THE ROUND-UP
The Latest from the F4W Staff
NEWS
Dean Ambrose undergoes surgery for triceps injury
WWN launches new on-demand service
Jim Ross & Josh Barnett officially returning for NJPW on AXS in 2018
Will Ospreay returning to WWN over WrestleMania weekend
Dana White: We’re talking to Floyd Mayweather about a UFC deal
WWE SmackDown video highlights: Bryan & Shane explain their actions
WWE 205 Live results: Hideo Itami makes his show debut
‘High-grade triceps tendon injury’ suspected for Dean Ambrose
WWE SmackDown live results: Clash of Champions fallout
AUDIO
F4D: Smackdown, 2006 Royal Rumble, Geek of the Week and more! 12/20
WOL: Mayweather talking to UFC, Smackdown, Dr. Lucha, more! 12/20
Wrestling Weekly: Big Christmas shows and some great promos 12/20
B&V&C: Retro Raw and Nitro from 19 years ago this week! 12/19
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly 12/18/2017: Recapping WWE’s last PPV of the year
After a show that went about as well as it reasonably could have gone, SmackDown came out of Sunday’s Clash of Champions pay-per-view with some renewed optimism heading into WWE’s few biggest months of the year. AJ Styles defeated Jinder Mahal in the PPV’s main event. And with Mahal tapping out clean in the middle to Styles’ Calf Crusher, WWE’s seven-month experiment with Mahal as a main eventer appears to at least momentarily be on hold.
WON NEWSLETTER: December 18, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: The metamorphosis of Chris Jericho, GSP vacates title, more
The story behind this past week’s Chris Jericho/Kenny Omega angles in Japan is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Look at the selling of the angle, betting on the match, usage of blood, storyline implications and other business notes regarding the match.
Find out about Georges St-Pierre vacating the middleweight title, the story behind it, whether he’ll fight again, Dana White burying GSP, and the business of why the fight happened.
Check out WWE’s new Facebook experiment, why it happened, an update on the rise in WWE stock, what type of profits long-term will justify the current stock price, what is up with 205 Live, the roster of the show and more.
Get an in depth look at the 2017 Tokyo Sports Awards for Japanese wrestling and how the voting went.
This issue has a rundown on New Japan’s final major show of the year, the tag team tournament finals, including tournament standings, the final days, the business, match-by-match coverage, poll results and star ratings along with angle rundowns.
Coverage of this past week’s UFC show in Fresno with match-by-match coverage and business notes, and also look at the first Arolucha taping, the good and the bad, how it got started, goals, and what comes next for the company.
Read about the end of the Raven/Bagwell lawsuit for residuals for appearances on the WWE Network and how the argument regarding the actual issue never played into the end result, and what did kill it.
Plus, look at the Universal title match at Royal Rumble and how the plans changed, the Clash of Champions show, Raw after Mania, Paige talks her issues, TNA star coming to WWE, WWE injury notes, WWE 25th anniversary show notes, funny initials for a Mexican promotion being advertised while WWE was in town, a look at the HHH vs. Mahal match, New Day book, MMA fighter signs with WWE, as well as notes from all the weekend NXT and main roster house shows, business notes and highlights.
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 Dave Meltzer, or by using PayPal directing funds to [email protected].
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If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can choose one free classic issue, or two free classic issues with a 40-issue subscription.
WON BACK ISSUE: November 27, 2000 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Survivor Series review, Stan Hansen retires, more
The rapidly changing world of wrestling changed once again, as a Steve Austin vs. HHH main event at Survivor Series didn’t end with a pinfall in the ring, but with a forklift dropping a car, purported to be with HHH inside, theoretically to a Wile E. Coyote like catastrophe (where the victim should be dead, but will, of course live to see another day). The angle, largely to explain HHH taking some time off to rest his back and hip injuries, kept HHH’s unusual streak alive of having done no pinfall jobs in singles matches on PPV.
WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
Though WWE has yet to officially confirm if it will have 30 entrants like the men’s match, Naomi has been announced as the first participant for next month’s women’s Royal Rumble. Elias was the first wrestler to be confirmed for the men’s Rumble.
Pro Wrestling Sheet reported that only a few people knew that Stephanie McMahon would be announcing the women’s Royal Rumble on Raw and that the wrestlers in the ring weren’t told about it in advance.
Peter Rosenberg has an interview with Daniel Bryan where Bryan discusses his history with concussions and his desire to return to the ring.
Enzo Amore rapped a bit while appearing on Hot 97 with Rosenberg this morning.
After he made a cameo in a tag team match against The Bludgeon Brothers last week, Colin Delaney made another appearance for WWE and was squashed by Hideo Itami on 205 Live last night.
Rolling Stone chose The Miz as their WWE Wrestler of the Year.
Stephen Merchant posted an update on the editing of “Fighting with my Family,” which is the movie being made that is based on Paige and her family: “Well, that’s done then. Thanks to cast, crew and everyone who helped make FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY. It’s a funny, emotional, uplifting film. Stay tuned for updates on when you can see it.”
WWE touted that their GIPHY channel has reached one billion views.
Pro Wrestling
While speaking with Sports Illustrated, Chris Jericho spoke about his Tokyo Dome match against Kenny Omega and continued to build up the double main event by responding to Tetsuya Naito.
Penta El Zero M will face his brother Rey Fenix at MLW: Zero Hour on January 11th in Orlando.
Madusa posted an update on her recovery from knee surgery and noted that everything is checking out great.
Taz will be co-hosting a new national morning drive show with Marc “Moose” Malusis on CBS Sports Radio starting on January 2nd.
UFC/MMA
After Dana White said that the UFC was talking to Floyd Mayweather about a deal, FightHype put out an interview where Mayweather clarified previous comments he made about an MMA crossover. Mayweather said that he could make a billion dollars over a few fights in the UFC, but he’s not going to do it.
MMA Fighting has a post on the MMA industry reacting to White saying they’re talking to Mayweather, with Demetrious Johnson and Cub Swanson both challenging him.
In what was likely a response to Mayweather’s comments, Conor McGregor sent out a single-word tweet today: “P*ssy”
Nate Diaz commented on people who are calling him out to fight: “Ask nicely, motherf**ers. Ask nicely. I’m talking about the organization, the fighters. And make it a big deal, because I’m not trying to just sign a contract just because it’s a good idea for you guys.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov told Russia Today that McGregor should have been stripped of his title a long time ago and Tony Ferguson should be the real champion. Nurmagomedov said he liked how Georges St-Pierre acted in a similar situation to McGregor.
Michael Bisping gave his thoughts on GSP vacating the middleweight title.
Holly Holm compared her fight against Cris Cyborg to when she faced Ronda Rousey. Cyborg said she believes Rousey was looking past Holm when she lost to her.
The UFC released the official poster for next month’s UFC 220 PPV.
Andre Fili vs. Dennis Bermudez is scheduled for UFC on FOX 27 on January 27th.
Today in Professional Wrestling History: Styles vs. Daniels at Final Resolution 2009
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