Daily Update: NJPW tag team finalists, must see CMLL match

We’re looking for reports from last night’s WWE shows in Augusta and Fayetteville and tonight’s WWE shows in Charlotte (Roman Reigns vs. Sheamus, plus New Day, Dudleys, Charlotte and Paige) and in Florence, SC (Kevin Owens vs. Dean Ambrose, Tyler Breeze vs. Dolph Ziggler, Rusev vs. Ryback) at Dave Meltzer

Raw will be live Monday in North Charleston, SC.  Nothing special has been announced for the show. 

Smackdown and Main Event will be taped on Tuesday in Jacksonville.

Figure Four Weekly

Figure Four Weekly (11/23/15): Lots of Updates in Hulk Hogan-Gawker case
Lots of news including a win for Gawker, the new police report, the remaining mysteries of the case, what Bubba the Love Sponge is saying, and more.

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Mick Foley’s talk on WWE creative and a look at all the new moves WWE tried this week on television is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.  We look at the changes WWE attempted after a week of record low ratings, as well as the fan questionnaire sent out, what can be learned from it, and why they are asking exactly the wrong people.  

We also look at the strengths and weaknesses of the current WWE business, as well as why the ratings may be important, but other factors are probably more important,when it comes to WWE’s next television deal.  We look at the different potential changes in the landscape look at what aspects of business are and aren’t improving, as well as WWE’s business in the big picture.  

He also update the situation with A.J. Styles, and the New Japan tag team tournament with standings and notes on the tournament matches over the past week.

We also look at the TLC PPV update, more on La Sombra in WWE, questions about all the shoulder injuries, WWE security at live shows, Cena movie release, Brad Maddox firing, Maddox’s WWE history, talents WWE has shown interest in, WWE overseas tour lineup and WWE weekend live event notes and business.

We have a look at the debut of the new Rizin promotion, major announcements for the first weekend of shows, the tournament, just how big Bob Sapp vs Akebono was the first time.

We also have a story on the domestic abuse claims by the girlfriend of Tomoaki Honma, and his response.

We look at the realities of the free agency of Benson Henderson, judging of the key fights, as well as  full rundown of UFC’s debut in South Korea this past week.

We’ve got notes of TNA’s canceled tour of India, notes on the death of Tommy Gilbert and El Bello Greco, along with a feature on Stan Holek, a member of two of the most decorated tag teams of the 50s and 60s, the Lisowski Brothers with Crusher and the Neilson Brothers with Art Neilson.  We look at the unique reason why all of his success was as a tag team wrestler, his biggest rivals, and his 13 runs as world tag team champion. 

We’ve got a feature on the retirement of Act Yasukawa and the sad reason it happened.

We’ve also got the awards ballot for the 2015 awards and information on how well Hell in a Cell did this year on PPV.  

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

The Latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter: December 7, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: WWE attempts to right the ship, New Japan tag league update, more

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@wrestlingobserver.com” target=”_blank”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com

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. We’ve got coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits into those descriptions over the past 11 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue.

Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.

TODAY’S DAILY UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer radio, talking WWE, the New Japan tournament, McGregor vs. Aldo, Kamaitachi vs. Dragon Lee and taking your e-mail questions at mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com

The finals of the New Japan tag team tournament are Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe vs. Tetsuya Naito & Evil, which take place late Tuesday night/Wednesday morning in Sendai.  Check out Dave Meltzer’s play-by-play.

The Dragon Lee vs. Kamaitachi CMLL lightweight title match from Friday night’s Arena Mexico show that has been a big topic of conversation all weekend.

John Cena will be on The Tonight Show on Tuesday.  He’ll likely be plugging the new TV show he’s hosting. (thanks to Jon Southerland and Paul Fontaine)

Regarding Jim Ross, as everyone knows by now, he is fine.  His twitter account was hacked at 5 a.m. today with a report of his death.  It was pretty clear it was a hoax early on, but there were still friends of his who woke up to that news.

