December 1, 2003 Observer Newsletter: Japan’s New Years Eve schedule, death of Dick Hutton
The TV schedule for New Year’s Eve in Japan at this point looks to be the K-1 show on TBS from 9-11:30 p.m., the Inoki show on NTV from 8-11:15 p.m. and the Pride show on Fuji Network from 6:30-11:30 p.m. as a five hour special. As things stand right now, none of the shows are scheduled to air in the U.S. as the next Pride PPV dates are 12/21 (tape of the 10/5 show headlined by Mirko Cro Cop vs. Dos Caras Jr.) and 2/8 (tape of the 2/1 show at Osaka Castle Hall tentatively featuring a return world heavyweight title match with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Fedor Emelianenko, which won’t air same day because of the Super Bowl).
The Inoki Bom Ba Ye show from Kobe Wings Stadium announced a Mirko Cro Cop vs. Yoshihiro Takayama main event, as was expected. The feeling in Japan is this will be an entertaining homicide since Takayama can take a punch, and his face swells up impressively with each shot.
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Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.