Daily Update: NJPW New Beginning, new SmackDown ref, Nate Diaz
THE ROUND-UP
The Latest from the F4W Staff
NEWS
UFC Fight Night 104 live results: Dennis Bermudez vs. Chan Sung Jung
‘The Russian Bear’ Ivan Koloff battling liver cancer
Kevin Kelly leaving full-time position with Ring of Honor
TNA Impact Wrestling results: Open Fight Night returns
AUDIO
WOL: Dr. Lucha, Seth Rollins update, Kevin Kelly and ROH, more! 2/3
B&V&G: NXT, Raw from Monday, WrestleMania 1, Joke Contest, more! 2/3
Wrestling Weekly: Rollins goes down, battle royal stories, keeping kayfabe 2/2
WOL: Raw ratings clarification, WrestleMania card with Dave Meltzer, more! 2/2
We are looking for reports from the Raw brand show in Salt Lake City featuring Brock Lesnar, the SmackDown brand in Grand Forks, ND, ROH in Dallas (Young Bucks vs. Briscoes 2/3 falls, Cody & Adam Cole vs. Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian, Hangman Page vs. Jay Lethal, Dalton Castle vs. Donovan Dijak, Bobby Fish vs. Lio Rush, Matt Taven & Vinnie Marseglia & TK O’Ryan vs. Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley & Jay White for trios titles) and the NXT show in Largo, FL to [email protected]
UFC ON SATURDAY FROM THE TOYOTA CENTER IN HOUSTON
Fight Pass at 7 p.m. ET
Daniel Jolly (204.5) vs. Khalil Rountree (205)
Alex Morono (170) vs. Niko Price (170.5)
FS1 at 8 p.m.
Bec Rawlings (117.5) vs. Tecia Torres (115.5) – Rawlings missed weight and was fined 20 percent of her purse
Ricardo Lucas Ramos (135) vs. Michinori Tanaka (135)
Chris Gruetzemacher (145) vs. Chas Skelly (146)
Curtis Blaydes (264.5) vs. Adam Milstead (233.5)
Jessica Andrade (115.5) vs. Angela Hill (116)
Marcel Fortuna (210.5) vs. Anthony Hamilton (258.5)
Volkan Oezdemir (206) vs. Ovince Saint Preux (205)
Abel Trujillo (156) vs. James Vick (155.5)
Alexa Grasso (116) vs. Felice Herrig (115.5)
Dennis Bermudez (145.5) vs. Chan Sung Jung (145.5)
NEW JAPAN NEW BEGINNING IN SAPPORO AT 1 A.M. EASTERN TIME LATE SATURDAY NIGHT ON NEW JAPAN WORLD
Kushida & Hirai Kawato vs. Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Yuji Nagata & Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Henare & Yoshitatsu & Tomoyuki Oka
Tiger Mask & Jushin Liger & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Gedo & Jado & Will Ospreay
Yoshi-Hashi vs. Takashi Iizuka
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Michael Elgin & Manabu Nakanishi & Ryusuke Taguchi & Dragon Lee vs. Tetsuya Naito & Seiya Sanada & Evil & Bushi & Hiromu Takahashi
Rocky Romero & Baretta vs Taka Michinoku & Taichi for IWGP jr. tag titles
Hirooki Goto vs. Juice Robinson for Never Open weight title
Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Archer for IWGP tag team titles
Kazuchika Okada vs. Minoru Suzuki for IWGP heavyweight title
Sunday has the Raw show in Eugene, OR and the SmackDown show in Winnipeg.
Raw will be Monday night from Portland, OR. Both Brock Lesnar and Bill Goldberg are scheduled on the show. There is also a SmackDown brand house show in Abbotsford, BC.
NEW JAPAN AT KORAKUEN HALL AT 4:30 A.M. EASTERN EARLY TUESDAY MORNING FROM KORAKUEN HALL IN TOKYO
Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata vs. Yoshitatsu & Tomoyuki Oka
Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Takashi Iizuka & Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Desperado
Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe & Katsuyori Shibata & Juice Robinson & Kushida vs. Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi & Will Ospreay & Gedo & Jado in an elimination match
Kazuchika Okada & Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii & Rocky Romero & Baretta vs. Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Taka Michinoku & Taichi in an elimination match
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Michael Elgin & Manabu Nakanishi & Ryusuke Taguchi & Dragon Lee vs. Tetsuya Naito & Evil & Seiya Sanada & Bushi & Hiromu Takahashi in an elimination match
Tuesday has the SmackDown & 205 Live tapings in Seattle, with John Cena vs. Randy Orton in a non-title match, plus the plan was for a Neville title defense on the show as well.
FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: 1/30/2017: Recapping the 2017 Royal Rumble
Given the star power in the match, Randy Orton winning the 2017 Royal Rumble was always going to be underwhelming to some. It was only who he eliminated last that redeemed the moment to most who were disappointed. Orton capped off a solid Rumble match at the Alamodome by last eliminating Roman Reigns, who entered at #30 after interference from Braun Strowman cost him his shot at the Universal Championship earlier in the night… Subscribers click here to continue.
WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: February 6, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Royal Rumble review, Ronda Rousey retired, more
An update on the lineups for WrestleMania, Fast Lane and Elimination Chamber, the direction of WWE and how they are getting there, the title situation and why the matches are taking place is the lead story in the new issue of the Observer.
Have a look at the situation with Seth Rollins and his injury, the current WrestleMania lineup, as well as how the next two PPVs will set up WrestleMania.
