The Bryan & Vinny Show is back today and it’s RETRO TUESDAY! That means Raw and Nitro from 19 years ago this week! WWF following the 1997 Royal Rumble and a really fun edition of Nitro all the way up until Eric Bischoff storyline tried to make the show better. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Submitted by Kaven Hashemian from Dayton, OH
Dark Match:
Zack Ryder pinned Fandango (3:41)
Main Event:
– Jack Swagger & Mark Henry defeated Konnor & Viktor when Mark Henry pinned Viktor (8:11)
– Neville pinned Tyler Breeze (4:57)
– Curtis Axel & Heath Slater (w/Adam Rose & Bo Dallas) defeated The Dudleys when Curtis Axel pinned Bubba Ray (10:02)
SmackDown:
– Dolph Ziggler, Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso defeated WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) when Jey pinned Xavier (13:14)
– Becky Lynch made Alicia Fox (w/Brie Bella) submit (3:25). WWE Divas Champion Charlotte & Ric Flair sat ringside for commentary
during the match.
– MizTV segment feat. WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose & Kevin Owens
– Bray Wyatt (w/Braun Strowman, Erick Rowan & Luke Harper) pinned Ryback (5:47)
– Titus O’Neil pinned Stardust (3:13)
– WWE Champion Roman Reigns defeated WWE U.S. Champion Alberto Del Rio, Bad News Barrett, Rusev & Sheamus via disqualification (5:06)
There will be no ratings for either the weekend UFC programming or for Raw available today due to Martin Luther King’s birthday.
Ratings for the weekend, which includes the Dominick Cruz vs. TJ Dillashaw bantamweight title change, will be available tomorrow. Preliminary numbers based on the overnight ratings have indicated Sunday’s show will be one of the most watched UFC events ever on FS 1, likely second most to the show last January headlined by Conor McGregor vs. Dennis Siver.
Raw’s number will also be interesting as it was for the go-home show for the Royal Rumble, built around a Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns confrontation from early in the show. Traditionally Raw numbers bounce back significantly in January when football season ends. Monday will be the first show since the last football game of the season airs on a Monday, although the show two weeks ago didn’t have football competition and the bouce-back was less than anticipated.
By Bryan Alvarez
There is a ton of heat on Josh from Tough Enough after he tweeted last night about #SocialJobbers in regards to the Social Outcasts. The key to the story is that whether he is right or wrong (and, if you are being honest, it would be very difficult to fairly say that the Social Outcasts are not jobbers after being destroyed 4-on-1 last night by the Big Show), to say something like that publicly, especially since he’ll already have heat for getting a $250,000 contract because he won a reality show, is idiotic.
There is a ton of heat on him today from the main roster, to the point where it is possible that management will have to step in to try to quell things if they have not already. The other key is that the Royal Rumble is in Orlando and all the NXT talent will be there. Probably going to be a long day for young Josh. We have heard from people in the company who want to see him in the Royal Rumble now.
NEW JAPAN FANTASTICA MANIA DAY TWO ON TUESDAY IN KYOTO (not on New Japan World)
Ryusuke Taguchi & Fuego vs. Yohei Komatsu & Sho Tanaka
The Panther vs. Okumura
Guerrero Maya Jr. vs. Bobby Zavala
Dragon Lee & Jushin Liger & David Finlay & Titan vs. Barbaro Cavernario & Yoshi-Hashi & Virus & Hechicero
Stuka Jr. & Mascara Dorada & Atlantis vs. Tetsuya Naito & Evil & Bushi
Mistico & Kushida vs. Ultimo Guerrero & Gedo
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Volador Jr. & Juice Robinson vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Kazuchika Okada & Mephisto
Smackdown and Main Event will be taped on Tuesday night in Dayton, OH.
