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  • WWE Monroe, LA, house show results: Dean Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens

    Submitted by Josh Long from Saturday, January 10th

    Chris Jericho def. U.S. Champion Alberto Del Rio in a non-title match.

    JoJo announced to the house that John Cena is out due to a shoulder injury. She informed the crow refunds were available for the next twenty minutes.  Before she could finish Alberto Del Rio interrupted and cut a promo on Cena. Del Rio received heat from the crowd during his promo. He even mentioned pro wrestling.

    Chris Jericho interrupted  Alberto to a big pop from the crowd. Lots of Y2J cheers broke out in the audience. ADR started cutting a promo on Jericho, until he took the mic. Jericho said “Welcome to Monroe is Jericho.” Jericho is majorly over with the crowd which is expected considering his resume. During the promo Jericho called Del Rio “Alberto Del Jackass” & said it was Spanish for jackass.

    Fast start to the match, Jericho hits DEL RIO with mic and runs him into the corner. Jericho ripped ADR’s shirt off and started chopping him. When the action spilled outside, Jericho wiped his arm pits with the ripped shirt & rubbed it in Del Rio’s face. Alberto ran Jericho ran into guard rails and started arguing with Rick the sign guy. Del Rio doesn’t seem not to Rick very much so he took his hat and threw it. Rick even had a rubber chicken that Jericho used on Del Rio. Back in the ring, there were a few false finishes for both guys. Del Rio used the outside ropes to apply the cross arm breaker, but the ref broke it up.

    Jericho tried to apply the walls but got super kicked instead on the reversal by Del Rio. Alberto got Jericho in another cross arm breaker and the crowd cheering for Y2J. Del Rio got caught in the Walls but Jericho was forced to break after Alberto managed to get the rope. Alberto used the ref as a distraction to rake the eyes. Soon after, Jericho hit code breaker for the 3 count.

    Titus O’Neil def. Stardust

    Titus got a good reaction from the crown on his way to the ring. A lot of people doing his signature bark or whatever it is.  Sign guy has his hat stolen by Stardust, but luckily  he has backup. Cody chants start to break out.  Titus steals the hat back from Stardust and gives it back to Rick. The match has started but no action other than stealing & retrieving the hat.  Stardust slides out of ring before any action takes place and gets some boos for his actions. More Cody chants break out among the crowd.

    Titus gets upper hand early. Stardust needs a break, so he retreats into the crowd. Cody chants start again. Titus slaps Cody on the chest in the corner and the crowd wants him to do it one more time. Titus obliges and sends him into another corner and again another slap on the chest.  Crowd asks for yet another so being the generous guy he is O’Neil gives Stardust another one and sends him into another corner. Stardust rolls out of the ring to escape.

    Stardust gets heat from the after an eye rake & has the upper hand. Stardust goes for cover, two count.  A lot of people yelling Cody.  Stardust hisses at Charles Robinson after two count, Charles hisses back. Stardust has the upper hand.  Titus chant breaks out. Stardust tried to use the ring post but Titus reversed. Soon after O’Neil hits the Clash of the Titus for the three count.

    R-Truth def. Heath Slater

    R-Truth out first for his match. He raps down the aisle. Good reaction, a lot of people saying what’s up. Leads crowd in what’s up chants.  Slater out next. No social outcasts with him. Little to no reaction on his way to the ring.

    Some boos when he hits the ring, Slater gyrates on the apron some.  Truth does a what’s up chant with a good reaction. Slater tried one man band, only to be met with a lot of boos. After truth plays to crowd, slater tries & Immediately met with boos. Both wrestlers exchange dabs. Match has started but no action.  Slater asks crowd if they want a dance off and kicks truth which got some heat. R-Truth gets win in a 5 minute match after a roll up.

    Ryback def. Heath Slater

    Slater demands the music be cut & requests a new opponent. The big guy accepts his request.  Ryback got a good pop. Slater cuts promo saying Ryback doesn’t want to eat him because he’s filthy & he stinks like everyone from Monroe.  Ryback hits spine buster followed by meat hook. Shell shock delivered for the 3 count.

    Connor’s cure video package played.

    Dolph Ziggler def. Tyler Breeze

    Breeze doing his usual reclining in the corner. Ziggler runs towards him forcing him to move. A Tyler’s Gorgeous chant broke out.  Crowd firmly behind Dolph in this match. Breeze arguing with the sign guy.  Lockup around the ring to start the action. Breeze wins the exchange & reclines in the corner.   Dolph working the arm pretty fast. Tosses Tyler with arm drag & mocks him. Ziggler on offense sends Tyler out & when he tries to escape Dolph brings him back. Breeze sends Dolph out of the ring. Ziggler makes it back on 9. 

    Tyler on the offensive. Crowd urging Dolph. He explodes for some punches but misses a splash attempt in the corner. Crowd starts chanting Ziggler while he gets worked over.ziggler explodes for a flurry & hits a spinning neck breaker after a splash in the corner. Famouser attempt misses. Breeze back on offensive.  Dolph hits famouser, kick out. Both men have traded false finishes. Ziggler hits a good super kick for a two count. Zig zag off a power bomb attempt from the corner gets a 3 Count.

