MICK FOLEY appears on Wrestling Observer Live
We have a very good interview with Mick Foley up on the web site right now talking about a number of subjects as well as plugging his WrestleMania sweepstakes fund raiser for Rainn.org
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive returns today with tons to talk about including an interview with JEFF HARDY~! talking his injury recovery, memories of his wrestling career and TNA’s live event Tuesday, and more! Plus, the latest news from around the world! A fun show as always so check it out~!
We’re looking for your thoughts on tonight’s New Japan Cup finals tonight in Aomori, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]
We’re also looking for reports on tonight’s WWE house show in Montreal to [email protected]
NEW JAPAN WORLD ON AXS TV TONIGHT AT 8 P.M. EASTERN (ONE HOUR EARLIER THAN USUAL)
Kenny Omega vs. Alex Shelley for IWGP jr. title
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Togi Makabe & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano & Kazushi Sakuraba
INVICTA FIGHTS ON UFC FIGHT PASS AT 8:30 P.M. TONIGHT FROM LAS VEGAS AT THE TROPICANA
Sarah Click (115.8) vs. Ashley Grenway (115.4)
Aspen Ladd (135.9) vs. Kelly McGill (135.3)
Sarah D’Alelio (125.2) vs. Andrea Lee (125.3)
Jinh Yu Frey (105.5) vs. Herica Tiburcio (106.9)
DeAnna Bennett (124.5) vs. Roxanne Modafferi (125.1)
Irene Aldana (136.6) vs. Jessamyn Duke (134.9)
Stephanie Eggink (115) vs. Angela Hill (115)
Jennifer Maia (124.6) vs. Vanessa Porto (124.4) for the interim flyweight title
Ayaka Hamasaki (104.9) vs. Amber Brown (104.7) for the atom weight title
CES MMA TONIGHT FROM LINCOLN, RHODE ISLAND AT THE TWIN RIVER CASINO ON AXS TV AT 9 P.M.
Julian Lane (155) vs. Nate Andrews (155)
Keith Bell (257) vs. Greg Rebello (239)
Chaz Morgan (263.5) vs. Juliano Coutinho (263.5)
Taurean Bogguess (149.5) vs. Matt Bessette (150)
Dennis Olson (185) vs. Chuck O’Neil (185) for the middleweight title
Andre Soukhamthath (136) vs. Kody Norby (135.5) for the bantamweight title
It should be noted that O’Neil is also a pro wrestler in New England. In fact, he had to cancel at least one recent pro wrestling show based on the contract he signed to fight on this show.
CMLL TONIGHT AT 9:30 P.M. EASTERN TIME LIVE FROM ARENA MEXICO AT WWW.CLAROSPORTS.COM
Shockercito & Ultimo Dragoncito vs. Mercurio & Nitrito
Blue Panther Jr. & Fuego & The Panther vs. Cancerbero & Raziel & Virus
Blue Panther & Brazo de Plata & Stuka Jr. vs. El Terrible & Rey Bucanero & ?
Marcela vs. Dallys for CMLL women’s title
Mascara Dorada & Super Parka & Volador Jr. vs. Negro Casas & Kamaitachi & Barbaro Cavernario
Marco Corleone & Maximo Sexy & Ultimo Guerrero vs. Rush & La Mascara & Rey Escorpion
NEW JAPAN CUP FINALS LATE TONIGHT AT 3 A.M. EASTERN AND MIDNIGHT PACIFIC FROM AOMRI ON NEW JAPAN WORLD
Jay White vs. David Finlay
Jushin Liger & Juice Robinson vs. Tiger Mask & Captain New Japan
Yoshi-Hashi & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Bushi & Evil
Toru Yano vs. Tetsuya Naito in semifinals of New Japan Cup
Michael Elgin vs. Hirooki Goto in semifinals of New Japan Cup
Katsuyori Shibata & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima
Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Kazushi Sakuraba & Kazuchika Okada
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga & Yujiro Takahashi
New Japan Cup finals
WWE ROADBLOCK AT 8 P.M. SATURDAY NIGHT EASTERN ON THE WWE NETWORK
HHH vs. Dean Ambrose for WWE title
Brock Lesnar vs. Bray Wyatt
New Day vs. Sheamus & King Barrett for WWE tag title
Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder vs Enzo Amore & Big Cass for NXT tag title
Also scheduled on the show (not all matches will air) are Charlotte, Natalya, Sami Zayn, Ric Flair, Chris Jericho and Sheamus
WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING ON NBC SPORTS NETWORK ON SATURDAY NIGHT AT 9 P.M. EASTERN FROM GREELEY, COLORADO
Josh Cavan vs. Kris Hocum
Cory Devela vs. Louis Taylor
Josh Copeland vs. Miek Hayes
Justin Gaethje vs. Brian Foster for the lightweight title
