We’re looking for reports from Raw tonight in Columbus, OH, with dark matches, Superstars matches and anything else that wouldn’t be evident from watching the TV show to Dave Meltzer
The only thing announced for the show is Chris Jericho’s Highlight Reel with Brock Lesnar. It’s the go-home show for the Royal Rumble so it should be a good one, both hyping the Rumble and finishing up the undercard.
We’re also looking for reports on the three weekend NXT shows in Florida as well as Lucha Underground from the weekend to Dave Meltzer
Bryan and I will be back tonight covering Raw and the latest news on Wrestling Observer radio. You can send questions to the show to [email protected]
NEW JAPAN FANTASTICA MANIA DAY TWO ON TUESDAY IN KYOTO (not on New Japan World)
Ryusuke Taguchi & Fuego vs. Yohei Komatsu & Sho Tanaka
The Panther vs. Okumura
Guerrero Maya Jr. vs. Bobby Zavala
Dragon Lee & Jushin Liger & David Finlay & Titan vs. Barbaro Cavernario & Yoshi-Hashi & Virus & Hechicero
Stuka Jr. & Mascara Dorada & Atlantis vs. Tetsuya Naito & Evil & Bushi
Mistico & Kushida vs. Ultimo Guerrero & Gedo
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Volador Jr. & Juice Robinson vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Kazuchika Okada & Mephisto
Smackdown and Main Event will be taped on Tuesday night in Dayton, OH.
NEW JAPAN FANTASTICA MANIA DAY THREE ON WEDNESDAY IN OSAKA (not on New Japan World)
Jushin Liger & Stuka Jr. vs. Sho Tanaka & Yohei Komatsu
The Panther vs. Bobby Zavala
Guerrero Maya Jr. vs. Okumura
Jay White & Ryusuke Taguchi & Kushida & Titan vs. Gedo & Yoshi-Hashi & Hechicero & Barbaro Cavernario
Fuego & Mascara Dorada & Atlantis vs. Tetsuya Naito & Bushi & Evil
Mistico & Volador Jr. & Juice Robinson vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Ultimo Guerrero & Mephisto
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Dragon Lee vs Kazuchika Okada & Virus
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Figure Four Weekly
Figure Four Weekly 1/4/2016: More on Gawker motioning to dismiss Hulk Hogan lawsuit
More information on Gawker’s motion to dismiss Hulk Hogan’s sex tape lawsuit, tons more.
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
The Latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter: January 18, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: NJPW strips Nakamura, Sting to HOF
An update on Shinsuke Nakamura, WWE and New Japan Pro Wrestling is the lead story of the new issue of the Wrestling Observer. His departure, not losing the IC title in the ring, the decision making surrounding it, Nakamura’s final matches in Japan and his start in the U.S., New Japan’s next two PPV shows, and the future of the IC title.
Nick Diaz’s updated suspension, Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler, and the welterweight division title situation. UFC 197 through 200 with talk about what is next for Ronda Rousey, Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier, MMA in New York, what huge publicity coup UFC had that fell apart, is UFC too confident about high ticket prices, and a number of future main events. The plans for C.M. Punk’s debut.
Lots of WrestleMania updates, including what is on the books and other key matches. We’ve got more on John Cena’s surgery, updates on a number of WWE injuries, a look at the first Smackdown on USA, more on brain injuries to fighters and wrestlers, Notes on the next NXT tapings, new WWE camps, double standards, Linda McMahon update, NXT weekend, and football background of two NXT stars.
Rundowns of all the WWE & NXT house shows over the weekend and business notes. Updates on Royal Rumble.
A feature on Sting and his career, from growing up through Memphis, through WCW and TNA and his final run in WWE. How he got started, his first break, the Ric Flair match that made him a star, when he was originally going to win the NWA title and why it was delayed, what happened when he was champion, the Hogan vs. Sting disaster, how he ended up in TNA.
Full coverage of TNA’s tapings and PPV, contract issues, the Matt Hardy situation and what is the short-term future for television.
Yoel Romero and his potential test failure and how this changes the middleweight division. Romero’s background, fighter reactions to his test failure.
The future of the AAA Mega championship and the current plans for Guerra de Titanes, the first major show of 2016 in AAA.
PLUS MUCH MORE! CLICK HERE FOR A FULL WRESTLING OBSERVER PREVIEW
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Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.
Check out the latest Online Wrestling Observer BACK ISSUE: November 23, 1998 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: WWF Survivor Series review, Rock becomes Corporate Champion
A full review of WWF Survivor Series with The Rock becoming the Corporate Champion, more WCW woes, plus tons of news.
MONDAY NEWS UPDATE
Very sorry to hear the news of the death of Mike Sharpe Jr. earlier today, here is F4Wonline.com’s article, and Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive on WOL today.
On a personal level, I am very saddened by the loss of Bob Leonard, one of the nicest guys, the Stampede Wrestling jack of all trades who was the No. 1 historian about that era of pro wrestling. I talked more about Leonard on last night’s Wrestling Observer Radio.
There was mid-tier PPV interest in last night’s UFC show, as Dominick Cruz (200,000 searches) and Matt Mitrione (due to his graphic eye injury and 100,000 searches) were No. 4 and No. 11 for the most searched terms yesterday and early today in the U.S. The show also looks, based on preliminary numbers, to be the second highest rated UFC show ever on FS 1, trailing only last January’s show with Conor McGregor vs. Dennis Siver. That makes it a lock that there will be another Sunday night January show after the NFL playoffs promoted during the FOX game earlier in the day. It’s a strategy that works, although you still need the attraction.
