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  • AJ Styles battles Rey Mysterio for the first time; John Morrison vs. Carlito

    These are 5 Star Wrestling results from Sheffield, England, submitted by Keith Harris

    – Crowd was a mix of hardcore fans and families.

    – Joe Coffey pinned Zack Sabre Jr with a discus clothesline in a good opener

    – Fun bantering segment with John Morrison and Carlito to set up the main event. Some humorous self deprecating wit with Carlito dead panning “What? I was on TV six years ago.”

    – Lou King Sharp & Martin Kirby beat Kid Fite & Timm Wylie in a fairly amusing comedy match. Dated cat fight spot by female seconds before the finishing stretch.

    – AJ Styles pinned Rey Mysterio with the Styles Clash after pulling the referee to stop Mysterio diving on him. Fine house show level match, but didn’t live up to the dream. 

    – Will Ospreay beats Jimmy Havoc & Marty Scurll in a triple threat match. Really well worked. Match of the night.

    – ROH Champion Jay Lethal pinned PJ Black with the Lethal Injection in a slow starter, but built to an enjoyable finishing stretch.

    – Grado & Colt Cabana pinned Big Damo & Nick “Magnus” Aldis after Grado pinned Damo clean in a comedy tag match. Grado came off as a star coming out to the Madonna “Like A Prayer” theme.

    -5 Star Champion John Morrison pinned Carlito after the latter accidentally spat apple in the ref’s eyes and the former used a low blow. So-so main event. Early in the match, Carlito sold for Morrison using a foam finger as a foreign object. They worked pretty hard, but they couldn’t follow Styles vs. Rey.

  • Ring of Honor Indianapolis, IN, results: Roddy Strong vs. Curry Man

    Submitted by Jarrod Rollins

    Dalton Castle d. Will Ferrara

    Castle is such a great performer with his gimmick. Crowd totally into him and his charisma.

    ACH d. Moose and Silas Young in a 3-way

    ACH got the pin on Young before Moose could get back in and break it up. Young is one of the few true heels in the promotion and pulls it off well.

    Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish d. Frankie Kazarian & Chris Sabin

    Really great action in this one. Both teams tried stereo submissions at different points. Lots of high spots. After Sabin was pinned, Kaz teased being angry with him but then they hugged it out.

    Michael Elgin d. Tim Hughes

    Can’t recall who Elgin beat. It was an extended squash really. Elgin did his vertical suplex for about a 35-40 count from the crowd.

    > BJ Whitmer came out on commentary for the next 2 matches.

    Kelly Klein d. Solo Darling

    Klein picked up the submission win with a modified dragon sleeper. She has a lot of potential with her look and the way she carries herself as a heel. Solo did some comedy stuff wearing a squirrel tail.

    Adam Page d. The Outlaw

    Not much of note in this match. Afterward, BJ grabbed a mic and got in the ring because he wanted to talk to Page. Crowd kept massively booing every time he tried to speak. Finally he talked and said he’s willing to look past things if Page shakes his hand. Page said if BJ taught him one thing it’s that the Decade doesn’t shake hands and slapped BJ. Turns into a brawl with officials coming out to break it up. Corino then came out to help and took off his coat urging BJ to fight him. BJ powdered to the back. When the ring cleared, Corino out his hand out to Page and they shook hands.

    ROH TV Champion Roderick Strong d. Curry Man

    Strong was in full heel mode. Crowd kept doing a beat the clock countdown. Strong eventually won with the running knee.

    Adam Cole d. Alex Shelley

    Crowd was really into both guys. Awesome match with Cole working Shelley’s knee for much of it. Kazarian eventually came out to distract Shelley and let Cole get the win with the brainbuster to the knee.

    ROH Tag Team Champions War Machine & Briscoes d. All Night Express & Young Bucks

    This was a wild match as you’d expect with 8 guys. They teased tension with the Briscoes and War Machine throughout with hard and blind tags to each other. Lots of superkicks and wild moves. Really amazing to see some of the moves War Machine pulls off for their size. Briscoes eventually got the pin with the Doomsday Device on Titus.

