Daily Update: Fastlane preview and odds, New Japan Cup, Mysterio

THE ROUND-UP

THE LATEST NEWS

THE LATEST AUDIO

Raw has a house show in London, ONT.

We’re looking for your thoughts on Friday night’s ROH Anniversary show and tonight’s WWE Fastlane show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

We’re also looking for reports on these shows:

  • WWE Raw hour show tonight in London, ONT
  • ROH TV tapings from Saturday in Las Vegas
  • Lucha Underground TV tapings from Saturday and tonight in Los Angeles
  • Pro Wrestling NOAH from today in Yokohama

        We’re looking for reports on all of these shows to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

WWE FAST LANE PPV ON SUNDAY FROM COLUMBUS, OH AT 7:30 P.M. EASTERN TIME

  • A.J. Styles vs. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. John Cena vs. Baron Corbin for the WWE title — The winner of this match defends the title against Shinsuke Nakamura at WrestleMania. Based on the odds that are on the books, this looks like the first time in several months where smart money has come in for most of the matches. Plus, with the Mania direction largely expected to be Styles vs. Nakamura, a match that Styles wanted for WrestleMania, any result but Styles winning makes no sense. When you look at the talent here, it should be the match of the night. The five-way on Smackdown was good and this is higher profile, and will likely get more time and John Cena has been added to the mix. It’s not clear if they’ll do the Cena reveal on the show tonight or wait until Raw tomorrow, or the following week. The story here is both Styles winning and what the storyline ends up for Mania for the other five guys. Styles is listed at -2600 as of this afternoon.
  • Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Rusev — Similarly, any result but Nakamura winning at this point makes no sense. The question becomes how Rusev is portrayed, since it’s time for him to go face and if they pull the trigger, or at least start, in this presentation. Nakamura is a -3600 favorite.
  • Bobby Roode vs. Randy Orton for the U.S. title — Most figure that this match ends up with Jinder Mahal’s involvement. Roode is a -300 favorite to retain. It really doesn’t matter who wins since they’re expected in the same match at Mania no matter which one wins.
  • Usos vs. New Day for the tag titles — These teams have strong chemistry and have had a lot of really good title matches over the past year. This should be no different. The Usos are -260 favorites, which, like Roode seems to indicate those in the know aren’t sure about this one and it could change.
  • Charlotte Flair vs. Ruby Riott for the Women’s title — This looks to be just a placeholder to give Charlotte a win on this PPV before the announcement of her Mania opponent, which at least as of a week ago, and a month ago, was to be Asuka. She’s a -2300 favorite.
  • Naomi & Becky Lynch vs. Natalya & Carmella — This just seems like a match to fill out the show. Usually the faces go over unless there is a specific thing being built. The face team is a -180 favorite.

NEW JAPAN FROM TAKAMATSU AT 6 A.M. EASTERN MONDAY MORNING ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Desperado vs. Ryusuke Taguchi & Ren Narita
  • Bad Luck Fale & Yujiro Takahashi & Tanga Loa vs. Yuji Nagata & Tomoyuki Oka & Shota Umino
  • Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi vs. Michael Elgin & David Finlay
  • Tetsuya Naito & Bushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taka Michinoku
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Togi Makabe & Juice Robinson & Toa Henare vs. Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer & Takashi Iizuka & Taichi
  • Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Kota Ibushi & Chase Owens
  • Toru Yano vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr. in the New Japan Cup
  • Seiya Sanada vs. Chuckie T in the New Japan Cup

Raw will be live on Monday from Detroit. Both Brock Lesnar and John Cena are advertised for the show. Smackdown has a house show on Monday night in Dayton, OH.

NEW JAPAN FROM FUJI-SAN AT 5:30 A.M. WEDNESDAY MORNING ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

Smackdown, 205 Live and Mixed Match Challenge take place on Tuesday in Indianapolis. Matches announced are Cedric Alexander vs. Roderick Strong and Charlotte Flair & Bobby Roode vs. Rusev & Lana.

​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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WON BACK ISSUE: February 19, 2001 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Yearly business breakdown, WCW shutdown nixed

The XFL went from television’s penthouse to its outhouse in record time as ratings plummeted on NBC to the point the entire league is already being labeled, just two weeks in, a major failure in most circles.It got so bad, that on 2/12, just eight days after the initial ratings for opening night came in at well above the levels even the most optimistic in NBC expected, that emergency meetings were held after an embarrassing show with a tremendous finish went 45 minutes long due to an alleged generator problem, an injury, and a double overtime.

SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight covering Fast Lane and the New Japan Cup, as well as other weekend news. We’ll also be taking your e-mail questions to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com.

In the New Japan Cup earlier today, Kota Ibushi beat Yoshi-Hashi and Zack Sabre Jr. upset Tetsuya Naito via submission. The first round of the tournament will be completed tomorrow with the show in Takamatsu. Ibushi vs. Sabre, which should be a classic match, will take place on Thursday at Korakuen Hall. The tournament thus far is better than in prior years.

Rey Mysterio Jr. was at the Kentucky Comic Con in Lexington yesterday. He estimated being out of action for one month with his partially torn biceps and indicated he wasn’t sure about his New Japan match, which is two weeks away.

Ricky Steamboat wrestled last night in Akron, OH for AIW: Matthew Justice won three-way over Bobby Beverly and Chase Oliver, Britt Baker b Karen Q, PB Smooth & Swoggle b Big Twan Tucker & Parker Price, Dominic Garrini b Dan Severn, Ricky Steamboat b The Duke, Derek Director & Eddie Only & Frankie Flynn & Magnum CKb Alex Keller & Evan Adams & Marino Tenaglia & Philly Collins, Kevin Thorn b Daniel Rockingham, DJZ b Tre Lamar, Joshua Bishop b Josh Prohibition-DQ (thanks to Paul Sosnowski)

The current Kambi odds for those who want to bet on star ratings for tonight’s matches. The over-under star rating numbers for tonight are:

  • Six way main event ****
  • Nakamura vs. Rusev ***
  • Usos vs. New Day ***3/4
  • Roode vs. Orton ***1/4
  • Charlotte vs Riott **1/2
  • Lynch & Naomi vs. Carmella & Natalya **1/4
    You can also get 10 to 1 odds on whether there will be a five-star match
    As far as betting on the best match on the show, both the six-way and the tag title are at -150 and all the other matches are +600. (thanks to David Taylor)

