We’re looking for reports on tonight’s TNA TV tapings from Manchester, England as well as tonight’s NXT shows in Pittsburgh and Largo, FL to Dave Meltzer
Our only weekend poll will be for the UFC show tomorrow night on FOX, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to Dave Meltzer
Tons of stuff for your viewing pleasure tonight.
BELLATOR TONIGHT ON SPIKE AT 9 P.M. EASTERN TIME FROM FRESNO
Raphael Butler (263) vs. Tony Johnson (264.4)
Ryan Couture (155) vs. Patricky Pitbull Freire (155.4)
Chris Honeycutt (171) vs. Paul Bradley (171)
Paul Daley (170.2) vs. Andy Uhrich (169.8)
NEW JAPAN WORLD PRO WRESTLING RETURNS AT 9 P.M. EASTERN TIME ON AXS TV
Young Bucks vs. Rocky Romero & Trent Baretta for IWGP jr. tag titles
Kenny Omega vs. Mascara Dorada for IWGP jr. title
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Kazushi Sakuraba & Toru Yano
These matches are from last year’s Invasion Attack show, which means A.J. Styles vs. Kota Ibushi should be coming up soon.
SHINE IPPV AT 9 P.M. FROM YBOR CITY, FL AT WWW.WWNLIVE.COM
Renee Michelle vs. Barbi Hayden
Malia Hosaka vs. Thunderkitty
Jayme Jameson vs. Kimber Lee
Allysin Kay vs. Su Yung
Amber Gallows vs. Leva (Blue Pants) for NWA women’s title
Taylor Made vs. Santana Garrett for Shine championship
CMLL LIVE FROM ARENA MEXICO AT WWW.CLAROSPORTS.COM AT 9:30 P.M. EASTERN TIME
Hombre Bala Jr. & Super Halcon Jr. vs. Arkangel de la Muerte & Cancerbero
Fuego & The Panther & Triton vs. Puma King & Tiger & Virus
Guerrero Maya Jr. & Titan & Valiente vs. Ephesto & Luciferno & Pierroth
Gran Guerrero & Mephisto & Niebla Roja vs. Dragon Rojo Jr. & Kraneo & Polvora
Thunder vs. Euforia
Dragon Lee & Mistico & Volador Jr. vs. Barbaro Cavernario & Negro Casas & Ultimo Guerrero
LION FIGHTS TONIGHT FROM TEMECULA, CA AT 10 P.M. ON AXS TV
Jared Papazian (133) vs. Travis Clay (131.2)
Coke Chunhawatr (137.4) vs. Anmvar Boynazarov (140.4)
Chris Culley (150.2) vs. Brian Del Rosario (146.6)
Kronphet Phetrachapat (143.6) vs. Gaston Bolanos (142.4)
Ashley Nichos (119.2) vs. Tiffany Van Soest (119) for Womens’ super bantamweight title
Charlie Peters (146.4) vs. Fabio Pinca (145.2)
VICTORY FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS ON UFC FIGHT PASS AT 10 P.M.
Josh Neer vs. Anthony Smith for the middleweight title
Jake Lindsey vs. Yuri Villefort
NEW JAPAN FROM KORAKUEN HALL FOR SHINSUKE NAKAMURA’S FAREWELL MATCH AT 4:30 A.M. TONIGHT EASTERN AND 1:30 A.M. PACIFIC ON NEW JAPAN WORLD
David Finlay vs. Kawato Hirai
Jay White vs. Yoshi-Hashi
Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima & Jushin Liger vs. Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi & Tiger Mask
Kazushi Sakuraba & Toru Yano vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Bad Luck Fale
Kushida & Ryusuke Taguchi & Captain New Japan vs. Tetsuya Naito & Evil & Bushi
Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma & Michael Elgin & Juice Robinson vs. Kenny Omega & Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows & Cody Hall
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuyori Shibata & Hirooki Goto vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii in the All-Star trios match
We’ll be looking for reports on Saturday from the TNA tapings in London, WWE in Macon, GA (Roman Reigns vs. Rusev for WWE title, Dean Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens for IC title, New Day vs. Usos for tag titles) and Chattanooga (Kane vs. Bray Wyatt plus Erick Rowan, Braun Strowman, Luke Harper, Big Show and Kalisto) as well as NXT shows in Royal Oak, MI and Venice, FL.
UFC ON FOX ON SATURDAY FROM THE PRUDENTIAL CENTER IN NEWARK, NJ
Fight Pass at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time
Randy Brown vs. Matt Dwyer
Tony Martin vs. Felipe Olivieri
Damon Jackson vs. Levan Makashvili
FS 1 at 5 p.m.
