Daily Update: NJPW Tag League, WWE in Abu Dhabi, MLW

THE ROUND-UP

The Latest from the F4W Staff

NEWS

AUDIO 

IMPACT ON POP TV TONIGHT AT 8 P.M. EASTERN

  • EC3 vs. Matt Sydal for the Grand Championship

NEW JAPAN FROM HIROSHIMA LIVE ON NEW JAPAN WORLD TOMORROW MORNING AT 4:30 A.M.

  • David Finlay & Henare & Katsuya Kitamura vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa & Leo Tonga
  • Michael Elgin & Jeff Cobb & War Machine vs. Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano & Baretta & Chucky T
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Togi Makabe & Jushin Liger vs. Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Desperado
  • Kazuchika Okada & Will Ospreay & Gedo vs. Tetsuya Naito & Bushi & Hiromu Takahashi
  • Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka
  • Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
  • Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi vs. Evil & Sanada

FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY:Figure Four Weekly 12/4/2017: Looking at WWE’s match of the year candidates

While there’s still some time for WWE to shape how the company’s 2017 will be remembered, the beginning of December marked the end of this year’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards calendar. The insane output of high-end matches New Japan Pro Wrestling had during the voting period will rightfully lead to a strong showing in the Match of the Year category, but WWE’s in-ring year shouldn’t be forgotten. 

Subscribers click here to continue.

WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER:December 11, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: UFC 218 review, Impact management changes, more

There are a number of different features in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, including why last week’s UFC show is so important historically, an update on the Shane McMahon-Daniel Bryan storyline, the changes in direction at Impact once again and the new power structure, a look at the Clash of Champions show, the Konnan / Crash split, U.S. TV coverage of Wrestle Kingdom and how New Japan is doing on U.S. TV, the idea behind a 205 Live tour and much more.

Look at the last three UFC events and why they are important, including lessons regarding the value of titles or shows that on paper look to be filled with action and what it means to the public. Read our poll results for UFC 218 and full coverage of the show including the good and bad of China, the creation of the women’s flyweight title, two match-of-the-year candidates, as well as questions regarding sport vs. spectacle and the message being sent.

Examine the business numbers for the shows including UFC 218 preliminary PPV numbers.

Look at the changes at the top with Impact, Don Callis’ background in wrestling, who looks to be gone from Impact next, and the directives the company is under.

Read about the WWE Smackdown direction leading into the PPV show, and the long-term of Daniel Bryan and where things currently stand.

This issues goes into detail on the Konnan / Crash split, the different factors that led to it, what Konnan said about it, the Aroluxe deal and what this means long-term for Crash.

Have a look at the New Japan TV deal in the U.S., viewership update on the show, plans for Tokyo Dome coverage and what led to numbers increasing.

Check out WWE’s plans for a 205 Live tour, including plans for the division.

Also, look at Jim Johnston leaving WWE and his work in the promotion, why the WWE stock price is rising and what UFC has to do with it, more WWE injuries, and WWE Week on the USA Network.

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 20, 2000 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Shinya Hashimoto fired from NJPW, Wrestlemania X7 sets records

Shinya Hashimoto, who headlined more big gates at the Tokyo Dome than any wrestler in history, was shockingly fired by New Japan Pro Wrestling on 11/13 after a weekend filled with turmoil after news got out he was negotiating with Pro Wrestling NOAH. The story was among many things that is threatening the future of the All Japan/New Japan relationship, which started off with the big success on 10/9 at the Tokyo Dome and has since seemed to start falling apart.

Subscribers click here to continue.

THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE

We have an interview with Chris Jericho talking the background of the Tokyo Dome match with Kenny Omega, the Jericho cruise and Mickey Rourke at WrestleMania.

Today’s New Japan tag tourney results from Yamaguchi, Japan

  • War Machine (4-2) beat David Finlay & Katsuya Kitamura (0-5)
  • Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. (4-2) beat Togi Makabe & Henare (0-6)

There is an MLW show tonight at Gilt Nightclub in Orlando:

  • John Hennigan & Shane Strickland vs. Jimmy Havoc & Darby Allin in a no DQ match
  • Matt Riddle vs. Tom Lawlor
  • Chelsea Green vs. Santana Garrett
  • Joey Ryan vs. MJF
  • Jason Cade vs. Sammy Guevara
  • Jimmy Yuta vs. Vandal Oratgun
  • Dirty Blondes vs. Seth Petruzelli & Rhett Giddins

Tomorrow’s WWE show in Abu Dhabi will feature Roman Reigns vs. HHH for the IC title and a tag title cage match with Sheamus & Cesaro vs. Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins. Today was the first time WWE was allowed to feature a women’s match in Abu Dhabi, with Alexa Bliss vs. Sasha Banks.

