Daily Update: Big E, WrestleMania pre-shows, Control Your Narrative
Daily Update
Latest News:
- WWE NXT ratings up coming off Dolph Ziggler title win
- Finn Balor missed WWE Royal Rumble due to work visa renewal
- The Hardys to make AEW in-ring debut on Dynamite: St. Patrick’s Day Slam
- Jay Briscoe apologizes again for homophobic tweets in 2013
- Joey Janela says he’s not interested in re-signing with AEW
- AEW’s William Regal opens up about past serious health issues, emergency heart surgery
Latest Audio:
- Wrestling Observer Live: AEW tonight, RAW and NXT 2.0 reviews, Jay Briscoe, Regal on TIJ, more!
- Bryan & Vinny & Craig & Granny Show with the RAW 14 review and a surprise!
- Speak Now: NXT 2.0 show recap
Latest Free YouTube Video:
This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter: More on Tony Khan & ROH, AEW Revolution review
This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter: February 7, 2005 Observer Newsletter: Royal Rumble review, business year in review
Ordering Info: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to dave@wrestlingobserver.com or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
Wednesday News Update
WWE
- Big E posted a tweet today thanking everyone for the love he’s received after suffering a broken neck: “I used to endure difficult things in my life and I felt very alone. But I feel so immeasurably loved and supported. I was not prepared for the sheer volume of DMs, calls, texts, visits, etc. I’ll never be able to adequately thank you all.”
- A banner on WWE’s YouTube channel lists that the pre-shows for each night of WrestleMania 38 will begin at 6 p.m. Eastern time. The main cards will start at 8 p.m. Eastern. The two-night event is taking place on Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3.
- Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey are among the wrestlers featured on WWE’s advertising for July’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view. Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas is hosting the PPV on Saturday, July 2.
- Steve Austin appeared on the Rich Eisen Show today.
- Kevin Owens, Alpha Academy, and Tamina were guests on WWE’s The Bump this morning.
- WWE’s YouTube channel uploaded Steve Austin vs. The Rock from WrestleMania XIX, the segment with Austin, Rock, and Hulk Hogan from WrestleMania 30, and a segment from the March 7, 2011 episode of Raw where Austin named himself as the guest referee for Michael Cole vs. Jerry Lawler at WrestleMania XXVII.
Other Wrestling
- In his post-match comments after losing to Tetsuya Naito in the New Japan Cup yesterday, Hiroshi Tanahashi referenced Scott Hall telling him a long time ago that he was the future. Tanahashi said those words motivated him a lot.
- Kevin Nash wrote about Hall’s passing: “You never realize how much you love someone until you can’t.”
- Bret Hart announced the passing of his niece Tanya Hart: “It’s heartbreaking for the entire Hart Family to learn of the sudden passing of my niece Tanya Hart. Of all the Hart grandchildren, nobody had to deal with a troubled life more than her. Tanya’s mother passed away when she was too young to understand. My late brother Smith had many failings as a man, but being a father was his biggest failure despite how hard he tried. I know that every family member always filled in as best they could with love and kindness, but it would never be enough. Tanya never really found a path to happiness, and losing her weighs heavily on us. We did our best, but it was never enough for this sweet, troubled girl. We will live with all our fond memories with her sweet smile, her love of cats and her calmness in so many storms. She had a difficult life from the very start, and every day was a struggle, but she’s free and at peace finally. Love is all around her now. She will be missed more than she’ll ever know.”
- A “tell-all interview” with Jeff Hardy will be featured on this Friday’s episode of the Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast. Jeff will discuss his AEW debut, WWE departure, and his run with Matt Hardy as Brother Nero.
- AEW announced its updated roster rankings.
- Brandon F. Walker of Barstool Sports’ Rasslin’ podcast interviewed The Acclaimed.
- EC3 announced the rules and regulations for his Control Your Narrative promotion:
- 1st rule: You are in control.
- 2nd rule: YOU ARE IN CONTROL!
- 3rd rule: Fights end when you tap out, get knocked out, can’t stand, or quit. Sanctioned ‘matches’ can end via pin fall.
- 4th rule: Standard ‘professional wrestling’ rules apply for sanctioned ‘matches.’ Chaos ensues in the PROJECT PIT.
- 5th rule: No #Superkicks. No #TopeSuicidas. No #CanadianDestroyers.
- 6th rule: The fight isn’t with your opponent. It is with yourself.
- 7th rule: Fights will go on as long as they have too. Sanctioned ‘matches’ HIT THEIR TIMES.
- 8th rule: If you want to #ControlYourNarrative, you have to fight.
- After it was pointed out that he donated to Drake Wuertz’s political campaign, Biff Busick wrote that he doesn’t support QAnon and thought that he was just lending money to Wuertz: “A wrestling news site article was brought to my attention online. I am not a political person. I do not support Qanon or their beliefs. I thought I was just lending money and I did not knowingly donate to Drake’s campaign. I know how ppl with those beliefs can hurt people and I don’t want to do that to anyone.”
- MLW announced that it will be launching a podcast “taking fans behind the curtains” of the promotion.