NEW JAPAN FANTASTICA MANIA DAY THREE ON WEDNESDAY IN OSAKA (not on New Japan World)
Jushin Liger & Stuka Jr. vs. Sho Tanaka & Yohei Komatsu
The Panther vs. Bobby Zavala
Guerrero Maya Jr. vs. Okumura
Jay White & Ryusuke Taguchi & Kushida & Titan vs. Gedo & Yoshi-Hashi & Hechicero & Barbaro Cavernario
Fuego & Mascara Dorada & Atlantis vs. Tetsuya Naito & Bushi & Evil
Mistico & Volador Jr. & Juice Robinson vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Ultimo Guerrero & Mephisto
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Dragon Lee vs Kazuchika Okada & Virus
If you’ve ever wanted to WATCH our radio shows here on the site, check out our new Youtube page! No full video shows, but lots of video clips, full free audio shows that you can tell your friends about, and much more to come! Make sure you subscribe today! We have two new quick video clips up on our Youtube page, so check it out and subscribe today for more!
Figure Four Weekly
Figure Four Weekly 1/4/2016: More on Gawker motioning to dismiss Hulk Hogan lawsuit
More information on Gawker’s motion to dismiss Hulk Hogan’s sex tape lawsuit, tons more.
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
The Latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter: January 18, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: NJPW strips Nakamura, Sting to HOF
An update on Shinsuke Nakamura, WWE and New Japan Pro Wrestling is the lead story of the new issue of the Wrestling Observer. His departure, not losing the IC title in the ring, the decision making surrounding it, Nakamura’s final matches in Japan and his start in the U.S., New Japan’s next two PPV shows, and the future of the IC title.
Nick Diaz’s updated suspension, Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler, and the welterweight division title situation. UFC 197 through 200 with talk about what is next for Ronda Rousey, Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier, MMA in New York, what huge publicity coup UFC had that fell apart, is UFC too confident about high ticket prices, and a number of future main events. The plans for C.M. Punk’s debut.
Lots of WrestleMania updates, including what is on the books and other key matches. We’ve got more on John Cena’s surgery, updates on a number of WWE injuries, a look at the first Smackdown on USA, more on brain injuries to fighters and wrestlers, Notes on the next NXT tapings, new WWE camps, double standards, Linda McMahon update, NXT weekend, and football background of two NXT stars.
Rundowns of all the WWE & NXT house shows over the weekend and business notes. Updates on Royal Rumble.
A feature on Sting and his career, from growing up through Memphis, through WCW and TNA and his final run in WWE. How he got started, his first break, the Ric Flair match that made him a star, when he was originally going to win the NWA title and why it was delayed, what happened when he was champion, the Hogan vs. Sting disaster, how he ended up in TNA.
Full coverage of TNA’s tapings and PPV, contract issues, the Matt Hardy situation and what is the short-term future for television.
Yoel Romero and his potential test failure and how this changes the middleweight division. Romero’s background, fighter reactions to his test failure.
The future of the AAA Mega championship and the current plans for Guerra de Titanes, the first major show of 2016 in AAA.
PLUS MUCH MORE! CLICK HERE FOR A FULL WRESTLING OBSERVER PREVIEW
You can also order the print Observer right now and get it delivered to your door via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to Dave Meltzer
You can also order print issues at www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com
Rates are:
For the United States, it is $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 get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today. With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today.
Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.
Check out the latest Online Wrestling Observer BACK ISSUE: November 23, 1998 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: WWF Survivor Series review, Rock becomes Corporate Champion
A full review of WWF Survivor Series with The Rock becoming the Corporate Champion, more WCW woes, plus tons of news.
TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE
Jim Ross will be our guest on Wrestling Observer Radio on Thursday. Ross, confirmed with FOX SPORTS today that he will returning to commentating, taking over for Mauro Ranallo who was doing the commentating for NJPW on AXS.
