The final WWE SmackDown of 2019 will take place tonight from the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
WWE has a new United States Champion after tonight’s live event in Madison Square Garden.
Rey Mysterio defended the US title on Thursday night at the legendary venue in a match against Andrade. The finish of the match saw Andrade reverse a top rope splash, then hit his Hammerlock DDT finisher to clench the victory.
This is the first title win for Andrade since moving from NXT in April 2018.
The 30-year-old wrestler previously held the NXT Championship one-time, defeating Drew McIntyre for the belt in 2017, and held the title for 140 days.
Watch fan shot video of the title win during tonight’s MSG event below.
https://twitter.com/c_xx_vii/status/1210371946552209409
WWE confirmed the title change with an announcement on their website, seen below. It was noted that Andrade received tonight’s title shot due to his Gauntlet Match win on the December 16 RAW episode. As noted, that match ended with no clear winner after Andrade destroyed Humberto Carrillo on the outside of the ring. The other participants in the Gauntlet were Akira Tozawa, WWE 24/7 Champion R-Truth, Matt Hardy, and Ricochet. WWE has not mentioned any potential title shot for Andrade until tonight’s match at MSG, and Rey even defended the title against Seth Rollins on this week’s RAW.
Andrade captures U.S. Title by defeating Rey Mysterio at Madison Square Garden
Andrade claimed the U.S. Title with a victory over Rey Mysterio at a WWE Live! event at Madison Square Garden.
The former NXT Champion now begins his first reign as a United States Champion by defeating one of WWE’s most decorated Superstars. Andrade earned the title opportunity after claiming a brutal Gauntlet Match win besting Humberto Carrillo.
Catch the newly crowned U.S. Champion on Monday Night Raw at 8/7 C on the USA Network.
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1210383122078093312
Sources: WWE, Pro Wrestling Sheet and Wrestling Inc.
NJPW’s relationship with AXS TV appears to have come to an end, as New Japan announced a surprising update in regards to their television plans in 2020.
The company’s NJPW Global account tweeted the following late Thursday night:
“In response to US fan queries, There are currently no plans for TV broadcast of NJPW events in 2020 (WK14 included) in the US.
Thank you for joining us on TV so far. We invite you to join [NJPW World] for all the action in 2020, LIVE and in English!”
NJPW first started airing on AXS TV in 2014. The shows featured older matches dubbed with English commentary. The network also aired specials for the promotion’s big events, but that seemed to decrease as of late. As you may recall, Impact Wrestling’s parent company Anthem purchased a majority interest in AXS TV earlier this year.
No official comment has been released from AXS TV at this time.
Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet
All Elite Wrestling has confirmed their annual records will be reset every year, and in a new post they also clarified how things will work going forward.
AEW delivered the news via social media and explained the promotion’s win/loss records will reset on January 1st each calendar year.
The tweet further detailed that career records for wrestlers in AEW will be cumulative, meaning that career stats will reflect total wins and losses, but the annual stats will give wrestlers a chance at a clean slate by refreshing every year.
AEW also says the “annual records will be increasingly important as the new calendar year continues.”
WWE has confirmed that Paige will host the Top 10 Matches of 2019 special this coming Monday on the WWE Network. The special will premiere at 3:25pm ET. Below is the full announcement:
WWE’s Top 10 Matches of 2019 streaming on WWE Network this Monday before RawThe past year featured some of the most incredible matches and unbelievable moments to ever happen in a WWE ring. This Monday before Raw, you’ll have the chance to relive 2019’s 10 best and most jaw-dropping bouts in their entirety on WWE’s Top 10 Matches of 2019, exclusively on WWE Network.
Join two-time Divas Champion and WWE Backstage co-host Paige as she counts down the year’s 10 greatest matches, as selected by the editors of WWE.com.
Find out which matchup snagged the No. 1 spot in this must-see countdown special, beginning Monday at 3:25 p.m. ET, only on WWE Network.
Tonight’s WWE RAW episode on the USA Network was taped last Monday at the Wells Fargo Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
NWA announced on Twitter yesterday that they will be uploading this week’s NWA Powerrr 24 hours earlier.
Episode 11 will be uploaded today, Monday, December 23 at 6:05 p.m. EST on NWA’s YouTube channel.
The second season of NWA Powerrr kicked off last Tuesday with Eli Drake defeating Ken Anderson in the main event.
Below is NWA’s announcement:
https://twitter.com/nwa/status/1208856193185267713
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Despite appearing for both ROH and NWA last week, Marty Scurll is currently a free agent, according to the latest edition of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Scurll is one of several ROH stars whose contracts were expiring, along with Jeff Cobb, Bandido, Brody King, Tracy Williams and Shane Taylor. While it’s not clear what the status is for any of those talents, it appears as if Scurll will be working for both ROH and NWA for the near future.