WWE has a house show on Saturday night in Atlantic City. Appearing in Atlantic City, meaning not on Roadblock, are Kevin Owens, Big Show, A.J. Styles, Kalisto, Braun Strowman, Alberto Del Rio, Rusev, Kane, Becky Lynch, Ryback, Usos and Dudleys. We’re looking for reports on this show as well as the NXT show on Saturday night in Fort Pierce and the ROH show on Saturday night in Philadelphia (Jay Lethal vs. Matt Sydal for ROH title, Kushida vs. ACH for IWGP jr. title, Adam Cole & Roderick Strong vs. Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly, Briscoes & Cheeseburger vs. War Machine & Moose, Young Bucks vs. Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian vs. Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley, Mandy Leon & Sumie Sakai & Jenny Rose vs. Kyoko Kimura & Veda Scott & Taeler Hendrix, B.J. Whitmer & Cedric Alexander vs. Adam Page & Jonathan Gresham, Joey Daddiego vs. Will Ferrara)/
WWE has shows on Sunday in Erie, PA (New Day, Charlotte, Bray Wyatt, Dean Ambrose, Sheamus, Chris Jericho) and Hershey, PA (Kevin Owens, Big Show, A.J. Styles, Kalisto, Braun Strowman, Alberto Del Rio, Rusev, Kane, Becky Lynch, Ryback, Usos and Dudleys).
Raw will be in Pittsburgh on Monday. Among those advertised are Brock Lesnar, Undertaker, Shane McMahon, Vince McMahon, HHH and Stephanie McMahon. Roman Reigns is not advertised for the show.
Smackdown and Main Event will be taped on Tuesday in Cincinnati with Sheamus, Dean Ambrose, Kevin Owens, A.J. Styles, Chris Jericho and Bray Wyatt advertised.
F4W MANIA~!
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Figure Four Weekly 2/22/2016: All the latest on the Hulk Hogan Lawsuit
All the latest details on the Hulk Hogan/Gawker lawsuit.
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
SUBSCRIBERS READ IT HERE: March 14, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Diaz defeats McGregor, Hayabusa passes away
A full rundown of UFC 196 and it’s repercussions, details on the death of Hayabusa, WWE announces a physical Hall of Fame, plus tons more. The records set by UFC 196 and the WWE records just broken are the lead stories in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The aftermath of UFC 196, with Diaz’s win over McGregor and Tate’s win over Holm, what it means business-wise, lessons taught, what fight is out the window and what fights are still on the table, an early look at the business numbers. Talk of future fights, TV, PPV and video numbers, the stories behind the fights, match-by-match coverage and the disclosed payoffs for the fighters. The controversy in the Lawlor vs. Anderson match.
WWE’s biggest crowds, this year’s WrestleMania ticket sales and an update on the show. Orlando getting next year’s WrestleMania and talk of the physical WWE Hall of Fame.
The death of Hayabusa, big announcements by New Japan, and a look at the New Japan Cup.
Features on the last three members of the WWE’s 2016 Hall of Fame class with notes on their career.
The unique political situation in WWE right now and power dynamic. The secondary ticket markets for WrestleMania, Hall of Fame and NXT in Dallas and which one has the greatest demand and why. WWE lawsuit judgment, an update on Roman Reigns, WWE looking at more signings, Mauro Ranallo hosting a new weekly non-wrestling TV show, Undertaker’s role on European tour, Kevin Owens’ thoughts on the IC title, Rhino running for public office, update on Seth Rollins, Dwayne Johnson news, Y2AJ shirts, Kenny Omega and WWE, WWE gets awards, new WWE book, WWE TV show returning to network, notes on SummerSlam 2016 weekend, WWE tryout camp plus business notes from all the weekend shows and rundowns of the WWE & NXT brand events.
The life and times of Lord James Blears and the glory days of 50th State Wrestling in Hawaii. What made Hawaii the wrestling hotbed it was, as well as Blears’ other life as the patriarch of the first family of surfing.
The monthly rundown of WWE business as well as that of TNA.
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: Feb 1, 1999 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Royal Rumble recap, 1998’s business rundown
A detailed look at how the major companies did in 1998 in terms of business, a full rundown of the Royal Rumble which was ultimately won by Vince McMahon, plus tons more.
FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE
Kimbo Slice and Ken Shamrock both failed their drug tests and have been put on temporary suspension by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations according to an article by Marc Raimondi of MMA Fighting. The substances they failed for has not been released. Most likely, the Slice vs. Dada 5000 result would be overturned and made a no contest.