Alex Bruce Leroy Caceres vs. Masio Fullen
George Sullivan vs. Alexander Yakovlev
Wilson Reis vs. Dustin Ortiz
Kevin Casey vs. Rafael Natal
Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Diego Ferreira
Jake Ellenberger vs. Tarec Saffiedine
FOX at 10 p.m.
Sage Northcutt vs. Bryan Barbarena
Iuri Alcantara vs. Jimmie Rivera
Ben Rothwell vs. Josh Barnett
Anthony Rumble Johnson vs. Ryan Bader
PRO WRESTLING NOAH SUNDAY FROM YOKOHAMA BUNKA GYM
Yoshihiro Takayama & Quiet Storm & Hajime Ohara & Genba Hirayanagi vs. Yoshinari Ogawa & Akitoshi Saito & Hitoshi Kumano & Kaito Kiyomiya
Desperado vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Shelton Benjamin vs. Mitsuhiro Kitamiya
Maybach Taniguchi vs. Takashi Iizuka
Daisuke Harada & Atsushi Kotoge vs. Taka Michinoku & Taichi for GHC jr. tag titles
Taiji Ishimori vs. Kenou for GHC jr. title
Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Mohammed Yone & Katsuhiko Nakajima for GHC tag titles
Minoru Suzuki vs. Go Shiozaki
Naomichi Marufuji vs. Takashi Sugiura for GHC heavyweight title
If you’ve ever wanted to WATCH our radio shows here on the site, check out our new Youtube page! No full video shows, but lots of video clips, full free audio shows that you can tell your friends about, and much more to come! Make sure you subscribe today! The latest video is “Kill that Mole”. A silent film we created a few years ago starring Bryan and Vince.
Figure Four Weekly
Figure Four Weekly 1/18/2016: Gawker’s motion to dismiss Hulk Hogan lawsuit denied
Gawker’s motion to dismiss the Hulk Hogan sex tape lawsuit is denied, plus news and notes
Click Here: COLLINGWOOD MAGPIES 2019
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
The Latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter: February 1, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2016 Royal Rumble, Road to Wrestlemania, more
Coverage of the Royal Rumble and where things lead to WrestleMania is the lead story in a jam-packed news issue of the Wrestling Observer. TNA’s statements regarding A.J. Styles, Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson, the timing, what is accurate, and a lot that wasn’t in those statements as to why the deal didn’t happen. The process that led the stars from New Japan and more. The Cain Velasquez and Fabricio Werdum injuries and title match cancellation and what directions UFC took to try and save it. More on the injury to Hiroshi Tanahashi, the death of Archie “Mongolian Stomper” Gouldie, some stories about his life and career. WWE Hall of Fame class of 2016, New Japan Fantatstica Mania tour with full rundowns and stories behind it, Nikki Bella injury and what led to the increase in ratings for Raw and Smackdown.
The story behind why HHH won the title, why it was the right booking decision given the destination, questions about the execution, the confusing Fast Lane main event, what the original booking plan was behind Roman Reigns ascension to the top and why it was so hard for Vince McMahon to decide against his winning at last year’s WrestleMania, and questions about the crowds at Fast Lane and Mania for the main events. Update WrestleMania, chart out the Royal Rumble with how long everyone was in, eliminations, and news, Rumble business, poll results and match-by-match results with star ratings.
The situation with New Japan losing talent, and how the CMLL stars did on the tour.
The arrival of Shinsuke Nakamura to WWE and why he’s in NXT, an update on Daniel Bryan, NXT finances for talent, another endorsement deal for Dwayne Johnson, notes on the next WWE network live special, updates on NXT talent coming to the main roster, lots of WWE injury notes, WWE plans for post-Mania and the European tour, Lesnar dates, details on NXT tapings as well as details on all the weekend WWE events.
PLUS MUCH MORE! CLICK HERE FOR A FULL WRESTLING OBSERVER PREVIEW
You can also order the print Observer right now and get it delivered to your door via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to Dave Meltzer
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Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.
Check out the latest Online Wrestling Observer BACK ISSUE: December 28, 1998 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Bischoff gets historic NBC deal, WCW files lawsuit against WWF over Wrestling With Shadows, more
Eric Bischoff and NBC work out a historic deal to air WCW on NBC, WCW files a lawsuit against WWF over Wrestling With Shadows, plus tons of news.
THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE
Dana White said today that Cain Velasquez will be undergoing back surgery but is expected to make a full recovery in four weeks.
Gypsy Joe has been on a ventilator since last Thursday. Joe had one of the longest wrestling careers in history. He’ll be having a procedure done and try to get him off the ventilator. If that doesn’t work he will be released to hospice care. He was something of a legend in Japan for his willingness to take punishment and for his conditioning into his 60s.