  • Fox Sports suspends Kenny Florian for plagiarism

    Fox Sports today announced that announcer Kenny Florian, 39, a former star UFC fighter, was being suspended after a controversy from an article he posted  earlier in the week on the Fox Sports web site.

    The article was a breakdown of tomorrow night’s fight between bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw and former champion Dominick Cruz in Boston. Significant parts of the story were apparently almost identical to a piece Lee Wylie had done about the career of famous boxer Willie Pep from December.

    Later, the Fox Sports web site added an Editor’s Note, saying, “Language in this breakdown borrows from written material in a video of an in-depth look at the defensive boxing prowess of Willie Pep by TheFightCity.com boxing analyst Lee Wylie. The original version of the story did not contain this credit. We regret the oversight.”

    Florian and Wylie have spoken and Wylie seemed fine with Florian, writing, “Show me someone who hasn’t made a mistake and I’ll show you a liar. It’s not the end of the world.”

    Fox this morning announced, “It is vitally important that Fox Sports and FoxSports.com maintain credibility and trust with their readers, viewers and fans. UFC on-air personality Kenny Florian is being suspended beginning immediately for a critical oversight in a story posted earlier this week on FoxSports.com.  Florian has admitted and regrets his mistake and apolgoized for the error.”

  • F4W Wrestlemania Dallas Convention: Dinner, events, more!

    Every year during Wrestlemania, many of our members get together for various events, dinners, and other get-togethers as a lead up to WWE’s biggest event of the year. Run by longtime subscriber Ed Loredo, these are a fun way for people to get to know each other, talk wrestling, and meet up with Bryan Alvarez and other website personalities!

    Here’s what’s on tap so far with all times local:

    Friday, April 1st: Buffet dinner at Texas de Brazil in Dallas (5 PM)

    Cost will be $63.50 will include soda & tea (alcohol can be bought at the bar). To book your spot, Paypal Ed with your name and the amount of spots you’re reserving. Be sure to send as a gift to avoid transaction fees! Spots are limited, so act soon!

    Friday bus to WrestleCon?

    If there is enough interest, we will look into chartering a bus (possibly $20-25 per person) to take the group to dinner from WrestleCon. Email Ed if interested.

    Other Mania Week Events

    WWE

    – WrestleMania 32 Axxess: Friday – Sunday 

    – NXT TakeOver: Friday

    – WWE Hall of Fame ceremony: Saturday

    – Wrestlemania 32: Sunday

    – RAW: Monday

    ROH

    – Supercard of Honor X: Friday

    – TV Taping: Saturday

    WWN Events:

    Packages available, including for Terry Funk’s BBQ party

    – Evolve: Friday

    – Viva La Lucha: Friday

    – Kaiju Big Battel: Friday

    – Evolve: Saturday

    – SHIMMER: Saturday

    – WWN Supershow Mercury Rising

    WrestleCon Events

    – Friday | Saturday 

    – Mania Moments Brunch: Sunday

  • NXT Green Bay, WI, house show results: Finn Balor vs. Sami Zayn, Bayley vs. Alexa Bliss

    Submitted by Josh Hayes and Vash

    NXT Tag Champions Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder vs. Enzo and Cass

    Enzo and Cass are just the perfect act to kick off a show. Crowd loved them, and did Enzo’s introduction right along with him. Match itself was a solid opener, with Enzo being the babyface in peril for most of the match as he worked to make the hot tag to Cass. In the end though, Dash rolled up Enzo and used the ropes for leverage to get the win. But after the match, Enzo and Cass fought them off to make the crowd happy.

    Bull Dempsey vs. Elias Sampson

    Elias Sampson won. Nothing much of note in the match itself, but Bull wore a cheese head hat to the ring, which led to a spot after the match where Sampson acted like he was going to put the cheese head on to get a pop but then he just stopped, spat in it, and threw it out of the ring and left. Then Bull retrieved it and looked at it for a while and so, since it’s cheese, the crowd chanted for him to eat it. So he bit it and the crowd cheered. 

