Daily update: AAA Mega Title Tournament, WWE Star to appear on ESPN

We’re looking for your thoughts on Saturday’s New Japan Power Struggle show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to Dave Meltzer

We’re also looking for reports on Saturday night’s NXT show in Largo, FL at Dave Meltzer

Smackdown is today in Manchester, England.  Undertaker is being advertised for this show.

Figure Four Weekly:

Figure Four Weekly (10/2/15): WWE 2K16 Review
2K Sports and Yuke’s turnaround WWE video game series with a reinvigorated title boasting huge roster.

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Here is the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer: November 9, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2015 Hall of Fame Issue

Our most talked about issue of the year, the 2015 Hall of Fame issue is up on the site right now.  This is a double-issue featuring notes on the seven new inductees, the complete balloting results for the year along with last year, plus how the top candidates did with reporters, historians, and those who are currently and formerly in the business.  You’ll see how the different groups voted, as well as notes on everyone who went in, what kept those who came close from getting in, thoughts on next year’s ballot, and a look at the careers of the inductees.  There is also a super history of Montreal wrestling in the new issue, as well as a story on the modern Mexican scene.

The issue features a ton of old Southern history, coverage of one of the top heels of the 70s, the biggest matches ever held in Puerto Rico, a complete WWE business rundown with reactions from Vince McMahon and George Barrios, what the numbers say, profits in every category, the Wall Street reaction to the numbers, lots of network information broken down including who watches what, the current WWE profitability level vs. historical levels, as well as where the money comes from, and the last three years of PPV business being charted and the surprising staying power of PPV.  We also look at every other aspect of WWE business.

We also have an in-depth update on the situation with Alberto Del Rio, WWE, AAA, TNA, Lucha Underground, Rizin and everyone else that had interest in him.  We look at how things changed in the last week, have comments from WWE regarding what he can and can’t do, both sides of contradictory stories, the big move AAA made this past week due to his leaving, what the situation is with the AAA Mega heavyweight title, the good and bad of working with WWE vs. indies from a short and long-term financial situation, what Mexican star did WWE show interest in, and how this affects AAA and Lucha Underground.

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@wrestlingobserver.com” target=”_blank”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com

You can also order print issues at www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com 
Click Here: State of Origin Jerseys 
Rates are:
 
For the United States, it is $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52.  In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to moonsault@mediaplusint.com  For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52.
 
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.

CLICK HERE FOR A FULL WRESTLING OBSERVER PREVIEW

If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today.  With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today. We’ve got coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits into those descriptions over the past 11 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue.
 
Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.

TODAY’S NEWS UPDATE

WWE

Royal Rumble tickets for the January 24th, 2016 show in Orlando, FL officially go on sale this coming Friday.
Dorian Roldan of AAA was on Busted Open Radio yesterday and announced that the AAA Mega Title, which had been held by Alberto Del Rio, is now vacant and they will be doing a tournament to crown a new champion.  He flat-out said Alberto will not, in fact, be returning to Mexico for any dates for AAA, which was pretty much clear as soon as he no-showed the event last Sunday on a day that he had no other commitments for WWE.  He will be working the upcoming WWC show because WWE has a working relationship with WWE Hall of Famer Carlos Colon.
There will be two “Legends With JBL” shows next week with Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin and others talking the career of Undertaker, one on Monday night and one on Thursday night.  As noted on Raw, next week is Undertaker Week on the WWE Network.
Tonight’s WWE guest on SportsCenter will be King Barrett.  The spot last night on Raw where Wayne Rooney slapped the hell out of him got a ton of media attention in the UK this morning, including airing as the top story on many sports telecasts.
Roman Reigns talks to Planeta Wrestling at the Spanish WWE 2K16 launch event.

