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  • UFC 194 Preview: 5 storylines to watch, betting odds & predictions

    The biggest show of the year ends the UFC’s biggest year on pay-per-view and marks the end of three straight nights of action in Las Vegas, Nevada, home of the UFC. UFC 194 takes place on Saturday night with two title fights headlining one of the deepest cards in company history. The main card comes your way on pay-per-view at 10 PM eastern time following preliminary card action starting at 6:30 PM eastern time on UFC Fight Pass before heading to FS1 at 8 PM eastern time.

    The most-anticipated fight in UFC featherweight history finally takes place in the main event as long-time UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo takes on his rival, Interim UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor, in a fight that has been over a year in the making. In the co-main event, we have a second title fight as UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman puts his undefeated record on the line in his title defense against the rightful top contender, former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold. Also on the card are numerous ranked fighters including Urijah Faber, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, Max Holloway, Gunnar Nelson, Demian Maia, Jeremy Stephens and Yoel Romero. Let’s take a deeper look into this amazing card as we bring you five storylines to keep your eye on at UFC 194 on Saturday night.

    1. Can Conor McGregor dethrone Jose Aldo’s reign as the king of the featherweight division?

    The fight that has been over a year in the making is finally here after a big false start. The one that all of the fans have been talking about, waiting for, clamoring for. You can argue all you want about whether this is the biggest fight in UFC history, and while it may not be at the very top, it certainly is among the biggest fights in UFC history. It is definitely the biggest fight in the history of the featherweight division, a division that has been dominated since 2009 by UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo. Many have challenged Aldo, some have taken him to the limit, but 18 straight men have fallen victim to him one way or another. Nine straight of those fallen men have come in challenging him for the gold. Through it all, there has been one man wanting, willing, needing to take that championship away from Aldo for good, and he has gotten there by putting down 14 straight men who have been put in his path for gold. That man is Irish superstar Conor McGregor.

    After over a year of hype, these two men will finally step foot inside the Octagon across from each other on Saturday night in the UFC 194 main event. When Herb Dean says “let’s fight”, it will finally be on. They were supposed to meet at UFC 189 in July, but Aldo pulled out of the fight two weeks before due to a rib injury. It wasn’t the rib injury that kept him from actually fighting, but it would have likely prevented Aldo from making weight, thus forcing him to pull out. McGregor used this for more ammunition against Aldo, but he was still put with one final task laid out in front of him in the form of Chad Mendes on that July 11 night. No matter the circumstances surrounding how little preparation Mendes had, he still came to fight and controlled the first eight minutes of the fight. McGregor was in positions he had never been in, but he maintained his composure and still did fine work. Mendes gassed out in the second round, and McGregor felt that and finished him in the second round to win the Interim UFC Featherweight Championship.

    McGregor is going to have the size advantage over Aldo, with two inches in height and four inches in reach. Aldo is one of the absolute best fighters in the world and has been for a long, long time. He does only have three wins by finish since winning the championship, and one was due to his opponent blowing out his shoulder. He lands a lot of kicks, and he will look to exploit that against McGregor. McGregor will likely let him kick, allowing Aldo some confidence, all while trying to land a counterpunch. Aldo can get hit with counters, and McGregor has some of the best striking in the division. McGregor lands a lot of punches, but he does tend to eat a lot of punches as well. He has shown he has a chin, eating some big right hands from Mendes. Aldo’s ability to vary his strikes between his hands, kicks and knees will play a big factor. Aldo may also go for a takedown, and McGregor can be taken down. Both are effective on the ground.

    There is going to be a lot of emotion in this battle. It has been building for a long time. No matter what each may say, they are in the head of each other. Aldo may shrug it off, but he clearly gets more affected by things than McGregor does. There have been rumors that Aldo may be done after this fight, but he has denied that, though any time those talks creep in, you have to worry about mindset. If we are talking about what is best for business, obviously a McGregor win would be huge. He is a superstar whether you like him or not. Everyone has a differing opinion, but the people react to him like he is somebody. His antics, the mouth, the way he is has gotten him the attention, but his fighting has backed it up. It is his chance to put that gold around his waist for good. To do it, he is going to have to beat the best. As they say, to be the man, you’ve got to beat the man.

    2. Is this just the first fight in what could be a heated rivalry between Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold?

    UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman is undefeated in his career, and he did something that Conor McGregor is attempting to do, and that is beat the long-time king of his division. Weidman scored a stunning knockout over Anderson Silva at UFC 162 in July 2013 to become the champion at 185 pounds. He defended the title over Silva in a rematch five months later, had a classic battle in winning a decision over Lyoto Machida in July 2014, and, most recently, scored a convincing stoppage of Vitor Belfort at UFC 187 in May. Injuries have slowed Weidman from being an active champion as this is only his seventh fight since the calendar turned to the year 2012. At 13-0, Weidman is on the way to being an all-time great, and all-time greats often have a defined career rival. Weidman may have found his in Luke Rockhold.

    Rockhold has earned his title opportunity on the heels of four straight stoppage wins, scoring wins over Machida, Michael Bisping, Tim Boetsch and Costas Philippou. He is a former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion and has won 13 of his last 14 fights, with the lone blemish being to a TRT-ridden Belfort. He is the second best fighter at 185 pounds behind Weidman, and may be the man that can turn Weidman’s loss column from zero to one. These two are closely matched and extremely well-rounded. Weidman has a lot of power and can end a fight with one punch, and he has strong wrestling to back it up, with good top position and underrated submissions. Rockhold is a pressure fighter and moves well on his feet, has good takedown defense, and can fight on the ground and off of his back as well. Rockhold has better conditioning of the two.

    When it comes to that conditioning, Rockhold is a fighter that cuts a lot of weight. He is a huge middleweight. Weidman is a huge middleweight as well, but he approached this fight differently in being the lightest of his career. He weighed 192 pounds weeks away from the fight, and doesn’t have to do that huge cut he normally does. It should help his conditioning, and that is something that will be needed. Rockhold is going to push the pace with his aggressiveness, and it will be Weidman’s toughest fight to date. It will also be Rockhold’s toughest fight to date. These two men are so evenly matched that if they fought 20 times, they’d probably each win ten. Both have very few weaknesses. In what will likely be the first of many battles, I see Rockhold’s footwork and defense being the key difference in this one. It may get the best of Weidman this time, but they are on their way to being career rivals, and this likely won’t be the last time they fight.

    3. Who finds themselves as the next contender at 185 pounds when Ronaldo Souza and Yoel Romero square off?

    In a fight that has been brewing for quite some time, middleweights Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Yoel Romero will finally fight after seeing prior bookings between the two being cancelled twice due to injuries to both men. Since the two were originally scheduled to meet in February at UFC 184, they have each fought once. Souza scored a submission win over Chris Camozzi in April after Camozzi replaced Romero, who pulled out due to injury. Romero had the bigger win in scoring a super impressive knockout win over Lyoto Machida in June. Both have firmly established themselves as the top two men at 185 pounds behind Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold, and UFC 194 on Saturday night is being set up as a mini-tournament at middleweight, with the winner of both fights likely to square off next barring the need for a rematch between the Weidman and Rockhold winner.