WWE

  • The Steve Austin podcast with Shawn Michaels, that was previously taped, will be airing a week from tonight, starting right after the end of the PPV. 
  • Tommy Dreamer will start on the road with WWE starting with the PPV this coming Sunday.
  • Bayley is on the current WWE Ambrose tour this weekend.  She & Becky Lynch are wrestling Sasha Banks & Naomi in tag team matches.
  • And an article on Bayley from the Daily Record in the U.K. building up next week’s NXT shows

UFC/MMA

  • Shannon Knapp on Inside MMA on Friday night announced that Cris Cyborg would not be cutting to 140 as first announced for her next fight in Costa Mesa in January on Fight Pass, but would instead defend her 145 pound weight class Invicta title.  The reason given is that without the ability to use an IV to rehydrate for the first time, she doesn’t want to weigh in lower than 145.
  • Cung Le will be on tonight’s episode of Into the Badlands on AMC at 10 p.m.
  • The Glory show from Friday night in Amsterdam, Holland featuring heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven vs. Benjamin Adegbuyi and welterweight champion Nieky Holzken vs. Murthel Groenhart will be airing on ESPN 2 tonight at 8 p.m.

MISCELLANEOUS

Don’t forget today’s FULL Pro Wrestling History including International history: Daily pro wrestling history (12/06): Tracy Smothers wins SMW TV Title

