THE ROUND-UP

The Latest from the F4W Staff

The substance that Cris Cyborg Justino tested positive for was a diuretic Spironolactone, according to Ray Elbe her boyfriend and manager. Elbe said she was using it under doctor's supervision due to heath problems stemming from her last weight cut. It should be noted that it is a banned substance and one would have to get an exemption from USADA to use it and she had not applied for that exemption. She is facing a maximum one year suspension and USADA has confirmed the substance she failed for was Spioronolactone.

NEWS

AUDIO

Impact tonight at 8 p.m. is a year-in-review show. There are no WWE or NXT shows this weekend. It's a shorter than usual Christmas break as they are only off until both Raw and Smackdown start on Monday and do post-holiday house shows after TV all week.

FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: 12/12/2016 The Paige/Alberto Del Rio relationship isn't funny anymore

International Wrestling Revolution Group, or IWRG, has been one of Mexico's top independent promotions for over two decades. Yet aside from the period where it was the Mexican home of Ultimo Dragon's students when Toryumon was getting off the ground, the promotion rarely got much international attention... Subscribers click here to continue.





WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: December 26, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: WWE announces UK tournament, Urijah Faber retires, more

In pro wrestling this past year, one of the biggest stories behind-the-scenes has been what people have called the golden age of independent wrestling. With the advent of Internet streaming, there are talented wrestlers who have been able to make a decent, and in some cases very good living being world travelers, most of which are affiliated with New Japan, ROH or Lucha Underground, and led to the advent of Flo Slam, which has made some deals paying significant rights fees for live content.

WWE is also aggressively making moves, whether it be signing talent that just a few years ago they’d have dismissed based on size and/or look, expanding content for the network and aggressively pursuing women wrestlers, with the idea of creating more and more content...

The Association of Boxing Commissions has officially adopted the new unified rules for MMA, starting in 2017, which will modify a lot of the current rule set that have been in place since 2000...

Urijah Faber, the fighter who was largely responsible for the success of the WEC promotion and the key figure, along with Joe Silva, in getting sub-155 pound fighters into prominence, retired on his own terms on 12/17...

WWE’s final PPV show of the year, Roadblock End of the Line, on 12/18 at the PPG Arena in Pittsburgh, was one of its weakest shows as well... Subscribers click here to continue.

ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to Dave Meltzer, or by using PayPal directing funds to Dave@WrestlingObserver.com.



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WON BACK ISSUE: November 29, 1999 Steve Austin's career in doubt, WCW Mayhem review, more - Steve Austin gets bad news from doctors regarding his neck, a full review of WCW Mayhem, plus tons of news. As mentioned last week, the future of Steve Austin as an in-ring performer is in serious doubt after getting results of tests on his neck, originally injured in the August 3, 1997 Meadowlands match against Owen Hart... Subscribers click here to continue.

THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE

Regarding rumors of Cain Velasquez pulling out of the 12/30 show, Velasquez was training this afternoon and that story is incorrect. Velasquez does have a back injury and said several weeks ago that he needs surgery, but is going to fight.

Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corporation announced the launch of the TNA Impact Wrestling app for the U.K. and Ireland called Total Access TNA Wrestling. It will be available on-line and on mobile platforms for 4.99 pounds per month. It will air weekly episodes of Impact at the same time as they air in the U.S. and Canada. There will also be a lot of library footage.

The George Tragos-Lou Thesz pro wrestling Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be 7/20 to 7/22 in Waterloo, IA. There is a very good chance I'm attending that this year as I had a great time last year. Two inductees announced today for this coming year are Dusty Rhodes and Paul Orndorff. Listed as appearing include Jerry Brisco, Jim Ross, Brian Blair, Jim Brunzell, Larry Hennig, Baron Von Raschke, Wade Keller, Bill Murdoch, Rob Schamberger, Matt Riddle and Charlie Thesz. They will be doing a one-night wrestling tournament on 7/21 with Riddle the first name announced. For more info email wresshow@yahoo.com.

ROH runs 2/4 at Gilley's in Dallas with Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian vs. Cody & Adam Cole.

Jeff Cobb and Matt Riddle are taking their rivalry to the world of legitimacy. Riddle said on his podcast that him and Cobb are tentatively scheduled for a grappling match in January at Chael Sonnen's Submission Underground. We had heard that the promotion wanted a Cobb vs. Riddle match on its show on 1/29 in Portland, OR.

WWE

Mickie James was in Pittsburgh today doing her WWE physicals. She is scheduled to start on the Smackdown women's division if all goes right.

