Hiroshi Tanahashi, the most important member and biggest drawing card on the New Japan roster, suffered a dislocated shoulder in yesterday’s Fantastica Mania show in Tokyo while working a six-man tag match.
Tanahashi confirmed the injury, and was to see a doctor today regarding what is next, but him being out of action a significant amount of time, coming off the departure of Nakamura and A.J. Styles and with the neck surgery to Kota Ibushi, leaves the company in its toughest position in years.
Tanahashi was working in a six-man tag, teaming with Titan & Juice Robinson (the former C.J. Parker in NXT), to face Shinsuke Nakamura & Kazuchika Okada & Barbaro Cavernario. It’s not clear exactly where the injury took place. At one point he was outside the ring and grabbed his right shoulder for a moment. Later in the match, in a dropkick spot, he grabbed it again and it was clear he was injured from that point on. He continued the match, did all his spots including some flying spots, but you could see him try to avoid landing on the right side. However, he was still throwing punches.
Last week, Monday Night averaged 3,497,000 for the 3 hour broadcast which translated to a 2.45 household rating. The numbers were slightly up from the previous week which went against the college football national championships but way down from the same week in 2015. The January 19, 2015 RAW did a 3.02 ratings and averaged 4,090,000 viewers – down 18.9% and 16% respectively.
The cumulative average for January now stands at a 2.43 rating and 3,463,000 viewers. The rating is down 17.5% from 2015 and the viewership is down 14.2%. This is the 14th straight month that the rating and viewership will drop from the same month the previous year.
The main reason for the poor rating last week was a dramatic drop in the 3rd hour. The show opened at 3.78 million viewers, dropped slightly to 3.59 million the second hour and plummeted to 3.12 million for the 3rd hour, which was built around a Chris Jericho highlight reel featuring Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar. The 3.12 million viewers was the lowest viewership for an hour of RAW in January dating back to the early days of the Monday Night War.
This week should see the typical post-Royal Rumble boost as fans who may not have tuned into the PPV/network special want to find out who won and what’s next on the Road to Wrestlemania. The most recent RAWs have been averaging an average of 10.53% lower than the same week the previous year. The post-Rumble RAW in 2015 did 4.41 million viewers and a 3.27 average. If the year to year drop as it’s been in recent weeks, this week’s number should be around the 3.9 million range and a 2.9 rating. Anything lower than these numbers would be a sign that the RAW ratings are still in a declining phase. If the numbers are at or above these levels, things would be levelling out and it could be a sign that the ratings are turning around.
TNA announced today that tag team champions Eddie Edwards & Davey Richards have signed new deals with the promotion.
Each man’s contract was set to expire on 4/30.
Edwards & Richards were two of the wrestlers referred to in recent Observer stories with names not listed of TNA talent that WWE was pursuing, but that TNA was offering more than WWE.
Their new deals will allow them to continue to work independent shows, however because they are getting guaranteed contracts, promotions will have to go through TNA to book them as opposed to directly going through them as in the past.
The 2016 WWE road to Wrestlemania begins in Orlando, Florida, where 30 men will enter the Royal Rumble match to determine the WWE World Champion! For the first time ever the WWE World Champion, Roman Reigns, will be in the match, and be forced to defend his title against 29 other participants. Roman must be the last man remaining in the ring in order to go into Dallas, Texas at Wrestlemania 32 as the champion.
The only other time something similar to this happened was at the 1992 Royal Rumble. In December 1991, the WWF title had been vacated, so it was declared that the winner of the Royal Rumble match would become the WWF Champion. Ric Flair won the Rumble that night, and he will be in attendance tonight as his daughter Charlotte looks to defend the WWE Divas championship. Could we see Flair enter the Rumble and win it again? No, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be a tremendous night of action.
We will also see a “Last Man Standing” match between Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Kevin Owens for the Intercontinental Championship. The match will only end once one competitor is unable to meet the 10 second count. Between this match and the Rumble, get ready for a whole lot of fan-count-alongs.
We are looking for your thoughts on the event, so send a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to Dave Meltzer.
Coverage provided by Dave Meltzer
MARK HENRY & JACK SWAGGER VS. DUDLEYS VS. DAMIEN SANDOW & DARREN YOUNG VS. THE ASCENSION – WINNERS GET INTO THE RUMBLE
Henry & Swagger won the match to advance. The Dudleys did the 3-D on Viktor, but Swagger broke up the pin and put Bubba in the ankle lock. Henry then splashed Bubba and paused, and instead covered Viktor for the win. Nothing much to the match.
DEAN AMBROSE VS. KEVIN OWENS FOR THE IC TITLE IN A LAST MAN STANDING MATCH
Super match ending with Ambrose winning. Owens had destroyed him for a few minutes including a super falcon arrow off the top rope through a table. Owens put him on four chairs and went to the top rope to splash Ambrose, but Ambrose got up and shoved Owens off the top through two tables stacked up on the floor. Lots of highlights including Ambrose getting up from the power bomb and Owens surviving the Dirty Deeds, as well as Ambrose coming off the top rope with an elbow to the floor, putting Owens through a table.
