It is a MIGHTY edition of the Bryan and Vinny and Craig Show tonight as it’s time to crown a winner in our WWE2K16 ODE TO VINNY V CONTEST~! Some amazing, AMAZING entries, almost too close to call. And, of course, it’s Retro Tuesday so we have reviews of Raw and Nitro from 19 years ago this week! A fun show as always so check it out~!
In today’s update, the WWE’s decisions of late have a lot of fans scratching their head including Mick Foley, Jonathan Coachman continues to defend his statements on Twitter, Jon Jones breaks his media silence, and Solomon Crowe is now a former NXT talent.
Smackdown and Main Event will be taped on tonight in Indianapolis. Please send your reports to NEWSTIPS
FEEDBACK AND REPORT REQUESTS
We’re looking for live Raw reports tonight from Nashville as well, with Superstars matches, dark matches and anything else that wouldn’t be evident from the live show. We’re also looking for reports on last night’s Lucha Underground tapings as well as the NXT shows this weekend from Venice and Fort Pierce, FL at Dave Meltzer
Figure Four Weekly
Figure Four Weekly (11/16/15): Rey Mysterio vs. Low-Ki and The Anatomy of a Dream Match
A road report for Jersey All-Pro Wrestling’s 19th Anniversary show takes a deep look at the latest match in Rey Mysterio’s dream match tour vs. Low-Ki.
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
We have one of the biggest issues of the year, with such a huge news week this past week. We look at exactly what went into Holly Holm’s victory over Ronda Rousey, a story on the life and times of Nick Bockwinkel, the Reid Flair angle and build to Survivor Series, Destination America dropping wrestling, and the 104-year-old attendance record being broken, as well as the story behind the firing of Billy Gunn, an update on The Rock at WrestleMania, La Sombra to WWE, the AAA world title gets decided and a lot more are headline stories in the new double issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter which is on the site right now.
If you have an interest in history, this is a huge issue, as well as a perspective on what happened in the most talked about UFC fight in history.
We look at the fight, the background of Holly Holm, what is going on in Rousey’s life, what led to the upset, thoughts on a rematch, what it means for business, the early business notes on the fight including where PPV may come in, previous fights like this, and what happened after the fight. We look at UFC’s biggest upsets, the gambling perspective, rematch odds, business notes and match-by-match coverage with poll results.
The life and times of Nick Bockwinkel is one of the best bios we’ve done, with comments from people whose careers he has touched, my own personal thoughts on Bockwinkel, what current WWE superstar had his career path changed greatly because of a suggestion by Bockwinkel to an independent promoter, a look at his life, his career, some of his most famous matches, his career title history, the controversy over Hulk Hogan not getting the AWA title, his place in the business when it changed and life after wrestling.
We also look at the Reid Fliehr angle, how it was set up, comments by Ric Flair, how ESPN got exposed in its wrestling coverage, the Owen Hart DVD and more.
PLUS MUCH MORE! CLICK HERE FOR A FULL WRESTLING OBSERVER PREVIEW
The Latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter: November 23, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Holm defeats Rousey, Nick Bockwinkel passes away, 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@wrestlingobserver.com” target=”_blank”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com
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. We’ve got coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits into those descriptions over the past 11 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue.
Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.
TODAY’S DAILY UPDATE
WWE:
MMA
Other Wrestling:
There is no way to spin the Monday, 11/23 WWE Raw ratings other than that they were a disaster.
The show did 2.95 million viewers, more than 200,000 viewers lower than what had previously been the non-holiday low dating back to 1997 when Raw was losing badly to WCW Monday Nitro.
Part of the reason was the NFL’s Monday night game featuring the New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills that did 14.26 million viewers, which is about two million more than football has been doing in recent weeks but nowhere near a record.
It is the first time Raw averaged less than three million viewers since 1997.
To make matters worse, this was the day after the Survivor Series event where the WWE heavyweight title changed hands, which usually would lead to at least a strong first hour. In case you needed to be reminded, Sheamus now holds the gold after cashing in his MITB briefcase against five minute champion Roman Reigns.
The three hours were:
Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez discuss last night’s WWE Raw on Wrestling Observer Radio.
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive returns today to talk all the news in wrestling and MMA including tons of phone calls on WWE, Sheamus, Raw and more! Then, Gabe Sapolsky joins us to talk the EVOLVE year-end sale, what’s going on with EVOLVE and WWE, the departure of Solomon Crowe and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!
By Alan Boon for WrestlingObserver.com
1) The big news this week is tickets!
