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  • Daily pro wrestling history (03/06): Williams & Gordy win AJPW World Tag Team Titles

    1934

    Minneapolis, Minnesota:
    – World Heavyweight Champion Jim Londos beat Abe Kashey 

    1935

    St. Louis, Missouri:
    – Jim Londos beat Ed “Strangler” Lewis 
    – Ray Steele beat Karl Sarpolis  
    – Bronko Nagurski beat Karl Davis 
    – George Tragos beat Pat Murphy 

    1952 

    Kansas City, Kansas:
    – Sonny Myers defeated Enrique Torres to win the NWA Heart of America Heavyweight Title in a 2 out of 3 falls match
    – Ray Eckert beat Jack Kennedy 2 out of 3 falls 
    – Joe Campbell and Al Massey beat Maurice Roberre and Babe Zaharias 

    1953 

    Houston, Texas:
    – Bull Curry defeated Danny McShain to become the first NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Champion 

    1959

    Oklahoma City, Oklahoma:
    – Angelo Savoldi defeated Ivan the Terrible for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title

    1961

    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada:
    – Guy and Joe Brunetti defeated The Outlaw (Dory Funk, Sr.) and Pancho Pico to win the Vancouver NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Titles

    1962

    Art and Stan Neilson defeated Johnny Barend and Magnificent Maurice for the American Wrestling Alliance Tag Team Titles

    1965

    Omaha, Nebraska:
    – 10 Rounds of Boxing, Non Title: Danny Hodge beat AWA Champion Mad Dog Vachon
    – Mighty Igor Vodik beat Don Jardine to win Nebraska Heavyweight title
    – Rene Goulet drew Jack Pesek
    – Ivan Kalmikoff beat Bulldog Danny Plechas
    – Tony Borne beat Sonny Myers

    1970

    Los Angeles, California:
    – Fred Blassie won the NWA Americas Heavyweight Title defeating Rocky Johnson

    Calgary, Alberta, Canada:
    – Bobby and Jerry Christy defeated Bill Dromo and Gil Hayes to win the Stampede International Tag Team Title 

    1971 

    Chattanooga, Tennessee:
    – Jimmy Golden and Dennis Hall defeated Bobby Hart and Lorenzo Parente for the Mid-America NWA World Tag Team Titles

    1973

    Nagoya, Japan:
    – Kintaro Ohki and Umanosuke Ueda defeated Killer Karl Krupp and Johnny Valentine for the NWA International Tag Team Titles

    1974

    Sacramento, California:
    – Karl and Kurt Von Brauner defeated Rocky Johnson and Pat Patterson to win the San Francisco NWA World Tag Team Titles

    San Antonio, Texas:
    – AWA Tag Team Champions Ray Stevens & Nick Bockwinkel beat Jose Lothario & Wahoo McDaniel
    – Blackjack Mulligan & Blackjack Lanza beat Bob Orton Jr & Black Angus
    – Roger Kirby beat Jerry Oates
    – Great Mephisto beat Jerry Timmons
    – Bob Roop beat Joe Cassidy

    1979

    Allentown, Pennsylvania:
    – The Valiant Brothers (Jerry and Johnny) defeated Tony Garea and Larry Zbyszko to win the WWWF World Tag Team Titles

    1986 

    Sudbury, Ontario, Canada:
    – The Long Riders (Bill and Scott Irwin) defeated Alofa (Rikishi) and Dan Kroffat for the International Wrestling International Tag Team Titles

    1987

    Portland, Oregon:
    – Mike Miller and Rip Oliver defeated Coco Samoa and Ricky Santana for the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Titles 

    1988

    Dallas, Texas:
    – Kerry Von Erich defeated Al Perez to win the World Class Heavyweight Title 

    1990 

    Tokyo, Japan:
    – Terry Gordy and Steve Williams won the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Titles from Stan Hansen and Genichiro Tenryu

    1991 

    Nagasaki, Japan:
    – Hiroshi Hase and Kensuke Sasaki won the IWGP World Tag Team Titles defeating Hiro Saito and Super Strong Machine

    1994

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 
    – Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock) defeated Kevin Sullivan and The Tazmaniac to win the ECW Tag Team Titles 
    – The Tazmaniac defeated Sabu for the ECW Television Title then lost it later in the event to J.T. Smith

    1995 

    Council, Virginia: 
    – Boo Bradley (Balls Mahoney) defeated Killer Kyle for the vacant The SMW Television Title then lost it to Kyle later in the show

    1996

    Macon, Georgia:
    – Lex Luger defeated Johnny B. Badd to win the WCW World TV Title

    1999 

    Tokyo, Japan
    – Vader defeated Akira Taue to win the AJPW Triple Crown Title 

    2003

    Oldcastle, Ontario, Canada:
    – Chris Sabin defeated Frankie Kazarian and Jerry Lynn in a three-way match to win the vacant Border City Wrestling Television Title
    – D’Lo Brown defeated Johnny Swinger for the BCW Can-Am Heavyweight Title

    2004

    Memphis, Tennessee:
    – Bill Dundee defeated Jerry Lawler in a tournament final for the vacant Memphis Wrestling Southern Heavyweight Title 

    2011

    Hollywood, California:
    – Colt Cabana defeated Adam Pearce to win the NWA championship

  • Lord James Blears passes away

    James Ranicar Blears, who later legally changed his name to Lord James Blears, and who was perhaps most famous for his story of being captured by the Japanese while serving in World War II, passed away this week.  He would have been 92 or 93 years old.