NEW DAY VS. USOS FOR THE TAG TEAM TITLES
Good match with a hot finishing sequence. Jey sueprkicked Koingston but didn’t see that Big E had tagged in. Jey came off the top rope but E caught him with a big ending for the pin. Xavier Woods debuted a new trombone called Franseca II. Good stuff including E tackling Jimmy to the floor, and Jey doing a splash off the top rope but Kingston got his foot on the rope.
ALBERTO DEL RIO VS. KALISTO FOR U.S. TITLE
So far the odds are 100% as Kalisto won the title. For the finish Del Rio undid the padding on a turnbuckkle. Kalisto gave him a mistimed huracanrana and Del Rio went headfirst into the exposed metal and used the Salida del Sol and got the pin. Kalisto had used the Salida del Sol on Del Rio earlier but Del Rio got his hand on the ropes. This came after a missed double foot stomp by Del Rio.
Stephanie agreed to renegotiate Brock Lesnar’s contract if he took out Roman Reigns tonight in an interview segment with Paul Heyman.
CHARLOTTE VS. BECKY LYNCH FOR DIVAS TITLE
This was easily the most heated women’s title match on a WWE PPV in a long time. Crowd really wanted Lynch to win. Real good match. Lynch had the match won with the disarmer but Ric Flair threw his sports jacket over her head. She let go of the move to go after Ric. This allowed Charlotte to poke Lynch in the eye (which they were out of position to catch) and spear her for the pin. Lynch had survived the spear earlier. Funny spot with Ric kissing Lynch to set up a Charlotte advantage.
Sasha Banks is out to set up the next title match, but she kicked Lynch out of the ring after the match. Very clearly they are building this as the Mania feud. Crowd was way behind Banks. But then they acted like they were best friends. Then Banks laid her out from behind with the back stabber and Bank statement and Charlotte tapped. Huge reaction to Banks as she held up the belt.
Going into the Rumble this has been a really good show.
ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH
The crowd is booing Reigng to start. Rusev is out with Lana as No. 2. We’ll be back at certain points.
HHH won the match throwing out Dean Ambrose after he also threw out Roman Reigns. So the show ended iwth HHH, Stephanie and Vince celebrating. The match itself was great, one of the best Rumbles ever. Not really much in the way of suprises, only A.J. Styles and Sami Zayn. Reigns stared, was destroyed by the League of Nations and taken to the back. He came back near the end and started eliminating people. They put over The Wyatts a lot, particularly Braun Strowman, who along with Brock Lesnar were made the Monsters. Lesnar dumped the entire Wyatt family except Bray. Bray came out next and the rest of the Family interfered and they all through out Lesnar. Styles got a big reaction, among the biggest of anyone and came in third and lasted a long time.
A few more highlights:
*Crowd mostly booed Reigns and when he went against HHH, fans cheered HHH
*The attack on Reigns was at just over 20:00 in, with Vince out with the League of Nations to destroy him with Rusev splashing him through a table and he was put on a stretcher. He got off the stretcher and went to the back, coming back jner thje end.
*R-Truth came out, thought it was a ladder match, climbed the ladder, no belt and then he was thrown out by Kane.
*Strowman was put over as a monster, eliminating Show with a head and arm choke and throwing out Kane as well
*Kevin Owens eliminated Styles and the fans booed that more than any elimination. Styles may have been the most popular guy of all in the match.
*Sami Zayn threw out Owens and they really put over their rivalry
*Ambrose threw out Jericho who may have lasted the longest with the exception of Reigns
A back injury has forced former UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez (13-2, 11-2 UFC) from his chance at regaining the championship next month. Velasquez has been forced to pull out of the main event of UFC 196, where he was scheduled to fight UFC Heavyweight Champion Fabricio Werdum (20-5-1, 8-2 UFC) in the main event of the February 6 event in Las Vegas, Nevada. Werdum will now defend the championship against Stipe Miocic (14-2, 8-2 UFC) at the event in the headline bout. UFC President Dana White made the announcement on Sunday on his Twitter page.
Cain Velasquez is out with a back injury. Stipe vs Werdum for the heavyweight championship February 6th. pic.twitter.com/vPRJYJvOjL
Miocic gets the title shot after scoring a 54-second knockout win over Andrei Arlovski at UFC 195 earlier this month. Miocic was expected to fight the winner of the bout between Werdum and Velasquez, but his title opportunity will come on less than two weeks’ notice. Miocic has won five of his last six fights overall.
It will be the first title defense for Werdum after he submittied Velasquez to win the championship at UFC 188 in June. Werdum has won six straight fights overall.
