Daily Update: Nia Jax vs. Dean Ambrose, Fenix injury, UFC 234

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F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: WWE’s WrestleMania main event decision

While the first women’s WrestleMania main event is all but official at this point, WWE still has a huge decision to make about who will be in it.

In a sense, WWE is playing with house money. Both options that they have are good ones. Whether the main event is Ronda Rousey vs. Becky Lynch for the Raw Women’s Championship or a triple threat between Rousey, Lynch, and Charlotte Flair for the title, it will be the most heated match on the card and fully deserving of its place in the spotlight on WWE’s most important day of the year. 

WON NEWSLETTER: February 11, 2019: NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo review, more

I have no idea how this issue got done. I had surgery on my left little finger which was broken in three places on 1/30, and it seemingly went well.

NJPW – New Beginnings: The two nights together did 10,957 paid with one sellout up from 10,002 last year. Tanahashi & Okada as The Dream Team vs. Jay White & Bad Luck Fale did the same as Tanahashi vs. Suzuki did last year for the IC title but paid was much higher this year for Naito vs. Taichi in Taichi’s hometown than for Kenny Omega vs. Jay White for the U.S, title last year, although both were sellouts.

At Smackdown on Tuesday, several talents with contracts coming due were asked to sign new long-term deals after Dean Ambrose told the promotion he wasn’t going to sign a new contract. 

Ian Riccaboni signed a new contract with ROH to continue as their play-by-play announcer.

UFC held a press conference today. The big heat seemed to be between Tyron Woodley and Kamaru Usman, building up their Welterweight Title fight at UFC 235 on March 2nd. Jon Jones is facing Anthony Smith on that show.

Conor McGregor will not be fighting Donald Cerrone in April. Khabib still claims he is not fighting for a year.

Jose Aldo defeated Renato Moicano, 44 seconds into the 2nd round. First round was very close. But it was the “old Aldo”, just destroyed him. Aldo is still talking about retiring at the end of this year. 

Filthy Tom Lawlor is the new MLW champion defeating Low Ki at their super fight one hour Bein Sports TV special from the 2300 (ECW) Arena in Philadelphia.

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SATURDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • It appears that Nia Jax and Dean Ambrose will be facing off in at least one intergender match, with WWE advertising Jax vs. Ambrose in an “intergender special attraction match” for a house show in Jonesboro, Arkansas on Friday, February 22. Ambrose faced EC3 at last night’s Raw-brand event. Jax and Tamina were involved in an angle where they attacked Bayley, Natalya, and Dana Brooke.
  • Paige tweeted about the Jax vs. Ambrose advertisement: “Yessss an actual intergender match!! Couldn’t be happier for my girl @NiaJaxWWE killing it every damn day! You better werkkkk sis!”
  • Apollo Crews and his wife Linda welcomed the birth of their second child. The baby’s name is Kai Isaac.
  • PWInsider reported that WWE Studios is partnering with Netflix to develop films that will be “directed towards family audiences.”
  • After she used the phrase on this week’s Raw, Ronda Rousey’s website is selling “Ice + Advil B*tch” T-shirts. A portion of the proceeds are going to Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services.
  • Former WWE wrestler Eva Marie has been evicted from Celebrity Big Brother season two.

Pro Wrestling

  • AAW tweeted an update on Fenix’s injury: “UPDATE on @ReyFenixMx – He has been treated and released from the hospital with a muscle contusion. He is feeling good and will be back up to 100% after some rest. We thank you all for your concern and for making #LUCHACITY such wonderful time!”
  • ROH will be making their Pacific Northwest debut this June. They’re heading to Kent, Washington on Saturday, June 1 and Portland, Oregon on Sunday, June 2. Both shows are named “State of the Art” and will air live on HonorClub.
  • Scott Hall, Lita, Magnum TA, Tommy Dreamer, Ricky Steamboat, Sean Waltman (X-Pac), Konnan, Jerry Lynn, David Arquette, Colt Cabana, Joey Ryan, and Kevin Nash have been added to the Double or Nothing weekend Starrcast convention.
  • This week’s MLW Fusion episode has been uploaded to YouTube. It features Tommy Dreamer & The Sandman vs. Brian Pillman Jr. & Davey Boy Smith Jr., Puma King vs. Gringo Loco, and Myron Reed vs. DJZ.
  • Fenix & Pentagon Jr. have been announced for MLW’s Intimidation Games event in Cicero, Illinois on March 2.
  • Mike Mooneyham wrote a remembrance of the late Les Thornton.
  • Dynamite Kid’s nephews Mark and Thomas Billington will be wrestling at a show at Ormskirk Civic Hall in England tomorrow.

UFC/MMA

  • The UFC issued a statement confirming that Robert Whittaker and Kelvin Gastelum’s middleweight title fight is off tonight’s PPV and Anderson Silva vs. Israel Adesanya in a three-round fight is the new main event: “Due to a severe abdominal injury requiring emergency surgery, UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has been forced to withdraw from his UFC 234 main event against Kelvin Gastelum. The new main event, which airs live on Pay-Per-View, will be a three-round middleweight bout between Anderson Silva and Israel Adesanya. Making his debut in Australia, former longtime middleweight champion Silva will attempt to move one step closer to regaining his crown when he tackles dynamic striker Adesanya, the UFC’s breakout star of 2018, in a bout with title implications. Elevated to the co-main is the lightweight matchup between Albuquerque action hero Lando Vannata and surging Brazilian Marcos Mariano. Due to change in the main event, customers may request a full refund of their purchased tickets at the point of sale.”
  • Gastelum also posted his own statement and wished Whittaker a speedy recovery: “With much sorrow I write that my fight for the middleweight title is off. I’m sorry to everyone that was expecting this great fight, Family , friends and followers from around the world. God has a reason for doing things and I firmly believe his plans are much bigger and better than I can even imagine. I’m so torn about this situation. A lifetime of pursuit to be able to reach this level and I hope none of these efforts will go in vain. #andnew #OnAmission4Gold”
  • Chael Sonnen claimed that Bellator gave him permission to face Silva if the UFC wanted to rebook the card with Gastelum vs. Adesanya.
  • Silva got emotional at the weigh-ins for UFC 234 and spoke to the crowd: “Thank you guys, thank you. I worked my entire life in this sport, and I tried to do my best. And I say thank you God for giving me one more time…to give a great show for you guys.”

Daily Pro Wrestling History: The Midnight Rider defeats Ric Flair

Ed in San Antonio presents the WRESTLEMANIAWeekend Events (more to be added):

  • Sunday, April 6th, at 12:00 pm: Lunch (all you can eat) at Churrascaria Plataforma ($90 per person), located at 316 W. 49th street in Manhattan. Purchase tickets here~!
  • Luxury Bus to MetLife Stadium for Wrestlemania: We will depart from the Hilton Midtown (site of Wrestlecon) located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas. Departure time is 4:00 pm and will return from MetLife approximately 30 mins after the event. Times are subject to change, and cost $67.00 per person for the round trip. Purchase tickets here~!

CONTACT INFORMATION