Holly Holm won four different awards at tonight’s World MMA Awards in Las Vegas. Holm was awarded Female Fighter of the Year, Upset of the Year, Knockout of the Year and Breakthrough Fighter of the Year. The show was taped in Las Vegas for TV on FS 2 . We’ll see if Ariel Helwani’s nice speech about me makes the cut.
Award winners:
Knockout of the Year: Holly Holm vs. Ronda Rousey
Media Source of the Year: MMAFighting.com
Submission of the Year: Ronda Rousey vs. Cat Zingano
Fight of the Year: Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald
Coach of the Year: Rafael Cordeiro
Reporter of the Year: Ariel Helwani
Gym of the Year: Jackson/Winkeljohn
Leading Man: Dana White
Comeback of the Year: Eddie Alvarez vs. Gilbert Melendez
Trainer of the Year: Mike Dolce
Lifetime Achievement Award: Bruce Buffer
Promotion of the Year: UFC
Analyst of the Year: Dominick Cruz
Referee of the Year: John McCarthy
Upset of the Year: Holly Holm vs. Ronda Rousey
Best program: UFC Embedded
Breakthrough Fighter of the Year: Holly Holm
Ringcard Girl of the Year: Arianny Celeste (who in her speech said this was the silliest award)
Male Fighter of the Year: Conor McGregor, who cut a taped heel promo
The show begins with a recap of the first episode of season one – with Vampiro being taken from a mental hospital to the Temple and a rundown of Mundo beating up Alberto at Ultima Lucha. We see Black Lotus killing Dragon Azteca, leading to someone else taking the mantle. Prince Puma works out while we get clips of Mil Muertes beating Puma for the title. Pentagon Jr. comes in and thanks him for helping him please his master, and tonight, they’ll be partners against the Disciples of Death. Pentagon says he has zero fear and a fight breaks out involving a surprising amount of flips. Pentagon Jr.’s mask appears to be even more evil than before, and looks fantastic. Striker asks Vamp if Pentagon broke Mil’s arm due to him, and Vamp gets upset at him for it. Mil Muertes watches the show from his throne with one arm in a sling. Johnny Mundo comes down to face Killshot.
Johnny Mundo vs. Killshot
They exchange tumbling displays and each lands a kick before Mundo is sent to the floor to eat a dive. Mundo spears him hard on the floor drawing a “holy sh*t” chant. Well, it deserved it.
Mundo kicks his face a bit, but eats a cutter. Hard forearm to the face by Mundo leads to a C4 and a 2 count. A crazy-fast sequence of moves from Killshot gets 2. The ref gets lightly grazed, so he doesn’t see a low blow and Mundo wins with the End of the World. Mundo grabs the mic and says that the earthquake that shook Muertes up as a kid is nothing to how the End of the World will fear.
Cage comes out with a mohawk and insults both Mundo and Muertes. A “Cage is Gonna Kill You” chant breaks out and Mundo leaves. Cage turns his back and Cage beats him down briefly before Cage lifts him for a press slam and Mundo scurries away. After an ad break, we go to a room where Marty the Moth has Sexy Star tied up. He brings her a butterfly and talks about his sister saying it’s almost time for Sexy to go back to the Temple. Marty kills the butterfly and mocks Sexy. A shot of the moon greets us while PJ Black says the wolf fears nothing and neither does he. We get some slick shots of PJ on his motorcycle against an orange-tinted sky and then he beats up some dudes outside a cheap motel. The Mack walks down to face PJ Black.
The Mack vs. PJ Black
Vamp says he doesn’t know who PJ Black is, or what a Darewolf is. Striker says it’s a daredevil and werewolf, while Striker calls The Mack “Willie Mack” for the first time on the show. PJ shoulderblocks him and flips over Mack. They go back and forth with hard chops to the chest. Giant flying knee from Mack gets a round of applause and a 2. Mack recovers and lands a Samoan drop and standing moonsault for 2.5. Striker calls Mack Norvell Austin while we get a forearm exchange. Mack goes for a German suplex, but PJ flips out of it and gets a Blue Thunder bomb called Black to the Future for 2. PJ takes a long time for the 450 and Mack avoids it while Vamp mocks him. Mack hits a big stunner for the win. “Dr. Black fails his wellness test!” according to Striker.
We get a vignette showing a woman named Kobra Moon kicking ass – she will debut next week. Catrina comes out with the Disciples of Death for a 3-on-2 handicap match. Prince Puma comes out first and Striker talks about Konnan being taken out at Ultima Lucha by the Disciples of Death, never to be seen again – so he seems to be written out for the time being. Vampiro says that Pentagon Jr. causes him nightmares, and the main event will follow after one last ad break.
