As seen in the video below, Paul Heyman spoke to TMZ Sports and said that WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar returning to The Octagon to face UFC Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier depends on two things – UFC’s checkbook and Cormier’s cojones.
“As long as Daniel Cormier has the balls to step into the Octagon and put the title up against Brock Lesnar and if UFC comes up with the money for Brock Lesnar, I don’t see anything that would keep Brock Lesnar from taking the fight,” Heyman said when asked if Cormier vs. Lesnar will happen in UFC.
It was previously reported that UFC President Dana White said that The Lesnar vs. Cormier Bout may not happen as Cormier is looking to retire on his 40th birthday in March and White wants his next fight to be against Jon Jones.
Heyman was also asked about possibly managing UFC Star Conor McGregor if he were to make the transition to WWE, as seen below:
“The only way I would ever advocate for Conor McGregor is if I got 50% of his money, which considering the fact that I can talk far better than Conor McGregor, I would deserve a lot more,” Heyman said. “But I would be reasonable in my fee for my advocacy.”
Paul “Triple H” Levesque announced on Monday the first set of house shows WWE NXT will perform on the road in 2019. Starting January 4, NXT will make a swing through the south, visiting Atlanta, Spartanburg, S.C., and Durham, N.C.
Tickets will be available at www.NXTTickets.com starting this Friday at 10 a.m. ET. Here’s the announcement from Triple H:
The very FIRST #NXTRoadTrip of 2019 hits: Click Here: cheap all stars rugby jersey
#NXTATL 1/4#NXTSpartanburg 1/5#NXTDurham 1/6
Don’t miss the first shows of the new year…tickets are available FRIDAY at 10am ET at https://t.co/pcQU3cSnfR. #WeAreNXT @WWENXT pic.twitter.com/wtLUMqRHUl
— Triple H (@TripleH) November 26, 2018
Finn Balor starred in the Monday Night RAW main event this week in Minneapolis, falling victim to the heel faction created by RAW General Manager Elect Baron Corbin which includes Drew McIntrye and Bobby Lashley.
Balor and Elias seem to be the babyfaces who are drawing most of the wrath of Corbin. On Thursday, Balor gained some revenge by photoshopping the heels’ faces into hilarious parodies of movie posters. Here are some of Balor’s tweets with his handiwork:
?? pic.twitter.com/WXlWwHkccY
— Finn Bálor forEVERYone (@FinnBalor) November 30, 2018
???? pic.twitter.com/zJGKiAUUb4
— Finn Bálor forEVERYone (@FinnBalor) November 29, 2018
???? pic.twitter.com/EFPoc7x6Xa
— Finn Bálor forEVERYone (@FinnBalor) November 29, 2018
Hahahahahahhaahahhaahhahahhaha pic.twitter.com/i6dKCMeElk
— Finn Bálor forEVERYone (@FinnBalor) November 29, 2018
Next week’s episode of SmackDown LIVE, which is The TLC Go-Home Show will feature a WrestleMania 34 rematch between Asuka & Charlotte Flair. The match will take place just a few days before they compete in The First-Ever Women’s TLC Match with SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch at The TLC PPV Event.
A Rap Battle has also been announced for next Tuesday’s episode of SmackDown LIVE. The New Day, The Usos & SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Bar will participate in the battle. These three teams will then do battle in a Triple Threat Match for The SmackDown Tag Team Titles at TLC.
Next Tuesday’s TLC Go-Home episode of SmackDown LIVE will take place from The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can check out the announcements below on next week’s match and rap battle:
NEXT WEEK on #SDLive…
?? @MsCharlotteWWE battles @WWEAsuka in a #WrestleMania REMATCH
?? #TheNewDay, The @WWEUoss & #TheBar compete in a #RapBattle pic.twitter.com/YEYyWhqu8B
— WWE (@WWE) December 5, 2018
The biggest fight of the summer — financially, anyway — is just a few weeks away and while things have been relatively quiet in August, Conor McGregor hopes to stoke the promotional fire Friday afternoon with a media day/workout session.
The session, held at the UFC’s Performance Center in Las Vegas, NV, starts at 6 PM EST/3 PM PST and can be seen here:
Thursday’s session with Floyd Mayweather was fairly uneventful, save for a lot of big financial numbers thrown around for gate revenue and such.
