Daily Update: Motion to dismiss concussion lawsuit filed by 3 former WWE superstars

We’re looking for reports tonight on the ROH television tapings in Nashville (Young Bucks vs. Briscoes, Veda Scott vs. Heidi Lovelace, ODB vs. Taeler Hendrix plus Matt Sydal, Rocky Romero, Trent Baretta, Chris Sabin, Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong, Michael Elgin, Jay Lethal, Moose, ACH, Adam Page, Kenny King, Rhett Titus, Dalton Castle, Donovan Dijak, Silas Young, Ray Rowe, Hanson and more) and the NXT house show in Venice, FL at Dave Meltzer

We’ll be doing polls this weekend on only the Survivor Series.

Tons of events this weekend:

NEW JAPAN WORLD PRO WRESTLING RETURNS AT 8 P.M. EASTERN (one hour early) ON AXS TV

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. A.J. Styles for IWGP heavyweight title

BELLATOR TONIGHT ON SPIKE TV AT 9 P.M. EASTERN AND PACIFIC

Houston Alexander (202) vs. Guilhereme Viana (204.8)

Chidi Njokuani (170) vs. Ricky Rainey (170.8)

Bubba Jenkins (146) vs. Jordan Parsons (145.8)

Derek Campos (153.6) vs. Brandon Girtz (155.8)

Hisako Kato (185.8) vs. Melvin Manhoef (185)

LION FIGHTS (MUAY THAI) ON AXS TV AT 9 P.M. EASTERN

WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING TONIGHT ON NBC SPORTS NETWORK

Prelims at 8 p.m. Eastern/5 p.m. Pacific as WSOF.com

LaRue Burley (155.5) vs. Ramil Mustapayev (155.3) in the tournament reserve fight.  Burley was supposed to face Joe Condon, who was moved into the tournament.  Mustapayev was to face Benny Madrid, who fainted while cutting weight and was hospitalized.

Islam Mamedov (155.6) vs. Jorge Patino (154.9) in first round of lightweight tournament

Joe Condon (155.8) vs. Mike Ricci (155.9) in first round of lightweight tournament.  Condon replaced Brian Cobb, who didn’t make weight, was announced as being ill, and has been cut by the promotion

Brian Foster (155.8) vs. Joao Zeferino (156) in first round of lightweight tournament

Luis Palomino (155.7) vs. Rich Patishnock (155.7) in first round of lightweight tournament

Jimmy Scully (165.4) vs. Roberto Yong (161.7)

Joseph Barajas (135.7) vs. Erik Villalobos (136)

Live on NBC  Sports Network at 11 p.m. Eastern/8 p.m. Pacific

Tournament semifinals

Jason High (155.78) vs. Estevan Payan (155.2)

Tournament finals

NEW JAPAN TAG LEAGUE 2015 OPENING NIGHT AT 4:30 A.M. EASTERN AND 1:30 A.M. PACIFIC TONIGHT/TOMORROW MORNING FROM KORAKUEN HALL IN TOKYO ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

David Finlay & Mascara Dorada vs. Sho Tanaka & Yohei Komatsu

Tiger Mask & Juice Robinson vs. Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian

Captain New Japan & Kushida & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Matt Taven & Michael Bennett & Gedo

Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi & Jay White vs. A.J. Styles & Bad Luck Fale & Yujiro Takahashi & Tama Tonga & Cody Hall

Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Toru Yano & Kazushi Sakuraba in tournament

Tetsuya Naito & Evil vs. Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson in tournament

Hirooki Goto & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Tomohiro Ishii in tournament

Hiroshi Tanahashi & Michael Elgin vs. Kazuchika Okada & Yoshi-Hashi in tournament

We’ll be looking for reports on Saturday’s NXT show in Fort Pierce, FL.

UFC FROM MONTERREY MEXICO

Fight Pass at 6:30 p.m. EASTERN

Valmir Lazaro vs. Michel Prazeres

Cesar Arzamendia vs. Polo Reyes

Alvaro Herrera vs. Vernon Ramos

FS 1 at 8 p.m.

