Daily Update: Ospreay, upcoming NJPW matches, Tom Lawlor

THE ROUND-UP

THE LATEST NEWS

THE LATEST AUDIO

We’re looking for reports from tonight’s WWE Raw show in Macon, GA and Smackdown in Lexington, KY, as well as last night’s Raw show in North Charleston, SC to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

We’re also looking for your thoughts on today’s New Japan Sakura Genesis show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

The WrestleMania go-home Raw is Monday night in Atlanta at Phillips Arena. Announced are a face-to-face confrontation with HHH, Stephanie McMahon, Ronda Rousey and Kurt Angle, as well as Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor. The show will also feature the climax of the John Cena / Undertaker storyline as well as the final angle between Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar.

There is also a Smackdown house show on Monday night in Knoxville.

The final main roster show before WrestleMania is the Smackdown / 205 Live / Mixed Match Challenge tapings on Tuesday in Nashville. The finals of MMC with The Miz & Asuka vs. Bobby Roode & Charlotte Flair will take place as well as Mark Andrews vs. Drew Gulak.

​F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Another chapter in Daniel Bryan’s unbelievable journey

When Daniel Bryan chronicled his “improbable journey” to the main event of WrestleMania in his first book in 2015, there’s no way that he could have known how unbelievable the story of his career would end up being. A day that, not long ago, seemed like it was never going to come arrived last Tuesday as WWE announced that Bryan has been medically cleared to wrestle for the company. “Following more than two years of extensive evaluations, four-time World Champion Daniel Bryan has been medically cleared to return to in-ring competition by leading neurosurgeons, neurologists and concussion experts, including Dr. Robert Cantu, Dr. Javier Cárdenas and Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher,” WWE’s statement said.

WON NEWSLETTER: April 2, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Changes to Wrestlemania card, more

An update on WrestleMania, with changes in he show, rumors about the show, ticket sales for all the major events of the week and what shows have the most and least interest is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

This issue has full coverage of New Japan going to the Cow Palace, the background of how that happened, notes on the Long Beach show with match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results. Also look at a Friday night show that week, the situation with Rey Mysterio Jr., thoughts on the main event, this week’s biggest shows and future booking.

Read the updated WWE/Hulk Hogan situation.

Examine the notes on PWG leaving its home base in Reseda and full coverage of the weekend show, the PWG business, and match-by-match coverage with star ratings.

Also inside is a full events calendar for WrestleMania week with the non-WWE and ROH shows, how the rules for independent shows will differ from those of WWE shows, and where the big stars and key matches will be taking place.

We also look at two lawsuits against WWE that were thrown out and why, and thoughts on both why they were and what questions they bring up. There is also more on the Greatest Royal Rumble show and the big ethical question everyone is avoiding.

Look at Vince McMahon’s competition for a spring football league and moves that they are making. Plus, get the update on Bryan Danielson, Charlotte Flair, changes in commercial content on Raw coming soon, as well as the latest plans for after WrestleMania.

There is a ton of WWE Hall of Fame news, non-wrestling news involving Paul Heyman, Ronda Rousey media, former WWE star to host a television show, key live dates for the next year, future of Jim Ross, and lots of women wrestlers defend Moolah and others who don’t.

Find out more on John Cena’s acting gigs, Ric Flair starting a new company, new DVD releases for 2018, update on Dean Ambrose, UK TV ratings, most-watched shows on the WWE Network as well as a rundown of all the WWE live evens over the past week with highlights and business notes.

Check out the weekly coverage of all the ratings of the major shows, 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.

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. 

Rates in the United States are $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to moonsault@mediaplusint.com. For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52. If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.)

If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can choose one free classic issue, or two free classic issues with a 40-issue subscription.

SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

As noted earlier, the status of Will Ospreay is up on the air after the match with Marty Scurll today at Sumo Hall. If you didn’t see it, the entire show was great but the last three matches were way worth going out of your way to see.

These look like the matches that will be taking place on 5/3 and 5/4 in Fukuoka, or at worst Dominion on 6/9 in Osaka:

  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP heavyweight title
  • Minoru Suzuki vs. Tetsuya Naito for the IC title
  • Hirooki Goto vs. Juice Robinson for the Never title
  • Will Ospreay vs. Kushida for the IWGP jr. title
  • Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Bushi & Hiromu Takahashi for IWGP jr tag titles
  • Evil & Sanada vs. Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. for the IWGP tag title

Tom Lawlor returned after a broken forearm for Prestige Wrestling last night in Hermiston, OR. His forearm was heavily wrapped up and wrestled MV Young in the main event. So Lawlor will be doing all advertised matches from this point forward.

Justin Roberts’ book “Beat Seat In The House,” which is a very honest look at WWE in the early and mid 00s, will be on sale today only for 99 cents at Amazon.com for the Kindle/eBook version.

Bobby Razak’s documentary, “Mask,” about Charles “Mask” Lewis, the brains behind the original Tapout brand, will be released nationally on Tuesday.

David Starr missed yesterday’s AAW show due to a shoulder injury.