Even though he was announced as having vacated the title, Shinsuke Nakamura wore the IC title to the ring on yesterday’s New Japan show, the first night of Fantastica Mania. The Fantastica Mania shows air early Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning from Korakuen Hall this week on New Japan World. All three shows start at 5:30 a.m Eastern time. Keiji Muto was announced as coming to Dallas this year for Wrestlecon on 4/2.
A.J. Styles was added for a non-wrestling guest appearance for ROH to bid farewell to him on Saturday night’s show in Duluth, GA. He will be there to sign autographs and take photos with fans. ROH also announced Kenny King vs. Michael Elgin, Cedric Alexander vs. Kyle O’Reilly, Silas Young vs. Bobby Fish, a four corners match with Rhett Titus vs. Caprice Coleman vs. Adam Page vs. Dalton Castle and Frankie Kazarian vs. Moose as added matches for Friday night’s show in Fletcher, NC.
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WWE
In the movies with John Cena category, Daddy’s Home was No. 5 this past week at $9.54 million and Sisters was No. 9 at $4.71 million. In Australia, Sisters is No. 5 and Daddy’s Home is No. 7 (thanks to James Stanios)
Paige and Nikki Bella are both backstage at Raw, but that’s probably for filming of Total Divas.
An interview with Charlotte about all sorts of subjects with Brian Soscia
UFC/MMA
For the 2/6 show in Las Vegas, the five PPV matches, in order, will be Joseph Benavidez vs. Zach Makovksy, Ovince Saint Preux vs. Rafael Feijao, Roy Nelson vs. Jared Rosholt, Johny Hendricks vs. Stephen Thompson and Fabrico Werdum vs. Cain Velasquez for the heavyweight title. The Mickey Gall vs. Mike Jackson fight will be the Fight Pass main event. Josh Burkman vs. K.J. Noons will be the FS 1 main event.
In the prediction game last night, John Pollock & Mike Sawyer went 3-2 in a night of upsets. Frontrow Brian, Steve Juon, Ryan Frederick, Josh Nason, Paul Fontaine and Mike Sempervive went 2-3, I went 1-4 and Dave Bixenspan went 0-5.
Former Bellator champion Alexander Shlemenko faces Vyacheslav Vasilevsky for M-1 Challenge on 2/19 in Moscow at the Olympic Stadium. Vasilevsky has held both the middleweight and light heavyweight title for M-1.
MISCELLANEOUS
Premier Wrestling on 3/6 at the IFDES Lodge in Gilroy, CA features JR Kratos (9-2-1) defending his title against the Embrace the Grind tournament winner Joe Graves (4-1-1), plus the pro wrestling debut of Invicta’s Colleen Schneider, who faces MMA fighter/pro wrestler Shayna Baszler, plus Jeff Cobb Cueto appears.
Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling from Saturday night in East Carondelet, IL before 275 fans: Eric Britton b Jimmy D, Gunner b Waco, Brandon Espinosa b Demaruis Jones, Red River Jack NC Troll (Jack unmasked himself as Bob Orton Jr.), Ax b Bobby D, Sean Vincent & Ken Kasa & Gary Jackson b Dave Vaughn & Curtis Wyld & Chris Hargas in an elimination match when Vincent was the last survivor, Flash Flanagan b Kahagas to win the SICW title for the third time (thanks to Larry Matysik)
Matt & Jeff Hardy headline for MCW on 1/23 in Joppa, MD, plus Bill Apter will be signing books at the show at the MCW Arena. Matt wrestles MCW champion King McBride in the main event, with Jeff in Matt’s corner.
Smash Wrestling on 3/12 in North Bay ONT at 480 Avenue Norman. They also run 4/9 in London at Cowboys Ranch.
SPW from last night in Sacramento: The show opened with a ten bell salute to Mike Dean, who was found dead in his home over the weekend: Rik Luxury & Corvus & Truev & T-Lo b Sir Samurai & Drake Frost & Bobby Hart & Pat Fitzpatrick, Aaron Skye b Will Roberts, Ethan White b Joe DeSoul, JR Kratos won four-way over JMM, Mustafa Saed (Gangstas tag team) and Karl Fredericks, Adam Thornstowe b Scoot Robertson, Virgil Flynn b Daniel Torch, Michael Hayashi retained Xtreme title over JD Bishop, Brian Tannen b Ryan McQueen to keep SPW title. The next show is 2/21 at the SPW Arena in Sacramento with Tannen vs. Kratos for the title as the main event.
Bobby Eaton attended the ROH house show in Collinsville, IL on Saturday night.
Pro Wrestling Phoenix from Saturday night in Council Bluffs, IA: Zac James b Pat Powers-DQ, Blue Rocket b Con Artiest, Branden Juarez b Cuco Santiago, Paul & Joey Daniels b Mad Dog McDowell & Jon West, Dalton Lee Roth & Purple b King Brothers, L-Ray b Bob Holly, Mark Sterling b Tony Cortez. Next show is 1/27 in Omaha at The Waiting Room Lounge headlined by Arik Cannon.
ON THIS DAY IN WORLD PRO WRESTLING HISTORY: Daily pro wrestling history (01/18): Ivan Koloff wins the WWWF World Title