For those just out of a coma, Mayweather is coming out of retirement to face McGregor in a boxing match at the T-Mobile Arena in Vegas on August 26th. Mayweather will be looking for his 50th win against zero losses while McGregor will be competing in his first ever boxing fight.
The fight is expected to do record business, both at the gate and on PPV.
If you can’t get enough Dave Meltzer audio in your life, we have another 13 minutes for you to put a wrap on Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor and more.
Dave is on Live Audio Wrestling every Sunday night for the Wrestling Observer Extra segment, talking news of the week. On last night’s show, he joined Dan Lovranski and Jason Agnew to give his take on this past Saturday’s megafight in Las Vegas. He also opined on what’s next for the UFC lightweight champion and what’s next in the ongoing Jon Jones saga with USADA and his career.
He also discussed this past weekend’s Triplemania event and the implications of Dr. Wagner Jr. losing his mask. He also discussed the Sexy Star/Rosemary armbar incident and what Jeff Jarrett thought about what happened.
Dave also discussed Asuka relinquishing her NXT title and heading to one of the WWE brands and the latest on Ric Flair.
Kansas City, Kansas:
– North American Tag Team Champions, Bob Geigel and Bob Brown beat Mongolian Stomper and The Ox by DQ
– Jerry Miller beat Jim Grabmire 2 falls to 1
– Bulldog Plechas drew Thor Hagen
– Corsica Joe beat Paul Caruso
1966
Milwaukee, Wisconsin:
– AWA Champion Mad Dog Vachon went to a double countout with Wilbur Snyder
– Larry Hennig & Harley Race beat Doug Gilbert & Billy Red Cloud
– Chris Markoff drew Ron Reed
– Dale Lewis beat Joe Tomasso
– Jim Raschke beat Johnny Kace (Raschke’s professional debut)
1967
Chicago, Illinois:
– AWA Tag Team Champions Larry Hennig & Harley Race beat Dick the Bruiser & the Crusher
– Wilbur Snyder beat Angelo Poffo
– Johnny Valentine beat Moose Cholak by DQ
– Dr X beat Rene Goulet
– Dr Moto beat Bob Boyer
– Blackjack Lanza beat Al Kashey
1972
St. Louis, Missouri:
– Harley Race defeated Pak Song in a tournament final to become the first ever NWA Missouri Champion
St. Paul, Minnesota:
– AWA Tag Team Champions Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens beat Larry Hennig & Dusty Rhodes in 2 out of 3 falls
– Wahoo McDaniel beat Ivan Koloff by DQ
– Dr X beat Higo Hamaguchi
– Rene Goulet drew Don Muraco
– Ramon Torres beat Big K
1978
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
– WWWF World Champion Bob Backlund defeated Superstar Billy Graham in a Stretcher Match
1982
Oakland, California:
– Pat Patterson & Ray Stevens drew AWA Tag Team Champions Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell
– AWA Champion Otto Wanz beat Nick Bockwinkel
– Rick Martel beat Ken Patera by DQ
– Jesse Ventura beat Baron Von Raschke
– Adrian Adonis beat Buck Zumhofe
1987
Dallas, Texas:
– Gary Young defeated Steve Cox
– Ron Simmons defeated Rick Steiner via count-out
– Michael Hayes, Shane Douglas, Tim Horner, & Brad Armstrong defeated Shaska Whatley, Tiger Conway Jr., the Terminator, & the Enforcer
– Ron Simmons defeated the Enforcer
– Sting defeated Terry Taylor via disqualification
– Ron Simmons defeated Big Bubba via count-out
– Barry Windham defeated Eddie Gilbert
– Dusty Rhodes defeated NWA US Champion Lex Luger via disqualification
– Steve Williams defeated Black Bart
– NWA World Champion Ric Flair fought Ron Garvin to a no contest
1988
Richmond, Virginia:
– Ivan Koloff defeated Rip Morgan
– The Sheepherders defeated Chris Champion & Mark Fleming
– The Russian Assassins defeated Nikita Koloff & the Italian Stallion
– The Road Warriors & Steve Williams defeated NWA TV Champion Mike Rotundo, Rick Steiner, & Larry Zbyszko
– NWA Tag Team Champions Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane defeated Bobby Fulton & Tommy Rogers
– Dusty Rhodes defeated Kevin Sullivan in a dog collar match
– Sting defeated NWA US Champion Barry Windham via disqualification
