On December 29, the UFC will present UFC 155: Dos Santos vs Velasquez 2 live on pay-per-view from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The five-round fight for the UFC Heavyweight title will be the second between the two after Dos Santos defeated the then champion Cain Velasquez on the first ever UFC on FOX broadcast to give Velasquez his first MMA defeat as well as getting his hands on the UFC gold.
You can watch the full Countdown show to UFC 155 below.
Christmas holidays for the WWE Superstars and Divas are over and it’s back to non-televised live events starting today.
Between now and December 30 there will be 9 events, eight non-televised shows and one TV tapings with two shows each on the 26th, 27th, and 28th of December, RAW and Smackdown tapings on the 29th and then another two shows on the 30th.
The next show after the 30th will be on January 4.
The 20th anniversary of WWE’s Monday Night RAW will take place on January 14, 2013, at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
Just six months after the 1,000th episode of the WWE flagship show, the company will once again present a special broadcast to commemorate the milestone.
The last time WWE celebrated such milestone apart from the 1,000th episode was in December 2007 when they did the 15th anniversary show. During that show, several former WWE Divas and Superstars appeared including Sunny, Mae Young, Bastian Booger, Godfather, Pat Patterson, Gerald Brisco, Rob Van Dam, Hulk Hogan, Lita, Trish Stratus and a bunch of others who participated in a battle royal.
Oh you didn’t know? The Road Dogg and Bad Ass Billy Gunn will be reuniting for some action this week as the duo are booked to appear at three RAW non-televised events.
The former five time WWE tag team champions will be at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan, on December 26, at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York, on December 27, and then at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, on December 28.
Both Road Dogg and Billy Gunn work for WWE now with Road Dogg as a road agent and Gunn as a trainer down in Florida at NXT.
USA Network will air a new episode of Monday Night RAW tonight that is expected to have not so good viewership considering it is Christmas Eve.
The show will not be live and was taped this past Tuesday right after the live commercial-free Smackdown wrapped up.
Taped for tonight’s three hour show are Kane vs Cody Rhodes; Eve, Tamina, Aksana, and Rosa Mendes vs Layla, Kaitlyn, Natalya, and Alicia Fox; Sheamus vs Big Show in a lumberjack match; Zack Ryder vs David Otunga; The Miz and Kofi Kingston vs Antonio Cesaro and Wade Barrett; Brad Maddox vs Great Khali; Daniel Bryan vs Damien Sandow; The Usos, Justin Gabriel, Tyson Kidd, Santino, and Brodus Clay vs Tensai, 3MB, and Prime Time Players; John Cena vs Alberto Del Rio in a street fight.
This year’s Survivor Series registered almost 100,000 less buys than the show did last year according to the latest figures from the WWE corporate website.
Survivor Series 2011, which saw the return of The Rock to the ring, registered just over 310,000 buys and while that figure was somewhat disappointing considering it had Rock and Cena teaming up, it faired much better than this year.
With a main event of Punk vs Cena vs Ryback, this year’s Survivor Series so far has just around 212,000 buys worldwide, which isn’t the greatest news for one of the “big four” pay-per-views.
The Guardian newspaper has a story about celebrity Christmas wish lists and among those asked about what they wish for the holidays was Hulk Hogan.
The Hulkster wanted 4 things for Christmas – thirty years of his life, a 747 jet, a knee surgery, and hair!
Regarding getting back 30 years of his life back, he said he wouldn’t change anything and do all the things he’s done all over again including wrestling the same matches.
On the 747 plane, he said he’d like to get his private jet plane again however he doesn’t want a Learjet or anything small so he can take all his fellow wrestlers on board with him.
Hogan had several surgeries throughout his career but he needs one more, on his right knee, to get back in the ring/ “Then I’m going to go for the TNA world title. I want to be 58 years old and be the champion,” Hogan said.
Just a couple of months ago, Hulk Hogan opened up the Hulk Hogan Beach Shop in Clearwater, Florida, where tons of wrestling merchandise and memorabilia are up for sale and display.
Now the WWE Hall of Famer and TNA regular has announced his latest venture – a 20,000 square-foot indoor and outdoor restaurant and bar titled Hogan’s Beach, located at the Best Western Bay Harbor Hotel in Tampa, Florida.
Opening on New Year’s Eve, the new hotspot offers waterside dining, live outdoor entertainment, a mechanical shark ride, authentic tiki bars, a giant video screen on the beach, as well as indoor and beachfront dance floors.
“Everyone knows I’m a maniac about the beach, great food, good people and entertainment that brings everyone together for a good time,” said Hogan. “So I’m proud to open a place that encompasses all that in one location and call it my beach – Hogan’s Beach.”
