UFC is scheduled to hold its first-ever show in Saudi Arabia.
It was announced today that the UFC will make its Saudi Arabia debut with a Fight Night event on March 2, 2024. The show, which is in partnership with the Saudi General Sports Authority, will be part of Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season festival.
“As part of its thrilling activities, Riyadh Season will host a UFC Fight Night in collaboration with UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization on Saturday, March 2, 2024,” a press release announcing the show said.
“The event will feature a variety of UFC’s most successful and internationally known fighters. UFC CEO Dana White will announce participating athletes in the coming months.”
In 2018, Endeavor — UFC’s parent company — ended its business relationship with the Saudi government. The decision was due to the Saudi government’s role in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Endeavor finalized its acquisition of WWE last month. With the deal, WWE and the UFC have been merged into one publicly traded company named TKO Group Holdings.
WWE has regularly held major events in Saudi Arabia since 2018. The shows are part of a long-term deal between WWE and the Saudi government.
Next month, WWE Crown Jewel is being held in Saudi Arabia during Riyadh Season. A boxing match between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou is also set for the festival. Fury vs. Ngannou is happening on October 28. Crown Jewel will then take place on November 4.
Though both are scheduled for WWE Crown Jewel, it doesn’t look like Roman Reigns vs. John Cena will be happening at the event.
Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Reigns vs. Cena is not planned for Crown Jewel. The show is taking place in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, November 4.
Meltzer wrote:
Although the promos where the Bloodline and Heyman talk of Cena as ‘the second greatest wrestler of all-time,’ with the idea Reigns is the greatest and a play off Cena’s WWE tag line of being the greatest, and Cena also at this point scheduled for Crown Jewel, it was confirmed to us that Reigns vs. Cena is not the match planned for the show.
Reigns and Cena have already faced each other during Reigns’ historic title reign. Reigns defeated Cena at SummerSlam 2021.
At Fastlane this Saturday, Cena is teaming with LA Knight against The Bloodline’s Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa.
Reigns is expected to make his return to WWE television on SmackDown next Friday (October 13). He’s been away from WWE TV since shortly after SummerSlam.
With Hollywood on strike, Cena has made an extended return to WWE this fall. He’s been announced for every SmackDown episode through the end of October. It was announced last month that Cena would also be participating in Crown Jewel.
Cena is set to appear on NXT next Tuesday as well. Cena will be in Carmelo Hayes’ corner for Hayes vs. Bron Breakker. Paul Heyman will be in Breakker’s corner.
John Cena is being advertised for WWE’s next event in Saudi Arabia.
The social media accounts for Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season posted a video on Saturday promoting this year’s state-sponsored festival. In the video, it was said that WWE Crown Jewel will include “the participation of John Cena.”
Crown Jewel is taking place on Saturday, November 4 and will stream live on Peacock/WWE Network.
Cena made his return to WWE at the beginning of this month. He’s set to appear on every SmackDown from now through the end of October.
Cena’s return to WWE coincides with the Hollywood writers and actors strike, which has halted most film and television production.
On Friday night’s episode of SmackDown, Cena was a guest on The Grayson Waller Effect. After Jimmy Uso crashed the segment, the show ended with AJ Styles saving Cena from Uso and Solo Sikoa. Cena and Styles joined together to fight off the attack.
Cena also reunited with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in a backstage segment on Friday’s SmackDown.
There is still one WWE PPV left before Crown Jewel. Indianapolis will host Fastlane on Saturday, October 7.
While not officially announced by the company, the event will likely be the annual Crown Jewel pay-per-view. Last year’s Crown Jewel was held on November 5 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
WWE and Saudi Arabia announced a ten-year agreement in 2018 that called for the country to host two pay-per-view events annually. Only one show was held in Saudi Arabia in both 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After not holding a pay-per-view event in December 2022, it is possible that WWE has rounded out their pay-per-view calendar for the rest of the year with the news of this second Saudi show.
