Bellator MMA officially announced the postponement of their June Chicago, IL, event due to the coronavirus pandemic but may be just a few months away from returning to action.
Bellator 244 was scheduled for Saturday, June 6th, at the Wintrust Arena, and was scheduled to be headlined by a rematch between Michael Chandler and Benson Henderson and a featherweight Grand Prix bout between A.J. McKee and Darrion Caldwell.
However, Bellator president Scott Coker told MMA Fighting Tuesday that they are looking at resuming action in either June or July on a ViacomCBS studio lot in Hollywood, CA, but with no fans and less than 50 essential personnel in attendance. ViacomCBS owns Bellator.
The current ban on combat sports events in California lasts through the end of May and Coker said he is anticipating new medical requirements from the state athletic commission due to the pandemic. The promotion has postponed four shows thus far, but had no scheduled shows past June.
The combat sports world is continuing to push the envelope to be the first sport to return back to action as the UFC is moving ahead with plans to hold the newly rechristened UFC 249 on May 9th from an undisclosed location.
A day after announcing tonight’s show at Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun would still be held but without fans in the seats, Bellator MMA changed course mid-Friday afternoon, postponing Bellator 241 due to the ongoing coronavirus epidemic.
We would like to apologize to our athletes and fans, as well as our broadcast partner DAZN, but we feel this is the best decision to be made at this time.
The main event was scheduled to be featherweight champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire vs. Pedro Carvalho in addition to Daniel Weichel vs. Emmanuel Sanchez, both featherweight Grand Prix bouts. They did not announce a makeup date.
Bellator’s schedule lightens up considerably after Friday with no scheduled shows until May 9th which kicks off a three event month for them.
As of this writing, UFC is powering ahead with their schedule of shows, holding Saturday’s Brasilia, Brazil, ESPN event in an empty arena. Dana White said in a video Thursday night that their March 21st London event is moving ahead as planned while their Columbus, OH, event (March 28th) and Portland, OR, event (April 11th) will be moved to their Las Vegas-based APEX facility.
While the UFC has yet to make an official announcement about Saturday’s show in Brasilia, Brazil, the event will go on as planned but with no fans in the arena.
On Wednesday, Federal District governor Ibaneis Rocha decreed that events and gatherings with more than 100 people were suspended until next Monday, later updating it to allow events to happen “behind closed doors” following their health team’s approval.
The news was first reported by Brazilian combat sports outlet Combate.
The show is headlined by Kevin Lee vs. Charles Oliveira in an interesting battle of lightweights trying to break into the upper tier of the division. According to Ariel Helwani, the show will begin two hours earlier (3 PM Eastern) and will air on ESPN and ESPN Deportes in addition to ESPN+ due to the programming void left open by all the major sports leagues suspending operations and their seasons.
With the UFC’s packed schedule (six events in the next two months alone), they will have tough decisions to make and soon. TSN”s Aaron Bronsteter reported that the April 11th show set for Portland, Oregon, will move to the UFC’s APEX facility in Las Vegas, NV, as a precautionary measure. Of the UFC’s next six shows, four are in the U.S. with the other overseas show set for London, England, next weekend.
The one show that has UFC fans very concerned is the April 18th UFC 249 pay-per-view in Brooklyn, NY, headlined by lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson. Because of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Thursday decree that all events with over 500 attendees be suspended, there is concern the main event (one that has attempted to be made four previous times) will not happen for a fifth.
Given the amount of those sports leagues and organizations making those decisions in the last 24 hours (NBA, NCAA NHL, XFL, etc), the UFC’s relative silence about the Brazil show (save restrictions on media entering the building) or their impending schedule is strange to say the least.
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Bellator MMA will move forward with their Friday night show at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT, but to an empty arena. The event is headlined by featherweight champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire vs. Pedro Carvalho in a Grand Prix fight and will also feature Matt Mitrione, Paul Daley, and more.
Are you interested in attending our annual F4W/WON convention? We will hold it during AEW Double or Nothing weekend. For more information, check this post for activities and prices.
An update on the WrestleMania card after Super Showdown with 11 currently decided upon matches and five or six others in discussion is covered in the current issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
The lead story updates how the coronavirus has affected Japanese pro wrestling as well as Japanese culture. We talk about sports and entertainment cancellations, the shows new Japan Pro Wrestling has canceled, the prospects for this year’s New Japan Cup, an update on Stardom,DDT,Dragon Gate, All Japan, NOAH and other Japanese companies on what shows are on and off. We look at if New Japan can still save the New Japan Cup, history of New Japan Cup winners vs. G-1 winners taking the IWGP title, an a breakdown of the original tournament plans.
The new issue also covers:
Plans and background of the coming WrestleMania, as well as Super Showdown coverage with match-by-match coverage with star ratings.
A feature on Manabu Nakanishi’s career and coverage of his retirement show this past week. We look at the difference between Nakanishi and Jushin Liger, Nakanishi’s amateur wrestling days, Nakanishi’s shoot fighting days, Nakanishi in WCW, the Nakanishi heyday and the past decade. We note the major surgery that nearly ended his career ad slowed him down, and some of the all-time greats comment on Nakanishi.
The major matches in the New Japan ring over the past week.
WWE television deals, WWE Network price change, XFL ratings, Samoa Joe suspension, New WWE international signing, WWE injury updates, Canadian TV ratings, Ric Flair’s 71st birthday, how much Raw has fallen in four yeas, Edge’s return,NXT Takeover notes, Evolve news for WrestleMania week with WWE talent, Australia tour, stock value, most-watched shows on the WWE Network as well as a look at every WWE arena event over the past week with business notes and highlights.
A preview of the AEW PPV and full coverage of the UFC show in Auckland, New Zealand.
Regarding the Wednesday numbers, we’ve got full details, demos that each side won, how every segment did and what match ended up as the difference maker.
Full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.
In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.
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].
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WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
The Tegan Nox vs. Dakota Kai steel cage match will open tonight’s NXT. There will be two cage matches on the show, with Velveteen Dream also set to take on Roderick Strong.
WWE posted a video where Isaiah “Swerve” Scott challenged Austin Theory for tonight’s show.
Advertised for WWE’s 3/22 Madison Square Garden event is Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton, Kabuki Warriors vs. Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch, Street Profits and Ricochet vs. AJ Styles, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows and a four way eight man elimination tag bout featuring Seth Rollins, Murphy and the AOP against Kevin Owens, Aleister Black and the Viking Raiders. Andrade, Zelina Vega, Shayna Baszler, Natalya and Bobby Lashley have also been announced.
WWE has filed trademarks for “Left Right Left Right,” “LRLR,” and “LEFTRIGHTLEFTRIGHT.”
