Daily Update: Daniel Bryan, New Japan Cup, WM battle royal entrants

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THE LATEST NEWS

THE LATEST AUDIO

​F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: WWE changes the name of Fabulous Moolah Battle Royal

For less than three days last week, the Fabulous Moolah Memorial Battle Royal was listed as part of the WrestleMania 34 lineup. The match, which will feature wrestlers from Raw, SmackDown, and NXT as WWE attempts to get as much of the women’s division on the card as possible, will still be happening. But it will instead be called the “WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal” after WWE had to change the name due to fan and sponsor backlash.

WON NEWSLETTER: March 19, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2017 Observer Newsletter Awards

One of the biggest issues of the year is out this week: The 2017 Observer Awards, with not just the top place winners in every category but also a list of every award winner in the categories dating back to 1980. For a full list of categories click here.

A WrestleMania update with this past week’s changes to the card, the most complete lineup, thoughts surrounding the use of the Moolah name in the women’s Battle Royal, how things evolved on the card, changes in recent weeks, more on the Reigns vs. Lesnar plans, and more on the year’s biggest show.

Also, full review of Fast Lane, with match-by-match coverage, star ratings and poll results.

In addition to all of this, an update on Ronda Rousey missing Raw, John Cena’s next movie, Dwayne Johnson’s contract for an upcoming movie, ticket sales for New Orleans, update on the NXT Takeover show, WWE injury updates, WWE cuts, WWE returns, and the most-watched shows on WWE Network. This issue provides complete rundowns on all of this past week’s WWE and NXT arena events, with highlights and business notes on every show.

Coverage continues, taking a look at New Japan plans for its next show after March, the situation with Jeff Hardy following his recent arrest and when he was scheduled to return to TV, a look at the first week of the New Japan Cup tournament and coverage of the ROH Anniversary Show. Also a preview of the NCAA Wrestling Championships, and a look at the biggest weekend of the year for pro wrestling in Germany with the 16 Carat Gold Tournament.

The issue also delivers the weekly coverage of every major show’s ratings, with detailed notes on who is watching all the WWE shows, results from the major league events held around the world, and the major TV show rundowns.

Finally, this past week’s results for every major pro wrestling event around the world are covered as well.

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WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • WWE posted video of Daniel Bryan working through writing his speech and preparing to appear on SmackDown last night.
  • Bryan was interviewed by Al Arabiya English before he was cleared. Bryan said that the Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia may end up being more historically important than this year’s WrestleMania. He was also asked about the Bullet Club’s “All In” show and said that his contract with WWE runs out on September 1st: “But no, my contract actually runs out September 1st, which is actually the day of the All In show, but it’s funny because that doesn’t compute. I was in the Bahrain Comic Con the last two days, and we did Q&As, and at each one, somebody asked me about that. They said, ‘are you going to be at All In’? I’m not. I don’t know what to tell you. But yeah, my contract is up September 1st.”
  • John Cena spoke to TMZ Sports about Bryan being cleared. Cena said wrestling is what Bryan was born to do, that he did everything possible to challenge being told no, and called Bryan one of the healthiest guys on the roster.
  • In another sign that next month’s Greatest Royal Rumble airing on the WWE Network is all but official, it’s listed on the upcoming events page when you go to cancel the service.
  • Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn’s profile pages have been moved to the alumni section on WWE.com to further the angle where Bryan “fired” them on SmackDown. Owens has also changed his Twitter name to Kevin Steen and his handle to “FightSteenFight.”
  • Former Indianapolis Colts punter and current Barstool Sports personality Pat McAfee will be part of the NXT TakeOver: New Orleans pre-show panel with Charly Caruso and Sam Roberts on April 7th. McAfee is a pro wrestling fan and was the guest ring announcer for Adam Cole vs. Aleister Black at a house show in Indianapolis earlier this month. McAfee took a steel chair out of Cole’s hands before Black got the win.
  • Here’s the updated list of entrants for the men’s and women’s battle royals at WrestleMania:
    2018 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal: Scott Dawson, Dash Wilder, Baron Corbin, Tye Dillinger, and Mojo Rawley.
    WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal: Sasha Banks, Natalya, Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, Sarah Logan, Naomi, and Becky Lynch.
  • Akira Tozawa vs. Kalisto vs. TJP vs. Buddy Murphy in a fatal four-way match is set for 205 Live next week. It wasn’t announced as a number one contender’s match, but Drake Maverick said that the new Cruiserweight Champion would need challengers when he made it. It will be Murphy’s first appearance on the show since being eliminated in the title tournament.
  • Randy Orton & Bobby Roode will face Jinder Mahal & Sunil Singh on SmackDown next Tuesday.
  • WWE made the official announcement that Edge & Christian will be inducting The Dudley Boyz into the Hall of Fame. On Busted Open Radio on Monday, Edge accepted when Bubba Ray asked him and Christian to induct them.
  • HBO released the poster for their Andre the Giant documentary ahead of it premiering on April 10th.
  • AJ Styles said his match with Shinsuke Nakamura will steal the show regardless of where it is on the WrestleMania card.

Pro Wrestling

UFC/MMA

Daily Professional Wrestling History: WCW/NJPW Supershow

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