DAILY UPDATE
Latest news
Hiroshi Tanahashi wins Tokyo Sports MVP Award
WWE SmackDown ratings up slightly, still below two million viewers
UFC cancels January’s UFC 233 after main event fails to materialize
Title challengers announced for NWA pop-up event
ROH TV results: Final Battle go-home show
WWE SmackDown video highlights: Asuka stands tall, Bryan vs. Ali
WWE Mixed Match Challenge results: Finals are set
Mixed Match Challenge finals official for WWE TLC
WWE SmackDown live results: Bryan vs. Ali, Charlotte vs. Asuka
Latest Audio
WOL: RAW ratings, Madison Rayne talks ROH, more! 12/12
B&V&C: Retro Raw and Nitro from 19 years ago this week! 12/11
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: The revitalization of the new Daniel Bryan
When Daniel Bryan announced his emotional return to the ring, it was fairly inconceivable that he’d end up being a vicious and pompous environmentalist heel just eight months later. But the character change has revitalized Bryan and taken him to the highest points since the immediate aftermath of announcing his comeback. With Bryan completely buying into the change, “the new Daniel Bryan” has been far better in execution than it would have sounded on paper.
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.
WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
Despite being announced, Naomi vs. Mandy Rose didn’t take place on last night’s episode of SmackDown. A segment where Jeff Hardy was going to address Samoa Joe’s “public service announcement” from last week was also advertised, but Hardy & Rusev instead faced Joe & Shinsuke Nakamura in a tag match. In a post-show video, Paige gave a storyline reason for Naomi vs. Rose not happening. She blamed it on Miz & Shane McMahon’s tag match and said Naomi and Rose’s feud isn’t over. Rose’s storyline explanation was that she had a photoshoot. Naomi and Rose have also continued their storyline on Twitter.
WWE uploaded a video on Instagram where Jeff Hardy, The New Day, and The Usos greeted and praised Mustafa Ali after his match with Daniel Bryan on SmackDown.
Jeff Jarrett was backstage at SmackDown in Las Vegas. WWE posted video of an interview Jarrett did with Mike Rome, talking about TLC and promoting SmackDown coming to Fox at last week’s Tennessee Titans game.
Vanilla Ice responded to Cesaro and Sheamus’ “Ice Ice Sheamy” rap from SmackDown: “This is so bad it’s awesome. Love it”
WWE posted a video with John Cena after he received the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award at last night’s Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year Awards. Cena said he accepted the award on behalf of all the wrestlers in WWE because he believes they would make the same choices as him if they were put in his shoes. Cena said he’s sending the award to Connecticut so it can be displayed in WWE headquarters.
Responding to a tweet where Bryan Alvarez called this week’s Raw ratings embarrassing, Jimmy Jacobs wrote: “Writing a 3 hour wrestling tv show every single week is f*ckin hard.” Seth Rollins then responded to Jacobs: “That’s the one thing I don’t think people understand. 5 hours of live TV every week. EVERY WEEK. Add in all the extraneous variables that affect the final outcome….and it’s a modern miracle that the shows come together as well as they do.”
The Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio officially announced that WWE Fastlane will take place at the venue on March 10, 2019.
Curt Hawkins wrote about the toy drive that he and Zack Ryder partnered with Toys for Tots for: “I really can’t put into words what happened yesterday. It was special. I can say that the fans, friends, & family of the @majorwfpod are absolutely amazing. Together we donated over 2,600 wrestling toys to @toysfortots.nassaucounty. Unbelievable. Thank you!”
Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose in a 30-minute Iron Man match for the FCW 15 Championship (from FCW’s September 18, 2011 show) will be added to WWE Network’s Hidden Gems section tomorrow. Hidden Gems will be added on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday this week.
Pro Wrestling
Dave Meltzer and Chris Jericho discussed the complicated legacy of Dynamite Kid on today’s episode of Talk is Jericho.
GLOW was nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series in this year’s Screen Actors Guild Awards. Alison Brie was also nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series for her role on GLOW.
The WWN Supershow will now start at 3 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, April 5 due to NXT TakeOver: New York taking place that night, and WWN has said their show will end at around 5:30 p.m. SHIMMER’s event will start at 11 a.m. Revolution Pro Wrestling’s show on that Friday has been moved to starting at 3 p.m.
The NWA uploaded video of Nick Aldis’ NWA title defense against Jake Hager (Jack Swagger) from WrestleCade.
To celebrate reaching two million subscribers on YouTube, Impact Wrestling uploaded the first NWA: TNA event and the barbed wire Christmas tree episode of Impact.
UFC/MMA
The Telegraph reported that the UFC has triggered an exit clause on their UK and Ireland rights deal with Eleven Sports that had yet to start. Chamatkar Sandhu noted that the UFC now staying with BT Sport “is the direction things are headed towards.”
With the UFC moving from Fox to ESPN, tonight’s episode was the final edition of UFC Tonight.
Daniel Cormier, Paul Felder, and Jon Anik will be the commentary team for the final UFC on FOX show this Saturday.
Michael Bisping said he’ll be joining the UFC commentary team in 2019.
Jose Aldo vs. Renato Moicano is targeted for the UFC’s ESPN+ show in Fortaleza, Brazil on February 2.
Kamaru Usman posted a picture of a bout agreement he signed to face Tyron Woodley and wrote that he hopes Woodley’s hand is ready.
Daily Pro Wrestling History: WWF Armaggeddon 1999
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