Daily Update: Weekend schedule, Sage Northcutt, Tom Lawlor

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This is a big weekend for fighting with it being the first weekend in history with both two Bellator show and two UFC shows, plus the Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder PPV.

We’re looking for reports tonight from the Impact show in Newark, CA and the NXT show in Jacksonville, FL to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

UFC TONIGHT FROM THE PEARL AT THE PALMS IN LAS VEGAS

Fight Pass at 6:30 p.m. Eastern

  • Raoni Barcelos (135) vs. Chris Gutierrez (135.5)
  • Tim Means (170.5) vs. Ricky Rainey (170.5)
  • Darrell Horcher (155) vs. Roosevelt Roberts (155.5)

FS1 at 8 p.m. Eastern

  • Juliha Stoliarenko (145.5) vs. Leah Letson (146)
  • Michel Batista (262.5) vs. Maurice Green (259)
  • Joseph Benavidez (125.5) vs. Alex Perez (126)
  • Kevin Aguilar (144) vs. Rick Glenn (148.5)
  • Ji Yeon Kim (130.5) vs. Antonina Shevchenko (124.5)
  • Edmen Shahbazyan (185.5) vs. Darren Stewart (185)
  • Bryan Caraway (135.75) vs. Pedro Munhoz (135.5)
  • Macy Chiasson (144.5) vs. Pannie Kianzad (145) for the TUF women’s featherweight tournament final
  • Juan Espino (260) vs. Justin Frazier (264) for the TUF heavyweight tournament final
  • Rafael dos Anjos (170) vs. Kamaru Usman (170.5)
  • Glenn and Kim both missed weight. Glenn forfeited 20 percent of his purse. Kim forfeited 30 percent of her purse since she missed by 4.5 pounds.

NEW JAPAN WORLD PRO WRESTLING ON AXS TV AT 8 P.M. EASTERN TONIGHT

  • Taichi vs. Hirooki Goto for Never Open weight title
  • Tomohiro Ishii vs. Minoru Suzuki for British heavyweight title

MLW AT 8 P.M. EASTERN TONIGHT ON BEINSPORTS

  • Pentagon Jr. & Fenix vs. L.A. Park & El Hijo de L.A. Park for MLW tag titles

LEGACY FIGHTING AT 9 P.M. EASTERN TONIGHT ON AXS FROM DALLAS, TX

BELLATOR MMA TONIGHT AT 9 P.M. FROM THACKERVILLE, OK ON PARAMOUNT AND DAZN

  • Bruna Ellen (125.8) vs. Kristina Williams (125.6)
  • Juan Archuleta (145.6) vs. Jeremy Spoon (142.6)
  • David Rickels (170) vs. Guilherme Bomba (168.2)
  • Chidi Njokuani (185.4) vs. John Salter (185.8)

CMLL FROM ARENA MEXICO AT 9:30 P.M. EASTERN

  • Super Muneco & Super Pinocho & Super Raton vs. Gallego & Mr. Condor & Rocky Santana
  • Gallito & Guapito & Microman vs. Chamuel & Mije & Perico Zakarias
  • Cavernario & Rush & El Terrible vs. Forastero & Sanson & Cuatrero
  • Solar I & Mano Negra & Felino vs. Fuerza Guerrera & Jerry Estrada & Negro Navarro
  • Ultimo Guerrero & Gran Guerrero & Euforia vs. Mistico & Caristico & Volador Jr. for CMLL trios titles
  • Atlantis & Blue Panther & Rayo de Jalisco Jr. vs. Canek & Villano IV & Mascara Ano 2000

IMPACT GOLD RUSH ON THE IMPACT TWITCH CHANNEL AT 10:30 P.M. EASTERN FROM NEWARK, CA’S PAVILION

  • Sledge & Shane Kody & Marcus Lewis vs. El Guerrero & Tony Vargas & Kaka Meng
  • Dave & Jake Crist vs. Jinxx & Jeckles
  • Eddie Edwards vs. Scotty Wringer
  • Brian Cage vs. Moose
  • Tessa Blanchard vs. Keira Hogan non-title
  • Johnny Impact vs. Eli Drake for Impact title