WWE has an extra from the upcoming FCW documentary featuring Baron Corbin and Steve Keirn.
Other Wrestling
Real Japan Pro Wrestling chairman Sinma Kotobuki is saying that the first Tiger Mask, Satoru Sayama, is suffering from a condition “close to Parkinson’s disease”.
TMZ wrote a story on MJF flipping off a seven-year-old. This upset the parent, who raised the issue to Cody Rhodes. Cody responded by inviting the family to a future event but also warned to not expect characters to act any differently than they do on television.
A special on Total Nonstop Action (TNA) ahead of the There’s No Place Like Home reunion event will air on March 31st at 10 p.m. ET on AXS.
PWInsider is reporting that Teddy Hart is back in jail after being arrested in Richmond, Virginia today. No further details on the arrest are known at this time.
The ticket sale for ROH/NJPW War of the Worlds has been pushed back to Wednesday, March 11 at 10 a.m. for Honor Club members and March 13 at 10 a.m. local time for the general public.
We’re looking for your thoughts on AEW Revolution, as well as today being the final day for our poll on WWE Super Showdown. You can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match of each show to [email protected]
We’re looking for reports on last night’s WWE Raw show in State College, PA, as well as reporters from tonight’s Raw show in Salisbury, MD and Syracuse, NY to [email protected]
Are you interested in attending our annual F4W/WON convention? We will hold it during AEW Double or Nothing weekend. For more information, check this post for activities and prices.
An update on the WrestleMania card after Super Showdown with 11 currently decided upon matches and five or six others in discussion is covered in the current issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
The lead story updates how the coronavirus has affected Japanese pro wrestling as well as Japanese culture. We talk about sports and entertainment cancellations, the shows new Japan Pro Wrestling has canceled, the prospects for this year’s New Japan Cup, an update on Stardom,DDT,Dragon Gate, All Japan, NOAH and other Japanese companies on what shows are on and off. We look at if New Japan can still save the New Japan Cup, history of New Japan Cup winners vs. G-1 winners taking the IWGP title, an a breakdown of the original tournament plans.
The new issue also covers:
Plans and background of the coming WrestleMania, as well as Super Showdown coverage with match-by-match coverage with star ratings.
A feature on Manabu Nakanishi’s career and coverage of his retirement show this past week. We look at the difference between Nakanishi and Jushin Liger, Nakanishi’s amateur wrestling days, Nakanishi’s shoot fighting days, Nakanishi in WCW, the Nakanishi heyday and the past decade. We note the major surgery that nearly ended his career ad slowed him down, and some of the all-time greats comment on Nakanishi.
The major matches in the New Japan ring over the past week.
WWE television deals, WWE Network price change, XFL ratings, Samoa Joe suspension, New WWE international signing, WWE injury updates, Canadian TV ratings, Ric Flair’s 71st birthday, how much Raw has fallen in four yeas, Edge’s return,NXT Takeover notes, Evolve news for WrestleMania week with WWE talent, Australia tour, stock value, most-watched shows on the WWE Network as well as a look at every WWE arena event over the past week with business notes and highlights.
A preview of the AEW PPV and full coverage of the UFC show in Auckland, New Zealand.
Regarding the Wednesday numbers, we’ve got full details, demos that each side won, how every segment did and what match ended up as the difference maker.
Full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.
In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.
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.
The 2019 Wrestling Observer Awards issue will be out on Thursday, traditionally one of the biggest issues of the year.
Due to the coronavirus, Dragon Gate has officially canceled all of its shows until their 3/14 show in Kariya. These cancellations have been extremely costly to a number of companies in Japan, and too long without being able to garner live gate money can put those companies into serious financial jeopardy.
For the weekend’s Google Trends, WWE Super Showdown on Thursday was No. 7 for the day with 200,000, double what most of the Saudi Arabia shows do. For yesterday, AEW Revolution was No. 15 with 100,000, only the third time in its history (the previous being Double or Nothing and the first Dynamite) that the promotion has ever made the top 20 for the day. John Cena was No. 20 yesterday with 50,000.
WWE
There were a lot of complaints coming from the Saturday Smackdown house show in Elmira, NY, regarding Bray Wyatt not being there. He was advertised heavily in both local media and emails for the show as late as Thursday. After Super Showdown, they advertised him against Miz as the main event and the local TV commercial was built around The Fiend coming to Elmira. Leaving the show, his absence is what some people were talking about.
Erik of the Viking Raiders came back ill from Saudi Arabia and went home for a few days, missing the house show last night and tonight. The Raw side had Ricochet vs. Karl Anderson in the headline spot.
UFC
Anthony Hernandez vs. Islam Makhachev is expected for the 4/18 PPV at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
AEW
Here’s an interview with Alex Marvez talking about both AEW and the NFL and his being a wrestling fan growing up.
MISCELLANEOUS
Bellator has a press conference on March 9th at Viacom/CBS at 1515 Broadway at noon with Ryan Bader, Darrion Caldwell, Pedro Carvalho, Cal Ellenor, James Gallagher, Douglas Lima, A.J. McKee, Gegard Mousasi, Vadim Nemknov, Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire, Emmanuel Sanchez, Daniel Weichel and other guests.
EVOLVE at 7 p.m. Eastern tonight from Melrose, MA at www.wwnlive.com has Josh Briggs vs. AR Fox, Mansoor vs. Anthony Greene, Jake Atlas vs. Curt Stallion, Brendan Vink vs. Leon Ruff, Harlem Bravado vs, Stephen Wolf, Colby Corino vs. Joe Gacy, Liam Ruff & Adrian Alanis vs. Jon Davis & Denzel Dejournette, plus Brandi Lauren & Jessi Kamea in a tag team match.
