Daily Update: Zelina Vega, weekend schedule, Sonya Deville
DAILY UPDATE
Latest News:
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame 2020 inductees announced
WWE reveals participants for 205 Live number one contender’s match
NJPW New Year Dash 2021 set for Tokyo Dome City Hall
Alex Zayne signs WWE deal, Rascalz update
Latest Audio:
WOL: BRODY KING, CHICO EL LUCHADOR, plus all the news! 11/13
Wrestling Weekly: Observer HOF – looking at who’s in and who’s still out 11/13
B&V: Bryan and Vinny review AEW and NXT head-to-head! 11/12
WON NEWSLETTER: November 16, 2020 Observer Newsletter: 2020 Observer Hall of Fame issue
One of our two biggest issues of the year, the 2020 Hall of Fame issue is out this week. It’s got complete results of the balloting among historians, active and retired performers, reporters and historians by category as well as final voting totals, plus who will and won’t be back on next year’s ballot.
The issue runs down the new members with extensive biographies on all of them. It explains the voting process and criteria, as well as runs down who came close. We also look at voting combinations that were popular, and notes on some of the key candidates. We list all of the first ballot Hall of Famers in history as well as the four highest vote getters in history. We look at people new to the ballot next year, who picked up Hall of Fame numbers in different categories along with bios of four of the five inductees.
Also in this issue:
AEW Full Gear show, including future AEW direction, match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results on the show.
Changes in the fundamental manner WWE has run its business since the beginning of time and why health conditions and economics have completely changed the industry.
New Japan’s upcoming tournaments, the Tokyo Dome show plans, the story behind it, business notes, plus a complete rundown of Power Struggle with match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
Survivor Series and this week’s WWE television that leads to it.
Where WWE may be taping from after it leaves Orlando and the pros and cons of the place, Tribute to the Troops and why the rating number may surprise people, WrestleMania note, Paige talks Alberto Del Rio’s case, Stalker tries to invader Paige’s home, Bellas talk a return to the ring, WWE new trademarks, Dwayne Johnson after a movie franchise adn plan for new show, John Cena’s next big role, UK TV ratings, how Smackdown and AEW rank among sports shows, plus the market value of WWE and the most-watched shows from the past week from the WWE Network.
Saturday’s UFC show with match coverage and business notes.
Ratings breakdowns in every segment for Wednesdays and every category for other shows, looking at stats not available elsewhere to get the deepest read into how shows are doing, what categories are doing well and how shows compare with previous weeks and one year ago.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
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 [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE
Thea Trinidad (Zelina Vega) was fired today by WWE. She later tweeted that she was in favor of unionization. She tweeted that after she was fired. The gist of the situation according to those close to the situation is she was making more money outside WWE than working for WWE and they wanted her to give up her Only Fans account. More will likely be coming out about this very soon. It’s very interesting because of the Andrew Yang connection and WWE attempting to control outside revenue making from independent contractors.
New Japan opens both its junior heavyweight and tag team tournaments on a Sunday at 4 a.m. Eastern show from Nagoya’s Aichi Gym. The biggest match of the junior tournament, Hiromu Takahashi vs. IWGP jr champion Taiji Ishimori will headline.
Sasha Banks, billed as Mercedes Varnado, is one of the stars of “The Mandalorian” which is now up today on Disney Plus.
UFC on ESPN+ starting at 4 p.m. tomorrow:
Don’tale Mayes (262) vs. Roque Martinez (244)
Geraldo de Freitas (136) vs. Tony Gravely (135.5)
Randa Markos (116) vs. Kanako Murata (115)
Jose Quinonez (135) vs. Louis Smolka (139)
Alex Morono (170.5) vs. Rhys McKee (170.5)
Ashley Yoder (115.5) vs. Miranda Granger (115.5)
Sean Strickland (194.5) vs. Brendan Allen (193.5)
Eryk Anders (187.5) vs. Antonio Arroyo (185.5)
Kay Hansen (115.5) vs. Cory McKenna (116)
Abdul Razak Alhassan (172.5) vs. Khaos Williams (170)
Paul Felder (155.75) vs. Rafael dos Anjos (156)
Alhassan, Anders and Smolka all missed weight and will forfeit 20 percent of their purse to their opponent. Strickland and Allen agreed to a 195-pound limit so neither missed weight.