Pentagon Jr. and Prince Puma vs. The Disciples of Death
The DoD jump Puma and Pentagon, keeping Puma in there. Pentagon comes in and flies to the floor to get the cheers, leading to Puma getting the lead there with a big dive of his own. Puma eats a beating while Pentagon just stands on the floor. DoD lands a double-teams springboard dropkick for 2. Catrina rakes Puma’s eyes on the floor. Reverse suplex hits Puma and a tag is made to the purple-masked DoD member. He throws one into another member and lands a neckbreaker on one member forcing that member to DDT his partner. Pentagon runs wild with a Slingblade without a tag. Giant chop to the chest from Pentagon in the corner, and then another against the ropes.
Puma is sent to the apron and eats a draping DDT. Pentagon eats a superkick and then a lift-up dropkick. One DoD member is placed in a chair and flipped onto his partner. Puma gets a modified Michinoku driver before signalling for the 630. Pentagon tags before the move hits and he steals the win. Pentagon brags and throws a double bicep pose up before landing a lungblower to Puma. He goes for the arm-breaker, but looks at Vamp and Puma fires up to be the first person to escape the hold.
We hear Rey Mysterio Jr. talking to Dragon Azteca Jr. asking if he’s ready for the power of the mask. We see Dragon Azteca Jr. briefly with his mask, and close out to a shot of Rey and his mask. Other than the debut of Rey Jr., this was a fairly standard and forgettable episode of the show – but his debut and to a lesser extent, that of PJ Black, set greater things into motion.
To see every screenshot for this show, click here.
After 3 months, Finn Balor and Apollo Crews finally reaches a conclusion to their match from November. Plus William Regal decides what to do after Sami Zayn & Samoa Joe both won a Triple Threat match last week.
Spoiler: It’s exactly what you expected him to do.
*****
The Vaudevillians beat The Hype Bros
The Vaudevillians are back and they are evil again, but they still have their happy baby face music. Eight years ago Zack Ryder did a run in on the main event of WrestleMania…just thought I would point that out. Speaking of Ryder, he is the one that the Vaudevillians got the heat on.
The move of the match was Ryder began making a comeback on both men and went for an inzigiri to Gotch. Gotch ducked, but English was right there to get it anyway. Mojo got the hot tag, but Ryder tagged back in quickly and the Vaudevillians won with the Whirling Dervish.
– Tom Phillips sat down with Carmella about her upcoming title match with Bayley. She is the daughter of former WWF jobber Paul Vandale. Remember the good old days when Carmella was a hairdresser and became a Diva because Enzo got her fired for dumping hair cream on her dog?
Anyway, she’s looking forward to wrestling Bayley next week and will beat Emma tonight.
– Dash and Dawson laughed at the idea of Enzo Amore and Big Cass talking about kicking their butts. They pointed out that Enzo and Cass lost their title shot. They can talk tough all they want, but they can not defeat Dash & Dawson.
Carmella pinned Emma
Carmella looks a lot better in street clothes than she does in her ring gear. They did not play up the storyline set up last week where the heels mocked Carmella for doing nothing to deserve being #1 Contender and the fact that Bayley won the tag team match a few weeks ago without her. Emma showed Carmella no respect, slapping her in the back of the head and Carmella suddenly won with a backslide.
– Both Sami Zayn felt he should be the number one contender following last week’s match where both he and Samoa Joe made Baron tap. Joe scared the cameraman and ignored the question.
Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady defeated Two Men
Enzo really does cut a hell of a promo these days. He has improved so much from when he started, if you recall he used to be so bad that he wasn’t even trusted to get in a single offensive maneuver and would just spend the entire match selling. The jobbers never got named, but Colin gave one of them a hiptoss from inside the ring to the pretty black mats. Colin laid out the other with a Catatonic and Enzo pinned him with the Rocket Launcher.
– Apollo Crews was stretching backstage when a camera was shoved in her face. He said he has what it takes to be NXT Champion, but tonight is step one in becoming champion one day.
– NXT General Manager William Regal was about to announce Sami Zayn vs Samoa Joe to determine the #1 Contender when Baron Corbin stormed in and demanded to be involved, even though he tapped out to two men. He then made Zayn vs Joe. Makes you wonder why they bothered making you wait a week. It was later announced that the match was booked for two weeks from now.
