Daily Update: SmackDown tonight, Daniel Bryan, Conor McGregor

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FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY:Figure Four Weekly 11/6/2017: Examining Jericho and Omega’s Tokyo Dome matchup

In a match that seemed impossible not all that long ago and was still pretty shocking when the announcement was made, Chris Jericho will face Kenny Omega for New Japan Pro Wrestling at the Tokyo Dome on January 4th. That was confirmed in a video at NJPW’s Power Struggle event last weekend after Omega had defeated Trent Barreta to retain the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.

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WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER:November 13, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Chris Jericho makes surprise return to NJPW, GSP returns, more

The story of how the Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho match came to be, including what is and isn’t true regarding Jericho’s contract with WWE, is one of the lead stories of a loaded up double-issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. This issue also has coverage of UFC 217, NJPW Power Struggle and Impact Bound for Glory, an update on Survivor Series, a look at the career of Manami Toyota, and the last two months of business breakdowns for WWE, ROH and Impact.

The lead story details the announcement of Jericho vs. Omega, the video, the twitter feud, where the idea of the match came from and the steps that had to be taken to get it approved. Look at Jericho’s last WWE contract, what the nature of the NJPW deal really is, Omega’s NJPW contract and when it expires and his thoughts on 2018, and why NJPW made the match.

Check out the business of New Japan World, the lineup for the Tokyo Dome and why the matches are taking place, the goals for the Tokyo Dome, the NJPW return to the U.S. and pitfalls of the date and place, as well as a look the upcoming NJPW tag team tournament and full schedule.

Look at the return of GSP, the MSG UFC show, the three title changes, the PPV numbers, the live numbers, TV numbers, and other business notes. Plus, look at the future for the three weight classes impacted by the title changes and the reality of the GSP performance, full coverage of the show with poll results.

Read the update on Survivor Series, the Owens-Zayn incident that resulted in them being sent home, the updated card, ticket sales, and this week’s WWE title change backstory.

This issue has an update on the concussion lawsuit including new claims by attorney Konstantine Kyros about wrestlers who have suffered from CTE and living wrestlers having problems with dementia, more on Ric Flair’s 30 for 30, lots of news on the departure of Austin Aries from WWE, the common theme of those being let go, WWE star gets a new TV non-wrestling show and why this War Games is really nothing like the original.

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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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WON BACK ISSUE: October 30, 2000 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Death of Yokozuna, Bret Hart leaves WCW, more

Rodney Anoia, who was the heaviest superstar in the history of pro wrestling and a two-time WWF champion under the name Yokozuna, passed away suddenly on 10/23 in a Liverpool, England hotel room a few weeks after his 34th birthday. Anoia was the most successful of the huge Samoan clan of wrestlers started by Afa & Sika Anoia, his uncles, when they began wrestling in the early 1970s. He was one of the biggest stars in the business around the world during his WWF run, which lasted from late 1992 through 1996.

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TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • Tonight’s SmackDown has two title matches that could possibly change the card for Survivor Series. Natalya will defend her Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair and Sin Cara will challenge for Baron Corbin’s United States title. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn are also back tonight after being sent home from WWE’s European tour and will be facing The New Day. There should also be a Raw vs. SmackDown angle that builds to Sunday’s Survivor Series pay-per-view.
  • Enzo Amore posted a photo with Ric Flair backstage at SmackDown.
  • A birthday celebration for Kalisto is advertised for 205 Live.
  • While speaking with Busted Open Radio at the New Jersey Devils’ WWE night last week, Daniel Bryan said there’s an 85 percent chance that he’ll wrestle again and a 20 percent chance that WWE will clear him. Bryan noted that he won’t come back if he has a test done that says he shouldn’t and said he wouldn’t have a full-time schedule if he ever comes back to WWE.
  • Paul Heyman’s promo on Raw was interrupted by a fan proposing in the crowd. With the audience reacting to the proposal, Heyman played along and said she wouldn’t have said yes if she had ever been up close to a beast like Brock Lesnar.
  • Vince McMahon granted a wish for a 19-year-old fan named Orlando as part of the Make-a-Wish program.
  • Though she wasn’t on the show, Paige posted a video with Renee Young backstage at Raw last night.
  • Goldberg tweeted about his WWE 24 special: “Thx for positive response on the @wwe #wwe24 on the @wwenetwork  Hopefully it all makes sense now…. #familyfirst #humbled #luckiestmanalive #dotherightthing”
  • The WWE Network has started uploading episodes of the original “reality show” run of NXT.
  • Enzo Amore and Kalisto’s Cruiserweight title match will be on Sunday’s pre-show.

Pro Wrestling

UFC/MMA

  • Conor McGregor apologized for his behavior in the incident where he jumped into the cage, shoved referee Marc Goddard, and slapped a staff member at Bellator 187. He wrote that he lost it and overreacted when Goddard was trying to continue the fight.
  • Goddard also released a statement about what happened from his perspective, concluding by writing that he doesn’t want further action to be taken against McGregor, but that’s out of his hands and he hopes that the situation can be learned from for the good of the sport.
  • After ABC president Mike Mazzulli claimed he’d been told that McGregor was removed from the UFC 219 card due to the incident, McGregor’s agent denied that was true. It isn’t clear if McGregor has ever been planned to fight on that show or not.
  • Frankie Edgar discussed the facial injury that’s keeping him from fighting at UFC 218, saying he almost wishes it was the type of injury where he could get a shot and fight through it.
  • Amanda Nunes appeared on Forbes’ 30 under 30 list for sports.
  • Rampage Jackson doesn’t want to face Chael Sonnen in the first round of Bellator’s heavyweight title tournament.

Today in Professional Wrestling History: Big Show wins his first WWF World title

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