Daily Update: Raw, World of Sport press conference, SummerSlam

THE ROUND-UP

The Latest from the F4W Staff

NEWS

AUDIO

It’s a quiet weekend heading into WrestleMania in a week which would be the craziest weekend of the year.

We’re looking for reports on WWE in White Plains, NY featuring HHH & Samoa Joe & Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn & Finn Balor & Chris Jericho, plus Smackdown in Raleigh, NC.

Raw will be Monday in Philadelphia at the Wells Fargo Center with a Seth Rollins vs. HHH contract signing, plus Undertaker, Brock Lesnar and Bill Goldberg all appearing. There is also a Smackdown brand house show in Norfolk, VA on Monday night.

FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: 3/20/2017: Is AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon the right match for Wrestlemania?

While the decision to have AJ Styles face Shane McMahon at WrestleMania has drawn criticism from a lot of people, I’ve remained mostly ambivalent about the matchup. Or at least that’s how I felt until last Tuesday’s episode of SmackDown. The seven weeks between Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania kept the feud between Styles and Shane from really building until now, but it was surprisingly worth the wait when it did… Subscribers click here to continue.

WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: March 27, 2017: WWE potentially buying ROH, Jan Ross passes away, more

This week’s lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is regarding ROH, WWE and the current situation with ROH. It looks at the ramifications of a possible purchase, and how a sale changes the dynamics of the industry far past just ROH.

There is an update on the WrestleMania situation, with notes on new matches and plans, as well as ticket sales and matches throughout the weekend.

There are notes on the unique story involving Impact Wrestling making a deal with AAA as well as a current deal with The Crash, which has all kinds of strange political implications. Plus, look at Impact planning a potential PPV show to be held in Mexico, the unique contractual hurdles involved, and recent changes in AAA writing.

An update on the Paige situation can be read about.

There are also a number of WWE Hall of Fame updates, how the Hall of Fame has changed, an update on Mauro Ranallo, an update on Shinsuke Nakamura, more on the WrestleMania 32 attendance, Kurt Angle talks his return, lots more people coming to WWE, Fan Axxess plans and matches scheduled, WWE responds to a concussion lawsuit, plus the most watched shows of the week on WWE Network.

Check out the notes on all the WWE and NXT arena events over the past week, with in-ring highlights, results, crowd reactions and business notes.

Inside has full coverage of the New Japan Cup finals, as well as the other tournament matches, plans for the next month in Japan including the next three New Japan World live events.

There is a major feature on the retiring Manami Toyota, arguably the greatest female wrestler of all-time, talking about her background, her heyday, the boom of women’s wrestling, the Crush Gals and Beauty Pair era, the show where Toyota first got over, and so many of her awards.

Finally, look at CMLL’s first major show of the year with business notes, who is Pierroth, and match-by-match coverage with tar ratings.

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 28, 2000, WCW Super Brawl review, Super J Cup, plus tons of news

There is little to say about SuperBrawl 2000 other than James Brown was there and got a big reaction, and the crowd popped pretty big for Hulk Hogan’s ring entrance. It was a WCW show filled with young guys who the crowd doesn’t know or care about and old guys that the crowd knows but isn’t interested in except as short-term nostalgia acts. The big surprise of Sting returning meant little. The return of Roddy Piper returning was really sad, and showing clips of the 1989 Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk I Quit match only emphasized how great they once were compared to what the company puts out today, and how much older they’ve gotten… Subscribers click here to continue.

SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer Radio. We’ll be talking all the weekend news plus taking questions that you can send to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com.

Jeff Jarrett is flying to the U.K. for the press conference tomorrow to announce all the details of the World of Sport series on ITV. The new Observer has a lot of details on the plans.

Jan Ross, who passed away on Wednesday, was an organ donor and all of her internal organs were in good shape. The one silver lining out of the tragedy of her death is that four people are going to be able to live better lives due to it. If anything, this is a message because sometimes this is no preparing and age and health and don’t guarantee anything but if you are an organ donor, you can help someone who was often dealt a bad hand live a better life.

Tomorrow’s Raw at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia is sold out. There will legitimately be nearly 15,000 people there which will make it among the best attended WWE shows of the year.

As expected, SummerSlam tickets at the Barclays Center sold out the first day they were put on sale. 

A Muay Thai fighter from Scotland was found dead yesterday due to what is suspected to be heat stroke while cutting weight for a fight in Thailand. Jordan Donald, 22, who used the name Jordan Lamnammoon and sometimes Jordan Coe was wearing a thick sweatshirt and trying to lose seven pounds to make weight for a fight today. There is a reason we talk about this issue and why in MMA most people on the medical and regulatory side are very concerned about this issue. This isn’t a theoretical. Guys get hospitalized from this all the time and fighters have died or been very close to death from it. And this was a guy just trying to lose seven pounds, which is an easy cut for most fighters, not the 20 pound variety which isn’t unusual. (thanks to Shawn Cathcart)

WWE

  • A story on the Brock Lesnar vs. Bill Goldberg match at WrestleMania and their first match in 2004 with comments from a number of people including Paul Heyman is here.
  • Add former women’s champion Eve Torres Gracie to the list of those being brought in for WrestleMania according PW Insider. As noted here, a number of former women’s stars were contacted months ago about being part of the weekend.
  • An elderly fan passed away at the WWE event last night in Portland, ME. He collapsed and fell out of his seat early in the show, at the start of the second match on the card, which was a six-man tag with R-Truth & Goldust & Curtis Axel vs. Shining Stars & Titus O’Neil. Most fans at the show didn’t know this even happened. EMTs at the arena gave him CPR for about 20 minutes before he was rushed to Maine Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
  • Pat Laprade has a story on the Sami Zayn-Kevin Owens interaction on Friday night when they became the first Quebec natives to headline a show at the Bell Center in Montreal in 23 years.