Asuka tapped out Santana Garrett
Santana is a well known women’s wrestler on the Independent circuit and spent over a year in TNA where she was Brittany. In case you don’t remember, she was in a relationship with Samuel Shaw and tried to have a lesbian relationship with Madison Rayne. She did a lot better than most against Asuka but got trapped in a rolling armbar. Santana got out, but got locked in the Asuka Lock for the tap out.
– Finn Balor said Mr. Regal made the right decision by making Joe vs Zayn.
NXT Champion Finn Balor pinned Apollo Crews
These two first wrestled back in November, but it ended in a disqualification when Baron Corbin interfered. Apollo hasn’t been seen much since losing to Baron at NXT Takeover and this is Finn’s first tv match since the same night.
This was a good, solid match. The crowd seemed exhausted at this point as there were people openly yawning in the front row. Everything these two did was very good. However the fans just couldn’t get into it until the finish. Balor began making his comeback, which woke them up, but they weren’t nearly as loud as they had been.
Crews kicked out of a Coup de Grace to the back and Finn kicked out of the Gorilla Slam and standing Moonsault. Finn hit the Slingblade, the corner dropkick and the Coup de Grace before pinning Crews with a brainbuster. After the match, Balor shook the hand of Crews.
That does it for tonight! Until next week, remember to say your vitamins and take your prayers!
Monday’s RAW lineup in Birmingham, AL, had to be changed somewhat as both Bo Dallas (Taylor Rotunda) and Bray Wyatt (Windham Rotunda) flew home from Birmingham to Tampa as grandfather, Bob “Blackjack Mulligan” Windham, is in bad shape.
Mike Rotunda, a producer with WWE, Bob’s son-in-law, and the father of Wyatt and Dallas, flew home with his sons today as well. Both Bray and Bo did work WWE house shows Sunday night, so something obviously changed between then and today in order to cause their trip back.
The 73-year-old Windham was hospitalized in June 2015 after suffering a heart attack. He and partner “Blackjack” Jack Lanza were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in April 2006. He worked all over the world as a tag team wrestler and as a singles wrestler in all of the key promotions, winning titles with Lanza, Ric Flair, and Dick Murdoch.
We’ll discuss any updates or story developments on tonight’s edition of Wrestling Observer Radio.
Former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson announced Tuesday that he has signed with Bellator MMA.
Henderson’s contract expired after his split decision win over Jorge Masvidal on 11/28 in Seoul, South Korea, and it was well known he was in talks with Bellator since that point. UFC had the right to match the Bellator offer, but declined according to a tweet from MMA Junkie’s John Morgan who spoke with Dana White.
It is expected Henderson will fight at welterweight in Bellator where he would be considered a strong favorite if he were to face current champion Andrey Koreshkov. The 170 pound division is wide open for him to talk into a title fight, but he’d have more money fights at lightweight. Lightweight is the company’s strongest division with the likes of current lightweight champion Will Brooks, Michael Chandler, and Josh Thomson.
On Facebook, Henderson (23-5) thanked the UFC, including a number of people behind the scenes as well as White and Lorenzo Fertitta. He also did an interview on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour show.
“I’m beyond excited for this next phase of my career,” he wrote. “It’s a big move, like any move when switching employers or jobs after having worked somewhere for such a long time.
Henderson started with Zuffa in 2009, as part of the WEC lightweight division. He had a classic all-time match later that year when he won the interim title in a match with Donald Cerrone, and followed that up with by beating Jamie Varner for the title. Henderson lost the title to Anthony Pettis in another of the great fights of the era, via decision, in 2010, featuring Pettis doing the Showtime kick off the cage to knock Henderson down in the closing minute of the fight. Henderson then defeated Frankie Edgar on February 26, 2012, to win the UFC lightweight title. He defended it four times before losing to Pettis on August 31, 2013. He fought at welterweight in his last two UFC fights.
El Rey Network announced Monday morning that Lucha Underground has been renewed for a third season.
According to the release, production will begin immediately in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles and will premiere on El Rey in early 2017.
The second season of the cult wrestling phenomenon began a week ago and are just about to wrap up their final set of tapings. Last week’s premiere drew 109,000 viewers for the initial Wednesday airing with 85,000 for the immediate replay.
From the release:
“‘Lucha Underground’ has caught fire by developing a loyal and passionate fan base,” said El Rey Network Chairman and Founder Robert Rodriguez. “I am proud that its home is El Rey Network, and we’re excited to announce a season three return for even more no-holds-barred action.”
“I am so excited that the fans will be able to continue to enjoy the incredible action and stories,” said Executive Producer Mark Burnett.