Chef Robert Uzzillia, recently named among Restaurant Forum Magazineʼs “Annual Top Chefs,” is developing the food and beverage menu for this entirely new locale.
You can get more info at www.hogansbeachtampa.com.
The Superstars, Divas, and WWE crew are getting a few days off for the Christmas holidays, although not that much!
After the live Smackdown and RAW tapings ended on Tuesday night, everyone headed home and there are no shows planned until Wednesday, December 26.
On Boxing Day, there will be two shows, with RAW in Detroit and Smackdown in Chicago. On December 27, two more shows with RAW in New York and Smackdown in Green Bay. On Friday, yet another two shows as RAW hits Uniondale and Smackdown goes to Minneapolis.
There will be one show – TV tapings – on December 29 for both RAW and Smackdown in Washington, and then two final shows for 2012 on December 30, with Smackdown in Richmond, and RAW in Raleigh.
Business picks up again on January 4 with regular shows throughout the month as always.
“A reckoning is at hand.” At least that’s what the TNA 1/3/13 promo says and it was revealed during last night’s IMPACT that Sting is the one returning on that day.
The former WCW and TNA World Heavyweight champion has been off TNA television since the November 8 episode of IMPACT where he was taken out by Aces & Eights.
On that particular episode, the Stinger was put through a table and was then beaten up with a ball-peen hammer thanks to A&8 member Doc.
“Surprise. 13 13, unlucky number for you,” Sting says in the new promo. “Aces & Eights, I’m coming to get you. Doc, I’m coming for you. You first.”
You can see the promo below.
Sin Cara will be off WWE television for a while as he underwent knee surgery yesterday.
The masked WWE Superstar was on the receiving end of an attack by The Shield during the commercial-free Smackdown this past Tuesday as a way to explain his absence from television.
Before heading for surgery, which he called “mini,” Sin Cara tweeted a message saying thanks for all the support he has been receiving from his fans.
In 2011 he was injured after performing a dive out of the ring, rupturing his patellar tendon and he was on the sidelines for six months.
Do you smell what The Rock is cooking? Well you better do as starting from the first RAW of 2013, The Rock will be appearing quite regularly on WWE television.
With his Royal Rumble match, planned involvement at Elimination Chamber, and then at WrestleMania, it makes sense that the former WWE champion will be appearing regularly – although not full time – on WWE television.
The Rock has been confirmed to appear on the first RAW of 2013 in Tampa, Florida, and then the next night for the Smackdown tapings in his home town of Miami.
Other appearances already announced are the January 28, March 12 and March 26 RAW shows.
Las Vegas, Nevada – STRIKEFORCE welterweight champion and seasoned UFC veteran Nate Marquardt will defend his title against current number one contender Tarec Saffiedine on Saturday, Jan. 12 as STRIKEFORCE visits Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla. In the night’s co-main event, Oklahoma State University All-American wrestler and STRIKEFORCE Grand Prix heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier takes on kickboxing veteran Dion Staring. The event will air live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) as part of the premium network’s Free Preview Weekend whereby more than 80 million households nationwide will have access to SHOWTIME, SHOWTIME HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND and more.
This will mark the final STRIKEFORCE event on SHOWTIME.
“Since 2009, SHOWTIME has been a great partner and we appreciate its support of STRIKEFORCE and our athletes,” Scott Coker, STRIKEFORCE CEO, said. “For our final event, we’ve loaded the card with some outstanding fights. This is going to be a memorable night for the sport of mixed martial arts.”
“We are proud of our association with Scott Coker and the entire STRIKEFORCE team,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “From Gina Carano to Ronda Rousey, Fedor Emelianenko to Daniel Cormier, Nick Diaz to Gilbert Melendez, SHOWTIME Sports and STRIKEFORCE have built some of the biggest stars in the sport and have produced many of the most watched and most intriguing fights in the history of MMA. We look forward to another night of competitive and explosive STRIKEFORCE fights on SHOWTIME on January 12 in OKC.”
In addition to the main and co-main events, STRIKEFORCE will also feature the following matchups that include several past champions and many of the sports top prospects:
· Former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett meets Austrian powerhouse Nandor Guelmino
· Former light heavyweight champ Gegard Mousasi takes on the heavy-handed Mike Kyle
· Former middleweight champ “Jacare” Souza faces UFC star Ed Herman
· Top lightweight contender Pat Healy will be in action against an opponent yet to be determined
· Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Roger Gracie takes on talented striker Anthony Smith at middleweight
· U.S. Army Ranger Tim Kennedy vs. Trevor Smith in a fight involving top middleweights
· Elite kickboxer KJ Noons meets second-generation star Ryan Couture in a lightweight matchup
· Cincinnati’s Jorge Gurgel is set to battle Brazilian prospect Adriano Martins at lightweight
· At lightweight, winner of four straight Estevan Payan vs. Team Alpha Male’s Michael Bravo
STRIKEFORCE will air live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), while preliminary fights will be shown live on SHOWTIME EXTREME at 8 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on West Coast). Additional fights scheduled for the event are expected to be released shortly.
Tickets for STRIKEFORCE are on sale now and are priced at $150, $100, $70 and $50. Tickets are available at the Chesapeake Energy Arena box office, all Ticketmaster locations, at Ticketmaster.com or 1-800-745-3000. Applicable service charges may apply.
For more information or the latest STRIKEFORCE news, visit www.strikeforce.com. All bouts live and subject to change.
The live commercial-free edition of Smackdown last night on USA Network pulled in a 2.29 rating and a total of 3.33 million viewers.
The show pulled in around 25% more viewers from what the taped Smackdown last Friday night did just days before the TLC pay-per-view. The commercial-free aspect of the show usually helps with the ratings as it keeps viewers glued to the channel rather than switching to something else during commercials. (Ratings compiled by Nielsen Media Research and put online by PWInsider.com)
The U.S. Airways Center website is promoting a Royal Rumble Fan Fest event which will take place on Saturday, January 26, and Sunday, January 27. The event will be held on the U.S. Airways plaza on the corner of 1st Street & Jefferson.
Several WWE Superstars, Divas, and Legends will be appearing for meet and greet, and there will also be live matches and a tournament in which the winner will receive a spot in the Rumble. There will also be a Q&A session with three WWE Superstar panels discussing the Montreal Screwjob, DX, WCW Nitro, and the Monday Night Wars.
Fan fest tickets start at $10 and Superstar Panel tickets start at $90. A VIP package will run you $250 and will include all Superstar panels, cocktail hours and fan fest admission.
More info at usairwayscenter.com.
WWE’s video game publisher, THQ Inc., has filed for bankruptcy protection and Clearlake Capital Group secured an asset purchase agreement to finance the company. THQ will continue operating its business without interruption during the sale period, subject to Court approval of THQ’s first-day motions. All of the company’s studios remain open, and all development teams continue.
WWE issued a small statement saying that they are following the developments of THQ’s bankruptcy filing and proposed sale.
THQ has held the license of WWE for video games for around a decade and the WWE games have been some of the best selling for the company. At one point they also held the UFC license which recently was sold to their competitors Electronic Arts.
The first RAW of 2013 will feature a big main event for the WWE title as CM Punk defends his gold against number one contender Ryback.
The match was announced during the special live Smackdown yesterday on USA Network and a stipulation to the match between the two was added when WWE taped next week’s Christmas Eve RAW right after Smackdown ended.
Ryback and Punk had to wrestle in the main event of the TLC pay-per-view but CM Punk’s immediate knee surgery prevented the match from happening. The first RAW of 2013 will be held on January 7 at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida.
The first trailer for the Dwayne Johnson and Mark Wahlberg movie Pain & Gain from director Michael Bay has finally made its way online.
The action/comedy movie is based on a true story about a couple of Florida bodybuilders who become criminals involved in an extortion ring and a kidnapping plot that goes horrible. It follows the 1999 series of the Miami New Times articles written by a journalist who followed the whole story.
Joining The Rock and Mark Wahlberg in this movie are Ed Harris, Jennifer Nicole Lee, Rob Corddry, Tony Shalhoub, and others. The $22 million budget movie will be released in the United States on April 26.
You can see it below.
USA Network will air the 10th annual of Tribute to the Troops tonight starting at 9PM EST as part of WWE Week on USA.
The show was taped two weeks ago at The Scope in Norfolk, Virginia, in front of thousands of U.S. military personnel and their families.
Matches taped for tonight include Sin Cara, Khali, Brodus Clay, and Hornswoggle vs Epico, Primo, David Otunga, and Tensai; Eve Torres vs Layla, Ryback vs Alberto Del Rio, Damien Sandow vs The Miz, 3MB vs Kane, Daniel Bryan, and R-Truth, Sheamus and Randy Orton vs Big Show and Dolph Ziggler, and John Cena vs Antonio Cesaro. There will also be a segment of Miz TV and musical performances by Flo Rida and Kid Rock.
Footage from WWE’s trip overseas visiting the troops aboard the USS John C. Stennis aircraft carrier and the several meet and greet the Superstars and Divas did over the three days among the military members in Virginia will also be airing.
NBC will be showing a modified one hour version of Tribute to the Troops this coming Saturday.
