Daily Update: Hero to WWE, Mayor Booker, Lawler off Raw

THE ROUND-UP

The Latest from the F4W Staff

NEWS

AUDIO

We’ll be doing a poll for UFC 206, thumbs up, down or middle, best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

We’re looking for reports on the following shows to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com. 

  • WWE Raw in Lowell, MA (Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens)
  • WWE Smackdown in Norfolk 
  • NXT in Newcastle
  • NXT in Australia
  • NXT in Venice, FL
  • Raw in White Plains, NY (Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens)
  • Smackdown in Greeneville, NC
  • NXT in Gold Coast, Australia

FLO SPORTS SUBMISSION UNDERGROUND FROM PORTLAND, OREGON AT 5:30 P.M.

  • Jon Jones vs. Dan Henderson
  • Miesha Tate vs. Jessica Eye
  • Ronnie Markes vs. Jeff Monson

EVOLVE ON FLO SLAM ON SUNDAY AT 7 P.M. EASTERN FROM MELROSE MA

  • Darby Allin & Peter Kaasa vs. Chris Dickinson & Jake
  • Jeff Cobb vs. Fred Yehi
  • Chris Hero vs. Dustin
  • Dick Togo vs. Ethan Page
  • Ricochet vs. Matt Riddle
  • Tracy Williams vs. Drew Gulak

Monday has Raw in Philadelphia with New Day vs. Cesaro & Sheamus vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson in a three-way for the tag title as the main event. Jericho and Charlotte are both booked for TV. There is a Smackdown brand house show in Roanoke.

Tuesday has Smackdown in Washington, DC. Orton returns to the tour on that show. There is also an NXT show in Sydney, Australia.

FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: 12/05/2016: More history of pro wrestling in California

As 1979 went on, additional problems started to develop for promoters in California, but especially for Roy Shire in Northern California. Both wrestlers and promoters alike were revolting in different ways, and while the former was nothing new, the latter was a bit out of the ordinary. Shire had slowly been pulling out.. Subscribers click here to continue.

WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: December 12, 2016 Linda McMahon given Trump cabinet position, WWE TLC review, more

A look at Linda McMahon being named to Donald Trump’s cabinet is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer newsletter. Find out what has been said that is totally misleading about her background, the background of Vince McMahon buying the WWF, her previous comments on Trump and others from wrestling who have been in similar positions.

This issue contains TLC show run down, with poll results, match-by-match coverage with star ratings, notes on the next set of Smackdown angles, where Raw is going for the next PPV and business notes on the show.

News on the Jerry Lawler and Lita situation, an update on the Jimmy Snuka manslaughter case, lots of WWE Network news and new surveys, John Cena and Dwayne Johnson updates on work outside of wrestling, new bookings for Brock Lesnar and Bill Goldberg, notes on two athletes WWE is looking at signing, Olympic gold medalist getting a tryout, WWE star gets engaged, former WWE stars returning, WWE product commercial awarded, update on several injuries, and a look at the most watched shows on the WWE Network this past week, all in this big issue of the Observer.

Also, check out the business notes regarding all the WWE and NXT live arena events held around the world over the past week, including highlights of every show.

Have a look at ROH’s biggest event of the year, Final Battle, with a look at the show, contract updates, the story behind the Young Bucks vs. Hardys match, why Cody Rhodes turned, business notes and star ratings.

Coverage of the UFC TUF finale and the Demetrious Johnson vs. Tim Elliott title match, how close the Joseph Benavidez vs. Henry Cejudo fight really was, business notes on the show, and how much everyone on the show earned, all inside this issue.

Lastly, there are details on the ratings for all the national shows over the past week, including breakdown of who was watching all of the WWE shows, plus results of the major league arena events held all over the world this past week, as well as notes on the various TV shows… Subscribers click here to continue.

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:November 15, 1999: ECW November to Remember review, Dynamite Kid book, more – The most publicized story ever in North American pro wrestling, the tragic death of Owen Hart on 5/23, is brought vividly back to life with the documentary “The life and death of Owen Hart.” The one-hour piece, debuted in Ontario on TVO on 11/3, in the rest of Canada on 11/6 on the A Channel and will be part of A&E’s bio week on pro wrestling, with an 11/16 showing… Subscribers click here to continue.

SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

Booker T will be running for Mayor of Houston in 2020, as was announced last night on his radio show. 

John Cena got 50,000 searches for his Saturday Night Live appearance while the UFC show got 200,000, which is very low for a PPV show. Last night’s show was one of the best of the year but it’s pretty clear the interest in it way way lower than usual.