UFC 196 takes place from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Super Bowl Weekend and airs on pay-per-view. Former UFC Welterweight Champion Johny Hendricks takes on Stephen Thompson in the co-main event.
The following was post to Cain’s FB Page after the announcement:
I’m sure you’ve heard the news that I won’t be able to fight at UFC 196. I can’t begin to tell you how disappointed I am and how I feel I’m letting you all down. I’ve heard and read all of your messages of support since my last fight and during this camp and for that I thank you.
Training camp has been difficult for the last few weeks, but sometimes no matter how much the heart and mind want to fight through an injury, healing has its own timeline. We thought we’d get through it, but we had to face the truth that it wasn’t going to be OK in time to fight. All of us fighters have all fought injured at one time or another, but I can’t ignore this injury, as my doctor has indicated that not addressing the problems with my sciatic nerve could have longer-term consequences.
My fans deserve to see me compete as close to 100% as possible. I’m committed to giving them that. I’m not going to let my fans down, and I want to make sure I do the right things to ensure a long career.
Fabricio, I hope that you accept my sincere apology. I understand how you may think this is an excuse. From one professional to another, I can tell you I was committed and looking forward to competing with you again. I greatly respect you as a fighter and man, and we will meet soon.
I will get this taken care of as soon as possible. I will heal and will come back and show you the Cain Velasquez you all deserve to see.
Overall the show depends on how the Rumble is executed. It doesn’t appear they are set up for the plague of the last two years where the crowd rejects the winner ahead of time. If HHH wins, he is the favorite, the crowd will hate it of course, but that’s their desired reaction. Even last year, the crowd hated it, the network subscriptions jumped up big the two days after the show, so hating can lead to good business.
Royal Rumble match for WWE title – Very much talked about match with the title at stake. The big story of the match is Roman Reigns, who enters at No. 1 and will likely be there until he gets screwed in some form by HHH. The four favorites to win are Brock Lesnar, Reigns, HHH (who hasn’t been advertised for the show) and Bray Wyatt based on the strong push he got at TV this week. I’d expect Braun Strowman to be put over strong, although they have to be careful, but he could be the monster in the match. As far as surprises go, Undertaker wouldn’t surprise me, and one would expect a few names from NXT would make sense as well as the usual one or two names from the past and of course A.J. Styles unless that decision has changed.
Dean Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens last man standing for IC title – WWE last man standing matches are usually strong so this would look to be the show stealing match. If Owens loses, then the program loses steam and they will need to transition into new stuff for both. If Owens wins, then the program would likely continue.
Alberto Del Rio vs. Kalisto for U.S. title – Either way, Kalisto losing the title on Smackdown doesn’t make sense. A win would help him and keep the program going. A loss would hurt him, and I don’t think they want to hurt him. They had a very good Smackdown match in particular as their styles work well together.
New Day vs. Usos for tag team title – These two teams always work well together. We’ve seen a lot of it, though.
Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch for women’s title – This has been one of the better storylines in recent weeks. Whatever they do, I expect it to continue. I could see Ric Flair’s interference backfiring in some form.
Dudleys vs. The Ascension vs. Jack Swagger & Mark Henry vs. Darren Young & Damien Sandow – winners get into the Royal Rumble.
We’re looking for your thoughts on all three nights of Fantastica Mania as well as the Royal Rumble show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to Dave Meltzer
Raw is Monday night from Miami. Brock Lesnar is not advertised for Monday’s show but everyone else is scheduled.
Smackdown and Main Event will be taped Tuesday in Tampa.
If you’ve ever wanted to WATCH our radio shows here on the site, check out our new Youtube page! No full video shows, but lots of video clips, full free audio shows that you can tell your friends about, and much more to come! Make sure you subscribe today! Our lastest show posted to youtube is WOR featuring Jim Ross!
The 2015 Observer awards issue, the traditional biggest issue of the year,is up on the web site now. The issue not only has the awards winners in more than 40 different categories, but all the top place winners, as well as a history with all the awards winners dating back to 1980, as well as my comments on the placings for many of the awards.
The categories are:
Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award (Wrestler of the Year), MMA MVP, Most Outstanding Wrestler, Most Outstanding MMA Fighter, Best Box Office Draw, Feud of the Year, Tag Team of the Year, Most Improved, Best on Interviews, Most Charismatic, Best Technical Wrestler, Bruiser Brody Memorial Award (Best Brawler), Best Flying Wrestler, Most Overrated, Most Underrated, Promotion of the Year, Best Weekly TV show, Pro Wrestling Match of the Year, MMA Match of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Best Non-Wrestler, Best Television Announcer, Worst Television Announcer, Best Major Wrestling show, Worst Major Wrestling Show, Best Wrestling Maneuver, Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic, Worst Television Show, Worst Match of the Year, Worst Feud of the Year, Worst Promotion of the Year, Best Booker, Promoter of the Year, Best Gimmick, Worst Gimmick, Best Pro Wrestling Book and Best Pro Wrestling DVD
Update on the Royal Rumble and Rumble weekend, full coverage of Dominick Cruz’s UFC bantamweight title win and the records set on Sunday’s show and details on the New Japan/Jim Ross announcing deal as well as a look at how this came about and Jim Ross’ overall career.