BCW from Friday night in Melbourne, Australia: Juventud Guerrera b Cletus to win Battle Express title, Aysha b Vixsin, Nick Bury won Battle Royal, Mortar b Erika Reid to keep women’s title, The Preston Kindred b Super Crazy & Psicosis to keep BCW tag titles, Gabriel Wolfe b Mad Dog in a cage match to keep BCW title. The next shows in April will have Nick Aldis and Dalton Castle. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
BCW from last night in Sydney, Australia: Nick Bury b Gabriel Wolfe to win BCW title, Bee Boy won over Lucius Wolfe, Sketch and Jesse Hendy, Vinnie Vain b Djaysonic, Mortar b Aysha to keep women’s title, Mitch Waterman b Juventud Guerrera to win Battle Express title, Mad Dog d Mick Moretti via double pin, The Preston Kindred b Super Crazy & Psicosis to keep BCW tag titles, Super Crazy & Psicosis & Juventud Guerrera b The Preston Kindred & Vinnie Vain (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
As he does almost every year, Jim Duggan was at the Variety Club Iowa Children’s Charity telethon this past weekend. (thanks to Brian Henke)
Great North Wrestling Smiths Falls results (Feb 29) before more than 400 fans at the Gallipeau Center Theater in Smiths Falls Ontario: Blood Hunter and Scorpio managed by Blaze defeated Haku and Barbarian, Lufisto beat Jessika Black to become the new GNW Women’s Champion of Canada, Jeremy Prophet retained the Canadian Title over Sexy Eddy, Carl Leduc submitted Sykes, Stunning Steven & Harley Davison beat Colin Oliver and Bruiser, Paul Rosenberg beat Steve McDainel, Dean Danis beat John Dundee. Bianca Carelli’s was scheduled to appear but was injured on an event in the Toronto area Friday night getting a concussion, laceration requiring stitches and a swelled shut eye so her debut will be postponed. The next official GNW event is scheduled for Saturday Aug 8 at the Earl Armstrong Arena in Ottawa for the 13th Anniversary Show featuring The Hannibal TV Champion Davey Boy Smith Jr and all Titles defended.
Cris “Cyborg” Justino made history In Los Angeles, CA, Saturday night, defeating champion Julia Budd by fourth round TKO to become the Bellator women’s featherweight champion.
She now has won titles in the UFC, Strikeforce, Bellator, and Invicta, all at 145 pounds.
Justino turned it on in the fourth round, unleashing a barrage of fists and knees on Budd without an answer, resulting in referee Mike Beltran calling the fight.
Up until that point, Cyborg (22-2-0-1) hadn’t done anything outstanding in terms of nearly finishing the fight, but did enough in the clinch, up against the fence, and on the mat to earn herself the rounds she needed. Budd was in the fight the entire time, but couldn’t answer Cyborg’s pressure, nor had any effective offensive to put Cyborg on the defensive.
The 36-year-old Budd (13-3) was the company’s first women’s featherweight champion, having won the title in March 2017. Since then, she has fought sparingly but did have three successful title defenses. In a unique fact, all four of her title fights before tonight were in Thackerville, Oklahoma. She went into the fight on an 11-fight win streak dating back to 2012.
This was Justino’s Bellator debut after a multi-year run in the UFC. They chose not to resign her after her deal ran out in 2019.
In other results:
– The Bellator featherweight Grand Prix rolled along with Darrion Caldwell advancing in the tournament with a quick and impressive first round submission win over the very tough and previously unbeaten Adam Borics. Caldwell got inside early and controlled Borics with elbows and fists while on his back, sinking in a rear naked choke for the tap and win. The former Bellator bantamweight champion will now face A.J. McKee in the tournament semifinals.
– Sergio Pettis made his promotional debut after a long run in the UFC, submitting Alfred Khashkyan in the first round in a bantamweight fight.
– Dave Meltzer favorite and once uber prospect Aaron Pico was purposefully placed on the undercard and showed out nicely with a second round knockout win over Daniel Carey.
– Also on the undercard, former UFC fighter Curtis Millender made his Bellator debut and picked up a win over Moses Murrietta by unanimous decision…BJJ ace A.J. Agazarm picked up a third round submission win over Adel Altamimi.
F4W NEWSLETTER: Recapping WWE TLC 2019 Joseph Currier gives his thoughts on WWE’s final PPV of the decade.
WWE’s final pay-per-view of the decade took place on Sunday night and exemplified some of the changes we’ve seen over the past 10 years.
TLC 2019 was very much a B-level PPV in the WWE Network era. Not only were the top men’s and women’s singles titles from each brand not defended, there were no singles titles on the line at all. Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens and AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton seemed like they were being built up as non-title matches that would help anchor the card, but they didn’t end up getting added. The show even ended with an angle instead of a match. After Asuka & Kairi Sane’s tables, ladders, and chairs match against Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair, a locker room brawl that featured Roman Reigns and Baron Corbin continued. The image that closed the show was Reigns spearing Corbin from an elevated area onto a pile of bodies. It felt like the ending of an episode of Raw or SmackDown instead of a major event.
A look at the industry as a whole as we end 2019 and go into 2020 is the lead story of the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. We go into the birth of AEW and its numbers thus far, the situation with Impact, ROH, New Japan in the U.S., value of AXS to New Japan, UFC moving to streaming PPV and the key to a value in this not talked about, why the big companies are falling upwards, Bellator numbers, AEW’s interest level peak and PPV demand, the change over the last two years in the non-WWE U.S. business, NXT business, shows with strong advances, ideas for AEW, NXT skewing older, the Wednesday night wars, attempts to make new stars, live viewing on Wednesday and where all the other shows with weekly TV stand at this point.
The issue also covers:
A feature on the career of Mr. Niebla, his death, his troubles, and his biggest matches.
Live event business and how things changed from 2018 to 2019, looking at numbers of big shows, and average attendance for the different groups.
Royal Rumble show and ticket demand.
WWE injuries, a new football league with a name awfully close to XFL, a look at names at WWE tryouts, new events over WrestleMania week, current WWE market value and the most-watched shows on the WWE Network.
WrestleKingdom shows, the controversy over the women’s match on the card, why the match won’t air on New Japan World, the lineups, the main selling points, and the angles on the final show with full coverage of New Japan’s last event of the year.
UFC show in South Korea, the Korean Zombie, with match-by-match coverage.
Career of Rene Goulet, with his highlights, how he faded out, his bitterness over being let go by WWE, his career title history and highlights.
Biggest kickboxing match in years, and the back story that drew one of the largest television ratings for sports ever in Holland. We look at The Baddest vs. The King and what happened.
This past week’s PWG show, including notes showing how the business is changing.
Full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.
Ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.
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 show is up here. On a side note, we are still in the process of getting our video site issues resolved so please bear with us in the meantime.
New Japan is pushing that Hiroshi Tanahashi will get a shot at the AEW title if he beats Chris Jericho on 1/5 at the Tokyo Dome. That’s a long way from a few months ago when nobody in New Japan was allowed to publicly acknowledge AEW’s existence.
Fedor Emelianenko qualified what he said last night saying that last night was part of his retirement tour but he was not retiring after the fight. That was a really pitiful performance by Rampage Jackson in that fight.
For those voting for match of the year, the David Starr vs. Jordan Devlin match that you should see can be found here.
Mizuki Inoue vs. Tecia Torres has been announced for the 3/28 show in Columbus, OH.