Gabriel Benitez vs. Andre Fili

Scott Jorgensen vs. Alejandro Perez

Bartosz Fabiniski vs. Hector Urbina

Erik Perez vs. Taylor Lapilus

Efrain Escudero vs. Leandro Silva

Enrique Barzola vs. Horacio Gutierrez in TUF Latin America lightweight final

Enrique Marin vs. Erick Montano in TUF Latin America welterweight final

Henry Cejudo vs. Jussier Formiga da Silva

Ricardo Lamas vs. Diego Sanchez

Kelvin Gastelum vs. Neil Magny

NEW JAPAN TAG LEAGUE 2015 FROM TOYOHASHI AT 3 A.M. EASTERN AND MIDNIGHT PACIFIC LATE SATURDAY NIGHT ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

Tiger Mask & Kushida & Sho Tanaka vs. Ryusuke Taguchi & Mascara Dorada & Yohei Komatsu

Katsuyori Shibata & Jay White vs. Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian

Matt Taven & Michael Bennett & Gedo vs. Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows & Cody Hall

Hirooki Goto & Captain New Japan vs. Tetsuya Naito & Evil

Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi in tag tournament

Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. A.J. Styles & Yujiro Takahashi in tag tournament

Kazuchika Okada & Yoshi-Hashi vs. Bad Luck Fale &  Tama Tonga in tag tournament

Hiroshi Tanahashi & Michael Elgin & Juice Robinson vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano

WWE SURVIVOR SERIES FROM ATLANTA AT 7:30 P.M. EASTERN

Semifinals and finals of WWE heavyweight title tournament – Semifinals are Roman Reigns vs. Alberto Del Rio and Kevin Owens vs. Dean Ambrose

Undertaker & Kane vs. 2 members of the Wyatt family

Charlotte vs. Paige for Divas title

Dolph Ziggler vs. Tyler Breeze

5 vs. 5 elimination match participants to be named

NEW JAPAN TAG LEAGUE 2015 FROM MIE AT 2 A.M. EASTERN AND 11 P.M. PACIFIC LATE SUNDAY NIGHT

Tournament matches:

Bennett & Taven vs. Evil & Naito

Daniels & Kazarian vs. Tanahashi & Elgin

Goto & Shibata vs. Anderson & Gallows

Raw will be live on Monday night from Nashville.

NEW JAPAN TAG LEAGUE 2015 FROM ISHIKAWA AT 4:30 A.M. EASTERN AND 1:30 A.M. PACIFIC EARLY TUESDAY/LATE MONDAY

Tournament matches:

Daniels & Kazarian vs. Fale & Tonga

Bennett & Taven vs. Gallows & Anderson

Nagata & Nakanishi vs. Okada & Yoshi-Hashi

Figure Four Weekly:

Figure Four Weekly (11/16/15): Rey Mysterio vs. Low-Ki and The Anatomy of a Dream Match
A road report for Jersey All-Pro Wrestling’s 19th Anniversary show takes a deep look at the latest match in Rey Mysterio’s dream match tour vs. Low-Ki.

Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

We have one of the biggest issues of the year, with such a huge news week this past week.  We look at exactly what went into Holly Holm’s victory over Ronda Rousey, a story on the life and times of Nick Bockwinkel, the Reid Flair angle and build to Survivor Series, Destination America dropping wrestling, and the 104-year-old attendance record being broken, as well as the story behind the firing of Billy Gunn, an update on The Rock at WrestleMania, La Sombra to WWE, the AAA world title gets decided and a lot more are headline stories in the new double issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter which is on the site right now.

If you have an interest in history, this is a huge issue, as well as a perspective on what happened in the most talked about UFC fight in history.

We look at the fight, the background of Holly Holm, what is going on in Rousey’s life, what led to the upset, thoughts on a rematch, what it means for business, the early business notes on the fight including where PPV may come in, previous fights like this, and what happened after the fight. We look at UFC’s biggest upsets, the gambling perspective, rematch odds, business notes and match-by-match coverage with poll results.

The life and times of Nick Bockwinkel is one of the best bios we’ve done, with comments from people whose careers he has touched, my own personal thoughts on Bockwinkel, what current WWE superstar had his career path changed greatly because of a suggestion by Bockwinkel to an independent promoter, a look at his life, his career, some of his most famous matches, his career title history, the controversy over Hulk Hogan not getting the AWA title, his place in the business when it changed and life after wrestling.

We also look at the Reid Fliehr angle, how it was set up, comments by Ric Flair, how ESPN got exposed in its wrestling coverage, the Owen Hart DVD and more.

