Daily Update: MLW marathon, ROH, Penta 0M vs. Caristico

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This is the quietest weekend of the year. Almost every major promotion is off and we just have the regular TV shows. No UFC, Bellator, WWE, or anything else aside from CMLL this weekend. WWE returns to action Wednesday at Madison Square Garden with a Raw house show that also includes an NXT match and a Smackdown show at the Allstate Arena in Chicago.

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. 

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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight talking TNA’s new TV deal, 2018 awards and other news. I’ve also got a show up with Garrett Gonzalez and Will Cooling talking Hall of Fame, All Elite Wrestling, UK television, WWE call ups. If you’ve got any questions on the Hall of Fame, AEW, Impact TV,or other topics of the week you can send questions to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com.

BeinSports will be running an MLW marathon on 12/31 from 6 a.m. until 1 a.m. the next day. I’ve been catching up on the product this weekend. They are very good at establishing characters and it’s a really easy one hour show to watch. 

We’re going to have an on-line special history of the Jan. 4 Tokyo Dome for members only coming out on Jan. 2. This will clock in about the size of a book, probably 90,000 to 100,000 words covering 27 shows in detail, a look back on how business was, the ups and downs of every show since the tradition started. 

ROH announced that its final show before Madison Square Garden will be on 3/31 at the UMBC Event Center in Baltimore.

After angles shot Friday night, the 12/28 Arena Mexico main event will be Penta 0M vs. Caristico in a singles match, plus Dragon Lee is back.

Dragon Kid beat Eita earlier today in their mask vs. hair match for Final Gate 2018 in Fukuoka. 

Casey Leydon of MMA Fighting has a really cool look at Ilima-lei Macfarlane before, during and after the Bellator show last week.

WWE

  • The WWE Network will be adding the December 25, 1987 AWA show from Minneapolis with Nick Kiniski vs. Mitch Snow, Kevin Kelly (not the New Japan announcer, thank god) vs. Alan West (not Batman, yes, I know it’s technically Adam West), Nord the Barbarian vs. Soldat Ustinov, Wahoo McDaniel vs. Adrian Adonis, Greg Gagne vs. Curt Hennig and Dennis Condrey & Randy Rose as the Midnight Express managed by Paul E. Dangerously (Paul Heyman) face The Rockers of Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty.
  • Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson’s WWE Network show BotchClub will show footage of Galllows’ Tough Enough tryout. He didn’t make the final ten. As the title says, he botched something which put him out of the running because with his size and athletic ability, Drew Hankinson was a strong contender to make the show.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Shine on 1/19 in Queens, NY at La Boom has Allysin Kay vs. Ivelisse, Nova champion Aja Perera vs. Keira Hogan, Thunder Rosa & Holidead vs. Gabby Gilbert & Luscious Latasha, Priscilla Kelly vs. Santana in a street fight, Jordynne Grace vs. LuFisto in a no holds barred match and Brandi Lauren vs. Allie Recks.
  • Cody_endres@hotmail.com is looking for a copy of Larry Matysik’s detailed St. Louis 1959-83 record book.
  • I Believe in Wrestling from Friday night in Orlando: Miss Myrtle b Layne Rosario, Mike Reed b Night Chill, JD Amazing b DeMarkus Cutler, Jake Shadows b Harlem Kodeem, Chasyn Rance b Remi Danilo, Amber Nova b Marina Tucker, Aaron Epic won three-way over Carlos Gabriel and Kwame Nas, Deon James b Rey Xion. Next show is 1/4 with a 30 man Rumble.
  • All Star Wrestling has a minis show on 3/22 in Chilliwack, BC at Tzeachten Hall.
  • Tokyo Joshi Pro had its Christmas show yesterday in Tokyo: Yuki Aino b Yumi, Raku & Veda Scott b Yuki Kamifuku & Hinanano, Yuna Manase b Mina Shirakawa, Hyper Misao b Miu, Reiko Saiki b Nodaka Tenma, Maki Ito & Mizuki b Pom Harajuku & Haruna Neko, Miyu Yamashita b Hikari, Shoko Nakajima d Yuka Sakazaki. For 1/4 they announced Millie McKenzie, Meiko Satomura and more. (thanks to Shannon Walsh)
  • An interview David Steiman, the director of Santa’s Slay talking Bill Goldberg and the making of the movie.
  • Jake Roberts on Cerritos Live.
  • The Journal News published a column by David McKay Wilson looking at Lou Albano, the son of Capt. Lou Albano and how he had a felony charge related to an apartment break-in knocked down to a violation. (thanks to Phil Sturm)

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Homicide wins ROH title at Final Battle 2006

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