    Both men have some age on them, with Souza being 36 and Romero being 38, and this may be the last time either man has the chance to secure a title shot. They both have decorated backgrounds from where they came from. Souza is a world champion in jiu-jitsu, and Romero is an Olympic medalist in wrestling. Both men have muscular frames, though recent pictures have shown Souza has lost a little bit of size, whether it be due to drug testing or to the elimination of IV’s. When it comes to the fight, Romero is more explosive and has better movement on the feet. The grappling battle will probably be negated as both have strengths, but in the event it goes down, the submission game belongs to Souza. This is a big toss-up but I do see Romero’s power, his ability to pressure a fight and win in the clinch, where Souza struggles, being the different in edging a close decision.

    4. Demian Maia and Gunnar Nelson have an interesting battle in front of them. Who takes it?

    A big way to tell how stacked this card is the placement of a welterweight bout between Demian Maia and Gunnar Nelson. This could main event a lot of Fight Night cards but is finding itself on the biggest card of the year in what should be a very competitive grappling battle. Maia’s grappling credentials are well-known and he has won three straight fights heading into UFC 194 on Saturday. Nelson is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu with a 14-1-1 record, and 13 wins by stoppage, with ten coming by submission. He is an excellent striker with a background in karate and is very adept at closing the distance. Training alongside Conor McGregor has him fully prepared for a striking battle, and his grappling experience has him primed for a ground battle.

    This is going to be an interesting battle between two grappling wizards. Maia is the better wrestler of the two, and Nelson is the better striker of the two. Maia works excellently from the top and Nelson works well both on top and bottom. Nelson has better ground-and-pound and is more aggressive than Maia when he has opponents on their backs. Nelson closes well on his feet and has some big power in his hands, but he does leave his hands down and opens himself up for counterstrikes. Maia is not someone who will knockout Nelson, but he will use his boxing to set up the trips and takedowns. This is a tough fight to call and an interesting one to boot. It could turn into a boring and methodical affair, though, and if one makes a mistake, the other will exploit it. I lean toward favoring Nelson due to his striking in what will be a close contest.

    5. Is this the best card of all time?

    UFC 194 is the card of the year, and it may very well be the best card of all time. All ten of the main card competitors are ranked inside the top 12 of their respective divisions, and we have a handful of ranked fighters competing on the preliminary card. Rounding out the main card is an excellent featherweight bout between Max Holloway and Jeremy Stephens. Holloway has been on quite the rise at 145 pounds, having won seven straight fights to make himself a legitmate title contender. He gets another tough opponent in Stephens, who has vicious knockout power and is coming off a knockout win over Dennis Bermudez in one of the best fights of 2015 at UFC 189 in July.

    Urijah Faber headlines the preliminary card, moving back down to 135 pounds and taking on Frankie Saenz, winner of seven straight fights. While not the highest-profile bout for Faber, he has two straight wins at 135 pounds, and finds himself on a collision course for a fight against former teammate T.J. Dillashaw. If Faber and Dillashaw both win their fights, that is expected to be the next title fight at 135 pounds. In women’s strawweight action, undefeated Tecia Torres takes on RFA champion Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger, making her UFC debut on short notice as an injury replacement for Michelle Waterson. The card also features three former “TUF” winners. Warlley Alves puts his undefeated record on the line against another undefeated fighter, Colby Covington. Leonardo Santos takes on rising lightweight Kevin Lee, who has won four straight fights. Finally, Court McGee returns from a two-year layoff to take on Marcio Alexandre Jr. This is a deep card with a lot of fun fights on Saturday night.

    Full UFC 194 Fight Card, Betting Odds and Predictions

    MAIN CARD (PPV- 10 PM ET/7 PM PT)

    UFC Featherweight Championship: (C) Jose Aldo vs. (IC) Conor McGregor
    Betting Odds:     Aldo (-105), McGregor (-115)
    Prediction: McGregor by knockout in round 3

    UFC Middleweight Championship: (C) Chris Weidman vs. (#1) Luke Rockhold
    Betting Odds:     Weidman (-135), Rockhold (+115)
    Prediction: Rockhold by decision

    Middleweights: (#2) Ronaldo Souza vs. (#3) Yoel Romero
    Betting Odds:     Souza (-150), Romero (+130)
    Prediction: Romero by decision

    Welterweights: (#6) Demian Maia vs. (#12) Gunnar Nelson
    Betting Odds:     Maia (-115), Nelson (-105)
    Prediction: Nelson by decision

    Featherweights: (#5) Max Holloway vs. (#8) Jeremy Stephens
    Betting Odds:     Holloway (-550), Stephens (+425)
    Prediction: Holloway by decision

    PRELIMINARY CARD (FS1- 8 PM ET/5 PM PT)

    Bantamweights: (#4) Urijah Faber vs. (#13) Frankie Saenz
    Betting Odds:     Faber (-750), Saena (+525)
    Prediction: Faber by submission in round 2

    Women’s Strawweights: (#5) Tecia Torres vs. Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger
    Betting Odds:     Torres (-300), Jones-Lybarger (+250)
    Prediction: Torres by decision

    Welterweights: Warlley Alves vs. Colby Covington
    Betting Odds:     Alves (+100), Covington (-120)
    Prediction: Alves by decision

    Lightweights: Leonardo Santos vs. Kevin Lee
    Betting Odds:     Santos (+500), Lee (-700)
    Prediction: Lee by knockout in round 3

    PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS- 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT)

    Lightweights: Joe Proctor vs. Magomed Mustafaev
    Betting Odds:     Proctor (+305), Mustafaev (-365)
    Prediction: Mustafaev by decision

    Lightweights: John Makdessi vs. Yancy Medeiros
    Betting Odds:     Makdessi (-165), Medeiros (+145)
    Prediction: Medeiros by decision

    Welterweights: Court McGee vs. Marcio Alexandre Jr.
    Betting Odds:     McGee (-175), Alexandre Jr. (+155)
    Prediction: McGee by submission in round 2

  • UFC Fight Night 80 DFS Playbook: value picks, who to avoid

    UFC Fight Night 80 kicks off the biggest fight week in UFC history on Thursday night in Las Vegas. The event is headlined by a five-round women’s strawweight bout between Rose Namajunas and Paige VanZant. Below is our playbook for your daily fantasy line-ups, with our studs, value plays, and fighters to avoid.

