Daily Update: Fish & Mysterio injuries, Ultimate Deletion, Swann

THE ROUND-UP

THE LATEST NEWS

THE LATEST AUDIO

IMPACT ON POP TV TONIGHT AT 8 P.M. EASTERN

  • Austin Aries vs. Johnny Impact for Impact title
  • Laurel Van Ness vs. Allie for Knockouts title
  • Matt Sydal vs. Taiji Ishimori for Grand title and X title
  • LAX vs. Trevor Lee & Caleb Konley for tag titles
  • OVE vs. Bobby Lashley in a handicap match 

NEW JAPAN CUP FIRST NIGHT AT 4:30 A.M. TOMORROW MORNING EASTERN TIME FROM KORAKUEN HALL ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

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

​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 5, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Elimination Chamber review, Jon Jones hearing

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.

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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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.

THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE

Some updates regarding the NXT tag team titles. Adam Cole & Kyle O’Reilly will be champions going into the three-way match with Authors of Pain and Roderick Strong & Pete Dunne at the Takeover show in New Orleans. The idea is that O’Reilly is still champion and is picking a partner to replace Bobby Fish. Right now the idea is that Cole will be in both the ladder match for the North American title and the tag team title match on the Takeover show.

Fish underwent surgery today for minor tears in both his ACL and MCL suffered on Sunday in Indianapolis. It looks like he’ll be out of action for six months.

Rey Mysterio Jr.’s injury was a Grade One partially torn left biceps. It’s not that serious. There is no estimate regarding if he’ll be out of action for any length of time.

A clearly frustrated Rich Swann said that he was going to fulfill his current commitments and then retire, because company’s are getting heat for booking him. I do expect him to change his mind.

After Dana White on Saturday talked about changing this match to get to Cris Cyborg vs. Amanda Nunes, UFC today officially announced Nunes would defend her women’s bantamweight title on 5/12 in Rio de Janeiro on PPV against Raquel Pennington.   

The Ultimate Deletion match with Matt Hardy vs. Bray Wyatt was filmed today in Cameron, NC, so it could appear on Raw as early as this coming Monday.

New Japan announced a three-match show on 3/24 at its Los Angeles dojo including an autograph session. There will be a contract signing for the Jay White vs. Hangman Page U.S. title match plus a press conference with Katsuyori Shibata, Scorpio Sky, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson, David Finlay and Jushin Liger. Ryusuke Taguchi, Kushida and all the other names will also be doing autographs. 

WWE

  • WWE has just announced that its 4/28 Smackdown show in Halifax and 4/29 show in St. John, New Brunswick have been moved to 8/25 and 8/26. All tickets purchased for these shows will be honored. Fans who can’t attend either show can also get full refunds at the point of purchase. The dates are moved because the top Smackdown talent will be appearing in Saudi Arabia that week.
  • WWE has confirmed the release today of Abbey Laith, Sage Beckett and Guangming Gu. 
  • WWE and GOL in Spain announced a deal for WWE Bottom Line every Saturday at 3 p.m., WWE Afterburn every Sunday at 3 p.m. and WWE Experience every Monday at 1 p.m.
  • On Tuesday, 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit had a contest for who could cut the best Ric Flair-insipred promo. The winner would get tickets to Raw in Detroit this coming Monday. (thanks to Mike Malasev)

