THE ROUND-UP
The Latest from the F4W Staff
NEWS
Another twist in UFC TUF 26 Finale title fight as Eubanks gets replaced
Six-man tag title match announced for ROH Final Battle
NXT TV taping spoilers: Fatal four-way number one contender’s match
Three title matches, one title change at NXT TV tapings
WWE NXT results: Moustache Mountain vs. Pete Dunne & Mark Andrews
WWE SmackDown ratings up for fourth straight week
AUDIO
WOL: Observer Hall of Fame, McGregor, TUF Finale, Dave Meltzer, tons of news! 11/30
WOR: 2017 Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame discussion, news, mailbag and more! 11/30
F4D: Tom and Bryan go around the world, Smackdown, Royal Rumble 2003, more! 11/29
We’re looking for reports on the Smackdown brand house show tonight in Lima, Peru, as well as the NXT shows in Pittsburgh, PA and Lakeland, FL to [email protected].
IMPACT ON POP TV AT 8 P.M. TONIGHT
NEW JAPAN IN TOYOHASHI ON NEW JAPAN WORLD TOMORROW (taped delayed but should be up rather early on New Japan World)
Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Hangman Page & Yujiro Takahashi
Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Evil & Sanada
Juice Robinson & Sami Callihan vs. Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka
Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi vs. Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: Figure Four Weekly 11/27/2017: Four who should be next on the WWE main roster
When WWE decides to call up wrestlers from NXT, they usually tend to be painfully drawn out or total surprises. The arrivals of Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville, Ruby Riot, Liv Morgan, and Sarah Logan on the main roster last week was more the latter. Of the five, only Riot (who was formerly known as Heidi Lovelace before signing with WWE) had wrestled a match on a TakeOver special. The other four had yet to even have full runs on NXT television aside from sporadic appearances.
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WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: December 4, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: AJ Styles, Minoru Suzuki and more enter the Hall of Fame
What is usually the most talked about issue of the year, the Hall of Fame double issue is out with biographies of the five new entrants, why they were so important historically, as well as a breakdown of the voting in not just total votes, but broken down among those in the industry, reporters and historians.
Among the stories covered include the birth of major league pro wrestling in Japan and how it got so big so quickly including the booking behind it, the heyday of pro wrestling in Australia, as well as both the East and West Coast scene in the 60s and 70s. Plus, look at next year’s ballot.
This issue contains a feature on the history of Starrcade, how it started, its successes and failures over the years, including how Starrcade led to the growth of Crockett Promotions as well as the ending of the company. Look at the role Vince McMahon played in the killing of Crockett Promotions, the transition to Turner Broadcasting, the decisions that killed Starrcade as a major event, the rebirth of Starrcade, the Hogan vs. Sting and Goldberg vs. Nash matches and the tradition of Thanksgiving in Greensboro.
Read the full coverage of what led to the first Starrcade, what famous Starrcade matches were never supposed to happen, how tragedies and backstage brawls changed plans, how Starrcade led to the departure of Dusty Rhodes as booker of WCW and the role of Ric Flair.
There is also a feature on the career of Jim Cornette as a manger, including how he got into wrestling, how dominant he was as the best manager in his heyday, his biggest successes, the high point of Mid South Wrestling and Crockett Promotions, the economics of why SMW didn’t work and how wrestling changed in the 90s and why it is so different today, and why the reality is that ECW, SMW and JCP all went down for the same reason.
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ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to Dave Meltzer, or by using PayPal directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $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 [email protected]. 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 choose one free classic issue, or two free classic issues with a 40-issue subscription.
WON BACK ISSUE: November 13, 2000 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: WWF not buying WCW, ECW November to Remember review
With the WCW crew enroute to Europe for a one-week tour, the questions about the future of the company remain. With little substantial information available, much of the talk going around consists of rumors, but it is clear the two possibilities remain–the company will either be purchased by a group headed by Eric Bischoff, or have its expenses cut to as much bare bones as possible and remain part of Turner Broadcasting.
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THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE
We’ll have a new audio show with Patric Laprade talking the life and times of Andre the Giant, as well as Georges St-Pierre and the 1997-98 WWE/WCW wars up on the site today. We also have our Hall of Fame show up with Matt Farmer and will have more Hall of Fame talk later in the week. We won’t be doing a show on Friday night but will be covering the Friday night UFC show on Saturday night along with the UFC PPV, as this is a huge weekend for that promotion.