    STUDS

    Sage Northcutt ($11,300)

    He is the biggest favorite on the card. He has the highest salary of the 24 fighters competing on the card. He has a ton of hype. He is only 19-years-old. He also happens to be our top play on this fight card. Sage Northcutt is looking for his seventh career win, and seventh win by stoppage. He put up massive points in his UFC debut at UFC 192. He has a soft opponent in Cody Pfister that looks to be a showcase for Northcutt. He is being put in a position to score an impressive win. Pfister has a lot of confidence and is showing a nothing to lose attitude, and that can be dangerous for Northcutt. However, Northcutt is primed to defeat the caliber of fighter that Pfister is. He will eventually have trouble, but, for now, you will want Northcutt in your line-ups.

    Elias Theodorou ($10,700)

    Elias Theodorou is another undefeated fighter looking to score an impressive win at UFC Fight Night 80. He has the fifth-highest salary, so using him will allow you to spend more on some good value. Theodorou has averaged 87.8 fantasy points in his UFC bouts, the second-highest of the 22 fighters who have had UFC bouts scored for fantasy. He has a tough opponent in Thiago Santos, but one that is primed for a win for Theodorou. Santos has been finished twice in his career and eats a lot of punches. Theodorou is going to be a very solid play in your line-ups.

    VALUE PLAYS

    Rose Namajunas ($9,200)

    Rose Namajunas is interesting on this card. She is an underdog and has a reasonable salary. The discrepancy in salaries between her and Paige VanZant is very interesting, and it makes Namajunas a solid value play allowing you to spend up in your line-ups. She has slick submissions and a very solid striking game, but she won’t be able to match the pressure and takedowns of VanZant. Her best bet is to catch VanZant on a takedown for a submission. It can happen, and honestly, the longer the fight goes, the more it may favor Namajunas. She is definitely worth a look at her salary.

    John Howard ($8,500)

    John Howard is also interesting on this card. He has a very low salary, especially for someone who has the power in his hands to end a fight at any moment. A lot of it has to do with having lost three straight fights prior to winning his last bout, and his opponent, Tim Means, being 6-2 in his last eight fights. Means is lanky and has good striking, but he can be rocked and finished. Howard has 15 stoppage wins, and when looking for some value, he is a fighter to really look at for your line-ups.

    AVOID

    Santiago Ponzinibbio ($10,500)

    Santiago Ponzinibbio is 20-3 in his MMA career and has scored eleven wins by knockout and six wins by submission. He has a decently high salary for UFC Fight Night 80, and most metrics point to him being someone you should use on your roster. However, I am avoiding him as I don’t think he has been overly impressive in his UFC career. He is just 2-2 inside the Octagon, and he was dominated and finished in his last bout by Lorenz Larkin. His opponent, Andreas Stahl, is 9-1 in his career, but is coming off a very long layoff. Stahl has yet to be finished, and both men haven’t shown the fire in the UFC. I’m avoiding both, but especially Ponzinibbio at his price.

    Phillipe Nover ($9,000)

    Phillipe Nover is in his second stint with the UFC, and he is coming off of his first UFC win in May in a split decision. He has won four straight fights, but he hasn’t been overly impressive in doing so. He goes to a decision whether he wins or loses more often than not, and he has a tough opponent in Zubaira Tukhugov. Tukhugov hasn’t fought in over 14 months, but he would actually be worth adding to your roster with his potential starting to show. Tough match-up, being one he is likely to be on the losing end of, means I’m keeping Nover away from my line-up.

    OUR LINE-UPS

    RYAN FREDERICK: Sage Northcutt ($11,300), Aljamain Sterling ($11,000), Paige VanZant ($10,200), Andreas Stahl ($8,900), John Howard ($8,500)

    I like Sage Northcutt the most to score a decisive first-round finish and maximize the most points on the card. He is a special fighter right now, and the match-up is perfect. Aljamain Sterling is also as close to a slam dunk win as there will be on the card, but he does have a tough fight against Johnny Eduardo. I think he gets a finish. While I have Rose Namajunas as a value play, I still see Paige VanZant scoring a lot of takedowns and significant strikes en route to a finish. Andreas Stahl and John Howard are sneaky plays at their prices with solid chances of scoring upsets, and they allowed me to spend big on the other three, hoping to score big.

    PAUL FONTAINE: Sage Northcutt ($11,300), Aljamain Sterling ($11,000), Paige VanZant ($10,200), Kevin Casey ($8,800), Thiago Santos ($8,700)

    It’s the Paige and Sage show so no way I’m having a team without the two darlings of MMA. Seriously though Paige probably lands more strikes than anyone in any division and this could be a five round fight. She also should have a size advantage so as long her  cardio doesn’t become a problem, she could pepper Rose with punches for 25 minutes, perhaps scoring a late finish. Sage is a bulldozer and nothing about what I’ve seen thus far from Cody Pfister makes me think it will stop here. Should be a quick finish for Zack Morris 2.0. I’m taking chances with Santos and Casey  but I like the chances. Santos has devastating KO power and will likely either get a quick win or be finished quickly, which could blow up in my face. I don’t think that Theodorou has the power to stand with him so all he needs is one good shot and to avoid the takedown or cage clinch. Casey hasn’t lost since his UFC debut (although he did have a result overturned). Carlos Junior is kind of a sloppy fighter and will likely either lose a decision or get knocked out. My final pick is an unbeaten fighter who I can’t believe is buried in the prelims in Aljamain Sterling. 3-0 in the UFC and 11-0 overall, he’s a virtual lock in my opinion and should score his 3rd straight finish here.

    PEACH MACHINE: Aljamain Sterling ($11,000), Tim Means ($10,900), Jim Miller ($9,700), Rose Namajunas ($9,200), Phillipe Nover ($9,000)

    I like Rose.  I think Paige is going to crack under the pressure and Rose is more experienced.  Miller is a bulldog and I’ve never been impressed with Chiesa.  I expect Miller to get inside and make it a war, and Chiesa has experience being finished.  Means did not look good in his last time out, but I expect him to rebound and use his reach to destroy the over matched Howard.  Aljamain Sterling is primed for a big win and hopefully this fight gets on the PPV portion of the show. Nover is a grinder and while I personally don’t like him, I think he’ll win since he looked pretty good in UFC re-debut.

    As you can tell, we all like Aljamain Sterling, and Sage Northcutt and Paige VanZant get a good amount of play. Good luck to all playing!

  • WWE NXT recap: Finn Balor & Apollo Crews vs Samoa Joe & Baron Corbin

    Check out WrestlingOutsiders.com for free wrestling podcasts four days a week (and one awesome podcast that has nothing to do with wrestling the fifth day)!

    The Big News: Samoa Joe choked out Finn Balor in the main event, just seven days before their championship match at NXT Takeover.