2017 WrestleMania, how Smackdown has affected overall ratings for the USA Network, update on A.J. Styles with WWE, WWE injury updates, Daniel Bryan update, more on Mauro Ranallo and Smackdown, Chris Jericho talks his return, new season of Total Divas, How talent is broken down in NXT, the heat on Josh from Tough Enough, new dates for Brock Lesnar, plus notes from the big NXT tour and all the shows, the NXT Florida shows, as well as the WWE shows in India and the WWE weekend domestic shows and all the business notes.
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
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.
Hope everyone on the East Coast are doing well in dealing with the terrible blizzard that shut down much of the weekend wrestling in the Northeast. Speaking of that weather, as of this morning, at least some of the WWE production crew were still snowed in.
Bryan and I will be back tonight on Wrestling Observer Radio talking all the weekend news, including Royal Rumble, the Mongolian Stomper, Ronda Rousey on SNL as well as taking your e-mail questions to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com I’ve been told today’s Dragon Lee vs. Kamaitachi match from Korakuen Hall on New Japan World is a match of the year candidate. We’ll talk about that as well tonight. We already talked about the Styles and Bullet Club TNA story on Wrestling Observer Radio yesterday.
Dorian Roldan on Twitter said that the original Espectrito, who would be Mario Jiminez, passed away yesterday at the age of 49. On the original When World’s Collide PPV in 1994, Espectrito worked what was at the time among the best PPV openers ever. He was the best working heel mini of his era and maybe ever. He also worked for WWF in the 90s as the original Torito as well as Mini Vader.
The Royal Rumble odds as of a few hours ago, usually the odds that count come in around last hour before the show starts, but there has been significant movement this morning:
Dean Ambrose went from a 2-to-1 favorite to 12-to-1
Kalisto went from an underdog to a 9-to-1 favorite
Charlotte went from a 3-to-1 to 21-to-2 favorite
Mark Henry & Jack Swagger went from underdogs to 9-to-1 favorites
New Day went from 3-to-1 favorites to 15-to-1 favorites
HHH went from a 3-to-1 favorite to a 21-to-2 favorite to win the Rumble
Michael Cole, John Layfield and Byron Saxton will be the announcers tonight. Jerry Lawler will be on the panel instead of announcing.
TMZ.com reported today that the 800-Loan-Mart people feel enough time has passed and they are filming a new commercial featuring Hulk Hogan. They had used Hogan in the past, but had stopped airing his commercials several months ago. Hogan will be doing the commercials with Dennis Rodman.
As far as weekend trending, Royal Rumble has already had 50,000 searches today to put it No. 3 behind the Alaska Earthquake and Tina Fey. Yesterday, Danny Garcia was No. 9. Ronda Rousey was not on the list but Rousey searches were no. 2 for the Saturday Night Live searches that were No. 3 yesterday with 200,000, but Selena Gomez was the top thing searched for off the show and Rousey was second.
WWE
For what this is worth, WWE this past week filmed new promos for the European market pushing Roman Reigns defending the title on the February tour of Germany. That doesn’t mean he winstonight, but does mean they filmed stuff for airing after the fact that would indicate, which in theory would make no sense to do if he’s not champion in a few weeks. But it wouldn’t be the first time that has happened and won’t be the last.
Now this doesn’t necessary mean anything, but Reigns is being advertised all over the U.S. for title defenses against Sheamus over the next few months. But there’s a difference between an interview filmed ahead of time and the advertising, which reflects plans as of that moment that constantly change. (thanks to Jon Southerland)
Besides William Regal, Jason Jordan and Chad Gable, who were advertised, also at the Evolve show in Orlando last night was HHH, which tells you all you need to know about the WWE/Evolve relationship.
MISCELLANEOUS
Last night in our ROH house show report from Duluth, GA, it was Alex Shelley in the six-man tag, not Chris Sabin as was listed until today. (thanks to Larry Goodman)
Pat Miletich said on Friday night on Inside MMA that he would be willing to come out of retirement to face the winner of the Royce Gracie vs Ken Shamrock match. Well, I think a lot of people would be. Don’t expect that one to happen.
World Series of Fighting announced that its 3/12 show, headlined by Justin Gaethje vs. Brian Foster for the lightweight title, has been moved to Greely, CO, and the Bank of Colorado Arena. The arena is on the campus of the University of Norther Colorado, and Gaethje was a Division I All-American as a junior at that school.