MISCELLANEOUS
AAW from last night in Merrionette Park, IL: Myron Reed won six-way over Air Wolf, Colt Cabana, Clayton Gainz, Ace Austin and Josh Briggs, Kimber Lee b Hyan, Killer Kross b Matt Justice, Good Brother #3 b Jimmy Jacobs in a dog collar match, Kris Statlander b Jessicka Havok, Jake Something & Curt Stallion b David Starr & Eddie Kingston, Hakim Zane b Paco to win the Heritage title, Mat Fitchett & Davey Vega b Sami Callihan & Jake Crist to retain the tag titles, Mance Warner b Josh Alexander to win AAW title when Jacob Fatu no-showed without calling ahead. This is the second time in recent months Fatu has missed an AAW show (thanks to Case Lowe)
Big Japan Pro Wrestling has had a really bad flu strain. Those who are out of action and will miss the 1/2 show at Korakuen Half are Abdullah Kobayashi, Ryuji Ito, Ryota Hama, Orca Uto, Yuki Ishikawa, Masaki Morihiro, Kota Sekifuda and referees Mac Takeds and Ryohei Nakatani.
CZW will start on PPV with a taped show called CZW’s Bloodiest Wars with DJ Hyde & Masada vs. Atsushi Onita & Matt Tremont and Mance Warner & Rickey Shane Page.
Mike Bailey is out of the next DDT tour. He said it was due to Fed Ex losing his visa paperwork in the mail and the replacement documents won’t arrive in time. Bailey & Mao were going to challenge Soma Takao & Daisuke Sasaki for the KO-D tag titles. Takao & Sasaki instead are defending against Keisuke Ishii & Kazuki Hirata. Bailey was to face HARASHIMA for the DDT Extreme title. HARASHIMA will now defend against the DDT seal mascot on 1/12. (thanks to Patrick Tobin)
Even though they spent time in the same organizations throughout their lengthy careers, Fedor Emelianenko and Rampage Jackson never crossed paths inside a ring or a cage. That changes Saturday as the two will face off in the main event of Bellator 237, a joint event with Rizin at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
The show will be aired live on DAZN and Paramount Network.
Fedor is on his retirement tour after signing a new deal with Bellator, but hasn’t fought since last January when he was knocked out by Ryan Bader in the heavyweight title Grand Prix finals in just 35 seconds. Jackson has been on the shelf even longer as he hasn’t fought since September 2018 in a second round TKO win over Wanderlei Silva.
Michael Chandler was originally scheduled to face Benson Henderson in the co-main, but Henderson had to pull out in early-December due to an injury. Chandler will now face Sidney Outlaw instead. Michael Venom Page (aka MVP) will also fight on the main card against Shinsho Anzai.
Our live coverage will begin at 10 p.m. Eastern.
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Daron Cruickshank of the good ole USA out to Hulk Hogan’s “Real American” theme, which would be like if Jack Swagger (not Jake Hager) had used “Wild Boys” in pro wrestling. He’s facing Goiti Yamauchi. Ironically, Yamauchi, the Japanese fighter, is the one representing Bellator in this promotional battle, as Cruickshank, a former UFC fighter, is a RIZIN regular.
And Bellator wins as Goiti Yamauchi wasted no time in taking the back standing of Cruickshank and dragging him to the mat, before securing a rear naked choke for the first round submission. That’s his SEVENTEETH first round submission.
WINNER – GOITI YAMAUCHI (25-4) by submission (rear naked choke) over Daron Cruickshank (22-13) at 3:11
Next up are the ladies, with Kana Watanabe representing RIZIN against Ilara Joanne of Bellator. Joanne comes up to a weird remake of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” that Mike Goldberg and John McCarthy make light of.
Joanne was landing good shots on the feet so Watanabe took her down. Joanne was working for a triangle from her guard for a couple of minutes and it looked close but Watanabe escaped. Watanabe landed some ground and pound and was going for an arm triangle as the round ended. Close round, probably goes to Watanabe since she closed strong.
Watanabe took Joanne down early in round 2 but Joanne reversed and spent most of the round on top. She did nothing with the position, though. Watanabe was landing very light strikes from the bottom and then reversed position with about 30 seconds left and landed a lot of hard shots and likely took that round as well. John McCarthy had round 1 for Joanne but I’ve got Watanabe up 20-18
Watanabe got a takedown early in round 3. Joanne was working for an armbar from her back and throwing elbows but Watanabe fought it off. Watanabe moved into half guard and was landing enough ground and pound to avoid a standup. Eventually she took her back and was landing punches to the head that weren’t being defended and the ref stopped it.
WINNER – KANA WATANABE (9-0-1) by TKO (punches) over Ilara Joanne (9-5)
Nakamura fighting next against Lorenz Larkin, representing Bellator in a battle of former UFC fighters. No, it’s not THAT Nakamura. K-Taro Nakamura is the “master of the rear naked choke”. Larkin is pumped about getting a chance to fight in the Saitama Super Arena. Larkin missed weight by 2.5 lbs for this welterweight clash.
Round 1 was all on the feet. The difference was the speed of Larkin, both in landing shots and avoiding them from Nakamura. Larkin landed hard kicks to the body and legs that were leaving their mark and clearly took the first.
Round 2 was more of the same. Nakamura had a brief flurry where he backed Larkiin up to the cage but by the end of the round, Larkin was landing hard shots including a jumping knee with a hard elbow to the head shortly after that. Larkin clearly up 20-18 after 2.
Larkin dominating on the feet to start round 3. Nakamura went for a takedown and held onto the leg and in the process ate some hard punches and elbows from Larkin that busted him up. He got to his feet bleeding heavily from his left eye and other cuts on his head. Larkin coasted the rest of the round but probably did enough for a 10-8 with all the damage so I’ve got it 30-26 Larkin
WINNER – LORENZ LARKIN (22-7) by decision over K-Taro Nakamura (35-11-2) on scores of 30-27, 30-26 and 30-26
Another guy coming out to a WWE theme song with Shinsho Anzai using Limp Bizkit’s “Rollin'” for his fight with MVP, aka Michael Venom Page. This was set up as a 173 lb contracted fight but MVP looks at least a weight class bigger.
Anzai got hit with a flying knee while going for a takedown but managed to stay on his feet. MVP did the same thing a 2nd time but didn’t connect as well and got stuck with his back to the cage. MVP managed to break free of that and toyed with Shinsho on the feet. A straight punch from MVP knocked Shinsho down but he let him up. Shinsho with a huge cut around his left eye after that. MVP hit him with another jumping knee while taunting him. He closed the round by taking his back standing. Probaby a 10-8 round but the way this is going, the score probably won’t matter.
MVP finished him with a hard right to the head early in the 2nd to pick up the KO win. This was basically a squash match and MVP looked good.