    The Medium News: Bayley vs. Nia Jax was made official for Takeover, which threatens the streak of eight straight great Takeover women’s championship matches.

    The Little Beaver Sized News: The Hype Bros did a promo talking about poop.

    **********

    Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady defeated Corey Hollis & John Skylar

    The #1 Contender’s are here to kick off the go home show to Takeover! Next Wednesday night Enzo and Cass get their second shot this year at the Tag Team Titles, this time held by Dash & Dawson. This was a very different Enzo & Cass, as they didn’t do their usual entrance, which is so weird.

    Hollis and Skylar looked similar to the champs in the way they dressed, which I guarantee wasn’t coincidental. Colin managed to still scream “How you doin” while beating the snot out of one of his foes. Enzo tagged in and collided with Hollis before dropping him a second time with a nice looking dropkick. The #1 Contender’s picked up the win with the Rocket Launcher.

    After the match they cut a promo talking about how this is how they put food on their table. They have been teaming longer than any team in NXT history (which really isn’t saying too much, but they have been teaming well over 2 years). They stated Dash & Dawson will not effect their future, the only people that will effect their future are in the ring.

    Colin said they have fought too hard for too long to let Dash & Dawson get in the way of what they want. They promised to get retribution, they will leave the champs laying and will walk out as Tag Team Champions.

    -Backstage Tom Phillips interviewed Emma & Dana Brooke. Emma asked why the red carpet has been rolled out for Asuka since Day one. Emma stated that she is the one that paved the way long before you ever heard of Bayley, Sasha, Charlotte or Asuka. Dana made Tom squat down to pat him on the head.

    -NXT Takeover is LIVE at 3:00pm EST. I am sure Dave and the crew will have live play by play. I will be at work, so you will be spared from that.

    -A video for Tye Dillinger aired. I’m not sure if you heard the rumors but he is the Perfect 10.

    Asuka defeated Deonna Perazzo via ref stoppage

    It’s Asuka time. She has added the horizontal line across her face that is similar to the one Havok used in TNA. They could not have given Deonna a wackier name if they tried.

    Asuka with some really nice wrestling before snapping off an armbar so beautiful that Alberto Del Rio could take lessons. Thankfully for Deonna, Jimmy Uso did not dive off the top rope onto the arm, but instead she got the ropes.

    Asuka hit a Hip Attack, so Emma decided now was the best time to stand on the ramp, looking amazing in her jeans. Asuka then took off Deonna’s head with a spin kick and won via ref stoppage.

    -The Hype Bros were being annoying and talking about poop.

    -Alexa told Blake & Murphy that she was embarrassed. Alexa is really upset that she lost to Bayley and it’s her mens’ fault. They did vow to break the Hype Bros.

    -The Drifter is Elias Sampson and I assume he is re-debuting soon. Honestly I think NXT should have a grifter character.

    The Hype Bros upset Blake & Murphy (w/Alexa)

    Blake is now wearing a ripped shirt that looks like he tried to wear one of Alexa’s shirts. Not sure if that’s better or worse than when I couldn’t tell the two apart. My least favorite announcer’s Heel Rant Of The Week was about the Hype Bros.

    The former champs tried to double team Mojo, but Mojo ran through his foes and then Irish Whipped Zach, who took the Chris Hamerick bump through the ropes with a dropkick to the heels outside the ring. Ryder went for the Broski Boot on Murphy, but Blake broke it up. Unfortunately Blake then got hit with the Broski Boot, but Murphy cut off Ryder for the heat.

    Mojo got the hot tag and did a really good comeback, featuring a discus lariat to Blake. The faces actually won with the Assisted Rough Ryder (Hype Ryder) in an upset.

    This was a decent match that was given quite a bit of time given that neither team is currently on the Takeover card.

    -Samoa Joe and Baron Corbin had a meeting backstage. Tonight is not about how they don’t like each other, it’s about taking out Finn Balor & Apollo Crews. Corbin called Apollo a rookie who doesn’t deserve anything while Joe said Finn betrayed him and not the other way around.

    Women’s Champion Bayley pinned Peyton Royce

    Next week on Takeover Bayley will defend the eight pounds of silver and purple against Nia Jax. While I like both ladies, I suspect that the streak of amazing womens championship matches ends at eight. Peyton now comes out with a flower.

    The story of this match was if Bayley was making a mistake by taking a match with Takeover next week, especially since Nia has beaten her down the last two weeks. Peyton got a bit more offense than you would expect, but it did further the story. Bayley made her comeback, hit the Belly to Bayley and picked up the win!

    Bayley had no time to celebrate when Nia Jax and Eva Marie strolled out onto the stage. The fans made so much noise to avoid hearing Eva talking. Shockingly they didn’t get any quieter when Nia took the mic, so Nia spoke louder. Nia said if she got to NXT sooner then Bayley never would have become champion.

    Nia vowed to win the strap because she is destined for greatness.

    -The NXT Championship is hanging around backstage, while Finn Balor stood nearby and threw kicks. Apollo Crews walked up and they discussed whether or not Finn’s head was in the game.

    -Apollo reminded him they have unfinished business and that he is coming for the strap.

    -The video of Sami Zayn injuring his shoulder before his match with John Cena aired. He returns soon!

    Samoa Joe & Baron Corbin defeated Finn Balor & Apollo Crews

    Baron Corbin still has a great entrance. Finn started the match, so Joe made sure to tag out to Baron. Baron and Finn wrestled for a minute until Finn tagged out to Apollo. Baron didn’t want to wrestle Apollo, so he tagged out to Joe. Apollo dropkicked Joe’s head off, but Joe screwed it back on and beat down Crews. With his hated rival down, Baron agreed to tag in to beat down Apollo.

    The match built to Apollo making the hot tag to Finn while Baron tagged Joe in. Finn got the best out of the interaction with Joe, including a beautiful running kick and several running chops. Joe went for the Muscle Buster, but Finn rolled behind for a two count.

    Apollo and Baron fought out of the ring, while champ and challenger fought inside. Balor hit The Slingblade and went for the Coup De Grace, but Corbin pushed him off the top rope. Joe laid out Finn with the Death Valley Driver and then choked the champ out.

    -Seven days before Takeover Samoa Joe has choked out the NXT Champion! What will happen next week? That will do it for this week! Until Takeover, remember to say your vitamins and take your prayers!

    **********

    Next week:

    Finn Balor vs. Samoa Joe for the NXT Championship
    Apollo Crews vs Baron Corbin
    Bayley vs Nia Jax for the NXT Women’s Championship
    Emma vs Asuka
    Dash & Dawson vs Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady for the NXT Tag Team Championship

  • WWE NXT Breaking Ground; Eva Marie KO’s Carmella

    Submitted by: Ryan Pike

    WWE NXT Breaking Ground Episode 6: Road Trip

    Key Takeaway: The NXT gang goes on a road trip to Louisville and Nashville in an episode that shines a spotlight on Bayley, Carmella, Jason Jordan and Baron Corbin, then climaxes with Eva Marie kicking Carmella right in the head and knocking her out mid-match.