WWE

  • The WWE will be adding an Andre the Giant collection to the Network on Monday. Among the matches are a 1976 Madison Square Garden match with Ernie Ladd, a 1976 Andre & Billy White Wolf & Jay Strongbow vs. Bruiser Brody & The Executioners (Killer Kowalski & John Studd), Andre vs. Hulk Hogan from 1980 at Shea Stadium, Andre vs. Killer Khan in a stretcher match in 1981, Andre & Dusty Rhodes & Junkyard Dog vs Ernie Ladd & The Samoans from Mid South Wrestling, Andre vs. Blackjack Mulligan from 1982 in Madison Square Garden, Andre & JYD & Mil Mascaras vs. Killer Khan & Hercules Hernandez & Tully Blanchard from Mid South, Nick Bockwinkel vs Andre for the AWA title, and tons of other stuff.
  • Big Show is scheduled to ring the opening bell tomorow at the New York Stock exchange.
  • John Cena will be on Desus & Mero on Viceladn on Monday.
  • Dwayne Johnson will be on Ellen DeGeneres and Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday.
  • John Cena will be on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Wednesday.
  • Bill Goldberg was in attendance and talked about last night at the Glory show in Long Beach. On the Netherlands feed, the commentators put him over huge, talked about WCW, his going into the Hall of Fame and last year’s WrestleMania match with Brock Lesnar. (thanks to Henk Mulder) 

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Patti “Moo Moo the Cow” Cavin, a large woman heel during the 70s for Roller Games, passed way in England at the age of 75. She had been living in the country. She was mostly a heel although at one point was a babyface on the T-Birds. She was also known for her role as Big Bertha Baglioni, the large woman heel who had a match race with K.C. Carr, who was played by Raquel Welch (and stunt doubled by Judy Arnold) in the 1972 movie “Kansas City Bomber.” Yes, I don’t know if you could get away with that nickname today. (thanks to Tom Wersderfer)
  • Impact has a press conference on 4/6 at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time and 4:30 Central time at the Royal St. Charles Hotel in New Orleans, which will be open to the public. Impact will also be streaming 30 hours of content including the Impact vs. Lucha Underground show on their Twitch TV channel.
  • Destiny Wrestling on 4/29 in Mississauaga, ONT. Don Callis will be there to receive an award. Marty Scurll vs. Pete Dunne in an ROH vs. WWE match is the main event, plus Trent Seven & Tyler Bate vs. Sami Callihan & Josh Alexander.
  • Regarding the fan who attacked wrestler Devin Danger after Danger spit on his kid, this took place on 3/24 in Salinas on the combined Big Time Wrestling and Impact show. The show was being taped for a one night only PPV show that is scheduled to air next month. It was the second match of the show, with Danger & Kimo vs. Sledge & Karl Fredericks. The fan landed of lot of punches on Danger, who later apologized. A few of the punches connected as Danger had welts of the side of his face. Danger no sold, didn’t fight back and just continued. But he didn’t tag into the match for several minutes. Security was very slow in responding. The show didn’t really have official security as the security teams were local volunteers. Promoter Kirk White had been advertising on his promotions’ Facebook page a few days before the show that they were looking for volunteers to work as security and help set up the ring in exchange for tickets. A lot of people thought it was all part of the show. The fans were not kicked out and returned to their seat after the match. (thanks to Jon Southerland)
  • On Thursday’s “Gotham” TV show, one of the characters was reading a wrestling magazine called “Gotham Wrestling” that was modeled after Pro Wrestling Illustrated. (thanks to Joe Puccio)
  • Best of the West on 4/15 in Visalia, CA at the Veterans Memorial Building with Kenny K vs. Virgil Flynn, Ruby Raze vs. Lisa Lace and Mark Ericks & Sledge defending the tag titles against The Classic Connection.
  • Rise has a free podcast show and meet and greet on 4/6 at the Royal St. Charles Hotel in New Orleans at Noon to 3:30 p.m. Kevin Harvey and wrestlers from Rise are expected to be at the Impact press conference at 4:40 p.m. on 4/6.
  • International Big Time Wrestling on 4/22 in Westland, MI at the Token Lounge at 3 p.m. There will be a Hall of Fame presentation honoring Gary Woronchak, a promoter turned politician in the area, referee A.T. Huck, Mikey Doyle, manager Dave Drason, El Brassero and Dr. Jerry Graham Jr. 
  • Skyline Wrestling announced a benefit show for Bill Robinette taking place 5/5 in Chicago at the Copernicus Club, with Dan Severn, Ken Shamrock, Ryan Shamrock, Jerry Lawler, Tom Lawlor, Pepper Parks, Brian Pillman Jr., Tito Santana, Rick Martel and others.
  • Pete Dunne vs. Mike Burr has been added to the Progress show in Melbourne. Jack Bonza & Mick Moretti vs. Trent Seven & Tyler Bate will be in Sydney on the Progress show.
  • The BCW promotion in Melbourne, Australia is doing a woman’s tournament and bringing in Lisa Marie Varon aka Victoria aka Tara. Varon and Rey Fenix will be at the Wrestling Go show on 4/28 and 4/29 in Sydney. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • NFC MMA announced a return to the Electric Cowboy in Kennesaw, GA on 4/27.
  • Joey Ryan headlines for All Star Wrestling on 4/28 in Surrey, BC at the Alice McKay building on the Cloverdale, BC  Fairgrounds. Ryan faces Christopher Ryseck in the main event. They also run a 4/14 show in the same building. 

Daily Professional Wrestling History: WrestleMania X-7

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