Daily Update: The Revival, WWE notes, Shingo Takagi

DAILY UPDATE

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WON NEWSLETTER: February 3, 2020 Observer Newsletter: Royal Rumble review, WM 36 takes shape

A look at the current WrestleMania card, as well as what big name is being talked with, what big name is not on the card, as well as the Royal Rumble decision making is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

We also have complete Rumble coverage including a table with each participant, how long they were in, eliminations, number of entry and exit and more.  We look at Vince McMahon’s change in the winners in the last week, the stories told in the Rumble, why the winners were changed, the return of Edge, his new contract, how he got such a big deal, the WWE injuries, the Andrade drug test failure, those who were not in the Rumble and why, business notes on the way and what are expected to be the biggest wrestling crowds of the year.  We also look at viewer interest in the show, the interest as compared to the UFC 246 show, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.

The new issue also covers: 

The sale of Pro Wrestling NOAH to CyberAgent, more on big companies buying wrestling franchises, plans for NOAH under the new ownership and the relationship with DDT as it stands right now.

UFC 246, with show notes, business notes and match-by-match coverage.

Worlds Collide with match-by-match coverage, star ratings, business notes and what did and didn’t work on the show.

Changes in the WWE house show business and why.  We look at both the positive and negative of it. We also look at the behavior of Vince McMahon at the Rocky Johnson funeral, the incident with Brock Lesnar and Matt Riddle, new contracts signed, wrestler asking for her release, WWE Canadian numbers, Charlotte Flair talks Kairi Sane concussion, new WWE signees, the most-watched shows on the WWE Network and house show coverage.

New Year’s Dash from New Japan, the Jushin Liger retirement ceremony, match-by-match coverage with star ratings and the angles coming out of the show.

A bio on Hercules Ayala, one of the biggest stars of the glory days of Puerto Rican wrestling, covering how he started there, his work outside Puerto Rico, how he first got into Stampede Wrestling, his biggest matches on major stadium events including major bouts with Ric Flair and Randy Savage, his heel turn with Carlos Colon, the aftermath of the death of Bruiser Brody and how he was used to try and get the business back.

NWA Hard Times PPV show.

A bio on Carlos Rocha, the Portuguese star who was one of the biggest drawing cards in North America in 1971 and 1972 with his bloodbaths against The Sheik and Abdullah the Butcher. We look at those feuds as well as look back at The Sheik in Toronto during the period when he was one of the biggest single city draws in pro wrestling history, and how his undefeated streak put limits on the Rocha feud. We look at how Sheik vs. Rocha was the biggest drawing Toronto feud of the era, and why he outdrew Andre, Bruno, Bobo Brazil and all the other major Sheik foes in Toronto. We also look at his return to North America and his retirement run in the WWWF.

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.

SATURDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • Scott Dawson tweeted about the reaction fans have had to The Revival requesting their releases from WWE: “If we settle, you guys say we’re lazy & complacent. If we try to be better, you guys say we’re whining & complaining. Make up your mind.”
  • In an interview with Sports Illustrated, John Cena called Brock Lesnar the best in-ring performer of all time: “I’m proud to say I watched the Royal Rumble from my own home on the WWE Network and I thought the event, and especially the Rumble, was absolutely awesome, so if you watched from Houston or if you were in the audience it really didn’t seem like I was missed. I thought the event was extra special. It was great to be able to watch it as a fan and not endure any fear of missing out and just enjoy the event. And I can say with the utmost sincerity that I believe Brock Lesnar is [the] best in-ring performer that I’ve seen and I know it’s an opinion, and if you want a cool quote, here it is: I think he’s the best in-ring performer of all time. I thought his performance at the Rumble was a clinic on how to establish yourself, how to establish those around you, establish the championship, establish the importance of one event. He did so in less than 30 minutes, and I certainly don’t have the skill set to do that, and it was awesome to be able to see a masterclass man put on a clinic on what to do and how to do it and I was really impressed with the Rumble.”
  • Cena was also asked if performing at this year’s WrestleMania is a goal for him: “Performing at WrestleMania this year would be a gift. I haven’t been intertwined in the machine of the WWE. I know those WrestleMania spots are few and far between. I’ve expressed that I’m off. But I’ve also expressed that I live in Tampa. I will for sure be at the event and I have great trust in the process and I have great faith in Vince McMahon not only as a boss, but as so much more than that. As a friend, as a mentor. If he were to tell me that he needs me, I would absolutely be active in whatever capacity, whether it would be like last year in New York rapping my way to the ring or the year before being a fan in the stands. There is no job too small.”
  • After her return at the Royal Rumble, Naomi officially joined the SmackDown roster last night. She confronted SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley and laid her out with a springboard kick after Bayley attacked her.
  • Drew McIntyre will be the guest on WWE Backstage on Tuesday.
  • CM Punk noted that his next appearance on Backstage will be on February 11.
  • In a tweet today, Triple H thanked Rob Gronkowski for the invite to his Super Bowl Beach Party and wrote that Gronkowski should come to SummerSlam: “Thanks for the invite to the Beach Party @RobGronkowski… maybe you should come to our party in Boston … heard it’s the biggest of the summer. @StephMcMahon”
  • Today is Ronda Rousey’s 33rd birthday.
  • NXT Cruiserweight Champion Jordan Devlin will make his 205 Live debut next Friday.
  • Oney Lorcan made his return to 205 Live last night, saving Danny Burch from Brian Kendrick and Ariya Daivari.
  • Ryback sent out a tweet asking WWE to let the trademark for “Ryback” go: “Publicly asking @wwe @VinceMcMahon @TripleH to let the Ryback trademark go. It wasn’t created by them and trying to make someone spend nearly 200K to keep their legal name and brand is petty and unnecessary. Please move on and erase me from your history and programming.”
  • The XFL announced a “Team 9” that will consist of players available to fill roster spots on other teams.