Tickets for Sunday’s Roadblock End of the Line show in Pittsburgh are being offered 2-for-1. That doesn’t sound like a good sign.

New Japan has a live press conference at 1 a.m. Eastern and 10 p.m. Pacific on New Japan World to announce the Tokyo Dome show. The press conference is in Japanese and often the New Japan press conferences aren’t the most exciting things in the world. From a ticket selling standpoint, I don’t know how this show will do. It doesn’t strike me as a big seller like shows in the recent past, but it is a tradition and the product has been very strong with Sumo Hall doing better than in it has years. As far as the show quality, it looks excellent up and down. This appears to be the main matches:

  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega for the IWGP heavyweight title
  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IC title
  • Katsuyori Shibata vs. Hirooki Goto for the Never Open weight title
  • Tama Tonga & Tanga Roa vs. Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma for the IWGP tag team titles
  • Kyle O’Reilly vs. Adam Cole for the ROH title
  • Kushida vs. Hiromu Takahashi (Kamaitachi) for the IWGP jr. title
  • Satoshi Kojima & Ricochet & David Finlay vs. Seiya Sanada & Evil & Bushi for the Never trios titles
  • Young Bucks vs. Rocky Romero & Baretta for the IWGP jr. tag titles

        Aside from the trios match, the rest of the matches look to be locks. There are a few more bouts that will be added. To me it lacks the outside New Japan stars in the key matches thus far. It’s too bad because Shibata against Katsuhiko Nakajima would have been a killer match.

WWE

  • Jerry Lawler was on Sports56 in Memphis yesterday and said Kevin Dunn called him and said that his salary was too large for the pre-game show and they were also getting rid of the pre-game show. Lawler said he’s under contract until January and said they will talk about a new deal, and talked that he may sign a talent contract and that Vince McMahon called him and told him he’s not done and told him the pre-game show was dropped as a cost-cutting measure and that he would remain the MC at the Hall of Fame ceremony. We’d been told Lawler would get a legends deal and would continue to MC the Hall of Fame and work some events for the company.
  • A.J. Styles is off the Smackdown weekend shows as already reported on Friday. The main event is Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt in a street fight.
  • The trailer for the 30 for 30 feature on the XFL that will air on ESPN is here.
  • In a funny note, they were giving away tickets for Monday’s Raw on WIP in Philadelphia and host Angelo Cataldi read the commercial for the show and listed the three top stars as “Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Keith Owens.” Nobody corrected him and it was clear nobody in the studio knew any different. (thanks to Joe McMenamin)