Rey Mysterio Jr.’s match with WWC that has been pushed of late on their TV will be the main event of the 2/27 La Hora de la Verdad show in Caguas at Yldefonso Sola Morales Stadium against Mr. 450, who is the same guy that uses that name in AAA, and has worked as Hammet on NXT tapings. (thanks to Ivan Pajic and Leonardo Mendes Toledo)
World Series of Fighting announced new TV dates on 6/17 in Mashantucket, CT, 7/30 in Springfield, MA and 9/2 in New Town, ND.
Dynamo Pro Wrestling from last night in Wood River, IL: Evan Morris b The Snitch, Brandon Espinosa b Ric Maverick, Danny Adams & Paco Gonzalez b Shawn Santel & Mauler McDarby, Jayson Khaos b Keon Option, Alexandre Rudolph & Jake Parnell b Brandon Aarons & Garrett Shanks, Jayden Fenix b Justin D’Air, Billy McNeil b C.J. Shine, Mike Outlaw b Kevin Lee Davidson (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
Lucha Xtreme TV from last night in Fresno: Guerrero de la Muerta b Skitzo-DQ, Jesse Poole & Chat Douglas NC Guerrero de la Muerta & Mortal. Next live show is 1/31 at Hanford, CA at the Civic Center (thanks to Jon Southerland)
Ed Loredo has set up a bus for WrestleMania weekend for readers going to Dallas. The first bus sold out immediately so there may be a second bus added. For more info contact him at f4wfan@hotmail.com
Mark Henry and Jack Swagger def. The Ascension via pinfall
Main Event breaks its two-week streak of in-ring promos in the opening segment by offering us this rematch of last week’s featured contest. It’s worth noting that this is the third time Swagger and Henry have teamed together; all three contests have featured The Ascension and the previous two both resulted in babyface victories.
Rich Brennan opines during the entrances that there is “something different” about Jerry Lawler, who, incidentally, began his recent heel turn on the first Main Event taping of 2016. Lawler responds that some people resolve to be more “kind, considerate and nice” at the turn of the year. The King, on the other hand decided to simply be himself!
This was a bog-standard, by-the-numbers, ten minute tag match. The heels gain control leading into the commercial break as is customary in the WWE; Viktor breaking up the Patriot Lock on Konnor while the referee is distracted.
After the break, Lawler’s amusing reminiscences about Royal Rumbles past punctuate the heat portion of the match. Lawler suggests that Roman should hide under the ring until the end of the Rumble, evoking memories of the 1996 edition of the match when he pulled the same stunt. Brennan, to his credit, takes that opportunity to make an appropriate reference to Santino’s 2011 near-miss.
After one tease when Konnor knocked Mizark from the apron, Swagger eventually gets the hot tag to his partner – completing a desperate crawl to the corner after a double clothesline spot. Henry runs wild on Viktor, before pausing to enjoy a “We The People” recitation with Swagger. This almost allows a recovering Konnor to attack him from behind. Instead, Swagger pushes Henry out of the way, allowing the World’s Strongest Man to level Viktor with the World’s Strongest Slam for the win. Three in a row it is then for Henry and Swagger, who one-up The Ascension leading into their next meeting on Sunday’s pre-show.
– Jojo is backstage with the Social Outcasts. Adam Rose continues to suck verily on the mic by referring to Slater, Bo and Axel as his “red dragon”, “enchanted shark” and “wild snowflake” respectively. Axel grumpily (and understandably) questions his moniker, before Bo cuts him off to inform us that these are “four best friends” with the same goal: “To win on Sunday!”
Heath cleverly sees a problem with this, pointing out that there can only be one winner and that he’s that man. At this point, Jojo interjects with a terribly worded question – something about their opponents, The Dudley Boyz, being veterans. Bo says that The Social Outcasts are not a team, they’re a family, while Heath adds that the Dudleyz party will be ruined tonight. The geeks walk off, only for Bo to return momentarily, Columbo-style, to remind Jojo to bo-lieve. This was awful.
Neville def. Tyler Breeze via pinfall
During Breeze’s entrance, Lawler asks Prince Pretty to “take a picture of Rich and let’s see how much that camera can take!” Ouch.
Nice five minute TV match here. Neville continues the intensity he showed in last week’s Smackdown main event, erupting so quickly out of the blocks at the bell that referee Mike Chioda has to briefly hold him back.
Breeze gets an early eye rake in as Chioda enforces a rope break, before following up with a supermodel kick for two. Breeze is incensed at the perceived slowness of the count, screaming “I’m not trying to be out here all night!” Which is funny because he then immediately applies a front face lock!
Neville goes up top for two failed attempts at the Red Arrow, the second of which sees him eat a dropkick. Breeze then sets him up for a Frankensteiner, only for Neville to hang on to the ropes and finally hit his finish for the win.
– We then get the same Rumble By Numbers segment, narrated by Byron Sexton, that aired on RAW.