If you haven’t checked it out already and subscribed, you must check out our Youtube Channel. On top of posting our free shows there, we just posted what is possibly the greatest silent film ever created. The award winning(ok, one of the runners up) The Paper Bag Bandit! Subscribe to our channel now! We will be reposting more in studio videos, the Bryan vs Vinny BATTEL~! which includes all the vignettes leading to the match, another silent film called Kill that Mole and we will keep posting free shows for your enjoyment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki3SV9cUz6s
WWE
Triple H 6-4
Roman Reigns 9-4
Brock Lesnar 3-1
No one else is any better than a 16-1 longshot. Interesting other names on the listing are:
Daniel Bryan at 18-1
AJ Styles at 33-1
Finn Balor at 40-1
John Cena, Randy Orton, Ronda Rousey (?!!!) and Sami Zayn all listed at 50-1
Shinsuke Nakamura and the Rock both at 66-1
Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson and the Big Show at 80-1 (yes, the “largest athlete in the World has the same odds as two guys who haven’t even debuted and probably won’t any time soon)
Chyna (???!!!!??!!), Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe at 100-1 (the same odds as Kane, Luke Harper, Mark Henry and some other active superstars)
UFC/MMA
MISC
Caleb Konley vs Mikey O’Shea. Before match O’Shea was attacked by a hooded gentleman. match never started
Ethan HD w/Christian Cole defeated Crash Test Cody
Greg Romero and midget Buggy Cub beat Anthony Green and midget Cowboy Kid Quick
Feature on Darin Corbin
Wes Brisco defeated Darin Corbin
Alex Chamberlain retained the PPW championship defeating The Gentleman Brawler, Eric Right
ON THIS DAY IN WORLD PRO WRESTLING HISTORY: Daily pro wrestling history (01/19): Ric Flair wins the Royal Rumble and WWF Title
I normally try not to list off everyone who helped with the daily update today because so many of us do and it would be hard to list everyone every day. But thanks to David Bixenspan, Paul Fontaine and Brian Hoops for the help today, and Bryan too I guess…
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive returns today to talk all the news in wrestling and MMA including all the heat on Josh From Tough Enough, Raw from Monday night, a bunch of ideas for the WWE Royal Rumble, and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show – Questions and Answers! The return of the popular questions and answers format. Topics and questions today deal with a variety of things but I have to start off with the death of “Iron” Mike Sharpe. If you grew up watching WWF in the 1980’s like I did then you undoubtably saw many “Iron” Mike Sharpe matches. He came from a wrestling family and I think he could have been a pushed star in certain areas had he not been typecast in the WWF prelims. I also revist the topic of who has had the most matches in wrestling history. A listener to the show writes in questioning the 9,000 matchs or more number that we talked about a few shows ago. We talk about the reality of that number.
Then the main topic this show comes from an email I got just yesterday. What are the origins of kayfabe and the sport becoming a work? It is a question we have talked about many times on the DragonKingKarl show. Still, it is a great question to revist from time to time and discover just how pro wrestling came to be. How did the carnivals and the circus get tangled up with wrestling? How did wrestling evolve out of the civil war? Was Frank Gotch, Ed “Strangler” Lewis, or Lou Thesz actually “shoot” wrestlers? Just when did it change from being a legit contest to theater in a ring? If you are interested in getting a copy of the Pioneers of Wrestling Special that I reference on this show, it is available as part of the massive amount of data on the Super Stern Stick available at my personal website http://www.dragonkingkarl.com
Today’s show is a free one! I have not given away a show in years but I am giving away today’s show so we can have a good discussion about the origins of pro wrestling. I hope you enjoy!