“It is with great remorse that I feel compelled to speak truthfully to my friends, family and my millions of fans around the world. In the past few years, I’ve spent more than enough time paying the price for all those years trying to be the best there ever was as a professional wrestler. I executed excellently and my proudest claim was that I never seriously hurt or injured another wrestler in my 23 year career. I’ve paid a price for all that “fake” wrestling. Aside from a devastating career-ending concussion and numerous surgeries when I was younger, in recent years I’ve had two knee replacements, two hernia operations, surgery on my right elbow, and, just a few months ago, I underwent a four-corner fusion of my right wrist that even now makes it most difficult to write or type.
Mark Helprin wrote: “We are all perfect clocks that Divinity has set to ticking when, even before birth, the heart explodes into a lifelong dance.” I’ve had a great lifelong dance and I’m a survivor of many hard battles. I now face my toughest battle. With hesitation and fear, I openly declare myself in my fight against prostate cancer. In the next few days, I will undergo surgery with the hope of defeating this nemesis once and for all.
My fans have always looked upon me as a hero and I’ve always done my best to live up to that in and out of the ring. I beat the odds when I suffered my stroke in 2002, but it is now yet again, that I draw upon the many adults and young children I’ve met throughout my life who courageously fought and usually lost in their battles against this deadly disease. One year ago, I watched a brave young man named Whesley fight brain cancer to the end. If I can find even an ounce of his courage to stand unafraid and face the tough road ahead of me, I will march toward this destiny with his spirit chanting in my ear.
I make a solemn vow to all of those that once believed in me, the dead and the living, that I will wage my fearsome fight against cancer with one shield and one sword carrying my determination and my fury for life, emboldened by all the love that’s kept me going this long already. Love is my weapon and I’ve got much of it around me all the time, for which I’m truly blessed and eternally grateful. My children, grandchildren, and my loving wife Steph have been and will constantly be at my side. I refuse to lose, I will never give in or give up, and I will win this battle or die trying.
Most important of all, I hope I can take the fight to prostate cancer. To be a leader in awareness and to set the example for men everywhere who find themselves in my very same shoes, that prostate cancer can be beaten.
The January 25th post-Royal Rumble edition of Monday Night RAW did a 2.93 rating and averaged 4,098,000 viewers for the 3-hour broadcast. Other than the June 15th, 2015 RAW, which did a virtually identical 4.1 million viewers, this was the highest number for RAW since the post-Mania show’s 5.35 million, and the rating was the highest since that March 30th show did a 3.67.
However, both numbers were significantly down from last year’s post Rumble RAW. That show had a 3.27 rating and averaged 4,410,000 viewers. For the month of January, the average viewership total was 3,624,000 with a 2.56 rating. Those numbers were down 10.51% and 13.31% respectively from the January 2015 averages. This was the 14th straight month that both numbers dropped from the previous year’s total.
What should that mean for this week?
The February 2, 2015 edition of RAW averaged 4.28 million viewers and a 3.01 rating. Given the pattern of how recent RAWs have been performing as compared to the same week the previous year, tonight’s show should do a rating somewhere between 2.5 and 2.7 with a viewership total between 3.7 million and 3.9 million.
Saturday night’s UFC on FOX show, headlined by Anthony “Rumble” Johnson’s 86 second knockout win over Ryan Bader, did 2.43 million viewers and an 0.8 in the 18-49 demo based on the overnight ratings.
Due to the nature of live sports and the way ratings are measured, that number doesn’t figure West Coast viewership so the number will rise somewhat. The show ended at 10 PM EST with the main event ending at about 9:50 p.m. so the usual late gain from the main event not being figured in won’t be there. Last year’s January show did 2.82 million viewers on the initial overnight rating and the final number came in at 3.049 million viewers. If this year’s number increases by the same percentage, the number should fall somewhere in the 2.6 to 2.7 million range.
That would be the lowest number that UFC on FOX show has done since the July 26, 2014 show headlined by Robbie Lawler vs Matt Brown. It would also be the lowest number that UFC has ever done for a January show. The previous low was last year’s show on January 24th, headlined by Johnson knocking out Alexander Gustaffson in the first round.
In fact, the January number has fallen every year since UFC on FOX 2 in January 2012. That show did 4.7 million viewers for the show headlined by Rashad Evans over Phil Davis. UFC on FOX 6 in January 2013 did 4.22 million for a Demetrious Johnson-John Dodson flyweight title fight and Rampage Jackson in the co-main. The 2014 show, UFC on FOX 10, headlined by Benson Henderson vs Josh Thomson did 3.2 million viewers and then last year’s show at 3.049 million.