WINNER – MICHAEL VENOM PAGE (17-1) by KO (punch) over Shinsho Anzai (11-4) at 21 seconds of the 2nd round
Another enhancement match serves as the co-main with former lightweight champion taking on Sidney Outlaw. Outlaw is coming off a win over former UFC star Roger Huerta but that’s it for the Bellator vs RIZIN theme for the night. This is a 160 lb catchweight fight.
Chandler was dominating on the feet, although he did eat one hard shot from Outlaw. Shortly after that, he dropped Outlaw with a straight right cross that knocked him down and another shot to the side of the head on the ground and the ref stopped it. Outlaw was up quickly but it was a good stoppage.
WINNER – MICHAEL CHANDLER (20-5) by KO (punch) over Sidney Outlaw (14-4) at 2:59
Lenne Hardt doing the intros for the main event and Rampage out to the old Pride theme. Business has just picked up. Rampage, who fought the majority of his career at light heavyweight, had to cut to make the 265 lb limit and outweighs Fedor by 25 pounds for this fight. He greatly resembles his childhood hero, Junkyard Dog, at this point.
Fedor landing a lot of shots early. Rampage covering up and most of them blocked but a few got through. Rampage nearly fell over while throwing a haymaker and Fedor landed some nice punches. Fedor started to land kicks to the leg and body. Uppercut from Fedor lands hard and Rampage falls face first to the canvas and the ref stops it. Crowd goes silent.
WINNER – FEDOR EMELIANENKO (39-6) by KO (punch) over Rampage Jackson (38-14) at 2:44
Rampage was questioning the stoppage but it was good as he was clearly out of it for several seconds before regaining his bearings and he had nothing. This wasn’t quite as bad as Chuck Liddell looked against Tito but it wasn’t far off.
We’re looking for reports from the Smackdown tapings in Brooklyn tonight with any dark matches or anything not on the live show as well as reports from PWG in Los Angeles to [email protected]
For tonight, they’ve announced two non-title matches, Bayley vs. Dana Brooke and New Day vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro. There are no 205 Live tapings tonight. The Lio Rush & Keith Lee vs. Damien Priest & Tony Nese match for Wednesday’s NXT show is expected to be taped tonight as well.
It’s a slow weekend, with the major events being two Bellator shows, a UFC show and a huge kickboxing event. WWE is off after tonight until the day after Christmas. UFC has its last show of the year late tonight.
New Japan has its final show of the year later tonight/early tomorrow U.S. time. It is also Jushin Liger’s last match at Korakuen Hall.
CMLL AT ARENA MEXICO TONIGHT AT 9:30 P.M. ON THE CMLL YOUTUBE PAGE
Ultimo Dragoncito & Shockercito vs. Pierrothito & Mercurio
Los Cancerberos vs Drone & Stigma & Fuego
Esfinge & Guerrero Maya Jr. & Rey Cometa vs. Hechicero & Polvora & Vangellys
Templario vs. Audaz
Angel de Oro & Titan & Valiente vs. Cuatrero & Forastero & Felino
Volador Jr. & Diamante Azul & Caristico vs. Gilbert El Boricua & Negro Casas & Ultimo Guerrero
BELLATOR SALUTE TO THE TROOPS TONIGHT AT 10 P.M. EASTERN FROM THE BLAISDELL CENTER ARENA IN HONOLULU ON PARAMOUNT NETWORK
Joey Davis (170.3) vs. Chris Cisneros (170.7)
Tywan Claxton (145.6) vs. Braydon Akeo (145.6)
Alejandra Lara (126.8) vs. Veta Arteaga (125.7)
Toby Minsch (141.4) vs. Erik Perez (135.2)
Josh Barnett (251.6) vs. Ronny Markes (250)
Minsch missed weight by 5.4 pounds and Lara by 0.8 pounds. Both were fined 20 percent of their purse. Prelims are on DAZN starting at 8:45 p.m. Eastern
UFC FROM BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA AT 2 A.M. EASTERN LATE TONIGHT ON ESPN+
Ryan Benoit (10-5) vs. Heili Alateng (13-7-1)
Amanda Lemos (6-1-1) vs. Miranda Gragner (5-0)
Said Nurmagomedov (13-1) vs. Raoni Barcleos (14-1)
Matt Schenll (14-4) vs. Alexandre Pantoja (21-4)
Omar Morales (8-) vs. Dong Hyun Ma (16-10-3)
Seungwoo Choi (7-3) vs. Suman Oktaran (8-1)
Ciryl Gane (5-0) vs. Tanner Boser (17-5-1)
Liu Pingyuan (13-6) vs. Kyung Ho Kang (16-8)
Jun Yong Park (10-4) vs. Marc-Andre Barriault (11-3
Mike Rodriguez (10-4) vs. Da Un Jung (12-2)
Charles Jourdain (9-2) vs. Doo Ho Choi (14-3)
Aleksander Rakic (12-1) vs. Volkan Oezdemir (16-4)
Chan Sung Jung (15-5) vs. Frankie Edgar (23-7-1)
NEW JAPAN FROM TOKYO KORAKUEN HALL EARLY SATURDAY AT 4:30 A.M. EASTERN ON NEW JAPAN WORLD
Sho & Yoh & Robbie Eagles vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo
Sanada & Bushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
Hirooki Goto & Juice Robinson & David Finlay & Toa Henare vs. KENTA & Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
Will Ospreay & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Evil & Hiromu Takahashi
Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi vs. Jay White & Chase Owens
Jushin Liger & Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi vs. Kazuchika Okada & Yoshi-Hashi & Rocky
BELLATOR SATURDAY NIGHT FROM THE BLAISDELL CENTER ARENA AT 10 P.M. EASTERN ON DAZN
Nainoa Dung (155.7) vs. Zach Zane (155.9)
Cheyden Leialoha (135.7) vs. Raufeon Shots (135.7)
Bruna Ellen (125.8) vs. Julianna Velasquez (125.1)
Jason Jackson (170.6) vs. Kiichi Kunimito (170-.1)
A.J. McKee (144.6) vs. Derek Campos (144.9) in the featherweight tournament
Ilima-lei Macfarlane (124.8) vs. Kate Jackson (124.4) for the flyweight title
Raw for Monday was taped last Monday in Des Moines.
F4W NEWSLETTER: Recapping WWE TLC 2019 Joseph Currier gives his thoughts on WWE’s final PPV of the decade.
WWE’s final pay-per-view of the decade took place on Sunday night and exemplified some of the changes we’ve seen over the past 10 years.