    At various times, Blears played snooty British pro-wrestler, commentator/announcer, troubleshooting referee for the AWA, figurehead president of the Pacific Wrestling Federation, and more.  As the alleged head of the PWF he would often be brought in to read proclamations before Triple Crown matches in All Japan.

    Blears’ story of being captured in World War II was the subject of many press stories later in his life, including a great article by Greg Oliver at Slam Wrestling.  He was working as a British radio officer on the S.S. Tjisalak, which was torpedoed and sunk, and all of the survivors were pulled aboard the Japanese I-8 submarine.  The captors began beheading passengers one-by-one.

    “Two Japanese officers were waiting for us,” Blears said, “one with a sword and the other with a sledgehammer. … When these guys came at us, I kicked with my foot and pulled my hand out (of the rope) right away and stopped the guy and dived off the submarine and dragged Peter (Bronger) with me.”  Blears survived for three days in the wreckage of the S.S. Tjisalak before being saved and fed canned peaches.  He said that every years after that, he commemorated the day by eating a can of peaches.

    Blears had been living in a nursing home in Hawaii, where his children had become world-class surfers.  

    We will have more on the life of James Blears in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and various audio shows this week.  Our best to his family.

  • WWE Saginaw, MI, live event results: Kane vs. Bray Wyatt

    Submitted by Steve McBaine

    – Fandango and Damien Sandow over Stardust and Tyler Breeze via pinfall.

    – R-Truth over Health Slater (w/ Bo Dallas) via pinfall. Double team on Truth which brings out Goldust for the save. Crowd chants “GOLDEN TRUTH” as Truth and Goldust hug and dance. 

    – Rusev w/Lana over Sin Cara via submission. 

    – Dolph Ziggler and Big Show over Luke Harper and Braun Strowman via pinfall.

    – Alicia Foxx, Paige and Sasha Banks over Naomi, Cameron and Tamina via Sasha’s Bank Statement submission.

    – Ryback over Viktor (w/Konner) via pinfall

    – Kane over Bray Wyatt via pinfall in a Saginaw street fight. The end came when there was a run-in by Harper and Rowan as Kane was getting a table. Ziggler and Big Show ran in to chase off the Wyatt clan which led to Kane chokeslamming Bray thru a table for the pin and win.

  • Daily pro wrestling history (03/05): Hardy Boyz win WWF World Tag Team Titles

    1929

    St. Louis, Missouri:
    – Jim Londos beat Jim Clinstock 
    – Joe “Toots” Mondt and Richard Shikat drew  

    1934

    Tulsa, Oklahoma:
    – Leroy McGuirk defeated Hugh Nichols for the World Light Heavyweight Title 

    1942

    Kansas City, Kansas:
    – Tom Zaharias defeated Orville Brown for the Midwest Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title 

    1949

    Pomona, California:
    – Buddy Rogers defeated Shei Lawrence to win the Jack Pfeffer-promoted version of the World Heavyweight Title

    1953

    Cleveland, Ohio:
    – Antonino Rocca defeated Buddy Rogers to win the American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title 

    1959

    Amarillo, Texas:
    – The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello and Roy Heffernan) defeated Mike DiBiase and Danny Plechas to win the Amarillo NWA International Tag Team Titles

    – Chico Garcia and Chet Wallick defeated George and Sandy Scott for the Stampede International Tag Team Title

    1962

    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada:
    – Mr. Kleen and Whipper Billy Watson defeated Gene Kiniski and Killer Kowalski for the Vancouver NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Titles

    1963

    Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada:
    – Bob Brown and Bill Kochen defeated Frenchy Champagne and George Eakin to win the Madison Wrestling Club Tag Team Titles

    1964

    Toronto, Ontario, Canada:
    – Johnny Valentine defeated The Beast to win the Toronto NWA United States Heavyweight Title

    1965

    Detroit, Michigan:
    – Johnny Barend and Magnificent Maurice defeated Chris and John Tolos to win the Detroit NWA World Tag Team Titles

    1966

    St. Paul, Minnesota:
    – Non Title Death Match: Dick The Bruiser & The Crusher beat AWA Tag Team Champions Larry Hennig & Harley Race 
    – Mighty Igor Vodik beat Chris Markoff dq
    – Chris Tolos beat Larry Heiniemi
    – Ivan Kalmikoff beat Steve Druk
    – Eddie Sharkey beat Juan Zendajas