UFC

  • Another long story on UFC that ties in Putin and Trump and more questions is here. (thanks to Lee Wall)

MISCELLANEOUS

  • The Cauliflower Alley Club convention is 5/1 to 5/3 in Las Vegas at the Gold Coast Hotel. I’m being honored there this year and here is info on who else is being honored and all the activities for the week. They also have an article on me here.
  • Mike Mooneyham has a story on Christopher Daniels.
  • The Lilian Garcia episode of The Price is Right will be airing on 3/31.
  • Alpha 1 Wrestling on 6/18 in Hamilton, ONT at the Knights of Columbus.
  • WCPW on 4/1 at the Orlando Sports Center at 1:30 p.m. has Ricochet vs. El Ligero, Michael Elgin vs. Primate, David Starr vs. Bobby Fish, Joe Hendry vs Matt Striker (this was set up on their TV show), Martin Kirby vs. BT Gunn, Chasyn Rance vs. Grado and Drew Galloway vs. Rampage Brown. There will also be a preshow meet and greet with Jim Cornette, who will be doing the commentary for the show.
  • Pro Wrestling Championship Series from last night in Alton, IL: Adrian Surge won four-way over Austin Blackburn, Matt Knicks and Eric Dzinic, Danny Adams b Mat Fitchett, Alexandre Rudolph b Evan Gelistico, Gary Jay b Angelus Layne, Christian Rose b Sean Orleans, Stevie Fierce & Rob Matter b Mickey McFinnegan & Zakk Sawyers, Makaze b Everett Connors, Davey Vega b Paco Gonzalez. (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
  • Universal Championship Wrestling on 4/15 in Owensboro, KY at the Sportscenter has Scott Steiner vs. Buff Bagwell, Al Snow vs. Simon Dean, Chase Stevens & Chris Michaels vs. Shaun & Shayne Maddox and Taelor Hendrix vs. Kelly Klein plus Koko B Ware, Rob Conway and Sean Casey.
  • The Squared Circle restaurant in Chicago is featured tonight on the TV show “Food Paradise” on the Travel Channel at 8 p.m. Lisa Marie Varon is co-owner of the restaurant where the theme is pro wrestling and they show all the big pro wrestling and MMA events live. (thanks to Jake Koch)
  • ESW from last night in North Tonawanda, NY: RJ City b Space Monkey to win the Ilio DiPaolo Cup, Coconut Jones b Anthony Gaines, Oliver Street Express b Rochester Wrecking Crew to win tag titles, Vince Valor b Ethan Page, Kevin Bennett b DJZ, Big Cat Lemmer b Ron Falco, Gregory Iron & Bobby Sapphire & Roscoe Black b Colin Delaney & Cheech & Frankie Feathers, Cloudy b Tony Kozina, Alex Daniels won four-way over Rickey Shane Page, Punishment Martinez and Bram, Bill Collier b Brandon Thurston, Braxton Sutter b Davey Richards. (thanks to Todd Brantley)
  • Big Time Wrestling from Friday night in Newark, CA before a legit sellout crowd: Zack Muir b Andre LeVeaux, Chico Navarro b Clint Steele, Jade b Dementia D’Rose, Classic connection b Chaos Inc. to win the tag titles, Shane Kody & Devin Danger b Eli Drake & Dylan Bostic, Ryback b Ethan Carter III. (thanks to Jim Davis)
  • The funeral for wrestler Tom Jones took place in Amarillo yesterday. Family and friends gave speeches about him including Johnny Mantell and Terry Funk. It was in the same funeral home that Dennis Stamp had his funeral in last week. 
  • GOUGE from last night in Fuquay Varina, NC before 500 fans: Kool Jay b Metailco, Snooty Fox b Jabroni, Otto Schwanz b Chet Sterling, Juan Jeremi & Waylon Maze b No Direction, Jimmy Jack funk Jr b Head Rush, Tommy Lou Retton b Seymour Snott.
  • Great North Wrestling Cage wars on 5/13 in Smiths Falls, ONT at the Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre with all matches inside an MMA cage headlined by Hannibal vs. Wes Brisco for the Canadian title and Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Jeremy Prophet.
  • Pro Wrestling All-Stars from Friday night in Melvindale, MI: Blake Acumen b Daniel Wolfe, Atlas Hytower d Breyer Wellington, Movado & Ridiculoso b Jay Maynard & Dougie the Creep and Zach Main to win tag titles, Paul Bower b Moose-COR, Zach Gowen b N8 Mattson-DQ Shane Douglas b Great Akuma to win heavyweight title. (thanks to Leonard Brand)
  • Best in the West has a show at 6 p.m. today in Fresno at their school at 5494 E. Lamona Avenue Suite #150 with all seats $5. They return to TV on TV-53 on Sundays at 11 a.m. starting on 4/2. (thanks to Jon Southerland)

Today in Professional Wrestling History (3/26): The last episode of WCW Nitro

F4W / WO EMPIRE WRESTLEMANIA GROUP INFO

BUS INFO:

  • The Empire bus trip, which will be hosted by Leva “Blue Pants” Bates, 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). 
  • 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!

CONTACT INFORMATION

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