TLC 2019 was very much a B-level PPV in the WWE Network era. Not only were the top men’s and women’s singles titles from each brand not defended, there were no singles titles on the line at all. Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens and AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton seemed like they were being built up as non-title matches that would help anchor the card, but they didn’t end up getting added. The show even ended with an angle instead of a match. After Asuka & Kairi Sane’s tables, ladders, and chairs match against Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair, a locker room brawl that featured Roman Reigns and Baron Corbin continued. The image that closed the show was Reigns spearing Corbin from an elevated area onto a pile of bodies. It felt like the ending of an episode of Raw or SmackDown instead of a major event.
We’ve got complete coverage of the last series of major shows held around the world in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer, as well as bios on a number of wrestlers who have passed away in recent weeks.
TLC coverage, focusing on the behind-the-scenes of the Kairi Sane situation, who knew,when did they know, the channels where the ball was dropped and what can and needs to be learned from it. We note the business of the event, the U.S. popularity levels, plus have match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
A look at exactly how AEW was formed, including what match made Tony Khan feel opposition was viable and what conversation with what major person in television made it happen, as well as who was contacted first to be part of it. We also have the story from the market rep who got Bullet Club shirts into Hot Topic.
DVR numbers for pro wrestling shows right now as well as how meaningful they are and what it says about audiences. We also look at how and why the dynamic of how people watch wrestling on Wednesdays has changed over the past several weeks. We also look at wrestling viewership in Canada.
Big names who have signed new WWE deals and a major name who has not, a WWE overseas TV deal, how many people buy WWE video games, pro wrestling offers to Daniel Cormier, Cain Velasquez’s next WWE show, the story behind Chelsea Green and Deonna Purrazzo on Raw and what it means short and long-term, a reboot of a WWE tag team, new feuds being started in WWE, most-watched shows on the WWE Network, WWE stock value and a look at all the WWE & NXT shows held over the past week with business notes and highlights.
Also have full coverage of UFC 245, with business notes, notes about the fighters who elevated their games, the title picture, plus match-by-match coverage.
ROH as it goes into 2020, who is going, who is staying, what is unknown, what kind of deals are being offered plus Final Battle coverage, with business notes, poll results, match-by-match coverage and star ratings.
A look at AAA Guerra de Titanes, the creation of the new top stable, the debut of Sin Cara, thoughts and problems with the new name he’s using and more.
Bio on Randy Colley, best known as Moondog Rex, including his legal issues with WWE, what happened with the fans that ruined what would have been his biggest career break, other gimmicks he had, the birth of the Moondog gimmick and his biggest matches.
The NWA, its YouTube numbers, its television tapings direction for the next several weeks, its net PPV show, as well as coverage of its Into the Fire show with poll results.
2010 cable numbers for the stations that carry pro wrestling and MMA and what they mean.
Notes on the career of Alberto Munoz, who was supposed to become a legend, and what happened in 1973 that ended that dream.
Dragon Gate’s Final Gate show with coverage of the event.
A personal look at how a law that was poorly thought out will affect reporters and web sites that use people from California and how adhering to it will make it nearly impossible for anyone in the state to start out in the field, and for the vast majority who work for publications outside the state, to likely lose their jobs.
Look at the life of Scottish Hall of Fame Andy Robin, and his protege, Hercules the Bear.
Regarding the Wednesday numbers, we’ve got full details, demos that each side won, how every segment did and what match ended up as the difference maker.
We also have full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from 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.
FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE
I’m doing a show and a meet and greet at Toudoukan’s in Tokyo at 11 a.m. on 1/4, several hours prior to the first of the two Tokyo Dome shows. I’ll just tell you this, if you are going to Japan, whether you want to see the show or not, you need to go to Touduokan’s. Ticket info can be found here. Jim Valley and I will also be doing a podcast from Toudoukan’s.
A big fight with Robert Whittaker vs. Jared Cannonier was announced for the 3/7 UFC PPV show in Las Vegas. The winner will likely get a shot at the middleweight title. Based on process of elimination, that would favor Yoel Romero as the next challenger for champion Israel Adesanya.
Sometimes pro wrestler Josh Barnett has his first MMA fight in several years in tonight’s Bellator main event against Ronny Markes. Earlier this week, at the open workouts, Barnett did a pro wrestling match with training partner Erik Hammer while Ilima-lei Macfarlane, who headlines tomorrow night’s Bellator show with a flyweight title defense against Kate Jackson, did a hula dance. I’ve mentioned this before, but Macfarlane in Honolulu is like watching the biggest hometown pro wrestling star you’ve seen at their peak, plus the last time she was in Hawaii she had one of the best ring entrances in MMA history.
Tickets for the Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone fight went on sale today and just on first day advance it is one of the five biggest gates in Nevada MMA history.
Liz Carmouche has officially signed with Bellator. If Macfarlane wins tomorrow, it will be likely she defends against Carmouche which would be a battle of best friends and training partners..
WWE
Adam Copeland (Edge) has said he is still not medically cleared to wrestle.
NXT has gotten back on television in France on la chaine L’equipe every Saturday at 9 p.m., or right after Raw and Smackdown.
What is being billed as the final spoken word tour of William Regal take place on 1/11 in his former home of Blackpool, England, the night before Takeover. Tickets are on sale now. For more info, check here.
Lance Archer was at the AEW show in Corpus Christi.
MISCELLANEOUS
One of the biggest kickboxing matches in years, the Rico Verhoeven (55-10, 16, KOs) Glory heavyweight title defense against Badr Hari (106-13, 92 KOs) takes place tomorrow at the GelreDome in Arnhem, Holland. The show has sold out with 31,000 tickets sold. It airs on UFC Fight Pass starting at 3 p.m. Eastern time. Verhoeven weighed in at 260.6 pounds and Hari at 244.5 pounds.
For those who want to see the Ric Flair vs Jerry Lawler angle which inspired the Jericho vs. Jungle Boy angle, check it here.
Today’s New Japan Pro Wrestling show from Korakuen Hall is up for free on New Japan World.
Another pro wrestler is going into MMA next month. German Figueroa, who was better known as El Gran Apolo and Leon Apolo in the WWC and IWA for a generation in Puerto Rico as well as in TNA. He’s 44 years old and will fight on the 1/25 Combate Americas show in San Juan against John Colloway (0-3). The show also features Amanda Serrano, a seven-division world boxing champion, who faces Dahianna Santana, herself a boxer. This will be the first time an MMA show from Puerto Rico will air live in the U.S. in 23 years.
Jim Cornette has filed a federal lawsuit against William J. Molnar Jr. and Brandon Graver (G-Raver) for selling T-shirts that contain his image and uses the term “F*** Jim Cornette.”
Marty Scurll and Flip Gordon are booked for Northeast Wrestling on 1/25 in Waterbury, CT.
Vince McMahon probably isn’t going to like this. The former Lingerie Football League, which had a name change to the Legends Football League, has now changed its name again to the Extreme Football League. Vince only owns the rights to XFL, but not Extreme Football League. This will be a 7 on 7 all women’s league built around women playing football in fairly skimpy clothing. It’s been around for a while, and a few pro wrestlers have come out of the league, and before she got into pro wrestling, Summer Rae was the most heavily promoted player in that league.
Will Ospreay vs. Dowie James was announced for a 1/11 show in Melbourne, Australia put on by Melbourne City Wrestling.
Alberto El Patron returns to defend his Qatar Pro Wrestling championship on 2/21 in Doha, Qatar. Announced for the show are Alberto, Matt Sydal and Eric Bischoff.
Generation Championship Wrestling has announced Alex Riley’s return to pro wrestling for a show over WrestleMania week.
NFC on 1/25 in Atlanta at District Atlanta.
Erick Stevens debuts in MLW on the 1/11 show in Dallas. for the show at the NYTEX Sports Centre. Alexander Hammerstone vs. Aerostar for the National championship was also announced for that show.
Impact has added a show on 1/11 in Arlington, TX, in the same market, although it will be a 1 p.m. start, held at The Backyard.
Impact pulled David Sahadi from working the MLW show that night.
Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling on 12/28 in East Carondelet, IL.
For those going to Japan, the Pro Wrestling NOAH show on 1/4 at Korakuen Hall, head-to-head with the New Japan show at the Tokyo Dome, is now sold out.
WSU has a doubleheader scheduled with shows at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at The Coliseum in Voorhees, NJ.
11 former WWE wrestlers discuss steroids at this link.
On Wednesday, it was revealed that ESPN is raising prices for UFC pay-per-views on their ESPN+ streaming service starting with January’s UFC 246 show headlined by the return of Conor McGregor.
The new price will be $64.99, a return to the pre-ESPN era. When ESPN took over as the sole U.S. provider for the UFC’s PPV distribution last March, they reduced the price to $59.99 to help account for the $5 monthly ESPN+ fee.
As part of their PPV deal, the sports network giant pays UFC a monthly flat amount for the exclusivity and the two sides do a revenue split after a certain amount is reached.
The move came as a surprise as the 30-year-old had a successful three-year run with Bellator after leaving the UFC. During his time in Bellator, he went 3-2-1 and won their welterweight title, successfully defending it twice. He lost it to Douglas Lima in October in the finals of the company’s welterweight Grand Prix.
After the Lima fight, he became a free agent as the champion’s clause no longer applied to him.
PFL runs on a season-style format where the winner of each weight division takes home up to $1 million. Helwani reported the Canadian will be part of their 2020 season and will compete for their welterweight title.
Due to low blows, Jake Hager’s third mixed martial arts fight ended in a no contest.
The AEW wrestler faced off with MMA journeyman Anthony Garrett in the opening bout of tonight’s Bellator 231 event from the Mohegan Sun Casino. The fight was stopped after less than two minutes when Hager connected with a hard knee to the groin, his second such illegal blow in 30 seconds. Referee Dan Miragliotta ruled it unintentional and declared the fight a no contest.
Hager had three of his Inner Circle stablemates — Santana, Ortiz & Sammy Guevara — cheering him on at cageside. There was an AEW logo on his banner as well. AEW was not mentioned on the broadcast, nor were the other wrestlers identified by commentators John McCarthy and Mike Goldberg.
Hager made his AEW debut on the Dynamite premiere and aligned with AEW World Champion Chris Jericho, Santana, Ortiz, and Guevara.
“We The People” was still part of Hager’s ring entrance tonight, despite the AEW promo where Jericho called the catchphrase dead.
Hager’s MMA record is now 2-0 with one no contest, while Garrett is at 4-2 with one no contest. One would think that Bellator would try to rematch them as soon as possible. Hager was a -700 favorite going into the fight.
When Jake Hager, the man formerly known as Jack Swagger, gets into the Bellator cage on Friday night, he’s facing a different kind of pressure.
Hager has two careers going right now, and losing right now would be very bad for both.
Jack Swagger, his previous being and the name he’s still best known as, was known as “The All-American American” for years in WWE. He had a catchphrase, “We the People,” which he would shout out with the fans. When he came out for his first Bellator fights, there was a “We the People” chant from the crowd.
“The All-American American” name came because he placed in the 2006 NCAA wrestling championships as a heavyweight from the University of Oklahoma, thus earning All-American status.
His pro wrestling days aren’t over, and in fact, he’s hoping that the consistent level of stardom as a pro wrestler that eluded him in WWE can be achieved with his new employer, All Elite Wrestling. And unlike most who have crossed over from MMA to pro wrestling, or in the other direction, Hager is performing on two television platforms concurrently. And the two are tied together.
On October 9, one week after Hager’s appearance on the AEW debut show, he was in the ring backing up Chris Jericho, one of AEW’s flagship performers. Hager is Jericho’s backup muscle, the guy who interferes to make sure Jericho stays World Champion. As Jericho was talking, the fans in Boston loudly chanted, “We the People,” Jericho paused, and in a classic impromptu and unplanned moment, went off.
Jericho said that “We the People” is dead, it was a bad idea from bad creative, and declared that the former Swagger’s real name was Jake Hager and he’s an undefeated MMA fighter. He pushed that Hager was the baddest man in pro wrestling. Hager quickly realized with his new gimmick, losing right now would not be a good thing.
The entire crowd was stunned at Jericho’s off-the-cuff remarks and it was something of a magic moment for Hager, who was standing there.
“Oh man, I get goose bumps just thinking about it,” Hager said. “I think this is the perfect example on why you don’t need everything scripted out in wrestling. If you are talking and the fans react in a certain way, and you can’t react back, it falls flat. Chris, like no other, has the uncanny ability to know what to say and the timing. No one else can do what he did. That’s the single biggest advantage AEW has (in trying to compete with WWE). is Chris Jericho, because of moments like that.”
The crowd went crazy, as in the competition of a wrestling war, the AEW fan base is largely anti-WWE, which gave him the previous gimmick.
“I left that company two-and-a-half years ago,” he said. “They didn’t want me. They didn’t value me. Now we’re here. For me, everything is fair game. It’s nothing personal. It’s all business. If you thought that was a special moment, get ready. It was just the beginning.”
But now he has to live up to the moniker of being an MMA superstar, which isn’t easy for a fighter with just two fights under his belt. Even with his football and amateur wrestling pedigree before pro wrestling, his size and 81-inch reach, he’s also a few months from his 38th birthday.