    > Intermission

    Brie Bella (w/Alicia Fox) def. Tamina with Summer Rae as ref

    Tamina out first. Brie is out to a major pop, accompanied by Alicia Fox. After getting pummeled, Brie works an arm. Tamina works her over. Brie kicks Tamina with “yes” chants from the crowd. Taunts w/ happy bday.  Brie rolls up Tamina for two. Tamina back on offensive. Bella manages to gain the upper hand but the running knee can only get a two count. After help from the ref, who had been barking at Tamina to get off the hair during the match, Brie gets the pinfall.

    – Dean Ambrose video promo plays

    Kalisto and El Torito def. Los Matadores

    Lucha chants break out. Kalisto starts but tags in el torrito upon request. El torrito gets pressed by his former partner outside the ring. Kalisto gets the hot tag & cleans house. He hits his finisher for the three count.

    Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose def. Kevin Owens

    Owens attacks before the bell. Shows off to the crowd with the belt.  Owens beats down Ambrose & teases throwing an Ambrose Asylum shirt to the crowd, but drops it on the floor. Owens chops Ambrose in the corner, but Ambrose reverses with his own chops but meets a head butt. Two count for Owens. Ambrose locked in a submission attempt and manages to escape. Owens getting great crowd heat. Owens grabs the stick and calls it the Kevin Owens show on the mic. Missed running senton by Owens & Dean is on the offensive.

    Nice running bulldog by Ambrose & Owens rolls out after Ambrose climbs the ropes. Dean flies through the ropes to the outside taking out Owens. Owens back on offense after sending Ambrose throat first into the ropes. Dean gains the advantage & hits a suplex from second rope.  Dirty Deeds attempt blocked.

    Owens sends Ambrose into ropes for pop up power bomb. Ambrose hits his trademark clothesline from the ropes. Ambrose kicks out of popup power bomb. Owens argues it was a 3. KO takes off the turnbuckle cover and gets caught. He tries to use a chair but gets stopped by the referee. Dirty Deeds gets a three count.

  • Daily pro wrestling history (1/12): Outsiders beat Steiner Brothers for WCW tag titles

    1939 

    Columbus, Ohio:
    – The Great Mephisto defeated Billy Widener to win the Midwest Wrestling Association World Light Heavyweight Title

    1953

    Toronto, Ontario, Canada:
    – Yvon Robert and Whipper Billy Watson defeated Al and Tiny Mills to win the NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Titles

    1958

    Memphis, Tennessee:
    – The Corsicans (Jean and Joe) defeated Yvon Robert and Billy Wicks to win the Mid-America NWA World Tag Team Titles

    1959

    Albuquerque, New Mexico:
    – The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello and Roy Heffernan) defeated Juan Garcia and Miguel Lopez (Mike DiBiase) for the Rocky Mountain Tag Team Titles

    Birmingham, Alabama:
    – Jesse James defeated Yvon Robert to win the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Title

    Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada:
    – Frenchy Champagne defeated Bobby Jones to become the first Madison Wrestling Club Heavyweight Champion

    1968

    Los Angeles, California:
    – Bobo Brazil defeated Buddy Austin for the World Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title 

    Dothan, Alabama:
    – Bobby and Lee Fields defeated Frank and Jack Dalton for the NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Title 

    1971

    Macon, Georgia:
    – Bob Armstrong and El Mongol defeated The Assassins (Jody Hamilton and Tom Renesto) to win the NWA Macon Tag Team Titles

    Honolulu, Hawaii:
    – Ripper Collins and Mad Dog Mayne defeated Ed Francis and Johnny Barend and Billy Robinson for the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Titles

    1973 

    Calgary, Alberta, Canada:
    – Abdullah the Butcher won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Title from Geoff Portz

    Dothan, Alabama:
    – The Wrestling Pro won the NWA Alabama Heavyweight Title from Ricky Gibson 

    1974 

    Chattanooga, Tennessee:
    – The Interns (Tom Andrews and Jim Starr) defeated Bearcat Brown and Don Greene to win the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Titles

    1976

    Vancouver, British Columbia:
    – Dean Higuchi and George Wells defeated Dale Lewis and Siegfried Steinke for the Vancouver NWA Canadian Tag Team Titles

    1978

    Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada:
    – Cage Match: AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel beat Ray Stevens
    – Larry Hennig & The Crusher beat Super Destroyer & Angelo Mosca 
    – Verne Gagne beat Blackjack Lanza
    – Rufus R Jones beat Jan Nelson
    – Bob Orton Jr drew Evan Johnson
    – Pat Patterson beat Chris Pepper

    1979

    Austin, Texas:
    – Tully Blanchard won the Southwest Championship Wrestling Southwest Television Title from Dale Valentine (Buddy Roberts)

    Los Angeles, California:
    – Twin Devil #1 defeated Chavo Guerrero to win the NWA Americas Heavyweight Title 

    1980

    Dallas, Texas:
    – Kevin Von Erich defeated Ox Baker for the World Class American Heavyweight Title 

    Bayamon, Puerto Rico:
    – Carlos Colon defeated Abdullah the Butcher to win the held-up WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title 

    Atlanta, Georgia:
    – Austin Idol won the NWA Georgia Television Title from Steve Travis

    1981 

    West Palm Beach, Florida:
    – Barry Windham defeated Dory Funk, Jr. to win the NWA Florida Heavyweight Title 

    Fort Worth, Texas:
    – Raul Mata and Billy White Cloud defeated Raul Castro and Killer Tim Brooks for the World Class Texas Tag Team Titles

    Vancouver, British Columbia:
    – Rip Oliver and Buddy Rose defeated Joe Ventura and Jay Youngblood to win the Vancouver NWA Canadian Tag Team Titles 

    1982

    Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada:
    – Bruce Hart defeated The Great Gama to win the Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Title

    1986

    St. Paul, Minnesota:
    – Sgt. Slaughter beat AWA Champion Stan Hansen dq
    – Road Warriors beat Mongolian Stomper & Nord The Barbarian dq
    – AWA Tag Team Champions Jim Garvin & Steve Regal beat Curt Hennig & Scott Hall
    – Nick Bockwinkel beat Larry Zbyszko
    – Curt Hennig beat Earthquake Ferris
    – Marty Jannetty drew Steve Regal
    – Bill Irwin & Scott Irwin beat Baron Von Raschke & Buck Zumhofe

    1987

    Fort Worth, Texas:
    – Bob Bradley defeated The Dingo Warrior for the vacant World Class Texas Heavyweight Title 

    Memphis, Tennessee:
    – Jerry Blackwell defeated Goliath to win the Continental Wrestling Association Super Heavyweight Title 

    Birmingham, Alabama:
    – Wendell Cooley defeated Tony Anthony for the NWA Alabama Heavyweight Title

    1998

    Jacksonville, Florida:
    – The Outsiders (Scott Hall and Kevin Nash) defeated WCW World Tag Team Champions The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott Steiner) to win the tag team titles

  • Josh Nason’s Punch-Out: 2015 MMA Year In Review (July-September)

    Photo: Esther Lin of MMAFighting.com

    As we continue to slide into 2016, we’re not finishing talking about the amazing 2015 in MMA just yet. After discussing January-June, Paul Fontaine of WrestlingObserver.com and MMADraws.com is back on the 26th Josh Nason’s Punch-Out to sift through all the big news and happenings from July through September. 

    Here’s just a lovin’ spoonful of what Josh and Paul discussed:

    • Conor McGregor’s ascension to the throne of (ahem, interim) UFC featherweight champion
    • Gilbert Melendez’s surprise failed drug test
    • Fedor Emelianenko coming out of retirement, but for who?
    • Ronda Rousey winning ESPYs and calling out Floyd Mayweather
    • Stitch Duran’s firing from UFC
    • Sean Wheelock getting released from Bellator/Spike TV
    • The build to UFC 190 and Rousey’s 34-second destruction of insta-rival Bethe Correia
    • Anderson Silva banned for a year and the mystery blue vial of liquid​
    • The UFC’s Go Big press conference where McGregor made three or so future fights
    • Bellator’s foray into a dual MMA/Glory kickboxing show to mixed results
    • The controversy of Vitor Belfort’s elevated TRT tests prior to UFC 152 and who know what and when
    • And tons more!

    If you’re a subscriber, right click to save or just click to listen. Subscribers get early access & other UFC audio content by signing up for the RSS feed!

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  • WOR 1/12: Raw report, New Japan updates, UFC Sunday, Lawlor fight, more!

    Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back today with a packed show, everything from Raw on Monday with the build towards the Royal Rumble, New Japan strips Shinsuke Nakamura, Rusev hurt, UFC on Sunday, Tom Lawlor has a new fight, questions and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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  • New Japan strips Shinsuke Nakamura of the Intercontinental Title

    Shinsuke Nakamura will not be dropping the IC title to Kenny Omega after all.

    New Japan announced tonight that they are stripping Nakamura of the championship, and that Omega will face a mystery man in the main event of the New Beginnings in Niigata on February 14th to fill the vacancy.

    Nakamura will continue to appear on New Japan shows for the rest of the month, with his final match on the January 30th show at Korakuen Hall.  That show will have an All-Star main event with Hiroshi Tanahashi & Hirooki Goto & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Nakamura & Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii.  New Japan starts back on Sunday with the Fantastica Mania tour.

    Nakamura becomes the second major champion of a foreign promotion who has headed to WWE without dropping the title on the way out, following Alberto Del Rio, the AAA champion, not doing so in October.

    New Japan also officially announced the Okada vs. Goto IWGP title match will take place on February 11th in Osaka, as had been expected.  Other matches announced for that show are Young Bucks defending the IWGP jr. tag titles in a three-way against Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly and Matt Sydal & Ricochet, Shibata vs. Ishii for the Never Open weight title and Mark & Jay Briscoe & Toru Yano defending the Never trios titles against Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga & Yujiro Takahashi.

    The IC title was one of two major championships in Japan announced as vacant today.  Due to Suwama, the Triple Crown champion from All Japan, suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon yesterday, that championship has also been vacated with a Kento Miyahara vs. Zeus announced to fill the vacancy.