A look at the WWE pay-per-view calendar for the next several months:
Saturday, August 5: SummerSlam at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan
Saturday, September 2: Payback at PPG Paints Arena In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Saturday, October 7: Fastlane at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana
Saturday, November 4: Pay-per-view in Saudi Arabia
Saturday, November 25: Survivor Series at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including AEW, RAW and NXT previews, Superstar Billy Graham health update, a fun edition of Smackdown, Sammy and Kevin returning to Saudi Arabia for a match with Roman and Solo, and more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
For the first time since 2014, Sami Zayn is set to wrestle in Saudi Arabia.
Zayn and Kevin Owens are scheduled to defend the WWE tag titles against Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa at Night of Champions from Jeddah on May 27.
In 2019, our own Dave Meltzer reported that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia requested Zayn not be on WWE shows from the country due to his Syrian heritage. Zayn’s parents immigrated to Canada from Syria in the 1970s before he was born.
Diplomatic relations between Syria and Saudi Arabia broke down in 2011 following the Arab Spring movement and the Syrian civil war. The Arab League suspended Syria’s membership on November 16, 2011 and Syrians were prevented from traveling to Saudi Arabia.
Sami took part in a house show tour from the region in 2014 but has not performed in the country since WWE and The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia entered a multi-year agreement in 2018.
Earlier this month, The Arab League voted to reinstate the Syria’s membership. Syrians, including Zayn, are once again permitted to travel to Saudi Arabia, opening the door for him to perform on WWE shows from the region.
Kevin and Sami are wrestling Roman and Solo Sikoa and that’s going to be one of the two main events for the Saudi show on the 27th. And what basically happened there was, I guess, Saudi Arabia has opened up to where Syrians can come in, so, Sami can come in and decided that he would go and when Sami decided he would go, Kevin decided that if Sami is going to go he’ll go too.
Owens was entered into 2018’s Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia but hasn’t performed in the country since.
Meltzer continued:
When the thing started, women weren’t allowed to go. It’s not just WWE but it’s with other products as well. As more western products have gone to Saudi Arabia, they have allowed them to be what they are and WWE being no different.
The new issue of the Observer is on the front page today. In hindsight, I think it’s kind of a sad issue filled with many what ifs, but highlights include:
The update on the situation after 9/4’s All Out PPV with the fight, suspensions, and investigation
The Wrestling Inc. story with new claims as to what happened, CM Punk’s thoughts from his side on things that had happened
More on why Punk did the interview he did on Adam Page
Reactions of others to that story
Why late 2023 and early 2024 are so key to AEW
How and why this was handled completely different from how UFC would handle a similar situation
The lessons of the entire situation
Full coverage of NXT Halloween Havoc
Comments from Shawn Michaels about the show
UFC 280 coverage and early business notes
Stardom PPV coverage and updates on the big decision regarding who is the first IWGP women’s champion
Ratings for all the major shows including how the main segments did
Major womens tournament news
Update on Laredo Kid injury situation
Next major AAA show
First pro wrestling show ever at Ariake Arena
Update on Karl Anderson in New Japan situation
New Japan TV title tournament thoughts and updates
New Japan joint tour next year
Former pro wrestling star inducted into sports Hall of Fame
Billy Corgan talks ideas for NWA to work with WWE or AEW
Legendary pro wrestling arena in danger of being torn down
New major project with Bret Hart coming involving Wrestling with Shadows being re-released
Tales from the Territory thoughts
Shocker gives his side of the story
Next few weeks of Impact TV
Update on AEW viewing and how many people have watched TV this year, plus actual numbers that watch the show weekly and other shows which is not the Nielsen number
New AEW signings
Upcoming ticket sales for AEW & WWE events
More notes on Chris Jericho’s first three AEW contracts
Thunder Rosa update
AEW overseas distribution update
Dana White talks Jon Jones return
Very interesting Conor McGregor note
Bellator part of Japan’s New Year’s Eve show
Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva notes
Lawsuit filed against Jake Paul
What types of angles can we expect more of in WWE
Early notes on “Black Adam”
WWE injury notes
How the World Series will effect pro wrestling shows this week
WWE talent up for a number of awards
International TV ratings and streaming numbers
New movies with WWE legend
Paul Heyman gets international mainstream exposure
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Tuesday News Update
WWE
In an update from yesterday’s report about a potential attack from Iran on Saudi Arabia, the Associated Press on Wednesday reported that one of the officals described the situation as a credible threat or attack that could happen “soon or within 48 hours”. No US embassy or consulate in the region has issued guidance to Americans in Saudi Arabia based on current intelligence, and Iran has denied the allegations. WWE is still scheduled to hold their Crown Jewel event on Saturday in Riyadh.
