Daily Update: WWE Worlds Collide, Impact notes, Dominick Cruz

DAILY UPDATE

Latest News

Latest Audio

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: All Elite Wrestling becomes official

As the clock struck midnight and we entered 2019, All Elite Wrestling finally became official. Weeks of speculation culminated with AEW being formally announced at the end of a Being the Elite episode that was released at midnight Pacific time on January 1, 2019. With that came the announcement of Double or Nothing, which is the sequel to All In. While there are plenty of questions about what the roster for AEW will look like, the initial group of wrestlers has started to come into focus. 

WON NEWSLETTER (ONLINE ONLY): January 7, 2019 Observer Newsletter special: History of the Tokyo Dome – NO HARDCOPY AVAILABLE

When the Tokyo Dome opened on March 17, 1988, the idea of pro wrestling there wasn’t even an idea.

The Dome was built to be the new modern home of two baseball teams, the Yomiuri Giants of the Central League, the team of Shigeo Nagashima and Sadaharu Oh years earlier, the unofficial national team that had all its games on NTV, and sold out every game. The Dome held 48,316 fans for baseball, but for years, every single Giants game announced the attendance as 56,000. The other team, the Nippon Ham Fighters of the Pacific League, which played there through the 2003 season, were the ones that the average person could get tickets to see.

The idea was baseball and concerts, the Rolling Stones (who have 19 Tokyo Dome sellouts), Michael Jackson (who sold 405,000 tickets for nine dates in December 1988), U2, Madonna and Japanese artists. But while it has housed numerous sporting events, including NFL and Major League Baseball, with the exception of baseball and concerts, it’s probably best known for pro wrestling.

Pro wrestling was still huge on television back then. All Japan, headed by Giant Baba, was a fixture on Nippon TV, one of the major networks. New Japan, on TV-Asahi, had matches airing in prime time. 

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.

THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • Humberto Carrillo was originally announced as representing 205 Live in the WWE Worlds Collide tournament, but he’s now been removed and “A Superstar to be named” is listed in his place. Carrillo, who was known as Ultimo Ninja before signing with WWE, has been wrestling at NXT house shows and on some episodes of NXT TV since joining the company. WWE has been hyping that fresh faces will be added to the cruiserweight division in 2019.
  • The announcement of the Worlds Collide tournament also noted that there will be NXT UK television tapings at Royal Rumble Axxess on Friday, January 25 and Sunday, January 27.
  • Hulk Hogan on Kenny Omega possibly going to WWE: “It’s tough to go your whole life without eating at McDonald’s or riding in a Chevrolet. If you don’t touch on the WWE, the story’s not complete. But maybe Kenny could be the exception.”
  • Pete Dunne has now reached 600 days as WWE United Kingdom champion.
  • WWE released the trailer for the Nigel McGuinness documentary that’s airing after NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool on Saturday.
  • This week there are four WWE Hidden Gems: Billy Robinson vs. Ray Stevens (AWA, 9/13/81), Les Thornton vs. Gerald Brisco for the World Junior Heavyweight championship (Florida, 9/13/81), Davey Boy Smith and the Hart Brothers vs. J.R. Foley’s army (Stampede, 10/9/81) and Pete Dunne vs. Mark Andrews for the WWE UK title (NXT live event, 6/8/17)
  • The WWE PC YouTube account has footage from Raymond Rowe and Sarah Logan’s wedding.
  • The Official WWE Cookbook has been announced, featuring a number of dishes, drinks, appetizers and deserts. It will be out on March 19.
  • Glenn Jacobs participated in a AMA on Reddit recently

Pro Wrestling

UFC/MMA

  • Dominick Cruz says his shoulder surgery went well, and is now on the road to recovery.
  • Two fights have been scrapped from next week’s debut on ESPN Plus. John Lineker is out of his fight against Cory Sandhagen while Ion Cutelaba is out of his fight against Glover Teixeira. UFC is looking for replacements..
  • According to Brett Okamoto, the idea of a fight between Anthony Pettis and Steven Thompson is real, as both sides want it.
  • John Dodson vs. Petr Yan in a bantamweight bout is set for the UFC February 23 event in Prague. Yan has also signed a new 4 fight deal with the company.
  • David Teymur vs. Charles Oliveira in a lightweight bout has been confirmed for the Fortaleza event on February 2.
  • FloSports is reporting that Thomas Almeida vs. Marlon Vera is being targeted for UFC 235 on March 2.
  • Alex Gorgees will fight Jalin Turner in Melbourne, Australia on February 9.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Kurt Angle wins vacant World title

CONTACT INFORMATION