ALL JAPAN TAG TOURNAMENT FROM SHUNAN SATURDAY

  • Takao Omori vs. Hikaru Sato
  • Koji Iwamoto & Tsuchiya Crazy vs. Atsushi Aoki & Yusuke Okada
  • Kento Miyahara & Yoshitatsu & Naoya Nomura & Yuma Aoyagi vs. Joe Doering & Dylan James & Atsushi Maruyama & Black Menso-re
  • Jake Lee & Ryoji Sai vs. Parrow & Odinson
  • Jun Akiyama & Daisuke Sekimoto vs. Taiji & Gianni Valletta
  • Suwama & Shuji Ishikawa vs. Zeus & The Bodyguard

WWE has a show Saturday night at Arena Ciudad in Mexico City. It will be a Raw house show but Rey Mysterio is also working the show. We’re looking for a report on the show to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

BELLATOR MMA AND KICKBOXING SATURDAY FROM GENOA, ITALY

Kickboxing at Noon Eastern on the Bellator Mobile App

  • Christian Zahe (145.3) vs. Samuel Toscano (145.3)
  • Tiziano Camus (158.7) vs. Yonnes Rahmouni (158.7)
  • Gabriele Casella (176.4) vs. Dani Traore (171.8)
  • Karim Ghajji (168.1) vs. Yuri Bessmertay (168.9)
  • Raymond Daniels (171) vs. Zakaria Lasouatni (171.8)
  • Gabriel Varga (144.6) vs. Shane Cangeloso (144.6)

MMA at 4 p.m. Eastern on Paramount and DAZN

  • Kiefer Crosbie (170.5) vs. Orlando D’Ambrosio (170)
  • Alen Amedovski (185) vs. Ibrahim Mane (184.2)
  • Luca Vitali (152) vs. Pedro Carvalho (156)
  • Hesdy Gerges (233) vs. Domingos Barros (264)
  • Alessio Sakara (203.5) vs. Kent Kauppinen (203)

UFC FROM ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA SATURDAY NIGHT

Fight Pass at 7 p.m. Eastern

  • Alex Gorgees (156) vs. Damir Ismagulov (155)
  • Christos Giagos (155) vs. Mizuto Hirota (156)

FS1 at 8 p.m. Eastern

  • Kai Kara France (126) vs. Elias Garcia (124.5)
  • Keita Nakamura (171) vs. Salim Touahri (171)
  • Ben Nguyen (125.5) vs. Wilson Reis (125.5)
  • Alexey Kunchenko (170) vs. Yushin Okami (170)
  • Paul Craig (206) vs. Jim Crute (205)
  • Suman Mokhtarian (145) vs. Sodiq Yusuff (145)
  • Tony Martin (170) vs. Jake Matthews (171)
  • Mark Hunt (264) vs. Justin Willis (263.5)
  • Tyson Pedro (205) vs. Mauricio Shogun Rua (206)
  • Junior Dos Santos (255) vs. Tai Tuivasa (262)

NEW JAPAN WORLD TAG LEAGUE AT 2 A.M. EASTERN AND 11 P.M. PACIFIC LATE SATURDAY NIGHT FROM OSAKA ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Ayato Yoshida & Shota Umino
  • Evil & Seiya Sanada vs. Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi
  • Hangman Page & Yujiro Takahashi vs. Juice Robinson & David Finlay
  • Togi Makabe & Toa Henare vs. Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka
  • Michael Elgin & Jeff Cobb vs. Baretta & Chuckie T
  • Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano
  • Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada & Kushida & Rocky Romero vs. Jay White & Bad Luck Fale & Taiji Ishimori & Gedo

ALL JAPAN TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT SUNDAY IN FUKUOKA

  • Koji Iwamoto & King vs. Yusuke Okada & Hokuto Omori
  • Naoya Nomura & Yuma Aoyagi & Koji Niizumi vs. Jun Akiyama & Atsushi Maruyama & Black Menso-re
  • Joe Doering & Dylan James & Tajiri & Gianni Valletta vs Suwama & Shuji Ishikawa & Atsushi Aoki & Hikaru Sato
  • Kengo Mashimo & Kai vs. Parrow & Odinson
  • Takao Omori & Manabu Soa vs. Kento Miyahara & Yoshitatsu
  • Jake Lee & Ryoji Sai vs. Zeus & The Bodyguard

Sunday has WWE in Bossier City, LA with the Raw crew while the Smackdown crew runs Arlington, TX.

