Daily Update: Punk & Cabana, Big Cass, Dakota Kai injury

DAILY UPDATE

Latest news

Latest Audio

Raw is from San Diego, plus there is a Smackdown brand house show in Ontario, CA.

Tuesday has Smackdown, Mixed Match Challenge and 205 Live from Las Vegas. Among the things announced for the show is a rap battle with Sheamus & Cesaro vs. The Usos with New Day as hosts, Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair, and Mixed Match Challenge Smackdown finals with Carmella & R-Truth vs. The Miz & Asuka.

ALL JAPAN TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT FINALS FROM TOKYO KORAKUEN HALL

  • Atsushi Maruyama & Kotaro Suzuki vs. Tajiri & Gianni Valletta
  • Masa Fuchi & Koji Iwamoto & Ultimo Dragon vs. Atsushi Aoki & Hikaru Sato & Yusuke Okada
  • Zeus & The Bodyguard & Osamu Nishimura vs. Naoya Nomura & Yuma Aoyagi & Black Menso-re
  • Kento Miyahara & Yoshitatsu vs Parrow & Odinson
  • Jun Akiyama & Daisuke Sekimoto vs. Takao Omori & Manabu Soya
  • Suwama & Shuji Ishikawa vs. Joe Doering & Dylan James

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Looking ahead to 2019

As we enter December, it feels like 2019 has been cemented as an absolutely pivotal year for the immediate future of professional wrestling. The global arms race for talent continued this past week. It was confirmed that WALTER, who is legitimately one of the best wrestlers in the world, has signed with WWE. He’s been signed for NXT’s United Kingdom brand and could play a part in the potential NXT Germany. 

WON NEWSLETTER: December 10, 2018 Observer Newsletter: Death of Dynamite Kid

A look at the life of Dynamite Kid is the lead story in this week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer.

Look at his influence on the industry, his in-ring sacrifices, read comments from Bret Hart & Julie Hart, a look at his early days and his arrival in Stampede Wrestling, and his explosion of popularity in Japan.

Also look at Vince McMahon’s latest stock sale, as well as co-President George Barrios selling stock.

Read about the decision to flip flop Takeover and the Hall of Fame ceremony in April. Look at awards given to Cena, wrestlers and charity work, and more on the restrictions placed on U.K.

Look more at the XFL and the battle with the AAF that Vince McMahon is going to have starting next spring. 

Examine UFC’s decision to sign Greg Hardy and debut him on the same show as Rachael Ostovich and the marketing behind both fights. 

Read the update on the New Japan tag team tournament tour with results, business notes, lineups, the Tanahashi & Okada tag team and more.

This issue has an update on the WWE TLC show, with the card, plus ticket sale updates.

Read full coverage of both UFC shows from the past week, with match-by-match coverage and business notes on both shows.

Also look at the PPV numbers for Liddell vs. Ortiz what lessons is teaches.

There is also coverage of AAA’s Guerra de Titanes and ICW’s Fear and Loathing.

Read more on the MMA debut of the former Jack Swagger.

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.

MONDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back talking Raw as well as all of the latest pro wrestling and MMA news tonight with Wrestling Observer radio. You can send e-mail questions to the show to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com.

PW Insider reported that Judge Daniel Kubasiak of the Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois threw out Scott Colton’s (Colt Cabana) lawsuit against Phil Brooks (C.M. Punk) over $200,000 in legal fees from the Dr. Christopher Amann lawsuit. The judge ruled that Colton failed to prove Brooks gave an offer that was definite enough to be an enforceable contract and that there was no signed deal between the two of them. Colton and his lawyers have since filed a second lawsuit. Colton is now claiming Brooks believed when he made the statements on Colton’s podcast that WWE was likely to file a lawsuit and he claimed Brooks told him he’d 100 percent cover him. He said that he cooperated with Brooks in the lawsuit with Amann because of those statements. There still has been answer as to what caused the problems between the two in April 2016 that caused Brooks to tell Colton that he would no longer cover his legal bills. Colton’s new lawsuit is seeking $200,000 in legal bills from the lawsuit. 