This week’s episode of The Bump, featuring Drew McIntyre. A special edition of The Bump will air Saturday at 10 am ET ahead of Crown Jewel. The guests will be Butch, Ridge Holland, Sam Roberts, and Logan Paul.
Bodhi Hayward talked to PWMania about his release from WWE Tuesday morning. “My first initial thought was, I was in shock. It was 100% out of the left field. I was upset too. I felt the relationships I had there that were being built were good. I was shocked, and it was a big blow to my confidence. I was thinking Chase U main roster, but I was shocked and hurt. It showed me that there is a lot more to this business that maybe I do have to learn about. In some way shape or form, you are always in control. I look at this as a great opportunity. I feel that I’m made for this. Physically, and mentally. The one thing I always wanted was to cut an in-ring promo. I love being in front of crowds. I never feel more comfortable than being in front of them. That’s what will make me successful in this business. I love the Brodies and they’re loving me back. I want to love everyone for who they are as well.”
Glenn Jacobs on Twitter wrote about all-ages drag shows, writing: “Over the past couple days, my office has been flooded with calls concerning all-ages drag shows. Let me be clear: I don’t care what consenting adults do, but leave kids out of it. As Mayor, I will do everything I can to ensure these events don’t happen on Knox County property.”
Jacobs’ tweet caught the attention of, among others, Mike Bennett, who replied: “We took our 4 year old and 2 year old to a LGBTQ Festival here in the town I live in. There was a Drag Show. They had an absolute blast. They now refer to it as the Dragon Festival. My son will dress up w his sister in a Tutu and play with Monster Trucks. Let’s let kids be kids.”
On Instagram, El Hijo del Vikingo wrote that he would be out of action for three weeks due to a dislocated left elbow.
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including AEW Dynamite tonight, NXT last night, the WWE earnings call, RAW ratings, more promotions heading to FITE+ and so much more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Two new matches have been announced for WWE Crown Jewel.
A steel cage match between Karrion Kross and Drew McIntyre has been set for November 5 in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Braun Strowman will battle Omos.
On Friday’s SmackDown, McIntyre told Kayla Braxton that eventually, this has to end between himself and Kross and made the match. McIntyre lost to Kross in a strap match at Extreme Rules, but the two have continued to feud, with McIntyre attacking Kross after Kross and Scarlett were involved in a car accident on last week’s SmackDown.
MVP confronted Braun Strowman on SmackDown, with Strowman eventually issuing a challenge to Omos. MVP accepted on behalf of Omos, bringing him out. Omos and Strowman had a staredown before Omos pushed Strowman out of the ring.
Here is the updated lineup for Crown Jewel:
Undisputed WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns defends against Logan Paul
The OC (AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson) vs. The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Pries, and Dominik Mysterio)
WWE has announced they will be returning to Saudi Arabia in November.
During tonight’s Raw, it was announced that WWE will be returning to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 5, a few weeks prior to Survivor Series on November 26. It wasn’t said which arena would host the event.
The last time WWE ran an event in Saudi Arabia was back at Elimination Chamber on February 19. The top matches from the card included Brock Lesnar winning an Eliminaton Chamber match for the WWE Championship, Becky Lynch defeating Lita to retain the Raw Women’s Championship, and Roman Reigns defeating Goldberg to retain the WWE Universal Championship.
Last year’s Crown Jewel was held on October 21. On that card, Reigns defeated Lesnar in a match that was for the Universal Championship.
WWE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have agreed to a ten year deal that requires WWE to run two events per year in the country that runs through 2027.