Heath Slater and Curtis Axel w/ Bo Dallas and Adam Rose def. The Dudley Boyz via pinfall
Yes, you read that right. More humour from Lawler during the entrances here, as he states that the older the Dudleys get, “the better they were”. The King says he never liked them, prompting Rich to enquire about their ECW days. Lawler: “I never liked anyone in ECW!”
Long shine segment for the faces leads into the break, when the Dudleys hit a Reverse 3D on Axel, before tossing Heath from the ring behind him. Rose and Bo tend to their fallen brethren as we go to commercials.
We return with the heels turning the tables on their foes in more ways than one; Rose and Dallas causing a distraction by removing them from under the ring, which flummoxes the Dudleys into losing the advantage. The Outcasts of course waste time by celebrating with a victory lap, which Lawler amusingly dubs the “Bo Train”.
Axel and Heath take turns to get the heat on D-Von, before the latter gets cut off with a spinebuster. Hot tag to Bubba, who slams Axel off the top, before hitting a big boot and the bionic elbow. The huskier Dudley then follows up with a uranage (called correctly by Rich) for two.
Scoop slam and Wassup follow, leading into D-Von being informed that tables are required post-haste. That was as good as it got for the Dudleys. Rose and Dallas cut D-Von off at the pass, which concerns Bubba so much that he falls victim to the fatal distraction/schoolboy combo. Axelmania lives. Dumb finish and yet another loss for the Dudleys. They’ve only won two televised matches this year and haven’t won a conventional tag-team match via pinfall on RAW since they beat The Ascension on November 16th of last year. And everyone beats those guys.
Final Thoughts
Another weak edition of the show, highlighted only by Jerry Lawler’s continuing return to former glories as a heel announcer. Meanwhile, the eroding of any credit remaining in the Dudley account continues, as they lose to a joke outfit that got knocked out en masse by the Big Show on RAW. Bubba must surely be hoping and praying that the rumoured plans to give him a run as a singles heel are restored to the agenda as soon as possible. As for D-Von, what’s that Deacon guy up to these days, I wonder?
Stemming from complications after a hip replacement surgery from which he never recovered, Archie Gouldie passed away at about noon today. Gouldie was a big time star in Canada and various Southeastern promotions, where he worked as a big man / monster heel character. Bryan and Dave have a breaking audio update on this story, and on AJ Styles dealing with TNA as he’s headed to WWE here.
Today’s ROH show in Duluth, GA is still on as of this writing.
If you’ve ever wanted to WATCH our radio shows here on the site, check out our new Youtube page! No full video shows, but lots of video clips, full free audio shows that you can tell your friends about, and much more to come! Make sure you subscribe today! Our lastest show posted to youtube is WOR featuring Jim Ross!
For this weekend, we’ll be doing polls on all three Fantatstica Mania shows from Korakuen Hall on New Japan World including today’s show at Dave Meltzer
Today, WWE has a house show in Fort Myers, FL with Roman Reigns, Kane, Bray Wyatt, Alberto Del Rio, Rusev, Kevin Owens, Chris Jericho and others; ROH in Duluth, GA at the Infinite Energy Center (War Machine vs. Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows for ROH tag title, Jay Lethal vs. Matt Jackson for ROH title, Roderick Strong vs. Nick Jackson for TV title, ACH & Matt Sydal & Alex Shelley vs. Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly & Michael Elgin; Rhett Titus & Kenny King vs. Cheeseburger & Moose; Adam Cole vs. Stevie Richards; Adam Page vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Will Ferrara vs. Silas Young vs. Caprice Coleman vs. Jay Briscoe, Mark Briscoe vs. Cedric Alexander and Corey Hollis vs. Dalton Castle); Evolve from Orlando as they continue the tag team tournament on iPPV at www.wwnlive.com and there is also a joint GFW & PWS show from Rahway, NJ. We’ll be looking for reports on all these shows at Dave Meltzer
AAA GUERRA DE TITANES TONIGHT IN MEXICO CITY AT JUAN DE LA BARRERA GYM
Nino Hamburguesa & Dinastia & Pimpinela Escarlata vs. Gran Apache & Mini Charly Manson & Black Mamba
Fabi Apache & Goya Kong & Lady Maravilla vs. Lady Shani & Sexy Star & Taya in a lumberjack strap mach
Australian Suicide & Jack Evans & ? vs. Daga & Parka Negra & Super Fly
Aero Star & Fenix vs. Mascara Ano 2000 Jr. & Villano IV vs. Averno & Chessman for the No. 1 contender for tag titles
For the vacant trios titles: Electroshock & Garza Jr. & La Parka vs. Dark Cuervo & Dark Scoria & Zorro vs. El Hijo del Fantasma & El Hijo de Pirata Morgan & Taurus
Dr. Wagner Jr. & Psycho Clown vs. Mesias & El Texano Jr. – Winning team faces each other in a singles match at Rey de Reyes for the vacant AAA Mega heavyweight title
WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING AT 10 P.M. EASTERN ON NBC SPORTS NETWORK
Chauncey Foxworth vs. Jaleel Willis
Jorge Medina vs. Bryce Mitchell
Teddy Holder vs. Shamil Gamzaov
Luiz Firmino vs. Caros Fodor
NEW JAPAN FANTASTICA MANIA LIVE ON NEW JAPAN WORLD ON LATE TONIGHT/SUNDAY MORNING AT 4:30 A.M. EASTERN AND 1:30 A.M. PACIFIC FROM TOKYO KORAKUEN HALL
The Panther & Guerrero Maya Jr. vs. Sho Tanaka & Yohei Komatsu
Tiger Mask & Kushida & Fuego & Stuka Jr. & Titan vs. Gedo & Yoshi-Hashi & Bobby Zavala & Okumura & Hechicero
The 2015 Observer awards issue, the traditional biggest issue of the year,is up on the web site now. The issue not only has the awards winners in more than 40 different categories, but all the top place winners, as well as a history with all the awards winners dating back to 1980, as well as my comments on the placings for many of the awards.