Taz will be doing a post-WrestleMania special from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. on CBS Sports Radio right after WrestleMania. The show will also air in his regular Monday morning time slot the next day. It will air on more then 200 CBS Sports Radio affiliates and 5 CBS Radio sports stations including WFAN in New York, The Score in Chicago, The Fan in Dallas, The Fan in Washington, DC and Sportsradio WIP in Philadelphia.
The Noon Saturday 4/2 Evolve show over WrestleMania weekend features Tommy End vs. TJ Perkins just added to a show that already has Ricochet vs. Will Ospreay, Marty Scurll vs. Timothy Thatcher and Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Matt Riddle.
Ed Leslie, the former Brutus Beefcake, is mad that Hulk Hogan in his trial said how he and Leslie used to be good friends but Leslie’s wife and him don’t’ get along. Leslie wrote: “I’d like to defend my wife and call out Hulk Hogan to tell the truth! The real reason we aren’t friends or get in the ring. This is unreal. Why would my wife be brought up in the Hulk Hogan sex trial? Shit’s about to go down if the real truth comes out.”
For more Hogan-Gawker trial reaction check out Linda Bollea’s reaction to Hogan’s testimony
There is a petition going around to have a statue of Randy Savage done in Columbus, OH, where the former Randy Poffo was born. At least word it had 3,451 signatures on it. It’s gotten local media and even Rolling Stone writing about it.
WWE
Vince McMahon, HHH and Stephanie McMahon are being advertised for Raw events on 4/25,5/2, 5/9 and 5/23. Shane McMahon is not advertised for any of those shows. Don’t read too much into that at this point.
Not that this means anything because what WWE advertises are far as TV tapings are concerned, they almost never deliver when it comes to matches, but the main event advertised locally for Smackdown on Tuesday in Cincinnati is Chris Jericho & Dean Ambrose & Dolph Ziggler vs. Sheamus & Kevin Owens & Bray Wyatt. (thanks to Brian Henke)
WWE 2K16 is the latest addition to WWE video games on Windows PC via Steam for $49.99.
R-Truth, under real name Ron Killings, will be performing at Gas Monkey Live in Dallas on 3/31 before WrestleMania.
Not that this means anything at this stage, but there are the odds at betwrestling.com for Mania right now:
Roman Reigns -555
HHH +365
Brock Lesnar -335
Dean Ambrose +245
Undertaker -300
Shane McMahon +220
WrestleMania will air at VOX Cinemas in the UAE, Oman and Lebanon live at 1 a.m. late Sunday night (due to the time difference).
WWE stock closed at $17.75 at the end of the day today, up 27 cents per share.
A story on Dwayne Johnson and Social Media
Kanes advice to pro wrestlers in WWE
UFC/MMA
A totally awesome Conor McGregor and Conan O’Brien segment playing the new UFC video game is absolutely awesome.
Felipe Olivieri, who lost to Tony Martin on 1/30, tested positive for a prohibited substance in an out of competition drug test by USADA. Olivieri told MMA Fighting that he has never used any illegal substance and is asking for his B sample to be tested. The substance he tested positive for has not been announced as USADA doesn’t do that until all hearings have been completed.
Tonight’s Invicta show which is live on Fight Pass at 8:30 p.m. will air on tape delay on Univision Deportes at 12:30 a.m. Eastern time.
Different sides weigh in on the argument last week involving Jon Jones and one of Daniel Cormier’s teammates in Las Vegas that also involved Arthur Jones, Jon’s older brother
Jessamyn Duke, who fights tonight on the Invicta show, is still under contract to UFC but said she told Dana White she’d like to fight for Invicta saying she needs more ring time.
Bellator announced that on 4/16 they will be airing Bellator MMA headlined by Derek Camps vs. Patricky Pitbull Freire airing that nuight at 10 p.m., but the debut of Bellator kickboxing, which is from the same show in Torino, Italy, won’t air until 4/22 at 11 p.m.
MISCELLANEOUS
If you are in San Jose area, the movie “The Great Sasuke” will be playing tomorrow at 5 p.m. as part of the Cinequest film festival at Camera 12. Sasuke will be attending the screening and answering questions.
Jim Ross’ debut as a boxing announcer for CBS Sports was scheduled for tomorrow night in Las Vegas, but due to an issue with the athletic commission, the entire show has been canceled. Ross is scheduled to return to Las Vegas to announce a 4/16 show.
The Lucha Underground show in Austin, TX coming up now has General Admission tickets available to people who aren’t going to SFSX, available for $10 (thanks to Peter Schirmacher)
Sting is booked for appearances as Big Time Wrestling shows on 3/18 in Altoona, PA at the Jaffa Mosque and 3/29 in Danbury, CT at the PAL Building, plus 4/9 in Webster, MA at the Webster Town Hall.