– NWA World Champion Ric Flair fought Lex Luger to a no contest
1989
Kansas City, Missouri:
– The Cuban Assassin pinned Richard Sartain
– Shane Douglas & Johnny Ace defeated the New Zealand Militia
– Butch Reed pinned Scott Hall
– Rick & Scott Steiner fought Sid Vicious & Dan Spivey to a double count-out
– NWA US Champion Lex Luger pinned Tommy Rich
– Dick Murdoch defeated NWA TV Champion the Great Muta via disqualification
– NWA World Champion Ric Flair defeated Dick Slater in a Death Match
1990
Hammond, Indiana:
– Brad Armstrong pinned Dutch Mantel
– The Master Blasters defeated Tim Horner & Mike Rotundo
– Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane defeated Tom Zenk & Brian Pillman
– NWA US Tag Team Champions Rick & Scott Steiner defeated the Samoan Swat Team
– Stan Hansen pinned Tommy Rich
– The Junkyard Dog pinned NWA TV Champion Arn Anderson in a non-title match
– NWA US Champion Lex Luger defeated Sid Vicious via count-out
– NWA World Champion Sting pinned Ric Flair
1992
Raleigh, North Carolina:
– Dustin Rhodes defeated Tom Zenk
– Van Hammer defeated Vinnie Vegas
– Erik Watts defeated Mark Canterbury
– Barry Windham defeated Diamond Dallas Page
– Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Greg Valentine & Dick Slater
– Sting & Nikita Koloff defeated the Barbarian & the Super Invader
– Steve Austin pinned WCW TV Champion Ricky Steamboat in a non-title match
– WCW/NWA Tag Team Champions Steve Williams & Terry Gordy defeated Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton
– WCW World Champion Ron Simmons defeated WCW US Champion Rick Rude
1994
Knoxville, Tennessee:
– Susan Green pinned Leilani Kai
– Bob Armstrong beat Jim Cornette & Killer Kyle in a “handicap” match
– Chris Candido pinned Brian Lee
– SMW Champ The Dirty White Boy beat Bruiser Bedlam via DQ
– The Dirty White Boy won a battle royal
– SMW Tag Team Champions The Rock N’ Roll Express defeated The Gangstas (New Jack & Mustafa would later threaten to sue SMW, saying tape of the match proves that they should have won the belts. As a result, Smoky Mountain Wrestling awarded the titles to the Gangstas)
1995
Morristown, Tennessee:
– Robert Gibson pinned Al Snow
– SMW Champ Brad Armstrong beat Terry Gordy via DQ
– SMW Tag Champs The Heavenly Bodies (Pritchard & Del Rey) beat Tracy Smothers & The Dirty White Boy
– Tommy Rich DCO Buddy Landel
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
– The Pitbulls defeated Raven & Steven Richards in a two out of three falls Dog Collar match to win the ECW World Tag Team Championship
– Rey Misterio Jr. defeated Psicosis
2002
Tokyo, Japan:
– Low Ki defeated Spanky on a Zero-One event to win the NWA International Light Heavyweight Title
2003
WWE SmackDown: Raleigh, North Carolina:
– Eddie & Chavo Guerrero defeated Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas for the WWE Tag Team Championship
– Brock Lesnar defeated Kurt Angle in a 60-minute Ironman match to win the WWE World Title, 5 falls to 4
2006
New York City:
– The Kings of Wrestling, Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli defeated Austin Aries and Roderick Strong to win the ROH Tag Team Championship
2007
WWE Unforgiven:
– Batista defeated the Great Khali and Rey Mysterio Jr to win the World Title
– Randy Orton defeated WWE Champion John Cena by DQ
– The Undertaker defeated Mark Henry
2010
– Jay Lethal defeated Doug Williams to win the TNA X Division Title
2012
WWE Night of Champions: Boston, Massachusetts:
– Daniel Bryan and Kane won the WWE Tag Team Championship from R-Truth and Kofi Kingston
– Eve Torres defeated Layla to win the WWE Divas Championship
– US Champion Antonio Cesaro defeated Zach Ryder
The bloodshed continued during the second part of Ultima Lucha Tres in the third-to-last episode of season three on Lucha Underground.
The previous show featured arguably the most violent and graphic match shown in quite some time on national television. This latest show was seemingly less violent, but just as bloody.
