MONDAY NEWS UPDATE (11/19): Staples Center security on alert for Enzo tonight, Konnan out of retirement, Chicago to host big WWE weekend in 2019, Undertaker & Kane rare appearance, Lesnar UFC prospects, WWE Twitter mistake

By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

Enzo (artist Joel Tesch © PWTorch)

SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...

If you attend a live event or have news tips for us, please send to pwtorch@pwtorch.com. Thanks!


-WWE announced today that Survivor Series weekend 2019 will take place in the home of the NFL North first place team Chicago Bears. This is the first major weekend when Smackdown is on Friday rather than Tuesday, so the big weekend begins Friday with a live Smackdown broadcast on Fox network, then NXT Takeover (on WWE Network), Survivor Series (on WWE Network), and finally Monday Night Raw (on USA Network).

-The performer known in WWE as Enzo Amore, legal name Eric Arndt, who now goes by Real1, appeared in the crowd at Survivor Series and stood on a chair and yelled his catch phrases. He was shortly thereafter yanked off the chair by security and dragged out of the arena. A fan caught it on camera.

-A source from Staples Center tells me that as a result of last night, every usher and security guard has been told to look for Enzo because he is officially banned from the Staples Center premises. They actually have pictures of him posted behind the scenes at Staples Center so security knows who they are looking for.

-MLW announced today that Konnan will come out of retirement as an active wrestler to take on Low Ki in a No DQ match for the MLW Title on Dec. 14 in Miami, Fla. at the Zero Hour event. Tickets available at MLWtickets.com.

-Is Brock Lesnar a tougher test for Daniel Cormier than Derrick Lewis? The MMATorch crew tackled that question regarding the current WWE Universal Champion, who will likely face Daniel Cormier in the first half of 2019 in a UFC PPV main event for Cormier’s UFC Heavyweight Title. MMATorch managing editor Mike Hiscoe writes: “There are so many question marks when it comes to Brock Lesnar. Lesnar’s wrestling credentials and ability are miles ahead of Derrick Lewis’. But at 41, how effective will his wrestling be? On top of that, Daniel Cormier’s wrestling credentials outrank those of Lesnar, so I don’t think it’s fair to say Lesnar will be able to out-grapple Cormier the way he did Mark Hunt.” Check out the rest of their thoughts HERE.


LISTEN TO PWTORCH’S “WRESTLING NIGHT IN AMERICA’S” POST-PPV PODCAST HOSTED BY GREG PARKS LAST NIGHT TAKING CALLS AND TALKING WITH ON-SITE CORRESPONDENT…

In this episode of Wrestling Night in America, PWTorch columnist Greg Parks breaks down, with callers, WWE Survivor Series from all angles. Included are calls on the final two matches and the emotion drawn from fans, Raw’s dominance over Smackdown, the lack of A.J. Styles, Dean Ambrose, and Randy Orton, plus an in-arena perspective from PWTorch.com contributor Frank Peteani, and more.

-On Tune In Radio HERE
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-Or search “PWTorch” or “Pro Wrestling Torch” on your podcast app of choice


-Undertaker and Kane will be making rare “Meet & Greet” appearance in Waynesboro, Va. on Apr. 13, 2019 at the Louis Spillman Auditorium from 1-4 p.m. They will sign autographs and take photos with fans. The event, being hosted by Awesome Appearances, will raise money for five-year-old Gracie Phillips who was diagnosed with Pediatric Liver Cancer. The press release states: “Both Undertaker and Kane will be in full character for this rare appearance.” A limited number of tickets are being sold for $250 each. With the cost of the ticket, fans will receive a professional photo op with them together in full character, an 11×17 “Brothers of Destruction” Poster, and a collector’s “Brothers of Destruction” meet and greet event t-shirt and lanyard. Extra personal autographs are also available. For more info, CLICK HERE.

-Someone in WWE’s social media department posted a Tweet this weekend and had to make a quick edit. It speaks for itself.

https://twitter.com/TheSheikh/status/1064363602197520384

-If WWE plans to run more live events in Saudi Arabia in coming years, the United States CIA conclusion regarding who ordered the strangulation murder of U.S. based Washington Post column and Saudi regime critic who spoke out against Saudi Arabia’s repression of free expression and free press in Saudi Arabia could complicate matters. Excerpts of the Washington Post article:

The CIA has concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul last month, contradicting the Saudi government’s claims that he was not involved in the killing, according to people familiar with the matter.

The CIA’s assessment, in which officials have said they have high confidence, is the most definitive to date linking Mohammed to the operation and complicates the Trump administration’s efforts to preserve its relationship with a close ally. A team of 15 Saudi agents flew to Istanbul on government aircraft in October and killed Khashoggi inside the Saudi Consulate, where he had gone to pick up documents that he needed for his planned marriage to a Turkish woman. …

In reaching its conclusions, the CIA examined multiple sources of intelligence, including a phone call that the prince’s brother Khalid bin Salman, the Saudi ambassador to the United States, had with Khashoggi, according to the people familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the intelligence. …

The CIA’s conclusion about Mohammed’s role was also based on the agency’s assessment of the prince as the country’s de facto ruler who oversees even minor affairs in the kingdom. “The accepted position is that there is no way this happened without him being aware or involved,” said a U.S. official familiar with the CIA’s conclusions. …

In addition to calls and audio recordings, CIA analysts also linked some members of the Saudi hit team directly to Mohammed himself. Some of the 15 members have served on his security team and traveled in the United States during visits by senior Saudi officials, including the crown prince, according to passport records reviewed by The Post.

-On the WWE Survivor Series Kickoff Show yesterday afternoon, a vignette aired announcing that Lars Sullivan (real name Dylan Miley) is debuting soon on the main roster. Lars has been an occasional main event wrestlers in NXT the last year after spend the last four years in NXT developmental. Check out Zack Heydorn’s PWTorch report HERE.


If you attend a live event or have news tips for us, please send to pwtorch@pwtorch.com. Thanks!


RELATED: WWE News: Next NXT PC class taking shape, wrestlers from MLW, Impact, ROH expected to report in January (w/Radican’s Analysis)

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