Daily Update: Fastlane preview and odds, UFC 209, Becky Lynch

THE ROUND-UP

The Latest from the F4W Staff

NEWS

AUDIO

We’re looking for reports today from the Impact tapings in Orlando (the final night of the tapings) and the WWE house show in Rockford, IL to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

We’re also looking for your thoughts on UFC 209 from last night, Fastlane & NJPW Anniversary show tonight, thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

WWE FASTLANE ON SUNDAY AT 7:30 P.M. ON WWE NETWORK

  • Kevin Owens vs. Bill Goldberg for the Universal title — Goldberg pretty much promised a win via spear and jackhammer on Raw and Goldberg vs. Lesnar with the title at stake was the plan for Mania all along. Chris Jericho somehow costing Owens the match would fit the storyline direction. Right now Goldberg is a -2000 favorite. While that sounds like the smart money is in, based on the odds for the rest of the show, I don’t think it is because most people probably figure Goldberg is winning.
  • Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman — Similarly, Strowman is a -1700 favorite and Undertaker hasn’t been around and there’s been nothing since the Rumble to push Reigns and Undertaker. So that could be a direction. Strowman’s hand raised here makes sense but since Reigns got destroyed in every angle, the usual thing for a top babyface is to get some revenge at the PPV. 
  • Sami Zayn vs. Samoa Joe — Joe is a -1625 favorite. Again, this doesn’t feel so much like smart money as just the logical obvious because Joe shouldn’t be losing on his first PPV. This is also a key match on the show because the top two matches may not be great, but these two on paper should be.
  • Bayley vs. Charlotte for the Women’s title — This is why I don’t think smart money is in. Charlotte was a -170 favorite. If WrestleMania is still the four-way, then it doesn’t really matter who goes in as champion so it’s not imperative who wins here. The odds reflect that. If smart money was in, the odds would be far stronger on who was winning. Because so much focus has been put on this program, it’s always a lot of pressure on the women’s title match since it’s really pushed more than the U.S. title most of the time of late as the No. 2 belt on the brand.
  • Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. Enzo Amore & Big Cass for the tag titles — They started teasing minor issues with Enzo & Cass, but it feels early to pull the trigger on that. Plus, I still don’t think this is the right time for that. but it does feel like Enzo is the one to lose the fall. Gallows & Anderson are -560 favorites.
  • Neville vs. Jack Gallagher for the Cruiserweight title — It’ll be interesting how the crowd reacts here. Neville has been doing a strong job as champion. Gallagher is getting over in a comedic way. The cruiserweight division has been tough for crowd reactions both on Raw and 205 Live. But on paper, the two should have a strong match.
  • Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax — Jax has been pushed as a monster on TV which is why she’s a -1700 favorite. These two had a weak match last time out. So the pressure is on them here.
  • Rich Swann & Akira Tozawa vs. Noam Dar & Brian Kendrick — Swann & Tozawa are -215 favorites. It’s the preshow match so it’s not of great consequence who wins.

        As far as match quality goes, this isn’t a show that looks tremendous. Goldberg is all about the spectacle and it could be short, and if it’s not short, Owens will have to really do a great job. Reigns vs. Strowman is a program built well on television and I think the curiosity will carry things, plus Strowman is a hot rising act and one thinks they have to protect both in the finish. But it’s Mania season, interest is up, and two years ago, who would have ever thought Goldberg would come back and be a WWE champion?

There are Impact tapings on Sunday in Orlando as well as a Sunday WWE house show in Rockford, IL with the SmackDown brand. No John Cena nor Nikki Bella, but Randy Orton is advertised to return on that show.