  • Rey Mysterio Jr. has a knee injury.  He was to wrestle at last night’s AAA TV tapings in Neza and was there, on a crutch.  He was replaced in the match by Blue Demon Jr.
  • The BBC did a documentary on the Antonio Inoki vs. Ric Flair show in Pyongyang, North Korea in 1995 that still holds pro wrestling’s all-time attendance record.  If you can get past the fact it’s called a World Wrestling Federation show (which should thrill Eric Bischoff) and that the star of the show was repeatedly called Anthony Inoki, it is interesting.
  • Larry Zbyszko turned 64 today
  • Nick Bockwinkel would have turned 81 today.
  • A story on Val Venis running a marijuana dispensary in Arizona
  • Mountain Goats talk about their favorite wrestler, Chavo Guerrero (the current wrestlers father)
  • Paragon Pro Wrestling will be moving its TV tapings to Friday nights, once per month, at Sam’s Town Hotel in Las Vegas, starting on 1/8 at 6:30 p.m.  They have a taping this coming Tuesday night, which is the final Tuesday night taping.
  • CMLL from last night at Arena Coliseo in Mexico City:  Apocalipsis b Bengala, Inquisidor b Robin, Super Halcon Jr. b El Hijo del Signo, Hombre Bala Jr. b Nitro-DQ, Triton b Sangre Azteca, Guerrero Maya Jr. & The Panther b Misterioso Jr. & Sagrado, Atlantis & Blue Panther & Titan b Mephisto & Ephesto & Luciferno (thanks to Kris Zellner)
  • NWA Mid South from Friday night in Tunica, MS before 400 fans:  John Saxon b Cassidy Riley, The Posse b Roosevelt & Jeremy Moore, Moose b Tim Storm-DQ, Greg Anthony b Americos, Matt Riviera & Rob Conway (managed by Jim Cornette) b The Heat Seekers to win the NWA tag titles, Matt Sydal b Kincaid (managed by Bruce Tharpe).  This group runs every Saturday night in Dyresburg, TN at the Herb Welch Wrestle Plex.
  • Colt Cabana will headline a Canadian Wrestling Elite tour from 2/19 to 2/27 that will include shows on 2/21 in Edmonton, 2/23 in Calgary, 2/24 in Regina and 2/26 in Winnipeg. 
  • CWE from Friday night in Winnipeg:  Silas Young won three-way over Tommy Lee Curtis and Travis Cole, Dick Blood & Billy Blaze won four way over Stefan Epic & Kevy Chevy, Bobby Collins & Rob Stardom and Mike Mission & Moses Luke, Anderson Tyson Moore d Chase Owens, Mr. Inkredible & Antonio Scorpio b Zero Gravity, Danny Duggan & Troy Westwood (former CFL star) b Shane Madison & Adam Knight, Tyler Colton b Charlie Haas, Tyler Colton won 50 man Rumble eliminating Chi Chi Cruz     
  • Winnipeg area wrestler Chi Chi Cruz, 45, worked his first match in five years on Friday night in the 50 man Rumble style Battle Royal.  He started first and stayed in for almost an hour before being the last person eliminated by Colton.
  • Mid Missouri Wrestling Alliance from last night in St. Louis:  LaMarcus Clinton & Damion Cortess b Brandon Espinosa & Ace Hawkins-DQ, J-Mal Swgg vs. Brandon Aarons vs. Varik Morgan was a no contest, Andrew Wilder & Johnathan Zulu b Billy Diamond & Clownman Jacko, LaMarcus Clinton & Damion Cortess & Barackus & Prince Moses b Brandon Espinosa & Ace Hawksins and Da’Marius Jones & A.J. Williams in an elimination tag match, Brian James b Moondog Rover, Gary Jackson b Kevin Lee Davidson in a strap match to win the title (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
  • U.K. wrestler Steve Knight is doing a podcast at www.stevieknight.info
  • Lucha Xtreme TV from last night in Fresno:  Guerrero de la Muerte b Chad Douglas, Manny Fernandez b Brandon Pinion, Mortal DDQ Brandon Groom (thanks to Jon Southerland)
  • I Believe in Wrestling from last night in Orlando:  Braydon Knight b Gabriel Black, Tyranus b Bucky Wells, Mark Silva b Josh Parker, Jonny Vandal & Aaron Epic b Brandon Scherer & Rex Bacchus, Rhett Giddins b Chico Adams, Santana Garrett won over Shaniah Ariyana, Grace Storm and MJ Knight to keep NWA world title and Wonder of Stardom title, in an elimination match, Teddy Hart & Lince Dorado b Josh Hess & Ace Andrews.  Next show is 12/19 with Garrett, Giddins, Dorado Silva and more.  They also celebrated Larry Zbyszko’s birthday on the show (thanks to Al Haft)
  • North Shore Pro Wrestling from last night in Quebec City before 507 fans:  Buxx Belmar & Brendan O’Connor b Leon Saver & HC Ryder, Shayne Hawke b Brad Alekxis, Heavy Metal Chaos b 3.0, Alex Price b Surfer Mitch to keep jr. title, Pee Wee & Judas b Giovanni & Michael Style, Travis Toxic b Matt Angel, Franky the Mobster b Chakal, Kickin n Stompin b TDT to win tag titles Marko Estrada b Johnny Gargano to retain NSPW title (thanks to Patric Laprade)  
  • Also the international version of the latest episode of Shotgun (their YouTube show, recently revamped to run just around 30 minutes)
  • wXw put up their entire show from Hamburg, Germany.

The card (no spoilers) was:

Singles Match
Da Mack vs. Julian Nero

Singles Match
Damian O’Connor vs. John Klinger

Six Man Tag Team Match
Absolute Andy & Prost (Mike Schwarz & Toby Blunt) vs. Jurn Simmons &
Reich Und Schön (Kevin Roadster & Marius van Beethoven)

Bullrope Match
Big Daddy Walter vs. Robert Dreissker

Singles Match
Melanie Gray vs. Nikki Storm

Singles Match
Axel Dieter Jr. vs. Marty Scurll

wXw Unified World Wrestling Title No Disqualification Match
Karsten Beck (c) vs. Rhino

Don’t forget today’s FULL Pro Wrestling History including International history: Daily pro wrestling history (12/06): Tracy Smothers wins SMW TV Title