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Tony Khan Announces Match With Casino Gauntlet Stakes, Joe Hendry Headed To Jericho Cruise | Fight Size

Wrestling WWE
Robert DeFelice Jan 1, 2025 6:00PM

Here is your fight size update for Wednesday, January 1, 2025.

Below are the top highlights from the day, the best digital exclusives from around the world of wrestling, and top headlines.

AEW Collision Preview, Start Time, How To Watch (1/4): Rated FTR vs. Learning Tree, Two Title Bouts

- Tony Khan announced that on the January 8th episode of AEW Dynamite, a Casino Gauntlet will take place. Now, it's been announced that on tonight's episode of AEW Dynamite, which will be the first episode simulcast on Max, Roderick Strong, Jay White, and Swerve Strickland will compete in a match to determine who will enter the match next week at the number one spot:

- The new year brings new opportunities for WWE ID prospects and two WWE ID showcase matches have been signed for the upcoming FIP event on January 12 in Clearwater, Florida. Freedom Ramsey will take on Bryce Donovan and Sean Legacy will take on Gal Barkay at FIP Everything Burns:

- Joe Hendry has been booked for the upcoming Chris Jericho Cruise. The cruise will set sail on February 2, the day after the WWE Royal Rumble event in Indianapolis:

- ICYMI: Baron Corbin has confirmed he is now a free agent.

- ICYMI: Fightful Select reported that "Speedball" Mike Bailey is also a free agent now and is expected to join AEW imminently.

- Michin and Natalya wrestled on WWE Speed and both women took the time to react to the first time match:

- Adam Copeland is ready for AEW Dynamite: Fight For The Fallen:

- ICYMI: Saturday night's alright for fighting again - AEW Bringing Back Elton John Song As AEW Collision Theme

- Omos is now GHC Tag Team Champion in NOAH and he says he understands now:

- Masked Republic issued the following:

Comic book podcast and website collective Nerd Initiative announced the winners of their prestigious fan-voted annual awards last night and up against some incredibly popular competition from the world's largest comic book publishers, Masked Republic Comics and Massive Publishing's Vampiro: Rockabilly Apocalypse #1 stunned the comic world taking home the award for "Best Debut Issue."

The star-studded livestream included acceptance speeches from Patton Oswalt & Jordan Blum on behalf of their series Minor Threats (Dark Horse) and Josh Gad on behalf of his series The Writer (Dark Horse) as the two comics tied for Best Limited/Mini Series.

Vampiro: Rockabilly Apocalypse debuted in October to rave reviews. Critic scores average above 9.0 for all three of the monthly issues in comic shops now with issue four hitting shelves on January 29th. But, even the praise of fans and critics didn't guarantee the series centered around lucha libre legend Vampiro the top spot in this immensely deep field.

The other nominees for Best Debut issue included: Marvel Comics' Phoenix #1, Uncanny X-Men #1 and Storm #1, DC Comics' Absolute Batman #1 (which won Best DC Comics Series), Absolute Wonder Woman #1, and Black Canary: Best of the Best #1

Exodus #1 IDW Publishing's TMNT #1 and Monster High: New Scaremester #1
Dark Horse Comics' Kill All Immortals #1 DSTLRY's Life #1 and Clover Press' Armored #1 (which won Best Kickstarter)

"Shocking the world!" Mickey Smith, Nerd Initiative host said on the livecast as the results were revealed. Ken Maney, Nerd Initiative Editor-In-Chief, added "This may be a big upset for some of the fans (but)...Vampiro, if you haven't checked it out, is absolutely amazing."

The action-horror series was co-created by Masked Republic's Kevin Kleinrock and series writer Michael Kingston with art by El Terrorifico Dr. Napalm (Martin Pouso) and lettering and layout by Jacob Bascle. It is published by Massive Publishing as part of their Masked Republic Comics imprint. Earlier this month, it was announced that Masked Republic and Trioscope Studios had formed a pact to develop the series for television.

Masked Republic Comics had two additional nominations in the award balloting. Michael Kingston was nominated for Best Writer for his work on the Vampiro: Rockabilly Apocalypse series and Luchaverse: Catalyst was nominated for Best Event. Massive Publishing was nominated for Best Publisher as well.

- John Cena explained on social media why love not being logical is why he loves love:

- ICYMI: Adam Copeland Says He's Been Cleared For Three Months

- Mlive wrote a piece about Clayton Tomczyk, a WWE physical therapist. Check it out here.

For the latest piece of long-form content from the WWE Vault YouTube channel, The Undertaker's career is covered. The latest playlist features the years with which he took on some of WWE's most monstrous competitors like Kamala and Yokozuna:

- Johnny Gargano vs. Shingo Takagi? The WWE Vault has that:

- Love Pro Wrestling is slated to debut in Calgary this year:

LPW CALGARY: PRESS START features the Calgary returns of VIKTOR, Zoë Sager, Michael Richard Blais, and more.

CALGARY, AB: Press Start, Calgary!

Love Pro Wrestling has officially announced their highly-anticipated debut in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. On March 7th, 2025, LPW will host PRESS START live in the Chrome Showroom at the Deerfoot Inn & Casino.

"2024 saw us make history at Rogers Place and West Edmonton Mall. It only makes sense we come to one of wrestling's historically great cities for the first time in 2025!" said LPW president Spencer Love. "We're honoured to get the opportunity to debut in Calgary, and to work with the Deerfoot Casino to bring our own unique brand of professional wrestling to one of our industry's iconic cities.”

Since 2021, LPW has been a cornerstone of Canada’s independent wrestling scene, known for high-energy shows, unique collaborations, and community involvement. Last year, Love Pro Wrestling became the first promotion to run events at Rogers Place and West Edmonton Mall's Ice Palace, earning Alberta renewed attention as one of professional wrestling's premier destinations.

Already announced for the event is a dream matchup between Calgary's own Michael Richard Blais facing off with former WWE star and Stampede Wrestling's own VIKTOR. The matchup marks VIKTOR's return to Calgary for the first time since 2015. The event will also feature LPW Grand Champion Marz the Specialist, GCW star Allie Katch, WWE ID prospect Zoë Sager, and the highly-anticipated returns of Calgary's own Steven Crowe and "The Thickness" Reid Matthews.

Tickets for LPW CALGARY: PRESS START are now available through TIXR (tixr.com/lovewrestling). LPW Season Pass holders will also receive complimentary entry to PRESS START.

For more information on LPW's debut in Calgary, please contact Love Pro Wrestling president Spencer Love ([email protected])

About Love Pro Wrestling

Since launching as a content brand in January 2021, Love Pro Wrestling has grown to become one of Canada’s premier professional wrestling promotions. In combining content creation with critically acclaimed live professional wrestling events, LPW has combined high-octane in-ring action with an inclusive environment outside of the squared circle. Love Pro Wrestling has brought attention to the Albertan professional wrestling scene through working with some of the world’s most reputable content creators, as well as some of the industry’s most well-known performers (Chelsea Green, Speedball Mike Bailey, Willow Nightingale, and more).

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