It’s an ominous number, because of the eight heavyweight All-Americans in that 2006 tournament, four went into MMA. And the other three are gone. Cole Konrad, who won the tournament, was a heavyweight champion in Bellator, and has long since retired. Steve Mocco, who placed second and was a former NCAA champion and Olympian, did not have a great career as a fighter and has also retired into coaching. The other All-American from that year was Cain Velasquez, who placed fourth, and has just retired from fighting to go in the opposite direction, starting pro wrestling on national TV at 37.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Hager said about how this new wrestling persona has made his fight Friday even bigger for him in both the worlds he’s competing in. “This is a very big chunk I’ve bit off and it’s big enough to scare me. I wanted to prove to everybody who Jake Hager is. Now that the (AEW) debut has gone well, yeah, there’s more pressure on me not only to win, but to make a statement. This is where I rely on my background. This is where having been to the NCAA Division I championships and wrestling (in WWE) before 80,000 people helps out. It’s scary. I’ve got a lot on my plate, but I can handle it. Dealing with pressure is a good thing. It’ll make you work harder and make you focus even more.”
Hager (2-0) faces Anthony Garrett, an unknown heavyweight with a 3-1 record who, unlike his first two opponents, can match Hager’s size. Garrett is 6-foot-5, like Hager (who was billed at 6-foot-7 as a pro wrestler), and cuts to make 265 pounds. Hager has been fighting at 238 to 240 pounds.
“I’ve seen a couple of his fights on YouTube,” said Hager. “We’re really big into film study. We also watch ourselves and see a lot of things. He’s all of 6-foot-5. This will be my biggest test coming. As a heavyweight, you always want to rely on your size. It takes the least amount of energy to lay on someone. I’m going to have to use technique, footwork, head motion and close the distance and get him into the position I want. From what I can see, he wants to get you up against the cage and get the takedown.”
Hager suffered no significant injuries in his first two fights, so he’s never had to take real time off training after fighting.
“Honestly, this has been a one year long training camp for this fight. I’m not going to get tired. I can go 35 minutes.”
“I’m looking to give him no windows, I need to not make any mistakes and give him the opportunity to beat me. That’s using the striking with the wrestling. I don’t want him on top of me at all. If he tries to wrestle with me, I’m all for it, but I’ll be quick to get out of there if he’s trying to throw his weight around.”
Hager debuted as a surprise at the end of AEW’s debut television show on October 2, as part of the lead heel group in the promotion called The Inner Circle, with Jericho as the mouthpiece and star. It’s something of the role that Arn Anderson played in the old Four Horseman group, with Jericho as its Ric Flair.
Hager agreed to terms with AEW owner Tony Khan over the summer, but both sides kept it a secret until his run-in. With Khan wanting Hager as the big surprise debut at the end of the first show, Hager had to do a unique training camp for Friday’s fight.
“This is where I wanted to be, but be careful what you wish for,” he said. “The balancing act is little tough. I knew about AEW all summer. I was preparing for this fight early. When October 2 came around, my training camp was mostly done and then I had three weeks to go. I feel ready and prepared for the fight. After this, I’m going to continue to wrestle and that’ll be a juggling act. I’ll take Wednesdays and Thursdays off (AEW tapes television every Wednesday). I’ll train every day from Friday to Tuesday, and fly out Tuesday night. That’s what I’m planning on, doing both right now. It’s a great thing, but it’s a lot.”
Hager did say he’s got the blessing of Khan, who is an MMA fan, if he were to need time off in the future. For this fight, the agreement was he’d do television every week except for fight week, but wouldn’t do his first actual match until after the fight. While he’s already been in some short brawls around the ring, he said the last thing he wanted to do was risk an injury at this time.
“Bellator’s been great, allowing me to do certain things with AEW,” he said. “They’re very excited about it. I’m waiting until after the fight because I don’t want to blow an ankle or something silly that can be hindering in the fight. I want to make the first match in AEW mean something.”
“It’s going to be a work in progress. We’re definitely going to have to see what’s in store for AEW and what we’re doing. From the very first phone call with Tony Khan, he said, `Please win and if you need time off, let me know.’ From a boss, it was awesome. I’m going to take him up. We might need a whole fight camp for two months and be off TV, and we might be there every Wednesday and work through it. This fight will be a good gauge for next year.”
But Hager is all smiles when he talks about his other new job, where he said people will eventually see, because of the schedule, a better product than the competition has.
“There were points in my WWE career where I was very excited to show up and excited about what I was doing and actually excited about being there and there were times when all the love was gone,” he said. “They do that on purpose. Right now, I feel I’m in a different place. All the bitterness I had from WWE, it doesn’t matter anymore. We’re onto the next one. To bring that with me would be silly. There’s so much excitement here, so much to be excited about. It’s really fun. The best thing that will keep that excitement going and you’ll see it translate on the screen is working one day a week. We’re showing up for TV. One day is so much better than doing five days a week grinding, driving rental cards, getting no sleep. We’ll all be more healthy and you’ll see that wellness translate into our product.”
Bellator MMA announced Wednesday that former PRIDE heavyweight champion and all-time great Fedor Emelianenko will face former UFC light heavyweight champion and former PRIDE star Rampage Jackson on Sunday, December 29th.
The heavyweight fight will main event Bellator’s Japanese debut, taking place at Tokyo, Japan’s famed Saitama Super Arena. The event is being billed as Bellator vs. RIZIN with the expectation the two sides will continue their past of interpromotional fights.
It will be simulcast on DAZN and Paramount Network.
Emelianenko, 43, re-signed with Bellator this summer for what’s expected to be the final time as he once again prepares for retirement. He’s 2-2 in his run with the company and is coming off a 35-second January loss to Ryan Bader in the finals of the Heavyweight Grand Prix.
Jackson, 41, won his first four Bellator fights, but has lost two of his last three. He last was seen defeating Wanderlei Silva by second round TKO in September 2018.
On a new Josh Nason’s Punch-Out, MMA Junkie’s Dave Doyle returns for his yearly check-up on a variety of topics like these:
– The good and bad of Bellator’s two-event weekend with their featherweight Grand Prix selection show, their decision to not show MVP’s return fight anywhere other than Europe, and the puzzling DAZN streaming deal.
– This weekend’s UFC pay-per-view from Australia, an event that is all about Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker for the undisputed middleweight crown…if Whittaker makes it to Saturday.
– Dave’s experience at this year’s PWG BOLA tournament and his return trip down to Mexico.
– What he’ll be watching this week and when for pro rasslin’ TV
– His excitement about Diaz vs. Masvidal and boredom over the possibility of McGregor vs. Edgar.