    Show Recap: Aside from saying goodbye to Cal Bishop, who Canyon Ceman released at the end of the last episode, and making a brief stop to meet new NXT signee Lovepreet Singh in Orlando, the entire episode is spent with the touring NXT crew as they visit Louisville and Nashville.

    A lot of time is spent with Carmella and Bayley this week, really emphasizing that they’re best friends and that Bayley’s success in NXT, and likely recall to the main roster before too long, is pushing Carmella to improve. Bayley gets a new challenge on the road trip: producing a match, as Matt Bloom has her produce a match between Alexa Bliss and Eva Marie in Louisville. She seems to be adjusting to her role as a mentor to the younger talent, but also expresses her excitement in learning new things so she’s not just someone known for hugging. Carmella notes that there’s a big gap between Bayley and the rest of the girls on the roster, and she’s eager to take a leap in her development. She’s fighting a cold and works a match with Eva Marie in Nashville. And mid-way through the match, with her boyfriend (Colin Cassidy) and her best friend (Bayley) watching, Carmella gets her wits kicked out of her by Eva Marie in the episode’s cliffhanger ending.

    Lesser News: Jason Jordan’s excited about his raise. He and Chad Gable get to work with Cassidy and Enzo in Nashville. Jordan feels like his team has momentum and his goal is to get him and Gable to the main roster and established as a dependable tag team that can do anything they need them to do.

    Also we spend a bit of time with Baron Corbin, who still really thinks he should be on the main roster. Bloom’s assessment: “Baron wants all the privileges of being a top guy, but I don’t think he knows what it takes to be a top guy right now.” Specifically, Corbin’s facials aren’t great in the ring, and he notes after being trained to suppress emotions as an NFL player, he’s having to adjust to the differences. Away from the ring, the NXT crew also visits an abandoned sanitarium and Corbin visits an oddities shop with a buddy of his in Nashville, buying a fragment of a human skull. Corbin’s a weird dude, but at least they’re trying to make him seem like a person.

    Final Thoughts: The focus on Bayley and Carmella really helped elevate this show, as Bayley comes across amazingly likeable, even when trolling Jason Jordan when he jokingly asks for an autographed photo. Spending time with the touring crew and focusing on the shows themselves and how they’re put together made the half-hour a lot more compelling than some of the earlier episodes.

  • TNA Impact Wrestling Results: Bobby Lashley vs. Shera, Davey Richards vs. EC3

    Last week, EC3 beat DJZ and Uno lucked out a win over Gail Kim. Davey Richards pinned Bram with a small package, while Shera beat Eli Drake. Bobby Roode worked heel for one match and lost by V1-ing Matt and eating a Twist of Fate, while Godderz cheated to beat Kong, and EY beat Kenny King. In the main event, Lashley beat Drew Galloway. We get a recap of last week’s matches to set up tonight’s matches, including Lashley vs. Shera. A tale of the tape makes them seem very similar. Josh talks about building up a lot of momentum just by winning, which Shera has done. Well, he’s done one of those things. Pope calls him a household name as well. Josh and Pope debate whether it’s the Shera Shuffle or Shera Shake before Josh just decides that Shera Shuffle is trending. Lashley comes out in Wal-Mart workout gear for the World Title Series. Josh talks about Drew and uses the captain moniker for him a ton. Why is Drew the Captain of TNA? Shouldn’t he be the Dollar General?

    Mahabali Shera vs. Lashley

    Shera dominates Lashley in the corner while a “Maha-bali!” chant breaks out. He gets a Frankenstein’s monster choke in the corner. Shera spends a long time to set up mounted punches, but he eats a powerbomb. Lashley clubs away in the corner. Floatover snap suplex gets 2 for Lashley. Lashley punches him down for an ad break. They brawl on the floor for a bit after the Shera Shuffle backfires. Josh hypes up that that World Title Series is completely on Youtube. Lashley dives off the apron and Shera grabs him and slams him down. A fan in a purple Macho Man shirt is either doing the Shuffle or summoning a genie. Shera lifts him up and lands the scariest press slam in a decade on Lashley. Lashley recovers, spears him, and wins. Josh tells the “young man” Lashley to pack his backs because he’s moving on. 

    Pope talks about how fast and powerful Lashley is, and that he’s a two-time former TNA World Champion to fill the show with more content that they’ve already talked about. Josh sends us to an “in-depth look at Tigre Uno versus Eric Young”, which doesn’t seem possible. This “world class maniac”-filled video proves that it isn’t. We get a very echo-filled promo of Eric Young saying threatening words. The Knockouts division returns in a cheesecake video for the holidays. We see a preview of a Dixie Carter interview with Josh talking about the importance of the TNA World Title. Matt Hardy vs. Jessie Godderz is previewed with a recap of Jessie beating Kong. Tigre Uno comes out to face Eric Young, who is in fact the bearded terror according to Pope.

    Eric Young vs. Tigre Uno

    Eric has fashioned his hair into an awful pseudo-mohawk and has gigantic bags under his eyes. EY tells him to leave because it’s his ring and his world. EY calls him a coward, and Uno responds by springboard dropkicking him out of nowhere. A running rana gets 2 for Uno, while EY chops away and yells “LUCHA!” He lands a series of forearms to the back and neck in the corner. One-armed backbreaker by EY gets 2 for an ad break. EY clotheslines Uno while Josh plugs the 2016 Impact tapings. EY tosses him to the floor and punches away. EY goes for a moonsault to mock Uno, but it misses. Uno hits a rana to the floor onto EY. Tigre gets a low blow legdrop off the top for 2. They fight up top and EY eats a super rana for 2. EY blocks another rana with a powerbomb for 2. The piledriver hits and EY wins. He faces the winner of Hardy-Godderz. Josh and Pope recap why EY is a world-class maniac and a bearded terror. Recap of Matt Hardy’s World Title Series matches. We see clips of Dixie talking about having the best women’s wrestlers in the business. EY logically points out that Tigre’s attack to start the match was cowardly, and then the Canadian rants about Uno being “foreign scum” and blames him for possibly ending Uno’s career. Josh and Pope pick the winners in a guessing game. Jessie Godderz comes out to no reaction to face Matt Hardy, who gets an okay one. 

    Matt Hardy vs. Jessie Godderz

    Matt grinds away at the neck, but Jessie tosses him off. Matt grinds away on the arm while Josh talks about how the World Title Series has been compelling and it’s all due to Dixie. Matt lands a series of slams and does the V1 pose before making the mistake of posing like Godderz. Matt gets a Russian legsweep for 2. They fight to the floor and Jessie eats the apron. Jessie shoves Matt’s back into the steps before Jessie dropkicks him and Matt sends his head right into the steps for an ad break.

