Daily Update: Raw, Conor McGregor, CMLL New Year’s Day show

THE ROUND-UP

THE LATEST NEWS

THE LATEST AUDIO

We’re looking for your thoughts on UFC 219, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

We’re also looking for Main Event and dark match notes from Raw in Miami to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

CMLL SIN PIEDAD AT 6 P.M. EASTERN

  • Electrico & Ultimo Dragoncito vs. Pequeno Olimpico & Mercurio
  • Starman & Oro Jr. & Star Jr. vs. El Hijo del Signo & Raziel & Cancerbero
  • Blue Panther Jr. & The Panther & Pegasso vs. Virus & Misterioso Jr. & Sagrado
  • Titan & Valiente & Esfinge vs. Mr Niebla & Shocker & Vangellys
  • Caristico & Niebla Roja & Angel de Oro vs. Sanson & Cuatrero & Forastero
  • Negro Casas vs. Sam Adonis hair vs. hair

Raw is tonight in Miami with Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe for the IC title where the title can change hands via DQ. The Enzo Amore vs. Cedric Alexander match for the cruiserweight title looks like it may be off.  

Smackdown and 205 Live will be Tuesday night from Orlando, including A.J. Styles vs. Sami Zayn, Usos vs. Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable for the tag titles, Aiden English vs. Xavier Woods in the U.S. title tournament and Tyler Breeze & Fandango vs. Harper & Rowan.

NEW JAPAN AT DIFFER ARIAKE AT 10 P.M. EASTERN TUESDAY NIGHT

  • Jushin Liger & Tetsuhiro Yagi vs. Tiger Mask & Ren Narita
  • Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Tomoyuki Oka vs. Satoshi Kojima & Katsuya Kitamura
  • Yuji Nagata & Hirai Kawato vs. Manabu Nakanishi & Shota Umino

        This is the Fan Fest stuff that will air live. 

​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 11, 2000 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: ECW Massacre on 34th Street review, WWF Rebellion, more

Amidst rumors of the company being down for the count, Extreme Championship Wrestling put on a strong PPV show on 12/3, but more importantly, everyone was paid for one pay period (meaning everyone is now five weeks behind in pay). Nobody quit the promotion, which some had talked about doing if they weren’t paid again. The morale, which rises and falls based on whether or not the checks come, was said to be better coming out of the show.

MONDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight covering Raw, previewing the Tokyo Dome show and talking the latest MMA news with Wrestling Observer radio. You can send in e-mail questions for tonight’sshow to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com.

New Year’s Day, as it used to be historically, is a good night to run a show. WWE is expecting 11,000 to 12,000 fans tonight, which is more than most Raws would do, particularly in a market the size of Miami.

After not commenting for a few days, Conor McGregor, the so-called master of social media, was back in the news today for such well thought out remarks as this regarding Khabib Nurmagomedov:

“That Dagestani was dog sh*t the other night, you’s are all nuts. Game full of sloppy bums asking to be slept. Pay me my worth and Kings back.”

“Truly truly truly get on your f***ing knees and beg me. Otherwise I don’t give a bollox. My whiskey is out this year and thats Diddy bread. And that’s Diddy bread on top of already Diddy bread.”

He also claimed the rule set kept Floyd Mayweather out of the funeral home.

CMLL has its New Year’s Day show at Arena Mexico with the Negro Casas vs. Sam Adonis hair match. The match should go into the ring sometime after 7:30 p.m. Eastern. It should be available live at the Claro link and on the CMLL Facebook page. If you want to watch after Raw, it should be on the CMLL YouTube page.

“Jumanji” did an estimateed $50,355,000 over the weekend, just behind Star Wars at $52,446,000. We were supposed to see “The Disaster Artist” on Friday, but it was sold out. Then Jumanji, and it was sold out. So the movie I figured no way we’re getting into Star Wars, it wasn’t sold out.

WWE

  • The WWE Network is doing a Countdown of the 100 greatest moments on Raw.

UFC

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Interviews are up for the Tokyo Dome show with the headliners:
    English translated interview with Naito & Okada.
    Omega in English. 
    Jericho in English. 
    Video on the first 30 years of New Japan Pro Wrestling.
  • The Low Blows Band have released a clip of a medley of NJPW songs they’ll be performing as part of their ‘Indie Darlings X Rumble Royalty’ set, which will take place at the WWE Royal Rumble Party in Buskers On The Ball, Dublin later this month. The set will feature tracks from Rumble legends as well as NJPW, PROGRESS, ROH, OTT and more. Also on the night, special guests such as Irish wrestler Justy will appear, there will be a WWE karaoke contest, a Royal Rumble raffle, plus NXT Philadelphia and the Royal Rumble will air live and in-full. Tickets are available.
  • Link to NJPW medley.
  • High Spots Wrestling Network has a two hour documentary on Jim Crockett Promotions called, “Jim Crockett Promotions: The Good Old Days” It’s “free” to watch if you have the website $10 a month subscription.You can also buy it individually for $15 or just rent it for $5. (thanks to Jake Koch)
  • AAW sold out all of its 500 tickets in Chicago for a 2/17 Tetsuya Naito vs. Sami Callihan match at Logan Square Arena in 90 minutes. They have a show also on 1/20 at Logan Square Arena and tickets are on sale still with Rey Fenix vs. Matt Riddle for the AAW title plus Juice Robinson appearing. ACH will also be getting an AAW title shot at some point, which will be announced soon. A correction from yesterday. The Riddle vs. ACH draw was 20:00, not 15:00 as we listed.
  • Brian Pillman Jr., who recently trained under Lance Storm made his pro wrestling debut on 12/30 in Indianapolis.
  • The Academy of Professional Wrestling run by Ken Anderson and Shawn Daivari is bringing in Billy Gunn for a seminar on 2/19. He will be doing a 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. seminar for those with less than 20 matches and an 8:30 to 10:30 P.M. seminar for those with more than 20 matches. For more info call 507-722-2776.

Today in Professional Wrestling History: The Briscos win NWA Georgia tag titles from The Funks

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