NEW JAPAN WORLD TAG LEAGUE FROM KOCHI MONDAY ON SAME DAY TAPE DELAY ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • Ayato Yoshida & Shota Umino vs. Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka
  • Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa vs. Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi
  • Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Hangman Page & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Juice Robinson & David Finlay
  • Michael Elgin & Jeff Cobb vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
  • Togi Makabe & Toa Henare vs. Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano
  • Evil & Seiya Sanada vs. Trent Baretta & Chuckie T

Raw is Monday in Houston with Ronda Rousey & Natalya vs. Nia Jax & Tamina. 

NEW JAPAN WORLD TAG LEAGUE FROM KOBE ON TUESDAY SAME DAY TAPE DELAY ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa vs. Shota Umino & Ayato Yoshida
  • Hangman Page & Yujiro Takahashi vs. Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi
  • Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
  • Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Togi Makabe & Toa Henare
  • Michael Elgin & Jeff Cobb vs. Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka
  • Baretta & Chuckie T vs. Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano
  • Evil & Seiya Sanada vs. Juice Robinson & David Finlay

ALL JAPAN TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT TUESDAY IN ORO 

  • Jake Lee & Koji Iwamoto vs. Yuma Aoyagi & Atsushi Maruyama
  • Jun Akiyama & Kishin Kawabata & Carbell Ito vs. Atsushi Aoki & Hikaru Sato & Yusuke Okada
  • Kento Miyahara & Yoshitatsu & Naoya Nomura vs. Joe Doering & Dylan James & Black Menso-re
  • Zeus & The Bodyguard vs. Tajiri & Gianni Valletta
  • Kengo Mashimo & Kai vs. Suwama & Shuji Ishikawa
  • Takao Omori & Manabu Soya vs. Parrow & Odinson

Tuesday has Smackdown in Austin, TX with the Smackdown semifinals of the Mixed Match Challenge with Jeff Hardy & Charlotte Flair vs. vs. R-Truth & Carmella and The Miz & Asuka vs. Jimmy Uso & Naomi.

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Starrcade 2018 and the future of the WWE Network

After WWE revived the Starrcade brand for an untelevised house show in Greensboro, North Carolina in 2017, this year’s Thanksgiving weekend event was part house show/part WWE Network special. The show took place in Cincinnati, Ohio on Saturday before a one-hour version of Starrcade 2018 aired on Sunday. The Network special featured a mix of matches and segments. 

WON NEWSLETTER: December 3, 2018 Observer Newsletter: Death of Larry Matysik, NXT UK contract changes

Sorting out the future of the UK independent scene and the changes made in what WWE UK contracted wrestlers are allowed to do is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer.

The new double issue is a major look back at history as well, with a huge story on Larry Matysik and the rise and fall of St. Louis wrestling in the 70s and the 80s, and a look at Texas wrestling with the life of Jose Lothario.

The lead story talks about the original WWE deals, cards that have to change, promotions that have to change booking plans at different levels, as well as the end of Walter on the independent scene.

Look at why Walter chose this deal and what makes him unique in WWE regarding goals, as well as why he’s not already on the main roster and never went to New Japan. Look at how many promotions are affected, and the future of some of the most popular U.K. groups.

The article on Larry Matysik includes looking at some of the biggest matches of the St. Louis wrestling club, how Matysik started with pro wrestling, his start as a television announcer, the heyday of Wrestling at the Chase, how talent was paid, and how Ric Flair first got into St. Louis.