PROGRESS put their 2016 season tickets on sale: valid for every one of the eleven events held at Camden’s Electric Ballroom next year. They sold over TWO HUNDRED of them with the front row (priced at £264, roughly $400) and the gold (second and third rows, £242/$360) selling out in under a minute. The promotion has always had a great record of selling out shows without announcing a single match, but this is a leap of faith that demonstrates just how essential their shows have become to UK fans. Later in the week on the heels of their triumphant Fear & Loathing VIII show at Glasgow’s SECC, Insane Championship Wrestling put tickets on sale for Fear & Loathing IX at the Hydro, a building set up for 11,000 seats. On the first day alone they sold FIFTEEN HUNDRED tickets, which is more than TNA sold the last time they ran the Hydro in January of this year. All that for a promotion with no TV and a niche product which owes more to classic ECW than a mainstream pro-wrestling product.
2) One of the UK’s best kept secrets is Lucha Britannia, presenting chaotic and innovative showcases in a disused railway arch in London’s East End.
The promotion started way back in 2006 out of the ashes of RAMWA – Rock And Metal Wrestling Alternative. Showing no sign of – nor desire to – moving out of the two-hundred-capacity Resistance Gallery (which they own), their monthly shows sell out to a crowd made up of wrestling fans, hipsters, and curious onlookers. As well as products of their training school, the London School of Lucha Libre, their shows are populated by a who’s who of the UK’s brightest with Will Ospreay, Paul Robinson, RJ Singh, and even WWE World Heavyweight champion Sheamus having walked through the tightly-packed crowd to the ring. The school, by the way, has regular guest training spots by lucha legends Juventud Guerrera and Cassandro who are the only people from “our” dimension to have entered the “RetroFutureVerse” unchanged.
Last Friday’s show saw Jimmy Havoc return to the promotion, resurrecting his exótico alter-ego Glamsexico to face Juventud Guerrera, as well as the debut of “Anunaki Pharaoh” Marduk Malik, a “Sumerian god” who hit an EIGHT-FOOT dropkick on his way to winning the opening Lucha Chaos match, which also featured Freddie Mercurio, the resurrected rock star.
3) Another bold diversion from the traditional pro wrestling route trodden by most UK promotions is Tetsujin, who held their first show on Friday night in Liverpool.
Aiming to present a shoot-style spectacle, along the lines of classic UWFI and Battlarts, and with bouts decided only by submission or knockout, they engaged a ton of the UK’s top names for a one-night only tournament, as well as two of Europe’s finest in Tommy End and Big Daddy Walter for a non-tournament slugfest. Fittingly, Jack Gallagher – a northern-based pure grappler who works a traditional British style of holds and reversals – came out on top, overcoming Zack Gibson, Dave Mastiff, and Chris Brookes on his way to the title. The show, held at the Black-E nightclub, did not draw fantastically well, but it’s a sign of the breadth of the UK scene that this promotion can exist and run on the same night as a lucha show.
4) Zack Sabre Jr. made his final appearance for Pro Wrestling NOAH.
Although he spends most of his time outside the UK, we still claim Sabre Jr. as our own and he made his final NOAH appearance with his future endeavours somewhat shrouded in mystery at this point. The smart money has him moving to California, where presumably he will continue to be a regular for Pro-Wrestling Guerilla, as well as EVOLVE and other US indies. The California aspect raises questions of whether Lucha Underground is in his future, but him being featured in a WWE.com article on EVOLVE’s best talent – along with the aggressive acquisition policy of NXT lately – can’t rule out a run in Orlando. Like Neville, who worked all over the UK for the best part of a decade as Pac, Sabre Jr. is held in high-regard by British indy fans, and his any further success will shine brightly on the scene that birthed him.
5) After two quiet weeks show-wise, things woke up with a score of shows last weekend from the southwest of England to Scotland’s capital.
Discovery Wrestling presented Live In Edinburgh, and brought TNA bootcamp stars Mark Andrews, Grado, and Rampage Brown in, alongside ICW’s Joe Coffey & Joe Hendry, Nikki Storm, and the “Beast of Belfast” Big Damo. Across Scotland, in Glasgow, Pride Wrestling also brought in Big Damo, Joe Coffey, and Nikki Storm, while further south in Manchester, Futureshock Wrestling held a tournament won by Zack Gibson. HOP:E did a quick two-day shot, in Mansfield and Milton Keynes, with el Ligero, Jack Jester, Doug Williams, the GZRS, and Martin Kirby featuring, and Mark Andrews and former-NXT prospect Joel Redman pulled on their boots for Pro-Wrestling Evolution in Trowbridge.