    We come back to see Jessie stomping away on the back. He attacks the back more with forearm shivers. Matt’s knee buckles as he goes for a slam and Jessie gets 2. Bearhug to Matt lasts a while and they talk about it being a setup for the Adonis Crab. Jessie clamps on a reverse bearhug and uses the ropes. Matt elbows out of it, and Matt gets an iffy Side Effect. Matt gets a sleeper slam for 2. Matt gets a snapmare off the top for 2. Flying standing elbow hits for 2. Matt goes for the Twist, but Jessie tosses him into the ropes and gets 2 off a dropkick. Jessie gets a partial dropkick/enzuiguri and goes for the Adonis Crab. Matt gets to the rope, so Jessie stomps away. Matt goes up top, but gets pulled down into a fireman’s carry, which he counters into a Twist of Fate for the win. Pope and Josh talk about Matt Hardy having passion. The Dixie interview is next.

    Josh talks about how exciting 2016 is while happy music plays. Dixie said that 2015 was a year with a bit of everything, and the year started off strong with the debut of Drew Galloway. Dixie talks about how she respects Matt for winning the title in his hometown holding his baby high .She brags about the knockouts division and she says that the semi-finals and finals of the World Title Series will be held on the live show in January. Pope talks about Twitter predictions and Bracket Brawl. Because the show needed more filler, we get a recap of the BFG match and World Title Series. Next week, all of Future 4 faces Group X Division. There will also be a four way cage match between guys who aren’t feuding for some reason. We get a recap of tonight’s matches. Davey Richards comes out to face EC3 in the main event. EC3 says it’s time to separate the wolves from the winners. Davey says he’ll kick EC3’s head off his shoulders and says it’s time for the hunt to begin.

    EC3 vs. Davey Richards

    Josh asks if Davey has ever been this close to the World title and Pope says “not here”. Basic headlock and armwork to start. Davey gets a dropkick and EC3 goes to the floor. Davey gets his leg picked by Tyrus and EC3 attacks for 2. Davey lands a series of nice forearm strikes, but EC3 sidesteps him and sends him to the floor for a Tyrus attack. EC3 elbow smashes his neck on the apron and stomps a mudhole in him in the corner. Davey eats a Bret Hart-style turnbuckle smash and flips backwards. EC3 locks on a chinlock while Josh hypes up EC3 as being unbeaten for “nearly 1,000 days”. 

    They exchange chops, but Davey misses a corner charge and EC3 gets 2. EC3 traps him in a cravate before we get a punch exchange mid-ring. Pope buries EC3 for having a spray-tan while Josh says he lives in Boca Raton and it’s real. Davey lands a double dive. Make that a triple! Big missile dropkick gets 2. Davey lands a high kick and gets 2 off a snap German suplex. EC3 gets a TKO for 2. EC3 goes up top, but gets stopped by Davey and eats some headbutts. Superplex from Davey leads to another suplex for 2! They go through the motions of countering finishers before EC3’s Rampage powerbomb hits and he hits the One Percenter to win. To see every screenshot for the show, just click here.

  • NJPW January 4th Dome Show lineup set

    The New Japan Jan. 4 Tokyo Dome complete lineup was just announced on the acompany’s web site:

    1) New Japan Rumble – This is basically getting everyone in the promotion not in the match on the card along with a bunch of surprises and legends for cameos
    2) Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Young Bucks vs. Ricochet & Matt Sydal vs. Rocky Romero & Trent Baretta for IWGP Jr. tag titles
    3) Toru Yano and two mystery partners vs. Bad Luck Fale & Yujiro Takahashi & Tama Tonga
    4) Jay Lethal vs. Michael Elgin (this has not been announced as an ROH title match yet, probably will be after 12/18)
    5) Kenny Omega vs. Kushida for IWGP jr. title
    6) Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows vs. Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma for the IWGP tag team titles
    7) Hirooki Goto vs. Tetsuya Naito
    8) Tomohiro Ishii vs. Katsuyori Shibata for Never Open weight title
    9) Shinsuke Nakamura vs. A.J. Styles for IC title
    10) Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for IWGP heavyweight title

    The matches should be very good, well, with the exception of the Yano match, and that’s fine.  But the show is lacking in punch, with no special outsiders.

  • December 14, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Biggest weekend in UFC history, tons more

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    Current subscribers click here to continue reading.

  • Daily Update: Snuka’s trial date set, Sting needs neck surgery, UFC

    UFC’s 3 shows in 3 nights!

    Tomorrow starts three UFC events in three nights.  Starting with UFC Fight Night 80 which features Paige VanZant vs Rose Namajunas in the main event tomorrow night, UFC’s new golden boy Sage Northcut is also on the card.  Friday night is the finale of TUF 22, with the main event between featherweight contenders Frankie Edgar and Chad Mendes.  Then of course, Saturday night features UFC 194 with interim featherweight champion Conor McGregor vs. featherweight champion Jose Aldo for the undisputed title while current middleweight champion Chris Weidman takes on #1 contender Luke Rockhold —  two very competitive title fights headline what is also a very stacked card.  Uriah Faber headlines the FS1 portion of the card against Frankie Saenz.  Gunnar Nelson takes on jiu jitsu master Damien Maia.  Really is a must see card.

    NXT at 8:00 p.m. ET on WWE Network is headlined by Finn Bálor & Apollo Crews vs. Samoa Joe & Baron Corbin. This is the go-home show for next week’s NXT TakeOver: London.

    UFC Tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 2 (not a typo; everything else is on Fox Sports 1 tonight) is the last show before this week’s triple header. Hosts Kenny Florian and Daniel Cormier break down and preview the epic weekend featuring THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER FINALE and two title fights at UFC 194. Karyn Bryant and Ariel Helwani provide reports.

    UFC Ultimate Insider at 9:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1 is the show that premiered earlier in the week. Watch Randa Markos’ story of her remarkable journey from war torn Baghdad, Iraq to Montreal, Canada where she now trains under the tutelage of legendary coach Firas Zahabi and UFC icon Georges St-Pierre. Then, ride along with Myles Jury as he returns to his hometown outside Detroit, Michigan for hard hitting memories, while adding fuel to his championship dreams. Next, UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo is mic’d up at UFC 190, as teammate and top strawweight contender Claudia Gadelha attempts to dispatch Jessica Aguilar and solidify a title shot. Finally, UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman sits down with Jon Anik at his gym in Long Island, New York to discuss future plans and upcoming opponent Luke Rockhold’s pre-fight antics.

    UFC Fight Flashback at 9:30 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1 is a rerun of Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes II episode to hype this weekend’s main events.

