Daily Update: Endeavor, John Cena, WWE weekend notes

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NEW JAPAN WORLD PRO WRESTLING ON AXS TV TONIGHT AT 8 P.M. EASTERN

  • Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Ryusuke Taguchi

BELLATOR FROM TEMECULA, CALIFORNIA AT 9 P.M. EASTERN ON PARAMOUNT AND DAZN

  • Joe Schilling (186) vs. Keith Berry (186)
  • Andrey Koreshkov (170.6) vs. Mike Jasper (171)
  • Daniel Strauss (155.6) vs. Shane Kruchten (155.8)
  • Saad Awad (156) vs. Brandon Girtz (155.6)

CMLL FROM ARENA MEXICO AT 10:30 P.M. TONIGHT (LINK)

  • Pegasso & Stigma vs. Akuma & Disturbio
  • Kawato San & Tigre & Virus vs. Black Panther & Blue Panther Jr. & Drone
  • Esfinge & Triton & Flyer vs. Templario & Felino & Rey Bucanero
  • Dragon Lee & Mistico & Titan vs. Cuatrero & Sanson & Negro Casas
  • Cavernario vs. Forastero for Mexican light heavyweight title
  • Caristico & Valiente & Volador Jr. vs. Tetsuya Naito & Rush & El Terrible

IMPACT AGAINST ALL ODDS AT 10 P.M. EASTERN TONIGHT ON PURSUIT

  • Glen Gilbertti vs. Scarlett Bordeaux
  • Brian Cage vs. Killer Kross
  • Taya Valkyrie vs. Jordynne Grace for the Knockouts title

COMBATE AMERICAS TONIGHT AT 10 P.M. EASTERN ON DAZN AND 1 A.M. ON UNIVISION DEPORTES FROM CASINO DEL SOL IN TUCSON, AZ

  • Eduardo Alvarado (136) vs. Andy Perez (135.8)
  • Jose Alday (134.4) vs. Gustavo Lopez (134.9) for the vacant bantamweight title

Saturday has as dual branded WWE show in Wheeling, WV and NXT in St. Augustine, FL. We’re looking for reports to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

UFC ON SATURDAY FROM THE WELLS FARGO CENTER IN PHILADELPHIA

ESPN+ at 3:30 p.m.

  • Alex Perez (135.25) vs. Mark De La Rosa (135.5)
  • Maryna Moroz (125.25) vs. Sabina Mazo (125.5)
  • Ray Borg (137.75) vs. Casey Kenney (135.5)

ESPN at 5 p.m.

  • Kevin Holland (185) vs. Gerald Meerschaert (185.5)
  • Kevin Aguilar (145) vs. Enrique Barzola (145)
  • Ross Pearson (155.25) vs. Desmond Green (155)
  • Jessica Aguilar (115.25) vs. Marina Rodriguez (114.75)
  • Sodiq Yusuff (145.5) vs. Sheymon Moraes (145)
  • Paul Craig (205) vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu (205.5)
  • Michelle Waterson (115.5) vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz (114.75)
  • Michael Johnson (146) vs. Josh Emmett (145.75)
  • David Branch (185.5) vs. Jack Hermansson (185)
  • Edson Barboza (155.5) vs. Justin Gaethje (155.5)

*Borg was fined 30 percent of his purse for missing weight.

Sunday has a dual branded WWE show in Hershey, PA.