NEW JAPAN 45TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW ON MONDAY AT 5 A.M. EASTERN TIME ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • Jushin Liger & Hirai Kawato vs. Tiger Mask & Tomoyuki Oka
  • Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi & Gedo & Jado vs. Minoru Suzuki & Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Desperado & Taka Michinoku
  • Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi & David Finlay vs. Kenny Omega & Bad Luck Fale & Yujiro Takahashi &Tama Tonga & Tonga Roa
  • Rocky Romero & Baretta vs. Taichi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru for IWGP jr. tag titles
  • Katsuyori Shibata vs. Zack Sabre Jr. for British heavyweight title
  • Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Togi Makabe & ? for IWGP tag team titles
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Michael Elgin & Juice Robinson & Kushida vs. Tetsuya Naito & Evil & Bushi & Seiya Sanada
  • Hiromu Takahashi vs. Ryusuke Taguchi for IWGP jr. title
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Tiger Mask W (Kota Ibushi) in a non-title match

Raw will be Monday night in Chicago at the All-State Arena. Brock Lesnar, Bill Goldberg and Chris Jericho are all advertised for Monday’s show. There will also be a SmackDown brand house show Monday night in Bloomington, IL. No John Cena or Nikki Bella advertised but Randy Orton is advertised. There will also be Impact tapings in Orlando.

NEW JAPAN FROM KORAKUEN HALL ON TUESDAY AT 4:30 A.M. EASTERN TIME ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • The card won’t be announced until Monday after the anniversary show.

SmackDown and 205 Live will be taped Tuesday in Indianapolis. Announced so far are A.J. Styles vs. Randy Orton with the winner meeting Bray Wyatt for the WWE title at WrestleMania, plus John Cena & Nikki Bella vs. James Ellsworth & Carmella.

FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: 2/27/2017: Looking ahead to WWE Fast Lane

With WWE’s final pay-per-view before WrestleMania under a week away, the build to Fastlane has been aided by a few of the company’s best television segments of at least the past several months. The Festival of Friendship was perfect. From the timing of it coming before the audience knew for sure that the full turn was happening, the performances of Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho, and even the parts played by the bit characters, everything delivered… Subscribers click here to continue.

WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: February 27, 2017, Massive Ivan Koloff bio, death of George “The Animal” Steele, tons more

The 2016 awards issue of the Observer is out with not only the winners, but the top place winners in every category as well as every winner of the awards which date back to 1980. Plus, have a look at the pros and cons of the Georges St-Pierre vs. Michael Bisping fight that looks to be the biggest PPV event at least until the fall, plus a detailed look at all the changes going on in TNA including people leaving, why they are leaving, where they are headed, who is coming in, and office changes. We also look at the New Japan Cup, the career of Beth Phoenix, and Honor Rising tour.

The new issue has awards in these categories:

  • Ric Flair/Lou Thesz Award for Wrestler of the Year
  • MMA MVP
  • Most Outstanding Wrestler
  • Most Outstanding MMA Fighter
  • Best Box Office Draw
  • Feud of the Year
  • Tag Team of the Year
  • Most Improved
  • Best on Interviews
  • Most Charismatic
  • Bryan Danielson Award for Best Technical Wrestler
  • Bruiser Brody Award for Best Brawler
  • Best Flying Wrestler
  • Most Overrated
  • Most Underrated
  • Promotion of the Year
  • Best Weekly TV show
  • Pro Wrestling Match of the Year
  • MMA Match of the Year
  • Rookie of the Year
  • Best Non-Wrestler
  • Best TV announcer
  • Worst TV announcer
  • Best major show
  • Worst major show
  • Best maneuver
  • Most disgusting promotional tactic
  • Worst TV show
  • Worst match of the year
  • Worst feud of the year
  • Worst promotion of the year
  • Best Booker
  • Promoter of the Year
  • Best gimmick
  • Worst gimmick
  • Best Book
  • Best DVD/documentary

In this issue, there are notes on the business climate headed into WrestleMania week in Orlando as compared to last year, notes on Fastlane, more on the WWE concussion lawsuit, departure of Jack Swagger from WWE, lots more on WrestleMania week, WWE Hall of Fame, HHH wrestling dates in March, a new WWE signee, John Cena outside activities and talks about Dwayne Johnson, Kurt Angle update and notes no next week’s TV. Plus, look at the most-watched shows on the WWE Network, business notes from all the WWE and NXT weekend shows and highlights.