The categories are:
Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award (Wrestler of the Year), MMA MVP, Most Outstanding Wrestler, Most Outstanding MMA Fighter, Best Box Office Draw, Feud of the Year, Tag Team of the Year, Most Improved, Best on Interviews, Most Charismatic, Best Technical Wrestler, Bruiser Brody Memorial Award (Best Brawler), Best Flying Wrestler, Most Overrated, Most Underrated, Promotion of the Year, Best Weekly TV show, Pro Wrestling Match of the Year, MMA Match of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Best Non-Wrestler, Best Television Announcer, Worst Television Announcer, Best Major Wrestling show, Worst Major Wrestling Show, Best Wrestling Maneuver, Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic, Worst Television Show, Worst Match of the Year, Worst Feud of the Year, Worst Promotion of the Year, Best Booker, Promoter of the Year, Best Gimmick, Worst Gimmick, Best Pro Wrestling Book and Best Pro Wrestling DVD
Update on the Royal Rumble and Rumble weekend, full coverage of Dominick Cruz’s UFC bantamweight title win and the records set on Sunday’s show and details on the New Japan/Jim Ross announcing deal as well as a look at how this came about and Jim Ross’ overall career.
2017 WrestleMania, how Smackdown has affected overall ratings for the USA Network, update on A.J. Styles with WWE, WWE injury updates, Daniel Bryan update, more on Mauro Ranallo and Smackdown, Chris Jericho talks his return, new season of Total Divas, How talent is broken down in NXT, the heat on Josh from Tough Enough, new dates for Brock Lesnar, plus notes from the big NXT tour and all the shows, the NXT Florida shows, as well as the WWE shows in India and the WWE weekend domestic shows and all the business notes.
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
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 a breaking news audio update for members covering both the death of Archie “The Stomper” Gouldie/The Mongolian Stomper and TNA’s statement on the negotiations they claim that AJ Styles, Karl Anderson, and Doc Gallows backed out of. For what it’s worth, what appears to be the Mongolian Stomper vs. Kevin Sullivan match that Dave talked about seeing live on the show is on YouTube and it’s fantastic.
For subscribers, we are told there is an iOS app called RSSRadio that will allow for members-only podcasting, and unlike Downcast (which is awesome), it is free. Android users have a choice of apps, including BeyondPod and DoubleTwist, but I believe all are paid apps.
WWE
There are WWE production people who are currently stuck in New York City due to the snowstorm.
Current odds for the Royal Rumble PPV from fivedimes.com:
IC: Ambrose -230, Owens +170
US: Del Rio -455, Kalisto +315
Divas: Charlotte -190, Lynch +150
Tag: New Day -170, Usos +130
4-Way Tag: Dudleys -120, Henry and Swagger +170, Ascension +500, Young and Sandow +500
Rumble: HHH -150, Reigns +285, Lesnar +360, Wyatt +550, everyone else is beyond +1000 including the Rock, Curtis Axel and D-Von have the longest odds at +20,000
It may be worth dropping a bill on Reigns in this one, as the finish is always subject to Vince “vincing out,” especially since everyone is now picking Trips. It also makes no sense for Reigns to lay out HHH if he’s not coming back to win it, but you can toss logic out the window on game day.
Former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson, who’s friends with Daniel Bryan (Bryan trains Brazillian Jiu Jitsu at The MMA Lab, Henderson’s gym), tweeted this yesterday: “Guess who I heard was back??? #DanielBryan, yeah buddy!!! #FakeWrestlingRealAthletes #Respect” Of course, it’s possible he’s either messing with fans or misread Dave’s report about Bryan’s visit to UCLA doctors like a lot of people.
