Daily Update: SmackDown, Samoa Joe, Miz & Maryse reality show

By Joseph Currier
Published: 9 Jan 2018, 16:45

THE ROUND-UP

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 8, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: More Women’s Royal Rumble details, UFC 219 reviewed, more

An update on the Royal Rumble, as well as the women’s Royal Rumble and different possibilities of where it can go is the lead item in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Have a look at the UFC’s 2017 when it comes to business, why the increase in total revenue may be hiding a real problem, the value of the big stars, all the ratings and PPV numbers, as well as the competition from Bellator.

This issue runs down UFC 219 with some early business indicators of how it did, thoughts on Cyborg vs. Holm and the judging process, TV numbers and what they did and didn’t say, Khabib Nurmagomedov plus full match rundowns with how much everyone was paid and poll results.

Check out Japan’s Rizin New Year’s Eve two major shows with notes on Mirko Cro Cop, the Gabi Garcia fiasco and her explanation, the ratings of the show and more highlights.

Our good friend Larry Matysik, who is currently hospitalized, is talked about in a feature on who he is, his role in St. Louis, his books, his being the only person to work for both Sam Muchnick and Vince McMahon, and some notes on the doors he’s opened for me in my lifetime. For those who like history this is a cool feature.

Read about a woman wrestler who was offered a WWE contract but it’s not looking like she’ll be in soon, another who may be in soon, notes on Strowman and Enzo and their illnesses, one major WWE star who won’t be in the Royal Rumble, the best WWE matches of 2017, and another John Cena movie role as well as an update on Rock and Cena movies and business.

There is more on the Mixed Match Challenge Facebook series, just how crazy the end of the month will be for WWE, Dolph Ziggler, WWE stock and the most-watched shows of the week on WWE Network.

Check out a full rundown of the WWE’s holiday tour, with notes from every show, including business notes and booking notes.

Examine the 2017 win-loss records for WWE wrestlers as well as the Iron Man award winners dating back to 2004 and also compare the number of dates with WWE’s top stars with that of New Japan’s top stars.

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.

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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 25, 2000 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Blue Demon passes away, WCW talent walks out on tapings, more

Alejandro Munoz Moreno, who was a 1960s Mexican movie star and possibly the second most famous wrestlers in that country’s history as the Blue Demon, passed away on 12/16 from a heart attack at the age of 78. Demon, who would probably be ranked just behind El Santo as the most famous cultural wrestling icon in Mexico, starred in even lower budget movies than those which made Santo one of the most beloved and probably the longest enduring wrestling legend in any culture.

TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

The first round of the United States title tournament concludes on SmackDown tonight with Zack Ryder vs. Mojo Rawley. The winner advances to face Bobby Roode in the semifinals. Becky Lynch will also return to action against Ruby Riott tonight, The Bludgeon Brothers face The Ascension, and AJ Styles will respond to Daniel Bryan after Bryan announced last week that Styles would be defending his WWE Championship in a handicap match at the Royal Rumble.
In an article on WWE.com, it was noted that Samoa Joe suffered a right foot injury on Raw last night. Dr. Chris Amann said that Joe felt a pop in his foot and they believe he has a plantar fascia rupture. Joe was scheduled to undergo an MRI and “treatment includes a period of immobilization in a boot with crutches and platelet rich plasma injections.”
Amann examined Joe’s foot in a post-Raw video that WWE put out.
Joe announced that he’s joining the cast of the new Transformers animated series as a voice actor.
The USA Network has officially greenlit an unscripted reality series starring The Miz and Maryse. The show will be called “Miz & Mrs.” and will follow their lives as they become parents for the first time. It will be produced by WWE and Bunim/Murray Productions, with an airdate of later in 2018 set for the six-episode, half-hour series.
The Rock will be one of the guests on the post-Super Bowl edition of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. The show will follow an episode of “This Is Us.” (thanks to reader Jake Koch)
Enzo Amore received four stitches above his right eye after being busted open by Cedric Alexander on Raw.
Asuka will face Nia Jax next Monday. There was an angle to set that up last night where Jax attacked Asuka while Asuka was entering for a match.
PWInsider reported that Serena Deeb was spotted in Pittsburgh (where WWE does medical testing) yesterday and that WWE is interested in bringing her back in some form.
WWE announced a partnership with NextVR to bring fans virtual reality highlights from select events in 2018.
Luke Gallows is opening a pro wrestling school in Jenkinsburg, Georgia.
In a another video where WWE further establishes her character in NXT, Shayna Baszler continued to bully other wrestlers at the Performance Center.
Charlotte Flair and Bobby Roode are calling their Mixed Match Challenge team the “Robe Warriors.”

Pro Wrestling

Chris Jericho teased sticking around with NJPW for a while in a post on Instagram.
NJPW has a subtitled video of post-match comments from the main event of New Year’s Dash. It includes Tetsuya Naito responding to Jericho attacking him.
Hirai Kawato is heading to Mexico on excursion and will have his final match before leaving at Korakuen Hall on January 22nd.
NJPW’s Leo Tonga is now known as Hikule’o and Shota Umino is going by Shota Unno.
Travis Banks will defend his PROGRESS Wrestling Championship against Chris Brookes in Birmingham on Sunday. Banks and Brookes are stablemates in CCK.
Impact Wrestling’s Global Wrestling Network is now available on Apple TV.
Comedian Ron Funches tweeted that he had his first day of pro wrestling training at the Santino Bros school in Southern California yesterday. Funches wrote that it’s nice to do “something just for fun thinking I won’t have a career and responsibilities in it.”
Candice LeRae will face Joey Ryan for Bar Wrestling in the Los Angeles area on January 18th. (thanks to reader Jake Koch)

UFC/MMA

Bellator MMA announced that “Big” John McCarthy is joining their broadcast team as a color commentator. McCarthy said he’s not retired from refereeing but is putting that on the backburner to focus on being the best color commentator he can be.
Former Bellator commentator Jimmy Smith opened up about his departure from the company and said he could have news to share about his next move soon.
Stipe Miocic said he feels a bit disrespected by the UFC and that they want Francis Ngannou to beat him.
Gunnar Nelson wants to face Darren Till at UFC’s upcoming show in London.
Anthony Pettis is also hoping to fight on the London show.

WRESTLING OBSERVER / F4W – WRESTLEMANIA 34 in NEW ORLEANS

Here we go again! It’s back to New Orleans for Wrestlemania 34 and a huge weekend of spectacular pro wrestling related fun and wackiness. EdinSanAntonio Productions along with the Wrestling Observer / F4W is proud to present the annual Wrestlemania trip details. This huge weekend includes a number of website member only events. Not only will we be attending Wrestlemania 34 togther, we will also be hosting a live Wrestling Observer podcast recording with “Big” Dave Meltzer and Bryan “Chico” Alvarez, taking questions from attendees.

EVENT DETAILS: Purchase TICKETS for the Wrestling Observer Radio LIVE MAILBAG!

WHAT: WOR LIVE Podcast Recording with Dave and Bryan
WHEN: Friday, April 6th 2018 – Doors at 8:45 AM, Show starts at 9:30 AM and concludes at 11:00 AM
WHERE: The Bourbon Room, Royal St. Charles Hotel in downtown New Orleans: 135 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130

CONTACT INFORMATION

Poll opinions: dave@wrestlingobsever.com
Feedback: feedback@wrestlingobserver.com
Show results and news tips: newstips@wrestlingobserver.com
Wrestling Observer Radio questions: mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com

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