Daily Update: Ric Flair, El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Laredo Kid, weekend schedule

Daily Update

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

*Vince McMahon talks about returning and we talk about the prospects of that, including from those close to him
*The Rita Chatterton story resurfaces, and we go back to look at the original story and current legal status as well as a new allegation against Vince McMahon that came up this week
*What can’t happen to WWE as long a McMahon wants back in
*What would have to take place before McMahon to return to power
*What risks are there for the company
*The Vice special on Vince McMahon and those who would and wouldn’t talk
*Mandy Rose gets fired and details of why it happened and what the original plans were regarding the women’s title
*ROH PPV coverage, Honor Club, PPV buys, ROH title change
*Sasha Banks and Japan WWE, AEW prospects, a return t WWE and more
*Notes on Wrestle Kingdom, the card,te story behind the card
*Updates on Matt Riddle
*Full coverage of UFC 282, hat happens next, business notes, what’s next for the fighters
*ROH Deadline and the debut of Iron Survivor
*Just how rapidly is cable losing homes, a list for the stations that air wrestling and MMA and what the numbers are now
*Tokyo Sports awards and story behind it
*PWG Battle of Los Angels
*The most detailed look at the ratings for all wrestling shows on national TV including how each segment did,
*Streaming numbers
*Advance ticket sales for the major WWE & AEW events
*Government works with Arena Mexico for a special event
*CMLL’s next tournament
*Konnan talks his health
*Rules in place for independent promoters and usage of El Hijo del Vikingo
*A look at a Mexico match of the year candidate
*A look at another match of the year candidate
*Finances of major wrestling conglomerate
*Future of Kota Ibushi
*Why the economics are going to be tougher for New Japan
*Coverage of the New Japan tag tournament finals
*Update on the MLW lawsuit against WWE
*Huge match in London this week
*AEW announces new television deal
*Behind the Jericho loss to Action Andretti
*What famous feud started in a similar fashion
*People who have been world champion in the U.S., Japan and Mexico
*UFC takes action regarding a suspicious fight
*World MMA Awards
*William Regal news
*WrestleMania news

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter:

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Friday Update

Garrett and I are doing two shows this weekend. We have a show covering the big stories of the week that will be up shortly and another show on Sunday.

The trailer for the upcoming Peacock documentary on Ric Flair:

One of the best matches of the year in Mexico, the recent Showcenter final with El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Laredo Kid was posted today by AAA:

WWE is taping two episodes of Smackdown tonight in Chicago at the Allstate Arena. Tonight’s show will include Gunther vs. Ricochet for the IC title, Iyo Sky & Dakota Kai vs. Tegan Nox & Liv Morgan and Hit Row vs. Legado del Fantasma vs. Viking Raiders. Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman are scheduled on the show as well. The show is completely sold out with 12,400 fans.

Rampage tonight on TNT at 10 p.m. Eastern
Jon Moxley vs. Sammy Guevara
Britt Baker vs. Sky Blue
Wardlow vs. Exodus Prime
Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta & Dustin Rhodes & Orange Cassidy vs. Butcher & Blade & Kip Sabian & Trent Seven.

Moxley suffered a terrible cut in his ear in the match.

UFC from the Apex in Las Vegas tomorrow is an ESPN+ show starting at 4 p.m. Eastern:

Sergey Morozov (136) vs. Journey Newson (135.5)
Manel Kape (126) vs. David Dvorak (125.5)
Bryan Battle (170) vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov (171)
Rafa Garcia (155) vs. Maheshate (158.5) – Maheshate missed weight by 2.5 pounds
Said Nurmagomedov (136) vs. Saidyokub Kakhramonov (136)
Jake Matthews (170) vs. Matthew Semelsberger (171)
Cheyanne Vlismas (115.5) vs. Cory McKenna (115.5)
Michal Oleksiejczuk (186) vs. Cody Brundage (185)
Drew Dober (156) vs. Bobby Green (156)
Alex Caceres (145) vs. Julian Erosa (145.5)
Amir Albazi (125.5) vs. Alessandro Costa (125.5)
Arman Tsarukyan (155.5) vs. amir Ismagulov (156_
Jared Cannonier (185.5) vs. Sean Strickland (186)

Darren Winn, who was to face Julian Marquez, wasn’t medically cleared after fainting and falling down a flight of stairs at the UFC Performance Institute He said when he fainted, he fell down the stairs, hit his neck and head pretty hard and had a mild concussion.

The World MMA Awards from last Thursday will be airing at 9 p.m. Eastern and 6 p.m. Pacific tonight on CBS Sports Network. They also air on 12/27 at 10 p.m. on ESPN 2.

