Daily Update: Tokyo Sports awards, Ronda Rousey, Tyrus

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F4W NEWSLETTER:  Rey Mysterio’s US title win Joseph Currier looks at how WWE has started to use the legendary Mysterio to his full potential.

After periods of not being used as well as he should have been, it seems like Rey Mysterio’s legendary career may get the dream final stretch that it deserves.

Mysterio was at the center of a great moment on last week’s post-Survivor Series edition of Raw. With Humberto Carrillo being attacked by The O.C. before his scheduled title shot, Mysterio won two straight matches to become United States Champion. He defeated Ricochet, Randy Orton, and Drew McIntyre in a number one contender’s fatal four-way match and then beat AJ Styles to win the US title.

Mysterio pinned Ricochet to get the immediate title shot against Styles. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson had interfered when Orton had the fatal four-way won, and Orton then helped Mysterio even the odds a bit when The O.C. got involved in the title match. Orton took out Gallows and Anderson, gave Styles an RKO after Mysterio hit the 619, and Mysterio followed up with a frog splash to win the title. Mysterio then celebrated in the ring with his son Dominik.

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WON NEWSLETTER: December 16, 2019 Observer Newsletter: TLC card mystery, Kelly Klein/ROH issues, more

A look at plans as they are for the WWE’s TLC PPV is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.  We look at what was on the boards this week for the card, ways it may change, why zero matches had been announced nine days before the show and Vince McMahon’s philosophy regarding PPV shows these days. The new issue also covers: 

Issues with ROH, from its concussion policy, to its relationship with New Japan, with comments from both Joe Koff and Harold Meij. We look at the claims regarding a concussion policy, why ROH cut off negotiations with women’s champion Kelly Klein after first offering her more than double of her prior contract and more.

The economics of WWE, PPV vs Network and which would have been better, Orlando wants big shows, Ciampa says he’d rather retire than move to the main roster, why he said it, changes with WWE Network, TV ratings in Canada and Germany, new WWE fire, WWE in sports survey, NXT the next two weeks, Raw announcing, Carmella tarts new business, stock value, most-watched shows on WWE Network, as well as a rundown of all the weekend arena dates.

New Japan tag team tournament matches of the past week.

AAA’s TripleMania Regia, the big angle shot, the usage of rival CMLL’s old heel stable, plus the return of Kenny Omega, as well as hopes to use more AEW talent on major shows coming up.  We also have match-by-match coverage.

History of Starrcade, how it started, the roles of key people like Dusty Rhodes, Ric Flair, Harley Race and Dory Funk Jr.  We look at every main event in Starrcade history, and how Vince McMahon tried and failed to sabotage the first show, but succeeded in sabotaging the fifth show. We look at how Starrcade came to be, the match in 1983 that created the first Starrcade, the Flair vs. Race program and how it was built, the Roddy Piper vs. Greg Valentine angle, what killed wrestling on Thanksgiving, plus a rundown of Sunday’s show in Atlanta.

Preview of Tito Ortiz vs. Alberto El Patron, how Combate Americas came into this world, Campbell McLaren’s role in the birth of MMA, how Alberto got into pro wrestling, his MMA career before WWE, why he was not allowed to fight on the Los Angeles Coliseum show and the realities of this fight as a PPV from a business standpoint.

Full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.

In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.

Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week. 

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TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE

Addtional notes by Joseph Currier

WWE

  • WWE Backstage tonight will feature the return of CM Punk. Also on the show tonight is King Corbin as as well as Offset of The Migos, who will take part in the Promo School segment.
  • People Magazine interviewed Ronda Rousey, who said the door is open to a WWE return but is focused on her family right now: “Right now, I think my family needs my undivided attention. I’m happy to give them that. But I’m trying to figure out a way or a system or somehow that I could give both my family and WWE the best of me and not be half ass in both.”
  • The jobber from last night’s Erick Rowan squash on Raw was Tracer X, who also appeared on this past Friday’s episode of 205 Live, losing to Tony Nese.
  • TVInsider has an interview with Renee Young.
  • Matt Hardy tweeted today: “I needed to return to @WWE to finish in the right way. I didn’t want 2010 to be my finale. I returned in the most EPIC way & repaid my debt. I waved the #WWE flag with pride & worked hard to be a model employee. My conscience is clear & I am at peace.”

Pro Wrestling

  • Tokyo Sports announced their annual awards today. Kazuchika Okada took the top honor of MVP of the Year for the fourth time, previously winning in 2012, 2013 and 2015. Antonio Inoki holds the record with six wins. The winners of this year’s awards are:
    MVP: Kazuchika Okada (NJPW)
    Best Bout: Kazuchika Okada vs. SANADA from NJPW King of Pro Wrestling
    Best Tag Team: Suwama & Shuji Ishikawa (AJPW)
    Outstanding Performance: Kento Miyahara (AJPW)
    Technique: Kota Ibushi (NJPW)
    Rookie: Strong Machine J (Dragon Gate)
    Women: Mayu Iwatami (Stardom)
  • Fox News host Britt McHenry has filed a lawsuit against both the network and former co-host Tyrus. The lawsuit says that the network has refused to investigate her claims of sexual harassment and have targeted her instead of Tyrus.
  • AEW is advertising a segment for tomorrow’s Dynamite where MJF will respond to Cody’s challenge.
  • News 12 talked to MJF in his hometown of Plainview, Long Island.
  • In addition to her role as a referee, Aubrey Edwards started working as a project coordinator for AEW yesterday.
  • Chris Van Vilet interviewed Marko Stunt about AEW and the Jurassic Express. 
  • MLW has rescheduled their return to Chicago. Originally set for February 29, they will instead run on April 18 at the Cicero Stadium in Chicago.
  • LA Park is returning to MLW at their Fightland tapings in Philadelphia on February 1.
  • EVOLVE will hold their next recruitment camp January 3-5 in Fort Richey, Florida.
  • Here is the latest episode of Sammy Guevara’s vlog.
  • Tomohiro Ishii turns 44 today.

MMA

  • Daniel Cormier thinks he will fight Stipe Miocic in June, but says the timeline to that match may be tricky.
  • Jorge Masvidal told SBNation that he has about three years left before he retires, and won’t leave without a UFC title.
  • Saturday’s UFC card on ESPN averaged 1.071 million viewers.
  • Here are the first and second episodes of UFC 245 Embedded.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Terry Funk wins NWA World title

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