    1969 

    Los Angeles, California:
    – Chris Markoff defeated George Cannon for the NWA Beat the Champ Television Title 

    1970

    Panama City, Florida:
    – Randy and Rip Tyler won the NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Titles defeating Dick Dunn and Ken Lucas

    1971

    Houston, Texas:
    – Wahoo McDaniel defeated Toru Tanaka to win the NWA American Heavyweight Title 

    1977

    Akita, Japan:
    – Billy Robinson defeated Jumbo Tsuruta for the NWA United National Heavyweight Title 

    Indianapolis, Indiana:
    – Dick the Bruiser defeat The Masked Stranger (Guy Mitchell) to win the World Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title

    1978 

    Charlotte, North Carolina:
    – Johnny Weaver defeated Baron Von Raschke for the NWA Television Title 

    1980

    Kuroiso, Japan:
    – Jumbo Tsuruta defeated Dick Murdoch to win the NWA United National Heavyweight Title 

    Honolulu, Hawaii:
    – Hans Schroder defeated Peter Maivia for the NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Title

    Nashville, Tennessee:
    – Rocky Brewer and Pat Rose defeated The Blond Bombers (Wayne Farris and Larry Latham) to win the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Title

    1981

    Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada:
    – AWA Tag Team Champions Adrian Adonis & Jesse Ventura beat Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell
    – Baron Von Raschke beat Jerry Blackwell
    – Nick Bockwinkel beat the Crusher dq
    – Buck Zumhofe beat Bobby Heenan
    – Handicap match: Tito Santana & Brad Rheingans beat John Studd
    – Steve Regal drew Rick Hunter

    1982

    Omaha, Nebraska:
    – Ken Patera & Bobby Duncum beat Hulk Hogan & Tito Santana
    – Baron Von Raschke beat Rene Goulet (sub Jerry Blackwell)
    – Brad Rheingans drew Sheik Adnan
    – Weasel Suit match: Buck Zumhofe beat Bobby Heenan

    1983

    Bayamon, Puerto Rico:
    – Buddy Landel defeated Pierre Martel to win the WWC North American Heavyweight Title 

    1984

    Birmingham, Alabama:
    – Rip Rogers defeated Larry Hamilton for the NWA Southeastern United States Junior Heavyweight Title 

    1985 

    Tampa, Florida:
    – Jay and Mark Youngblood defeated The PYT Express (Norvell Austin and Koko Ware) for the Florida NWA United States Tag Team Titles

    1986

    Tampa, Florida:
    – Kendall Windham defeated The Cuban Assassin to win the NWA Florida Heavyweight Title 

    1988

    Boston, Massachusetts:
    – The Ultimate Warrior defeated Harley Race and in a steel cage match
    – Randy Savage and Strike Force, defeated the Hart Foundation and the Honky Tonk Man 

    Portland, Oregon:
    – The Assassin representing an injured Curt Hennig beat The Grappler to win held AWA Title for Hennig
    – Steve Doll & Scott Peterson drew Mike Golden & Avalanche (PN News)
    – Art Barr drew Billy Two Eagles

    Dothan, Alabama:
    – The Southern Boys (Steve Armstrong and Tracy Smothers) defeated Robert Fuller and Jimmy Golden for the NWA Southeast Continental Tag
    Team Titles

    1989

    Augusta, Maine:
    – Phil Apollo and Eric Sbraccia defeated Joe Savoldi and Vic Steamboat for the International Championship Wrestling Tag Team Titles 

    1994 

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
    – Kevin Sullivan and The Tazmaniac defeated The  Bruise Brothers to win the held up ECW Tag Team Titles 
    – Terry Funk defeated Shane Douglas in a Taped Fist match

    2001 

    Monday Night Raw: Washington, DC:
    – The Hardy Boyz (Matt and Jeff) defeated WWF Tag Team Champions The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) to win the titles

    2003 

    Louisville, Kentucky:
    – The Disciples of Synn, Seven (Kevin Thorn) and Travis Bane (Travis Tomko) defeated Lance Cade and René Duprée for the OVW Southern Tag Team Titles 

    2005 

    ROH: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
    – Jay Lethal defeated ROH Pure Champion John Walters to win the title  
    – The Rottwielers defeated Generation Next to win the Trios Tournament

    Tokyo, Japan:
    – Takeshi Rikio defeated Kenta Kobashi to win the NOAH GHC Heavyweight Title 

    2010 

    Dragon Gate: Chicago, Illinois:
    – Davey Richards won the FIP Championship from Masaaki Mochizuki

  • WWE Minneapolis, MN, live results: Charlotte suffers facial injury

    Submitted by Erik Thibault from the Target Center

    – WWE has upgraded its live event entrance ramp since the last house in MPLS last spring. Two larger HD screens and a small ramp lined with LED lights. 

