Daily Update: Moana’s big weekend, McGregor stripped, UFC 206 main event

THE ROUND-UP

The Latest from the F4W Staff

NEWS

REPORTS

AUDIO

We’re looking for reports on the WWE show last night in Kansas City, as well as today’s WWE shows North Charleston, SC (Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens for U.S. title, Seth Rollins vs. Rusev) and Smackdown crew in Fayetteville, NC (A.J. Styles vs. Dean Ambrose) to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

Raw will be Monday night in Charlotte, NC. Announced for the show are New Day vs. Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows for the tag titles and Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks for the women’s title. There will also be a Smackdown brand house show Monday night in Florence, SC.

NEW JAPAN TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT TUESDAY FROM SASEBO (will air on tape delay Tuesday on New Japan World)

  • Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Manabu Nakanishi & Henare
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Juice Robinson vs. Leland Race & Brian Breaker

Smackdown will be live, Main Event will be taped, and 205 Live will debut Tuesday night in Columbia, SC. The 205 Live main event will be Brian Kendrick vs. Rich Swann for the cruiserweight title.

NEW JAPAN TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT WEDNESDAY FROM BEPPU (will air on tape delay Wedensday no New Japan World)

  • Tama Tonga & Tanga Roa vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Hangman Page
  • Tetsuya Naito & Rush vs. Ray Rowe & Hanson

NXT will be taped on Wednesday at Full Sail Univesity in Winter Park, FL.

FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: 11/17/2016: More on Buddy Rose

During his time splitting time between the Portland and San Francisco territories, Buddy Rose continued to make trouble with the California State Athletic Commission throughout 1978 and 1979. For some reason, all of the incidents appear to have taken place in San Jose, like the one discussed last week where he was being penalized for a ref bump…click here to continue.

WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: Nov 28, 2016: WWE Survivor Series, Goldberg agrees to more matches

The story behind Bill Goldberg suddenly becoming the biggest pro wrestling star in 2016 is the lead story in this week’s new double issue of the Observer.  The story looks at the decision-making involved in having Goldberg beat Brock Lesnar so quickly at Survivor Series.  We look at what went wrong in Goldberg’s first WWE run, why things are different now, and why so much of this is timing.  We look at why Goldberg works so much better now and in many ways how it exposes what the company is doing for television.  We look at other options, the business behind Survivor Series, as well as full coverage of the show with poll results, match-by-match coverage and star ratings.

We also look at NXT Takeover Toronto, WWE’s decision on major PPV weekends regarding scheduling, more people suing WWE, the NXT tour of Australia, cutting the cord, the ECW special on WWE Network, notes on top athletes who were trying out at the Performance Center this past week off the Olympic team, and more.

We’ve got a huge feature on Ed Francis and the story of 50th State pro wrestling, the promotion that ran in Hawaii during the 60s and 70s.  We look at the popularity of the product, the masterminds behind it, the biggest stars, and the different phases of the company.  We look at his biggest angles, the closing of the territory the reopening of the territory, how Francis got the territory and how he made it work.  We look at the promotional war with Roy Shire, the mending of the fences, the famous angles, the high and low points, and why the building situation ultimately spelled the end of the territory.

We also have a look at the WWE Network vs. the old PPV methodology and how it affected profits over the past three years.  We look at why most people when examining this issue don’t see the full picture.  We look at why profits from the network are down this year even with more subscribers, and also look at UFC profits during the same last three years.

We also look at the two UFC shows over the weekend, as well as full details of the television head-to-head battle between UFC and Bellator.

All of this and more in a huge double-issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter available only for 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:December 6, 2010 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: The history of wrestling on Thanksgiving  – Thanksgiving in most of the 80s meant some of the biggest wrestling shows of the year. The tradition was at its peak from 1983 to 1987, with the early Starrcades in Greensboro and later Atlanta as well, Star Wars at Reunion Arena in Dallas, the AWA at the St. Paul Civic Center, Mid South Wrestling at the Superdome in Louisiana and the early Survivor Series events… click here to continue.

SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

We’ve got a special deal today for Black Friday as you can get a one-month subscription to the site for $3.99, which includes this week’s double issue which has a major business look at WWE network vs. old method with a startling conclusion, plus the new Hall of Fame issue will be out on Wednesday, plus back issues, and archived issues and radio shows. Our weekend radio show covering UFC is up now.

Guess which character was voiced by The Rock…

Moana, starring Dwayne Johnson, is projected to do $81.1 million over the five-day Thanksgiving holiday weekend. It was the second largest five-day Thanksgiving weekend movie open in history. It’s three-day weekend number is projected at $55.5 million. 72% of the audience was families and 34% were 12 or under.

UFC announced last night that UFC 206 will be headlined by Max Holloway vs. Anthony Pettis for the interim featherweight title, with Conor McGregor stripped of the featherweight title and Jose Aldo now champion. It’s a desperation move to have a title match on a PPV card, which is a good show, but lacks a PPV caliber main event so the idea is they’ll make up an interim title to save it. This just dilutes the value of the title. It’s one thing if the champion is injured and unable to defend for whatever reason, but Aldo is either in or he’s out, without an injury. Either he’s champion and should face the winner, or he’s out as the Holloway vs. Pettis fight should be for the title. 

Anthony Rumble Johnson was offered Gegard Mousasi, but he decided against it, as Daniel Cormier won’t be out that long and there’s no point in him fighting now and risking an injury that would cost him a title shot he’s already earned and will be coming as soon as Cormier is ready to fight.

TNA may have a default judgment against them in the American Express lawsuit in a story by Dave Bixenspan.