WWE is set to return to Saudi Arabia this September
WWE will be making its return to Saudi Arabia for a pay-per-view event this September, with it being indicated to us that the PPV will likely be TLC (Tables, Ladders & Chairs) 2022. This comes from the same source that indicated the first WWE pay-per-view in Saudi Arabia this year would be the Elimination Chamber. A specific date for the show has not been confirmed. This would be the first TLC PPV since 2020, as no TLC event was held in 2021.
A previously reported PPV event taking place in the United Kingdom during Labor Day weekend in September is also still happening.
WWE last was in Saudi Arabia this February, where the company held its Elimination Chamber PPV. On that show, Brock Lesnar won the WWE Championship in an Elimination Chamber match. Lesnar will put the WWE Championship on the line at WrestleMania 38 this Sunday when he takes on Roman Reigns to unify the WWE and Universal Championship titles.
September’s event will be the eighth WWE show to be held in Saudi Arabia since the company’s 10-year deal with the Saudi government began in 2018.
WWE announced their long-discussed and long-awaited broadcasting deal in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) Wednesday in a partnership with MBC Group.
No financials were disclosed.
The deal will see MBC’s Shahid streaming/on demand service become the home for WWE programming beginning next weekend with WrestleMania 38 from Dallas, Texas.
All premium live shows, in addition to live Raw and SmackDown episodes and more than 10,000 hours of WWE Network library content, are included in the deal. Shahid will create a dedicated WWE channel on its service for the on-demand content which will include next-day availability for NXT’s weekly show.
There is also a free TV element of the partnership as one-hour recap shows of Raw and SmackDown will air on MBC’s free-to-air TV channel in addition to WWE Main Event and Afterburn.
The live Raws and SmackDowns will be in Arabic while the one-hour versions will feature Arabic subtitles.
A broadcast deal in the MENA region has been asked about or discussed on nearly every WWE quarterly investors call for the past few years. WWE resumed their bi-annual Saudi Arabia supershows in October 2021.
WWE stock closed at $60.82 per share Tuesday and the market has yet to open as of this writing.
WWE returns to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for this year’s Elimination Chamber event.
Two matches will be held inside the chamber. One will feature Bobby Lashley defending the WWE Championship against Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins, Austin Theory, Riddle, and AJ Styles. Lesnar has made it a point to win the WWE Championship so he could go to WrestleMania and face Roman Reigns with both titles on the line.
The second chamber match will be for the right to face Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch, or Lita depending on who leaves as champion tonight in their match, at WrestleMania. Participants include Liv Morgan, Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Doudrop, Nikki A.S.H., and the returning Alexa Bliss.
Another key title match will have Roman Reigns defending the WWE Universal Championship against Goldberg in a match that was originally supposed to take place at WrestleMania 36 back in 2020. Reigns has promised to “Goldberg Goldberg”, while Goldberg has stated that Reigns is next.
Other matches scheduled include The Usos vs. The Viking Raiders for the SmackDown Tag Team titles, Drew McIntyre vs. Madcap Moss, Ronda Rousey (with one arm tied behind her back) and Naomi vs. Charlotte Flair and Sonya Deville, and Rey Mysterio vs. The Miz.
Live coverage begins at 11 a.m. Eastern time.
**********
In a pre-show interview, Natalya picked Liv Morgan as her choice to win the women’s Elimination Chamber match.
Rey Mysterio defeated The Miz
This was fine as far as a match goes. The heel/babyface dynamic was way off with the babyfaces having the person at ringside advantage, but this is hardly new. Besides, this isn’t a company that particularly cares about heel/babyface dynamics.
Miz jumped Mysterio immediately at the bell. Mysterio made a comeback and went for a 619, but Miz bailed to the outside. Mysterio hit a sliding dive to the outside, splashing Miz. Mysterio went to jump off the turnbuckle, but Miz crotched him to regain control. Announcers wondered why Maryse wasn’t around. I think I know why.
After Miz confronted Dominik at ringside, Dominik struck him, allowing Mysterio to get a two count. Michael Cole said that Miz “deserved it ” because he took a swipe at Dominik. Mysterio made a comeback and sent Miz into the ringpost. Mysterio connected with a seated senton and a crossbody. Mysterio went for a sunset flip but Miz cut Mysterio off with a DDT. Mysterio blocked a skull crushing finale attempt and connected with the 619. He went for a splash, but Miz escaped to the outside.
Miz took a chair as he tried to enter the ring, but Mysterio hit a splash to the outside. Dominik tried to take the chair away from Miz, but Miz threw himself into the steps and pretended like he had been hit. Dominik argued with the referee but was thrown out. Miz took advantage of the situation by trying to lay out Mysterio with the skull crushing finale, but Mysterio countered with a victory roll for the win.
After the match, Miz attacked Dominik. The Mysterio proceeded to lay out Miz, hitting a double 619. Both Dominik and Rey laid out Miz with a frog splash.
Roman Reigns defeated Goldberg to retain the WWE Universal Championship
This was very short, maybe five minutes at most. Anything longer I don’t think would have been that good. Exactly the kind of match you book with Goldberg in 2022.
The two locked up. Reigns sent Goldberg to the outside and tried to send Goldberg into the barricade, but Goldberg countered and threw Reigns into the barricade instead. Reigns attacked Goldberg in the ring but Goldberg fired back with a spear. Reigns cut off a jackhammer attempt and hit a uranage. Reigns connected with a superman punch, they’re already going for finishes.
Reigns went for a spear, but Goldberg countered with his own spear. Reigns again blocked the jackhammer and latched on the guillotine. Goldberg tried to fight out of it by using the corner but Reigns stayed on. Goldberg passed out and that was it.
Bianca Belair defeated Doudrop, Nikki A.S.H, Alexa Bliss, Liv Morgan, and Rhea Ripley in an Elimination Chamber match.
This felt pretty quick for an Elimination Chamber match, going for pinfalls pretty early into the match. It was fine, and the crowd was into it, but they kept it pretty simple.
Everyone was still mostly covered, but were not wearing t-shirts unlike previous times women wrestled in Saudi Arabia.
Morgan and Nikki started things off. Nikki slammed Morgan into the padding on the outside but Morgan fired back and threw Nikki into a nearby pod. Nikki then threw Morgan into the chain link fence. Doudrop entered first and acted like she wanted to team with Nikki, but instead laid her out and splashed her into the chainlink fence, then did the same to Morgan, also taking her out with a running senton.
Doudrop hit the ringpost when trying to charge into Nikki, leaving Nikki by herself when Ripley entered the ring next. Doudrop tried to attack Ripley but Ripley laid her out. Both Ripley and Nikki tried climbing the cage, with Ripley slamming Nikki’s head into the fence. Nikki fell, sending her crashing into Morgan and Doudrop. Ripley took her back into the ring and pinned Nikki following the riptide.
Alexa Bliss entered the ring next. Morgan took her out, but Doudrop pushed her off the post and into a pod. Doudrop took out Ripley but Morgan fired back with a sunset flip, pinning Doudrop.
Belair entered the ring last as she and Ripley took out Bliss and Morgan. Once they hit stereo suplexes on both, they went back and forth until Morgan hit a double codebreaker. Bliss took out Morgan and hit the twisted bliss to eliminate Morgan. Ripley went with the Riptide on Belair, but Bliss got involved, and Belair hit the KOD on Ripley to eliminate her, leaving it down to Belair and Bliss.
The two went back near the chain link fence, where Belair powerbombed Bliss into the fence. Belair missed a 450 splash. Bliss went for a DDT, but Belair managed to avoid it twice. After some near falls, Bliss told Belair to give up. Belair responded by hitting the KOD on Bliss and pinning her to win the match.
Ronda Rousey and Naomi defeated Sonya Deville and Charlotte
Just kinda there. Naomi did some cool spots, Ronda looked fine despite having one arm tied. Not much to write home about.
Rousey came out wearing a gi. Michael Cole on commentary said it was the same gi she wore when she won the bronze medal in judo at the 2008 Olympic Games.
Deville immediately revealed that her arm had recovered. Rousey’s arm was not tied behind her back but was tied to her side, I guess. Naomi was tagged in but Deville cut her off by pushing her into the turnbuckle as Naomi attempted a bulldog. Naomi countered and tagged in Rousey who quickly took down Deville. Charlotte interfered and drove Rousey into the turnbuckle, giving her team the advantage.
Both Deville and Charlotte kept Rousey in the corner. Rousey tried to fight out, but Charlotte remained in control. Rousey finally freed herself and made the hot tag to Naomi, who took Charlotte to the outside and hit a corkscrew plancha to the outside. Naomi took Charlotte back to the ring but Charlotte cut off Naomi with a powerbomb. Charlotte put on the figure eight, but Rousey broke it up.
Rousey tagged back in and took out Deville with the Piper’s Pit samoan drop, then latched on the armbar. Charlotte doesn’t bother helping out Deville as she quickly submitted.
Drew McIntyre defeated Riddick Moss in a falls count anywhere match
This was fine. It was largely designed to get you to want to see McIntyre vs. Corbin, probably at WrestleMania. Moss landing on his neck was scary and I have zero idea how the match wasn’t stopped, it looked that awful.
Corbin immediately jumped McIntyre at the bell. McIntyre chased Corbin out the arena and cut off Moss, who tried to jump him from behind. Corbin came back and the two with a double suplex. Moss hit a fallaway slam on the ramp.
McIntyre cut off Moss in the ring, and hit a Alabama Slam. Moss landed right on his head and it looked AWFUL. Moss somehow got up and continued the match. McIntyre threw him into the announce table, but Corbin came back with a chair. Both Corbin and Moss threw McIntyre into the barricade. McIntyre cut off Moss and connected with a giant superplex.
McIntyre hit the future shock DDT as Corbin entered the ring to interfere again. McIntyre took out his sword, which scared off Corbin. Still carrying his sword, McIntyre drilled Moss with the claymore kick for the win.
Miz in a backstage promo said that he was outnumbered in his pre-show match earlier tonight against Rey Mysterio. He said he would find a tag team partner, excusing himself to make a phone call.
They showed the WWE superstars having fun in Jeddah, because Saudi Arabia is a fun place to visit if you forget about the government ordering someone dismembered or the various human rights violations.
Becky Lynch defeated Lita to retain the Raw Women’s Championship
Not much of anything early, but this picked up near the end with some good near falls. Overall, a good match.
Back and forth early. Lita teased the twist of fate but Lynch cut her off and pummled her with punches. Lynch hit a legdrop and applied a sleeper. Lita fought out of it and hit a monkey flip. Lynch took Lita to the apron and legdropped Lita again for a nearfall. Lynch hit an exploder and went for a second, but Lita dropped Lynch with a DDT.
Lita and Lynch traded punches as Lita connected with a crossbody off the middle rope. They traded nearfalls. There was a weird spot where Lynch got up, then suddenly just fell as Lita went for a sleeper. Lynch went to the top rope, but Lita took her out with a headscissors takedown and hit the twist of fate for a nearfall. Lita went for the moonsault, but Lynch cut her off and hit the disarmher, then the manhandle slam, but Lita put her foot on the ropes.
Lynch repeatedly slammed Lita’s face onto the mat. She went for a moonsault, but Lita missed. Lita hit the twist of fate again, then the moonsault, but Lynch kicked out again. Lita went to grab Lynch, but Lynch hit a second manhandle slam, pinning Lita.
They confirmed the Raw Women’s Championship match being Becky Lynch defending against Bianca Belair.
After Lynch left, Lita’s music played again as she posed for the crowd.
The Usos jumped The Viking Raiders as they were coming down to the ring for their match. They suplexed Ivar onto Erik. So there’s no SmackDown Tag Team title match. Great build, great match. Great segment. Totally worth flying over for this! I totally believe the Viking Raiders can win these titles from the Usos.
Brock Lesnar defeated Bobby Lashley, Austin Theory, Riddle, AJ Styles, and Seth Rollins in an Elimination Chamber match to win the WWE Championship
This was a match designed to put over Brock Lesnar as a demigod who no one could even touch, save for maybe Bobby Lashley who was taken out of the match in minutes. It served it’s purpose, but boy it sure does suck to not be named Brock Lesnar or Roman Reigns around here!
Seth Rollins and Austin Theory started things off. Theory hit a back suplex and a fisherman’s suplex but Rollins kicked out. Rollins connected with superkicks and threw Theory into the pod area where he buckle bombed Theory into Bobby Lashley’s pod, taking out both Lashley and Theory. Announcers pushed Lashley might have hit his head on a steel beam.
Riddle is the first to enter as he went after Rollins, hitting an exploder and a running senton. WWE officials were checking on Lashley as Riddle and Rollins went to the top rope. Rollins hit a reverse suplex. Lashley was taken out of the chamber as AJ Styles entered the ring.
Styles remained in control as he went to do something with Riddle on the top rope, but Rollins fought him. This eventually turned into a tower of doom spot, with Theory taking out Styles and Rollins, but Riddle connected with the floating bro. Riddle started to do Randy Orton’s mannerisms. Bobby Lashley was supposed to enter next, but they confirmed that Lashley was put under “concussion protocol” and would not return to the match. Lesnar kicked out of his pod, not waiting for his time to enter and immediately pinned Rollins and Riddle with F5’s in quick fashion. And as I finished typing that, AJ Styles was pinned.
Lesnar then set his sights on Theory, who ran around the ring and tried to escape. But it was no use, as Lesnar caught up to him and quickly took him out. Theory low blowed Lesnar, giving him an opportunity to land a dropkick and a DDT. Lesnar kicked out of the DDT attempt as Theory climbed up the cage to try and escape. But Lesnar climbed up and grabbed him as they landed on top of a pod. Lesnar then grabbed Theory and threw him off the pod with an F5. That looked insane. Lesnar eventually pinned Theory to win the WWE Championship again.
The announcers quickly announced that it would be a champion vs. champion match at WrestleMania, but didn’t specifically say both titles would be on the line. The show went off the air with Lesnar celebrating amidst a large fireworks display.
This was an alright show, nothing was bad. But there are probably better things to do on a Saturday than watch this. There’s nothing really worth watching that won’t be covered Monday or Friday.
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FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE
Garrett Gonzalez and I will be talking about the Observer Hall of Fame voting and the latest news for Wrestling Observer Radio later today. Bryan and I will be talking about UFC and the weekend wrestling shows tomorrow night.
The Hall of Fame issue of the Observer, one of the biggest of the year, is now out. We have a huge story on the balloting, including how many votes everyone got this year and last, all the first ballot Hall of Famers in history, the highest voting percentages in history, as well as how the candidates did with historians, reporters, wrestlers and retired wrestlers and industry professionals. We also have the most detailed look at the MLW lawsuit against WWE against WWE. We also look at the plans for WrestleMania and how they have changed, New Japan vs. NOAH, lots of AEW contract updates, the most four-star matches in 2021 and of all-time, a feature on Shozo “Strong” Kobayashi, one of the biggest stars in Japan of the 70s, Is there a WWE succession plan, injury updates and ticket sales.
The 2/19 PPV from Saudi Arabia will be the Elimination Chamber. They have been batting around ideas regarding changing the name. Elimination Chamber and Saudi Arabia kind of opens things up to potential ridicule and at one point today the plan was to call the match WrestleMania Chamber. At this point the name is “The Annual Elimination Chamber.”
Pro Wrestling NOAH announced Kaito Kiyomiya, Yoshinari Ogawa, Junta Miyawaki, Yoshiki Inamura, Kinya Okada, Yasutaka Yano, Super Crazy, Tadasuke, Daiki Inaba and Masato Tanaka are off Sunday’s show in Sendai. The reasons are either having tested positive or being in close contact with someone who did. Kiyomiya said that he tested positive. Tanaka didn’t test positive but was feeling very sick. The Sunday show airs on Wrestle Universe at 1 a.m. Eastern headlined by Katsuhiko Nakajima defending the GHC title against Masa Kitamiya
Smackdown tonight is from Omaha. They have better ticket sales than most shows in recent weeks. Announced is Sami Zayn doing his own stunt show to prove he can do things better than Johnny Knoxville. There will be a Seth Rollins-Roman Reigns face-to-face. Aliyah returns to face Natalya. Lita also returns to television on tonight’s show.