William Morrisey (Big Cass) is out of the hospital and doing well according to Tommy Dreamer after the scare he had when he suffered a seizure during intermission at the show on Saturday night in Philadelphia.

Dakota Kai got her MRI today regarding the knee injury she suffered over the weekend. The belief was that she tore her ACL over the weekend but the damage hasn’t been confirmed.

Announced for Raw tonight is an Alexa Bliss press conference with Ronda Rousey and Nia Jax for their title match on Sunday, Seth Rollins doing a state of Raw address plus Heath Slater has his first match as a referee. The Minnesota Vikings face the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football head-to-head. Raw is hoping to rebound from its modern era low audience this past Monday.

This weekend coming up is crazy:

– Friday has New Japan’s Korakuen Hall show, MLW’s live special from Miami which goes head-to-head with ROH at 8 p.m. Eastern, the ROH PPV (it starts one hour earlier than usual at 8 p.m., not 9 p.m.) and Bellator.

– Saturday has the final UFC on FOX, Bellator on DAZN, Canelo Alvarez vs. Rocky Fielding from Madison Square Garden on DAZN, and the New Japan show with Hiroshi Tanahashi & Will Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi.

– Sunday is WWE’s last PPV show of the year, TLC from San Jose.

This web site and Defy Wrestling will be doing a party on Saturday night in Seattle at Washington Hall with a Q&A with Bryan Alvarez, Lance Storm and Tom Lawlor.  

Defy also has a sold out show at Washington Hall on Friday night, but there are standing room tickets that can still be purchased. Shane Strickland defends the Defy title against Artemis Spencer, Pentagon Jr. vs. Chris Ridgeway from England, Ethan HD & Mike Santiago vs. Dr. Kleiver & Drexl, Jack Evans vs Brian Cage and Brody King vs. Schaff is the card.

WWE

  • A new episode of the Edge & Christian show will air after Raw tonight on the WWE Network.
  • Dolph Ziggler announced a comedy show tour with shows:
    1/27 in Phoenix at Standup live after the Royal Rumble show
    2/20 in Baltimore at Magobys
    2/27 in St. Louis at Funny bone
    2/28 in Poughkeepsie, NY at Laugh It Up
    3/6 in Minneapolis at the House of Comedy
    3/7 in Edmonton at the Comic Strip
    3/20 in Cleveland at the Improv
    3/21 in Toledo at Funny Bone
  • WWE announced for Raw on Monday in Sacramento Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose for the IC title, Finn Balor vs. Drew McIntyre plus Ronda Rousey and Bobby Lashley. Keep in mind that doesn’t mean these matches will happen. (thanks to Nikita Kostyuk)