Lucha de Apuesta
In a stipulation match with a wager (“lucha de apuesta”), Marty the Moth bloodied Fenix only to eventually get his head shaved after losing a hair vs. mask match. Fenix got color during the match, and he hit a gusher.
The blood gave the match a greater sense of drama, especially considering bloodbaths are rarely seen on televised wrestling shows nowadays. The backstory between the participants, which also involves Melissa Santos, sketched out a picture. The blood added some color to the picture.
Santos got involved during the finish. Her interference was fitting, since her character played directly into the storyline. Marty the Moth developed an obsession with Santos after becoming infatuated with her in the first season. By the third season, Marty’s character began to stalk her.
While Marty the Moth became a stalker, Santos in storyline began a romantic relationship with Fenix. That put Fenix and Marty on a collision course that culminated in a stipulation match on Ultima Lucha Tres. The ultimate outcome was Fenix vanquishing Marty the Moth despite Fenix having spilled blood. Santos then gained a measure of revenge when she was the one to shave Marty’s head.
Somewhere along the way, tensions arose between Marty and his kayfabe sister, Mariposa. When it appeared that Mariposa would save Marty from a headshaving on this episode, she turned on her brother and handcuffed him to a railing so he could not escape the fate that awaited him.
Fenix and Marty the Moth had a great match on the way to concluding their storyline. The work was great, but the blood really added drama to the match. The sight of the gore made Fenix look like a true babyface-in-peril. The blood would have been even more dramatic if someone had not bled a lot earlier on the episode. Much like the angle involving Fenix, Santos, and Marty, the other match to feature blood also dealt with a love triangle of sorts.
The Ballad of Ivelisse
Returning to action after nursing an injury during previous seasons, Ivelisse returned to the ring at The Temple for a match against Catrina. The issues between the two women involve the love of Jeremiah Crane.
Crane fell in love with the villainous Catrina, which upset his kayfabe girlfriend Ivelisse. She looked for vengeance in a match against Catrina. The match itself used a lot of smoke-and-mirrors, or actually blood and gimmicks.
Ivelisse got color after Catrina broke several bottles over her head. Ivelisse had the crimson mask as she bled heavily. Ivelisse fought from underneath to overcome the loss of blood in exacting her revenge.
The sight of a bloody Ivelisse was dramatic, especially considering women rarely bleed on wrestling shows in such a manner.
Catrina tried to hit Ivelisse with her magic rock, but Ivelisse got the rock instead. She walloped Catrina with the rock and pinned her. As Ivelisse celebrated her win after the match, she received a Tonya Harding. Running into the ring, Crane cracked Ivelisse in the leg. Crane then proceeded to hit her in the leg with a hammer in a dastardly scene.
Battle royal
Elsewhere on the show, The Mack won a battle royal for a “unique opportunity.” As it turned out, that opportunity was for a trios match on Ultima Lucha Tres. Dario Cueto ordered Mack to team with Dante Fox and Killshot for a match against the Reptile Tribe on the next episode.
Show results —
The Mack won a battle royal
Ivelisse defeated Catrina
Fenix defeated Marty the Moth in a mask vs. hair match
On the next episode —
The Mack, Killshot & Dante Fox vs. Vibora, Pindar & Drago for the Lucha Underground Trios Championship
Taya vs. Sexy Star in a last luchadora standing match
Pentagon Dark vs. Son of Havoc in a ladder match for the Gift of the Gods Championship
As Dave Meltzer confirmed in this week’s edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Jeff Jarrett checked into a rehab facility yesterday. Meltzer wrote that Jarrett came to grips with the fact that he had a problem, with Karen Jarrett working with WWE officials to set up the rehab stay.
The decision comes after Jarrett allegedly showed up late (with Jarrett saying he was held up at customs for three hours), was drinking and passed out backstage, and then wrestled while in no condition to perform at a show for Real Canadian Wrestling in Calgary last Friday. Jarrett then missed their show in Edmonton the next day as he returned to the United States.
Before the news that Jarrett was checking into rehab became public, WrestleCade also announced yesterday that he wouldn’t be appearing at any of their events in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on November 24th, 25th, and 26th due to personal reasons.