AEW Rampage tonight has Adam Cole vs. Trent Barreta, Andrew Everett vs . Shawn Spears, Leyla Hirsch & Red Velvet & Kris Statlander vs Penelope Ford & The Bunny & Nyla Rose, and Luchasaurus & Jungle Boy defend the tag titles against John Silver & Alex Reynolds. We were told this was great, better than anything on Dynamite.
The state of Yucatan in Mexico announced new restrictions including no massive public events until 2/15. Not sure what that means for the 1/30 tapings in Merida which was to feature FTR defending the AAA tag titles against somebody. It was originally Penta & Fenix but Fenix is injured. The local promoters has said they’ve been told they can still run the show saying the restrictions don’t apply to pro sports events. Penta tabbed it as 99 percent that Fenix won’t be able to wrestle by 1/30. All those in attendance have to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test. A KDNA promotion show in Monterrey tonight was canceled.(thanks to TheCubsFan)
We’re looking for reports this weekend from tonight’s Smackdown tapings in Omaha, tomorrow’s show in Fargo, ND and Sunday in Sioux Falls,SD to [email protected]
Demonic Flamita in his social media indicated he tested positive for COVID.
WWE
WWE will open Raw on Monday with a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. set to John Legend’s “Never Break.”
The Houston Chronicle has a story on independent wrestler Ninja Mack.
A story on J Robinson, the famed University of Minnesota wrestling coach who had Brock Lesnar, Shelton Benjamin and others on his teams over the years. He was also a college roommate of future pro wrestling star Gerald Brisco.
ISPW tonight in Totowa, NJ at the Totowa PAL with Danny Morrison, managed by Maven, against Bull James, plus Jimmy Hart, Matt Sydal, Crowbar, LSG and Cheeseburger appear.
IWA from Saturday night at the Sawtell, Australia RSL Club: Donnie Mako b Kai Drake, Party Juan b Jude London, Kingsley b Jessica Troy, Tree Hugger Luchi & Sam Osborne & Will Kiedis b Larry Kelly & Matt Call way & Phil Woods in an elimination match (thanks to Kirk Beat tie)
NFC on Saturday at 7 p.m. at The District in Atlanta with Shamel Findley vs. Romondo Scott.
Biff Busick, the former Oney Lorcan, returns to Beyond Wrestling on 2/4 at Fete Music in Providence, RI.
Matt Cardona appears for AIW Wrestling on 2/11 at the Odeon Concert Club in Cleveland, OH.
West Coast Pro streams live tonight on IWTV at 10 p.m. Eastern from South San Francisco:
Homicide vs. Jacob Fatu
Nicole Savoy vs. Masha Slamovich
Mike Bailey vs. Aramis vs. Rey Horus
Davey Richards vs.;Kevin Blackwood
AJ Gray vs. Juicy Finau
Bryan Keith vs. Vinnie Massaro
Titus Alexander vs. Adrian Quest vs. Kenny King vs. TJP
WWE is reportedly looking at bringing the Elimination Chamber to Saudi Arabia for their Saturday, February 19th event.
The news was reported by Fightful on Thursday and previously discussed by Wrestlenomics’ Brandon Thurston last Sunday.
It’s unknown if the event will be branded as Elimination Chamber as has been the case since 2010 for those specific WWE pay-per-views.
The report stated there have been plans for the massive structure to be part of the February show since WWE’s return to Saudi Arabia last November.
News of the February show broke last week — the first-such Saturday show WWE will hold in the country since their partnership began.
First created in 2002, the Elimination Chamber match was part of that year’s Survivor Series and eventually was part of other PPVs until it got its own named PPV in 2010.
Since then, the event has been a yearly tradition held in February or March, save for 2016. When WWE released its PPV slate for 2022, the event wasn’t listed on the schedule but there was a TBA placeholder for February.
There has been 28 Chamber matches in WWE history with the first such-women’s match happening in February 2018.