    – Before the show started, The fans voted on a Wrestlemania match to be shown on the big screen. Bret Hart vs Austin won. Taker vs HBK second, Rock vs Cena third.

    – NXT ring announcers Greg Hamilton and Eden Stiles were our emcees.

    A.J. Styles beat The Miz (12:50)

    Loud A.J. Styles chants before the match. Miz got huge heat trying to take off his sunglasses after the bell rang. Miz did the Ric Flair fall-on-his-face bump at one point. Miz got the heat kicking the middle rope as A.J. was entering the ring. A.J. hit a nice pump handle into a gut buster for a near fall. Miz hit the Skull Crushing Finale but A.J. kicked out of the believable near fall. A.J. Hit the springboard flying forearm for the win. Really fun match. Miz was a great heel.

    Darren Young & Jack Swagger beat Adam Rose & Curtis Axel (7:20)

    Match was sloppy and crowd was dead for most of it, even with the hometown guy Curtis Axel. Heels worked over Darren Young. Swagger with the comeback. Hit the Swagger Bomb, match broke down and Swagger made Rose tap to ankle lock. 

    – Bray Wyatt cut a spooky promo on the big screen. He said he was going to change the world, he wasn’t afraid of anyone and he was a god. 

    Ryback beat Neville (8:30)

    Ryback got a stronger reaction than Neville. Not necessarily a face reaction but more of a shocked reaction that this was Neville’s opponent. Crowd was chanting Feed Me More and Goldberg during the match. Ryback took most of the match. Neville hit a standing enziguri, a few strikes and the asai moonsault and that was about it for his offense. Neither man worked like a heel. Good finish. Ryback caught Neville after a springboard. Neville escaped and rolled Ryback up for a near fall. Ryback then hit the meat hook, which flipped Neville, and a shell shock for the win. 

    WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day beat the Usos (8:50)

    Both teams got a huge reaction. New Day cut a pre-match promo saying Minnesota was poorly educated and everyone was ugly. They sang We Are The Champions…really badly. New Day’s antics are outrageous but are extremely entertaining. Let’s Go Usos/New Day Rocks dueling chants. Crowd really into the match. Kofi missed Trouble in Paradise and Jey Uso hit two superkicks. However, Xavier distracted the ref as the crowd counted to three. Kofi then hit Trouble In Paradise for the win. Really fun match with a hot finish.

    Dean Ambrose beat Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens (c) via DQ (9:30)

    Ambrose easily received the biggest pop of the night. Owens attacked Ambrose before the match started. Owens brought a chair into the ring and Ambrose rolled up Owens for what the crowd believed was the finish. Owens was trying to walk out for the count out finish but Ambrose brought him back. Owens had Ambrose in the tree of woe and wouldn’t break the five count for the disqualification. Crowd hated the finish. Owens announced himself as the champion and said “The Kevin Owens Show has just begun.” He went to pick up Ambrose but Ambrose hit Dirty Deeds for the huge pop.

    Divas Champion Charlotte vs Becky Lynch went to a no-contest (5:32)

    Charlotte did some Ric Flair spots such as the flip over the ropes in the corner, and Becky mocked the Ric Flair strut a time or two. Becky rolled Charlotte into the ring and hen everything stopped. The ref checked on Charlotte, Becky sat aside and doctors came to the ring. They stopped the match when Charlotte was busted open hard way. It looked like it was either when Becky charged Charlotte down the aisle and hit her or when Becky rolled her into the ring.

    United States Champion Kalisto (c) beat Sheamus (roughly 13 minutes)

    Sheamus stood on the middle rope in the corner for nearly a minute before the match to aggravate the crowd. They stalled a lot pre-match. Sheamus was bumping everywhere for Kalisto. Sheamus rammed Kalisto back first into the post for the heat. Kalisto hit a big moonsault during his comeback and kicked Sheamus square in the face. Ref put the gloves on. Sheamus hit White Noise from the middle rope for a near fall. Sheamus missed a Brogue Kick, Kalisto rolled to the apron, hung Sheamus on the top rope and hit the Salina del Sol for the CLEAN PIN. Crowd popped for the finish and I forgot to stop my timer because I was shocked Sheamus was pinned clean.

    Kane beat Bray Wyatt in a street fight (13:10)

    Kane received a solid pop and many fans stood for his entrance. 90 seconds into the match they brawled in the aisle. Kendo stick was introduced by Wyatt when Kane tried bringing him into the ring. Wyatt beat the hell out of Kane with the kendo stick but Kane whipped Wyatt pretty good when he took it away. Wyatt then brought a chair into the match DDTd Kane on the chair.

    Kane went for a chokeslam, Wyatt hit a low blow and a slightly botched Sister Abigail but Kane kicked out. Wyatt kicked out of a chokeslam. Crowd chanted “Table Table Table” and Kane got one. Kane set up a table and choke slammed Wyatt for the clean pin. Crowd popped huge for the spot and most  instantly hit the exits. Show ended about 10:15 pm local.