There is also the results of the major league arena events held all over the world this past week, as well as notes on the various TV shows.

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 Meltzer, or by using PayPal directing funds to Dave@WrestlingObserver.com. 

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If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can choose one free classic issue, or two free classic issues with a 40-issue subscription.

WON BACK ISSUE: February 7, 2000, Radicalz debut in WWF, The Rock autobiography review, more

Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Perry Saturn and Eddy Guerrero debuted as The Radicals on the 1/31 Raw show from Pittsburgh in what was considered a big push but it all fell apart the next night in their in-ring debut when Guerrero suffered what appeared to be a serious elbow injury on the 2/1 SmackDown tapings in Detroit. SmackDown, live Raw the previous night, was to be built around the newcomers with the stipulations that they would have a best-of-three series between DX and the Radicals, and if the Radicals won, then Hunter Hearst Helmsley would have to agree to sign them to a WWF contract… Subscribers click here to continue.

SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

The wrestling world was just filled with interesting news at last night’s ROH tapings with the Hardys saying they’ve signed an ROH deal and Bully Ray saying the same. Bryan and I just did a new show this morning on that and UFC 209.

In the main event where Tyron Woodley retained the title on scores of 48-47, 47-47 and 48-47 over Stephen Wonderboy Thompson, it was a close fight that could have gone either way. Dana White scored it for Thompson. Bryan and I both had it a draw with Thompson winning one, two and four and Woodley getting a 10-8 fifth. Interestingly, Bob Bennett of the Nevada Athletic Commission said that in no way was that fifth round a 10-8, saying that he’s going to talk to Sal D’Amato, the only judge who scored it that way. It’s so unusual for the head of the commission to outright say a judges score is wrong, particularly when a lot of people had that round 10-8. The key round was No. 2, as judge Chris Lee and Derek Clearly gave it to Woodley while D’Amato gave it to Thompson. That ended up deciding the fight. 

Ariel Helwani reported that the news last night that Mark Hunt suffered a broken tibiaearly in his loss to Alistair Overeem is incorrect. The bone was just badly bruised but no break.

F8: The Fate of the Furious, which is the last Fast & Furious movie, with Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel, opens on 4/14 in the U.S. Australia gets the open on 4/12. That means Johnson should be in heavy movie promotion mode at WrestleMania time. They haven’t pushed his name on the show of late, but he’s shown up to do angles without being promoted in the past.

WWE

  • With Randy Orton and John Cena off the show last night, the SmackDown brand main event was Bray Wyatt defending against A.J. Styles. Orton is scheduled on tonight’s show in Rockford, IL.
  • Becky Lynch wasn’t at last night’s show because she was in Las Vegas. Her boyfriend, Luke Sanders, fought on the UFC show and dominated Iuri Alcantara, a ranked fighter, before suddenly being caught in a kneebar in the second round and having to tap. Lynch was shown on screen on FS1 and identified.
  • There will be an episode of Ride Along in the post-Raw time slot tomorrow night on the WWE Network. It’ll have Cesaro, Sami Zayn and Neville traveling together in the most underrated car on the circuit.
  • Natalya is now doing a column in the Calgary Sun like Bret did for years. Her first one is here.
  • An interview with Pete Gas, who has a book coming out soon is here.

