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  • Wrestle Kingdom 10 Preview Series: The Champion vs. The Ace

    This match! This rivalry! Where do I even begin? How about with a fun fact, and we’ll see what happens from there? Wrestle Kingdom 10 marks the 7th time Okada and Tanahashi will have faced each other for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. They are currently tied with three wins a piece. Tanahashi got the last, tear inducing win over Okada earlier this year at Wrestle Kingdom 9. In a way, you can think of their next match as the final in a very long “Best of Seven Series” which started in 2012 and ends, assumedly, in 2016. Another fun fact is that Wrestle Kingdom 10 will be Tanahashi’s 6th straight Tokyo Dome main event (3rd against Okada). What’s even more impressive is that he’s 5 for 5! If this were NBA Jam, he’d be “on fire.”

    Okada is coming into the match as champion, defeating A.J. Styles for the title at Dominion in Osaka-jo Hall in July. Tanahashi earned his right to challenge Okada for the title by winning the 2015 G1 Climax. However, before getting to Wrestle Kingdom, Tanahashi had to defend his title match contract in matches against Bad Luck Fale and Tetsuya Naito, who both defeated Tanahashi during the G1 tournament. Meanwhile, Okada successfully defended his title against Styles in a rematch at King of Pro Wrestling in October.

    Being the 7th time the two men will have met for the title, and their 9th singles match together (the first was when Okada was a Young Lion, but it still counts), there is a bit of a feeling of “not this again” coming into the match. But that’s the general complaint with New Japan in 2015. With the exclusion of an incredible character transformation here or there (Ingobernable Naito), New Japan’s booking has played things very safe for the most part, with very little changing since Wrestle Kingdom 9.

    The Bullet Club is still…being the Bullet Club. With each passing day, they become more and more like the original NWO as they continue to spawn new members like Mogwai exposed to water (See Chase Owens). Nakamura is still the IC Champ, though he did part with the title throughout the year. Ishii is the NEVER Openweight Champion, just like he was going into Wrestle Kingdom 9. Gallows & Anderson are the IWGP Tag Team Champs, just like they were at Wrestle Kingdom 9. And you guessed it, reDRagon are the IWGP Jr. Tag Champs going into Wrestle Kingdom 10, just like they were going into Wrestling Kingdom 9. Even Kenny Omega, who won the IWGP Jr. title at Wrestle Kingdom 9, is the champ going into Wrestle Kingdom 10.

    In a sense, we’re pretty much getting the same show as last year, though without the time restriction due to Global Force Wrestling’s broadcast in the U.S., and, sadly, also without Minoru Suzuki (Rambo entrant?). So the blame can’t be put solely on the main event for not feeling fresh. It’s a whole group effort. It’s like New Japan saw the Obama “Change” poster and said, “Nope, let’s not do that.”  At least without the U.S. PPV time restriction, we’ll hopefully get the big, elaborate entrances of Wrestle Kingdoms past. DeLoreans and pole dancing routines, please!

    While I may sound a little unenthused by yet another Tanahashi/Okada match, there are some upsides to Tanahashi vs. Okada VII. The most important being that they’ve never had a bad match together, and I don’t think they’re going to start at Wrestle Kingdom 10. Anything under 4.5 stars by these two on this stage would be considered a disappointment, which probably adds a bit of pressure. Another is the fact that while this match was only officially announced in October, it was more or less made the moment Okada lost to Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 9. After the match, Okada was completely devastated, and left the ring in tears.

    It was clear that match last January was not going to be the end of their long and storied rivalry, and another Wrestle Kingdom main event was looming. It was more just a question of if it was going to be at the following Wrestle Kingdom, or saved for further down the line. Thus, while it’s not the freshest match up, it does have a long, solid, emotional backstory and we can expect a fitting conclusion, i.e. Okada redeems himself for being a crybaby and finally defeats Tanahashi in the Tokyo Dome, the figurative torch is passed, the student becomes the master, and so forth. 