UFC/MMA

This story about Russia and doping was everywhere yesterday, a huge news story.  There is discussion of Russia actually being banned from next year’s Olympic Games for running their own doping program.
EA Sports officially announced EA Sports UFC 2 for “Spring.” (last time, this meant the last Tuesday of Spring) with a “vision trailer.” A full feature list will be announce Friday. The first game got mixed reviews, but was improved by a lot of free updates.
The first episode of UFC 193: Embedded with Ronda Rousey is available. She gives her response to the “lube shaming” controversy, and it’s not pretty.
Speaking of Rousey, her embattled head trainer Edmond Tarverdyan talked about his relationship with Double-R and whether Holly Holm is the best female boxer of all time. There was no mention in the transcript of his recent tax issues.
Bellator 145 : With a Vengeance Friday night on Spike TV did 814,000 viewers. This is slightly up from the 800,000 viewers for the previous “tentpole” event, which had far greater star power and more promotion. It’s also way up from the last Friday show on October 23rd that did just 555,000 viewers.
UFC Fight Night 77 Saturday on FS 1 did 757,000 viewers for the main card and 609,000 for the prelims show. This was up against very heavy football completion on the major networks. The main card number was below average for the year for UFC on FS 1 although the prelims number is solid.
Top bantamweight contender and former title challenger Michael McDonald will make his return to UFC after over two years off due to injury. He’s signed to fight Masenori Kanehara at UFC 195 in Vegas. McDonald was submitted by Urijah Faber in his last fight at UFC on FOX 9 in December 2013.
Dave has articles at MMAFighting about Saturday’s UFC Fight Night card and the impending return of the New Year’s Eve war in Japan.
We’re told that in the finale of Master Of None on Netflix, there’s a reference to CM Punk. Apparently in another episode, Aziz Ansari shows off some wrestling moves.
Strawweight title contender Valerie Letourneau and Hector Lombard did an interview with Submission Radio prior to this Saturday’s big UFC show.

Other Wrestling

5 Star Wrestling announced on Facebook that Rey Mysterio will not only face AJ Styles at their upcoming event, but also be the first officially-licensed wrestler to appear in their wrestling game. The PlayStation 4 version of 5 Star Wrestling is named ReGenesis and will at least have Rey Mysterio in the game as a playable character. It will be his first video game appearance since leaving WWE.
Cibernetico on his Twitter (https://twitter.com/ciberelite) has claimed that he’s leaving AAA to join Elite.  If this is true, in terms of workrate it’s not the end of the world for AAA, but it is yet another big name that has bailed on the heels of Alberto Del Rio and the original Mistico.  
Regarding last night’s Observer Radio and the talk of the first third-generation wrestler and whether it really was the Rock, David Bixenspan writes: “Dwayne Johnson was just the first in WWE. Eddie Gilbert was, as far as I know, one of the first. Tommy’s father Arlie, was a carnival era pro wrestler. It was primarily brought up around Eddie’s debut.”  Les Thatcher also writes, “Ron & Robert Fuller, father Buddy, Grandfather Roy Welch. Also from that same family tree, Roy Lee & Jackie Welch, Jimmy Golden, Ricky Fields, etc.” At least part of that familial relationship was kayfabed for years.
A few big indie shows in the NY area this Saturday. During the day, there’s the Big Event convention, and in the evening, both Jersey All Pro Wrestling (anniversary show/Frank Iadevaia memorial) and House of Hardcore (NY debut) have big shows. HOH also has a Friday night show in Philadelphia that will be an IPPV.
Smash Wrestling from Toronto, Ontario, this past weekend: Brent Banks d. Erik Donnelly, Brett Banks d. Kobe Durst, Vanessa Kraven d. Brent Banks via a chokebomb, Kevin Bennett w/ Big Tank d. Scotty O’Shea, Courtney Rush d. KC Spinelli via referee stoppage, The Overdogs d. Pepper and Mike Rollins, Marc Andrews d. Tarik, Super Smash Brothers (Evil Uno & Stu Grayson) d. TdT, Angelico d. Jack Evans. Smash is also rolling out their own V.O.D. service.
Here’s a feature on 80s wrestler John Devors by his local paper.
Bruce Hart is going to do a weekly column on PWP Nation in addition to a weekly podcast on Saturdays.