    Tomasso Ciampa vs. Tye Dillinger

    Good match, but the crowd wasn’t that into the match itself. They were more into doing the 10 chant. Tye Dillinger won, meaning yes, three matches in and a face had yet to win a match at this point. But that was about to change.

    NXT Women’s Champion Bayley vs. Alexa Bliss

    Please indulge me while I state the obvious: Bayley should be on the main roster, as she is a megastar. She was the first person to get a loud pop when her music hit since Enzo and Cass in the opener. The crowd did the usual Bayley chants and songs. She responded to the “Bayley’s gonna hug you” chant by hugging the ref, and the crowd then chanted “one more time” so she did. And here’s how over Bayley is — after all the usual singing and chanting died down and the match was really getting started, one (1) guy shouted “BAYLEY YOU SUCK!” and the entire crowd boo’ed that guy out of the building. He got what he wanted.

    Good but basic match, with Bayley doing all her usual spots, which is what the crowd wanted to see, especially the Belly-to-Bayley Suplex, which is what won the match. At one point where, if I remember the pretense right, Alexa was almost counted out, but when she got back in the ring, the crowd started chanting 10 again. So Bayley just did Dillinger’s Perfect 10 shuffle with the cartwheel and everything.

    > Intermission

    Baron Corbin vs. Apollo Crews

    Crews was really over during his entrance, but he seemed to be a little less over during the body of the match, until he made his comeback at least, and won. Corbin was boo’ed at first but then people in my section started getting into him. There was a portion of the match where Corbin threw Crews out of the ring, and Crews lied outside for a while before getting back into the ring, only to be thrown right back out. Then after spending a lot of time outside the ring again, Crews got back in and threw Corbin out. Seemed like a good spot on paper (perhaps) but crowd seemed kinda bored during this long-ish period of non-action.

    However, immediately after that, Crews hit a big assai moonsault which was the first real high spot of the show, and from then on the match was really good. Crews is great at making comebacks. Corbin went for the End of Days at one point, but Crews did a back-flip over his arm, took him down, and hit a standing moonsault, followed by a standing shooting star press to get the win. Probably the best pure match up to that point. 

    Eva Marie and Nia Jax vs. Carmella and Peyton Royce

    Eva was hated as usual. In fact, every time she tagged in, the entire crowd immediately gave thunderous boos. She probably had the most heat on the show. Eva and Jax won when Jax pinned Peyton. I know it’s a house show and all, but on a show where a bunch of heels won, it was weird that the new #1 contender to the Women’s Title didn’t get the win. 

    NXT Champion Finn Balor vs. Sami Zayn

    In this face vs. face match, Finn played the role of the subtle heel. Although the crowd in my section at least seemed to be more behind Finn anyway. He did a LOT of Bullet Club pistol gestures for what it’s worth. At the beginning of the match, there was a dueling chant, but eventually the crowd just started chanting “Both these guys”. Another chant-related thing happened when just a few seconds after they locked up for the first time, a small portion of the crowd started the “this is awesome” chant. I thought there was no way that would catch on yet, since it had just started. But it did pick up a little bit of steam as the chants got somewhat louder. But then thankfully someone chanted the obvious: “It just started”, and that became a dueling chant. It should be noted that later on in the match, the “this is awesome” chant occurred again, as well as “this is wrestling” but it was more warranted that time.

    Anyway, the match itself was probably the match of the night. Although I got the sense that by their standards it was probably really basic. No false finishes except for one where Sami hit the Blue Thunder Bomb for a 2 count. They told the story of Sami taking a beating but still getting back up. Finn knocked him down once, started to go to the top rope, but then he would notice Sami getting to his feet so he’d get back in the ring and knock him down again. That happened a few times until Sami fired back with a flurry of punches of his own and made a comeback. They ended up brawling outside the ring and Sami went for the Torpedo DDT, but Finn hit him with a pelee kick and Sami ended up knocked out draped over the bottom turnbuckle. So then Finn went up to the apron, casually pushed Sami’s limp body back into the ring, went up top and hit the Coupe De Grace for the win. After the match, they shook hands and Sami raised Finn’s arm.