    Okada vs. Tanahashi: The Champion vs. The Ace. I know I should be more excited for this than I am, and I am excited. It’s just not off the charts levels. I think what I’m most looking forward to is this match possibly capping off what has been one of the highest profile rivalries in Japan in the current decade, and possibly the best in terms of match quality. If nothing else, it’s all but guaranteed to be a hell of a match.

  • B&V 12/31: Breaking Ground, Granny, Monday Night Raw!

    It’s the return of the Bryan & Vinny Show, either the first of 2016 or the last of 2015, however you want to look at it! A packed show as we’ve got WWE Breaking Ground, Granny with a look at everyone’s New Year’s Resolutions, and Vinny’s Monday Night Raw review! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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  • WWE Toronto house show results: John Cena vs. Alberto Del Rio

    Submitted by Ian Carey

    Neville beat Miz

    Miz did the old Rick Rude “What I’d like to have right now is for all you, fat, something, out of shape Toronto sweat hogs… keep the noise down…yadda yadda… while I take off my glasses”. Neville won with the red arrow.  Actually a pretty fun match.

    The Ascension and Stardust vs the Hype Bros and Titus O’Neil

    Titus pinned Viktor with the Clash of the Titus.  A few scattered NXT chants.

    Big Show vs Mark Henry

    Big Show won with a KO punch and Henry had to be helped to the back.  Show stalled a lot at the start of the match.

    WWE I-C Champion Dean Ambrose vs Kevin Owens

    Kids all cheered Ambrose but a lot of cheers from the adults for Owens.  Owens got some cheap heat for saying Quebec is better than Ontario.  Ambrose won with the Dirty Deeds.

    Intermission

    Divas Champion Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch

    Charlotte played it up like she was doing a “Divas Open Challenge” then she couldn’t understand why Becky came out.  They had a match, and Charlotte won clean with the Natural Selection.

    The Wyatt Family (Luke Harper, Braun Strowman, Erick Rowan) vs the Usos and Goldust

    Crowd chanted “Take a shower” at Harper, and he played that up pretty nice.  This was a very PG show, which was fun to take little kids to.  One of the Usos pinned Harper.

    John Cena beat U.S. Champion Alberto Del Rio by DQ

    Del Rio wore long silvery pants.  Lots of near-falls, a ref bump, Del Rio using a chair, etc. ADR got DQ’d for a low blod. Cena got the last laugh, the kids all cheered, I spent $60 on Cena t-shirts and for the first time in over a decade actually cheered for the guy. Kids really LOVE Cena.

    It was actually pretty fun.  I hadn’t gone to a house show since I was a teenager, but it was fun to go with kids.

  • WON Preview: Annual business year in review

    We have our annual business year in review as the lead of the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter this week.  We cover our awards balloting year from 12/1/14 to 11/30/15 looking at the biggest events and biggest draws, with the year’s biggest crowds, records set in several different companies, every show that did more than 15,000 fans, who headlined the most big shows, where John Cena ranks among all-time draws in a number of categories, a look at Cena compared to those in similar positions on the all-time list, the PPV buys for every show of the past year in wrestling, MMA and boxing, which companies did the last when it comes to live events and how this year compared with other years, UFC PPV business for the year and UFC big show business, as well as a look at every show that topped $2 million and a number of gate records set in different categories this year.

    We also look at Dwayne Johnson returning for WrestleMania, different ideas of where he may fit in, and his recent track record of WrestleMania matches.

    We also look at the history of New Japan on January 4th at the Tokyo Dome.  We look at the first New Japan Tokyo Dome show and its main event, what drew the first house, what Lou Thesz said to Antonio Inoki after the show and why Thesz thought the result was a good thing and why it ended up being a waste.  We also look at a number of major characters who debuted on the show including one of the most enduring stars in history, as well as a character in a famous video game.  We look at records set the first time New Japan ran on January 4th, which was also a PPV in the U.S., some of the biggest matches during New Japan’s heyday, how things look for this year, the fall of New Japan and how the Dome tradition almost ended, as well as the comeback in recent years.  We look at how this year’s show will differ from last year as well as a match-by-match rundown and a look at the history of the New Japan big four, Tanahashi, Okada, A.J. Styles and Nakamura, with all of their previous Tokyo Dome matches.