WWE

  • WWE has sent out marketing surveys of late for those who have attended recent house shows as well as to those in the U.K. to learn their television viewing patterns.
  • Former wrestler/fighter/announcer and current author/stunt man Paul Lazenby noted that he was the stunt double for Bill Goldberg for an episode of “The Flash,” and said it was one of his easiest days ever as Bill did all of his fight scenes, even with a painful and gruesome looking shin injury suffered sparring Muay Thai. He also noted how nice Goldberg was to everyone on the set.
  • A pre-sale for the 1/19 205 Live show in Kingston, RI is going on now using the code word WWERYAN
  • The WWE honored three Sacramento men who thwarted a terrorist attack in a Paris-bound train in 2015. They were brought in as guests to Monday’s Raw show at the Staples Center. 

UFC

  • Tony Ferguson underwent surgery on his left elbow this past week.
  • Tickets for the 1/14 show in St. Louis at the Scottrade Center go on sale to the public tomorrow at 10 a.m. Central time priced from $150 down to $60. Jeremy Stephens vs. Doo Ho Choi, Uriah Hall vs. Vitor Belfort and Paige VanZat vs. Jessica Rose-Clark are three of the top bouts on the show.
  • Marcelo Golm vs. Tim Johnson was announced for the 2/3 show in Belem, Brazil.
  • Announced for the 3/18 UFC show in London at the O2 Arena is Leon Edwards vs. Peter Sobotta, Paul Craig vs. Magomed Ankalaev and Mark Godbeer vs. Dmity Poberezhets. 

MISCELLANEOUS

  • OTT Wrestling sold out the Dublin National Stadium (2,200 tickets) in advance for a show on Saturday with top matches of Young Bucks & Marty Scurll vs. Dalton Castle & The Boys, Cody vs. Flip Gordon vs. Rey Fenix and Kings of the North vs. Zack Gibson & Sha Samuels & Charlie Sterlnig.
  • Former Strikeforce champion Sarah Kaufman will debut with Invicta on 1/13 in Kansas City. 
  • NWX on Saturday night in St. Catharines, ONT at the CWF Studios.
  • Barrie Wrestling on 1/20 in Barrie, ONT featuring Joe Hendry.
  • PWA on 2/23 in Guelph, ONT at the Red Chevron Club featuring Laurel Van Ness.
  • Pro Wrestling Phoenix tonight on Omaha at the Waiting Room Lounge.
  • CWO on Sunday at 7 PM. at The Rockpile in Toronto.
  • Pro Wrestling Ontario on 1/20 in Burlington, ONT at the Lion’s Club.
  • Cross Body Pro Wrestling on Saturday night in Kitchener, ONT at 69 Agnes St. headlined by Cody Deaner vs. Psyho Mike.
  • Acclaim Pro Wrestling on Saturday night in Ottawa, ONT at the SPK Dom Polski has sold out.
  • Destiny Wrestling on 1/21 in Mississauga, ONT at the Battle Arts Academy featuring Pete Dunne vs. Austin Aries, plus Josh Alexander and a Rumble match.
  • The Fight Network has launched a feed in Italiian for the DTT digital channel in Italy.
  • For this weekend, The fight network will be airing TKO 41 from the Bell Centre in Montreal on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. Eastern, One on Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. from Bangkok, Thailand and Glory Kickboxing starting at 11:30 a.m. from Rotterdam, Holland. They will also air the UFC prelims at 8 p.m. from Fresno. One features a strawweight title match with Yoshitaka Naito (12-0) defending against Alex Silva (6-1). 
  • Joey Janela did a 15:00 match against an Invisible Man at a free Preston City Wrestling show on 12/1 in Blackpool, England: Zachary Wentz b Dezmond Xavier, Virgil & Joey ayes & Danny Hope b Sheikh El Sham & Big T Justice & Dave Birch, Bubblegum won over Chris Ridgeay and Ashton Smith, Invisible Man b Joey Janela Tel Banham won a ladder match over Lionheart, Matthew Brooks, Martin Kirby, Philip Michael and Arcadian, Rhio won three-way over Lauren and Jennie B, T-Bone b Iesteyn Rees to keep the PCW title in a street fight with Bubblegum as referee. (thanks to Steve Wareing)
  • The former Simon Gotch talks his WWE run.
  • The former Kelly Kelly getting vacuum butt therapy on the E! show WAGS.

Today in Professional Wrestling History: WWF In Your House — Degeneration X

CONTACT INFORMATION

Support the Empire~! with F4W shirts. Grab yours today!

​