Daily Update: Corbin vs. Elias, Jeff Hardy theme music, Dana White

DAILY UPDATE

Latest News:

Latest Audio:

Are you interested in attending our annual F4W/WON convention? We will hold it during AEW Double or Nothing weekend. For more information, check this post for activities and prices.

WON NEWSLETTER: Sweeping changes due to the coronavirus Dave Meltzer looks at how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting pro wrestling and MMA.

A detailed look at how the pro wrestling and MMA industry has changed in just one week is the subject of our in-depth lead story.

We cover:

Steps taken, made, executed, and constantly changed, from WWE, UFC, AEW and every other company. 

Which companies can afford the lockdown the best, and which companies are threatened the most.

WWE, why they chose to do WrestleMania now on tape, why the move made little sense. 

Why UFC was forced to shut down shows and the steps they took to avoid it.

What AEW said and what it actually meant. 

The dangers from doctors on doing shows right now. 

Latest ideas for WrestleMania, revenue lost by not doing the show now, just how fast decisions were changing, pro wrestling vs. MMA in an empty arena, styles vs. styles in an empty arena, what does and doesn’t work, ideas to make the show more entertaining, what is and isn’t finalized for WrestleMania, and update on other planned WWE events.

We also cover:

WWE training, who were brought to the WWE & AEW taping, what was said to those working there, Dana White’s memo to the staff, why UFC had it harder to keep shows going than pro wrestling, UFC’s economic realities, different reactions of talent about shows continuing, new dates for major shows, next shows on UFC schedule, ESPN plans, Japanese government reaction, updates on Japanese shows, XFL ending the season, how the first season leaves the XFL in its quest to make it, Bellator’s reaction, MLW’s reaction, Impact’s reaction, NWA’s reaction, Independent shows, WrestleCon, U.K. groups, Mexico and other U.S. indies.

AEW’s live television show, the in and out of character remarks, Cody and Tony Khan’ reactions, and show things were handled 

A look at the career of Jushin Liger, his historical status, his early career, his becoming the best wrestler in the world, his debut with the character, who was first pegged for the role, his debut with the gimmick, his U.S. arrival in WCW, his one MMA fight, and his list of credentials.

Why WWE stock hasn’t collapsed, Shane McMahon’s income, Michelle Wilson and George Barrios’ severance packages, update on The Revival, WWE threatens small group on a frivolous case, WWE legend selling his home, last several weeks of Canadian TV ratings, Jerry Lawler talks empty arena matches, latest WWE tryout, Sonya Deville talks storyline she wanted, as well as the most-watched shows of the past week on the WWE Network.

Full coverage of the UFC’s empty arena show in Brasilia, Brazil with the stories coming out of the show and match-by-match coverage.

A feature on the worst weekend in the history of the business when Chris Benoit murdered his wife and son.  We look at the Reelz television show that just came out covering the crime as well as a look at the Viceland story coming this week.  We talk about different theories, the death of Eddy Guerrero, CTE, steroids, xanax and more, WWE reaction, drug testing questions and problems and much more.

Regarding the Wednesday numbers, we’ve got full details, demos that each side won, how every segment did and what match ended up as the difference maker. 

Full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.

In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.

Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week. 

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.

SATURDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • Baron Corbin vs. Elias is all but officially announced for WrestleMania 36. They were involved in a segment with Rob Gronkowski and Mojo Rawley on SmackDown last night, with Gronkowski saying he can’t make matches as the host of WrestleMania but will advise for Corbin vs. Elias to happen.
  • On WWE’s The Bump yesterday, Jeff Hardy confirmed that he’s going to be returning to having “No More Words” as his entrance music. The song first debuted as Hardy’s entrance music in 2008.
  • An “I Wasn’t There” T-shirt for WrestleMania 36 is now available on WWE Shop. WWE Shop tweeted: “WrestleMania 36 will be historic event in #WWE history, and you won’t be there! Declare to the world that you did your part and stayed home with a new ‘I Wasn’t There’ tee at #WWEShop.”
  • WWE Shop also released their first set of Rob Gronkowski merchandise.
  • WWE’s YouTube channel uploaded Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair from WrestleMania XXIV and Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair from Survivor Series 2018.

Other Wrestling

  • Marty Scurll spoke to WrestleTalk about why he stayed with ROH instead of signing with AEW: “I’m sure most expected me to go to AEW, and of course, Matt & Nick (The Young Bucks) are two of my best friends in the whole entire world. I love them and I love what they are doing. I’m very proud of them. When it came to my decision though, I, like them, had my own vision, my own dreams, and the opportunity to create a promotion in my own vision was something I always wanted and couldn’t turn down. I’ve been wrestling for a long time and it was time to do something new and set a new challenge for myself. ROH have always been amazing to me, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to be more involved. They have the trust in me, and it really gives me the chance to be creative, which I’ve always enjoyed more than anything. I have great relationships with Tony, Cody and Kenny, and it’s cool that we’re all doing our own things and making a splash in the wrestling world.”
  • NJPW has made Wrestle Kingdom 14 night one from January 4 available to watch for free on New Japan World.
  • Impact’s YouTube channel added their full Lockdown PPV from 2005.
  • Matt Hardy discussed his decision to join AEW on the latest episode of Talk is Jericho.
  • Joey Janela and Jimmy Lloyd had a “social distancing match” at last night’s Acid Cup show for Game Changer Wrestling.

MMA

  • Dana White insulted the MMA media for criticizing how the UFC is handling the coronavirus pandemic: “Go online and look at some of these people — and this isn’t a knock, this is just a fact — the weakest, wimpiest people on Earth cover the biggest, baddest sport on Earth. What do you expect them to say? What do you think they’re going to say?I have over 350 employees who work for me. Multi-billion dollar companies are laying off all their employees right now. We haven’t laid off one person at the UFC. Every fighter that fights for me, will fight three times this year. Our schedule will go on. Everybody’s going to get paid. We will figure this out and we will be the first sport back on and f*ck that sh*t. Everything will go on.”
  • Scott Coker spoke about Bellator 242 in San Jose: “Right now, for May 9, it’s business as usual. If the government extends the self-quarantine, we’ll adjust as needed.”
  • Daniel Cormier gave an update on the status of his trilogy fight against Stipe Miocic: “Look, I know we’re in a crazy time right now with the world and with the way things are and it’s very up in the air but I think for me with the way things are going and the discussions that we had heading into the fight, into all this, the way that the discussions in terms of the fight were going, where I am going to fight this guy for my last fight, it’s going to be as ideal for me as I could ever hope for. It’s gonna be beautiful.”
  • Cormier also teased that Kamaru Usman will be fighting on the same card as Cormier vs. Miocic.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Flair vs. Fujinami at WCW/NJPW Supershow

CONTACT INFORMATION