Daily Update: Cena’s Instagram, Enzo injury, TNA tapings

THE ROUND-UP

The Latest from the F4W Staff

NEWS

AUDIO

We’re looking for reports on the Friday night WWE show in Columbus GA, last night’s WWE show in Bossier City, LA, today’s WWE shows in Mobile, AL and Lafayette, LA, as well as the TNA tapings today and tonight in Orlando, Revolution Pro and WCPW shows to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

We’re also looking for you throughts on the CMLL show on Friday night and the TNA PPV on Friday night, thumbs up, down or middle, best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

There is a big Raw episode Monday night in New Orleans with Roman Reigns vs. Chris Jericho & Kevin Owens in a handicap match for the U.S. title, plus appearances by Shawn Michaels and Undertaker. Smackdown has a house show on Monday in Lake Charles, LA.

Smackdown and 205 Live on Tuesday are from Baton Rouge, LA. Matches on Smackdown will be John Cena vs. Baron Corbin, Jason Jordan & Chad Gable vs. The Wyatt Family for the tag team titles and Nikki Bella vs. Natalya.

TNA also will be taping more television on Tuesday through Thursday in Orlando and we’re looking for reports on those shows.

FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: WWE’s transformative 2016

Though the malaise of three-hour Raws and seemingly constant content often made it difficult to appreciate in the moment, 2016 was a transformative year for WWE that featured high points in diverse in-ring action. Some of the same problems that have long existed still remain as we enter the New Year. Raws are, indeed, too long… Subscribers click here to continue.

WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: January 9, 2017 – Ronda Rousey loses potential final fight, NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 11 review

Coverage of Wrestle Kingdom at the Tokyo Dome and the legacy of Ronda Rousey are the lead stories in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. There are updates on the WWE WrestleMania situation, coverage of the Japanese New Year’s Eve Rizin show and its mix of fighting and pro wrestling theatrics.

The lead story talks about Amanda Nunes’ win over Rousey, the lack of promotion by Rousey, how the show did on PPV and television numbers, what happened in the fight, the coaching of Rousey, the Rousey fan base, Rousey in WWE, Rousey’s legacy in MMA, how the history of MMA could have changed greatly by different matchmaking, the myths of Rousey’s career and the reality.

Check out the plans for the 2018 WrestleMania and the big announcement coming, new inductee into WWE Hall of Fame, notes on WrestleMania activities, strange WWE injury story, notes on upcoming Raw episodes, some comedy regarding top WWE stars, WWE value, most watched shows on WWE Network, plus notes from all the holiday week house shows and business notes.

Finally, this issue contains full coverage of the Rizin weekend shows, as well as the business notes on the show and the different storylines, including who they are pushing as stars for the future as well as what they are looking at doing next. 

Click her for full preview.

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.

WON BACK ISSUE: December 12, 1999: WWF slightly tones down product, Vince Russo on WOL, more – After a week of bad publicity which sent sponsors running and sent its stock plummeting, the kinder, gentler WWF came back with a toned down SmackDown and a slightly toned down, although you’d have to examine to closely to notice, Raw show… Subscribers click here to continue.

SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer Radio covering all the weekend news. You can send questions to tonight’s show to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com.

Pro Wrestling

  • John Cena got a lot of attention by posting a photo of Kenny Omega on his Instagram account. The note is that he did the same thing last year with a photo of A.J. Styles. The difference is that was before the Rumble and it was common knowledge Styles was with WWE and debuting shortly. 
  • Enzo Amore suffered a legit knee injury on 12/30 in Los Angeles. He was on the road this weekend in Cass’ corner but was limping pretty heavily. No timetable for a return past he will be reevaluated in two weeks.
  • Baron Corbin has been moved to house main eventer this week. The Smackdown brand main events are now A.J. Styles vs. Corbin vs. John Cena. Dean Ambrose had been in the three-way main events, but he’s now working with new heel Dolph Ziggler.
  • Angelina Love did work earlier today at the afternoon TNA tapings. They did both an afternoon and evening taping today.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • AAW from last night in LaSalle, IL before 402 fans: Colt Cabana b Silas Young, Zachary Wentz b Ace Perry, Davey Vega & Mat Fitchett b Hooligans, Jessicka Havok b Taya, Nick Brubaker & CJ Esparza & Brett Gakiya b Arik Cannon & Spears & Beers, ACH b Jake Crist to retain the AAW Heritage title, Stephen Wolfe b Eddie Machete, Bucky Collins & Connor Braxton & Kody Rice b Louis Lyndon & Paco Alonzo & Marion Fontaine, Rey Fenix b Michael Elgin (apparently this match was tremendous), Sami Callihan b John Morrison to retain the AAW title with the stretch muffler submission. Next show is 1/20 in Chicago and 2/4 in LaSalle, IL. (thanks to Keith Lipinski)
  • NWA Big Apple on 1/27 in Hackensack, NJ at the High School with Tim Storm defending the NWA title against Charlie Haas of South Orange, NJ, plus women’s champion Jazz against Thunder Rosa (Kobra Moon in Lucha Underground) and tag team champions Rob Conway & Matt Riviera.
  • Legacy Fighting Alliance on 2/24 in Broomfield, CO at the 1st Bank Center live on AXS TV with Marcus Edwards (12-4) vs. Adam Townsend (16-4) in a lightweight main event.
  • Pure Pro Wrestling from Friday night in Birch Run, MI: Father Time b Xavier Justice, Palmer Cruise & Xavier Walker b James Alexander & Jeff Brooks, Cody Manning won over Malcolm Monroe III, Blake Acumen & Billy Ray Daniels & Alex Weir, Zach Gowen b Cody Manning, Heidi Katrina retained the CMLL International women’s title over Sybil Starr, Ace Evans & CJ Anderson won over Cobra TA & Nitro, Ray Orndorff & Denzel Titan & Dymond Kouture. (thanks to Leonard Brand)
  • Lucha Xtreme returns on 1/28 with a TV taping at the Hanford Civic Center in Hanford, CA. Best of the West has two tapings this month, a show tonight in Visalia, CA at 6 p.m. with Joey Ryan vs. Scorpio Sky, Wiseguy vs. Brandon Pinion and the debut of Jacob Fatu. They also run 1/22 in Fresno at the VFW Hall 8900. Their TV is moving from local TV to the Fite TV app with a new show every Tuesday at 7 p.m. They were announced as having a TV deal on the local NBC affiliate, but it fell through. (thanks to Jon Southerland)
  • Hoosier Pro Wrestling from last night in Columbus, IN before 160 fans: Cokle Ranick won four-way over Calvin Tankman, Kenny Cage and Kid Thunder, Drax O’Brien b Cousin Cooter-DQ, Flash Flanagan & TJ Kemp b JKO & Troy Van Zant, El Rayo b Guy Lombardo, Shawn Kemp b Jonathan Wolfe, Scarecrow Eddie Felson b Timy Danger, Cowboy Marc Houston b Dynamite Dillen. Next show is 2/4. (thanks to Jerry Wilson)

Today in Professional Wrestling History (1/8): Edge cashes in to win the WWE title

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