UFC

  • In predictions for last night’s UFC show: Mike Sawyer and John Pollock both went 4-1. Mike Sempervive, Steve Juon, Frontrow Brian and Paul Fontaine went 3-2. Josh Nason, me and David Bixenspan went 2-3. Ryan Frederick went 1-4  
  • Some media on Toronto Blue Jays star Josh Donaldson at last night’s UFC show is here.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Kamaitachi joined Los Ingobernables en Japon on yesterday’s show.
  • Regarding stories about Harley Race in a nursing home, he has been there because Leland Race, who takes care of him at home, was in Japan for the New Japan tag team tournament. Race is wheelchair bound.
  • An Amarillo TV station did a feature this weekend on Terry Funk, whose NWA title win over Jack Brisco took place 41 years ago yesterday.
  • A feature on Mario Milano, the Australian legend who passed way this weekend from when he was featured on their version of The Today show. 
  • Pro Wrestling Sheet reported that last night Shad Gaspard and former tag team partner JTG stopped at a gas station after doing a show in Florida. Gaspard went inside to get a drink while JTG stayed in the car. A man approached him in what was called a disrespectful manner and told him to buy him a beer. The guy pulled what looked to be a gun out of his pants. The man told Gaspard to leave because he was going to rob the place and Gaspard grabbed him and pulled the gun out of his hands, slammed the guys head into the door and pulled him outside and choked him. JTG then called the police. It turned out the man had an air-soft gun although Gaspard said he didn’t know any better. The man was taken into custody for attempted robbery.
  • Preston City Wrestling from Friday in Blackpool, England: Chris Ridgeway b Joey Hayes, Jimmy J b Ricky Knight, Iestyn Rees b Danny Hope to keep the PCW title, James Storm b Zak Knight, Ryback b Lionheart, Ashton Smith b Bubblegum to win the cruiserweight title. Ricky Knight, 62, the father of Paige, worked the show as a late replacement due to short notice withdrawals. Smith’s title win was a really good match with an expected win for him. (thanks to Jan Buxton)
  • Freelance Wrestling from Friday night in Chicago before about 400 fans, which was totally packed and the biggest crowd they’ve done: Stevie Fierce won six-way over Space Monkey, Kenny Sutra, Darren Corbin, Matt Cage and Alex Ohlson, Ethan Page won three-way over Arik Cannon and Heidi Lovelace (her last show before going to WWE and fans were chanting “Thank You Heidi” at her when it was over), NWords b Brubaker & Kobe Durst & Team Beta, Suge D b Christian Rose, Swoggle b Kikutaro, GPA b Mustafa Ali and Isaias Velazquez for the Freelance title. They announced this as Ali’s last match before going full-time to WWE, and announced that if he retained the title, they would have a Battle Royal for the vacant title on the January show. Said to be a fantastic 25:00 match with GPA pinning him. Ali said he had been told by WWE to finish up his indies on 11/30, but said he wanted to do this one last show and he thanked WWE for letting him finish up here. (thanks to Lance LeVine)
  • NWA Mid South from Friday night in Ripley, TN: Matt Taylor b EMT #1-COR, Johnny Morton b Step Daddy-DQ, Matt Taylor & Johnny Morton b Step Daddy & EMT #1, Greg Anthony b Jakob Edwinn, Sigmon & Elliott Russell (Heat Seekers) retained NWA tag titles b Rob Conway & Matt Riviera to win the NWA world tag team titles. They run every Friday night at the Power Pro Arena in Ripley.
  • Rey Fenix & Misterioso vs. Pentagon Jr. & Rayden headline 1/21 in San Diego for Baja Stars USA
  • There will be an iPPV on Thursday night from the DTU promotion. We don’t have more details other than Negro Casas vs Flamita vs. Ronnie Mendoza (who was in the cruiserweight classic) headline.
  • Carlito works a show on 12/16 in Texcoco, Mexico in a three-way with Alberto El Patron and L.A. Park.
  • Also on 12/16 at the Audiorio in Tijuana is El Hijo del Santo & Santo Jr. vs. Silver King & Silver King Jr. as the main event for Promociones Cholo.
  • The wXw title changed hands twice at yesterday’s 16th anniversary year-end show in Oberhausen, Germany. Marty Scurll won the title in a three-way from champion Jurn Simmons and the third guy was Adam Cole. Christian Jakobi, the CEO of wXw then came out and said that Scurll had to defend it next against Axel Dieter Jr., who then beat him for the title.  Jakobi plays a heel authority figure. David Starr won the Shotgun title in a four-way over former champion Chris Brookes, Da Mack and Pete Dunne. (thanks to Markus Gronemann)
  • Former TNA wrestler Chris Melendez won his first title for Conquer Pro Wrestling in Orlando over Jack Hurley, tapping him out to a submission involving both hands and his one leg.  Terrence & Terrell  Dudley (Devon’s sons, with Devon with them) also won their first titles over That Klassic Tag Team using the 3-D. (thanks to Matthew Carter)
  • Southern Illinois Championship Wresting from last night in East Carondelet, IL before a sellout 300 fans: Big Country Poe & Jimmy D b Gator & Curt Gannon, Bobby D b Big Texan-DQ, Sean Vincent & Gary Jackson b Curtis Wylde & Dave Vaughn, Johnny Blade b Moondog Rover, Marc Houston b Chris Harges, Kongo Kong b Sean McFarland, Superstar Steve Fender b Ken Kasa-DQ, Ron Powers b Vic the Bruiser. Jimmy Hart was the special guest and was involved in the main event finish. (thanks to Larry Matysik)
  • KDW from last night in Rochester, NY:  Victor Lord b Cloudy, Jordan Falco b Icon Ace, Wet Bandits b Interstate Educational System, Mattick b Bobby Dipinto, Jason Savior b Thomas Torrens & Bam Bam, Cheech won seven-way over Black Lightning, Box, Kris Worthless, Coleman Jackson, Charlie Locke and Fireheart, Jeremy Jensen b Chris Cayden to win the KDW title. (thanks to Todd Brantley) 
  • CWE has announced that ACH is off their 1/20 and 1/21 shows in Winnipeg and Thunder Bay, ONT. He will still be working for the group from 1/10 to 1/19. The promotion announced that Teddy Hart would take his place on the Winnipeg and Thunder Bay shows.
  • Santino Marella talks the WWE developmental incident where he was slapped three times by Jim Cornette which led to Cornette getting fired and Marella getting a try out.  
  • Santino Marella gives his opinion on CM Punks recent UFC fight.

Today in Professional Wrestling History (12/11): TNA Final Resolution 2011

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