    Notes:

    Bayley and Apollo Crews and maybe a few others that I didn’t notice spent a lot of time after their matches taking pictures with fans in the front row as well. NXT is a very enjoyable experience live. If you’ve never been to one of their shows, you’ve probably heard people say that before, but it’s completely true. I had a blast. Crowd was hotter than most Green Bay crowds I’ve been in. The show itself, while very good, was a bit strange in that a lot of heels went over which seems to go against what they usually do at house shows.

  • New Japan on AXS Report: New Japan Cup matches, Fale vs. Okada

    We return to New Japan on AXS coverage tonight as we start off with opening matches from the New Japan Cup. These matches took place March 5, 2015 at Korakuen Hall.

    First match up is Doc Gallows taking on Kota Ibushi in the first round of the New Japan cup. Ibushi looked really good here against Gallows. There’s an old saying that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and such as the case here as Ibushi is such a dynamic performer. Might be part of the reason why he’s out indefinitely with herniated discs, but that’s the cost of working this kind of style. He gets the surprise ring with a rana pin.

    Tetsuya Natio and Karl Anderson are up next. Also a good match, and a lot of it aired here. I’ve said it before here, but man did Naito do a total 180 in character, as we’ll be seeing in future episodes. Anderson did a sick powerbomb off the top rope for a nearfall. After a flurry of offense, Naito lays out Anderson and pins him with the stardust press for the win. Very good match towards the end.

    Naito says he doesn’t care who he faces next, bring it on. In an interesting line, he mentions that he knows some people find him annoying he wants to be the best and will let people know it.

    Bad Luck Fale and Kazuchika Okada follows next. The story of this match mostly centers around Okada. Since losing at WrestleKingdom Okada’s been in a bit of a funk, and now has found a new rival in Fale who looks to keep him in that funk for a good while. At this stage of the game it’s obvious Fale needs to be carried to have a really good match, and no one can really have a bad match with Okada (unless you’re 65+) so this was a perfectly alright match. The visual of someone smaller than Okada giving Fale a reverse neckbreaker sure was something. Fale hit the grenade but Okada kicked out. Fale then went to the top rope and squished him with a frog splash but still kicked out. But Fale comes back with the Bad Luck Fall, and that’s where Okada loses.

    Yano said his New Japan Cup match against Tanahashi was a while ago, but remembers he ran a marathon before, with him recalling it was though. He said he and Tanahashi were complete opposites. For example,  he never lies but Tanahashi does all the time. He’s dull and old fashioned while he’s off selling DVDs. Yano doesn’t really care about titles (then why is he competing in New Japan?) but Tanahashi might be the type who cares about a belt. In a way, he’s cursed due to that.

    The match wasn’t much, and lasted under two minutes. In a surprise flash win, Yano pulled Tanahashi’s hair and cradled him. People thought the finish was funny. Hey,

    Yano said it’s time for a new ace and Tomorrow marks the beginning of a new era, and New Japan Pro Wrestling would be reborn. Tanahashi wasn’t happy and said he’d have his revenge.

    Back to the reflective interview. Yano said he’s always wanted to beat Tanahashi. He then plugged his album and his DVD and told everyone to buy a thousand each. If you buy a million of both, it’s only five million for everything!

    Good show. The first two matches were pretty good, and the final was what it was.

  • UFC’s Diego Brandao tests positive for marijuana

    Diego Brandao, who lost to Brian Ortega via third round submission in a fight he was dominating up to that point at UFC 195 on 1/2 in Las Vegas, tested over the limits for marijuana in a USADA test taken the day of the show.

    The UFC announced today that they were informed by USADA of a potential violation for marijuana by Brandao.