There is full coverage of the Royal Rumble, with a look at how everyone did, notes on Royal rumble records, match-by-match coverage with star ratings, poll results, and more.
This issue looks at the John Cena title win, examine how many world title reigns Ric Flair really had and the ones WWE pretends didn’t happen, ticket sales as compared to the 1997 show in the same building, problems with the setup and more.
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Examine the probable retirement of Ronda Rousey and her legacy, both good and bad.
Inside has an update on the situation with Conor McGregor and UFC and WWE, as well as the proposed Mayweather fight and the impending battles over contracts that fighters and UFC are likely to be having.
There is full coverage of the San Antonio Takeover show, the NXT awards, match-by-match coverage with star ratings and business notes.
Coverage of the UFC on FOX show as well as examining what lessons can be learned from the ratings, and what’s next for the fighters, is inside.
Look at plans for the 2018 Royal Rumble weekend, Mick Foley update regarding his position as General Manager, Paul Levesque talks working with outside promoters and Matt Riddle, plus we look at Riddle’s pro wrestling background. Plus, also look at the directions planned for upcoming house shows, what types of talent WWE has been contacting for WrestleMania and tournaments, Finn Balor update, notes on this coming weekend’s house shows, plus coverage from the NXT & WWE weekend events, with match highlights and business notes from the shows.
Finally, check out the coverage of the first U.K. prime time live television wrestling event since 1968.
Subscribers click here to continue.
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: January 10, 2000 NJPW Tokyo Dome reviewed, 1999 in revenue for promotions, more
The mixed promotional angle, the very thing that New Japan has specialized in for nearly three decades, looks back in the forefront as representatives from WCW (J.J. Dillon and Paul Orndorff) and RINGS (Akira Maeda) along with Nobuhiko Takada all met with New Japan management in conjunction with the company’s biggest show of the year 1/4 at the Tokyo Dome… Subscribers click here to continue.
SATURDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
NXT referee Danilo Anfibio was given a sendoff at last night’s house show in St. Augustine, Florida as he moves up to the SmackDown roster.
Charles Robinson revealed in an interview on WWE.com that he tore his plantar fascia while refereeing John Cena vs. AJ Styles at the Royal Rumble and reflected on what it was like to be there for Cena’s 16th title win.
Last night’s Raw brand house show in Broomfield, Colorado was main evented by Kevin Owens vs. Big Show in a non-title street fight since both Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns weren’t on the card.
Hideo Itami continued teasing his return to NXT on Twitter today: “See you soon. @WWENXT”
WWE.com has an article on the wrestlers at this week’s Performance Center tryouts.
Heidi Lovelace, Kimber Lee, and Andrea spoke about starting with WWE.
WWE’s YouTube channel looks at the top 10 Elimination Chamber match eliminations.
Pro Wrestling
Bret Hart is 100 percent recovered from prostate cancer.
Don Callis makes his debut calling New Japan Pro Wrestling tonight/into tomorrow morning as he’ll be calling the New Beginning in Sapporo with Kevin Kelly. The show will be headlined by Kazuchika Okada defending the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Minoru Suzuki.
Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, Ricochet, and Will Ospreay will be appearing for OTT Wrestling at a big show in Ireland on April 15th at National Stadium. The promotion also had a show today with Drew Galloway making a surprise appearance and Mark Haskins wrestling for the first time since taking time off with a neck injury last year.
This week’s Open Fight Night episode of TNA Impact was watched by 299k viewers on average on Pop TV, which is down slightly from last week’s 307k.
WGRZ in Buffalo, New York did an extended story on Lex Luger that looks at his career and where he’s at now in life. All four parts of their interview with him are available to watch.
UFC/MMA
Dana White told USA Today Sports that he’s waiting on hearing back from Nate Diaz on a fight that the company offered him. Diaz posted a tweet seemingly responding to White: “Lol at your fight…”
Eddie Alvarez hinted that he’ll be returning to the Octagon soon.
Michael Page vs. Paul Daley is being targeted for Bellator’s show in London in May.
F4W / WO EMPIRE WRESTLEMANIA GROUP INFO
PRE MANIA TAILGATE:
Who to Blame: Ken Hesser
Details from Ken: I ran one prior to the Miami, Atlanta, and last Orlando Manias, and all were well received. Typically, I keep these things really informal, with music, cornhole and refreshments, BYOB or food. Fun should start around 3 PM, so if you’re coming over on the bus, please stop by for a few minutes! PM if you’re coming by! – KennyH75 (I still need a ticket for the show by the way).
BUS INFO:
The Empire bus to WrestleMania will cost $50.00 and will be round trip from Rosen Inn at 9000 International Drive 32819 (a few blocks away from Wrestlcon).
The bus will leave at 4pm (time subject to change) for WrestleMania and will leave WrestleMania no later then one hour after the show. If you would like a seat email Ed at [email protected] or message him on the BOARD~! for Paypal payment instructions.
DINNER INFO:
WHAT: Dinner at Texas de Brazil
WHEN: Friday March 31st
WHERE: 5259 International Dr Ste F1, Orlando, FL 32819 at 5 p.m. (they may open at 4:30 for us)
WHO: All your best empire buddies
DETAILS: The cost of the dinner will be $68.00 which includes the dinner, salad bar, soft drinks and tea, and dessert, tax and tip. This is a pre pay dinner and you can send payment to paypal at [email protected] (please send as a gift to a friend). Payments must be made by March 24th (if you wait until after that, Ed will charge an extra $5.00 for being a pain).
Today in Professional Wrestling History (2/4): ECW Double Tables 1995
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