New Japan tag team tournament results from today in Imabari:

  • Katsuyori Shibata & Yuji Nagata (2-2) beat Billy Gunn & Yoshitatsu (2-2)
  • Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma (2-2) beat Kenny Omega & Chase Owns (1-3)
  • Kazuchika Okada & Yoshi-Hashi (3-1) beat Bad Luck Fale & Bone Soldier (0-4)
  • Hirooki Goto & Tomohiro Ishii (3-1) beat Seiya Sanada & Evil (3-1)

WWE

  • Chris Jericho says this run is his second favorite run of his career, behind only the Shawn Michaels feud.
  • Sasha Banks talks Eddy Guerrero.

UFC

  • Kyle Noke joins Miesha Tate and Manny Gamburyan as the third UFC veteran to retire in as many weeks after a disappointing loss.
  • Fighters talking Daniel Cormier’s injury and dropping out of UFC 206 here.

More UFC interviews from our friends at Submission Radio:

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Dynamo Pro Wrestling from last night in St. Louis: C.J. Shine b The Jackal, Keon Option b Rocket Mapache, Outtkast b Makaze, Brandon Espinosa b Matt Kenway, Ricky Cruz b Jake Dirden, Brandon Aarons b Mike Outlaw. (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
  • Joe Doering was at the All Japan Sumo Hall show earlier today and said that he hopes to come back in January after battling brain cancer.
  • With the Gabi Garcia vs. Shinobu Kandori fight just being announced, this is the famous Kandori vs. Akita Hokuto match from 1993 at the Yokohama Arena.
  • Over the Top Wrestling in Dublin, Ireland announced Ricochet vs. Will Ospreay on 12/17 at the Tivoli Theater. Ricochet vs. Marty Scurll will take place the next day in Belfast.  
  • Timothy Thatcher, after suffering a serious concussion two weeks ago, is going to be out until January.
  • Drew Galloway’s promo for a grudge match with Joe Hendry, who injured him legit a few months back is here.
  • Superkick’d Pro Wrestling Rock Show on 12/16 in Toronto at the Great Hall.
  • Best of the West has a student show today at 6 p.m. in Fresno, CA at 5494 E. Lamona Ave Suite #150 in Fresno. Tickets are $5. They have a TV taping on 12/10 in Fresno at the VFW Hall #8900 at 6 p.m. (thanks to Jon Southerland)
  • Cody Rhodes beat Sonjay Dutt to win the GFW Nex-Gen title on Friday night in Winston-Salem, NC.
  • Rycklon Stephens, who was Big Ryck and Ezekiel Jackson, promoted a show on Saturday night in Redwood City, CA called Monsters Inc.
  • Big Time Wrestling on 12/3 in Livingston, CA at the Livingston High School in a benefit show for the athletic program featuring Torito from WWE, Teddy Hart and more. They also run on 12/2 in Newark, CA at the Newark Pavilion with Teddy Hart vs. Shannon Ballard, Felinitis vs. Torito and Shane Kody vs Guerrero vs. Will Cuevas.
  • The ECWA has a Super 8 finals rematch on 12/3 in Woodbury Heights, NJ with Karen Q vs. Deonna Purrazzo at the Woodbury Heights Community Center. There will also be a toy drive at the show, as they are collecting new unwrapped toys for a U.S. Marines toy drive throughout the night.
  • Pro Wrestling Eve from last night in London: Jetta b Jinny, Kay Lee Ray & Nixon Newell both beat Alex Winter, Laura diMatteo b Shanna, Rhia O’Reilly b Emi Sakura, Manami Toyota b Blue Nikita. (thanks to Josh Woodcock)
  • CSW from last night in Niagara Falls, NY: Oliver Street Express b Rochester Wrecking Crew-DQ, Steve Gage b Frankie Feathers, Cloudy DCOR Anthony Gaines, Mark & Xavier Jones b Kevin Blackwood & Wes Adams, Vince Valor b Matt Milan, Hate Brigade b Gregory Iron & Johnny Adams, Bob Holly b Big Cat Lemmer, RJ City won over Ricky Reyes, Cheech, Kevin Bennett, Brandon Thurston and Braxton Sutter for the Ilio DiPaolo Cup, Bill Collier b Asylum to retain the ESW title. (thanks to Todd Brantley)
  • Preston City Wrestling from yesterday in Preston, England had two shows:
  • The first show before 200 fans saw open weight tournament semifinals with Jurn Simmons over T-Bone and Dave Mastiff over Chris Dickinson. The cruiserweight tournament semifinals were Bubblegum over Tracy Williams and AR Fox over Da Mack. Also: Axel Deiter Jr. b Danny Hope, Dave Crist & Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wents & Joey Janela b Sha Samuels & Lionheart & Martin Kirby & Joey Hayes, Keith Lee b Iestyn Rees.
  • Second show before 250 fans: Da Mack b Axel Dieter Jr., Dave Crist b Danny Hope, Chris Dickinson b Tracy Williams, Iestyn Rees b T-Bone, Joey Hayes & Martin Kirby b Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wents to retain the PCW tag titles, Jurn Simmons b Dave Mastiff to win the Open weight tournament, Keith Lee b Joey Janela, Sha Samuels & Lionheart b Zak & Roy Knight, AR Fox b Bubblegum to win the cruiserweight tournament. Hope hurt his knee on the afternoon show but did a short match with Crist on the evening show. (thanks to Jan Buxton)

Today in Professional Wrestling History (11/27): Night of the Skywalkers at Starrcade 1986

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