The biggest show of the weekend, though, was Tidal Championship Wrestling’s 2nd Anniversary show at the University of Leeds, which drew a decent crowd to witness Dara Diablo retain his TCW title over el Ligero, on a show which also featured Rampage Brown, Tyler Bate, and Addy Starr, a former Inter-Species Wrestling (Quebec) competitor.
*****
Next weekend is a HUGE one for the UK scene, with PROGRESS opening their doors for their latest chapter and Preston City Wrestling presenting their Supershow Of Honor weekend, with Ring of Honor sending over reDRagon, Roderick Strong, Dalton Castle, and ROH champion Jay Lethal to mix it with the UK’s best.
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer returns today with our post-Raw wrap-up show! Thoughts on all the matches and angles, the Roman Reigns follow-up, the road to TLC and more, plus your mailbag questions and assorted good times. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Figure Four Daily with Bryan Alvarez and Filthy Tom Lawlor returns today with tons to discuss including Sheamus, the WWE Survivor Series PPV, our WWE 2K16 Twitter promo contest including some video entries, the brand new Filthy Tom Mailbag Gimmick, and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!
The Big Takeaway:
Sheamus faces Roman Reigns in a TLC match at the TLC PPV. Since Seth Rollins is on the shelf, the overriding buildup of HHH vs. Rollins has now turned into HHH vs. Reigns, as that was the tease during the 20 minute opening segment. A long show and a cold one, though Reigns got a good response.
Show Recap:
Superstars matches:
R-Truth beat Adam Rose
The Miz beat Zack Ryder
Raw will be returning to the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on 2/29.
Tickets are on sale now at ticketmaster with the code word TICKETS.HHH and Stephanie McMahon are first out, which is one hell of a way to get the new champion over. HHH said he gave Roman Reigns an opporutnity of a lifetime several times, but Reignss told him to shove it. HHH introduced Sheamus as a man who knew how to seize an opportunity.
So out came the James Hetfield look-a-like who dropped 9 of his previous 10 matches before he beat Reigns last night. He got some good heat. Sheamus said Reigns’ “Roman Empire” lasted only a few minutes. Sheamus mentioned how Reigns cried at the end of the match. If they want to get Reigns over as a babyface that fans won’t boo, I think they need to obscure that part of history ASAP.
This brought out Reigns, who got “Roman” chants. Reigns said he wanted his rematch tonight, which got “Yes” chants. Stephanie stepped in front of HHH and said any chance Roman had to dictate terms to them was lost when Reigns speared HHH. Roman asked HHH if Stephanie was standing in front of him because he was scared.
What followed was exactly why WWE finds themselves in the predicament they’re in. HHH and Reigns had a long staredown while the new champion was just a background piece. It was supposed to get monster dual chants going, but it got a mild reaction. So with Rollins out of the picture, it’s going to be HHH vs. Reigns at some point down the line until Vince changes his mind again. HHH said Reigns wasn’t getting his rematch tonight. At that point, Rusev ran out of the crowd and hit Regins with a thrust kick. Sheamus followed up with a Brogue Kick.
As the heels retreated up the ramp, HHH announced that Reigns would face Shemaus in a TLC match at the TLC PPV. Stephanie ordered Reigns to face Rusev tonight.
Luke Harper and Bray Wyatt defeated the Dudley Boyz (7:49)
Luke Harper pinned Bubba Ray Dudley after a clothesline. Bubba looked like a geek at the finish, because he got distracted by Bray who…was standing on the apron. Then he got pinned with a transitional move. Braun Strowman came in afterwards and gave Bubba the Head-and-Arm Choke, which Michael Cole is now calling a bearhug. Wyatt left Devon Dudley laying with Sister Abigail. Wyatt in a tag team ruins his aura, but not any more than his two programs with the Undertaker.
They continue to run the 25 years of Undertaker vignette, which ran twice last night.
Sasha Banks defeated Becky Lynch (4:06)
Becky Lynch didn’t even get a ring entrance. Lynch got the Disarm-her, but Tamina took the referee while Naomi pulled Sasha Banks to the ropes. Lynch went after Naomi, allowing Banks to get the pin with a schoolgirl cradle. 2 distraction finishes in 2 matches. Banks is a star on NXT. On the modern day Raw roster, she gets McMahoned/Dunned. (That’s a good name for a heel tag team, BTW) Same applies to Lynch.
Cole built up Banks as a future contender when Paige appeared on the big screen to shout him down. Paige claimed that Charlotte cheated to win last night at Survivor Series because when Charlotte applied the Figure Eight, her hand was under the ropes. Paige claimed Charlotte was just like her father, the dirtiest player in the game.
They showed the trailer for “Santa’s Little Helper,” starring the Miz. I’d like to remind everyone Mystery Science Theater 3000 is launching a campaign to return to TV.