    The Ultimate Fighter at 10:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1 is titled “Here For Myself.”. Moving into the semifinals, one squad’s training session turns a little more intense. Urijah surprises Team USA by bringing in UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo as a guest coach, who shows the fighters some jiu-jitsu. In the final Team McGregor training session, Conor reflects on his experience, being grateful for the opportunity. As the fighters arrive for the fight, Conor is shocked Aldo is in attendance. A few words are exchanged before the focus shifts to the fights. After two exciting semifinals, the final is set, and fighters square off. Then, McGregor and Aldo have their own face-off, ready to do battle in their title fight.

    ROH at midnight ET/PT on COMET has a main event of Mark & Jay Briscoe vs. The Young Bucks. Reminder: If you don’t get COMET, ROH puts the TV show up for free on their website on Thursday.

    Figure Four Weekly

    Figure Four Weekly (11/23/15): Lots of Updates in Hulk Hogan-Gawker case
    Lots of news including a win for Gawker, the new police report, the remaining mysteries of the case, what Bubba the Love Sponge is saying, and more.

    Wrestling Observer Newsletter

    Mick Foley’s talk on WWE creative and a look at all the new moves WWE tried this week on television is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.  We look at the changes WWE attempted after a week of record low ratings, as well as the fan questionnaire sent out, what can be learned from it, and why they are asking exactly the wrong people.  

    We also look at the strengths and weaknesses of the current WWE business, as well as why the ratings may be important, but other factors are probably more important,when it comes to WWE’s next television deal.  We look at the different potential changes in the landscape look at what aspects of business are and aren’t improving, as well as WWE’s business in the big picture.  

    He also update the situation with A.J. Styles, and the New Japan tag team tournament with standings and notes on the tournament matches over the past week.

    We also look at the TLC PPV update, more on La Sombra in WWE, questions about all the shoulder injuries, WWE security at live shows, Cena movie release, Brad Maddox firing, Maddox’s WWE history, talents WWE has shown interest in, WWE overseas tour lineup and WWE weekend live event notes and business.

    We have a look at the debut of the new Rizin promotion, major announcements for the first weekend of shows, the tournament, just how big Bob Sapp vs Akebono was the first time.

    We also have a story on the domestic abuse claims by the girlfriend of Tomoaki Honma, and his response.

    We look at the realities of the free agency of Benson Henderson, judging of the key fights, as well as  full rundown of UFC’s debut in South Korea this past week.

    We’ve got notes of TNA’s canceled tour of India, notes on the death of Tommy Gilbert and El Bello Greco, along with a feature on Stan Holek, a member of two of the most decorated tag teams of the 50s and 60s, the Lisowski Brothers with Crusher and the Neilson Brothers with Art Neilson.  We look at the unique reason why all of his success was as a tag team wrestler, his biggest rivals, and his 13 runs as world tag team champion. 

    We’ve got a feature on the retirement of Act Yasukawa and the sad reason it happened.

    We’ve also got the awards ballot for the 2015 awards and information on how well Hell in a Cell did this year on PPV.  

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

    The Latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter: December 7, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: WWE attempts to right the ship, New Japan tag league update, more

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    Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.

    WWE

    • Sting said on Ric Flair’s newest podcast episode (ep #32) that he needs neck surgery. Key quote (h/t Geno Mrosko at Cageside Seats for the transcription): “Yeah, MRI’s and neurologists have been looking at it, Dr. Maroon out of Pittsburgh, he’s looked at it. He’s telling me that I’ll have to have a surgery. The dust only in the last couple weeks has kind of started to settle a little bit for me, just trying to get so much done in life but now it’s time to go get this thing taken care of. No, I’m hoping [they don’t have to do a fusion surgery]. I know that’s one of the techniques that they use and I’m not sure if Dr. Maroon will have to do that or not. I’ve got two spots in my neck that are troublesome. I guess it’s called cervical spinal stenosis. That’s what it is. I have two areas in my neck where the spinal canal, which holds the spinal cord, it’s kind of choked off in two different locations. Lucky that a catastrophe didn’t happen that night, long story short. I’ve gotta go get it fixed. I guess John Cena had something very similar, he had his fixed, and Dr. Maroon has done several of the WWE guys up there and all with great success.”
    • Jimmy Snuka’s trial date was set yesterday for March 22, 2016.  Coincidentally, it’ll start right as the Hulk Hogan/Gawker civil trial ends.

    UFC/MMA

    • Today’s UFC 194 and TUF Finale press conference.  Conor McGregor is there, it can’t be bad right?
    • We also have the weigh-ins for UFC Fight Night
    • The White House’s official response to the Nick Diaz petition is every bit as useless as you’d expect. This is the key portion: “The federal government plays no role in the disciplinary actions taken by state athletic commissions, so we are not in a position to address the specific request raised in your petition. State authorities — in this case, the Nevada Athletic Commission — will generally be the best source for information about those kinds of issues.”
    • Rizin Fighting Federation announced today that the Bob Sapp-Akebono match on New Year’s Eve will be held under shoot boxing rules (kickboxing with takedowns and standing submissions, but no groundfighting). This release also gives an opponent for King Mo and explains some of the other whacky matches/fight taking place on the Rizin shows.
    • On the same day as UFC 194 in Vegas, there will be a World MMA Expo in New York. They are advertising Jon Jones, Anderson Silva and Eddie Alvarez from UFC all appearing at the show. WSOF figurehead Ray Sefo will make an announcement regarding company plans in 2016. WSOF Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Champion David Branch will host a one hour Q and A and there will be amateur MMA fights held at the end of the expo, which will be held at the Jacob Javits Centre. More information is available at http://mmaworldexpo.com/
    • Combate Americos, the new MMA organization featuring Latino fighters, announced today that Rey Misterio will serve as an “ambassador”, seemingly filling the role previously held by Alberto Del Rio. In addition, Konnan will be doing color commentary for their next show, which airs on NBC Universo next Wednesday, December 16th at 11 pm eastern/8 pacific.

    Other Wrestling

    • Jeff Jarrett talks to Under the Mat Radio.
    • Bill Goldberg, in a rare live appearance, leads a cavalcade of Legends and current pro wrestling stars coming to South Florida for a Fan Fest and Live Event on Saturday, January, 23, 2016 at the Miccosukee Resort & Gaming’s Entertainment Dome brought to you by Legends of Wrestling. Joining Goldberg is TNA Wrestling’s Kurt Angle, “Hardcore Legend” Mick Foley, “Big Sexy” Kevin Nash, Ricky Steamboat, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, “Big Poppa Pump” Scott Steiner, “Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart, Koko B. Ware, Butchwacker Luke, “Leaping” Lanny Poffo, Tommy Dreamer, Chavo Guerrero, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, Mr. Anderson, Gagrel, and Legendary tag team, The Nasty Boys with more to be announced. There will be a Meet & Greet Experience at 4pm with an extremely limited amount of tickets available. This is sure to sell out. You will receive a photo AND one signed item of your choice with ALL of the Legends and Stars at this event. At 7:30 the Live Event will begin with 6 matches with appearances by ALL the Legends and Stars of the Event. Tickets start at $35.
    • Fire Pro Podcast this week looks at Slamboree 2000, a dull show highlighted by a stupid main event angle here.