    We also look at what Jonathan Coachman said about HGH usage in WWE, why HGH usage is so prevalent in certain types of sports and entertainment, what it really does and doesn’t do, and why nobody ever seems to get caught.

    We also look at WWE injury coverage for talent, why WWE stars are doing more NBC media, notes on how movies with Sting are doing at the box office, thoughts on how the WWE’s head of medical came across in the movie “Concussion” plus a concussion expert talks the Daniel Bryan situation.  We also update on Nikki Bella, NXT sellouts, Brock Lesnar’s next match, Cena facing a surprise opponent in two weeks, Chris Jericho talks his future, Royal Rumble notes, Sin Cara injury update, NXT in Dallas for Mania, WWE injuries, the go-home show for WrestleMania, two international stars about to start with WWE and the Bayley character on the main roster.

    We’ve got a rundown on the holiday show in Madison Square Garden, Ben Askren talks about One’s new weight cutting regulations that will completely change the promotion and why this could be a prototype for a massive change in MMA.  We’ve got a look at the first Rizin show, the sad spectacle of Sakuraba, the pro wrestlers on the show, the mentality behind why certain people were on the show and match-by-match coverage.

    We also look at how the WWE ratings have fared in its No. 2 market, te U.K., and how declines and gains compare to what happened in the U.S.

    We also look at the Dragon Gate Final Gate show, the last major event of the year. 

    We also have our 2015 awards ballot as well as our monthly business review of WWE & TNA.

    The Latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter: January 4, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Business year in review, Rock at Wrestlemania 32, tons more.

    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.

    The Wrestling Observer ranges weekly from 35,000 to 50,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA internationally. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sties and has the most complete look at the pro wrestling and MMA business anywhere, plus history pieces available nowhere else.

    We’ve also got the weekly coverage of all the ratings of the major shows, results from the major league events held around the world, and the major TV show rundowns.

    Also in this issue:

    –Christmas cards are almost all forgotten, but the one place they are still around does big business

    –More on CMLL’s iPPV problems 

    –Last Lucha Libre Elite show of the year

    –More on Rey Mysterio Jr. in Mexico

    –Great mainstream article on AAA with more info on the death of Perro Aguayo Jr.

    –Keiji Muto returns to the ring

    –Talk of an angle hinted about to save a promotion in rough shape

    –More on NOAH’s year-end show

    –Another former star comes back to NOAH

    –Early year big NOAH shows

    –Notes on New Japan’s show before the Tokyo Dome

    –Hiroshi Tanahashi talks about being a star in Japanese wrestling

    –Mainstream star coming to the Tokyo Dome

    –Female star retires

    –Major woman’s tilte changes hands

    –Huge European tour includes a first-time ever dream match of two of the best American wrestlers of the past 15 years

    –Former WCW announcer now working as national news anchor

    –Roddy Piper’s last movie

    –Honoring a woman’ wrestling great

    –Lucha Underground and house shows

    –More on ROH contract talks

    –Japanese stars coming to the next ROH PPV show

    –ROH Top Prospect tournament

    –More on TNA’s PPV show next week

    –Future of Kurt Angle

    –What match does Kurt Angle really want

    –Anderson Silva vs. Michael Bisping notes

    –Dana White goes off on reporters

    –More on decision to put a PPV main event on Fight Pass

    –More on Holly Holm vs. Miesha Tate

    –UFC income in 2015

    –Complete gate info from the December shows in Las Vegas

    –Why there are problems regarding a stadium show in Dublin

    –Daniel Cormier talks about a date he’d like to face Jon Jones

    –Gleison Tibau facing a possible drg suspension

    –Nick Diaz talks drug testing

    –UFC card this week

    –Notes on UFC booking

    –Notes on UFC roster cuts

    –Some new UFC fights

  • WOR 12/31: Sean Wheelock on weight-cutting, RIZIN, Bellator, UFC book, more!

    Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back today with special guest Sean Wheelock to talk a number of topics including weight-cutting in MMA, RIZIN, Bellator, his book on the early history of UFC with Art Davie, and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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  • Daily Update: NYE final Smackdown on Syfy, WWE HOF tickets, Rock teases ‘Mania with Rousey

    We’re looking for reports on last night’s WWE shows in Toronto and Baltimore at Dave Meltzer

    For this weekend, we’ll be doing polls on the Saturday night UFC show and the New Japan Tokyo Dome show which starts at about 2:15 a.m. Eastern and 11:15 p.m. late Sunday/early Monday.

    SMACKDOWN TONIGHT ON SYFY

    Dudleys & Kalisto vs. Big E & Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods

    Goldust vs. Tyler Breeze

    Usos vs. Luke Harper & Braun Strowman

    Brie Bella & Alicia Fox vs. Naomi & Tamina

    Dolph Ziggler vs. Bo Dallas

    Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt & Kevin Owens

    This is the final episode of Smackdown on  Syfy, as it moves to the USA Network with the new announcing team and John Cena in a show taped on Tuesday in Laredo.  It’s expected this will be among the lowest rated episodes ever given the college football playoffs and New Year’s Eve

    CMLL IPPVFROM ARENA MEXICO AT 6 P.M. EASTERN TIME TOMORROW  

    WATCH HERE

    Estrellita & Princesa Sugei & Vaquerita vs.  Amapola & Dallys & Zeuxis

    Blue Panther Jr. & Esfinge & The Panther vs. Cancerbero & Raziel & Virus

    Atlantis & Marco Corleone & Valiente vs. Dragon Rojo & Polvora & Thunder

    Maximo Sexy vs. Kamaitachi hair vs. hair

    Mistico & Caristico & Rusher vs. Volador Jr. & Ultimo Guerrero & Cibernetico

    Negro Casas vs. Super Parka hair vs. hair

    Figure Four Weekly

    Figure Four Weekly 12/28/2015: Gawker files to dismiss Hogan lawsuit
    Details on Gawker filing to dismiss the Hulk Hogan sex tape lawsuit, plus other news.

    Wrestling Observer Newsletter

    We have our annual business year in review as the lead of the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter this week. We cover our awards balloting year from 12/1/14 to 11/30/15 looking at the biggest events and biggest draws, with the year’s biggest crowds, records set in several different companies, Cena compared to those in similar positions on the all-time list, the year’s PPV buys for every wrestling, MMA and boxing show, how this year compared with other years.

    Dwayne Johnson returning for WrestleMania, different ideas of where he may fit in, and his recent track record of WrestleMania matches.

    The history of New Japan on January 4th at the Tokyo Dome. The first New Japan Tokyo Dome show and its main event, what drew the first house, what Lou Thesz said to Antonio Inoki after the show and why Thesz thought the result was a good thing and why it ended up being a waste. We look at how this year’s show will differ from last year as well as a match-by-match rundown and a look at the history of the New Japan big four, Tanahashi, Okada, A.J. Styles and Nakamura, with all of their previous Tokyo Dome matches.

    Jonathan Coachman on HGH usage in WWE, why usage is so prevalent in certain types of sports and entertainment.

    WWE injury coverage, why WWE stars are doing more NBC media, how movies with Sting are doing at the box office, how the WWE’s head of medical came across in the movie “Concussion” plus a concussion expert on Daniel Bryan situation. Update on Nikki Bella, NXT sellouts, Brock Lesnar’s next match, Cena facing a surprise opponent, Chris Jericho on future, Royal Rumble, Sin Cara injury update, NXT in Dallas, the go-home show for WrestleMania, two international stars about to start with WWE and the Bayley character on the main roster.

    The holiday show in Madison Square Garden coverage, Ben Askren talks about One’s possibly revolutionary weight cutting regulations that could be the catalyst for changing MMA.  We look at the first Rizin show, the sad spectacle of Sakuraba, the pro wrestlers on the show, the mentality behind why certain people were on the show and match-by-match coverage.

