Daily Update: Raw, HHH added to upcoming house shows, Orton

THE ROUND-UP

The Latest from the F4W Staff

NEWS

AUDIO

We’re looking for reports on today’s Raw in Green Bay with any dark matches, Main Event matches and anything else not on the live show, as well as the Smackdown house show from Dubuque, IA, to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

We’re also doing polls on both Sunday and today’s shows at Korakuen Hall to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

Raw will be live on Monday from Green Bay, WI. Bill Goldberg’s return is being promoted for what is the go-home show for Fast Lane. Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman are also booked on the show. Seth Rollins will be doing an interview regarding HHH and WrestleMania.

Smackdown and 205 Live will be Tuesday from St. Paul featuring an A.J. Styles vs. Luke Harper match which supposedly will be for the WrestleMania title shot.

NEW JAPAN AT KORAKUEN HALL WEDNESDAY MORNING AT 4:30 A.M. EASTERN ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • Yujiro Takahashi vs. Tomoyuki Oka
  • Rocky Romero & Baretta & Yoshi-Hashi & Jado vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi & Desperado & Taka Michinoku
  • Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Kenny Omega & Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga & Tanga Roa
  • Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma & Jushin Liger vs. Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii & Hirooki Goto
  • Katsuyori Shibata & David Finlay vs. Minoru Suzuki & Davey Boy Smith Jr.
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Michael Elgin & Juice Robinson & Ryusuke Taguchi & Kushida vs. Tetsuya Naito & Evil & Sanada & Bushi & Hiromu Takahashi
  • Kazuchika Okada & Gedo vs. Tiger Mask & Tiger Mask W

FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: 2/27/2017: Looking ahead to WWE Fast Lane

With WWE’s final pay-per-view before WrestleMania under a week away, the build to Fastlane has been aided by a few of the company’s best television segments of at least the past several months. The Festival of Friendship was perfect. From the timing of it coming before the audience knew for sure that the full turn was happening, the performances of Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho, and even the parts played by the bit characters, everything delivered… Subscribers click here to continue.

WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: February 27, 2017, Massive Ivan Koloff bio, death of George “The Animal” Steele, tons more

A huge feature on the life and career of Ivan Koloff is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, which is available right now. Plus, there are also features on George Steele, Nicole Bass, Johnny K-9, Diamond Dallas Page and Teddy Long.

The Koloff story talks about the most famous match of the 1970s in the U.S., his win over Bruno Sammartino, as well as his loss to Pedro Morales in WWWF title matches, the birth of Ivan Koloff, his days as Red McNulty, his first match with Sammartino, how he got the Koloff gimmick and who he was named after. This issue also looks at his title run with Sammartino the first time in Pittsburgh and then the WWWF, the most one-sided trade in sports history, the return of Koloff for his title win, the angle done to cover Sammartino, and the two big nights in Madison Square Garden.

Have a look at the creation of Ivan Koloff in Quebec and how he first made his name as a major drawing card, and look at his run in Australia where Gary Hart managed him. Plus look at his days in the AWA, Hawaii, St. Louis, Georgia, Florida, the second WWWF run, the role as top heel for the opposition, the tag team with Ole Anderson, his feud with Dusty Rhodes, and the emergence of Nikita Koloff and the other Russians in the 80s.

Examine the career of George Steele, the life and times of Johnny K-9, the strange world of Nicole Bass, and the WWE Hall of Fame inductions of DDP and Teddy Long.

Plus, details about the filming of “Fighting with My Family” after Raw and Smackdown this past week, notes on the movie, the phone calls to C.M. Punk in front of the fans, the Naomi injury, an update on Fast Lane, return of Finn Balor notes, a look at plans for a show after WrestleMania, the busy Raw brand schedule, WWE working with Indies on WWE Network update, WWE market value, most watched shows on WWE Network, plus details of all the WWE & NXT house shows over the past week along with business notes.

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.

WON BACK ISSUE: February 7, 2000, Radicalz debut in WWF, The Rock autobiography review, more

Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Perry Saturn and Eddy Guerrero debuted as The Radicals on the 1/31 Raw show from Pittsburgh in what was considered a big push but it all fell apart the next night in their in-ring debut when Guerrero suffered what appeared to be a serious elbow injury on the 2/1 Smackdown tapings in Detroit. Smackdown, live Raw the previous night, was to be built around the newcomers with the stipulations that they would have a best-of-three series between DX and the Radicals, and if the Radicals won, then Hunter Hearst Helmsley would have to agree to sign them to a WWF contract… Subscribers click here to continue.

MONDAY NEWS UPDATE

Seth Rollins and Ric Flair are both in Green Bay for Raw tonight. I’m presuming Flair will be part of the Charlotte/Bayley angle unless he’s just there for social reasons.

HHH has announced that he will be wrestling on 3/10 in Buffalo, 3/11 in Toronto and 3/26 in White Plains. I believe it will be HHH & Kevin Owens & Samoa Joe vs. Sami Zayn & Finn Balor & Chris Jericho at all three shows. That is at least the current plan for Toronto and White Plains.

Congratulations to Beth Phoenix for her induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. Pretty obvious Edge should be the one doing the inducting.

