Daily Update: McIntyre, Rousey vs. Natalya, New Beginning USA

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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.

TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE

(By Bryan Rose and Joseph Currier)

WWE

  • From everyone here at Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online, we hope you’ve had a great Christmas. The Christmas Day episode of SmackDown (which was taped in Fresno, California last Tuesday) airs at 8 p.m. Eastern time and features a United States title match between Shinsuke Nakamura and Rusev.
  • Drew McIntyre was officially confirmed as a Royal Rumble entrant on last night’s Raw. R-Truth is the only other wrestler who has been officially announced for the men’s Royal Rumble thus far. R-Truth and Carmella will enter their respective Royal Rumbles at number 30 as a stipulation of winning Mixed Match Challenge.
  • Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that the Raw Women’s Championship match between Ronda Rousey and Natalya that aired last night was called in the ring.
  • WWE has trademarked the names “Fashion Files: Cold Case Unit” and “WWE SmackDown Kitchen,” which are WWE Network shows that premiered this week.
  • Today is Rusev’s 33rd birthday. Lana tweeted about her and Rusev buying her father a car for Christmas: “When @RusevBUL & I first met we talked about how we wanted to be successful so we could create better lives for our parents. We dreamed of buying them a car & house. Today we bought & gave my Dad a car ! Merry Christmas Daddy ! We LOVE YOU !”
  • WWE producer TJ Wilson (Tyson Kidd) was a guest on the Comedy Suplex Podcart.
  • Jack Gallagher ranked his 10 best video games of the year for Giant Bomb.

Pro Wrestling

  • Additional tickets for NJPW’s New Beginning USA show at the Grady Cole Center in Charlotte, North Carolina will go on sale at 10 a,m. Eastern time tomorrow (Wednesday, December 26). The New Beginning USA shows are taking place in Los Angeles, California on January 30 and Charlotte on February 1. They’ll feature wrestlers who aren’t on the New Beginning tour in Japan and some trainees from the NJPW dojo in California.
  • NJPW has uploaded Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Will Ospreay for free. The match took place at NJPW’s Road to Tokyo Dome show on December 15 and was considered one of the best tag matches of the year.
  • This week’s Being the Elite is a Christmas Eve episode.
  • MLW uploaded a new TV episode to their YouTube account as a Christmas Day special. It features matches from November’s TV tapings in the Chicago area, with MJF vs. Puma King in a flag match, Myron Reed vs. Ace Austin, and PCO vs. Brody King in a no DQ match.
  • Taiyo Kea, Jun Akiyama & Takao Omori vs. Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima & Osamu Nishimura has been announced for the upcoming Giant Baba memorial show in February.
  • Ring of Honor has put out voting for their year-end awards here.

UFC/MMA

  • The UFC has uploaded episodes one and two of Embedded for UFC 232.
  • The UFC 232 media day that was scheduled for Thursday has been scrapped due to all the travel issues. There will be a press conference Thursday afternoon with Jones and Alexander Gustafsson.
  • Alex Oliveira had to undergo minor surgery after being injured by grenade fragments during Christmas Eve in Brazil.
  • Gina Mazany vs. Macy Chiasson in a bantamweight bout has been added to UFC 235.
  • Michel Prazeres will fight mazan Emeev at UFC on ESPN+ 3 on February 23 in the Czech Republic.
  • Pearl Gonzalez vs. Vanessa Porto for the vacant Invicta flyweight title will happen next year.
  • Ralph Gracie, part of the Gracie family, is being investigated by the Anaheim police department over an alleged assault at an IBJJF tournament involving the brother of former UFC star Ricardo Almeida.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Christmas Day pro wrestling cards

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