    PLUS MUCH MORE! CLICK HERE FOR A FULL WRESTLING OBSERVER PREVIEW

    The Latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter: January 4, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Business year in review, Rock at Wrestlemania 32, tons more.

    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 9, 1998 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Jesse Ventura wins Minnesota Governor election, WCW trailing WWF, more
    Jesse Ventura becomes the Governor of Minnesota, WCW begins trailing WWF, ECW November to Remember recap, plus tons of news.

    TODAY’S DAILY UPDATE

    Wrestling Observer Radio with Sean Wheelock is up today talking with Bryan and Dave Meltzer about MMA rules and regulations, his departure from Bellator, MMA scoring and even a movie he’s working on that will be about the birth of MMA in 1993.

    Jerome LeBanner showed up in the ring at the IGF show instead of his scheduled fight against Baruto on the Rizin New Year’s Show.  LeBanner “never came to Japan” and was replaced at the last minute by Peter Aerts.   He had been with IGF in the past.  Nobuyuki Sakakibara of Rizin has already said that he’s going to sue over that.

    Tickets to the 2016 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony at the American Airlines Center in Dallas go on sale to the public on 1/15 at 10 a.m. Central time.  Probably a quick sellout here.  That probably means a Hall of Fame announcement will come on 1/11.

    UFC has sent some Fight Pass subscribers an e-mail offering them 20 percent off UFC 195 as a gift.  I didn’t get one so it hasn’t come to everyone, but we’ve gotten e-mails from several who have gotten it.  

    The Vegas Fuel Energy site is offering free tickets to the TNA shows all week in Bethlehem, PA, which probably tells you how tickets are selling, but I don’t think that’s a surprise when it TNA running five straight nights in the same venue.

    The 1/13 episode of NXT will feature the NXT Awards.  There will be voting on the WWE web site starting tomorrow and ending this coming Wednesday for Competitor of the Year, Male Competitor of the Year, Female Competitor of the Year, Tag Team of the Year, Match of the year, TakeOver show of the Year.  

    WWE

    • Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has been pushing for WrestleMania at Michigan Stadium, saying it’s bigger than Texas Stadium and they could break the attendance record.  
    • With the holidays, the company will return to action with shows in Corpus Christi and Hidalgo on Sunday.  
    • The International Judo Federation sent Dwayne Johnson a Tweet saying to let them know if he needs a judoka to be his tag team partner at WrestleMania.  “I may need a judoka,” he wrote.  “I had the honor of a course in judo last year.”
    • As far as movies with WWE talent, Daddy’s Home was No. 2 in Australia last weekend and Spectre was No. 8 (thanks to James Stanios)
    • While it feels like more, out of 389 matches on Raw in 2015, 21 were won by distraction and roll-up finishes. (thanks to Jason Solomon)
    • Alberto Del Rio’s match in Puerto Rico with Ray Gonzalez Sr.

    UFC

    • Michael Bisping ripped on Anderson Silva in a Tuesday press conference noting him testing positive for three different banned substances, so that may be the theme of his promos leading to their fight.  He said that he respects him as a fighter, but lost a lot of respect for him and this fight represents him trying to beat fighters that cheated.  He said that calling yourself a martial artist and taking PED’s is “the biggest contradiction you could ever make and to be honest, he should be ashamed of himself and I feel that this should be talked about more.”  He said he believes the people who used to cheat will try and continue to cheat and manipulate the system.  “Just because they’re bringing in advanced testing doesn’t share the fact you’re still going to be a coward and you’re still going to try and cheat the system.”
    • Due to an injury to Jimi Manuwa, his 2/27 fight scheduled with Nikita Krylov in London has been canceled.
    • FS 1 will be airing the Conor McGregor vs. Chad Mendes tonight at 8 p.m.
    • The weigh-ins will be at 7 p.m. tomorrow night with Karyn Bryant, Daniel Cormier, Kenny Florian, Tyron Woodley and Ariel Helwani working the shows.