UFC/MMA
Ronda Rousey is the guest star on Saturday Night Live tonight. The story is that she is expected to come off very well based on what has been written for her. Many of the writers are casual fans of UFC and so they went out of their way to make her look good on the show. While Holly Holm was in New York City doing media for UFC 197 for the past day or two, she won’t be on the show, as she’s at the Atlanta airport right now, where she bumped into Bill Goldberg.
Sage Northcutt (7-0) has a new opponent for next weekend’s UFC on FOX show. Andrew Holbrook had to pull out due to injury and stepping in will be Bryan Barbarena (10-3). Barbarena is 1-1 in UFC and most recently lost a decision to Chad Laprise at UFC 186 last April. This will be a main card fight on FOX and should be a showcase fight for the 19 year old budding superstar Northcutt.
World Series of Fighting has a card tonight at 10:00 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network with little to no name value.
There is a show available on GFL.TV today, West Coast Fighting Championships – King of Sacramento, with more star power than some broadcast events. Scott Smith, former Strikeforce main-eventer, is on the card fighting former Bellator fighter Justin Baesman. Christos Giagos and Lewis Gonzalez, who bought fought in UFC in 2015, are also fighting on the show. The main event features Max Griffin (11-2), who tried out for TUF 16 up against David Mitchell (19-5), a 4 fight UFC veteran
Earlier today in China, Bibiano Fernandes successfully defended his ONE Championships Bantamweight title with a first round submission due to an armbar over Kevin Belingon. Fernandes is the group’s biggest homegrown star and the highest Worldwide ranked fighter in the company.
MISC
Congratulations to Mark Schultz. From his Facebook page: Today Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Professor Pedro Sauer proclaimed these simple yet monumental words to me “You are my black belt”. I couldn’t have asked for a better Pedigree. Grand Master Helio Gracie to Rickson Gracie to Pedro Sauer to me. I am humbled.
The Evolve card for tonight in Orlando at 8 p.m. at www.wwnlive.com
Chris Hero & Tommy End vs. Rocky Romero & Trent Baretta
Johnny Gargano & Drew Galloway vs. Bravado Brothers
Sami Callihan & Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Drew Gulak & TJ Perkins
Caleb Konley & Anthony Nese vs. Team Tremendous
Matt Riddle vs. Fred Yehi
Tracy Williams vs. Peter Kaasa
Ethan Page vs. Tommaso Ciampa
Ed Loredo has set up a bus for WrestleMania weekend for readers going to Dallas. The first bus sold out immediately so there may be a second bus added. For more info contact him at f4wfan@hotmail.com
Archie Gouldie, a headliner throughout the world for more than three decades as The Stomper as well as The Mongolian Stomper, passed away today at about Noon. He was 78.
Gouldie had been battling Alzheimer’s of late. He fell and broke his hip two weeks ago. He underwent hip replacement surgery, but never recovered from the surgery and passed away in his sleep.
While he worked all over the world, he was a legend as arguably the greatest heel in the history of Stampede Wrestling. Gouldie was a tough ex-football player who attended matches in Calgary, and thought he was tougher than the wrestlers. He hit the ring once in a match and grabbed the mic from Ed Whalen and challenged the wrestlers. Stu Hart, the promoter and policeman at the time in the early 60s, invited him over to his house if he thought he was tough. Hart, as he was known to do in that era, tortured the football player with wrestling submission moves, and beat him so badly that he never came back to challenge wrestlers. The feeling was that he was another weightlifter football player type who thought wrestling was fake and easy.
Several months later, Gouldie apologeticly asked Hart to train him. It wasn’t long before he was Hart’s biggest drawing card. Because he was from Carbon, Alberta, there was never any pretending of who he was or that he was actually a monster who couldn’t talk from Mongolia while in that promotion.
He rarely did interviews in the United States, and had a number of different managers over the years including J.J. Dillon, Gary Hart and Don Carson. However, in Canada he was best known for menacing interviews, such as when he scared a young Bret Hart to death when he vowed to destroy the Hart House, brick by brick, while he was feuding with Stu. Later, Bret and Gouldie wrestled numerous times and Bret considered Gouldie one of the greatest wrestlers of the era. He came in and out (of the territory), holding the North American title eight times, if not more, with his best run coming in the late 60s.
Gouldie first became The Mongolian Stomper in 1963, in the Central States. He had runs everywhere from California to Australia, as a top star, but the places he would have been best remembered would have been Western Canada and Tennessee. He drew a number of sellouts as a Memphis headliner, and would be one of the most successful draws ever in that part of the country aside from Jerry Lawler and Jackie Fargo. In Eastern Tennessee, he was even better known as a monster like character who held the Southeastern title 11 times.
His last major run came playing an unstoppable monster role for Smoky Mountain Wrestling in the mid-90s. He was well into his 50s, but a conditioning freak who was still muscular, particularly his legs, at that age from long bicycle rides to and from work. The fans bought him as a monster and that status was always protected in the booking. He and Kevin Sullivan had crazy brawls during that time period.