UFC

  • You may want to check out the GSP/Michael Bisping press conference that UFC had on Friday. GSP is such an old-school polite babyface and it works as a great contrast with Bisping, who did the McGregor and showed up 30 minutes late and GSP kept saying that he was drunk and smelled of alcohol. Bisping didn’t deny it either.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Northeast Wrestling results from Friday night in Waterbury, CT which drew 3,300 fans and turned people away: Travis Gordon won three-way over Brad Hollister and Vinny Marseglia, Anthony & Chris Battle b Daniel Evans & Keith Gordon, Wrecking Ball Legursky b Donovan Dijak, Ron Zombie b Hanson, Bull Dredd & Jerry Lawler b Cam Zagami & Romeo Roselli, Ryback b Jake Manning, Mike Bennett b TK O’Ryan to win the NEW title, Cody Rhodes b Kurt Angle in a cage match.
  • This story just made my day. Thanks so much, the idea I was put in the company of those people overwhelmed me. (thanks to Gary Collins) 
  • Luke Hawx has a role in the movie “Logan” that is out in theaters. It was filmed in New Orleans, where Hawx runs a wrestling promotion. 
  • NWX on 3/18 in St. Catharines, ONT at the CWF Studios.
  • I Believe in Wrestling from Friday night in Orlando, FL: Jonny Vandal b CJ O’Doyle, Amber Noa b Raegan Fire, Tyranus b Rey Xion, Chico Adams & Fari Hakeem & Nick Nero b Dinamita Solar & Alex Todd & Jason Dugan, Mila Naniki & Aria Blake b Kaci Lennox & Layne Rosario, Leo O’Farell b JD Amazing-DQ, Chasyn Rance & Aaron Epic b Chris Silvio & Charles Gabriel, Rhett Giddins b Jesse Neal via ref stoppage. Neal may have broken his ankle and they stopped the match immediately.
  • Empire State Wrestling on 3/25 in North Tonawanda, NY at the St. Johnsburg Fire Hall with Lio Rush, DJZ and Ethan Page.
  • Lita wrestled Friday night in Joppa, MD for the MCW show. Brian Cage beat Lio Rush in the main event. Lita, wrestling under her real name of Amy Dumas, teamed with The Bruiser & Hell Cats to beat Sean Studd & Andy Vineberg & Rayo & Jeremiah.
  • Tito Santana will be a guest at the 7/14 Reading, PA minor league baseball game doing a preshow meet and greet for $15 at FirstEnergy Stadium. There will also be a post-game CHIKARA wrestling show. 
  • Hoosier Pro Wrestling from last night in Columbus, IN before 165 fans: Eddie Felson b Johnathan Wolfe, TJ Kemp b JKO, Drax O’Brien b El Rayo (who was unmasked as Lighting Bolt), Cooter b Dave the Rave, Flash Flanagan b Shawn Kemp, Doink the Clown b Kid Thunder, Clint Poe & Marc Houston b TVZ to win the tag team titles. Next show is 4/1 in Columbus, IN.

F4W / WO EMPIRE WRESTLEMANIA GROUP INFO

BUS INFO:

  • The Empire bus to WrestleMania will cost $50.00 and will be round trip from Rosen Inn at 9000 International Drive 32819 (a few blocks away from Wrestlcon). THERE ARE ONLY 5 SEATS LEFT!
  • The bus will leave at 3:30pm (time subject to change) for WrestleMania and will leave WrestleMania no later then one hour after the show. If you would like a seat email Ed at f4wfan@hotmail.com or message him on the BOARD~! for Paypal payment instructions.

DINNER INFO:

  • WHAT: Dinner at Texas de Brazil
  • WHEN: Friday March 31st
  • WHERE: 5259 International Dr Ste F1, Orlando, FL 32819 at 5 p.m. (they may open at 4:30 for us)
  • WHO: All your best empire buddies, including BIG DAVE MELTZER
  • DETAILS: The cost of the dinner will be $68.00 which includes the dinner, salad bar, soft drinks and tea, and dessert, tax and tip. This is a pre pay dinner and you can send payment to paypal at Srjaialaiot@yahoo.com (please send as a gift to a friend). Payments must be made by March 24th (if you wait until after that, Ed will charge an extra $5.00 for being a pain).

Pro Wrestling Tees is now carrying our latest line of F4W shirts. Support the Empire~! Grab yours today!

CONTACT INFORMATION

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