  • Tom Lawlor reveals the date and opponent for his UFC return

    Forget about Conor McGregor, Rafael dos Anjos, Holly Holm, and Miesha Tate: Tom Lawlor is coming to March’s UFC 197.

    First announced on his weekly Monday podcast with Bryan Alvarez, the UFC light heavyweight revealed that verbal agreements have been made for a fight against past TUF winner and light heavyweight prospect Corey Anderson on Saturday, March 5th in Las Vegas.

    The 32-year-old (10-5-0-1) returned to action last July after a two-year absence due to various injuries, knocking out Gian Villante in the second round for his second straight victory. The 26-year-old Anderson (7-1) will also be looking to extend a two-fight win streak and improve his Octagon mark to 5-1 in the process. Coincidentally, Anderson was a November injury replacement for Lawlor against Fabio Maldonado when Lawlor had to pull out due to a concussion suffered in training.

    While not yet officially announced, UFC 197 has been rumored to feature featherweight champion McGregor gunning for his second title against lightweight champion dos Anjos with women’s bantamweight champion Holm vs. Tate in the co-main event.

  • F4D 1/11: Tom Lawlor announces his next fight, plus TNA TV and PPV reviews, more!

    Every week we try something different and this week, IT’S TNA DAY ON THE PROGRAM. Bryan and Tom both watched the TNA on POP debut, and Tom watched the TNA One Night Only PPV on Friday night! Full reviews, plus, in a special surprise, TOM ANNOUNCES HIS NEXT FIGHT! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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  • WWE RAW live results 1/11: Brock Lesnar is back, Sting HOF announcement

    The Big Takeaway: 

    Kalisto is the new U.S. Champion after upsetting Alberto Del Rio. Brock Lesnar, despite protests from Paul Heyman, will be in the Royal Rumble. Basically, Heyman lost a negotiation with the McMahons to have Brock main event WrestleMania and skip winning the Rumble. 

    Show Recap: 

    Various members of the roster where on the stage when Vince and Stephanie McMahon came out, so I was wrong about Vince and Stephanie wanting to avoid the CFP title game. The New Day danced to Vince’s music. Vince said one of the 29 men on stage were going to be the next WWE World Heavyweight Champion. You had people like Fandango, Damien Sandow (back in his old wardrobe), R-Truth and Stardust out there. Vince singled out Dolph Ziggler for possibly reaching out for the brass ring. You’d think he’d drop that phrase at some point. Stephanie mentioned Kevin Owens possibly concluding the best first year in company history.

    Then the Wyatt Family appeared, with Bray Wyatt appearing at the announcer’s desk and repeating his “Anyone but you” Roman catchphrase. Roman Reigns came down. Reigns asked Vince “What happens if I win?” Stephanie laughed and called him delusional. Vince said he wanted to give Roman a chance in a match called a “1 vs. All” match, where Reigns would face as many as 2/3rds of the roster tonight. Stephanie mentioned Reigns could face his brother Dean Ambrose, but Vince corrected her and said Ambrose already was booked in a match. At that point, Sheamus hit Ambrose from behind, and Vince announced Sheamus as Ambrose’s opponent in a match that started immediately. 

    WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose and Sheamus went to a double countout (14:08)

    Sheamus took the match to the outside, where he threw Ambrose into the barricade several times. Ambrose turned things around and sent Sheamus into the post twice, the last of which led to Sheamus bleeding heavily. Apparently, Brock Lesnar gave Sheamus lessons on how to run into the post entirely too hard before the show. Ambrose cleared the announcer’s table like he was going to put Sheamus through it when Owens ran out and jumped him. Owens left Ambrose laying again with punches and tried to power bomb him through the table before he was pulled off by the referees. Match was strung together well but the crowd lost interest by the end. 

    Rene Young went to the trainer’s room to check on Ambrose, who stormed out saying he still had a pulse and that should concern Owens. 

    Vince and Stephanie compared dance moves in the back when they stumbled upon Paul Heyman, who put over Vince’s 1 vs. 100 concept. Heyman didn’t want Lesnar in the 1 vs. 100 match and wanted to fight in the main event of WrestleMania. Vince asked Heyman not to change his plans again. Heyman tried to talk Vince into having Brock face the winner of the Royal Rumble. Vince didn’t like the idea. Stephanie tried to keep the peace by having the two meet in private. They all gathered in a small conference room with Vince looking pissed. This is probably a scene that unfolded countless times in the runup to the last December to Dismember. 

    Chris Jericho will host a Highlight Reel with the New Day later tonight. 

    Drew Brees was in the audience. He got no reaction at all, which was shocking unless you consider he may have played his final game as a Saint. 

    Titus O’Neal defeated Stardust (3:23) 

    JBL used the match to throw in as many David Bowie references as possible, including “Ziggy Stardust” and “The Man who Fell from Earth.” Titus O’Neal won with Clash of the Titus. I could have sworn I saw this same match last week. O’Neal celebrated with the fans until Stardust, who had his face painted like Ziggy Stardust and the Spider from Mars album cover, jumped him. 