UFC

  • Brian Ortega noted that he suffered both a broken nose and a broken thumb in his fight with Max Holloway on Saturday night. He said he was fine with the doctor stoppage of the amazing fight after the fourth round.
  • Dana White talks to TSN about all the various UFC news.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Kenny Omega on his Gamers Choice award nomination.
  •  Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling on 12/15 in East Carondelet, IL has a show. There will be a Larry Matysik tribute at 6:45 p.m. This is the promotion he was announcing and booking for until recently. His wife and several special guests will be attending. You can call 618-286-4848 for ticket info. The main event will be a four vs. four cage match with Superstar Steve Fender & Christopher Hargas & Attila Kahn & Kowalski vs. Flash Flanagan & Ken Kasa & Ricky Cruz & Billy McNeil.  
  • Evolve and PWX will be doing a doubleheader on 2/16 in Charlotte.
  • A WWN seminar with Kassius Ohno on Sunday in Deer Park, NY was the fastest sellout for a WWN seminar and tryout in history.
  • Evolve on Saturday night in Queens, NY
    Fabian Aichner vs. Roderick Strong vs. Austin Theory for Evolve title
    Street Profits vs. JD Drake & Anthony Henry for Evolve tag title (if Drake is pinned he will lose the WWN title to whoever pins him)
    Kassius Ohno vs. Darby Allin
    AR Fox vs. Curt Stallion
    Leon Ruff vs. Josh Briggs
    BSHP KNG vs. Joe Gacy
    Harlem Bravado vs. Joe Bailey
  • Evolve on Sunday in Deer Park, NY
    Fabian Aichner vs. AR Fox for Evolve title
    Street Profits vs. Harlem Bravado & Austin Theory for Evolve tag titles
    Roderick Strong vs. Darby Allin
    Kassius Ohno vs. Anthony Henry
    Priscilla Kelly vs. Shotzi Blackheart
    Josh Briggs vs. Adrian Alanis
    Joe Gacy vs. Joe Bailey
    Curt Stallion vs. Leon Ruff vs. BSHP King vs. Colby Corino
  • On Jeopardy on Friday a category was Professional Wrestling. The contestants avoided it until late. (thanks to Brian Reznick and others)
  • CWA New Beginnings in Hilmar, CA at the Hillmar Grange Hall featuring Johnny Butabi defending his title against Marty the Moth Martinez for a 3 p.m. show on 1/6.
  • Best of the West debuts at its new BOTW Arena in Fresno where they plan on running monthly. The building is at 5766 E. Fountain Way #101, near the Fresno Airport. They will also run in other arenas in the Fresno area and the plan is to do two show per month. (thanks to Jon Southerland)
  • Eli Drake vs Ricky South is booked for FWA on 2/2 in Sydney, Australia. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • World Series Wrestling in Australia announced its next tour on 3/7 in Adelaide, 3/8 in Melbourne, 3/9 in Melbourne, 3/10 in Sydney and 3/11 in Sydney.
  • Action Wrestling from Friday night in Tyrone, GA: Alan Angels & O’Shay Edwards b Ryan Rembrandt & James Bandy, Michael Marshall b Chad Skywalker, Aja Perera won a scramble showcase, Fred Yehi NC Arik Royal, AJ Gray b Teddy Ireland Jr., Cam Carter b Billy Buck, AC Mack won over Slim Jim, Ike Cross and Angels to become champion. Next show is 2/8 with Anthony Henry and the Carnies and 3/22 with Darby Allin vs. Slim J.
  • Right Now TV announced a two-hour USA Championship Wrestling special on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. Eastern called Tennessee Homecoming with Bam Bam Bundy defending the USA title against Doug Gilbert, the Starr Twins vs Matt Boyce & JYD Jr., Barrett Brown vs. Blake Christian and Matt Riviera vs. Colton Cage.
  • Powerslam.TV announced new shows up this week are a Bar Wrestling show, Fest Wrestling’s We are Family and the 12/6 Defy Now show.  The first month is free with the code POWERSLAMWEB.
  • Shine on Saturday night in Queens, NY and FITE at 3 p.m. is headlined by Allysin Kay vs. Su Yung for the Shine title, Aja Perera vs. Dementia D’Rose for the Nova title, Mercedes Martinez vs. Kimber Lee and more. 
  • Rise on 1/19 in Texas City, TX has champion Mercedes Martinez vs. Kylie Rae and tag champs Dust & Raven’s Ash vs. Nevaeh & Jessicka Havok plus Delilah Doom vs Su Yung and Rachael Ellering vs. Shotzi Blackheart. Saraya Knight is also on the show.
  • Stardom from Friday in Osaka: Jungle Kyona b Natsumi, Mary Apache b Konami, Saki Kashima b Hana Kimura-DQ, Momo Watanabe & Utami Hayashishita b Natsuko Tora & Kaori Yoneyama, Kagetsu & Hazuki & Natsu Sumire b Tam Nakano & Mayu Iwatani & Arisa Hoshiki. (thanks to Shannon Walsh)
  • Shane Helms was announced for the 1/13 ROH show in Concord, NC. 
  • Cruz Wrestling on Friday night in Red Bank, TN.
  • Demand Lucha on Thursday night in Toronto at The Opera House.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Terry Funk wins NWA World title

CONTACT INFORMATION