There is a feature on the career of Jose Lothario, the role of Mexican stars in Texas wrestling, how Lothario first became a major U.S. star long before his famous Texas run. Also look at his feud with Gino Hernandez, his long title history record, and comments from many of the biggest stars on his career.

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.

FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE

We will be doing one weekend show tomorrow night after the UFC show.

For the weekend WWE house shows, as noted, Rey Mysterio will be working the Raw show tomorrow night in Mexico City. Smackdown has no show tomorrow night but will have a Sunday show in Arlington,TX. Mysterio, Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton are all not advertised for that show.

As we had been saying all week, and it’s pretty much been known for a while, Sage Northcutt officially signed with ONE.

Bellator announced a big grudge match fight with Michael Venom Page vs. Paul Daley for 2/16 at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT. This will be a DAZN exclusive and a first round match in the welterweight Grand Prix tournament. The winner of the fight faces Douglas Lima in the semifinals.

Pro Wrestling Revolution announced the debut of Jun Akiyama on a 3/9 date at O’Connell High School in San Francisco. Akiyama, Ultimo Dragon, Super Crazy and Tajiri are all on the show. They are coming in and also doing an All Japan tryout camp on 3/7 at the Pro Wrestling Revolution Training Academy in San Jose.

Tom Lawlor has been told that he will not need surgery, or even a cast, for the hand he broke this past Saturday in his Golden Boy MMA fight with Deron Winn.

CMLL is expecting a big crowd tonight for its legends show which includes Canek, Rayo de Jalisco Jr.,Villano IV plus the first appearance at Arena Mexico in more than 25 years of Jerry Estrada.

WWE

  • The movie “Blood Brother” from WWE Studios has a limited theatrical release starting tonight. R-Truth has a role in the movie.
  • John Cena will be on “The Hawksbee and Jacobs” show on talkSPORT between 1 and 4 p.m. UK time on Monday. (thanks to Lee Wall)
  • An inteview with Becky Lynch about the new Marine release.
  • WWE has pulled Johnny Saint from a seminar that was scheduled next month at the Full Tilt Wrestling show in Newcastle. The WWE had approved the appearance previously but Saint’s new contract signed this past week no longer allowed him to do seminars.
  • WWE is having a camp in Santiago, Chile for South American wrestlers which starts tomorrow.
  • BlocBoy Jb has a line in a new song which references Randy Orton. (thanks to J Todd)
  • An article on a possible XFL team in Detroit.