1880
New York City:
– William Muldoon defeated Thiebaud Bauer to become the first American Greco-Roman Heavyweight Champion
1940
Kansas City, Kansas:
– Bobby Bruns defeated Orville Brown to become the first Kansas City Midwest Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Champion
1960
Nashville, Tennessee:
– Tex Riley and Len Rossi defeated Don and Jackie Fargo to win the Mid-America NWA World Tag Team Titles
Tampa, Florida:
– Mike DiBiase defeated The Red Raider (Pedro Godoy) for the Florida NWA Southern Heavyweight Title
– Prince Neff Maiava defeated Danny McShain
– Don Curtis (sub Eddie Graham) defeated Marco Polo
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada:
– George Eakin defeated John DePaulo to win the Madison Wrestling Club Heavyweight Title
Toronto, Ontario, Canada:
– NWA World heavyweight champion Lou Thesz beat Billy Watson on a count out
– Bob Wagner beat Johnny Barend
1961
Kansas City, Kansas:
– The Medics (Tony Gonzales and Donald Lortie) defeated John Paul Henning and Sonny Myers in a tournament final to become the first NWA Central States Tag Team Champions
1962
Portland, Oregon:
– King Curtis and Haru Sasaki defeated Herb and Seymour Freeman to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title
1966
Honolulu, Hawaii:
– Ripper Collins defeated Ron Reed to win the NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Title
1968
Atlanta, Georgia:
– Ray Gunkel and Buddy Fuller defeated Butcher Vachon and Stan Vachon (Stan Pulaski) for the Georgia NWA World Tag Team Title
1970
Portland, Oregon:
– Karl and Kurt Von Steiger defeated Tony Borne and Moondog Maybe for the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title
Memphis, Tennessee:
– Dennis Hall and Johnny Walker defeated Al and Don Greene to win the Mid-America NWA Southern Tag Team Titles
1972
Buffalo, New York:
– Mitsu Arakawa and Yoshino Sato defeated Dominic DeNucci and Tony Parisi in a tournament final for the vacant National Wrestling Federation World Tag Team Title
Mobile, Alabama:
– Bob Kelly defeated Donnie Fargo to win the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title
1973
St. Louis, Missouri:
– Johnny Valentine defeated Harley Race for the held up NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
Dotham, Alabama:
– Ken Lucas defeated The Wrestling Pro to win the NWA Alabama Heavyweight Title
1976
Memphis, Tennessee:
– Jerry Lawler defeated Ricky Gibson for the held up Mid-America NWA Southern Heavyweight Title
1977
Raleigh, North Carolina:
– Greg Valentine defeated Rufus R. Jones for the NWA Mid-Atlantic Television Title
Miami Beach, Florida:
– Superstar Billy Graham defeated Dusty Rhodes by dq
– Ox Baker defeated Jos LeDuc
– The Assassin defeatd Steve Strong
– Mike Graham & Jack & Jerry Brisco defeated Buddy Wolff & Bob Roop & Bob Orton, Sr.
– Steve Keirn defeated Angelo Poffo
Omaha, Nebraska:
– Cage match: The Crusher beat Mad Dog Vachon
– AWA Tag Team Champions Blackjack Lanza & Bobby Duncum beat Peter Maivia & Billy Francis
– Greg Gagne beat Roger Kirby
– Jim Brunzell beat Angelo Mosca dq
– Super Destroyer beat Jan Nelson (sub Bull Bullinski)
1979
Atlanta, Georgia:
– Ole Anderson and Ivan Koloff won the NWA Georgia Tag Team Title from Jack and Jerry Brisco
Denver, Colorado:
– AWA Tag Team Champions Pat Patterson & Ray Stevens beat Billy Robinson & Verne Gagne
– Terry Funk beat Blackjack Lanza
– Mighty Igor Vodik beat Iron Sheik
1980
Mexico City, Mexico:
– Kato Kung Lee defeated Americo Rocca to win the NWA World Welterweight Title
1981
San Juan, Puerto Rico:
– Carlos Colon and Invader I defeated Danny (Dennis) Condrey and Dutch Mantel for the WWC North American Tag Team Titles
1982
Tampa, Florida:
– Florida Title No DQ Match: Killer Karl Kox defeated The Spoiler to retain the title
– Dory Funk, Jr. & David Von Erich defeated Mike Graham & Mr. Wrestling 2
– Hacksaw Reed & Jack & Jerry Brisco defeated Chan Chung & Mr. Fuchi & Mr. Onita
– Iron Mike Sharpe drew Eric Embry
1987
Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada:
– Owen Hart defeated Makhan Singh (Mike Shaw) for the Stampede North American Heavyweight Title
Montreal, Quebec, Canada:
– Hercules Ayala defeated David Schultz to win the International Wrestling International Heavyweight Title
1991
Miami, Florida:
– Sgt. Slaughter pinned WWF Champion The Ultimate Warrior to win the title
– The Rockers (Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels) defeated The Orient Express (Tanaka and Kato)
– Hulk Hogan won the Royal Rumble Match
Matsumoto, Japan:
– Jumbo Tsuruta won the AJPW Triple Crown Title from Stan Hansen
1992
Albany, New York:
– Ric Flair won the Royal Rumble match and won the vacant WWF World Title
– The Natural Disasters (Earthquake and Typhoon) defeated WWF Tag Team Champions The Legion of Doom (Hawk and Animal) by countout
– Roddy Piper defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion The Mountie to win the title
Vancouver, Washington:
– Art and Jesse Barr defeated The Bruise Brothers (Ron and Don Harris) for the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Titles
1997
San Antonio, Texas:
– Shawn Michaels pinned WWF Champion Sycho Sid to win the title
– Steve Austin won the Royal Rumble
2003
Boston, Massachusetts:
– The Dudleys defeated William Regal & Lance Storm to capture the Raw Tag Team Titles
– Brock Lesnar won the 30 man Royal Rumble
2005
Louisville, Kentucky:
– The Thrillseekers (Matt Cappotelli and Johnny Jeter) defeated MNM (Joey Matthews and Johnny Nitro) to win the OVW Southern Tag Team Titles
WWE Hall-of-Famer, longtime broadcaster, and podcast host Jim Ross confirmed Tuesday with Fox Sports that he will be returning to the broadcast booth for the newest NJPW on AXS TV season, starting on Friday, March 4th.
Ross replaces Mauro Ranallo, who recently started with WWE and is now the lead voice of Smackdown. Color commentator, past NJPW competitor, and UFC heavyweight Josh Barnett will remain on the team.
Ross told Fox that he will head to Los Angeles between 8-10 times a year to do his play-by-play for two-day sessions where they will record six shows at a time, beginning with action from Wrestling Dontaku 2015. The duo will also call matches from the 2015 New Japan Cup, Invasion Attack, HINOKUNI, Best of the Super Juniors 22, Dominion 7.5, G1 Climax 25 and more.
This isn’t Ross’ first time calling NJPW action as he and Matt Striker were the American announce team for Wrestle Kingdom 9 in 2015.
The longtime voice of RAW with Jerry Lawler, Ross returned to WWE several times over the years for Smackdown, NXT, and spot shows through his “retirement” from the company in 2014. He tried his hand at boxing for Fox Sports One, as well as MMA with the Battlegrounds tournament PPV alongside Chael Sonnen.
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer returns today with tons to talk about including our weekly Raw report, the go-home show for Royal Rumble, all the matches and angles, and more, plus the death of Iron Mike Sharpe, UFC ratings from this past weekend, tons of questions and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!
Three weeks running, as we get our show mojo back to mid-card level around this place (we see your upwardly-mobile self Tom Lawlor), the original alternate has successfully recorded audio. To celebrate this monumental achievement, we’ve decided to make this show a gratis edition. So, you’re welcome and stuff. And for this, the topics include, but aren’t limited to: Adam’s afternoon NXT experience, anti-Minoru Tanaka building temperatures, Finn as your host for the evening, Baron Von Corbin, Finn as HEEL, drifting brain cells makes remembering stories about drifters hard, bitter old men chase chanting kids off their lawn, the ballad of Tye Dillinger, Akiyama-Suwama, the origin of Bobby Brainkiller (which almost killed the show) and more. It’s the only free radio show that would a bargain at half the price; It’s the Adam and Mike BIG AUDIO NIGHTMARE. Proudly here at F4WOnline.com.