Alberto Del Rio is out of action with a back injury. He was scheduled on WWE’s weekend shows to face Kalisto. The injury came from taking a vertical suplex from Brock Lesnar in the Royal Rumble. He will be reevaluated on Monday in Birmingham.
Roman Reigns vs. Sheamus and Brock Lesnar vs. Luke Harper are now confirmed for the next WWE Network live special on 3/12 from Toronto’s Ricoh Coliseum. There will also be a Highlight Reel with Chris Jericho. A.J. Styles, Paige and New Day will also be on the show.
Abel “Juan” Reynosa passed away this past week at the age of 59. Reynosa wrestled most of his career in his hometown of San Antonio. He got his main career pushes as Taras Bulba working in Tennessee and had a run as a headliner in the latter days of World Class Championship Wrestling, feuding with Jerry Lawler and Kerry Von Erich.
Lucha Underground did 109,000 viewers on Tuesday night on El Rey for the live show and an impressive 85,000 for the immediate replay. Those were the best numbers the show has ever done, which makes sense, because they had more publicity going in than any episode to date, particularly the ESPN hit.
WWE
With Sheamus injured, the scheduled Roman Reigns vs. Sheamus house show main events are now Reigns vs. Rusev (who is now the one man League of Nation) for the WWE title.
Adrian Jaoude, who is a WWE developmental performer from Brazil, who they are grooming to be a major Brazilian star, will be competing in the 2016 Olympics. The WWE web site has a story on him.
Advertised for 2/17 in Fresno is Chris Jericho vs. Bray Wyatt and Ryback & The Dudleys vs. Erick Rowan & Luke Harper & Braun Strowman (thanks to Bryan White)
The March NXT show in Columbus, OH sold out immediately today. That was expected given it’s a small building and it’s the Arnold Fitness Expo weekend.
The stock was up 8 cents today to close at $17.90.
An article on Big E learning the entertainment side of wrestling
A story on Carmella from the Staten Island Advance, noting she’s really not from Staten Island
T-Mobile adds WWE to Binge On
A.J. Styles entrance music
UFC
An article on UFC in New York and it not happening
Bethe Correia vs. Raquel Pennington has been added to UFC’s next FOX show on 4/16. Correia is coming off a loss to Ronda Rousey that was a huge PPV success.
MISCELLANEOUS
Hiroshi Tanahashi did work today’s New Japan show in Tokorozawa. He dislocated his shoulder last week but is refusing to take any time off.
WaleMania II was officially announced for 3/31 at Winston’s Supper club in Dallas. Tickets go on sale Monday at www.MLW.com andwww.WaleMania.EventBrite.com There will be a live podcast with Konnan, Court Bauer and Mister Saint Laurent. From 8-9 p.m. for VIP ticket holders only there will be a meet and greet cocktail party with a special guest to be announced (may be a big one), red carpet arrival and first access to the venue for a seat for the podcast. The podcast for VIP & GA ticket holders will be 9-11 p.m. with a live Q&A with fans. 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. will be an after party featuring a Wale concert. Many major names from pro wrestling will be there. VIP tickets are $50 and GA are $15. You must be 21 or older to attend and you will be ID’d.
Lucha Underground debuts in Canada. It will be on TLN Sunday at 10 p.m. Eastern., with the episode that aired in the U.S. on Wednesday
Kurt Angle is publicly campaigning for Marco Rubio for president.
A story on the top matches of 2015
A photo feature on legends from Wrestling at the Chase TV in St. Louis
An interview with Bobby Roode & James Storm from England’s Sky News Radio
Raquel of TNA, real name Gabi Castrovinci from Tough Enough, is now training in Orlando at the Team Vision Dojo. They’ve been filming her for a possible TV show.
Tuesday night CMLL results from Guadalanjar: Furia Roja & Carlos Roggi b Explosivo & Star Black, Canelo Casas & Metalico & Rafaga b Magnum & Magnus & Oro Jr., Fuego & Guerrero Maya Jr. & The Panther b Cuatrero & Forastero & Sanson, Dragon Lee & Mistico & Volador Jr. b Mephisto & Ephesto & Luciferno, Marco Corleone & La Mascara & Rush b Dragon Rojo Jr. & Kraneo & Thunder (thanks to Kris Zellner)
Sean Wheelock, a regular guest of our show, will be announcing the Victory Fighting Championships tonight on UFC Fight Pass at 10 p.m.
ON THIS DAY IN WORLD PRO WRESTLING HISTORY: Daily pro wrestling history (1/29): Junkyard Dog & Killer Karl Kox win Mid South Tag Team Titles
If you’re planning on attending Wrestlemania 32 and would like to be part of the Empire fun, please contact our self appointed Executive Director of events, Eddie Loredo for more information. You can contact him directly at [email protected] – Or check out our Empire Get-Together section on the BOARD~!