    Kane cut a promo afterward. “I’ve been in WWE for a long time. Minneapolis is still one of the greatest cities that we come to. Thanks for being such an awesome audience.” 

  • Charlotte and Emma injury updates

    Both Emma and Charlotte were banged up at WWE live events on Friday night.

    Emma was wrestling Asuka in the opener of the NXT show in Cleveland, OH.  They did a ref stoppage finish, with the referee holding up the dreaded X sign and stopping the match after Asuka delivered a hard kick to the head and neck.  Emma was down in the ring for a long time afterwards and there was concern that she had been legitimately knocked out.  We are told that she was hurt by the kick but not badly, probably could have finished the match, but the refs are cautious and the idea was better safe than sorry.

    Charlotte was also injured during a match with Becky Lynch at the WWE house show in Minneapolis, MN.  During the match Becky hit her with something and Charlotte went down hard and began bleeding everywhere.  They stopped the match and ruled it a no contest.  Becky was said to have been very concerned.  Charlotte was helped to the back while bleeding from the nose.  The only update we have so far is that she is said to be OK.

    We will have better information over the next few days as they are further checked out, but the belief Saturday was that neither was likely to miss significant time.  In fact, Charlotte on Twitter indicated that she would be back in the ring for tonight’s house show in Cedar Rapids.

  • UFC 196 McGregor vs. Diaz: Observer Panel Picks & Preview

    The first big show of the year is upon us as Ireland has taken over Las Vegas and Stockton is there to fight. Since this fight was signed last week, Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz have managed to cram three months of trash talk into 11 days and captured the imagination of fight fans everywhere.

    Lost in the shuffle is a highly anticipated title fight in the marquee division in women’s MMA. Our very own Tom Lawlor is also on the main card along with the guy he knocked out in his last fight. And in the Fight Pass main event, two battle-tested UFC veterans will throw down as Diego Sanchez moves back to 155 to take on Jim Miller.

    Our panel is here to weigh in on their opinions on the top fights on the card and as you can see from the results below, our panel (for the most part) picks at a higher clip than the people who set the betting odds.

    Here’s our panel with the 2016 records in parenthesis with a running tally of the records of the favorites going into the fights and the panel consensus picks 

    • John Pollock (18-7; .720) – Fight Network analyst, Live Audio Wrestling co-host, MMA Report co-host
    • Mike Sawyer (17-8; .680) – Tough Talk MMA
    • Josh Nason (17-8; .680) – Host of Josh Nason’s Punch Out; Assistant Web Editor of WrestlingObserver.com; WON Twitter guy
    • Mike Sempervive (17-8; .680) – Wrestling Observer Live and Big Audio Nightmare co-host
    • Ryan Frederick (16-9; .640) – WrestlingObserver.com UFC reporter, WON Twitter guy
    • Consensus picks (14-9; .609)
    • Dave Meltzer (15-10; .600)– Wrestling Observer founder
    • Steve Juon (14-11; .560) – MMA Mania/Wrestling Observer writer. Angry Marks founder
    • Favorites (14-11; .560)
    • David Bixenspan (14-11; .560) – Figure Four Weekly writer, podcast host
    • Front Row Brian (13-12; .520) – MMA newsbreaker, Beloved internet personality, Podcast host
    • Paul Fontaine (10-15; .400) – MMADraws.com founder, WrestlingObserver.com writer

    Conor McGregor (19-2) vs Nate Diaz (18-10)
    Welterweights

    The World Featherweight Champion takes on the #5 ranked Lightweight contender in a Welterweight fight. Despite how ridiculous that sounds, this show is going to do huge business and it’s because of this fight. And it should be a great one. McGregor has outstanding power and with the extra weight could be even more powerful. If it goes to the ground, Diaz should have the huge advantage. The odds are heavily in Conor’s favor and the fight seems a lot closer than they would suggest but our panel is picking straight up and without having to think about the odds, it’s a clear consensus.

    McGregor (big favorite): Frederick, Juon, FRB, Sawyer, Pollock, Nason, Fontaine, Bix, Sempervive, Meltzer

    Women’s Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm (10-0) vs Miesha Tate (17-5)

    Holm makes her first title defence after the biggest upset in UFC history when she knocked out Ronda Rousey. Rousey’s previous biggest rival Tate gets the title shot she’s been working toward for two years. This should be a very different fight for Holm but so far she’s passed every test in the UFC even if it was with a solid C in her first two fights. Again the panel seems pretty unified on this one and the odds, while not quite as lopsided as the main event, favor the champion. The winner will likely get the biggest money fight of her career against Ronda later on this year.