Impact Wrestling revealed earlier this week that Jarrett was officially no longer with the company and that their rebrand into Global Force Wrestling was no longer happening, though Meltzer notes that he first heard about that before what happened with Jarrett over the weekend.
Donald Trump has sent 5,200 American soldiers to the US-Mexico border in a major escalation of the White House’s response to the migrant ‘caravan’ approaching through Mexico.
Homeland Security and Pentagon officials said that the soldiers would focus on helping secure key points of entry into the United States. The deployment has been named ‘Operation Faithful Patriot’.
The announcement on Monday is likely to help draw attention ahead of the midterm elections back to migration, as Mr Trump faces difficult questions over gun control and inciting violence in the wake of the Pittsburgh mass shooting and politically-motivated mail-bombs.
Added to the 2,000 troops already at the border, Mr Trump’s announcement means the number of US soldiers on the southern border will roughly be the same as those serving in Syria and Iraq combined.
Three helicopters will be deployed and enough barbed wire will be made available to cover 150 miles of the border. The troops will be sent to Texas, Arizona and California by the end of the week.
Officials on Monday played down any political motive, saying that it was about safety and deterring the caravan of around 3,500 migrants which is heading to the border.
However critics have accused Mr Trump of playing up immigration fears for electoral advantage given that voting in the crucial midterm elections is just a week away. The caravan is not due to reach America for weeks.
Mr Trump said on Twitter on Monday that the military would be waiting for the procession – suggesting a far more direct role in confronting the migrants than the Pentagon described.
Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border. Please go back, you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process. This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 29, 2018
Mr Trump said the United States would build "tent cities" to house migrants seeking asylum, rather than releasing them while they await court decisions.
"We’re going to put tents up all over the place. We’re not going to build structures and spend all of this, you know, hundreds of millions of dollars – we’re going to have tents," he told Fox News in an interview.
Several hundred migrants in a separate 'caravan' crossed into Mexico from Guatemala on MondayCredit:
CARLOS GARCIA RAWLINS/ REUTERS
The president said detaining asylum seekers while their cases are being decided would discourage others from following suit.
Robert Bowers, the 46-year-old charged with the mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue, appeared in court in a wheelchair on Monday, flanked by marshals and with his hands shackled in his lap.
He spoke at the federal courthouse in Pittsburgh to confirm his name, that he had been given a copy of the 29 charges – including 11 counts of murder – and requested a court-appointed defence team.
Robert Bowers, the suspect in the deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in PittsburghCredit:
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation via AP
“Yes,” he answered in a clear, firm voice each time. He waived his right to a detention hearing which means he will remain in the custody of the marshals’ service. He is expected back in court on Thursday.
Cesar Sayoc, the 56-year-old Florida man accused of posting pipe bombs to leading liberals including the Obamas and the Clintons, was also due in court on Monday.
It emerged on Monday that a third suspected bomb targeting the broadcaster CNN had been discovered. The package was intercepted at an Atlanta post office. It is unclear if it is linked to last week’s attacks.
In recent weeks Mr Trump has issued a series of escalating warnings over the so-called ‘caravan’ of migrants walking through Mexico who hope to make it into America. At peak there were an estimated 7,000 people taking part, though estimates are now around 3,500.
Donald Trump, the US presidentCredit:
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
The US president has floated the idea of closing the border and dubbed it a “national emergency”, despite the caravan still being weeks away from reaching the perimeter of the United States.
Critics and political opponents, including the former president Barack Obama, have accused Mr Trump of whipping up concerns about illegal immigration for political gain.
On November 6, all US House of Representative seats and a third of US Senate seats are up for election, with the Republican majority in both bodies of Congress hanging in the balance.
There were reports on Monday that a second group of around 300 migrants, inspired by the first caravan, have left San Salvador, the El Salvador capital, on foot headed for America.
Migrant caravan
Mr Trump will visit Pittsburgh on Tuesday to offer condolences to the Jewish community over the synagogue massacre.
Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary, called anti-Semitism a "plague on humanity" during a press briefing, her voice cracking with emotion at times.
She added: "We all have a duty to confront anti-Semitism in all its forms and anywhere and everywhere it appears."
Ms Sanders also robustly defended Mr Trump over criticism of his rhetoric in the wake of the episodes of violence in the last week and took swipes at the media.
“The very first action the president did was condemn these heinous acts. The very first thing that the media did was condemn the president,” she said.