You can get 2 for 1 tickets for the 12/30 house show at the Staples Center in Los Angeles through 10 p.m. Pacific time tonight using the password TAGTEAM

Total Wrestling Magazine talks to Bayley: Favourite Dusty Rhodes story: When I first started my character in my first match with Alicia Fox, I walked out with my hair I a ponytail and as soon as I got into the ring I took the ponytail out and let my hair down, because I knew it would get messed up and I didn’t want to look ridiculous on TV. When I came back through the curtain Dusty was the first one to stop me and he said “why did you take your hair down?” I said because it’s going to get messed up and I didn’t think WWE would like a girl with a ponytail. He said “no. That is your trademark. That is your thing. That’s what makes you stand out.” And now little girls love to put their hair up in a side ponytail and it’s like a little trademark. Thoughts on WWE debut and teaming with Sasha Banks to face Dana Brooke and Charlotte Flair: It was incredible. I was trying to keep it cool the whole day. Because it wasn’t my official debut I feel like I held in my emotions a lot as I thought this doesn’t mean anything really, so I’m just going to have fun with it and enjoy it. I thought it was ok and I said thank you for letting me do this, that was incredible. I was so surprised by how excited the crowd was that it was me. I thought it was fun. Then I got to my hotel room and as soon as I closed the door I broke down and was like what just happened?

MISCELLANEOUS

The Bullet Club of the Young Bucks & Hangman Adam Page & Adam Cole vs. Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley & Lio Rush & Jay White was announced for a 2/3 ROH show in San Antonio, that also has Dalton Castle vs. Bobby Fish vs. Jay Lethal and Cody vs. Donovan Dijak.

Andy Robin will be the second inductee into the Scotland pro wrestling Hall of Fame tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. outside the Perth City Hall in Perth, Scotland. George Kidd was the first inductee.

Kevin Eck talks to Ryback.

MCW on 1/28 in Joppa, MD at the MCW Arena features Matt & Jeff Hardy, King Maxel, Queen Rebecca and Senor Benjamin. The promotion has struck a deal with Rey Mysterio Jr. for an appearances in 2017.

CZW on 1/14 in Voorhees, NJ at Flyers Skate Zone.

NWL has announced its first show for 1/7 at the Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City. They are embarking on a heavy local radio advertising campaign in both Kansas City and St. Louis to see if that will work at drawing an audience with shows every other Saturday night in Kansas City, and every other Thursday night in St. Louis at the Casa Loma Ballroom starting on 1/12. Major Baisden is the promoter, who had sold a startup, Iris Data Services, for $134 million in 2015 and had hired a six person office and signed up a number of area wrestlers.

Alpha One Wrestling from Sunday in Oshawa, ONT: Josh Alexander b Eric Cairnie, Young Miles b Gregory Iron, Jade b KC Spinelli, Rickey Shane Page b Heidi Lovelace, Alessandero del Bruno over Shane Sabre and Donovan Dijak, Team Nye b Team Monkey, Kobe Durst b Michael Elgin (thanks to Steven Ashe)

Gabe Sapolsky's Style Battle promotion, which debuts on 1/7 in Ybor City at the Ivy Astoria Event Center, which is across the street from the Orpheum, where they had been running. They are doing a one night eight man single elimination tournament, has announced Anthony Henry, AR Fox, Austin Theory, Darby Allin, Dave Crist, Dezmond Xavier, Fred Yehi and Sammy Guevara as the participants in the first tournament.

Drew Galloway returns to Evolve on 2/24 in Joppa, MD and 2/25 in Queens, NY.

Gabe Sapolsky has announced a creative seminar on 3/31 after the Evolve event in Orlando, FL.

Drew Galloway vs. Jeff Cobb was announced for the AAW show on 12/30 in Merrionette Park, IL.

Former WWF & WCW ring announcer Gary Michael Cappetta is doing a tour called the "Beyond Bodyslams" tour. He's announced a number of dates:

2/19 in Philadelphia at CSZ Philadelphia

2/24 in Scranton, PA at the Providence Playhouse

2/25 in Worcester, MA at the Clark University Razzo Hall

3/4 in Indianapolis at the Iriving Theater

3/5 in Chicago at Stage 773

3/12 in Greensboro at the Triad Stage's Pyrie Theater

3/18 in Pittsburgh at the Steel City Improv Theater

3/25 in Baltimore at An die Musik

3/31 and 4/1 in Orlando at Wrestlecon

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