    Holm (sizable favorite): Frederick, Juon, FRB, Sawyer, Pollock, Nason, Fontaine, Sempervive, Meltzer
    Tate: Bix

    Ilir Latifi (11-4) vs Gian Villante (14-6)
    Light Heavyweights

    Latifi has stormed the UFC with 4 first round stoppages in his first 6 fights. He has had a few stumbles with 2 losses and while one was against someone who now fights at Middlweight in Gegard Mousasi, he was knocked out in the first round by non-contender Jan Blachowicz. Villante is also susceptible to the KO but has managed to win 3 of the last 4. This and the next fight is almost a mini-tournament of sorts to get into that next level of contenders once Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier settle their differences. It would seem natural to have the winners of these two fights face off down the road.

    Latifi (moderate favorite): Juon, Sawyer, Pollock, Nason, Fontaine, Bix, Meltzer
    Villante: Frederick, FRB, Sempervive

    Tom Lawlor (10-5) vs Corey Anderson (7-1)
    Light Heavyweights

    The co-host of Filthy Four Daily on this very website steps back into the Octagon in an attempt to finally break into that elusive top 15. He really should be there already considering he’s coming off of a KO win of Villante, who already is. He’s got a tough opponent in former TUF Champion Anderson. Anderson has won 4 of 5 in the UFC with the last 3 coming by decision. The two most likely outcomes seem to be a finish for Lawlor or a grinding decision for Anderson. With the way my selections have been going so far, you can look at my pick in this fight as support for a fellow website contributor….

    Anderson (sizeable favorite): Pollock, Fontaine, Bix
    Lawlor: Frederick, Juon, FRB, Sawyer, Nason, Sempervive, Meltzer

    Diego Sanchez (25-8) vs Jim Miller (25-7)
    Lightweights

    Another TUF winner on the card here as Diego Sanchez is back in the Octagon. If not for a gift win against Ross Pearson that only the two judges who voted for him think he won, Sanchez would be on a four fight win streak. After dropping to 145 for a fight with Ricardo Lamas, he’s back at  his familiar 155 for this one. Jim Miller is a perennial contender who almost always has exciting fights and this one could steal the show. Miller has also lost 3 of his last 4 with two of those uncharacteristically coming by stoppage. It seems unlikely that either of these two would ever be cut by UFC but it’s tough to stick around in UFC with a 1-4 record in your last 5 fights so this is important for both of them.  

    Miller (slight favorite): Frederick, Juon, FRB, Sawyer, Pollock, Nason, Fontaine, Bix, Sempervive, Meltzer

    Dave Meltzer will be cageside for the big show, starting at 6:30 pm eastern with the Fight Pass prelims. In the meantime, check out the following content relating to this show:

  • New Japan on AXS results: Jim Ross debuts, Nakamura defends IC title against Goto

    Tonight’s show features a match from May 3, 2015 in the Fukuoka Kokusai Center, our first look at the NJPW Dominon event. 

    This is Jim Ross’ first show and he obviously has a different style than Mauro Ranallo in that he focuses on the match and does that very well. It also changes Josh Barnett’s role as he goes into more into the history and storylines since he is more well versed in the product, calling these shows from the beginning. It adds a new dynamic to the show and makes it feel fresh, while at the same time they both compliment each other very well in what they do and they excel at it.

    Yoshi-Hashi and Kazuchika Okada vs. IWGP Champion AJ Styles & Yujiro Takahashi

    The match itself was fine. It’s goal is to set up a future match between AJ and Okada for the IWGP title at Dominon on July 5. They have terrific chemistry with one another, and Yoshi-Hashi is still pretty underrated by New Japan standards. Yujiro’s going to be Yujiro no matter what. He’s okay, but a step below a lot of what New Japan has to offer. Okada got the win with the rainmaker over Yujiro.

    Styles calls himself the man in a post match interview and says if you want to beat him, try. He’s better than the rest of the world. You want some, come get some. Okada promises he’ll take his title and become a fantastic champion. Gedo says he has two months to live.

    Goto interview time. He says it’s not really about the belt, but rather the provocation from Nakamura that has him clamoring for a chance to face Nakamura (throughout their feud Nakamura imitated looking through binoculars looking for Goto as he pretended not to see hi). They mentioned that Nakamura had beaten Goto for the title back in 2012. Goto says that he completely redesigned the title and has made it as his own.

    Hirooki Goto vs. Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura

    This is one of those feuds from last year that really dragged on to the point of overkill. I believe they faced off at least four times in 2015, and I’m not sure which one we’re on. Actually this is probably their first or second match, as this is the one where Goto regains the Intercontinental title. Again, this is not to say they had a bad match. They didn’t. They struck hard, had a great back and forth contest, and the last few minutes were pretty exciting.

    Goto was due for a big win for a while and they paid it off here, which is good as Goto is booked as someone who is always near the top, but doesn’t score the big win. He did here, and the crowd was into him regaining the title. Again, both Ross and Barnett were great here in calling the match and you can tell they gel well pretty much instantly.

    Both Nakamura and Goto made comments after the match. Goto drank beers, Nakamura obviously didn’t like the fact that he lost. Goto, in his reflective interview, says that he was always behind Nakamura, but is now glad he has not only caught up to him, but now with the win, surpassed him.