WWE

  • Ronda Rousey will be on Ellen on Tuesday. 
  • Flash Flanagan, who was a star in OVW some 17 years ago, is at the WWE shows the next three nights as a favor from Randy Orton to get a look.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • The 3/16 AAW main event in Merrionette Park, IL has changed from Jushin Liger vs. Trevor Lee to Liger & ACH vs. Lee & David Starr. They also announced Rey Fenix defends their AAW title on 4/13 back in Merrionette Park, IL, against an opponent to be named, plus Penta 0M vs. Teddy Hart and Tenille Dashwood, Su Yung and Kimber Lee all appear.
  • The biggest MMA news over the weekend was Nick Newell’s win on Friday night’s AXS show as he (14-1) beat Sonny Luque (10-7) with a neck crank in just 2:10 in the main event. Newell, who has been written about at length, pushed hard after the win that he wants to be in UFC.
  • Tom Strother at tstro86@gmail.com is looking for tickets for the Wrestlecon super show.
  • Shine results from last night in Queens, NY: Vanessa Kraven b Dementia D’Rose in an anything goes match, Stormie Lee b Allie Recks, ACR b Amber Nova, Penelope Ford & Maria Maniac b Luscious Latasha & Gabby Gilbert, Aerial Monroe b Kiera Hogan, Candy Cartwright b Priscilla Kelly to win the Nova title, Brandi Lauren b Shontzi Blackheart, LuFisto b Mercedes Martinez. (thanks to Jake Koch)
  • For those who are going to Los Angeles in two weeks for New Japan, this is the weekend schedule that we are aware of:
    3/22 Brian Kendrick is running a WPW show
    3/23 PWG in Los Angels
    3/24 UEW at 3 p.m.
    3/24 OCCW
    3/24 RIW at 3 p.m.
    3/24 New Japan has a Dojo show at Noon
    3/24 AWS 16th anniversary show at 8 p.m. with Jeff Cobb vs. Tyler Bateman, plus Jessica Havok, Nicole Savoy,Adam Thornstowe and Brody King.
  • CZW last night in Voorhees, NJ: Frankie Pickard b Jaxson Stone, Wheeler Yuta won three-way over Gary Jay and Mike Verna, Ace Austin won three-way over Brandon Watts and KC Navarro, Anthony Bennett won three-way over Rayo and Kit Osbourne, David McCall & Nate Carter b G-Raver & Stockade to keep the tag titles, David McCall & Nate Carter b Dan O’Hare & Shlak to keep the tag titles, Joey Janela b Ace Romero, Jonathan Gresham (replacing Rich Swann, who retired) b Joe Gacy in a great match, Rickey Shane Page & Alex Colon b MJF & Conor Claxton, Wheeler Yuta won a three-way over Anthony Bennett and Ace Austin to go into the Best of the Best tournament, Brandon Kirk b Matt Tremont in a tangled web weapons match. 
  • CZW runs 4/7 at 4 p.m. at the Sugar Mill in New Orleans for its biggest show of the year. Their annual Best of the Best is 4/14 in Voorhees, NJ at the Colossal Sports Academy with Matt Riddle, Joey Janela, Tessa Blanchard, David Starr, Brandon Kirk, Joe Gacy, Myron Reed, Zachary Wentz, Curt Stallion and Trey Miguel. Also the Rickey Shane Page defends the CZW title against MJF. (thanks to Bob Magee)
  • Pro Wrestling Eclipse on 3/18 in Oshawa, ONT at the Harmony Community Center.
  • Melbourne City Wrestling from last night in Melbourne, Australia: Mike Burr b Lochy Hendricks, Campbell Crawford b Jake Lindo, Tome Filip b JXS, Slex b Davis Storm to keep the Intercommonwealth title, Alan Payne b Fun time Phil, Indi Hartwell b Aria, Nick Bury & Mitch Waterman b Dowie James & Gino Gambino. Jimmy Havoc vs. Alan Payne will be on their 4/20 show while Gino Gambino vs Dowie James, Elliot Sexton vs. JXT and Indi Hartwell vs. Kellyanne were announced for the 4/21 show. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • Pete Dunne vs Davis Storm was announced for a joint show with Progress and EWP in Perth, Western Australia on 4/18.
  • Harley Race’s World League Wrestling from last night in Moscow Mills, MO: Karim Brigante b Ace Hawkins, Jayden Roller b Rex Flts, Jayden Dominic Rose b Jack Gamble in a strap match, Monica Passeri b Savanna Stone for the women’s title, Jon Webb b Leland Race to win the WLW title, Scott Steiner & Kyle Roberts b Superstar Steve Fender & Brandon Espinosa to win the tag titles. Arn Anderson was there for an afternoon meet and greet before doing a WWE show that night, and also there were J.J. Dillon, Jimmy Hart and Bob Orton Jr. (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
  • Gary Woronchak, a former wrestling promoter in the Detroit area turned politician, is doing a fund raiser on 3/14 to run for the Michigan State Senate.
  • Lions Pride Sports from last night in Rockdale, TX: Vordell Walker and Mike Dell won Rumble matches to meet in the main event, Mike Dell b Vordell Walker in a no DQ mach to win the Lions Pride Sports champoinship, Austin Theory b Danny Ramons and Irish Jack to keep the FIP title, Scott Summers & Gregory James b The End-DQ in an FIP tag title so The end kept the title. (thanks to Steve Fullhart)
  • Pro Wrestling Revolution from last night in San Francisco before more than 200 fans: Grappler #3 b Pantera Jr., Papa Esco & Puma Negro & Ojo Blanco b Skayde & Fuerza Azteca & Ultimo Panda, Nicole Savoy b Ruby Raze, Jacob Fatu won four-way over Adrian Quest, Dinamita and Vapor, Jungle Boy b Border Patrol to win the tag titles, Arkady Federov b Vaquero Fantasma, Jushin Liger & Misterioso b Rocky Romero & Puma King. All the faces came out after to cheer for Liger and the promoter thanked Liger in Japanese and called him a living legend.
  • Black Label Pro from last night in Crown Point, IN: Space Monkey won four-way over Leva Bates, Mark Wheeler and Shane Sabre, AJ Gray & Mance b The Carnies, Kobe Durst b Eric Ryan, Josh Briggs b Jake Parnell, Kevin Ku & Percy Davis b Warlord (the famous one) & Danny Adams, Gringo Loco won over Pat Monix, Matt Knicks and Draztick Boy, CW Anderson b Dasher Hatfield, Nick Gage won three-way to keep GCW title over Mance Warner and Teddy Hart. (thanks to Michael Blanton)

Today in Professional Wrestling History: Sting wins WCW World title

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