    The test was over the WADA limit of 180 ng/ml for THC.  The Nevada limit is 150 ng/ml.

    This would be Brandao’s first drug test failure.

    Brandao won season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2011, but has had an up and down career in the UFC, posting a 6-4 record, with two of his losses coming at the hands of Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor.

  • DR. KEITH PRESENTS: The New Day Are A Good Pac-Man!

    DR. KEITH PRESENTS: The New Day Are A Good Pac-Man!

    We continue our look back at 2015 this week on the DKP as Alan is joined by THE WORLD FAMOUS CAKE MAKER Justin Shapiro! The lads go in depth on WWE’s year using the the newly devised Balor Point system! Nearly two hours and all the talk you could want on the rise of NXT, Kevin Owens, Brock Lesnar, John Cena, The New Day and much more!!! CHECK IT!!! 

    Right click save

  • Daily Update: Snuka’s trial delayed; Jim Ross returning to commentary?

    We’re looking for reports on tonight’s WWE show in New Delhi, India, NXT in Green Bay, NXT in Cocoa Beach, FL, Five Star Wrestling in Liverpool and ROH in Indianapolis (Briscoes & War Machine vs. Young Bucks & All Night Express, Roderick Strong vs. Curry Man for TV title, Alex Shelley vs. Adam Cole, Frankie Kazarian & Chris Sabin vs. Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly, Moose vs. Silas Young, Will Ferrara vs. Dalton Castle) as well as yesterday’s NXT show in Winter Haven and Five Star Wrestling show in Sheffield, England to Dave Meltzer

    NEW JAPAN WORLD PRO WRESTLING RETURNS TONIGHT AT 9 P.M. ON AXS TV

    The show consists of first round matches from the 2015 New Japan Cup

    Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Toru Yano

    Kazuchika Okada vs. Bad Luck Fale

    Kota Ibushi vs. Doc Gallows

    Tetsuya Naito vs. Karl Anderson

    CMLL FROM ARENA MEXICO LIVE AT 9:30 P.M. AT WWW.CLAROSPORTS.COM

    Rush vs. Caristico (first-time ever singles match)

    Dragon Rojo Jr. & Polvora & Thunder vs. Gran Guerrero & Euforia & Niebla Roja

    RESURRECTION FIGHTING ALLIANCE TONIGHT ON AXS TV AT 10 P.M. EASTERN FROM BROOMFIELD, CO

    Andrew Tenneson (142.8) vs. Cory Sandhagen (145.4)

    Tyler Milner (169.6) vs. Brain Carmozzi (170.4)

    Zac Riley (136) vs. Hugo Viana (135.6)

    Jeremy Kimball (209.4) vs. Cody Mumma (205.6)

    John Poppie (186) vs. Adam Stroup (185.4)

    Benjamin Smith (169.8) vs. Bojan Velickovic (169.4) for the welterweight title

    We’ll be looking for reports on Saturday from WWE shows in New Delhi, India and Charleston, WV (Dean Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens, Alberto Del Rio vs. Kalisto, Tommy Dreamer & Dudleys vs. Wyatt Family), NXT in Chicago (both the afternoon and evening show) and Fort Pierce, FL and ROH in Collinsville, IL (ACH & Alex Shelley vs. Young Bucks, Briscoes vs. Silas Young & Beer City Bruiser, War Machine vs. Frankie Kazarian & Chris Sabin for tag titles, Roderick Strong vs. ? for TV title, Moose vs. Adam Cole, Delirious vs. Dalton Castle, Michael Elgin vs. Adam Page, Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Rhett Titus & Kenny King).