PLUS MUCH MORE! CLICK HERE FOR A FULL WRESTLING OBSERVER PREVIEW

The Latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter: November 23, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Holm defeats Rousey, Nick Bockwinkel passes away, more

You can also order the print Observer right now and get it delivered to your door via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to dave@wrestlingobserver.com” target=”_blank”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com

You can also order print issues at www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

Rates are:

For the United States, it is $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 get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today.  With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today. We’ve got coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits into those descriptions over the past 11 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue.

Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.

TODAY’S DAILY UPDATE

  • We will have radio shows tomorrow night covering the UFC show, Sunday night covering Survivor Series and Monday night covering Raw.  I’ll be talking a lot more about the Raw angle tomorrow.  
  • Jerry McDevitt has filed two major motions this past week.  On Monday he failed a 49-page motion attempting to get the concussion lawsuit filed by Russ McCullough, Ryan Sakoda  (Kejii Sakoda) and Matt Wiese (Luther Reigns) dropped due to the claim it is time barred by Connecticut law that states a plaintiff has two yeas from the date he or she has sustained an injury to bring a negligence claim..  None of the three have performed in a WWE ring since 2005. 
  • McDevitt also filed a 51-page motion to oppose Konstantine Kyros’ attempt to get the lawsuit filed by WWE against Bob Windham (Blackjack Mulligan) dismissed
  • A.J. Brooks, married to CM Punk, known as A.J. Lee during her time with WWE, has signed a deal to write an autobiography for Penguin Random House books for publication in the spring of 2017.
  • Paul Lazenby has released a book “When We Were Bouncers” in paperback about famous people in wrestling and MMA that worked as bouncers in their younger lives telling stories.  The link to buy on Amazon is below. 

WWE

  • Barring a last minute change, the originally planned Sasha Banks vs. Natalya match that was going to be the preshow match on Sunday is off.  The match was never advertised and no angles were shot to promote it this week and it’s been confirmed it’s off the current lineup for the show.
  • The stock up was 13 cents per share today to $17.25.
  • Tickets for the next NXT tapings, on 1/22 (the Friday night before Royal Rumble) at the University of Central Florida Gym, are on sale now with the code NXTLive

UFC/MMA

Josh Thompson (21-8, 1 no contest) vs. Pablo Villaseca (10-1)

Georgi Karakhanyan (24-4-1) vs. Daniel Weichel (35-9)

Patricky Pitbull Freire (14-6) vs. Derek Anderson (12-2, 1 no contest)

Virgil Zwicker (14-4-1) vs. Brian Rogers (11-8)

Adam Piccolotti (6-0 vs. Mario Soto (6-1)

MISCELLANEOUS

  • The Indianapolis Star today has a story on Dick the Bruiser, the city’s wrestling legend
  • Former K-1 star Narantungalag Jadambaa (imagine having to announce that name) faces Marat Gafurov for the One featherweight title in Beijing China tomorrow.  Both weighed in today at 145 pounds.  The co-main event has Adriano Mores vs. Kairat Akhmetov for the flyweight title.
  • NWA Mid South on 12/4 in Tunica, MS at the Resorts Casino with Matt Sydal vs. Kincaid plus Rob Conway, Matt Riviera, Jim Cornette and Moose.
  • Metro Pro Wrestling on 12/5 in Kansas City at the Turner Rec Center with Jeremy Wyatt vs. Mark Sterling in a 60 minute Iron man match, plus Ace Steel vs. Ricky Morton.
  • Premier Wrestling Experience on 12/19 in Charlotte at the Hickory National Guard Armory has a Toys for Tots drive show.

ON THIS DAY IN PRO WRESTLING HISTORY INTERNATIONAL (thanks to Graeme Cameron)

1970 – John Tolos beat La Pantera Negra in Los Angeles to win the United National title

1972 – Jim Breaks beat Bill Ross in Nottingham to unify the British and European lightweight titles

1985 – Solar beat Cachorro Mendoza in Mexico City to win the UWA welterweight title

1992 – Super Deflin beat Pantera II in Tokyo to win the UWA super welterweight title

1995 – Shark Tsuchiya beat Megumi Kudo in Sendai to win the WWA independent women’s title

1998 – Hiromichi Fuyuki beat Hayabusa in Yokohama to win the FMW World Brass Knux title