DAILY UPDATE
Latest News:
NJPW BOSJ results: Hiromu Takahashi vs. Robbie Eagles
Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. boxing exhibition ends in a draw
Jimmy Rave announces retirement following left arm amputation
UFC on ESPN 18 live results: Anthony Smith vs. Devin Clark
Latest Audio:
WOR: Bobby Lee, Jimmy Rave, Smackdown, ratings, Tyson vs. Jones Jr., UFC, more! 11/29
Latest Free YouTube Video:
Subscribe to our YouTube channel here!
WON NEWSLETTER: November 30, 2020 Observer Newsletter: Undertaker retirement, Survivor Series, more
We’ve got a heavy-historical double-issue of the Wrestling Observer out this week. Our lead story looks at the career and final appearance of The Undertaker. We look at his famous matches, the WrestleMania streak, how long it’s been since he actually worked a full schedule, the dream match that did happen and why, and the one that never happened and why.
Also in this issue:
Survivor Series with match-by-match coverage, star ratings, poll results and interest level of the show.
The $39 million settlement of a lawsuit against WWE, the largest settlement of a lawsuit in pro wrestling history, why it was settled, testimony key witnesses were going to make, who sued, what the judge in the case said, crazy facts about the case, and testimony on what really happened in Saudi Arabia the day the WWE talent couldn’t get out of the country.
A story on the life of Bob Ryder, the start of TNA, the business numbers behind the start and how it got so deep in debt, what saved the company in 2005 and 2015 and Impact releases a statement on his death.
How Dana White is expecting a packed house for a UFC show sooner than you think and how that ties into what has been booked.
Major front office changes in WWE, and background of the decisions and people who are in and out, Xavier Woods and WWE negotiate a mainstream deal, NXT Takeover lineup notes, Lana documentary, Undertaker talks most famous matches and how Vince talked him into ending the streak, how WWE & AEW TV shows did this past week as compared to major sorts, U.K. Heritage Cup, former college football star has WWE interest, value of WWE stock right now and top ten most-watched shows on the WWE Network from last week.
Full coverage of UFC 255, details behind the show, match-by-match coverage and poll results.
The induction of Marc Ratner into the UFC Hall of Fame. We look at his background in boxing, his connection to pro wrestling, and his role in okaying an angle that literally changed the power structure of pro wrestling where Vince McMahon needed his approval. We look at why two different proposed dream match involving WWE stars didn’t happen as well as how Floyd Mayweather’s unbeaten streak stayed in tact due to a decision by Ratner as well as his role in making UFC treated as a sport, and how UFC was able to get Ratner to join the promotion.
2019 Business Year in review, with the biggest attendances, biggest PPV numbers, who headlined the most major shows, UFC business, WWE business and what Becky Lynch did in 2019 that no woman in the history of pro wrestling had ever come close to.
An updated list of the biggest drawing cards in pro wrestling history, comparing Jim Londos with Hulk Hogan, who Sam Muchnick said were the biggest draws ever, where Hogan ranked with Austin and Rock, and every annual attendance record from 1931 to the present and what record is likely never to be beaten.
NOAH’s Pro Wrestling Chronicle show and the Go Shiozaki ivs. Katsuhiko Nakajima main event.
A feature on the seven different Triple Crown award winners of the last 40 years, as well as those who came one step from doing so.
Stats for MVP, Most Outstanding, Best on interviews, Best Tag Team and others over the past 40 years as well as who seems to deserve more Hall of Fame consideration.
A feature on European villain Klaus Kauroff, who passed away this past week.
Television business, 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.
SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE
Our weekend Observer radio is up on the site talking about last night’s UFC, Smackdown and several other subjects.
The Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. exhibition was gigantic mainstream-wise. The fight did 12 million Google searches, and there were another 5 million for Nate Robinson and 100,000 for Badou Jack. No card in a long time has hit numbers like this. The numbers were bigger than Conor McGregor UFC fights and even bigger than Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm was. It was multiples of WrestleMania.
Former WWE announcer Mauro Ranallo was doing the Tyson-Jones broadcast last night. Al Bernstein was supposed to be doing the show, but he contracted COVID-19.
The only other combat sport related stuff that made the top 20 this past week was the death of David Prowse, the actor who played the physical character of Darth Vader in Star Wars, at 550,000. And UFC’s show last night, as weak as it was, still charted with 100,000 searches. While not covered in any of the news stories on the death of David Prowse, he was a pro wrestler in the U.K. during the 60s and 70s. Even with his notable size and physique, he was not a major star which is why the connection has rarely been made.
The former girlfriend of Alberto Rodriguez (Alberto El Patron) has retracted her statements regarding his allegedly beating and sexually assaulting her in May. She offered an apology to the Rodriguez family. This pretty likely will end the criminal case against him. There is obviously a lot more to this. Rodriguez was scheduled to go to trial on this case on 1/25. The woman wrote, “I apologize to the Rodriguez Del Rio family for the damages caused by my errors.”
The New Japan tag team tournament continues at 4:30 a.m. Eastern tomorrow from Korakuen Hall:
Satoshi Kojima & Tomoaki Honma vs. Yota Tsuji & Yuji Nagata
Jeff Cobb & Great O’Khan vs. Evil & Yujiro Takahashi
Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi vs. Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare vs Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano
Sanada & Shingo Takagi vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi vs. Juice Robinson & David Finlay
WWE
There is a new book out called “Dwayne The Rock Johnson: The People’s Champion – From WWE to Hollywood” at Amazon and other book outlets.
UFC
Clay Guida vs. Michael Johnson is scheduled for the 2/6 show.
Ronaldo Jacare Souza vs. Kevin Holland has been added to the 12/12 PPV show. Holland was scheduled to headline this coming Saturday against Jack Hermansson, but tested positive for COVID-19 and Holland was moved back one week. Hermansson’s new main event opponent is Marvin Vettorl, who was scheduled to face Souza on 12/12 but agreed to take the fight as the main event for 12/5.
OTHER NOTES
Lots of people raving about today’s Hiromu Takahashi vs. Robbie Eagles match from Korakuen Hall as part of the Super Junior tournament, as well as Taiji Ishimori vs. Bushi.
Regarding last night’s show and Bobby Lee, there are music videos of the first El Santo vs. Bobby Lee match. There is also footage of their mask vs. mask match, which is the most famous of their bouts.
A Go Fund Me has been set up for Duane “Gillberg” Gill who suffered a heart attack this past week.
A documentary called “Sweet Daddy Siki,” after the 60s and 70s star Reginald Siki, is now playing on Amazon Prime. Siki stars in the movie with Bret Hart, who grew up idolizing him, and Adam “Edge” Copeland. Siki later became a country-western singer. He was a major drawing card in his heyday.
CWE is scheduling a tour that will start with a New Year’ Eve show called the Super Jobber Cup in Winnipeg, plus shows 1/2 in Morden, Manitoba, 1/2 in Gladstone, Manitoba, 1/7 in Calgary, 1/8 in Red Deer, Alberta, 1/9 in Grande Prairie, Alberta and 1/10 in St. Albert, Alberta. Of course off of this is subject to change.
Wrestler/reporter Israel Velazquez aka Heavy Boy has a Go Fund Me to cover the costs of surgery to remove one of his kidneys which has a tumor. He also recently had COVID which has left his lungs badly damaged. He is a writer for the SuperLuchas magazine. More info here.
Kevin Nash is starring in a movie called “COVID-19 Invasion” according to IMDB that will be filmed in Longview, TX.
Daily Pro Wrestling History: Rock ‘n’ Roll Express win SMW Tag 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