The New Day came out to celebrate its 1st birthday. They came out with stick rocking horses and toy cowboy hats. Big E. got the DieHard “Yipee Ki Ay.” Kofi Kingston talked about how country music sucks, which actually got a pop. Kofi and Big E. sang with the thickest twang they could about losing dogs, girlfriends, and tractors while Xavier Woods played the trombone, then sang “Mamas Don’t Like Your Babies Grow up to be Bootee.” Woods has a great voice. He issued an open challenge for the WWE World Tag Team championship. Lucha Dragons came out.
Kalisto spoke about being serious about facing the tag champs. Sin Cara, for the first time I can recall, talked and wished them a happy birthday.
New Day started to leave when the Usos came out to stop them. Sin Cara told the Usos they were out there first and suggested a triple threat match. Big E. got mad at them for ruining their jamboree. Woods said the open challenge had been canceled. So Jey Uso decked Woods. The Usos gave Kingston a double superkick while Big E. was sent over the top rope. Rare New Day segment that died after the first few minutes.
Renee Young did an interview with Charlotte and she built up her match with Paige later tonight, which really made me glad I missed their match last night since it’s now rendered meaningless. Of course, the company rendered their own world title tournament they had built for 3 weeks meaningless last night in about 2 minutes, so we’ve got a theme going.
Neville defeated Mark Henry (2:25)
This one did one no one any favors. Mark Henry gave Neville a Beal from the corner, then acted like he didn’t want to hurt Neville as he rolled out of the ring. So Henry distracted himself and didn’t see Neville get in the ring. Neville hit a kick to the head, Henry sold it like he was dead and Neville got the pin with the Red Arrow. Cole called it a huge upset. Hasn’t Henry done nothing but jobs for months? Henry met Neville and shook his hand afterwards. So Neville was the only babyface eliminated in the Survivor Series match last night, and won tonight. 3 segments in a row that made last night meaningless.
Stardust was backstage in his liar going crazy about Cesaro being out when Titus O’Neal showed up. O’Neal mentioned taking a wrong turn, then noticed a titanium figure in Stardust’s room. Titus claimed it was in the shape of the Florida Gators. When Stardust looked, Titus did his dog bark to scare Stardust. Something about seeing Titus taking a wrong turn was amusing.
The Prime Time Players and Golddust defeated The Ascension and Stardust (6:11)
O’Neal pinned Viktor after a Spinebuster. Darren Young got the heat. It was OK.
Zeb Coulter and Alberto Del Rio came out. Coulter ripped the crowd saying the borders of MexAmerica were now closed because people weren’t listening to their message. People tend to do that with dead gimmicks. Jack Swagger returned saying Coulter had turned his back on the people and his country. He said Coulter used to stand for something. Yeah, xenophobia. He didn’t mention that part.
Del Rio shouted him down. Swagger promised to defend his country against all doubters, foreign and domestic. He dared Del Rio to do something about it. They had a staredown. Del Rio held up the U.S. title and walked out to boos. Swagger led the people in a “We the People” chant.
Charlotte (C) and Paige went to a double countout (14:56). Charlotte retains the Divas Championship.
They exchanged holds for most of what aired. Paige tripped Charlotte off the second rope with her head hitting the back of the turnbuckles. Paige used various leglocks and a Bow and Arrow. Unfortunately, Charlotte didn’t sell her leg as much as she should have. Charlotte speared Paige through the ropes, leading to a double countout, a finish the crowd booed. That didn’t help matters since the fans were dead for most of the night. Afterwards, Paige continued her gimmick of doing submission holds on the announcer’s table by giving Charlotte the PTO. If Cole could explain what difference it makes when Paige does the PTO on the announcer’s table, I’d really appreciate it. Charlotte has great facials selling submissions, showing the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
Heath Slater came out. Swagger. Slater. It’s like the Witness Relocation Program all-stars came out in full force tonight. He ran down Dirks Bentley, Johnny Cash and teased singing. Ryback came out to total silence. Slater busted his guitar over Ryback’s back, but Ryback didn’t sell out. Crowd did start a “Feed Me More” chant as Ryback gave Slater a spinebuster, Meat Hook Clothesline and the Shellshock. Same segment you’ve seen 100 times with Slater, which I guess is better than getting released.
Dean Ambrose and Dolph Ziggler defeated Tyler Breeze and Kevin Owens (5:27)
Dean Ambrose pinned Tyler Breeze with Dirty Deeds. Already, Breeze is in the 50/50 club. None of these men got a ring entrance. So much of Breeze’s routine is the entrance. How can you not fit that in on a 3:15 show? Fortunately, they made up for it with Breeze and Kevin Owens doing the tag partners who don’t get along gimmick, which got old in TNA around 2006. Dean Ambrose hit a tope where Breeze tookd a nasty fall. Looks like they’re setting up Owens vs. Ambrose for the Intercontinental championship.
Cute product placement for Tex/Mex Chicken Sandwiches at Carl Jr’s./Hardees with JBL, El Torito and Henry. It showed Torito coming out in JBL’s gear getting a huge pop from a crowd that was edited to look live. This was a trip. An acid trip.
As Sheamus came out for the main event, they showed a tweet from Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly congratulating him. That’s apropos, because one person has backdoored into a championship opportunity they had no business getting. And the other person was Sheamus.
Roman Reigns defeated Rusev by DQ (18:46)
Sheamus interfered freely, which led to him being sent to the back. Rusev pulled off a cool spin kick that caught Reigns across the forehead. Reigns escaped an Accolade attempt and hit a Superman’s punch, but Rusev kicked out. Reigns gave the sign for the spear, but Rusv rolled out of the ring. Reigns teased the Drive By, but Rusev hit the thrust kick. Rusev repeatedly rammed Reigns’ head into the table, but again, Reigns barely sold it. Reigns hit a Superman’s Punch while Rusev was on the apron, and Rusev took the Nestle Tea bump on the floor. Reigns caught the Drive By. King Barrett ran out, for some reason, to attack Reigns for the DQ. Both men really worked hard and it was the best match of the night with a bad finish.
Barrett pulled out a chair. Rusev teased hitting him with it, but Reigns got it and hit Rusev with it repeatedly. Sheamus ran down, only to take a chair shot to the back. They teased Rusev, Barrett and Sheamus as a new heel trio.
SUMMARY:
There’s little hope for this company to build a new star if they keep going back to 1999 in order to find big matches. With HHH as the de facto top heel, that makes Sheamus look like his understudy. In other words, they learned nothing from how poorly Rollins was booked. This show had too many bad finishes and the crowd was lifeless most of the way.
A New WWE Heavyweight Champion was crowned last night at WWE Survivor Series(Check out Dave Meltzer’s recap) but it was quickly taken away when Sheamus cashed in his Money in the Bank. In the WWE World Heavyweight title tournament, Roman Reigns first defeated Alberto del Rio in the semi-finals and then his “best friend” Dean Ambrose in the finals to win the title. After refusing to shake HHH’s hand post-match, Reigns then speared Hunter. Out of nowhere, Sheamus entered the ring, cashed in his Money in the Bank contract, and after two brogue kicks pinned Reigns for the title.
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer with the post-Survivor Series wrap-up show, all the matches and angles, is Roman Reigns the next Lex Luger, and more! Plus, New Japan notes, tons of mailbag questions and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!
The Bryan & Vinny Show is back with our post-Survivor Series wrap-up show! SHEAMUS IS THE NEW CHAMPION WTF! All the matches top-to-bottom, thoughts on the storyline with Roman Reigns and where it’s probably going, and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!
We’re looking for your thoughts on last night’s Survivor Series, 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 looking for live Raw reports tonight from Nashville as well, with Superstars matches, dark matches and anything else that wouldn’t be evident from the live show. We’re also looking for reports on last night’s Lucha Underground tapings as well as the NXT shows this weekend from Venice and Fort Pierce, FL at Dave Meltzer
NEW JAPAN TAG LEAGUE 2015 FROM ISHIKAWA AT 4:30 A.M. EASTERN AND 1:30 A.M. PACIFIC EARLY TUESDAY/LATE MONDAY
Tournament matches:
Daniels & Kazarian vs. Fale & Tonga
Bennett & Taven vs. Gallows & Anderson
Nagata & Nakanishi vs. Okada & Yoshi-Hashi
Smackdown and Main Event will be taped on Tuesday in Indianapolis.
Figure Four Weekly (11/16/15): Rey Mysterio vs. Low-Ki and The Anatomy of a Dream Match
A road report for Jersey All-Pro Wrestling’s 19th Anniversary show takes a deep look at the latest match in Rey Mysterio’s dream match tour vs. Low-Ki.
We have one of the biggest issues of the year, with such a huge news week this past week. We look at exactly what went into Holly Holm’s victory over Ronda Rousey, a story on the life and times of Nick Bockwinkel, the Reid Flair angle and build to Survivor Series, Destination America dropping wrestling, and the 104-year-old attendance record being broken, as well as the story behind the firing of Billy Gunn, an update on The Rock at WrestleMania, La Sombra to WWE, the AAA world title gets decided and a lot more are headline stories in the new double issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter which is on the site right now.
If you have an interest in history, this is a huge issue, as well as a perspective on what happened in the most talked about UFC fight in history.
We look at the fight, the background of Holly Holm, what is going on in Rousey’s life, what led to the upset, thoughts on a rematch, what it means for business, the early business notes on the fight including where PPV may come in, previous fights like this, and what happened after the fight. We look at UFC’s biggest upsets, the gambling perspective, rematch odds, business notes and match-by-match coverage with poll results.
The life and times of Nick Bockwinkel is one of the best bios we’ve done, with comments from people whose careers he has touched, my own personal thoughts on Bockwinkel, what current WWE superstar had his career path changed greatly because of a suggestion by Bockwinkel to an independent promoter, a look at his life, his career, some of his most famous matches, his career title history, the controversy over Hulk Hogan not getting the AWA title, his place in the business when it changed and life after wrestling.
We also look at the Reid Fliehr angle, how it was set up, comments by Ric Flair, how ESPN got exposed in its wrestling coverage, the Owen Hart DVD and more.
PLUS MUCH MORE! CLICK HERE FOR A FULL WRESTLING OBSERVER PREVIEW
The Latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter: November 23, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Holm defeats Rousey, Nick Bockwinkel passes away, more
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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. We’ve got coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits into those descriptions over the past 11 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue.
Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.
TODAY’S DAILY UPDATE
WWE
UFC
MISCELLANEOUS
November
* Ultimate Championship Wrestling holds a benefit show on November 27 at the Prime Event Center in Bay City, MI. It was originally designed to benefit Cassidy Christie, the daughter of local wrestler Pete Christie. But Cassidy passed away on Veterans Day after a long battle from cancer. The show will go as UCW raises donations for her Church, St. Catherine of Sienna in Bay City, Michigan.
Many of the Michigan independent wrestlers from many promotions have agreed to donate their time for this special event. Former WWE stars Brian Christopher and Scotty Too Hotty team for the first time in Bay City. Also signed to appear is ECW legend Sabu.
* Come join the stars of NWA Vendetta Pro Wrestling on November 27 as they present Winter Wonderslam 2015 right back at the Radisson Hotel in Santa Maria, CA. Bring a new unwrapped toy, and receive a autographed collectible poster. Featured matches: Lil Cholo defends against So Cal Crazy for the Vendetta Pro Heavyweight Championship, The 3rd Annual Rowland Alexander Memorial Battle Royal, The Classic Connection (Levi Shapiro & “The Ace” Buddy Royal) defend their NWA Western States Tag Team Championship against The Von Dooms (Vintage Dragon & Cyanide)
* TRUE Wrestling Presents: ‘Twas the Fight Before Christmas on Saturday November 28th, 2015 at the Salvation Army, 320 West Second Street, Berwick, PA. Doors open 6:00 pm (7:00 pm belltime). Scheduled to appear: Kras Van Tassel, Mark Maverick, Aaron Anthony, The Cash Masters, Tony Deppen, Aaron Arbo, and more. General Admission $10 advance/$12. Fans can save $5 off and receive a door price when you donate an unopened toy valued at $5 or more.
* New Jersey’s Old Time Wrestling is holding an annual food drive for all shows in November and December, returning to Williamstown, NJ on Saturday, November 21. Anyone who brings a bag of non-perishable foods will receive a $5 coupon which can be applied to merchandise, food, or admission at all OTW events. In addition, Pat King (in association with The Chive) will be traveling across the country from Texas to Philadelphia in a quest to gather donations to fight hunger. On November 30, he will be putting on a special benefit show in the OTW Arena in Williamstown, NJ featuring some of your favorite OTW stars. We ask that all who attend the event please bring nonperishable donations or use this link to help give to a wonderful cause www.gofund.me/fighthunger1
* Power Pro Wrestling returns to The Milford Delaware Boys and Girls Club, in Milford, DE on November 28 for our Toys For Tots show. All of your favorite PPW Stars will be there. Featured matches will be: Sicend defending the PPW Championship vs. Brittany Blake, Diaz vs Vic Ramon, Riot City defending the PPW Tag Titles vs BLKOUT, WBDC, and Pretty Ugly, Sonny Deeds vs. Michaels Amaydo, and Solo Darling vs. Veda Scott
December
* 3XWrestling presents Holiday Havoc 6 on December 4th, and the 3XW annual Toys for Tots Drive at the El Merenderos Event Center, 900 E Army Post Road, Des Moines, IA
* Pure Wrestling Association returns to Guelph, ON on December 4 for “Spirit of the Season” at the Red Chevron in Guelph, ON. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy and PWA will give you two colour posters.
* Pure Wrestling Association returns to Guelph, ON on December 5 for “Spirit of the Season” at the Alpine Club in Kitchener, ON. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy and PWA will give you two colour posters.
* Charity Wrestling Show comes to Kingston Gospel Temple, Kingston, ON, Canada on December 5 with a 7:00 pm belltime. All proceeds will go to Hands of Hope, a charity that provides groceries over the holiday season to families in need, Christmas presents for kids and more. There will be a meet-and-greet with legendary WWE referee Jimmy Korderas, legendary Canadian trainer Ron Hutchison and possibly another special guest.
* Hoosier Pro Wrestling continues giving back as they return to Columbus, IN on December 5 with Former NWA World Champion Tommy “Wildfire” Rich in action; Crazy Mary Dobson vs. Amazing Maria, Mad Man Pondo vs Cooter, the debut of Vic The Bruiser, a Heavyweight Title defense by TJ Kemp, a tag title defense by Big Country Clint Poe and Cowboy Marc Houston. Please bring a new or gently used toy.
* WAR Wrestling returns to Lima, OH on December 5 for United or Divided in a fundraiser for the Veterans Food Pantry. Front row sold out, second row $15, General admission is free will offering with 100% of the donation going to the Veterans Food Pantry.
* The originator of Toys for Toys events in the Philadelphia/South Jersey region, United Wrestling Coalition, will be doing the same on December 5 at Kelly’s Bar/Banquet Hall, 14 Railroad Avenue, Wrightstown, NJ
* 2300 (ECW) Arena presents a Toys for Tots collection at the CHIKARA Pro Wrestling season finale at the 2300 (ECW) Arena on December 5 with a 7:30 pm belltime. Hallowicked defends his CHIKARA Grand Championship against Eddie Kingston and Icarus.
* ECWA Pro Wrestling will hold its annual Toys for Tots show on December 5 at the Woodbury Heights Community Center, Woodbury, NJ
* Right Coast Pro returns to Newark, DE, at the Life Community Church, Otts Chapel Road, on December 5 show and will hold a food collection for the “Feed the Need Ministry” in Newark, DE at their monthly show.
* Atomic Championship Wrestling returns to Stevens Fire Hall (91 Stevens Road, Stevens, PA) on December 5 with a Toys for Tots collection and canned food collection.
* Crossfire Wrestling presents Jingle Bell Brawl IV on December 5 at The Merritton Community Centre 7 Park Avenue, St. Catharines, ON, benefiting The Niagara Children’s Centre Foundation with Former TNA Superstar Cody Deaner vs Former TNA World Heavyweight Champion “Showtime” Eric Young! General Admission tickets are available. Call the hotline at 905-329-2693 or go to http:// www.crossfirewrestling.com
* Pure Wrestling Association returns to Guelph, ON on December 6 for “Spirit of the Season” at Hafa Hall in Dundas, ON. Please bring a canned food item, and PWA will give you two colour posters.
* Xtreme Intense Championship Wrestling returns to Warren, MI on December 6 for Hardcore With A Heart at The Ritz. Admission is five cans of food. The Main Event puts the 2015 Malcolm Monroe Sr Memorial Cup winner Jake Something and the Xtreme Intense Champion Orlando Christopher together to face off against The “Mad Dragon” Hakim Zane w/ Truth Martini in his corner and JOE COLEMAN w/ MARK GJOKA in his corner. ZACH GOWEN will defend his Lightweight title against the newest number one contender, who is not wasting any time to take advantage of his title shot, IDRIS ABRAHAM.
* Grumpy’s Bail Bonds Operation Christmas sponsors show in Portland, TN at the Richland Park Gym on December 11 with Ricky Morton, Bill Dundee, and TNA’s Crimson.
* Brew City Wrestling will run its annual Headlock for Hunger on December 11 at the Knight of Columbus Hall in West Allis, WI. The show features a food drive for the Hunger Task Force of Greater Milwaukee. Fans are asked to bring two non-perishable food items.
* Chaotic Wrestling will do its second Toys for Tots show of the year on December 11th at the Woburn, MA at the Elks Lodge, 295 Washington St, Woburn, MA.
* Join Game Changer Wrestling in Howell, NJ on December 12. On that night we will be giving back! Not only via our Toys for Tots fundraiser, but to a pioneer of our industry, as we honor “Reckless Youth” Tom Carter for his contributions to the sport of Pro Wrestling. Not only that, but #WWE Hall of Famer George “The Animal” Steele and the lovely Terri Runnels will be in the house. For this special celebration to kick off the holiday season with Santa and his elves, get your tickets, NOW by calling the GCW Ticket line at 201-257- 8621.