    MISCELLANEOUS

    • There’s talk of a big immediate push for Michael Bennett in TNA. 
    • RDS in Quebec, the French language version of ESPN, had a one hour documentary last night on the Rougeau Family, starting with Eddy Auger to nephews Jacques Sr. & Johnny, third generation wrestlers Jacques Jr. & Raymond as well as Armand and Joanne (who was the local Montreal promoter for WWF) to Emile & Cedric, Jacques’ sons.  Also in the documentary included former promoter Gino Brito, Jacques’ former tag team partner Pierre-Carl Ouellet, announcer Marc Blondin and historian Patric Laprade.
    • Findlay Martin of Powerslam’s book “Pro Wrestling Through the Power Slam Years:  1994-2014” was named by Dan of Geek as one of its top books of 2015.
    • One of the best women’s bouts this year, the Io Shirai Queen of Stardom win over Meiko Satomura
    • Glory kickboxing will have a six hour marathon starting at midnight Eastern tomorrow night on the CBS Sports Network.
    • An interview with Matt Hardy on TNA’s move to Pop TV
    • Michael Landsberg talks about his battles with depression and how WWE wrestling and Bret Hart put Off the Record on the map in 1997
    • The World Series of Fighting will have an eight hour marathon starting at 5 p.m. tomorow on NBC Sports Network.  The Justin Gaethje vs. Luis Palomino match of the year candidate will air at about8:30 p.m. Friday night Eastern and 5:30 p.m. Pacific time.
    • The CW TV show “Supernatural” will have a pro wrestling themed episode airing on 1/20 at 9 p.m.  The show will include familiar themes within pro wrestling including deaths of wrestlers at a young age.    
    • Evolve has announced a Style Battle tournament for Royal Rumble weekend with shows on 1/22 in Ybor City, 1/23 and 1/24 in Orlando, with a four-man round robin tournament featuring Matt Riddle, Tracy Williams, Peter Kaasa and Fred Yehi.
    • The Resurrection Fighting Alliance on AXS has a sow on 1/15 from Broomfield, CT.  the main event will be Bojan Velickovic (12-3) vs. Benjamin Smith (15-3) at welterweight plus Adam Stroup (10-2) vs. John Poppie (6-2) at middleweight.
    • ECWA on 1/23 in Woodbury Heights, NJ at the Community Center.
    • AAW is offering two weeks free on its streaming service at www.airwarchives.com
    • Bill Beecroft noted that Harry Simon wasn’t the only person to have written for both the Wrestling Observer and Pro Wrestling Illustrated, as he did as well.
    • American Combat Wrestling on 1/16 in New Port Richey, FL at the All Sports Arena.
    • Promociones del Vallle has a show on 1/8 at the Auditorio in Tijuana with Gronda XXX & L.A. Park & Rayo de Jalisco Jr. vs. Cibernetico & Cien Caras & Dr. Wagner Jr. as the main event.
    • Infinity Pro Wrestling on 1/30 in Bloomington, IN at the National Guard Armory with GT Vega vs. Tommaso Ciampa vs. Shane Mercer.
    • Bushwhacker Luke Williams celebrates in birthday on 1/8 at the River City Wrestling show in San Antonio at Sideliners Grill.  Hernandez will also be on that show.
    • Pro Wrestling Phoenix from last night in Omaha:  Purple b Robert Storm, Dalton Lee Roth won three-way over Kevin Davidson and Ozzie Gallagher, Zac James b Pat Powers, L-Ray b Branden Juarez, Blue Rocket b Brandon Wallace, Michael Elgin b Devin Carter, Daniels Brothers b Hype Gotti & Tony Cortez in a tables match.  Next show is 1/16 in Council Bluffs, IA at the National Guard Armory.

    Here is today’s FULL Daily Pro Wrestling History including International history: Daily pro wrestling history (12/29): Mankind wins the WWF World Title

  • Wrestle Kingdom 10 Preview Series: The Swag vs. The Phenomenal One

    At Wrestle Kingdom 9, Shinsuke Nakamura fended off Kota Ibushi’s challenge for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship in what was one of the best matches of 2015, despite taking place only four days into the new year and being followed by nearly twelve months worth of fantastic wrestling. This year, it’s A.J. Styles’ turn for a shot at the IC title, a belt that’s become synonymous with its current holder, Shinsuke Nakamura.

