Daily Update: John Cena guest hosts Today Show, OneFC weight cutting reform

  • F4W Staff
  • By 

UFC Tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1 is their “Best of 2015” special. Hosts Kenny Florian and Daniel Cormier, along with Karyn Bryant and Ariel Helwani, take a look at the UFC’s best fights and fighters in 2015, and preview the biggest bouts coming up in 2016.

NXT at 8:00 p.m. ET on WWE Network consists of the non-TakeOver matches taped last week in London: The Hype Bros vs. The Vaudevillains vs. Chad Gable & Jason Jordan vs. Blake & Murphy, Elias Samson vs. Bull Dempsey, and Sami Zayn vs. Tye Dillinger.

WWE Tribute to the Troops.at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on USA Network is the show that was taped two weeks ago in Jacksonville.

ROH at midnight ET/PT on COMET has Caprice Coleman vs. Will Ferrara, The All Night Express vs. Donovan Dijak & Ken Phoenix, and a ten man tag with Mark Briscoe, Moose, Roderick Strong, Cedric Alexander, and Matt Jackson vs. Cliff Compton, Jay Briscoe, Adam Page, Cheeseburger, and Jay Lethal.

Figure Four Weekly

Figure Four Weekly (12/21/15): Hulk Hogan and Nelson Frazier Lawsuit Updates
Transcript gives new insight into the FBI/Gawker dispute, plus WWE gives us a peek at what their termination notices look like in the Nelson Frazier wrongful death lawsuit.

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Conor McGregor winning the UFC featherweight title, the story behind UFC 194 and the path of Roman Reigns to the WWE title are the lead stories in the new double issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter with coverage of so many major shows over the past week.

We look at McGregor’s financial  goals, the business of UFC 194 and the records set, early PPV projections, what is next for McGregor, TV viewership numbers in the U.S. and Brazil, , as well as the path of McGregor to being the No. 1 male star in the promotion.  We look at Frankie Edgar as a contender, potential of UFC 200 if Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor are booked on the same show, the last two PPV shows, Rousey vs. McGregor as draws, Luke Rockhold’s middleweight title win, looking at the Yoel Romero vs. Chris Weidman judging and the future of the middleweight division.

We also look at the path of Roman Reigns to the WWE title, the increased viewership on Raw, where the new viewers came from and how viewership differed from recent weeks.  We look at the reaction to Reigns, and the storylines that led to that reaction.

We’ve also got complete rundowns on WWE TLC, NXT Takeover, as well as all three UFC events, including match-by-match coverage, business notes, star ratings and more.

We also have a look at Mauro Ranallo’s signing with WWE, his background, how the deal came to fruition and the path from announcing pro wrestling on TV while a teenage on national television in  Canada to the WWE 30 years ago, with stops in kickboxing, MMA and boxing in between.

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

The Latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter: December 21, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Conor McGregor wins UFC Featherweight title, Roman Reigns WWE Champion

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 Meltzer

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. 

Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.

Check out the latest Online Wrestling Observer BACK ISSUE: November 9, 1998 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Jesse Ventura wins Minnesota Governor election, WCW trailing WWF, more
Jesse Ventura becomes the Governor of Minnesota, WCW begins trailing WWF, ECW November to Remember recap, plus tons of news.

TODAY’S DAILY UPDATE

WWE/Pro Wrestling

  • John Cena, who returns on Raw Monday with a US Title match versus Alberto Del Rio, will guest-host the Today Show on Monday and Tuesday.
  • In what has turned out to be news to several in TNA, last night’s show is up not only on demand but in HD on the POP TV website.  POP is available in more of the country than Destination America, but if you don’t get the channel, last night’s show is up there and hopefully all future shows will be as well.
  • We also got a lot of complaints about the picture quality of the TNA show last night.  Because POP TV used to be the TV Guide channel, the channel guide is still up there and takes up the bottom ⅓ of the screen.  We have gotten reports from people who did not see the channel guide, and we are told that there are two POP TV channels, one with the channel guide and one without.  You can check to see if you have both on your cable system.  Some people do, but most seem to have either one or the other.
  • It also appears TNA will be airing a live PPV on January 8th at 8 PM.  It’s titled TNA One Night Only LIVE from Bethlehem, PA.
  • Jeff Hardy was on Ric Flair’s podcast and said there was a “huge possibility” that he might return to WWE down the road.  He said he and Matt would love to end their careers in WWE and have one more series of matches with the Dudley Boys.  
  • Blog on the Forbes site says Brock Lesnar is the Superstar of the Year.
  • Mike Tenay talks breaking into pro-wrestling plus his Las Vegas gambling podcast.
  • LA Weekly has a story on WWE wrestlers on the comedy scene, including Dolph Ziggler.
  • Although it’s a holiday week, the only changes to the programming schedule are as follows:

* The Christmas Eve Bryan and Vinny Show will be our annual CHRISTMAS SHOW, two hour of drunken revelry and special guests

* Christmas Day’s Wrestling Observer Live will be a replay

* After Dark Radio Sunday will be a replay

All other shows will be on as scheduled.

  • Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle and NFL Players Association President Eric Winston has joined Chicago Bears legend and 1985 Super Bowl champion Gary Fencik in pledging his brain to the Concussion Legacy Foundation for research as part of ‘My Legacy‘.  The campaign was launched to recognize individuals who have made a lasting contribution to research and awareness of concussions and CTE, and to encourage others to participate and create their own legacies.

UFC/MMA

Here is today’s FULL Daily Pro Wrestling History including International history: Daily pro wrestling history (12/21): Jeff Jarrett wins USWA Southern Title