ONE FROM TOKYO SUMO HALL AT 5:30 A.M. SUNDAY EASTERN ON B/R LIVE

  • Eddie Alvarez vs. Timofey Nastyukhin in lightweight tournament
  • Demetrious Johnson vs. Yuya Wakamatsu in flyweight tournament
  • Kevin Belingon vs. Bibiano Fernandes for bantamweight title
  • Aung La N Sang vs. Ken Hasegawa for middleweight title
  • Jing Na Xiong vs. Angela Lee for strawweight title
  • Edouard Folayang vs. Shinya Aoki for lightweight title

ROH SUNDAY AT 6 P.M. EASTERN AT THE UMBC EVENT CENTER IN BALTIMORE

  • Sumie Sakai & Jenny Rose vs. Kris Stadtlander & Tasha Steelz vs. Gabby Ortiz & Karissa Rivera
  • Cheeseburger & Eli Isom & Ryan Nova vs. LSG & Shaheem Ali & Colin Delaney
  • Kenny King vs. P.J. Black
  • Mark Haskins vs. Silas Young
  • Rush vs. Tracy Williams
  • Marty Scurll vs. Shane Taylor
  • Juice Robinson & Bandido vs. TK O’Ryan & Vinny Marseglia vs. Jay Lethal & Jeff Cobb
  • PCO & Brody King vs. Mark & Jay Briscoe for ROH tag titles

The final Raw before WrestleMania will be in Washington, DC with an all-hands on deck show including Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns and Ronda Rousey all advertised. There is also a Smackdown house show in Roanoke, VA.

The Smackdown and 205 Live tapings are Tuesday in Baltimore.

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Looking at the WWE HOF and the 2019 class

While interest has inevitably decreased over the years, the 2019 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony feels like less of an essential part of WrestleMania weekend than ever.

There are a few major reasons why the Hall of Fame ceremony has lost some of its luster. As WrestleMania week has become a destination for promotions from the United States and abroad, fans have to make difficult decisions on how they’re going to spend their time and money.

WON NEWSLETTER: April 1, 2019 Observer Newsletter: Women to main event Wrestlemania 35, Conor McGregor allegations, more

The Conor McGregor situation is the lead story in the current issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Look at the investigation into him, his retirement, the timing, and why the retirement and Dana White’s reactions are both a public bluffing game. 

Read the update on the WrestleMania card, both matches announced and those not yet announced, the Charlotte Flair title win and what it changes about the show, the multiple changes in the top part of the show, the women in the main event, the interest level in the different shows that week and more.

Also look at the New Japan Cup, with match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results, on the entire last week of the tournament and the final show.

Look at Vince McMahon’s stock sale, how much he sold, how much he got and why, as well as the XFL launch and problems with the AAF. Look at the AAF’s new goal.

Look at the retirement of the Bella Twins and their careers, the value of Total Divas and their future plans.

Examine the lawsuit settlement with the wrestlers who have sued Lucha Underground, and the interesting note of the person who backed out of the suit.

Also look at Cain Velasquez’s crossing over into pro wrestling and his deal with AAA, including what they attempted to do with him, the storyline building him up and the wrestlers it looks like he’ll appear with.

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.

FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE

Garrett Gonzalez and I will be doing a show tonight talking about all the news of the day. Bryan and I will be doing a show live together tomorrow night.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Endeavor, the parent company of the UFC, is getting ready to go public. We reported that a few weeks ago in the Observer. They are looking at doing so by the end of this year. Endeavor was valued at $6.3 billion in 2017 but it may be significantly higher because UFC itself is probably valued at $6 billion or more given it’s profitability will be similar to that of the post-FOX WWE. They noted that Endeavor had paid back $400 million in funding by Saudi Arabia to get them out of the company in the wake of the Khashoggi murder. 

Regarding John Cena, there is a deal on the table that Cena is expected to agree to for a match at WrestleMania. It is not with Kurt Angle.

For the WWE this weekend, they are doing three house shows with talent from both brands. The list of those on tour is Drew McIntyre, Asuka, Finn Balor,Bobby Lashley, Rusev, Shinsuke Nakamura, Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Baron Corbin, Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins (first house shows in a long time), Braun Strowman, Samoa Joe, Kofi Kingston, Dean Ambrose,, Mandy Rose and A.J. Styles. For the Monday night Smackdown show in Roanoke, it’s the full-time crew which doesn’t include Miz, Rey Mysterio, or Daniel Bryan. Randy Orton is working Monday. Daniel Bryan will be on Smackdown on Tuesday.