Not sure why Randy Orton wasn’t at the show in Cedar Rapids last night but he’s not injured. Luke Harper, who had been working with him on house shows, was moved into the main event where they did a four-way title match with Bray Wyatt, Harper, Baron Corbin and John Cena. As noted yesterday, A.J. Styles is also off the weekend Smackdown shows, but is scheduled for TV tomorrow night.

Regarding New Japan World, there is a Wednesday morning show from Korakuen Hall which will only have Japanese language announcing. The shows this coming Monday and Tuesday in Tokyo will both have English language announcing with Kevin Kelly and Don Callis. That makes five shows in nine days in Tokyo, four in the same building.

WWE

  • John Cena hosts the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards which will air live on 3/11 from the Galen Center on the USC campus in Los Angeles. Dwayne Johnson will also be appearing on the show, as will Megan Fox, Kevin Hart, Scarlett Johansson, Felicity Jones, Bruno Mars, Melissa McCarthy, Justin Timberlake and many others.
  • Mad Magazine has a feature on how Linda McMahon will change the Trump Administration, such as that Trump will now be able to use the vast military knowledge of Sgt. Slaughter.
  • The TV show “Billions” on Showtime had a scene where lead character Bobby “Axe “Axelrod, played by Damien Lewis, was compared with Ric Flair, with the line, “the only reason you put Ric Flair in the ring is to get that heat from the crowd.” (thanks to Joe Puccio)

UFC

  • A match where the winner is likely to get a strawweight title shot with Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Claudia Gadelha has been added to the 6/3 UFC PPV show from Rio de Janeiro.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Young Bucks vs. Rey Mysterio Jr. & Dana takes place on 3/25 in Tijuana.
  • There are rumors that Sexy Dulce (formerly Sexy Star) will be the latest to join La Rebelion, the CRASH group that is attempting to market T-shirts together. This could happen tonight in Monterrey.
  • Results from SPW on Friday night in Invercargill, New Zealand: Charlie Roberts won three-way over Mason Daniels and Brook Duncan, Shane Sinclair b Brook Duncan, T-Rex b Hammer, Dr. Feelgood b Michael Richards, Deadly Sins b Young Nats, Jakob Cross b Markus Cool, T-Rex b Kool. (thanks to Steve Ogilvie)
  • Revolution Pro from Friday night in Portsmouth, UK before about 350 fans: Marty Scurll b Ryan Smile, Trent Seven b Dave Mastiff, Colt Cabana & Hornswoggle b Rishi Gosh & Lord Gideon Gray, Joel Redman & Charlie Sterling b Spirit Squad, Penta El Zero M b Pete Dunne. Crowd really liked the main event. (thanks to David Youell)
  • IWF on 4/8 in Nutley, NJ at the Rec Center with Tommy Dreamer and Tito Santana.
  • FEW has a show on 3/4 in Miami Gardens at the FEW Arena. Fans can pick who wrestles who and also the stipulations. Teddy Long will be making an appearance on the show.
  • Ultimate Championship Wrestling from Bay City, MI on Saturday night: Brooklyn Brawler won Battle Royal to get a main event match with Jerry Lawler, Soultaker b Blake Acumen Chuck Wagon & Jay Maynard b Kurt Hendrik & Fabio, Gavin Quinn b Black Bushido, Ben Boone & KC Spinelli b John E. Bravo & Ingrid Isley, Joe Coleman & Idris Abraham b Palmer Cruise & Xavier Walker, Hakim Zane won three-way over Jake Something and Danny Shay, Jerry Lawler NC Brooklyn Brawler when both men attacked referee TK Parker. (thanks to Leonard Brand)
  • With all the unfortunate deaths last week, this week we take a look at some of the famous “Television Tributes” in wrestling.

F4W / WO EMPIRE WRESTLEMANIA GROUP INFO

BUS INFO:

  • The Empire bus to WrestleMania will cost $50.00 and will be round trip from Rosen Inn at 9000 International Drive 32819 (a few blocks away from Wrestlcon). THERE ARE ONLY 5 SEATS LEFT!
  • The bus will leave at 3:30pm (time subject to change) for WrestleMania and will leave WrestleMania no later then one hour after the show. If you would like a seat email Ed at f4wfan@hotmail.com or message him on the BOARD~! for Paypal payment instructions.

DINNER INFO:

  • WHAT: Dinner at Texas de Brazil
  • WHEN: Friday March 31st
  • WHERE: 5259 International Dr Ste F1, Orlando, FL 32819 at 5 p.m. (they may open at 4:30 for us)
  • WHO: All your best empire buddies, including BIG DAVE MELTZER
  • DETAILS: The cost of the dinner will be $68.00 which includes the dinner, salad bar, soft drinks and tea, and dessert, tax and tip. This is a pre pay dinner and you can send payment to paypal at Srjaialaiot@yahoo.com (please send as a gift to a friend). Payments must be made by March 24th (if you wait until after that, Ed will charge an extra $5.00 for being a pain).

Pro Wrestling Tees is now carrying our latest line of F4W shirts. Support the Empire~! Grab yours today!

    Today in professional wrestling history (2/27): NXT takes over

    CONTACT INFORMATION

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