WWE
WWE is doing a WWE Chronicle network show on Lana building to Survivor Series.
The restraining order against Philip Thomas, accused of breaking into the home of Daria Berenato (Sonya Deville) has been extended until the criminal case against Phillips is resolved.
UFC
Former UFC star Michael Bisping will be in the lead of the new movie “The Journeyman,” from the Mark Turley book of the same name. Bisping will play an alcoholic drug-abusing washed up boxer who loses almost all his fights, has neurological damage, but continues to fight on small shows. The movie will shoot in the U.K.
AEW
Chris Jericho and Fozzy will be performing a streaming concert tomorrow night at 9 p.m. Eastern called Capturing Judas from Madison Studios in Atlanta.
The company announced official cancellations of planned shows on 12/2 in New Orleans and 12/30 in Rio Rancho, NM for obvious reasons. Both nights will be tapings from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville.
OTHER NEWS NOTES
Impact Plus is undergoing upgrades through today so there may be some down time. Subscribers will need to log in again for tomorrow night’s Turning Point show.
ROH TV this week has Shane Taylor vs. Kenny King and Mark & Jay Briscoe vs. Moses & Kaun.
AAW from last night in Merrionette Park, IL: Xavier Walker b Cole Karter, Jason Page b Sam Beale, Ace Perry b Brayden Lee, Myron Reed b Tre Lamar, Christi Jaynes & Skye Blue b Hyan & Sierra, Fred Yehi b Jake Something, Ace Austin & Mad Man Fulton b Davey Vega & Mat Fitchett in 2/3 falls to keep the tag titles, Karam b Gyasi, Stephen Wolf b Trey Miguel, Bear County b Ace Romero & Larry D, Mance Warner b Hakim Zane (Rohit Raju) to retain the AAW title.
Kevin Knight’s IWF will be celebrating its 21st anniversary on 12/18. The school is based in Nutley, NJ.
CFFC will be on UFC Fight Pass with shows from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. C.M. Punk will be announcing the shows which take place on 11/18 and 11/19 at 8 p.m.
Invicta runs a show this coming Friday night from Kansas City on UFC Fight Pass. U.S. Olympic judo gold medalist Kayla Harrison (7-0) will face Courtney King (4-1) on the show in a 145 pound weight class fight. Montserrat Ruiz (9-1) faces Emily Ducote (9-6) in the main event for the strawweight title.
MLW champion Jacob Fatu will be on the 12/5 Game Changer Wrestling show in Las Vegas. Blake Christian vs. Rich Swann, Chris Bey vs. Jordan Oliver plus Rickey Shane Page and Chris Dickinson are on the show. The show will stream on Fite TV from 233 S. 4th Street.
CWE was forced to postpone the 12/4 and 12/54 show in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Morden, Manitoba due to the province going on Lockdown. They are still planning a New Year’s Eve show in Winnipeg at Rookies Sports Bar but who knows if that will be possible.
Pro Wrestling Phoenix from Wednesday night in Omaha: Pat Powers b JD Parker, Paul & Joey Daniels b Purple in a handicap match, The Carver b Xander McIntosh, Con Artiest b Brett Bishop, Moonshine Russell b K-Dos, Omar Pachecco b Pat Powers, Branden Juarez & Tim Boston & Seto Kobara b Jack Darling & Lars Metzger & Johnny Ruckus.
NFC on 12/11 at District Atlanta in Atlanta. There will be 12 MMA fights. They ask everyone to bring a new unwrapped toy to benefit Toys for Tots.
KSW runs tonight from Poland with Michal Materla (186) vs Roberto Soldic (186), Tomasz Narkun (205) vs. Ivan Ersia (204) and Karolina Owczarz (126) vs.; Justyna Haba as the top fights.
A story on the UFC’s sports bar business since the pandemic started.
Kevin Eck’s weekly ROH news update.
A Colt Cabana interview.
Aaron Pico’s violent knockout from last night’s Bellator show.
A memorial day story on the World War II exploits of Hall of Fame promoter Paul Boesch.
Daily Pro Wrestling History: Rated RKO win WWE 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