Scurll, whose ROH contract expired in November, owns the rights to Villain Enterprises, and the group was victorious in the main event of the ROH Final Battle Fallout tapings last week. It also appears that Scurll will be facing Nick Aldis in the main event of the next NWA pay-per-view in January.
It was noted in the Observer that Scurll is also booked for another date that’s not for either NWA or ROH, however that spot is being kept quiet.
A lot of people had expected Scurll to sign with AEW, as he is close with the top stars of the promotion and had been subtly referenced on a recent episode of Being The Elite. AEW EVP Cody Rhodes was recently asked about Scurll possibly joining the company in an interview with talkSport.
“Marty is going to do what Marty is going to do,” Cody said. “We all love Marty. Anything he does in the next few weeks or months, I wouldn’t look at as permanent for him. He’s very much testing the waters here and there and that’s pretty much all I can say on Marty.”
Stay tuned for updates on Scurll’s status.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
FOX is ringing in 2020 with the help of Roman Reigns, as “The Big Dog” will be featured in a match during their New Year’s Eve special hosted by Steve Harvey in Times Square.
According to Deadline, Maria Menounos and Rob Gronkowski will co-host the evening set to include a live performance by The Village People while a group of people attempt to set the world record for largest YMCA dance.
The report says also says the evening will “feature a WWE match with Roman Reigns,” but it’s not specificied if it will be taped, an older match or if Reigns will be wrestling during the show.
Additional performers include LL Cool J, DJ Z-Trip, The Chainsmokers, The Lumineers, Florida Georgia Line, Backstreet Boys, Tyga and The Killers. Gordon Ramsay, Will Arnett and Jenna Dewan will also make appearances on the show.
New Year’s Eve on FOX kicks off at 8pm ET.
Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet
A double main event headlines this week’s Fusion featuring two major Opera Cup opening round bouts… but what is Tom Lawlor up to?
“Filthy” Tom Lawlor has a special announcement, but will he have to contend with Ross Von Erich? After being betrayed by his former friend, Ross looks to avenge his brother’s attacker and get payback on traitor Tom Lawlor.
Will Lawlor be able to elude Ross, or will he come face to face with some Texas justice?
A dream match is featured in the main event as the opening round of the Opera Cup comes to a close. For the first-time ever Low Ki fights Davey Boy Smith Jr.
The “Lone Wolf of Brooklyn” Low Ki has made it his goal to claim the prestigious Opera Cup and he has the credentials to be an instant favorite to go all the way. A former World Heavyweight Champion, Low Ki is the rare athlete who can match Davey Boy Smith’s striking skills, grappling and submission skills.
Standing in Low Ki’s way is the man whose grandfather last won the Opera Cup in 1948: Davey Boy Smith Jr. Smith along with the Hart family have donated the family heirloom to the league and has revived the historic Opera Cup tournament to celebrate the sport’s history and reintroduce the coveted cup.
Fighting for his family’s legacy and the coveted Opera Cup trophy, Smith promises to match Low Ki hold for hold, move for move and strike for strike as the two strong style combatants collide.
The return of the Opera Cup tournament after a 71-year hiatus continues in another opening round bout.
In a match no one expected, MLW matchmakers and the Hart/Smith family have selected MJF and National Openweight Champion Alex Hammerstone for an opening round Opera Cup match.
For the first-time ever the Dynasty will clash as the Burberry wearing New York loudmouth MJF wrestles his fellow Dynasty team member and reigning National Openweight Champion Alex Hammerstone in a match that could forever alter the relationship between the two elitists.
All week Richard Holliday and his father/lawyer have attempted to derail the Opera Cup match. MLW ultimately prevailed with the Hart family getting their wish of having the Dynasty fight each other in the historic opening round of the Opera Cup.
The Phoenix powerhouse has been stacking wins since marching into MLW earlier this year. Defeating the Hart Foundation and collecting the National Openweight Championship has put Alex Hammerstone in the rarified air as one of the most dominant forces in MLW.
MJF, who has been in the league for 2 years has enjoyed a reign as both the World Middleweight Champion and as World Tag Team Champions with fellow Dynasty member Richard Holliday. MJF has been a fierce challenger since joining the league in October 2017.
With Holliday, Hammerstone and MJF forming the Dynasty in the spring, the trio of elitists have been virtually unstoppable while entangled in a bitter feud with the Hart Foundation. Now, the Hart/Smith family may have the last laugh, given their influence on matchmaking for the Opera Cup.
Will the Dynasty crumble? Will the Dynasty endure and take home the Opera Cup? Find out on this week’s FUSION.
After the off-camera chaos a few weeks ago, Jimmy Havoc clashes with rival Mance Warner in a Prince of Darkness match. What happens when Ol Mancer and England’s Most Dangerous man are cloaked in hoods and must rely on their instincts to defeat the other? Tune in to find out!
Join Rich Bocchini and AJ Kirsch from the Melrose Ballroom in New York City for a night of top ranked action.
Matches:
