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DAILY UPDATE
Latest News:
Killer Kross released by Impact Wrestling
MMA notes: UFC PPV price increase, Rory MacDonald signs with PFL
Lucha Libre AAA wrestlers set for MLW Zero Hour tapings
Two matches added to Impact Wrestling’s Hard to Kill PPV
New Day, Street Profits sign multi-year extensions with WWE
NWA Power results: Into the Fire fallout
AEW Dark results: Six-man tag main event
Impact Wrestling results: Callihan confronts Blanchard
Latest Audio:
WOL: Wednesday Night Wars preview, Raw ratings, NWA, more 12/18
B&V&C: Retro Raw and Nitro from 19 years ago this week! 12/17
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Harper, Sin Cara & The Ascension get WWE releases Joseph Currier looks at WWE’s latest departures.
WWE took a step forward this past weekend by resolving their situations with a few wrestlers who wanted out of the company.
In quick succession on Sunday, WWE announced that Luke Harper, Sin Cara, and The Ascension had been released: “WWE has come to terms on the releases of Jonathan Huber (Luke Harper), Sin Cara, and Ryan Parmeter (Konnor) and Eric Thompson (Viktor) of The Ascension. WWE wishes them all the best in their future endeavors.”
Harper’s release saga was nearly eight months long. He went public with his request via a statement he posted online on April 16. He spent the next five months off of television before then returning in a pretty significant angle at Clash of Champions, helping Erick Rowan defeat Roman Reigns in their no disqualification match.
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WON NEWSLETTER: December 16, 2019 Observer Newsletter: 10 Hall of Fame inductees
Our biggest issue of the year, the 2019 Hall of Fame issue is out with complete balloting results, breakdowns by category, bios of the new entrants, comparisons with how everyone did last year, as well as who will be on next year’s ballot who will be removed from next year’s ballot, breakdowns on how each new inductee did in different groups and a look back at a lot of stellar careers. We also talk about the future of the Hall of Fame.
Feature on the development of pro wrestling in France at the turn of the previous century and the wrestler generally considered most responsible for establishing pro wrestling in that country.
The two Tokyo Dome shows, as well as New Japan’s last three events of 2019. We look at the good and bad aspects of the lineups and the comparisons with last year. We look at the retirement of Jushin Liger, the signing of Dragon Lee and his change to Ryu Lee and talk about the different titles at stake.
Drug test suspensions of Robert Roode and Primo Colon and why guys can look the way they look with drug testing and how WWE’s testing greatly differs from others, a look at the releases of Luke Harper, The Ascension and Sin Cara, major change for Miz & Mrs., WWE star hints leaving, Canadian ratings, signing of Oney Lorcan, Tribute to the Troops coverage, Lana death threats, Ronda Rousey talks potential return, current plans for holiday shows, celebrity training for a WWE stint, a rundown on the different people at the last tryout camp including a former MMA champion, the boyfriend of a reality show star and a number of high level women athletes including a former WNBA player, an incident at a house show, value of WWE stock, most-watched show on the WWE Network as well as a rundown of all the WWE and NXT arena events over the past week with business notes , results and highlights.
2019 Tokyo Sports awards, including what wrestles historically have had the most MVP trophies and the most match of the year trophies.
TLC PPV including the changes in the show and the ticket demand.
Next Wednesday ratings battle and why it is the most interesting in several weeks.
Dave Bautista’s career, the NWO, and look back at the program that made Bautista’s career and the good and the bad of the NWO.
New Japan tag team tournament, whether the changes in format worked, the business of the final night, standings, match-by-match coverage and star ratings of the last night.
Saturday’s UFC show from D.C. with the business notes on the show and match-by-match coverage.
Look back at the life of Andy Robin, a U.K. star who was one of the greatest performers in the history of pro wrestling in Scotland.
Full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.
In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
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WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
The final live episode of NXT of the year takes place tonight. The show features two big title matches, with both the NXT Championship and NXT Women’s Championship on the line. Adam Cole vs. Finn Balor for the NXT title will open the show and will be presented commercial-free. Rhea Ripley will also challenge for Shayna Baszler’s NXT Women’s title.
Last night’s episode of WWE Backstage averaged 95,000 viewers. The rating in the 18-49 demo was a 0.05. That’s down from 127,000 viewers and a 0.06 rating for last week’s show, which featured CM Punk’s second appearance as an analyst.
Alexa Bliss and Ember Moon discussed the state of the women’s division on Backstage last night.
Rey Mysterio spoke to Sportskeeda about when he thinks Dominik will be ready for his first match: “I’m hoping that my son can be ready by next year. I hope that we can all get the chance to see him in 2020, and I’m just as excited as the fans to see him step into the ring and have an official match, so let’s hope that it’s next year, by the end of the year 2020.”
Matt Hardy thanked the fans for the support he’s received recently: “The groundswell of support I’ve gotten recently is so damn cool. My fans are so loyal & supportive. I am very grateful for you guys & gals. Let’s journey to Arcadia together.”
Today is Steve Austin’s 55th birthday and Trish Stratus’ 44th birthday.
WWE uploaded a Milestone video of Austin’s championship victories.
The WWE Performance Center posted a brief Backstage Pass video from this month’s all-women’s NXT house show.
The New York Post has interviews with Keith Lee and Bayley.
Pro Wrestling
AEW closes out 2019 as tonight’s Dynamite takes place at the American Bank Center Arena in Corpus Christi, Texas. Here’s what’s been announced for the show:
AEW World Champion Chris Jericho vs. Jungle Boy in a non-title match with a 10-minute time limit
AEW Tag Team Champions SCU (Scorpio Sky & Frankie Kazarian) defending against The Young Bucks
Britt Baker vs. Kris Statlander (winner becomes number one contender to Riho’s AEW Women’s Championship)
Cody Rhodes & Darby Allin vs. The Butcher & The Blade
Awesome Kong in action
Kenny Omega & Hangman Page vs. The Lucha Bros (opening match)
Baker arrived in time for tonight’s show after her flight was delayed.
Cody responded to a question about the name of the NWA’s Hard Times PPV referencing Dusty Rhodes: “His legacy is really hard to contain and that’s a good thing. Always nice to see his influence on the sport.”
In an interview with TalkSport, Cody was asked if AEW was trying to sign Marty Scurll: “Marty is going to do what Marty is going to do, that’s the best way I can put it. I love Marty Scurll. And the Bucks love him, Kenny loves him and I’m sure Tony loves him. He’s a magnetic personality, he sells a lot of merchandise and he’s a lot of fun in the ring. He’s also an incredibly hard worker, too. He has the work ethic we look for. But, that’s the only way I know how to put it. Anything he does in the next few weeks or months, I wouldn’t look at as permanent for him. He’s very much testing the waters here and there and that’s pretty much all I can say as far as Marty goes. I mean, he’s not just a friend of The Elite, he’s a member of The Elite. The best way to put it is Marty is going to do what Marty is going to do.”
Cody was also asked about his interest in Luke Harper: “I mean, he has what I identify as ‘Bam Bam quality’ as far as he’s a big man who is incredibly agile. I got to mix it up with him and the Wyatt Family a little when it was the Rhodes Brothers versus the Wyatts. He’s very much a modern wrestler and he’ll flourish whatever decision he makes. He would be great as part of AEW and when you hear that he’s asked for his release or he’s left, that’s a name you definitely think about and the next steps, for sure. So I think he’s going to flourish with what he does next, he’s very special.”
Jim Ross appeared on the latest episode of Richard Deitsch’s Sports Media podcast.
In addition to Kazuchika Okada, Keiji Muto will be an Olympic torch runner this summer.
Zicky Dice, Ricky Starks, Caleb Konley, Colt Cabana, Trevor Murdoch, Thomas Latimer, The Question Mark, Eddie Kingston, Tim Storm, Zane Dawson, Dave Dawson, and Nick Aldis is the field for the NWA’s TV title tournament. Starks vs. Kingston and Cabana vs. Question Mark will air on NWA Power next week. The champion will be crowned at Hard Times on January 24.
Tracy Smothers announced that he was diagnosed with lymphoma last month: “To all concerned I was diagnosed Nov.14 w Lymphoma cancer which now am on my 3rd treatment 3 to go Of Chemo which is shrinking the rapid growing tumors.Doc told me yrs ago I have blockage in my artery so here we are an have lost 45percent of my heart use.Also he said I have lots of head,body trauma.Doc said I had a heart attack some time back an didnt know it.Have felt bad for awhile now but thought I was getting old,lol.This is not fatal as its between my Pancreas,Colon,neck.A big TY to all of u but I look at it as getting a tube up,overhaul,tires rotated,oil change,etc.all in one lol.Remember LIFE is a BATTLE an I’m in it to win it so dont hesitate in trying to be tough by putting off getting checked out in this day an age u never know??GOD BLESS EVERYBODY..”
Impact’s Best of 2019 episodes will air on AXS TV and Twitch on Saturday, December 28 and Saturday, January 4. The shows will also feature the reveal of Impact’s year-end awards.
RVD turns 49 years old today.
A two-out-of-three falls match between Brian Cage and Scott Steiner will main event Ethan Page’s Body Guy Extravaganza in Tampa, Florida on the Friday before WrestleMania. The first fall is a live debate, the second fall is a pose-off, and the third fall is a match with Page as the special guest referee.
MMA
Rory MacDonald spoke to Ariel Helwani about signing with the PFL.
Kamaru Usman responded to Conor McGregor teasing that he wants to challenge for the welterweight title: “He must want to die. This is not ’45, ’55. You saw what Khabib [Nurmagomedov] did to him. Oh my God. It wouldn’t be fair if I fought Conor. Much respect to Conor for what he’s done for the sport and transcended it. But nah. This ain’t what you want. Just sit down, little man. Sit down. Learn to walk before you can run. Because I would hurt that guy.”
Daily Pro Wrestling History: Daniel Bryan wins World title at TLC 2011
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