Daily Update: NJPW, Wrestle Kingdom, Mixed Match Challenge

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THE LATEST NEWS

THE LATEST AUDIO

​F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly 12/25/2017: Looking at WWE’s women’s Royal Rumble announcement

The road to WrestleMania took a not-entirely-unexpected turn last week when it was announced on Raw that the first-ever women’s Royal Rumble match would be taking place next month. While there are still plenty of specifics to be worked out, the announcement itself made all of the sense in the world. The women’s division shouldn’t be an afterthought in the build to WWE’s biggest show of the year. 

WON NEWSLETTER: January 1, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2017 In Review

Our 2017 year in review issue of the Observer is up on the site, with full business coverage of the year as well as a breakdown of the biggest pro wrestling news stories of 2017, updating them with a lot of new information on them. There is a major feature on the history of New Japan Pro Wrestling at the Tokyo Dome, as well as an update on where John Cena at WrestleMania stands.

Have a look at the biggest crowds of the year, who has headlined the most major shows, where John Cena stands among the all-time biggest drawing cards as well as where other current WWE stars stand.

There is a PPV breakdown of the year, a breakdown of biggest live crowds and who drew the most, a look at the biggest gates of the year and an update on the ten biggest drawing cards in pro wrestling history.

Examine Vince McMahon’s stock sale, thoughts on buying an NFL franchise or starting his own league and the stock price concerns.

In this issue, an update with the planned main event for WWE’s PPV in March, update on Dean Ambrose, more WWE injury notes, T-shirt selling strong, Brock Lesnar’s schedule, Daniel Bryan update, Ronda Rousey update, former member of WWE Board of Directors is the latest major executive having to step down, Angle talks Jordan angle, Gerald Brisco awarded, plans for March, Velveteen Dream update, what WWE is looking for in talent right now, and the most-watched shows on the WWE Network.

There is also a huge feature on the history of New Japan Pro Wrestling at the Tokyo Dome dating back to 1989. Look at why the first show took place, what legendary video game character came from the first show, why there were so few stadium shows before the Tokyo Dome opened, and a look at that first show. Check out the first main event and the move that came from another sport to pro wrestling that ended up as the finisher of one of the biggest stars ever years later. 

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 18, 2000 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: WWF Armageddon reviewed plus tons of news

The WWF’s final PPV event of its biggest year was sold as a one match card, and even after buying the show, most of the first two hours of the show came across more like an ad to buy a show already purchased. After a flat undercard, where nothing was terribly bad but nothing was particularly good, that dragged at times because of too much hype that would have best been served being on Sunday Night Heat, the main event finally took place.

WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • WWE announced that Bobby Roode & Charlotte Flair will be teaming together in the Mixed Match Challenge tournament. They’re the first SmackDown team officially confirmed. Braun Strowman & Alexa Bliss from Raw were announced earlier in the day.
  • WWE uploaded promos where Roode & Charlotte and Strowman & Bliss reacted to being paired together.
  • Daniel Bryan told Sports Illustrated that he assumes he won’t be wrestling with WWE at all if he doesn’t wrestle at WrestleMania. Bryan said about the process of potentially being cleared: “It’s not a black and white answer. There are a lot of issues with me getting cleared by WWE. They have a very strict protocol, which is a good thing, but the timeline of all that happening was not the best for me. It’s an interesting situation that will develop.”
  • Becky Lynch and TJP returned to WWE television last night. Lynch, who was back in the ring at WWE’s house shows last week, got revenge on The Riott Squad after being written off TV to go film “The Marine 6: Close Quarters” when they attacked her in November. TJP defeated Akira Tozawa on 205 Live after not wrestling since October.
  • Cris Cyborg, who had been trying to start a feud with Lynch on Twitter last year, was excited to see her return to SmackDown.
  • Jim Ross confirmed that he and Jerry Lawler are scheduled to be on the 25th anniversary episode of Raw later this month but wrote that their role is to be determined.
  • Today is Ross’ 66th birthday.
  • After being shown in the crowd on SmackDown, Basketball Hall of Fame member Karl Malone got into the ring and did the “Glorious” pose with Bobby Roode following last night’s post-show dark match. Malone was also interviewed by Dasha Fuentes and spoke about wrestling for WCW in 1998. Roode teamed with AJ Styles & Shinsuke Nakamura against Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn & Jinder Mahal after SmackDown and 205 Live went off the air.
  • There will be an announcement made about the NXT year-end awards on tonight’s two-hour recap episode.
  • Maria Kanellis-Bennett wrote a blog post about her reaction to private photos of her that were leaked online.
  • “WWEPC” is the pre-sale code for tickets to Backlash in Newark, New Jersey on May 6th. The pre-sale ends at 10 p.m. Eastern time tomorrow.

Pro Wrestling

UFC/MMA

Today in Professional Wrestling History: Triple H wins WWF World title

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