Daily Update: Owens vs. Rollins, Elias, Valentina Shevchenko injury

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WON NEWSLETTER: March 30, 2020 Observer Newsletter: WrestleMania continues to change

An update on pro wrestling around the world, where almost everything is canceled, update on WrestleMania, and how every company is handling the situation is the lead story in this week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Why WWE had to tape WrestleMania in advance, update on the card, update on the changes, some of the early changes, what matches were changed from last week and why, many different matches that were talked about as recently as a week ago, PPV price, NXT big matches and the NXT UK next major show.

The new issue also covers: 

The massive stock sale of Vince McMahon, the questions regarding why he would do it, how much of the company he still owns, the television deal with ESPN, and how it compares with airing of big fights from the UFC and boxing on ESPN this week.  We also look at the latest WWE Network free offer and what it entails, how long AEW will be going without fans at shows, why the original plans for last week had to be scrapped, who is iced for now from appearing on AEW TV, how hard it has been to put shows together ad new dates.

Dana White’s comments regarding UFC 249, what he said about testing and what the doctors have said about doing shows right now.  We also look at White’s plans to make up for missed shows, Impact canceling its PPV, the Japanese sports scene, the Governor of Tokyo talks shutting down the city, the difference in stats between Tokyo and New York, and what Korakuen Hall management has decided.

Shows in Japan this past week and decisions made by companies for this coming week.  We look in particular at how New Japan is handling this as compared with other companies.  We look at problems for Americans getting to Japan, when the next possible New Japan show is and what content New Japan has been producing.

The arrest of Jon Jones this past week, details of the arrest and a look back at Jones’ arrests and drug test failures.

The best of the 10s, who were the Best of the Decade as far as the Thesz/Flair Award, MMA Most Valuable, Most Outstanding Wrestler of Fighter, Biggest Box Office Draw, Best Tag Team, Best on Interviews, Most Charismatic, Best Technical, Best Brawler, Best Flyer, Best Promotion, Who had the best matches over the past decade, Best Non-Wrestler and Best Television announcer.

Daniel Bryan also talks his future after his current contract expires, WWE stars make marketing donations, WWE renews major TV deal, U.K. ratings for WWE and AEW, how WWE contract work and how that pressures some wrestlers into signing new deals, behind what Braun Strowman said that caused so much controversy, key exec stock sales, Arn Anderson on what Vince McMahon wanted said about Sting, new WWE movie coming to Netflix, Injury updates, and most-watched shows of the past week on the WWE Network.

A feature on the death of Branko Cikatic, the first K-1 champion and a pioneer on major MMA shows in Japan.  We look at his gigantic career, what star was made in Japan by beating him, the first K-1 World Grand Prix and early Pride shows.

Regarding the Wednesday numbers, we’ve got full details, demos that each side won, how every segment did and what match ended up as the difference maker. 

Full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.

In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.

Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week. 

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@wrestlingobserver.com or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • WWE Backstage returns to FS1 tonight at 11 p.m. Eastern time. The panel will be Renee Young, Booker T, Paige, and Mark Henry from their homes. They’ll be rewatching The Rock vs. Steve Austin from WrestleMania 19, and Charlotte Flair is also set to be on the show as a guest.
  • On Raw last night, Kevin Owens said in his promo that his match against Seth Rollins will be part of night one of WrestleMania 36 on Saturday.
  • WWE issued a storyline update on Elias’ condition after last week’s angle where he was attacked by Baron Corbin and thrown off a perch at the Performance Center: “After undergoing an extensive evaluation, Elias has escaped serious injury and suffered no broken bones, WWE Digital has learned. Despite King Corbin’s heinous assault on last week’s Friday Night SmackDown, Elias has been recovering at a rehab facility and swears that, somehow, some way, he will compete against Corbin at WrestleMania.”
  • A commercial that aired during Raw last night advertised a Miz TV segment with The New Day and The Usos for this Friday’s SmackDown. WWE hasn’t addressed Miz not wrestling at WrestleMania.
  • In an interview with The Mirror, Drew McIntyre said he wants fans to film their reactions and post them on social media if he defeats Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania: “I saw all of the videos of people celebrating when I won the Royal Rumble, in Glasgow, and in Liverpool, and in London, but what I want everyone to do for me this time is film yourselves in your living room, or wherever you may be, and if I pull off the big win, I want to get those videos posted on social media. I want to put it out to the whole world, and the UK especially, I want everyone to film their reaction to watching my WrestleMania match at home. We can’t celebrate in the pubs, or in the arena, but I want everyone to film their reaction if I pull this off!”
  • Sports Illustrated and the Sporting News have interviews with Becky Lynch.
  • Sports Illustrated also has a Q&A with Seth Rollins.
  • ESPN’s Ariel Helwani will be a guest on WWE’s The Bump tomorrow morning. AJ Styles, Shotzi Blackheart, and Humberto Carrillo will also be guests on the episode.
  • WWE touted that they’ve received eight Shorty Awards nominations.
  • WWE has a video on NXT referee Tom Castor’s return from a broken ankle.
  • WWE’s YouTube channel uploaded The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels from WrestleMania 25, Triple H vs. John Cena from WrestleMania 22, Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch from Royal Rumble 2016, and Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman vs. Kane from Royal Rumble 2018.

Other Wrestling

MMA

  • Due to a leg injury, Valentina Shevchenko is out of her title defense against Joanne Calderwood that was scheduled to take place at UFC 251 in Perth, Australia on June 6. Shevchenko told ESPN that she thinks she’ll be healthy and ready by the end of August. Shevchenko also said the injury happened in her fight against Katlyn Chookagian in February and didn’t heal all the way.
  • Daniel Cormier spoke about Jon Jones’ DWI arrest from last week: “For a guy that has these issues, whether it be alcohol, whether it be drugs, that dead time is your worst enemy. Because all those vices start to pull at you, especially when you’re sitting at home with nothing to do, especially if you’re not a person who does that a lot. Seeing him get into trouble again, a lot of people in my circle, they text me almost celebratory. That’s not me. I didn’t celebrate the kid getting in trouble again. I don’t think that you should celebrate or dance on someone’s grave in their darkest moments. You don’t do that to people. Ultimately are you a human being, or does this competition overtake everything? I didn’t take any joy in seeing that kid – or, at 32, he’s a man. He was a kid when he was 23. At 32, I did not enjoy seeing that man in that situation again, because it’s just bad.”

Daily Pro Wrestling History: The first WrestleMania

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