MISCELLANEOUS

  • CMLL’s El Homenaje a Dos Leyendas will air on 3/16 as an iPPV show. We’ll have more details closer to the event.
  • MLW runs tonight in Orlando at Gilt Nightclub featuring Matt Riddle vs. ACH and Jimmy Havoc vs. Shane Strickland in semifinals of the title tournament plus Joey Janela vs. Darby Allin fans bring the weapons and MVP vs. Low Ki.
  • 5 Star Wrestling announced Zack Gibson was leaving the promotion and was “moving on to a new venture in sports entertainment.” They noted that there was advertising for upcoming shows with Gibson but he will not be appearing on those shows.
  • Bar Wrestling sold out in advance tonight in Los Angeles but will have some standing room tickets available for a show with LAX vs. Rey Fenix & Penta 0M, Tessa Blanchard vs. Taya plus Brian Cage, Chelsea Green, Britt Baker and Joey Ryan.
  • A preview on Friday’s Kenny Omega vs. Jay White match on AXS.
  • Combat Zone Wrestling on Saturday night in Voorhees, NJ features a tangled web barbed wire match with Matt Tremont vs. Brandon Kirk and Rich Swann vs. Joe Gacy.
  • World Class Big Time Wrestling on 3/17 in Seaman, OH with Bobby Fulton & Bob Orton Jr. vs. Sean Casey & Cody Hawk, plus The Barbarian vs. Onyx. They also announced a 5/26 show in Circleville, OH featuring a convention with Fulton, Jim Cornette and Flying Fred Curry, and Nick Curry, Fred’s son, will also be in action. They also run 3/24 in Circleville, OH with Bobby Fulton vs. Pitbull Gary Wolfe plus a meet and greet with Stan Hansen, Kevin Sullivan and Brian Pillman Jr. 
  • Big Time Wrestling on 3/30 in Altoona, PA with James Ellsworth vs. Tenille Dashwood, plus appearances by Mark Henry, Mick Foley, Tony Atlas, Hurricane Helms and Gillberg.
  • CWO on 3/18 in Toronto at The Rockpile.
  • The German Wrestling Federation on 4/7 in Berlin is doing a light heavyweight tournament with P.J. Black, Jody Fleisch, Angelico and Senza Volto from France. Tyler Bate will appear for them on 5/5. (thanks to Markus Gronemann)
  • One runs on 3/24 in Bangkok, Thailand with bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes defending against Martin Nguyen. BJJ specialist Garry Tonon will be fighting on the show against Richard Corminal.
  • Ultimo Dragon makes his Australian debut of Wrestling Go in Sydney for shows on 5/11 and 5/12. Tenille Dashwood appears for the promotion on 7/12 and she also appears for Southern Pro Wrestling on 7/14 in Invercargill, New Zealand.
  • Melina Perez vs. Shazza McKenzie vs. Kellyanne takes place for Battle Championship Wrestling in Australia on 3/30. Melina also works 3/23 for AWE in Sydney.
  • Mick Foley comes to Australia for one man talk shows on 7/17 in Perth, 7/18 in Adelaide, 7/19 in Hobat, 7/20 in Melbourne, 7/21 in Sydney and 7/22 in Brisbane. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • Shine runs on Saturday at LaBoom in Queens, NY with LuFisto defending the Shine title against Mercedes Martinez, Priscilla Kelly vs. Candy Cartwright and Vanessa Kraven vs. Dementia D’Rose in an anything goes match.
  • Former UFC fighter Phil DeFries (14-6) vs. Michal Andryszak (20-6) battle for the vacant KSW heavyweight title on 4/14 in Wroclaw, Poland.
  • Super Smash Wrestling Everything Under the Sky on 3/25 in Toronto at The Phoenix at 5 p.m. with Matt Riddle vs. Kevin Blackwood plus Jeff Cobb and the Super Smash Brothers.
  • John Cena Sr. and Tony Atlas will be doing a taped interview on 3/23 at the MWF Studios on 360 MainSt., in Melrose, MA. Fans can attend for free. 
  • Final Fight Championships out of Las Vegas signed a multi-year deal with the Rio All Suite Hotel for regular live shows starting in June at a new arena on the property called The Fight Dome. This will be regular boxing, kickboxing and MMA shows and the plan is to go weekly at some point by 2019.
  • Defy Wrestling announced these shows:
    4/13 in Seattle, WA with Shane Strickland, Tommy Dreamer, Matt Cross, Tom Lawlor, and Brody King
    4/28 in Tacoma, WA wit Sean Waltman, Rey Hours and Moose
    5/4 in Missoula, MT with Flip Gordon, Matt Riddle and Brian Cage
    5/5 in Spokane, WA with Matt Riddle, Brian Cage and Flip Gordon
    5/26 in Portland, OR with Matt Sydal, Shane Strickland, Matt Riddle and Joey Ryan
  • Dynamo Pro Wrestling on 3/31 in St. Louis at the Concordia Turners Gymnasium.
  • Battlewar on 4/1 in Foufounes Electrques in Montreal.
  • CCW on Saturday in Chatham,. ONT at the WISH Centre at 6 p.m.
  • Alpha-1 Wrestling on 4/29 in Oshawa, ONT.
  • Rise will be taping six episodes of their TV project on 5/12 in Pittsburgh with Britt Baker, Tessa Blanchard, Delilah Doom, Nicole Savoy, Mercedes Martinez, Rosemary, Deonna Purrazzo, Jessicka Havoc, Kikyo, Nevaeh plus there will be a meet and greet with Gail Kim.
  • IWA on 4/19 has a show called Miss Independent in Memphis, IN with a 12-woman one-night tournament which includes Delilah Doom, Ruby Raze, Su Yung, Kikyo, Shotzi Blackheart, Hudson Envy, Christi Jaynes and more.
  • XWA UK on Sunday at 3 p.m. in Colchester, Essex, UK with Simon Gotch vs. Jimmy Havoc and Emi Sakura vs. Jordynne Grace.
  • Zack Sabre Jr comes to Australia for World Series Wrestling International Assault on 6/22 and 6/23 in Melbourne, 6/24 in Adelaide and 6/24 in Sydney.
  • Pro Wrestling Phoenix from last night in Omaha:  Purple b Joey Daniels, Zac James DCOR Willy Sweet, Con Artiest b Paul Daniels, Lars Metzger & Johnny Ruckus b Moonshine Russell & Duke Cornell, Pat Powers & Devin Carter b Tim Boston & Carson Rockwell and Preston Maxwell & Dalton Lee Roth, El Bigote b Robert Storm, Branden Juarez b Hype Gotti and Arik Cannon.  Next show is 4/25 in Omaha at the Waiting room Lounge.
  • Border Town Wrestling on 3/24 in Port Erie, ONT
  • XICW on Sunday in Fraser, MI at the Fraser Lions Club Banquet Hall at 5:30 p.m. with Shane Douglas, Jimmy Jacobs, Kongo Kong and Shane Mercer.  They also run 3/18 in Warren, MI at the Hot Rock Sports Bar.       
  • Hoosier Pro Wrestling on 4/7 in Columbus, IN at the 4-H Fairgrounds.
  • Black Label Pro Wrestling on Saturday night in Crown Point, IN at the On the Square Sports Academy with Nick Gage vs. Teddy Hart, Dasher Hatfield vs. CW Anderson and The Warlord appearing.
  • An interview with former WWE ref Danny Davis.
  • The latest Nick Aldis NWA video production.

Today in Professional Wrestling History: The Wild Samoans win WWF tag titles

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