I want to mention that I just got a copy of the book “Crazy Like A Fox: The Definitive Chronicle of Brian Pillman 20 years later,” by Liam O’Rourke and this is the best biography, probably because of the nature of the subject, as far as real in-depth and honest of any wrestler that I’ve ever seen. It’s not really a wrestling book, but it has tons of wrestling, but a look at a fascinating character with all the good and bad put in. I promise you, nobody has ever worked harder to get an interview with me than him and the story is completely different from any pro wrestling book out there. It’s as accurate as accurate can be with extensive interviews with his family and friends.
Also, thanks for all the comments on this week’s issue. If you are into wrestling history, I wanted to make this a strong issue with the Starrcade history, since the way it’s been told by some the past week isn’t exactly how it was, and it’s a fascinating case study of the rise and fall of both Jim Crockett Promotions and WCW, as well as the Hall of Fame issue which covers some major personalities and a lot of different ground including the heyday of pro wrestling in Australia and the birth of major league pro wrestling in Japan.
Tomorrow night will be a crazy MMA night with UFC, Bellator and Combate Americas all airing on FS1, Spike and Telemundo respectively.
This is the full UFC show for tomorrow night, which was first announced last night. Sijara Eubanks was hospitalized due to kidney issues from cutting weight so is out of the flyweight title match main event and was replaced by Roxanna Modafferi in the title match. Modafferi was to face Barb Honchak, so Honchak will now face Lauren Murphy:
Fight Pass at 7:30 p.m —
Gillian Robertson (125.5) vs. Emily Whitmire (125)
FS1 at 8 p.m —
Ariel Beck (125.5) vs. Shana Dobson (125.5)
Karine Gevorgyan (130) vs. Rachael Ostovich (125) – Gevorgyan was fined 30 percent of her show money for missing weight
Ryan Janes (185) vs. Andrew Sanchez (185.5)
Montana De La Rosa (125.5) vs. Christina Marks (125.5)
Brett Johns (135.5) vs. Joe Soto (135)
DeAnna Bennett (126) vs. Melinda Fabian (126)
Gerald Meerschaert (185) vs. Eric Spicely (185.5)
Lauren Murphy (125) vs. Barb Honchak (125.5)
Sean O’Malley (135.5) vs. Terrion Ware (136)
Nicco Montana (124.5) vs. Roxanne Modafferi (124) for the UFC women’s flyweight title
Spicely is a Northeast independent pro wrestler.
Results from today’s New Japan tag team tournament from Korakuen Hall —
Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa (3-1) beat David Finlay & Katsuya Kitamura (0-4)
Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano (2-2) beat Togi Makabe & Henare (0-4)
Baretta & Chucky T (3-1) beat Michael Elgin & Jeff Cobb (2-2)
War Machine (3-1) beat Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. (3-1)
WWE
Stephanie McMahon is scheduled to be speaking from 7-10 p.m. Monday night at the CMO Digital Summit in Pelican Hill, CA. So if she appears on Raw, she either has to do pretapes or make it fit into that speaking schedule.
With Impact giving up its IP property claim on the Broken gimmick, Matt Hardy has opened a Vanguard 1 twitter account.
Tickets for the 4/9 Raw and 4/10 Smackdown tapings right after WrestleMania at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans go on sale on 12/8. They are likely to sell out quickly.
Sgt. Slaughter is scheduled to appear on Tribute to the Troops which is being taped this coming Tuesday morning in San Diego.
WWE is advertising A.J. Styles vs. Jinder Mahal, Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens, Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn and Bobby Roode vs. Dolph Ziggler for the post-Christmas tour including 12/27 in Detroit at the Little Caesar’s Arena.
Mick Foley talks about his new speaking tour covering the 20th anniversary of his Hell in a Cell match with Undertaker.
UFC / MMA
Conor McGregor was in court in Ireland today for a speeding charge from 3/31, making it clear he had not fled the country as there were rumors given of a fight he had with someone close to a mob member on Sunday night. When he left the court and it was brought up that there was a threat made on his life, he said “Come and get me.”
UFC 219 presale tickets went on sale today for the 12/30 show at the T Mobile Arena featuring Cris Cyborg vs. Holly Holm for the women’s featherweight title, Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Edson Barboza, Jimmie Rivera vs. John Lineker and Carlos Condit vs. Neil Magny. You can get tickets using the code DECEMBER.
Bellator weigh-ins for tomorrow night’s main card:
David Rickels (160.7) vs. Adam Piccolotti (160.6)
Hisaki Kato (185.2) vs. Chidi Njokuani (185.3)
Rafael Lovato Jr. (185.7) vs. Chris Honeycutt (185.4)
Julia Budd (143.9) vs. Arlene Blencowe (144.6) for the featherweight title
The fight with Alexis Dufrense vs. Amber Leibrock was canceled because Dufrense didn’t make weight.