* Chaotic Wrestling is joining forces once again with The United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots Program on December 12. In Lowell, MA, we will be collecting NEW, UNWRAPPED TOYS to help provide a happier holiday for families in need.
* All Star Wrestling presents Bodyslams For Toys on December 12 at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds, 6050 176 St, Surrey, BC, Canada. Bring a new unwrapped toy for a boy or girls with at least a $10 value and get in FREE.
* Combat Zone Wrestling presents its annual Toys for Tots collection (in conjunction with the Marine Corps Reserve) to take place for the eleventh year in a row with Combat Zone Wrestling’s 17th annual Cage of Death on December 12 at the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ. Cage of Death is part of an all day CZW event, including a Combat Zone Wrestling afternoon student show.
* GALLI Lucha Libre presents its annual GALLI Toy Drive Navidad event in Villa Park, IL on December 13,
* 2300 (ECW) Arena and Ring of Honor present a Toys for Tots collection at Ring of Honor’s Final Battle PPV on December 18 at the 2300 (ECW) Arena on December 18 with an 8:30 pm belltime.
* 2300 (ECW) Arena and Ring of Honor present a Toys for Tots collection at Ring of Honor’s TV taping on December 19 at the 2300 (ECW) Arena on December 18 with an 6:00 pm belltime.
* SCW Entertainment returns to the Coronaca Fire Department in Coronaca, PA for the 5th annual Toys for Tots event on December 19. Featured matches: Anderson Strong (c) vs. Dean Richards in a SCW Heavyweight Championship/30 Minute Iron Man Match, TJ Boss vs. Ben Wright in a Cage Match/Loser Leaves SCW/Winner is # 1 Contender to the SCW Heavyweight Title, and Kat Daddy (c) vs. Karl Hager for the SCW Internet Championship
* Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling will hold Wrestling With Hunger in at the Elks Hall #49 ,2272 Leigh Square, Port Coquitlam, BC on December 19 (8:00 pm belltime/ 7:30 doors open) to support Share Family Services Food Bank. All seats ONLY $16
* Wrestling for a Cause will run The Fight for Haylie on December 12 in Pryor, OK (7:00 pm belltime) . 100% of the show’s proceeds go to the family of a child with cancer.
* Keystone Championship Wrestling will hold its yearly Toys for Tots show, tentatively scheduled for December 19.
* Premiere Wrestling Xperience is offering an opportunity for spectators to bring a new unwrapped toy to the Hickory National Guard Armory, 1251 8th St NE in Hickory, NC on December 19. Spectators who bring a new unwrapped toy (with a suggested minimum value of just $10) can attend their event for only $10 and any child, aged 12 and under, who also brings an unwrapped toy will be FREE in rows 3-8.
* Great Canadian Wrestling presents Season’s Beatings ’15 on December 27 at Harmony Creek Community Hall, 15 Harmony Rd. N, Oshawa Ontario. This is the annual Christmas show for local food bank. Fans are asked to bring donations for Harmony Creek food bank. No matches yet announced.
Between all of these over the years, thousands of children have been able to have a Christmas or Hanukkah. Please help your local independent promotion do the same, or encourage them to schedule an event soon for the Holidays if they haven’t already. If you’re a promoter, PLEASE email me and let me know of your holiday charity themed plans (fund- raisers/collections for clothes, food pantries, Toys for Toys, etc.) at wrestling or MMA events to bobmagee1@hotmail.com.
ON THIS DAY IN PRO WRESTLING HISTORY INTERNATIONAL (thanks to Graeme Cameron)
1986 – Kuniaki Kobayashi beat Hiro Saito to win the All Japan world jr. title
1990 – Blue Demon Jr. beat Super Astro in Vallahermosa to win the WWA middleweight title
1997 – Momoe Nakanishi & Nanae Takahashi beat Megumi Yabushita & Sunmie Sakai in Kawasaki to wint he Japanese womens’ tag team tilte
2000 – Tomoaki Honma beat Zandig to win the Big Japan death match title in Yokohama
2003 – Don Fujii beat Susumu Yokosuka (Jimmy Susumu) to win the Open the Dream Gate title
2005 – Christopher Daniels won a three-way over Sonjay Dutt and Alex Shelley in Tokyo to win the Zero-One Max title
2010 – Naruki Doi & Gamma beat Susumu Yokosuka & K-Ness in Osaka to win the Open the Twin Gate titles
2012 – Genki Horiguchi & Ryo Saito & Naoki Tanizaki beat Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino & Shachihoko Boy in Saga to win the Open the Triangle Gate titles