    INVICTA FROM THE HANGAR AT THE ORANGE COUNTY FAIR IN COSTA MESA, CA ON UFC FIGHT PASS AT 9 P.M. EASTERN

    Megan Anderson vs. Amber Leibrock

    Amanda Bell vs. Ediane Gomes

    Mizuki Inoue vs. Lacey Schuckman

    Angela Hill vs. Alida Gray

    Amber Brown vs. Shino VanHoose

    Raquel Pa’aluhi vs. Colleen Schneider

    Livia Renata Souza vs. DeAnna Bennett for the strawweight title

    Cris Cyborg Justino vs. Daria Ibragimova for the featherweight title

    NEW JAPAN FANTASTICA MANIA DAY ONE ON SUNDAY IN KOCHI (not on New Japan World)

    Kushida & Stuka Jr. vs. Sho Tanaka & Yohei Komatsu

    The Panther & Guerrero Maya Jr. vs. Bobby Z & Okumura

    Fuego & Titan vs. Yoshi-Hashi & Barbaro Cavernario

    Jay White & Dragon Lee vs. Virus & Hechicero

    Juice Robinson & Mascara Dorada & Atlantis vs. Bushi & Evil & Tetsuya Naito

    Volador Jr. & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Mephisto

    Hiroshi Tanahashi & Mistico & Jushin Liger vs. Kazuchika Okada & Ultimo Guerrero & Gedo 

    Sunday has WWE in Canton, OH (Dean Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens, Alberto Del Rio vs. Kalisto, Tommy Dreamer & Dudleys vs. Wyatt Family).

    UFC FROM THE T.D GARDEN IN BOSTON

    Fight Pass at 6 p.m. Eastern

    Francimar Barroso vs. Elvis Mutapcic

    Rob Font vs. Joey Gomez

    Kyle Bochniak vs. Charles Rosa

    Ilir Latifi vs. Sean O’Connell

    Daron Cruickshank vs. Paul Felder

    FS 1 at 8 p.m.

    Maximo Blanco vs. Luke Sanders

    Tim Boetsch vs. Ed Herman

    Mehdi Baghdad vs. Chris Wade

    Patrick Cote vs. Ben Saunders

    Ross Pearson vs. Francisco Trinaldo

    Travis Browne vs. Matt Mitrione

    Eddie Alvarez vs. Anthony Pettis

    T.J. Dillashaw vs. Dominick Cruz for the bantamweight title

    Raw will be live on Monday night in Columbus, OH.  Brock Lesnar will be appearing on the show.

    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 Z

    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.

    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.

    FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE

    On the MSL & Kevin Sullivan show on MLW Radio it was reported that Jim Ross is the new host of New Japan World Pro Wrestling Returns.  At this time there is no finalized deal.  The sides have talked for some time and it seems an obvious move for both if they can reach terms.  Mauro Ranallo will be hosting the shows through late February.  So, the new announce team, almost certainly including Josh Barnett, would start at that point. 

    Today’s New York Post reported on Comcast systems pulling Spike, CMT and Pop to higher priced digital tiers.  Although Pop will lose some clearances, they are gaining a substantial amount with other new deals in play.  As you can imagine, Viacom, which owns Spike and CMT, is not happy about this.  

    The New York Post also reported that UFC owners Lorenzo & Frank Fertitta are selling their Fertitta Entertainment management company to Red Rock Resorts (a Fertitta family owned chain of casinos) for $460 million.  Red Rock Resorts is expected to do an IPO.  Frank Fertitta runs both Fertitta Entertainment management and Red Rock Resorts.   Both brothers will get $113 million individually while another $159 million from the sale will go to their kids.

    Jimmy Snuka’s murder trial has been postponed pending a decision on Snuka’s competency to stand trial.

    WWE Hall of Fame tickets sold out immediately today, right after they went on sale to the public.  There are likely to be tickets available later after production is set up. 

    WWE

    • The company has a job listing out for a new Senior Vice President of Human Resources, who will report directly to Vince McMahon.     
    • Big Show appeared last night on Lip Sync Battle on Spike TV as part of Olivia Munn’s entourage performing Taylor Swift’s Bad Blood. (thanks to Grant Zwarych)
    • A story on Stuart Tomlinson who is Hugo Knox in WWE
    • Orlando confirms WrestleMania bid for 2017.