    Jericho came out showed off various tweets trumpeting his return and his return to the Royal Rumble. He wore a blazer with a tie and black scarf. New Day came out, with Jericho getting a nod to Lemmy saying “Overkill” and trying to get the crowd to chant “Rooty Totty Botty.” Big E. talked until the Usos showed up with their Slammys. The Usos wanted a match. Xavier Woods said the only tag team worse than the Usos were Ricky Gervais and Mel Gibson. Jericho arranged a match with Big E. and Kofi Kingston with Woods in their corner against the Usos with Jericho in their corner. 

    The Usos defeated Tag Team Champions The New Day (C) in a nontitle match (15:18)

    Good match with Jey Uso getting the hot tag. Jey went for the splash on Kingston, but Woods distracted the referee and Kingston crotched Jey. This led to Jericho taking Woods’ trombone and blowing it full throttle in Woods’ face. Woods took a bump. Jericho then destroyed the trombone, which brought a reaction from Woods that was absolutely priceless. He acted like his pet puppy had been thrown down a well. In the midst of all this, Jey pinned Kingston with a schoolboy cradle. In the opening minutes, Woods did some ringside banter that sounded like a takeoff of HHH’s late-90s interviews. Looks like Usos vs.  New Day for the tag team belts at Royal Rumble.

    Michael Cole acknowledged John Cena’s shoulder injury and that he would miss WrestleMania. 

    Heyman and Stephanie emerged from their meeting with Vince. Stephanie said Paul was driving her father nuts. Stephanie wanted Brock in the Royal Rumble. Paul told Stephanie to tell her father that Brock Lesnar says no. Stephanie, since she has to get the last word in with any segment involving Heyman but all characters that you see on Raw are purely fictional and in no way resembles real life, told Paul that Broke would in the Royal Rumble because her father owns Brock’s contract. Paul said that would be stupid because it would telegraph the finish of the Royal Rumble two weeks early. Well, no, he said he would handle this for Stephanie. 

    JBL got in the ring and announced Sting as the first member of the 2016 WWE Hall of Fame. Boy, does Sting need the WWE production team to create something for him to get into the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame. Then again, they might have just done it. They had a piece that featured Kevin Hart talking about how Sting was his favorite wrestler as a child. Cena talked about how he got a blond flattop because he loved Sting in 1989. Robert Flores showed up to put him over. Seth Rollins spoke of having a Sting t-shirt. Ron Simmons talked about how he had the “it” factor. Bret Hart, Booker T and Daniel Bryan were also featured. A great package. If that wasn’t enough, they highlighted a tweet from LeBron James, congratulating Sting and saying he was one of his favorites of all time. 

    The Wyatt Family started to do a promo but the Social Outcasts showed up. Heath Slater said grab your penicllin because we’re going viral. It ended with Bo Dallas saying they were together like the Four Musketeers. Curtis Axel and Adam Rose looked at him like he was a geek, as if he was supposed to say “Four Horsemen.” 

    The Wyatt Family and Social Outcasts went to no contest (1:19)

    Ryback ran in to go after the Wyatts. Social Outcasts helped Ryback, so they’re comedy babyfaces. 

    Kalisto, after a nontitle victory over Alberto Del Rio on SmackDown, talked about facing Del Rio for the U.S. Championship tonight. Which leads us to our new segment: “Did Josh Norman cut a better wrestling promo than any wrestler on Raw today?” And the answer is yes. 

    Del Rio did a prematch promo where he took credit for Cena’s injury, forcing him to miss WrestleMania season. It was such a devastating injury that they never showed how Cena got hurt. Couldn’t they do an injury angle of some sort? Instead, nothing. And they wonder why Del Rio got total silence in this promo that should have had a lot of heat. Newsletter readers and writers used to totally massacre WCW for lapses like this. 

    Kalisto defeated Alberto Del Rio (C) to win the U.S. Championship (15:16)

    Kalisto got the surprise win after he reversed a German Suplex attempt into a victory roll for the pin. Pretty good match, but JBL’s commentary gave telegraphed the result. Del Rio didn’t look happy about losing. It was your standard big man-little man match. Kalisto tried several attempts at the Solinda del Sol, but Del Rio blocked both of them. Del Rio went for his Sh! Kick, but Kalisto rolled out of the way and hit a Frankensteiner for a near fall, one of several in the match. Kalisto tried a tope, but Del Rio threw him against the barricades, which looked liked it sucked. They came back from a commercial and Kalisto was already up, where he took another bump after missing a crossbody block. 

    Charlotte and Ric Flair did an interview with JoJo. Charlotte said she beat Becky Lynch “Flair and square.” Did I mention that Josh Norman promo? Charlotte said if anything, she was the victim and Lynch the villian. 

    Charlotte was supposed to wrestle Brie Bella, but Lynch ran out and attacked Charlotte. Lynch had to be pulled off of her. Flair then claimed Charlotte was too injured to wrestle and left with her daughter. So basically, Brie flew to New Orleans to do a ring entrance. Good work if you can get it. Lynch did a promo saying Charlotte made a promise when they started in NXT that she would never use her father to climb to the top, but that’s what she’s done. Lynch said she’s going to make Charlotte tap out and win the Divas title. Good promo. 