FOX is likely to end up as the lowest total viewing audience among the networks, although it may beat CBS with rerun programming. In the demo, it will likely end up second place behind ABC, which had live NBA programming.
Note that all of these matches were in the Lockdown cage
Beer Money beat Eric Young and Bram in a cage match with the DWI.
Decent match. Crowd were hot for Beer Money.
– Spud and EC3 did a promo, EC3 called Spud the most passionate person he’s ever met and they shook hands. Both guys got very good reactions. Matt Hardy came out with Reby and Tyrus, said ‘this’ was his house, etc. and he would win tonight.
X Division Champion Trevor Lee (w/Shane Helms) def. Tigre Uno in a cage match
Lee won with a pin. Another decent match, Uno hit a bit splash off the top of the cage, one of the spots of the night.
First ever Knockouts Lethal Lockdown match
The Dollhouse (Jade, Marti Belle and Rebel) vs. Gail Kim (who got one of the bigger pops of the night), Velvet Sky and a mystery partner – it looked like Maria, but they never announced who it was, so not actually sure. She was a redhead. Whoever it was came out last, teased getting in the ring and then locked the door, leaving the faces outnumbered. Dollhouse won. Not a bad match, they had a bunch of weapons in the cage that were used liberally.
– Kurt Angle did a brief promo, was interrupted by Lashley, Angle challenged him to a fight, Lashley walked away.
Eli Drake vs. Odarg the Great in a cage match
Comedy match that was a lot of fun. Grado did a bunch of funny spots, like failing to climb over the cage. Drake did the old Flair bare-ass spot, which got some laughs. Mahabali Shera came out to stop Jesse Godderz interfering. Grado escaped the cage after Drake grabbed his ‘Odarg’ mask and it came off as he fell to the floor.
TNA Champion Matt Hardy vs. EC3 in a cage match
Decent match with lots of weapons. Tyrus interfered. Funny spot where EC3 chained Tyrus to the ropes and was poised to hit him with a chair, but Tyrus did the Brodus Clay claw dance while pleading with EC3 not to hit him. Reby then came out with a hammer. Spud stopped her before turning heel on EC3 by slamming his head with the cage door which killed the crowd a little bit.
For TNA Xplosion!
Will Ospreay and Mandrews vs. TNA Tag Champions The Wolves
Decent match, but only went 6-7 minutes, Mandrews took a nasty bump and was pretty shaken up. Wolves pinned Ospreay with their finisher. Was good while it lasted.
For March 7th Impact
Jimmy Havoc vs Abyss – Monsters Ball match
Abyss wins with the Black Hole Slam into a barbed wire board. Was typical Abyss match. Havoc got a few chants and looked pretty good.
Mike “The Miracle” Bennett vs Drew Galloway
Crowd didn’t really know how to react to Mike Bennett, Galloway got a big pop however. Pretty decent TV match, they brawled outside a lot and Bennett won with a roll-up after Maria got involved and distracted Drew.
Eric Young vs Big Damo
Bram and Young cut a promo – calling out any challenger. Big Damo responded. He got a similar reaction to Ospreay and Havoc – pretty good, not huge. There were pockets of British indie fans, but many fans probably didn’t know them. Young wins with a piledriver. Okay match.
Kurt Angle vs. Bobby Roode
Angle wins via tap out with ankle lock. Good match, the usual Angle stuff, crowd was really into it. Angle got the biggest pop of the night for his entrance and win. Roode put over Kurt on the mic, James Storm came out and did the same. Storm pulled two beers out of a bag for himself and Roode and then a half gallon of milk for Kurt, that got a nice pop. Kurt drank the milk like Austin drinking a beer. The Wolves’ entrance music played at the wrong time, Kurt covered for it on the mic, Wolves then came out and set up a tag title match with Beer Money for the next show.
One Night Only PPV matches
Both were ‘Jokers Wild’ tag matches.
Tyrus/Jade vs. Bobby Roode and Gail Kim
Comedy match that the crowd enjoyed. Jade ended up pinning Gail with roll up.
Eli Drake and James Storm vs. Will Ospreay and Matt Hardy
Another fun match. Storm superkicked Drake for stealing his beer and then left, at which point Ospreay hit his 450 splash off the top. Hardy tagged himself in and took the pin.
– Overall, this was a fun show. They packed a lot into four hours, but the crowd stayed pretty hot the whole way. No great matches, but nothing bad either.