  • UFC Fight Night 80: Namajunas vs. VanZant weigh-in results and live video

    Welcome to WrestlingObserver.com’s live coverage of the UFC Fight Night 80: Namajunas vs. VanZant weigh-ins from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada kicking off at 7 PM eastern time. The event airs on Thursday on UFC Fight Pass at 10 PM eastern time. Preliminary card action kicks off on UFC Fight Pass at 6:45 PM eastern time. This kicks off the biggest fight week in UFC history with the first of three straight nights of fights in Las Vegas.

    The event will be headlined by a five-round bout in the women’s strawweight division as Rose Namajunas takes on rising star Paige VanZant in VanZant’s first headline spot. It will also mark the first non-title womens’ bout to headline a UFC event. In the co-main event, it will be a lightweight bout as UFC veteran Jim Miller takes on former “TUF” winner Michael Chiesa. Also on the card is 19-year-old Sage Northcutt taking on Cody Pfister.

    MAIN CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS- 10 PM ET/7 PM PT):
    Rose Namajunas (115.5) vs. Paige VanZant (115.5)
    Jim Miller (155.5) vs. Michael Chiesa (156)
    Sage Northcutt (155.5) vs. Cody Pfister (156)
    Elias Theodorou (185) vs. Thiago Santos (185)

    PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS- 6:45 PM ET/3:45 PM PT):
    Tim Means (170) vs. John Howard (170)
    Omari Akhmedov (170) vs. Sergio Moraes (171)
    Antonio Carlos Junior (185) vs. Kevin Casey (185)
    Aljamain Sterling (135.5) vs. Johnny Eduardo (135)
    Santiago Ponzinibbio (170) vs. Andreas Stahl (171)
    Danny Roberts (169.5) vs. Nathan Coy (170)
    Zubaira Tukhugov (145) vs. Phillipe Nover (145)
    Kailin Curran (115) vs. Emily Kagan (115)

    *Everyone made weight with no issues, and everything was cordial when it came to the staredowns.

  • Daily pro wrestling history (12/09): Jack Brisco wins the NWA World Title

    1967

    Minneapolis, Minnesota:
    – Verne Gagne & Bill Watts no contest Harley Race & Hard Boiled Haggerty
    – Dr X beat Rene Goulet
    – Handicap Match: Luke Brown beat Blackjack Daniels & Big K
    – Eddie Sharkey beat Kenny Jay
    – Steve Druk drew Mark Starr

    1974 

    Tokyo, Japan:
    – Jack Brisco beat Giant Baba to win the NWA World Heavyweight title

    1976

    Tokyo, Japan:
    – Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta defeated Kintaro Oki & Kim Duk to win the JWA/NWA International tag team title

    Denver, Colorado:
    – The Crusher beat Mad Dog Vachon dq 
    – AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel beat Billy Francis 
    – Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell beat Moose Morowski & Pierre Poisson
    – Pat O’Connor beat Blackjack Lanza
    – Ray Stevens dcor Pedro Morales
    – Peter Maivia beat Roger Kirby

    1977

    St. Paul, Minnesota:
    – Verne Gagne & Greg Gagne beat Bobby Duncum & Bobby Heenan
    – AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel beat Jim Brunzell
    – Super Destroyer & Lord Alfred Hayes beat Larry Hennig (sub Crusher) & George Gadaski
    – Ray Stevens no contest Angelo Mosca
    – Buddy Wolff beat Kenny Jay

    1979

    Minneapolis, Minnesota:
    – AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel no contest The Crusher 
    – Greg Gagne & Steve Olsonoski no contest Adrian Adonis & Jesse Ventura
    – Mad Dog Vachon beat Super Destroyer Mark III
    – Super Destroyer Mark II beat Dino Bravo
    – Buddy Wolff beat Ron Ritchie
    – Buck Zumhofe beat Peter Sandor Szabo

    1986 

    Spartansburg, South Carolina:
    – Ronnie Garvin & Barry Windham defeated Ivan Koloff & Krusher Khrushchev to win the NWA United States Tag Team Championship

    1988

    Tokyo, Japan:
    – Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Kerry Von Erich for the World Class Championship Wrestling World Heavyweight Title

    Mexico City, Mexico:
    – Lizmark beat Fabuloso Blondie (Ken Timbs) to win the NWA Light Heavyweight title

    1989

    Tokyo, Japan:
    – Stan Hansen & Genchiro Tenryu defeated Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu winning the vacant Unified tag title

    1990 

    Naucalpan, Mexico:
    – EL Canek defeated Vader to win the UWA title

    1991

    Tokyo, Japan:
    – Atsushi Onita & Tarzan Goto defeated Gregory Veritchev & Koba Krutanize in the finals of a tournament to win the FMW-based WWA World Martial Arts Tag Team Title 

    1995

    Saitama, Japan:
    – Tarzan Goto & Mr. Gannosuke defeated Cactus Jack & Tiger Jeet Singh in the finals of a tournament to win the NWA
    World Tag Team Championship

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
    – The Sandman defeated ECW World Heavyweight Champion Mikey Whipwreck and Steve Austin in a Three Way Dance to win the title

    – Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta  Kobashi defeated Toshio Kawada & Akira Taue

    1997

    Louisville, Kentucky:
    – Bull Pain defeated Paul Diamond in Louisville, Kentucky to become IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion

    2000

    Tokyo, Japan:
    – Mike Rotundo & Steve Williams defeated Toshio Kawada & Masa Fuchi 

    2001

    San Diego, California:
    – Chris Jericho defeated the Rock to capture the former WCW World Title 
    – Chris Jericho defeated Steve Austin to become undisputed WWF World Champion
    – The Undertaker defeated Rob Van Dam to win the WWF hardcore title

    Tokyo, Japan:
    – Takeo Omori & Yoshihiro Takayama defeated Mitsuharu Misawa & Yoshinari Ogawa to win the GHC tag team titles
    – Naomichi Marafuji defeated Tatsuhiko Takaiwa to win the Junior Heavyweight title

    2012

    Orlando, Florida:
    – Rob Van Dam defeated Kenny King to retain the TNA X Division Title
    – Austin Aires defeated Bully Ray
    – Tara defeated Mickie James to retain the Knockouts Title
    – Christopher Daniels defeated AJ Styles
    – Jeff Hardy defeated Bobby Roode to retain the TNA World Title