Gegard Mousasi vs. Rafael Lovato Jr. for the Bellator middleweight title was announced for a 6/22 show at SSE Wembley in London. Paul Daley and Jack Gallagher are also scheduled for that show.

WWE

  • Luke Harper wrote a long message about how he hasn’t been brought to television since 10/2 (when he had wrist surgery) and noted that six years ago he wrestled multiple matches at Axxess and was part of Undertaker’s WrestleMania ring entrance. Five years ago he watched John Cena wrestle Bray Wyatt. Four years ago he was in an IC title match. Three years ago he wrestled Brock Lesnar on a network special. Last year he won the tag team titles with his wife and sons watching. And Thursday he wrestles Dominik Dijakovic at Axxess. He said this will not be some throw away match at Axxess as he needs to prove at 39 he can still go.
  • Regarding the WWE schedule, and we’ll have a big article on it in the next issue with a lot of updates, WWE does have Raw scheduled on 7/1 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, five days before the New Japan G-1 show in the same building.
  • USA Network will be airing one hour of the WWE Hall of Fame at 11 p.m. on 4/8, right after Raw. (thanks to Arya Witner) 
  • WWE and Atresmedia in Spain announced a deal to air a two-hour edited version of Raw on Saturdays at 1 p.m. and two hours of Smackdown on Sundays at 1 p.m.
  • James Wilder Jr., a running back who was part of Florida State’s national championship team years ago, has a WWE tryout upcoming. Wilder Jr. is currently a running back with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL.
  • Seth Rollins talked to Newsweek about WrestleMania. (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)

UFC

  • Francisco Trinaldo vs. Diego Ferreira has been added to the 5/11 show in Rio de Janeiro.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • All Japan’s Champion Carnival tournament starts on Thursday.
  • Combate Americas ha a show on 4/26 from the Galen Center in Los Angeles that will air live on Univision, Univision Deportes and DAZN with Melissa Martinez (5-0) vs. Caroline Gallardo (3-2). Former UFC fighter Angela Magana faces Kyra Batara.
  • Ladies Night Out on 4/27 in Texas City,TX at the World Gym Arena headlined by Penelope Ford. The show will air live on TitleMatch.com.
  • Stardom announced Hazuki defending the High Speed title against Dust for their show in Queens, NY on 4/5 at 4 p.m. which airs on FITE as an iPPV.
  • Pro Wrestlnig Eve has two shows in April, on 4/13 and 4/26 at the Resistance Gallery in London. The 4/26 show will be the Kris Wolf retirement show.
  • Matt Sydal returns to action on 4/21 in Lehavot Haviva, Israel for the Passover Bash at the Berale Club. He faces Rabbi Swissa for the IPWA title. He also will be doing a seminar at 2 p.m. that day. For those interested you can write to Gery Roif as gery.roif@gmail.com.
  • Smash Wrestling on Sunday in London, ONT at the London Music Hall.
  • The Netflix film “The Dirt,” about Motley Crue, which was mentioned in the last Observer because Tarryn Terrell has a cameo, also should be noted that Tommy Lee is wearing a Hulkamania T-shirt since the movie is set during the 80s. (thanks to Joe Puccio)
  • Evolve on 4/13 in Ybor City, FL at the Orpheum:
    Austin Theory vs. Raul Mendoza for the Evolve title
    Angelo Dawkins vs. Eddie Kingston
    Shane Thorne vs. Curt Stallion
    Adrian Jaoude vs. Anthony Henry
  • Lacey Lane and Eric Bugenhagen from WWE are also on the show.
  • The latest Warrior Wrestling show.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: WWF WrestleMania III

Ed in San Antonio presents the WRESTLEMANIAWeekend Event:

  • Saturday, April 6th, at 12:00 pm: Lunch (all you can eat) at Churrascaria Plataforma ($90 per person), located at 316 W. 49th street in Manhattan. Purchase tickets here~!

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