Daily Update: Mixed Match Challenge, John Cena, Matt Sydal

By Joseph Currier
Published: 14 Feb 2018, 16:53

THE ROUND-UP

THE LATEST NEWS

THE LATEST AUDIO

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Can a reboot salvage 205 Live?, pt. 2

It may take a while before we know whether the ongoing 205 Live reboot will be able to salvage the show, but there were positive developments both on television and behind the scenes last week. The most encouraging sign from last Tuesday’s show was Roderick Strong advancing to the second round of the Cruiserweight Championship tournament.

WON NEWSLETTER: February 12, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Wrestlemania plans, All Japan streaming service

An update on the road to WrestleMania, including the future prospects for Brock Lesnar, the story behind Ronda Rousey, changes this past week and what they mean for upcoming shows and the next three PPV cards being looked at is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Look at WWE vs. UFC for Lesnar, the contract term, the comparisons, why his leaving was a given at one point and isn’t right now, changes in the Chamber match and different directions things can go.

Read about the XFL, the weak heel side of WWE, Rey Mysterio Jr. talks WWE return, Takeover for WrestleMania card, Dusty Rhodes tag team tournament, notes on 2019 WrestleMania, changes to 205 Live, storyline stemming from a crazy real-life story, another new Dwayne Johnson project, success of Jumanji, Raw U.K. numbers, debut of Ricochet in WWE, several injury updates, 205 Live touring, advance ticket sales for shows, movie with WWE star, plus some notes on people training this past week at the Performance Center tryouts.

Look at All Japan’s first show of the year and its Champion Carnival tournament, and streaming service.

Find out about the injury to Max Holloway and how UFC has shuffled around booking, what major match is now out the window, who is Yana Kunitskaya and why is she main eventing while having never fought in UFC, what prior ideas UFC had and notes on other major fights the company has tried to put together.

The UFC show in Belem, Brazil is reviewed with thoughts on Mario Yamasaki as referee, weight cutting, and lot of business notes on the show including the most intriguing business note of all when it comes to television and streaming.

This issue covers the debut show of 5 Star Wrestling on Freesports, looking at the matches and direction, as well as the situation with Booker T and Corey Graves as well.

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: January 29, 2001 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Royal Rumble review, Shawn Michaels to return

In what was one of the best PPVs in the history of the WWF, the company gave a big tease for the eventual Rock vs. Steve Austin match which at this point still looks to be the headliner at Wrestlemania, putting Austin over in the Rumble. The show, featuring some strong highs and only a few lows, featured an early match of the year candidate in the Chris Jericho IC title win over Chris Benoit in a ladder match.

WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

Two title matches are set to air on tonight’s episode of NXT. Pete Dunne defends his WWE United Kingdom Championship against Roderick Strong and Shayna Baszler again challenges for Ember Moon’s NXT Women’s title.
Rusev & Lana moved on to the second round of Mixed Match Challenge by defeating Elias & Bayley last night. Though she has wins in NXT, it’s the first time Lana has ever won a match on the main roster. The final first round matchup will take place next week, with Bobby Roode & Charlotte Flair facing Apollo Crews & Nia Jax. The winner of that will face Rusev & Lana in the next round.
Last night’s Mixed Match Challenge currently has 1.5 million views on Facebook, which is in line with what the show has been doing.
Charlotte Flair, Naomi & Becky Lynch vs. Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan & Sarah Logan in a six-woman tag match is set for SmackDown next Tuesday.
Big E tweeted about the significance of The New Day wearing kente cloth this month: “Yes, we’re wearing kente because it’s Black Panther season & Black History Month. No, you should not come for us because you think we’re being divisive & schismatic. Yes, we’re going to take some time to acknowledge our dreads, our Afro puffs, and our chocolatey skin.”
In court documents filed in Ford’s lawsuit against John Cena, Cena claimed that there was nothing in the contract he signed that prevented him from selling a rare Ford GT he bought within 24 months after the sale. Ford alleges that Cena profited off of the car and wasn’t allowed to sell it within two years after being selected in the application process.
PWInsider reported that Big Cass has been working out at the Performance Center recently, though they noted that they haven’t heard he’s been taking bumps in the ring. Cass underwent knee surgery last August to repair a torn ACL.
Titus O’Neil tweeted that he’s in the process of writing a book.
Edge & Christian appeared on the most recent episode of the Steve Austin Show.
The Miz spoke to TV Guide about how being on the Real World helped him prepare for pro wrestling.
Members of the WWE roster revealed their childhood celebrity crushes.