WWE

A story on Titus O’Neil on TV from Washington, DC (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)

BetOnline has odds for who you think will be Universal champion on December 31, 2023:

Roman Reigns +150
Cody Rhodes +200
Dwayne Johnson +200
Sami Zayn +250
Bray Wyatt +500
Drew McIntyre +500
Kevin Owens +500
Seth Rollins +500

For women:

Bianca Belair +100
Charlotte Flair +150
Becky Lynch +200
Ronda Rousey +200
Rhea Ripley +250
Bayley +300
Raquel Rodriguez +400
Alexa Bliss +800

AEW

A New York Times story today on Satnam Singh, his learning wrestling and his former basketball past 

Odds on who will be AEW champion on December 31, 2023
Jon Moxley +250
Bryan Danielson +300
Kenny Omega +300
Adam Page +600
Wardlow +900

On who will be women’s champion on December 31, 2023
Jamie Hayter -115
Saraya +250
Jade Cargill +500
Thunder Rosa +500
Toni Storm +500

Griff Garrison posted a photo and noted undergoing surgery and would be out of action but gave no more details.

Other Notes

Betting odds for the key Tokyo Dome matches
Will Ospreay -300
Kenny Omega +200

Kazuchika Okada -400
Jay White +250

Kairi -1000
Tam Nakano +500

Zack Sabre Jr. -180
Ren Narita +140

Taiji Ishimori -150
Desperado +250
Hiromu Takahashi +250
Master Wato +650

The New York Times also had a story on WOW and owner Jeannie Buss, noting that the promoting is being run by David McLane and April Mendez (A.J. Lee) (thanks to Leon Atterbury)

Defy tomorrow at Washington Halli Seattle with El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Nick Wayne, Vert Vixen vs Cat Power for the women’s title, Alex Shelley vs. Artemis Spencer and El Phantasmo vs. Jordan Oliver vs. Guillermo Rosas. 

La Estrella vs. Lince Dorado has been added to the 1/7 MLW show in Philadelphia.

West Coast Pro Wrestling’s first show of the year on 1/6 at the State Room in San Francisco has Titus Alexander vs Alec Price, Nick Wayne vs. Alex Shelley, Mike Bailey vs. Bryan Keith and Kevin Blackwood vs. Starboy Charlie.

Invicta announced a 1/18 date in Denver at Reelworks wit Taneisha Tennant (5-1) defending her bantamweight title against Talita Bernardo (9-4) and Kristina Williams (6-3) faces Ketlan Souza (12-3) for the vacant flyweight title. The show will air on AXS in the U.S. and The Fight Network in Canada.

LFA on 1/13 in Prior Like, MN at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel headlined by Ary Farias (123), a seven-time world BJJ champion, facing John Sweeney (11-3) a protege of Stephen Wonderboy Thompson so it’s BJJ vs. karate. It airs live on UFC Fight Pass.

MCW on 12/30 at the RJ Meyer Arena in Joppa MD with Action Andretti, the MCW champion, fresh off his win over Chris Jericho on Dynamite, facing Brian Johnson. Moses defends the Rage TV title against DeMarcus Kane and Mike Walker in a three-way. Sam Adonis and Dante Caballero are also on the show.

Pro Wrestling Revolver on 2/2 in Dayton, OH with Jon Moxley, Ace Austin, Chris Bey, Trey Miguel and Gia Miller on the show.

The PFL will be back in action starting 1/27 on the Fubo Sports Network for a series through 3/17 with fighters fighting to earn a spot in the 2023 tournaments.

Joey Janela headlines for AIW on 12/30 in Cleveland at The Odeon.

Ring of Pakistan has shows in DHA Multan tomorrow and Sunday featuring Chris Masters, Kalisto, Amale Dib, Sam Gradwell, KC Spinelli, Mariah May, Hedi Karaoui and more.

Stardom from today in Tokyo: Miyu Amasaki b Miran, Rina b Sanae Takebayashi, Mirai & Tomoko Inaba & Nanami b Saya Iida & Momo Kohgo & Hanan, Ram Kaichow & Maikz Ozaki b Tam Nakano & Waka Tsukiyama, Mai Sakurai & Thekla b Starlight Kid & Karma-DQ, Nanae Takahashi b Lady C, Ami Sohrei b Ruaka to keep the Future of Stardom title (thanks to Shannon Walsh)

90 Day Fiance star Biniyam fights for 559 Fights in Visalia, CA tomorrow night at the Convention Center for a 6 p.m. show.