MISCELLANEOUS
Terry Funk & Sandman vs. Warbeast managed by Kevin Sullivan is headlining a show in Wilmington, CA tomorrow night that also has Penta 0M vs. John Hennigan, Douglas James vs. Zack Sabre Jr., Willie Mack vs. Ethan Page, Brian Cage vs. Hammerstone, ACH vs. Mecha Wolf 450 and Brody King vs. Joe Graves. Stan Hansen will also be there.
NJPW’s King of Pro Wrestling show from 10/9 at Sumo Hall in Tokyo airs as a three-hour special on AXS TV tomorrow night from 8-11 p.m. The key matches are Kazuchika Okada vs. Evil for the IWGP title, Tetsuya Naito vs. Tomohiro Ishii, Kushida vs Will Ospreay for the IWGP jr title, Kota Ibushi & Juice Robinson vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Togi Makabe, Kenny Omega & Cody & Marty Scurll vs. Yoshi-Hashi & Baretta & Jado and more.
New Japan’s English language YouTube page is up right now.
The Rise iPPV scheduled for tomorrow night was canceled. They said their test of the broadcast on the Internet failed and didn’t want to risk doing a show, so they scrapped the iPPV plans and have refunded money to everyone who ordered.
Defy Wrestling and Future Stars of Wrestling will be part of the Impact Global Wrestling Network. There will be a match from Defy on tonight’s Impact show with Sami Callihan vs. Randy Myers.
MCW Pro Wrestling on 12/1 in Joppa, MD at the MCW Arena featuring an appearance by Sgt. Slaughter, plus Joey Mercury vs The Bruiser.
Barry Windham, Ron Simmons and Jim Brunzell were announced for the CWE Legends of Wrestling Convention 2 on 2/24 in Winnipeg at the CanAd Inns in Garden City.
Yoshitaka Naito defends the One strawweight title against Alex Silva on 12/9 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Gold Mine is hosting the 2017 Northern California pro wrestling Hall of Fame ceremony. I’ll be there and be inducted along with Walt Harris, the 1960s television announcer for National All-Star Wrestling and best known as the voice of Roller Derby in its heyday, Boyce LeGrande and Chicano Flame. It takes place at 4 p.m. Sunday in Pacifica, CA at 930 Oddsted Blvd. There is also a free pro wrestling show at 6 p.m.
Bad Luck Fale’s pro wrestling school in New Zealand is open with Fale and Dempsey Walker, a boxer and Muay Thai champion, as trainers, teaching both pro wrestling as well as striking and conditioning.
Battleground Championship Wrestling on 12/15 in Feasterville, PA at The Sportsplex has Billy Gunn, Sean Studd, Bull James, Matt Tremont, Joey Ryan and Dan Maff appearing. There is a meet and greet at 6 p.m and a live show at 8 p.m.
ECWA has a Toys for Tots benefit show Saturday in Woodbury Heights, NJ at the Woodbury Heights Community Center. They ask everyone to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots toy drive.
Combate Americas has a live show tomorrow night from San Antonio which airs live at midnight Eastern time on Telemundo. The prelims will stream on TelemundoDeportes.com and Facebook at 9 P.M. The main event is Kyra Bata (6-4) vs. Paulina Granados (4-2).
Dynamo Pro Wrestling on 12/16 in St. Louis at the Concodia Turners Gym.
Smash Wrestling on 1/28 in London, ONT at the London Music Hall for a taping for The Fight Network.
ECCW tomorrow night in Pitt Meadows, BC at Kazie First Nation Health Building.
CWE tonight in Stony Mountain, Manitoba at the Rec Centre.
Overcome Wrestling on 12/16 in Hamilton, ONT at the Lincoln Alexander Centre.
Kayfabe Dojo on 12/9 in Rochester NY at Pineapple Jack’s at 4 p.m.
Adam Rose has a seminar tomorrow at 4 p.m. at the Team Vision Dojo in Orlando and he’ll headline a show that night at 8 p.m. at the Dojo.
AAW on Saturday in LaSalle, IL at the Knights of Columbus has Ivelisse vs. Rachael Ellering vs. the winner of the Jessicka Havoc vs. Candice LeRae match for the women’s title, Mat Fitchett & Davey Vega defend the tag titles against Shane Strickland & Keith Lee, Hurricane Helms vs. Trevor Lee, Jimmy Jacobs vs. David Starr, Matt Riddle vs. ACH, AR Fox vs. Sammy Guevara vs. Myron Reed, Zema Ion vs. Ethan Page, Dave & Jake Crist vs. Devin & Mason Cutter vs. Trey Miguel & Stephen Wolf and more.
A story on the sports media covering fighting. (thanks to Chris Cruise)
Today in Professional Wrestling History: ECW November to Remember 1997
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