    Nakamura is a five time IWGP Intercontinental Champion, the most since the title’s inception in 2011. Nakamura first won the title in 2012 when he defeated Hirooki Goto. Since then, the belt has basically belonged to him. Sure, he’s lost it four times, but Nakamura doesn’t really ever lose the title, he just lets others play with it until he’s ready to take it back.

    A.J. Styles is no slouch when it comes to impressive title reigns. After signing with New Japan, Styles defeated Kazuchika Okada in his debut match at Wrestling Dontaku 2014 for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Not a bad start. He was also in some company called TNA, or Impact Wrestling, or Wrestling Matters, or something, where he was apparently quite successful, but I don’t really know anything about that.

    How’d We Get Here?

    It’s pretty simple, actually. After deciding Hirooki Goto had played with his belt for long enough, Nakamura took back his property at Destruction in Kobe in September. Nakamura successfully defended the title against Bullet Club co-founder Karl Anderson at Power Struggle, but before the match, he went the John Cena route and issued an open challenge for the title at Wrestle Kingdom. You’ve got to admire the gall of Nakamura, issuing an open challenge when he still had Karl Anderson to get through. After defeating Anderson in a very exciting match, A.J. Styles came out to graciously accept the challenge. And there we have it. Nakamura vs. Styles at Wrestle Kingdom 10.

    One reason I’m excited about this match, besides the fact it involves two of the best wrestlers in the world today, is that it’s a first time match. Nakamura and Styles have only previously met in tag matches or multi-mans, so this will be their first singles match together. So that’s neat. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of chemistry they have, and if this match will be the beginning of a long term feud, or just a one off thing.

    It’s also a battle of the hairstyles. One wrestler has a very progressive, fashionable hairstyle, and the other is A.J. Styles. I kind of wish this match was a Lucha de Apuesta, with Nakamura’s title vs. A.J.’s hair. There’s still time, NJPW!

    Finally, what I’m most excited for is Shinsuke Nakamura’s ring entrance. At Wrestle Kingdom 9, Nakamura came out wearing a regal crown and looking like Vincent Valentine, which was great, but fairly tame for Nakamura. The previous year, he was accompanied by a whole troop of dancers. With poles for some reason! One thing that was missing from Wrestle Kingdom 9 were the long, extravagant entrances. Without GFW’s involvement and the incurred time constraints, Wrestle Kingdom 10 should go back to the big, elaborate entrances of years past.

    Of course, this will all be for naught if A.J. Styles doesn’t even make it to the Tokyo Dome. Recently, Styles was sent home from the NJPW World Tag League tournament due to a lingering back injury. Shortly before the tournament, he had also missed some ROH shows. Hopefully it’s nothing a little R&R can’t fix. Though he still had a major match in ROH against Jay Lethal to get through before Wrestle Kingdom, so I’m not sure just how much of the R’s he’s actually got. 

    Cards are always subject to change. It would be a huge disappointment to miss the biggest NJPW show of the year, but personal well-being does come first. However, I don’t doubt Styles will make it to Wrestle Kingdom, but I highly doubt he’ll be at his best. Luckily for him, he’ll be in there with one of the best in the world. Besides, even an A.J. Styles at 50% would still be better than most.

  • WOL 12/31: 2016 Prediction Show, plus EC3 talks Impact to POP TV

    Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive returns today with a PACKED show! It’s part one of the 2016 Prediction Show, your calls on what you think will happen in the fine Year of Our Lord 2016. Then, Ethan Carter III joins us to talk TNA, Impact’s debut on POP TV this Tuesday, and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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  • Figure Four Weekly 12/28/2015: Gawker files to dismiss Hogan lawsuit

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  • January 4, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Business year in review, Rock at Wrestlemania 32, tons more.

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