Daily Update: Mark Henry and the WWE HOF, AJPW, NJPW

THE ROUND-UP

THE LATEST NEWS

THE LATEST AUDIO

We’re looking for reports on today’s WWE Raw in Oklahoma City, Smackdown in San Angelo, TX and Lucha Underground in Los Angeles to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

Raw is Monday in Dallas. Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka in a non-title match has been announced. They are advertising Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey again this week. Smackdown’s Monday night house show is in Cedar Park TX.

Smackdown will be on Tuesday, also in Dallas.

NEW JAPAN FROM NAGAOKA AT 2 A.M. LATE TUESDAY NIGHT EASTERN TIME ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Looking at the Wrestlemania 34 card

While there are a few more pieces that still need to fall into place, the card for WrestleMania 34 came closer to being finalized at Sunday night’s Fastlane pay-per-view. AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura was made official after Styles retained his WWE Championship in a six-pack challenge against Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, John Cena, Dolph Ziggler, and Baron Corbin. The SmackDown Women’s Championship match was also announced, with Asuka coming out after Charlotte Flair’s win over Ruby Riott and challenging her for WrestleMania.

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.

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, 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, preview the NCAA Wrestling Championships, and take a look at the biggest weekend of the year for pro wrestling in Germany with the 16 Carat Gold Tournament.

This 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.

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

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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

Our weekend radio show is already up. We also have a second weekend show talking about the Jon Bravo video.

WWE has put out a magazine for WrestleMania and listed for Hall of Fame inductees, aside from the ones already announced, is Mark Henry.

I still don’t have more details as far as where to find it, but All Japan’s streaming service will debut at 5:30 a.m. Eastern tomorrow morning as part of a free tryout period with a show from Korakuen Hall featuring Joe Doering & Tajiri & Kai vs. Kento Miyahara & Yoshitatsu & Naoya Nomura as the main event.

Nothing from pro wrestling, boxing, college wrestling or UFC were on the Google trending lists this weekend. As far as sports, it was college basketball (mostly men, some women) and NBA as the dominant things.

At today’s New Japan show, there was a direct tease of a Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada match. After Tanahashi & David Finlay beat Okada & Chuckie T, Okada held up the IWGP belt in front of Tanahashi. Due to the unique scheduling, where New Japan has a show Wednesday, another on Sunday and then another on 4/1, they have big shows with nothing announced. Almost nobody knows the Long Beach card and I doubt it will be announced until Wednesday or Thursday. I would presume Sumo Hall on 4/1 will also be announced later this week, but perhaps they’ll have to wait until after Long Beach next Sunday to complete that show based on directions.

WWE

  • We received all kinds of complaints regarding attempts to purchase Survivor Series tickets on Friday. The problem was a lot of people could only be allowed to purchase $100 or $500 tickets. It was noted the problem was with AXS doing the tickets instead of Ticketmaster.
  • Hillbilly Jim told TMZ that he wants Hulk Hogan to induct him into the Hall of Fame.
  • Bill Apter talks to Joyce Grable defending Fabulous Moolah.
  • Guitar World talks to Elias. (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)
  • A story on the Usos from the Pensacola newspaper, the city where they grew up.
  • A story on Chris Jericho and Fozzy coming to Milwaukee.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • AAW from Friday night in Marionette Park, IL before 720 fans for the 14th anniversary show: Ace Romero b Hakim Zane, Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz b Trey Miguel & Stephen Wolf, Myron Reed b DJZ, Connor Braxton & Curt Stallion & Jake Something b Colt Cabana & Mat Fitchett & Davey Vega, Jessicka Havok b Hudson Envy to keep the women’s title, Sami Callihan b Eddie Kingstom, MJF b Paco, Dave & Jake Crist b Joey Janela & Teddy Hart, Keith Lee b Moose, ACH & Jushin Liger b David Starr & Trevor Lee. Lee vs. Moose said to be the best match. Next show is 3/31 in LaSalle, IL with ACH vs. Keith Lee for the AAW title. Tenille Dashwood debuts on their 4/13 show. (thanks to Jeremy Boone)
  • All Pro Wrestling from last night in Daly City, CA before 850 fans: Styker b Jungle Boy (son of Luke Perry), Grizzly Kat Jack (Clayton Jack, former college wrestling star) & Mad Man Fulton (Sawyer Fulton) b Levi Shapiro & Buddy Royal, Dave Dutra (coming out of retirement) b Rik Luxury-DQ, Flip Gordon won four-way over Douglas;as James, Jordan Devlin and Bison Braddock, Shotzi Blackheart & Hornswoggle b Shamrock & Sumara, Adam Thornstowe & Luster the Legend b Will Hobbs & Marcus Lewis to win the APW tag titles in what was said to be a great match, Jacob Fatu kept APW Internet title over JR Kratos, Synn and Karl Fredricks. (thanks to Matt Mann)
  • AAW also announced an 8/30 show at the Logan Square Arena in Chicago which is the Thursday before the Saturday night All In show.
  • ECCW is doing its 22nd anniversary show on 3/31 at the Molson Canadian Theatre at the Hard Rock in Vancouver.
  • PCW Ultra from Friday night: Hammerstone b Brody King, Eli Everfly b Chris Bey, Flip Gordon b Garza Jr., Kikutaro b Swoggle, Shane Strickland won three-way over Douglas James and Jordan Devlin, Warbeast NC Damian 666 & Bestia 666, Penta 0M b Rob Van Dam. (thanks to Jake Koch)
  • AWE from Friday night in Cocoa, FL: British Wolf won four-way over Alex Todd, Chasyn Rance and Alex Santiago, Deimos b Axx Clover-COR, James Dugan & Rey Xion DDQ Sawyer Fulton & Vertigo Rivera, Leva Bates won three-way over Amber Nova and Tenille Dashwood to become AWE Bombshellls champion, JD Amazing b Chico Adams in two straight falls, Ax Clover b JD Amazing, Wes Brisco & Gangrel b Chris Metro & JC Metro, Jesse Neal DDQ James Storm with Billy Gunn as referee. Next show is 4/30 and it looks like Brothers in Arms & ? vs. Storm & Neal & Gunn as the main event. (thanks to Al Haft)
  • I Believe in Wrestling on 3/31 in Orlando at the Team Vision Dojo.
  • Concrete Davidson, who was on the World Series Wrestling shows in Australia, including working on Friday with the Young Bucks, while playing a strongman character as noted in the Friday update, it’s a comedy character as he’s a small guy who does an old-time circus strongman gimmick but he’s actually small and not that muscular. (thanks to Dan Lennard)
  • Best in the West iPPV from last night in Fresno, CA: Robby Phoenix b Brago Cresnzo in an I Quit match, Diablo Azteca & Desi Derata b Lisa Lace & R.J. Remington, MidnightMarvels b Owen Tavers & Chris Bey, Alexander Bernard b Brandon Pinion to become the new commissioner, Steve Tresario b A.J. Kirsch, Toxic Trent & Danny Rocket b Amish Johnson & Jesse Poole, Eli Drake b Sledge, Kenny K won five-way over Virgl Flynn, Manny Fabrino, Vintage Dragon and Marcus Eriks, Adam Mayhem won three-way over James Storm and Johnny Butabi, Mike Rayne b Funnybone in a cage match to win the Best of the West title. Next show is 4/14 in Visalia, CA at the Veterans Memorial Building. (thanks to Jon Southerland)

Today in Professional Wrestling History: The final WCW PPV

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