Other Wrestling

  • In the main event of NJPW’s New Beginning in Sapporo night one, Shingo Takagi defeated Hirooki Goto to win the NEVER Openweight Championship. SHO was doing commentary for the match and had a staredown with Takagi after.
  • Night two of the New Beginning in Sapporo will begin at 1 a.m. Eastern time overnight tonight. Here’s the card for the show:
    Kazuchika Okada vs. Taichi
    RevPro British Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. defending against Will Ospreay
    Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & Hiromu Takahashi vs. KENTA, Jay White & Taiji Ishimori
    Jon Moxley, SHO, YOH & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI
    Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & Robbie Eagles vs. Shingo Takagi, EVIL & BUSHI
    El Phantasmo vs. Gabriel Kidd
    Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Yuya Uemura vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Manabu Nakanishi & Tiger Mask IV
    Toa Henare vs. Yota Tsuji
  • Moxley spoke to Fightful about the Chris Jericho cruise: “Being stuck on this boat for four days, I’m like ‘Alright, I gotta be stuck on a boat with a bunch of people I don’t know for four days.’ I’m not necessarily claustrophobic, but I’m not so sure I want to be stuck in some tiny little cabin or how big is this boat? Like, my social anxieties and all my neuroses are gonna come to the forefront when I’m stuck on this boat with all these people. It was fun to just wrestle for three days in a row with great fans. I got to wrestle Christopher Daniels for the first time. It’s been over fifteen years since I had my first match, I never happened to cross paths with. He’s a guy I watched when I was a teenager on VHS tapes. Legends. To be able to get in the ring with, cross another guy off the list. He’s one of those guys you just want to work [with], too. My point, bringing up the boat, was all these people are on their vacation or whatever, but for me every day is a f*cking vacation. I get to wrestle for a living. So, I don’t need to go to the Bahamas to have a vacation. I’m in Cleveland, I’m on vacation. Next week in Huntsville, I’ll be on vacation. Tokyo, I’ll be on vacation. It’s a great life.”
  • Chris Jericho wrote about his son Ash starting his high school wrestling career: “What an awesome feeling seeing @ash_irvine924 on the mat and beginning his high school wrestling career yesterday!! He is doing something I was never able to do and we are very proud of him!! He’s just getting started, but look out wrestling world… #SonOfJericho is coming for you!”
  • Anthony Henry announced that he’s no longer with EVOLVE Wrestling as of yesterday.
  • Christian Michael Jakobi issued a statement on officially departing wXw on February 28.

MMA

  • During his appearance on the Jim Rome Show, Dana White said that Conor McGregor will probably face the winner of Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson next. White also spoke about McGregor’s performance against Donald Cerrone: “He looked unbelievable in this fight. And for people that are saying Cowboy is shot, Cowboy is this — Cowboy is one of the best and one of the baddest to ever do it and he showed up to win that night and Conor McGregor ran through him like a freight train. McGregor looks better than he’s ever looked. His head’s in the right place. Mentally, physically and emotionally, he is ready to roll and I can’t wait until his next fight.”

Daily Pro Wrestling History: ECW Crossing the Line Again

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