    UFC/MMA

    • Matt Mitrione’s fight with Travis Browne on Sunday is the final fight of his contract.  He said that if Browne smokes him, or he doesn’t get the money he wants, he could easily walk away and get a job in fire fighting.   
    • The annual Fighters Only MMA awards show takes place on 2/5 in Las Vegas at The Venetian Theater.  The show will be taped for FS 2 and FSN.     
    • UFC will have a press conference at 2 p.m. Eastern time (11 a.m. local time) on Wednesday at the MGM Grand Studios in Las Vegas for UFC 197, on 3/5.  Appearing will be Dana White, Rafael dos Anjos, Conor McGregor,  Miesha Tate and Holly Holm.  The event is free and open to the public.
    • Miesha Tate will appear tonight on Inside MMA at about 12:30 a.m. Eastern time to talk about her upcoming fight with Holly Holm.  Also on the show will be Cris Cyborg Justino.
    • Alessio Sakara vs. Brian Rogers is the first fight announced for Bellator’s debut show in Italy on 4/16.  Melvin Manhoef will also be on that show fighting in a kickboxing match.  The show will be a co-promotion of Bellator on Italy-based Oktagon Kickboxing.  A.J. McKee will be fighting in an MMA fight and Kevin Ross (who last I heard was Gina Carano’s boyfriend) will be fighting in a kickboxing match.  

    MISCELLANEOUS

    • WWNLive.com announced today a deal with the Flipps app for their iPPV shows to be available on smart TV’s without additional software, plug-ins or wires.  They have already done PPVs with New Japan, TNA and ROH.  The first show on the deal will be 1/22 and will be airing all three nights of their Evolve tag team title tournament that weekend, as well as the 1/29 Shine (all-women’s show).
    • Johnny Mundo, Carlito, Sonjay Dutt and Chris Masters headline a crew that will appear at a show at a 43,000 seat stadium Al-Khartoum in The Sudan called  Sudan Power Wrestling on 3/11.  (thanks to Liam Core) 
    • As expected, there will be a Kurt Angle vs. Drew Galloway match on the TNA U.K. tour, scheduled on 1/29 in Manchester.
    • Matches announced for the 1/23 ROH show in Duluth, GA at the Infinite Energy Center: Rhett Titus & Kenny King vs. Cheeseburger & Moose, Corey Hollis vs. Dalton Castle, Adam Page vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Will Ferrara vs. Silas Young vs. Caprice Coleman vs. Jay Briscoe, Mark Briscoe vs. Cedric Alexander, Adam Cole vs. Stevie Richards, Roderick Strong vs. Nick Jackson for TV title, Jay Lethal vs. Matt Jackson for ROH title, War Machine vs. Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows for ROH tag titles
    • NWA Smoky Mountain Wrestling tomorrow night in Kingsport, TN at the Civic Auditorium.
    • The annual Bay Area Battle Royal put on by Big Time Wrestling will be on 1/22 at the Newark, CA Pavilion at 7:30 p.m. featuring JR Kratos and Joey Ryan.
    • Lucha Toronto on 1/24 in Scarborough, ONT at 3107 Danforth Ave. with Octagoncito vs. Espantito, plus Vampiro, L.A. Park, Pantera, El Hijo del Pantera and Lince Dorado. 
    • Empire State Wrestling tomorrow night in North Tonawanda, NY at the St. Johnsburg Fire Hall featuring Curt Hawkins, Cody Deaner, Kevin Bennett and more.
    • Pro Wrestling Phoenix tomorrow night in Council Bluffs, IA at the National Guard Armory headlined by Bob Holly.

    ON THIS DAY IN WORLD PRO WRESTLING HISTORY: Daily pro wrestling history 1/15: Rey Mysterio wins WCW Cruiserweight Title

  • WOL 1/15: Weekend kickoff, Dr. Lucha talks CMLL, AAA, Del Rio, more!

    Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive returns today to finish off the workweek with news, phone calls, and a visit from Dr. Lucha Steve Sims to talk AAA, CMLL, Lucha Underground, Alberto Del Rio and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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