    WWE Champion Roman Reigns vs. Owens, Del Rio, Sheamus, Kingston, Big E., Woods, Konnor, Viktor, Stardust, Wyatt, Erick Rowan, Braun Strowman, Luke Harper, and Tyler Breeze ended in a no contest (17:18)

    For the 1 vs. All match, Stephanie and Vince came out with Owens, Del Rio (why would he be out there after losing his title?), Sheamus, Kingston, Big E., Woods, Konnor, Viktor, Stardust, Wyatt, Erick Rowan, Braun Strowman, Luke Harper, and Tyler Breeze. Stephanie explained to Reigns that he would fight every one of these men until he collpased. The heels appeared confused over the rules. They started to line up on the apron like it was a tag team match. Then Vince said it would start one-on-one, so Reigns started working against Owens. 

    They went for about 16:00 with Owens controlling using mainly chinlocks. Crowd was totally dead and seemed to be waiting for the Lesnar run-in. Finally when Reigns started the comeback, Konnor and Viktor jumped up on the apron to collect a Superman punch. Breeze ran in to get speared. New Day, Sheamus and Del Rio ran in to attack Reigns. Del Rio gave him a Superkick and Sheamus followed with a Brogue Kick. 

    Finally Lesnar’s music played. Cole, the genius, thought Lesnar was going to help the heels. Of course, he destroyed the New Day, Del Rio and Sheamus. The Wyatt Family just watched the whole time and simply went to the back. Lesnar pulled Reigns to the center of the ring, then pulled him up and gave him an F-5. Crowd didn’t seem to know how to react. Reigns recovered enough to give Lesnar a smirk as he left, and it’s clear that Lesnar and Reigns will be in the Royal Rumble for a showdown of some sort. 

    SUMMARY: Final hour was poorly booked. If the Kalisto title change is going to happen, it needs to happen next week when more people are watching. It also needs to last a few months in order to get him over. Del Rio is already getting a rematch on SmackDown. If they change the title right back, it was get Kalisto under. Either way, it does nothing for Del Rio. The company hasn’t clue one how to get him over, which shouldn’t be the case if they’re paying him seven figures.

    The 1 vs. All concept was a bad idea because if Reigns was going with the odds stacked against him, why were most of the heels previously in matches on this show? And why were the ones who weren’t jobbers? The rules were vague and all but told the audience that Lesnar running in was going to end the show. Which was fine, as long as we didn’t have to wait through 16:00 of rest holds. First two hours were good. 

    Post-Show Notes (Thanks Collin Makamson):

    – The two ‘trainers’ in the backstage segment were Wild Card J Spade and Luke Hawx, owner and promoter of the local Wildkat Sports.

    – After the cameras went off, Roman recovered from his beatdown and laid out the New Day.

  • WOL 1/11: Sting enters the WWE Hall of Fame, Conor McGregor rumors, more!

    Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive returns today to talk all the news in wrestling and MMA including STING going into the WWE Hall of Fame, his future in the ring if it exists, rumors of Conor McGregor and UFC 197 and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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  • Daily Update: Sting into WWE HOF, Royce Gracie investigation

    We’re looking for your thoughts on Friday night’s TNA PPV show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to Dave Meltzer

    We’re also looking for live reports from Raw tonight in New Orleans.  Nothing has been announced for the show past the return of Brock Lesnar.

    We’re also looking for reports from the Lucha Underground tapings this past weekend to Dave Meltzer

    Smackdown and Main Event tapings will be Tuesday in Lafayette, LA.

    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 have clips of the post Summer Slam / Super China Buffet show featuring a lengthy Brent Kremen discussion, as well as clips from the X-Mas show. This is a soft launch but we will be releasing much more shortly.

    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 11, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Cena out with shoulder injury, New Japan stars to WWE

    In the biggest news week in a long time, we’ve got a double issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter this week, covering John Cena’s injury, New Japan stars headed to WWE, a major feature looking at the year that past in pro wrestling and MMA and the year coming up, WWE direction for WrestleMania season, Tokyo Dome coverage, Rizin debut coverage, TNA changes and UFC 195.

    Our lead story talks about John Cena’s injury and the injury issues in WWE with more notes on the training program being used. All the news regarding wrestlers leaving New Japan, who’s been contacted, different roles, the various schedules for different guys, other negotiations, what led to these moves, what New Japan needs to learn from this, affects on ROH, and other ideas for New Japan to break out of its standard mentality.

    UFC in 2016, the success of the women’s division, UFC business review, big fights on the horizon, the state of WWE in 2015 and 2016, different fan bases, rise of NXT, where New Japan has failed on the international scene, plus AAA, CMLL, Bellator, TNA and ROH prospects in 2016.

    Full coverage of New Japan’s Tokyo Dome show, match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results, the big angles, Okada’s prospects as the top star, the next big programs on the horizon, big show plans for 2016, the Fanstastica Mania tour lineup and thoughts, New Year’s Dash coverage.