UFC

  • This is the updated lineup for a 2/2 show in Fortaleza, Brazil:
    Rafael Assuncao vs. Marlon Moraes
    Demian Maia vs. Lymon Good
    Thiago Alves vs. Max Griffin
    Alexa Grasso vs. Marina Rodriguez
    Junior Albini vs. Dmitry Sosnovskiy
    Magomed Bibulatov vs. Rogerio Bontorin
    Mara Romero Borella vs. Taila Santos
            This show will air on ESPN+
  • Andre Ewell (14-4) replaces the injured Tom Duquesnoy in a fight with Nathaniel Wood (14-3) on the 12/29 show in Las Vegas.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Predictions are that tomorrow Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder fight will be 250,000 to 350,000 buys. Then again, that’s what the promoter was predicting last Saturday for Ortiz vs. Liddell. This is a big one because Fury and Wilder are both unproven in the PPV arena and it is being priced at $74.95. The belief is that charging $54.95 will yield the same number of buys with far less revenue.
  • Dragon Lee will face Rich Swann on the MLW show on 12/13 in Miami as well as facing DJZ on the company’s live special the next night, also in Miami.
  • MLW announced a December press conference to announce the main event of a 4/4 show in New York, the Thursday of WM week.
  • TMZ has reported that Halle Berry is training with Cris Cyborg for a role in the movie “John Wick 3.” 
  • There is a promotion out of Norwalk, OH called Olde Wrestling who do a 1920s style of look and wrestling. They are on the Powerbomb.tv site. (thanks to Shannon Walsh)
  • The Cross Body Wrestling Academy in Kitchener, ONT has a Michael Elgin seminar on 12/15 from Noon to 4 p.m. The price is $40. The academy is at 69 Agnes St.
  • KSW has a show tomorrow at www.KSWTV.com on iPPV from Arena Gliwice in Gliwice, Poland. The show starts at Noon Eastern and 9 a.m. Pacific. The show is sold out with 15,000 tickets sold. Mahmed Khalidov (34-5-2) vs. Tomasz Narkun (15-2) meet in the main event plus a featherweight title fight with Mateusz Gamrot (14-0) vs. Kleber Koike Erbst (24-4-1). The sellout comes from a prior Khalidov vs. Narkun fight this year where Narkun ended Khalidov’s 20 fight KSW undefeated streak in what was called one of the best fights of the year.
  • NHPW from earlier today in Perth, Western Australia before 250 fans: Kiel Steria won three-way over Jay Taylor and Gorgeous Garry, Heritor b Kenicki Wheeler, Salem Sixx b Rogan Karuis, Rory Holmes & London Nargreaves b Society’s Unwanted, King Shahil b Vincent Sterling, Julian Ward won three-way over Michael Morleone and Aaron O’Malley, Low Ki b Jonah Rock to keep the heavyweight title. Main event was hurt by a finish that didn’t get over, as Low Ki won via guillotine choke but people didn’t get it. Low Ki encouraged a rematch and also said he’d like to come back to Perth and bring Homicide with him. The match was taped for airing on MLW TV.
  • Ken Shamrock & Carlo Cannon won the BCW tag team titles on a show today in Melbourne. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • Wrestling Rampage has an iPPV tomorrow from Australia with Jonah Rock vs. Damian Slater vs. Rat Daddy vs. AJ Istria vs. Robby Hart.
  • Pro Wrestling Phoenix from Wednesday night in Omaha: Brett Bishop & Tim Boston b Paul Daniels & Joey Daniels, Purple b El Cheffe Barbosa, Seto Kobara b El Bigote, Devin Carter & Preston Maxwell b Jack Darling & Uncle Ricky, Moonshine Russell b Kenny Jones, Lars Metzger & Johnny Ruckus b Logan James & Taven Whisper, Branden Juarez b Willy Sweet, Duke Cornell b Con Artiest. Next show is 12/26 in Omaha at the Waiting Room Lounge.
  • Wrestle Pro announced a 4/20 show in Anchorage, Alaska at the Sullivan Arena with Mick Foley, Johnny Impact, Chris Adonis,Swoggle, Colt Cabana, KM, Fallah Bahh, Sonjay Dutt, Katarina, MJF, Taya Valkyrie, Pat Buck, Mario Bokara, John Walters and more.
  • FIP tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern from the Orpheum in Ybor City, FL
    Adrian Atlantis vs. Matt Delray
    Joe Gacy vs. Sideshow
    Bryan Idol vs. Liam Gray
    Omar Amir & Chance Auren vs. Rob Killjoy & Lance Lude
    Austin Theory vs. Leon Ruff
    Anthony Henry vs. AR Fox for FIP title
    JD Drake vs. Jaka for WWN title
  • NFC MMA on 12/7 at the Electric Cowboy in Kennesaw, GA
  • A clip of the only match ever in Japan where Stan Hansen and Bruiser Brody worked against each other. This was to be the beginning of a feud to set up a big series of bouts but Brody was murdered shortly after this match took place. This match never aired on television at that time in Japan.
  • The 60 minute draw with ACH vs. Trevor Lee is up (MP4, VOD)
  • A story on Jake Roberts. (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk) 
  • A story on UK wrestler Aaron Echo and the big ICW show at the Hydro in Glasgow this week. (thanks to Lee Wall)
  • Cliff Butler Avery, who skated in Roller Derby as Cliff Butler, on the SF Bay Bombers from the late 1960’s into the 1980’s is having medical problems and needs operations due to injuries he sustained due to his skating career.
  • A story on Jeff Cobb.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Antonio Inoki wins WWF title from Bob Backlund

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