Pro Wrestling

PWG announced that Matt Sydal is off their Neon Knights show on Friday due to injury. Brody King will make his PWG debut and sub in for Sydal against Adam Brooks.
ROH uploaded Tenille Dashwood’s in-ring debut for the promotion on YouTube. Dashwood teamed with Mandy Leon against Stacy Shadows & Kelly Klein. Wrestling has a Tomorrow also posted Dashwood vs. Rachael Ellering (with Lance Storm as special guest referee) for free.
Jeff Cobb posted a picture on Instagram teasing that he was backstage at SmackDown last night.
Applications are now open for NJPW’s two five-day training camps at their new LA dojo in March. The camps aren’t tryouts, but NJPW notes that their officials will be there and that the promotion is always looking for talent. The cost is $500 per person and participants have to provide their own transportation and lodging.
Will Ospreay and Bea Priestley talked their relationship, wrestling in Japan, and Ospreay’s matches with Ricochet and feud with Vader on Talk is Jericho.
In his autobiography, Gedo wrote about meeting Jericho and how hard Jericho has worked throughout his career.
Five weeks after undergoing surgery for a torn achilles, Sonjay Dutt walked without crutches or a walking boot for the first time yesterday.
Joe Hendry qualified for the Commonwealth Games and will be representing Scotland in freestyle wrestling.
Meiko Satomura vs. Jessicka Havok is set for Pancakes & Piledrivers on the morning of April 7th during WrestleMania week.
Jonah Rock is set to make his PROGRESS Wrestling debut against Zack Sabre Jr. in London on February 25th.
Shane Strickland will face Jimmy Havoc in a semifinal World Heavyweight Championship tournament match at MLW’s show in Orlando on March 8th. Matt Riddle vs. Tom Lawlor is the other semifinal and is scheduled for the same show.

UFC/MMA

Jon Jones’ hearing with the California State Athletic Commission over last year’s USADA test failure will take place in Anaheim on February 27th.
Ariel Helwani reported that Yoel Romero is interested in challenging Robert Whittaker for the UFC middleweight title in Miami. Helwani wrote that Romero’s camp pitched the location to the UFC and the company is interested, but nothing is official yet.
Dave Meltzer has an article for MMA Fighting on the UFC 221 prelim ratings. The show averaged 697,000 viewers, which would have been the fifth lowest number for PPV prelims last year.
Joe Rogan said Floyd Mayweather would have a real chance to beat CM Punk in an MMA fight. That’s probably not something that we’re going to find out.
FloCombat interviewed Frankie Edgar about Max Holloway being forced out of their planned fight at UFC 222 due to injury.
Matt Mitrione thinks Bellator’s Heavyweight Grand Prix is the most exciting thing going on in MMA.

Today in Professional Wrestling History: Austin vs. McMahon in steel cage match

WRESTLING OBSERVER / F4W – WRESTLEMANIA 34 in NEW ORLEANS

UPDATED

Here we go again! It’s back to New Orleans for Wrestlemania 34 and a huge weekend of spectacular professional wrestling related fun and wackiness. EdinSanAntonio Productions along with the Wrestling Observer / Figure Four Empire~! is proud to present the annual Wrestlemania weekend trip details. This huge weekend includes a number of website “members only” events. Below are the two events currently scheduled. Click here for full event details.

WOR Podcast Taping:Purchase TICKETS for the Wrestling Observer Radio LIVE MAILBAG~! – ONLY 8 General Admission Tickets Remain!

WHAT: Wrestling Observer Radio LIVE Podcast Recording with Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez
WHEN: Friday, April 6th, 2018 – 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Doors open at 8:45 a.m. for VIP ticket holders and at 9:15 a.m. for general admission)
WHERE: The Bourbon Room, Royal St. Charles Hotel in downtown New Orleans; 135 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130

WO/F4W Brunch:Purchase TICKETS for the Wrestling Oberver BRUNCH~! – SOLD OUT~!

WHAT: All you care to eat brunch buffet on the morning of Wrestlemania
WHEN: Sunday, April 8th, 2018 – T11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Court of Two Sisters restaurant in downtown New Orleans; 613 Royal St., New Orleans, LA 70130

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