    The changes to this year’s Royal Rumble and scout the possibilities and big matches on the horizon for Mania, and the return of Chris Jericho.

    WWE Network, John Cena on Peyton Manning and HGH, football coach trying to recruit WWE for Mania, portrayal of Joseph Maroon in the “Concussion”, lots of details on new Dwayne Johnson projects, Lesnar’s schedule, a look at 50/50 booking, Reaction to HHH circumventing his own angle, February NXT, WrestleMania plans, Jericho talks current interview style, WWE looking for new stars around the world, Dusty Rhodes tag team tournament, WWE injury updates, Austin TV show.

    A complete look at the debut of the Rizin promotion, details on the ratings and how it compares to WWE & UFC, the Masato vs. Kid Yamamoto show in competition, boxing in competition, Spike TV numbers, Fedor’s return, the freak show fights and what did and didn’t work on the first two shows.

    UFC 195, with match-by-match coverage, poll results and business regarding the show, a look at all the close decisions and why they went the way they did.

    TNA’s debut on Pop TV, the ratings, the title tournament, who was watching, the PPV show this week, the Mike Bennett debut, the James Storm return, the departure of Taryn Terrell and the good and bad of the latest relaunch.

    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

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    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.

    MONDAY’S NEWS UPDATE

    Congratulations to Sting for his being the lead inductee in the WWE Hall of Fame class for 2016.  

    Bloody Elbow has a storyabout Royce Gracie being investigated by the IRS for having over $3 million wired from foreign banks to U.S. banks for various purposes including purchases of real estate.  The investigation also stated Royce Gracie filed tax returns from 2008 to 2011 showing minimal taxable income.  His family filed an earned income credit, which goes to low income working families, which was suspicious since he is a celebrity in MMA and his wife is a doctor.  The government is seeking $1.1 million in back taxes. 

    Tonight’s college football game is expected to be considerably down in the ratings from last year.  Still, given the game will outdraw every NFL game this season, Raw could be near record lows.  There is only one Raw after tonight before the Royal Rumble, so we should have all the key matches announced.  Really, we should have had most of them last week.

    The Sports Business Daily had a report that the NFL is looking at splitting up its Thursday night package and selling it to two or three different networks next season and that the league may expand to 17 Thursday night games, which would greatly affect fall Smackdown ratings.

    Tammy Sytch plea bargained to a guilty plea on three DUI charges stemming from a June 1 arrest and is scheduled for a 1/29 sentencing.

    WWE

    • Jason Jordan & Chad Gable are backstage at Raw, although I’d expect if they were to wrestle it would be for a dark match.
    • The Stone Cold Podcast with Ric Flair (which was taped some time back) airs after Raw tonight.
    • Daddy’s Home, with John Cena in a cameo, was No. 3 at the U.S. box office this past week with $15,015,465 in its third week out, and has topped $116 million domestic.  Sisters, where he had a bigger role, was No. 5, at $7,189,455 and has done just under $75 million in four weeks out.  In Australia, Sisters was No. 3 this weekend, Daddy’s Home was No. 4 and Spectre (Bautista) was No. 11) (thanks to James Stanios)
    • Dwayne Johnson was a presenter last night for the Best Supporting Actress award at last night’s Golden Globes.
    • Local promoters Evenko announced a 3/11 house show in Montreal, with tickets going on sale at Noon on Saturday, which will feature Brock Lesnar in his first match in Montreal since 2003.  What’s notable is that is the day before the WWE Network special in Toronto.  Lesnar has not been announced for Toronto but it wouldn’t make sense for Lesnar to work a Montreal house show but not a Toronto network special.  The names listed, the rest of which should almost surely be on the Toronto special, are Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, Alberto Del Rio and Kevin Owens.  (thanks to Pat Laprade)
    • WWE stock was up 13 cents per share today to $16.43.
    • Gabe Sapolsky reported that William Regal would be coming to the Evolve show on 1/23 in Orlando “with a purpose.”
    • The Wall Street Journal today had a small ad in the weekend edition looking for people who have archival items related to Gorgeous George, particularly photos or home movies for a documentary.  The e-mail address to contact is gorgeousgeo32415@gmail.com (thanks to Robert Steinberg)

