Daily Update: NXT TV taping notes, Fabricio Werdum, WOH

THE ROUND-UP

THE LATEST NEWS

THE LATEST AUDIO

​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.

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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.

WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • NXT is taping television at Full Sail University tonight. The episodes will feature the final build to TakeOver: New Orleans and the continuation of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. There will also likely be an official update on Bobby Fish after he appeared to suffer a significant knee injury over the weekend.
  • Roderick Strong & Pete Dunne replaced Tyler Bate & Trent Seven in the Dusty Classic and faced Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch in the first round.
  • NXT also introduced the North American Championship as a secondary singles title and EC3 debuted at the tapings. The first champion will be crowned in a ladder match with EC3 and five other wrestlers at TakeOver.
  • Teasing a potential match between the two, WWE.com posted an article about Ricochet and Velveteen Dream going back and forth on Twitter.
  • Fabricio Werdum told MMA Fighting that he wants to compete in the UFC and WWE at the same time and initially said that he has a meeting with a WWE representative in San Diego on Thursday. But Werdum then tweeted that he spoke about maybe doing lucha libre: “Hey guys to make it clear I spoke about maybe doing Lucha libre in México. Not WWE. I meant wwe style (pro wrestling) but I am a @ufc fighter and my focus 100% is fighting in the ufc and whatever decision I make after my fighting career @danawhite @Mickmaynard2 will be involved.”
  • Alexa Bliss & Braun Strowman defeated Naomi & Jimmy Uso last night to move on to the semifinals of Mixed Match Challenge. They’ll face Asuka & The Miz in two weeks. Next Tuesday’s match is Lana & Rusev vs. Charlotte Flair & Bobby Roode, with the winning team moving on to face the winners of a “second chance fan vote” in the semifinals.
  • Strowman appeared on TMJ4 in Milwaukee prior to Raw on Monday.
  • Pro Wrestling Sheet reported that Jeff Hardy has gotten the okay from his surgeon and is waiting to be cleared to return to the ring by WWE.
  • Nickelodeon revealed the character art for John Cena’s character in “Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”
  • WBKO in Bowling Green, Kentucky interviewed Hillbilly Jim about being announced for the WWE Hall of Fame.
  • Jeff Jarrett, who’s also in the 2018 Hall of Fame class, appeared at last night’s Nashville Predators hockey game.
  • Jinder Mahal told The Indian Express that it’s his goal to win the WWE Championship again and defend it in India.
  • Former WWE wrestler Eve Torres Gracie and Rener Gracie announced that they’re expecting their second child.
  • WWE is partnering with the Special Olympics on a campaign to end the use of the “r-word.”
  • Cesaro and Sheamus will be the guests on Edge and Christian’s podcast this week.

Pro Wrestling

UFC/MMA

Today in Professional Wrestling History: Bruno Sammartino faces Giant Baba

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