miscue. However, the card is being revamped so until after Christmas, they aren’t going to have it finalized one way or the other.

The biggest weekend event is probably Final Gate, which is the Dragon Gate show from Fukuoka on Sunday, which airs live on their streaming service, headlined by Dragon Kid putting up his mask against the hair of Eita.

AXS is airing two major matches over the next 24 hours. At 8 p.m. will be the G-1 finals with Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi. In the 5 a.m. Eastern time slot, they will be airing the only singles match ever between Tanahashi and Kenny Omega.

B.J. Whitmer, who worked as a producer, coach at the wrestling school and sometimes announcer with ROH, was officially released upon his request as of today. That would leave as many as two producer spots open since Christopher Daniels’ future with the company is up in the air.

Mayu Iwatani, the top star for Stardom, was injured last Saturday and will be out of action this weekend for the Stardom events. In a trios title defense by Iwatani & Saki Kashima & Tam Nakano, Nakano did a dive off the top rope to the floor, and after her opponents (Momo Watanabe, Utami Hayashishita & Konami) moved, she landed on Iwatani. She suffered an MCL sprain and is expected back in mid-January.

Beth Phoenix will be the first woman inducted into the Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame this coming summer. They also announced Brian Shields as this year’s James Melby Award winner.

WWE

  • The Ronda Rousey 24 documentary we had written about when it was being filmed, is scheduled to debut on the WWE Network after the Royal Rumble.

UFC

  • Jan Blachowicz vs. Thiago Santos was announced as the main event of the UFC show on 2/23 in Prague, Czech Republic.
  • Andrea Lee vs. Ashlee Evans-Smith has been added to the 2/17 show in Phoenix. 

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Bar Wrestling from last night in Los Angeles (Bayley was at the show signing autographs and taking photos with everyone, not an advertised appearance, she was just there as a fan since her fiance was working the show): Ray Rosas b Aaron Solow, Nicole Savoy won three-way over Delilah Doom and Shotzi Blackheart, PJ Black b Luchasaurus, Heather Monroe & Laura James b Yuma & Kevin Martinson, Eli Everfly b Jungle Boy, Scorpio Sky & Watts b Brody King & Tyler Bateman. They announced Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian for the 1/16 show at Baldwin Park in Los Angeles.
  • Jimmy Havoc vs. Ritchie Taylor and Robbie Eagles vs. Jett vs. Tyson are booked for the 1/12 Melbourne City Wrestling show.
  • Austin Aries, Jordynne Grace and Flip Gordon have been added to the World Series Wrestling March tour.
  • Ken Shamrock will be doing an indie show in Atlanta in February on the Thursday before the Super Bowl. It will be his first American pro wrestling match in a long time.
  • Powerslam.tv has added the most recent Defy show, Rise Ascent and the most recent AAW show to their service. 
  • Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Southwest High school in Pharr, TX did “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity” a pro wrestling play that was big several years ago, and used it as a submission for the Palms Award for outstanding fine arts stage and technical performance in the Rio Grande Valley. They purchased their own pro wrestling ring, learned WWE, Puerto Rico, Mexico and AWA wrestling and brought in a local pro wrestler to teach them safety in performing. We were told that directors Sergio Sauceda and Johnny Trillayes and producer Charlie Palacios deserve recognition for the show. (thanks to Calixto Gonzalez)
  • Chris Jericho will be doing a live Talk is Jericho show with Dory Funk Jr. on 1/12 at the BANG Sound Stage in Ocala, FL at 5 p.m. For more info you can call 352-895-4658. Tickets are $45 which will all to donations for Feed the Need, the Marion County Humane Society, School Superintendent’s Literacy Program and Champions for Champions (special needs programs).
  • Shane Strickland defends the PCW Ultra title against Matt Sydal on 1/18. Also on the show is Tessa Blanchard vs. Taya Valkyrie for the women’s title, Johnny Impact & PJ Black vs. Penta 0M & Rey Fenix, Jake Atlas vs. Eli Everfly vs. Oracle vs. Fidel Bravo for the vacant light heavyweight title, Garza Jr. vs. Sam Adonis and Sinn Bodhi vs. Michael Marshall.
  • River City Wrestling on 1/4 at Freetail Brewery in San Antonio at 7 p.m. with Abyss vs. Colt Cabana for the RCW title, Fallah Bahh & Rebel vs. Joey Spector & Barbi Hayden plus Laredo Kid and Hernandez are on the show.
  • Don Muraco has been announced as one of the announcers for the Uce Wrestling show tomorrow in Honolulu at Aloha Towers. The show will air as a tape delayed iPPV on FITE TV on Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern time.
  • Hoosier Pro Wrestling on 1/5 in Columbus, IN at the 4-H Fairgrounds.
  • Legacy Fighting on 1/25 in Albuquerque, NM at the Route 66 Casino Hotel, airing live on AXS, is headlined by Harvey Park (10-2) vs. Jaleel Willis (9-1) in a lightweight bout plus former UFC fighter Damacio Page (20-10) faces former Dream fighter Abel Cullum (21-7).
  • Courage Pro Wrestling on 2/17 in Hamilton,ONT headlined by Robbie E.
  • PWA in Australia is offering a free month of its streaming service at with the code pwsleigh. If you get it, the first match to watch is Will Ospreay vs. Robbie Eagles which was called the best match in Australia in years.
  • AAW on 12/29 has the Windy City Classic at Merrionette Park, IL, with Brody King defending the AAW title against Sami Callihan, DJZ defending the Heritage title against Bandido, Myron Reed & AR Fox defending the tag titles against Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz, ACH vs. Eddie Kingston, Jake Something & Curt Stallion & Quinn McKay vs. Davey Vega & Mat Fitchett & Scarlett Bordeaux, Kylie Rae vs. Kimber Lee for the women’s title and Jessicka Havok & Paco vs. Jimmy Jacobs & Josh Briggs in a double dog collar match.
  • Defy on 1/19 in Seattle at Washington Hall has its second anniversary show with Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky vs. Shane Strickland &Randy Myers & Schaff, plus Artemis Spencer defends his Defy title against Dezmond Xavier.
  • Thrash Wrestling on 1/26 in Penticton, BC at the Luso Canadian Multicultural Center with a tag team title tournament. They also run 1/25 in Vernon, BC at the Schubert Centre.
  • All Star Wrestling on 1/26 in Surrey, BC at the Alice McKay Building at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds with Adam Ryder vs. Artemins Spencer in a cage match.
  • Olde Wrestling out of Ohio which does pro wrestling with a 1920s theme, will debut on 3/30 in Detroit at the Whiskey Factory.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Jeff Jarrett wins USWA Southern title

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