    UFC/MMA

    • UFC had wanted to announce the Conor McGregor vs. Rafael dos Anjos and Holly Holm vs. Miesha Tate during halftime of the Packers-Redskins game, which drew 38.8 million (the most watched television show of any kind since last year’s Super Bowl).  But apparently the deal wasn’t closed in time, although all indications is the story that it was McGregor’s side that held it up are incorrect and McGregor’s deal is set.
    • Ticketmaster has just put up the page for UFC 197 listing it as 3/5 in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.  The belief is that the hold-up, coming to terms with Rafael dos Anjos, has been worked out.  Tickets are listed as going on sale on 1/20.
    • There are two changes in Sunday’s card in Boston.  Jimy Hettes is out of his featherweight fight with Charles Rosa, and taking the fight with no camp at all is Augusto Mendes (5-0), making his UFC debut.  Also out of Sunday’s show is Abdul-Kerim Edlov, a light heavyweight, who was to face Francimar Barroso.  He’s being replaced by Elvis Mutapcic (15-3), also making his UFC debut.  Mutapcic has been fighting for World Series of Fighting.
    • A note on Sunday’s show is that it will start at the usual 8 p.m. with prelims, but it’s only scheduled for four plus hours of television instead of five plus, so the main event should start around 11:40 p.m. instead of the usual 12:40 a.m. main event start on FS 1 shows.  To make up the difference, the show itself starts one hour earlier and there will be five Fight Pass bouts.
    • Here’s a story on Conor McGregor pay.  While he will get an enormous payday, I think the predictions of 1.5 million buys on 3/5 sound high.
    • A story on the debut of Joey Gomez, who served overseas in the military, on Sunday’s show
    • World Series of Fighting announced Justin Gaethje, the company’s top star, will defend his lightweight title against tournament winner Brian Foster on 3/12 in Loveland, CO.  The show airs live on NBC Sports Network.

    MISCELLANEOUS

    • Paragon Pro Wrestling announced it would air on 1/16 on the MSG Network in a Saturday at 5 a.m. Eastern time slot.  PPW was formerly on Pop TV until Pop made its deal with TNA..
    • John Rocker of the Atlanta Braves, who has done some indie work in Georgia, was at the WrestleMerica TV tapings on Friday night in Barnesville, GA that A.J. Styles and Doc Gallows headlined.  Their next show is 2/20 called Night of Legends, headlined by the Rock & Roll Express.
    • Michael “Venom” Page, one of the guys Scott Coker has been trying to build in Bellator, who has a 9-0 record, will be in he semifinal on a 3/4 show in Thackerville, OK, where he faces Fernando Gonzalez (24-13).  The show is headlined by wrestling standouts Joe Warren vs. Darion Caldwell.
    • In a note regarding the update yesterday on Lucha Extreme not airing because KAIL TV moved its base.  It is true that KAIL did move its base but nobody knows why that would affect a taped wrestling show unless tapes were lost in the move.   
    • Maryland Championship Wrestling on 1/23 in  Joppa, MD with the Hardys, with King McBride vs. Matt Hardy, who will have Jeff in his corner.  Not sure how that works out with Matt’s heel turn on TNA and feud with Jeff and when it airs.
    • Rock Solids Wrestling Brawl in the Falls on 2/13 in Dowling, ONT with Cody Deaner as the headliner at the Dowling Leisure Centre.   
    • AAW on 1/15 in Merrionette Park, IL at 115 Bourbon Street with Eddie Kingston vs Trevor Lee for the AAW title, Davey Vega vs. AR Fox for the AAW Heritage title, Sami Callihan vs. Chris Hero, Abyss vs. Rya Boz, Devin & Mason Cutter vs. Zero Gravity, Louis Lyndon vs. Drew Gulak plus Kongo Kong, Shane Hollister, Heidi Lovelace, Allysin Kay and more.
    • Smash vs. CZW takes place on Saturday night in Toronto at the Franklin Horner Community Centre with Sami Callihan (CZW) vs. Johnny Gargano (Smash), BLK Jeez & Pepper Parks & Mike Rollins (CZW) vs. Super Smash Brothers & Brent Banks (Smash), D.J. Hyde (CZW) vs. Scotty O’Shea (Smash), Jonathan Gresham (CZW) vs. Tyson Dux (Smash), Drew Gulak (CZW) vs. Tarik (Smash) and more.
    • CZW’s 17th anniversary show is 2/13 in Voorhees, NJ at Flyers Skate Zone with Matt Tremont vs. Devon Moore in a ladder match for the CZW title and Pepper Parks & BLK Jeez defending the tag team titles against Dan Barry & Bill Carr, Lio Rush vs. Joey Janela and Speedball Mike Bailey vs. Sami Callihan. 
    • XICW on Saturday night in Clinton Township, MI:  Kyle Maverick b Jacob Mercury, Zach Gowen won over Gavin Quinn, Idris Abraham and Willie Watts, Joe Coleman b Jay Maynard, Joe Coleman won over Palmer Cruise and Xavier Walker, Little Guido & The Scarbonis b Jaimy Coxxx & Jeff Brooks & Dickie Bronson, Haki Zane b Kongo Kong-COR, Rhino b Bob Holly, DBA & Malcolm Monroe III b Dave Crist & Zachary Wents, Jake Something b Orlando Christopher (thanks to Leonard Brand)
    • Nova Pro Wrestling on 1/31 in Springfield, VA at the Annandale Sports Center featuring Sonjay Dutt and the Bravado Brothers.
    • Premier Championship Wrestling from the weekend in  Winnipeg:  Shao Ming b Jacob Creed, Jay Walker b Adrian Barton, Chad Tatum b Michael Clark, Scott Justice b Alix Vanna, Mentallo b Antonio Scorpio, Jackie Lee b Alexander Prime.  Next show is 2/27 (thanks to Andrew Shallcross)

    ON THIS DAY IN WORLD PRO WRESTLING HISTORY:Daily pro wrestling history (01/11): Midnight Express win World Class American Tag Team Titles