Daily Update: WWE notes, Lesnar/USADA, Tank Abbott
DAILY UPDATE
Latest News
Daniel Bryan vs. Mustafa Ali set for WWE SmackDown
ROH Final Battle to be four-hour show, opening match announced
WWE reveals Holiday Week schedule, New Day special set
Report: ONE Championship, Turner Sports to sign three-year deal
Hijo de LA Park replacing Jason Cade in MLW Middleweight title match
Joey Janela’s Spring Break 3, part two set for WrestleMania weekend
WWE Raw video highlights: Rollins blames Raw’s problems on Corbin
Ladder stipulation added to Elias vs. Lashley at WWE TLC
PWG announces card for Hand of Doom
New Tag Team Champions crowned on WWE Raw
Latest Audio
WOL: ONE and Turner, RAW, TLC, more! 12/11
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1972 wrestling timeline 12/11
WOR: RAW is Nitro, New Japan news, Greg Hardy, mailbag, more! 12/11
Smackdown, Mixed Match Challenge and 205 Live are from Las Vegas. Among the things announced for the show is a rap battle with Sheamus & Cesaro vs. The Usos with New Day as hosts, Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair, and Mixed Match Challenge Smackdown finals with Carmella & R-Truth vs. The Miz & Asuka.
ALL JAPAN TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT FINALS FROM TOKYO KORAKUEN HALL
Atsushi Maruyama & Kotaro Suzuki vs. Tajiri & Gianni Valletta
Masa Fuchi & Koji Iwamoto & Ultimo Dragon vs. Atsushi Aoki & Hikaru Sato & Yusuke Okada
Zeus & The Bodyguard & Osamu Nishimura vs. Naoya Nomura & Yuma Aoyagi & Black Menso-re
Kento Miyahara & Yoshitatsu vs Parrow & Odinson
Jun Akiyama & Daisuke Sekimoto vs. Takao Omori & Manabu Soya
Suwama & Shuji Ishikawa vs. Joe Doering & Dylan James
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Looking ahead to 2019
As we enter December, it feels like 2019 has been cemented as an absolutely pivotal year for the immediate future of professional wrestling. The global arms race for talent continued this past week. It was confirmed that WALTER, who is legitimately one of the best wrestlers in the world, has signed with WWE. He’s been signed for NXT’s United Kingdom brand and could play a part in the potential NXT Germany.
WON NEWSLETTER: December 10, 2018 Observer Newsletter: Death of Dynamite Kid
A look at the life of Dynamite Kid is the lead story in this week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer.
Look at his influence on the industry, his in-ring sacrifices, read comments from Bret Hart & Julie Hart, a look at his early days and his arrival in Stampede Wrestling, and his explosion of popularity in Japan.
Also look at Vince McMahon’s latest stock sale, as well as co-President George Barrios selling stock.
Read about the decision to flip flop Takeover and the Hall of Fame ceremony in April. Look at awards given to Cena, wrestlers and charity work, and more on the restrictions placed on U.K.
Look more at the XFL and the battle with the AAF that Vince McMahon is going to have starting next spring.
Examine UFC’s decision to sign Greg Hardy and debut him on the same show as Rachael Ostovich and the marketing behind both fights.
Read the update on the New Japan tag team tournament tour with results, business notes, lineups, the Tanahashi & Okada tag team and more.
This issue has an update on the WWE TLC show, with the card, plus ticket sale updates.
Read full coverage of both UFC shows from the past week, with match-by-match coverage and business notes on both shows.
Also look at the PPV numbers for Liddell vs. Ortiz what lessons is teaches.
There is also coverage of AAA’s Guerra de Titanes and ICW’s Fear and Loathing.
Read more on the MMA debut of the former Jack Swagger.
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.
TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
PWInsider reported that Jason Jordan was in Birmingham, Alabama last weekend getting his neck evaluated. He’s been out of action for around a year and has been working as a producer.
John Cena was on The Graham Norton show with actor Matthew Mcconaughey, who brought up he was once kicked out a an arena in Treeport for throwing tomatoes at Skandor Akbar.
Pre-show tickets for a SmackDown event in Elmira, New York on March 23 will go on sale on 12/14. Matches already being advertised include Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Rusev for the United States title, AJ Styles vs. The Miz and Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch. Obviosuly, the card is subject to change. Click here for tickets, pre-sale code is WWELIVE.
Rhyno reiterated on social media that he is not retired and will fulfill contractual obligations after being “fired” from Raw last week.
Titus O’Neil shot a cover for his upcoming book “There’s No Such Thing As A BAD Kid” at the WWE Performance Center today. The book will be released next summer.
Kevin Owens will be making an appearance at the Cavalcade of Custons at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio on January 11 from 6-8 p.m.
WWE wrestlers were on a Try Not to Laugh challenge video for Fine Brothers Entertainment.
Matt Hardy spoke to Wrestling Inc, saying there wasn’t a timetable for his return, but he plans to return to the ring.
WWE posted a video of new Raw tag team champions Bobby Roode and Chad Gable posing with the titles.
Both members of the Revival commented on Seth Rollins’ shout out on Raw last night.
You can watch Becky Lynch on Ariel Helwani’s MMA show here.
Pro Wrestling
Joe Doering and Dylan James won this year’s AJPW Real World tag league. They defeated Suwama and Shuji Ishikawa to earn 14 points overall, putting them ahead of everyone else.
Tetsuya Naito cut a promo on Chris Jericho wearing Jericho’s recent facepaint ahead of their match at Wrestle Kingdom 13.
Tank Abbott, who had stints both in UFC and WCW, spoke to Hannibal TV recently. He said he recently got a liver transplant, dying five times on the operating table during the surgery. He’s since lost 100 pounds and has quit drinking.
UFC/MMA
ESPN got a statement from USADA explaining why the site reverted back to showing Lesnar submitting five tests when originally there were six. “USADA updates the Athlete Test History page of the UFC/USADA website on a weekly basis,” said USADA spokesperson Adam Woullard to ESPN. “During an update on the week of October 15th, we experienced a technical issue that resulted in the information on the page being displayed incorrectly. The correct test history for the athlete is one test [that week], not two. The issue has been fixed and the testing numbers on the website are all accurate. We are still investigating the specific technical issue that led to the error.”
Valentina Shevchenko isn’t in a rush to face Joanna Jedrzejczyk again after defeating her this past weekend to win the flyweight title.
Jedrzejczyk was interviewed by Polsat Sport, saying she gave everything in that fight, but did make some mistakes.
Jessica Penne and Jodie Esquibel in a strawweight division fight will take place on UFC’s ESPN debut on 2/17.
ESPN says that UFC 234 in Melbourne, Australia sold out “in minutes”.
Daily Pro Wrestling History: Nakamura & Tanahashi win IWGP Tag Team Titles
CONTACT INFORMATION
Poll opinions: [email protected]
Feedback: [email protected]
Show results and news tips: [email protected]
Wrestling Observer Radio questions: [email protected]
Support the Empire~! with F4W shirts. Grab yours today!