The documentary Memphis Heat, which if you’re in the area you should go out of your way to see, a history of Memphis Wrestling from 1960-1980, will play on 3/23 at the Malco Paradiso Cinema in Memphis with Jerry Jarrett appearing.
Rey Hours, who plays Dragon Azteca Jr., was injured over the weekend in a match with Dragon Lee in Mexico and is off tomorrow night’s WildKat Sports show in New Orleans promoted by Luke Hawx.
Several interviews with Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian promoting ROH: One with Channel Guide, another with philly.com, one by phillyvoice.com, and The Intell.
An article I wrote probably 36 years ago or so on Ann Calvello
The classic Terry Funk vs Bruce Walkup empty arena match.
Fight Club Orange County on 4/7 at The Hangar at the Orange County Fair & Events Center headlined by Matt Lagler (11-12-1) vs. John Mercurio (7-7) starting at 7 p.m.
AAA in Mexico City on Tuesday night for a special show regarding a special coin merchandise deal: Fabi Apache & Mascarita Sagrada & Octagoncito b Taya & Mini Charly Manson & Mini Psycho Clown, Drago & Fenix b Pentagon Jr. & Taurus, Blue Demon Jr. & La Parka & Psycho Clown b Averno & Chessman & Mesias
CMLL on Tuesday night in Guadalajara: Leon Blanco & Neutron b Demonio Rojo & Mr. Trueno, Magico & Soberano & Starman b Arkangel de la Muerte & Furia Roja & Metalico, Fuego & Pegasso & Rey Cometa b Escandalo & Puma King & Tiger, Angel de Oro & Maximo Sexy & Valiente b Ephesto & Luciferno & Mephisto, Atlantis & Dragon Lee & Mistico b Barbaro Cavernario & Felino & Mr. Niebla-DQ (thanks to Kris Zellner)
Aereo & El Hijo de Rey Misterio & Rush vs. Laredo Kid & Niebla Roja & Yago Estrada headline 3/20 in Westminster, CO at the Imperium Event Center.
Cibernetico will headline a show on 4/9 in Pacoma, CA at the Boys & Girls Club.
Blue Panther & Estrellita vs. Pierroth & Tiffany headline a 3/27 show in Channelview, TX at the Diamante Negro Disco.
El Hijo del Rey Misterio vs. Rush vs. Bestia 666 vs. Niebla Roja headlined 3/19 in Phoenix at the Arizona State University Preparatory Academy Elementary Gym
Aero Star vs. Fenix vs. Pentagon Jr. headlines 3/25 in Pharr, TX at the West Club.
La Parka & Ultimo Ninja vs. Violento Jack & ? headlines on 4/1 in Benbrook TX at the Camp Bowie Bingo Hall.
Low Rider vs. Teddy Hart headlines tomorrow night in Katy, TX at the Elks Lodge.
AAW on 3/18 in Berwyn, IL at the Eagles Club with Ricochet vs. Sami Callihan, Jack Evans vs. Tommaso Ciampa, AR Fox vs. Davey Vega, Kongo Kong vs. Moose, Mat Fitchet vs. Drew Gulak, Chris Hero vs. Silas Young and Colt Cabana vs. Bucky Collins, plus an appearance by Mick Foley.
Battlarts Pro Wrestling on 3/19 at Santino Marella’s Battlarts Academy in Mississauaga, ONT.
Pac Cup tomorrow night in Vancouver at 7 p.m. at the Russian Community Centre.
All Star Wrestling March Madness on 3/25 in Cloverdale, BC at the Alice McKay Building headlined by Davey Boy Smith Jr. defending the Stu Hart Legacy title against Kenny Lush.
The King of Transcona event takes place tonight for the CWE in Winnipeg at Rookie’s Sports Bar with a Battle Royal with all the winners of the undercard matches being declared the new King of Transcona.
In Your Face Wrestling on Saturday in Albany, NY at the Polish Community Center. There is a convention from 2-6 p.m. with Bob Holly,Kevin Nash, Scott Norton, Marty Jannetty and Cody Deaner. There is a show at 7 p.m. with Nash appearing as a manager.
Pro Wrestling Phoenix tomorrow night in Council Bluffs, IA a the National Guard Armory with Arik Cannon vs. Mark Sterling for the PWP title/
Texas All-Star Wrestling’s annual Humble Rumble will be 3/36 in Humble, TX at the Coaches Sports Bar with the annual Battle Royal. They also run 4/30 at VFW Post 8905 in Cypress TX.
A segment on the Food Network from someone who claimed to be a former pro wrestler who won on Chopped
ON THIS DAY IN WORLD PRO WRESTLING HISTORY: