Daily Update: Braun Strowman, All In, Impact vs. LU

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​F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Recapping Elimination Chamber and the Reigns-Strowman decision

What had been expected for nearly a year became official on Sunday night as Brock Lesnar defending the Universal Championship against Roman Reigns was announced for WrestleMania 34. Reigns defeated Braun Strowman, Seth Rollins, Finn Balor, John Cena, Elias, and The Miz in the main event of the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view to set up him challenging Lesnar at WrestleMania. The match came down to Reigns and Strowman, with Reigns finally putting him down with two spears.

WON NEWSLETTER: March 12, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Build to Wrestlemania, Bullet Club All In location, more

An updated look at WrestleMania, explaining the booking of Braun Strowman, the Brock Lesnar angle and plans for John Cena and Ronda Rousey are all in the headline story of this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Look at the story behind the Reigns promo, the goal of the promo, what is and isn’t reality about Lesnar, when Lesnar returns, Lesnar’s talks with UFC and his decision making right now and a reality check when we look back three years ago.

Also look at the John Cena interview, Undertaker, Rey Mysterio Jr., how the Rousey angle has gone so far, what the TV ratings said about Rousey’s debut, women’s title plans, as well as the rest of the WrestleMania and Fast Lane show.

Check out the Strowman situation for WrestleMania, flaws in the Elimination Chamber booking as well as full coverage of the show, with match-by-match rundowns with star ratings and poll results on the show.

Find out about Jon Jones’ hearing before the California State Athletic Commission and what it means, as well as the completely befuddling remarks made prior to the hearing.

Look at what may be a WWE drug scandal with the tease of 15 names being involved including one who purchased $140,000 worth of substances. Read the claims out there and teases of what else will be released. Find out about the realities of drug testing and the changing pro wrestling business from when the death rate was so high.

Look at what talent WWE is interested in, WWE signing a deal to do events in Saudi Arabia, lots of news regarding the concussion lawsuits filed against WWE, what happened in a deposition that went badly for the plaintiff in one of those suits, more on Ronda Rousey training, Chris Jericho’s 2018 schedule, why Apollo Crews’ last name was dropped and the Dusty Rhodes tag team tournament.

Examine the secondary market in New Orleans for WWE events, update on a deal to bring WWE into a 100,000 seat stadium this fall, Ric Flair becoming a celebrity in Latin America, UFC talent at WWE event and why they weren’t identified, Bianca Belair injury update, WWE headed to Japan and the most-watched shows on WWE.

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TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • Big E & Jimmy Uso vs. The Bludgeon Brothers has been added to the lineup for tonight’s SmackDown, with the storyline being that Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston, and Jey Uso aren’t cleared to compete after Harper and Rowan’s attack at Fastlane.
  • Charlotte Flair & Bobby Roode vs. Lana & Rusev is this week’s Mixed Match Challenge match. The winning team will face the winners of a second-chance fan vote in the semifinals.
  • The semifinals of the Cruiserweight Championship tournament will begin on 205 Live tonight as Cedric Alexander faces Roderick Strong.
  • Braun Strowman won a number one contender’s tag team battle royal by himself on Raw last night for the right to challenge Cesaro & Sheamus at WrestleMania. Whether Strowman will have a partner or if it will be a handicap match hasn’t been announced yet.
  • Kevin Owens tweeted about Shane McMahon being shown backstage when Roman Reigns confronted Vince McMahon on Raw: “Glad to see our #SDLive commissioner has his priorities in order. His crew is at a live event in Dayton, yet he’s sitting by daddy at #Raw in Detroit. Lovely!” Owens also mentioned Shane being at Raw instead of at SmackDown’s event in Dayton at last night’s house show.
  • Mad Maxine, who got her start in wrestling through the Fabulous Moolah, issued a statement to Pro Wrestling Sheet about WWE announcing the Fabulous Moolah Memorial Battle Royal for WrestleMania. In the statement, she writes about how Moolah treated women that she trained: “The Fabulous Moolah was a real-life heel. A lot of women paid to train at her school and then went out on the road. They risked life and limb in their matches and she repaid them with the worst kinds of abuses. She skimmed their money, she ignored women who were badly hurt, she pimped women out to creepy men and on and on.”
  • Ronda Rousey discussed crossing over from mixed martial arts to pro wrestling while appearing on “The Ellen Show.”
  • The Bellas, Alicia Fox, and Carmella will be appearing on season two of TBS’ “Drop The Mic” rap battle series. They’ll be competing against Kate Nash, Jackie Tohn, Sunita Mani, and Britney Young, who are actresses from Netflix’s “GLOW” series.
  • Today was Tamina’s last day in an arm sling as she recovers from shoulder surgery.
  • Mike Kanellis thanked everyone who has supported him as he reached eight months sober: “As I sit here before #SDLive I feel the need to thank all the @WWEUniverse and all my fans before I got here, who have,over the last 8 months, tweeted me their encouragement and support. If you guys want to know what keeps me going, it’s you guys!! Thank You #WWE @WWE”
  • WWE uploaded the new opening video for Raw.
  • Triple H spoke to Robert Morris University’s Survey of WWE class via video.
  • Sonya Deville was the guest on this week’s episode of “Chasing Glory” with Lilian Garcia.

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