  • UFC 196 McGregor vs. Diaz weigh-in video & results

    Welcome to our live coverage of the UFC 196: McGregor vs. Diaz weigh-ins from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fighters will hit the scale at 7 PM eastern time. The card airs Saturday night, with the main card taking place on pay-per-view at 10 PM eastern time. Preliminary card action kicks off on UFC Fight Pass at 6:30 PM eastern time before shifting over to FOX Sports 1 at 8 PM eastern time.

    The biggest event thus far in the year 2016 is headlined by UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor moving up two weight classes to take on Nate Diaz, who takes the fight on short notice and also moves up a weight class, when they square off in a five-round bout at welterweight. Diaz is a short-notice replacement for Rafael Dos Anjos, who was scheduled to defend the UFC Lightweight Championship against McGregor before breaking his foot two weeks ago.

    In the co-main event, UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm defends the championship she won when she shocked the world and knocked out Ronda Rousey at UFC 193 in November as she takes on long-time top contender Miesha Tate. Also on the card is our very own “Filthy” Tom Lawlor as he takes on Corey Anderson.

    MAIN CARD (PPV- 10 PM ET/7 PM PT):
    Conor McGregor (168) vs. Nate Diaz (169)
    Holly Holm (134.5) vs. Miesha Tate (135) – UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship
    Gian Villante (205) vs. Ilir Latifi (205)
    Corey Anderson (204) vs. Tom Lawlor (204.5)
    Amanda Nunes (136) vs. Valentina Shevchenko (134)

    PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX SPORTS 1- 8 PM ET/5 PM PT):
    Brandon Thatch (170) vs. Siyar Bahadurzada (170)
    Erick Silva (170) vs. Nordine Taleb (170)
    Vitor Miranda (185.5) vs. Marcelo Guimaraes (185.5)
    Darren Elkins (145.5) vs. Chas Skelly (145.5)

    PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS- 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT):
    Diego Sanchez (156) vs. Jim Miller (155.5)
    Jason Saggo (155.5) vs. Justin Salas (156)
    Julian Erosa (144.5) vs. Teruto Ishihara (146)

  • Daily pro wrestling history (03/04): Stan Hansen wins the AJPW Triple Crown

    1954

    Toronto, Ontario, Canada:
    – Emil and Ernie Dusek defeated Al and Tiny Mills for the NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Titles

    1958

    Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada:
    – Frenchy Champagne and George Eakin defeated John DePaulo and Bobby Jones for the Madison Wrestling Club Tag Team Titles

    1962

    Denver, Colorado:
    – Don Leo Jonathan defeated Killer Kowalski in a tournament final to become the first American Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight
    Champion 

    1970

    Honolulu, Hawaii:
    – Bing Ki Lee and Pedro Morales defeated Johnny Barend and Ripper Collins for the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Titles

    1971

    Kokura, Japan:
    – Bill Miller defeated Thunder Sugiyama to win the International Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Title 

    1972

    Milwaukee, Wisconsin:
    – AWA Tag Team Champions Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens beat Mad Dog Vachon & Butcher Vachon
    – Billy Robinson beat Ivan Koloff dq
    – Dusty Rhodes beat Bull Bullinski
    – Don Muraco beat Chris Markoff
    – Ramon Torres beat Treach Phillips

    1973

    Green Bay, Wisconsin:
    – Superstar Billy Graham beat AWA Champion Verne Gagne dq 
    – Wahoo McDaniel & Ken Patera beat Dusty Rhodes & Dick Murdoch 2 out of 3 falls
    – Larry Hennig drew Reggie Parks
    – Don Muraco beat Rene Goulet 

    St. Paul, Minnesota:
    – The Crusher & Billy Robinson beat AWA Tag Team Champions Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens on a 3rd fall dq w
    – Ivan Koloff beat Bill Watts 
    – Ric Flair beat Big K
    – Khosrow Vaziri beat Kenny Jay
    – Jim Brunzell beat Bill Crouch

    1974

    Madison Square Garden:
    – WWWF World Tag Team Champions Tony Garea and Dean Ho defeated Larry Hennig and Stan Staskiak 
    – WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino and Nikolai Volkoff fought to a draw due to the 11 pm curfew 

    1975

    Mobile, Alabama:
    – Ken Lucas defeated Duke Myers to win the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title

    1977

    Dothan, Alabama:
    – The Islanders (Afa and Sika) defeated Bobby and Ricky Fields for the NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Titles

    1978

    Indianapolis, Indiana:
    – Dominic DeNucci and Wilbur Snyder defeated The Valiant Brothers (Jimmy and Johnny) for the World Wrestling Association World Tag Team
    Titles

    1979

    Toronto, Ontario, Canada:
    – Ricky Steamboat & Dino Bravo beat Ric Flair & Greg Valentine dq 
    – AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel beat Billy Robinson 
    – AWA Tag Team Champions Pat Patterson & Ray Stevens beat Tony Atlas & Johnny Weaver
    – Waldo Von Erich beat Johnny Yachetti 
    – Chris Tolos beat Joe Marcus i
    – Sweet Daddy Siki beat Terry Yorkston 

    1984

    Charlotte, North Carolina:
    – Wahoo McDaniel and Mark Youngblood defeated Don Kernodle and Bob Orton, Jr. to win the NWA World Tag Team Titles

    Chicago, Illinois:
    – AWA Champion Jumbo Tsuruta beat Blackjack Lanza
    – AWA Tag Team Champions Ken Patera & Jerry Blackwell beat Blackjack Mulligan & Jerry Lawler
    – Stan Hansen & Nick Bockwinkel ddq Dick The Bruiser & The Crusher
    – Mr. Saito & Jesse Ventura beat The Crusher (sub Mad Dog Vachon) & Baron Von Raschke dq
    – Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell no contest Rick Martel & Dino Bravo
    – Giant Baba & Genichiro Tenryu beat Buddy Roberts & Ronnie Garvin
    – Billy Robinson & Brad Rheingans beat Steve Regal & Kevin Kelly
    – Terry Gordy & Michael Hayes beat Steve Olsonoski & Buck Zumhofe

    San Antonio, Texas:
    – The Sheepherders (Butch Miller and Luke Williams) defeated The Fabulous Ones (Steve Keirn and Stan Lane) for the Southwest Championship Wrestling World Tag Team Titles

    1985

    Dothan, Alabama:
    – Austin Idol defeated Lord Humongous (Jeff Van Kemp) for the NWA Alabama Heavyweight Title

    Memphis, Tennessee:
    – Jerry Lawler dcor AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel
    – Lanny Poffo & Randy Savage & Jimmy Valiant beat Adrian Street & Mr Wrestling & Eddie Gilbert
    – Fabulous Ones no contest Rock & Roll Express
    – Interns beat Steve Constant & Tim Ashley
    – Phantom of the Opera beat Tracy Smothers
    – Ron Starr beat David Haskins
    – Plowboy Frazier & Nightmares beat Tojo Yamamoto & Battens

    1986

    Spartanburg, North Carolina:
    – Tully Blanchard defeated Dusty Rhodes to win the NWA National Heavyweight Title 

    1987

    Lubbock, Texas:
    – The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers) defeated Brian Adias and Al Madril to win the WCWA World Tag Team Titles

    1989

    Bayamon, Puerto Rico:
    – The Batten Twins (Bart and Brad) defeated Dan Kroffat and Tama for the WWC World Tag Team Titles
    – TNT (Savio Vega) won the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Title from Jason the Terrible
    – Chris and Mark Youngblood won the WWC Caribbean Tag Team Titles from The Ninja Express (Kensuke Sasaki and Mr. Pogo)

    San Antonio, Texas:
    – Gary Young won the World Class Texas Heavyweight Title by forfeit from Brickhouse Brown 

    1990

    Mayguez, Puerto Rico:
    – Invader I defeated Harley Race for the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Title 

    1991

    Hiroshima, Japan:
    – Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Big Van Vader to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Title 

    1992

    Tokyo, Japan:
    – Akira Taue and Jumbo Tsuruta defeated Terry Gordy and Steve Williams for the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Titles

    1995

    Tokyo, Japan:
    – Stan Hansen won the AJPW Triple Crown Title from Toshiaki Kawada 

    1996

    Memphis, Tennessee:
    – Jerry Lawler defeated Mabel in a tournament final for the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Title

    2000

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
    – Mike Awesome and Raven defeated Tommy Dreamer and Masato Tanaka to win the ECW World Tag Team Titles
    – The Sandman defeated Yoshihiro Tajiri

    2005

    Tokyo, Japan:
    – Wataru Inoue and Koji Kanemoto defeated Gedo and Jado for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles

    2006

    Doncaster, England:
    – Abyss defeated A.J. Styles in a tournament final to become the first 1PW World Heavyweight Champion 
    – Christian Cage defeated Rhino

    Mexico City, Mexico:
    – Chuck Palumbo and Johnny Stamboli defeated Dos Caras, Jr. and Lizmark, Jr. to win the Yamaha tournament cup

    2007

    Mexico City, Mexico:
    – Hirooki Goto defeated Shocker in a tournament final to win the NWA International Junior Heavyweight Title, 
    which was newly revived by CMLL

    2012

    ROH 12th Anniversary: New York City:
    – The All Night Express defeated Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin
    – Michael Bennett defeated Homicide
    – ROH TV champ Jay Lethal defeated Tommaso Ciampa (with The Embassy)
    – ROH Tag Team champions The Briscoes defeated The Young Bucks to retain the titles
    – Eddie Edwards & Adam Cole defeated ROH champ Davey Richards & Kyle O’Reilly