Daily Update: The Rock turns 45, Corgan/NWA, Sean Waltman

THE ROUND-UP

The Latest from the F4W Staff

NEWS

AUDIO

SmackDown and 205 Live take place in Fresno tonight.

NEW JAPAN WRESTLING DONTAKU FROM THE FUKUOKA INTERNATIONAL CENTER ARENA ON WEDNESDAY MORNING AT 3:40 A.M. EASTERN TIME ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • Hirai Kawato & Yoshitatsu vs. Katsuya Kitamura & Tomoyuki Oka
  • Will Ospreay & Yoshi-Hashi vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens
  • Tiger Mask W (Kota Ibushi) & Tiger Mask & Togi Makabe vs. Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi & Jushin Liger
  • Hirooki Goto & Toru Yano & Jado & Rocky Romero & Baretta vs Minoru Suzuki & Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Desperado & Taichi & Taka Michinoku
  • Cody Rhodes vs. David Finlay
  • Juice Robinson & Kushida vs. Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi
  • War Machine vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Roa for IWGP tag team titles
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Ricochet & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Seiya Sanada & Evil & Bushi for Never six man titles
  • Tomohiro Ishii vs. Kenny Omega
  • Kazuchika Okada vs Bad Luck Fale for IWGP heavyweight title

The Raw crew opens the European tour on Wednesday in Rome, Italy.

FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: 4/24/2017: Jinder Mahal’s surprising WWE title shot

WWE’s booking rarely ever manages to be quite as surprising as what happened on last week’s SmackDown. Without any real build or any prior semblance of an ascent to the top of the card, Jinder Mahal became the number one contender for the WWE Championship by winning a six-pack challenge. It shouldn’t have been as surprising as it was given the wrestlers involved in that match, but it was only a week prior that Mahal was introduced to the SmackDown roster in the Superstar Shakeup by losing to Mojo Rawley and once again getting shown up by New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.

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WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: May 1, 2017: Vince McMahon movie in development, Mauro Ranallo/WWE situation, more

The idea of a Vince McMahon movie is actually going to happen and we’ve got some early details on it as the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter; an update on the situation involving WWE and Mauro Ranallo, a look at the next two WWE PPV shows, a guy who in ten months went from an opening round loser on Ultimate Fighter to a viable title contender, a look at the Hall of Fame career of Maurice Smith and the latest from PWG.

Find out who was behind the McMahon movie and how that has changed, as well as the Ranallo situation, what happened and the repercussions and the overall situation, and look at the lineups for the next two WWE PPV shows and the main angles.

Coverage of the weekend UFC show inside.

Check out Dwayne Johnson movie news, new characters being pushed in WWE and why, interesting business dichotomy involving the Indian market, WWE looking for new stars from India, Mick Foley surgery news, A.J. Styles talks his attempting to wrestle Shawn Michaels, Shaquille O’Neal talks why his match with Big Show never happened, Injury updates, wedding update with Dean Ambrose and Renee Young, WWE wrestler leaves for Japan, new gimmicks to existing wrestlers, Shane McMahon and UFC story, WWE with a Japanese icon.

There is more on WWE releases, WWE booking, WWE stock market value, most watched shows on WWE Network, and highlights of all the major TV shows and of the arena matches over the past week.

Look at the career of Maurice Smith, what makes it noteworthy, how he molded MMA, kickboxing and pro wrestling into a long career and one of the most landmark matches in UFC history as well as twice headlining stadium shows as a pro wrestler and holding a kickboxing world title for nearly a decade.

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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: April 10, 2000 Wrestlemania 16 reviewed, NBC buys into the XFL, more

Wrestlemania XVI, the first Wrestlemania that seemed to take on almost Super Bowl or Final Four level proportions as an American institution, turned out like many Super Bowls, with a flat crowd, a been there, done that main event finish ending a disappointing match, and with the exception of a ladder match, which was an amazing stunt show, it was probably not as good as an average episode of Raw. The show ended with Hunter Hearst Helmsley retaining the title when Vince McMahon, instead of Mick Foley, was the one to make the heel turn screwing The Rock at the end.

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TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • The Miz will get the next shot at Dean Ambrose’s Intercontinental title after winning last night’s triple threat main event on Raw. Finn Balor and Seth Rollins were also in that match, with directions for both of them going forward being made clear as well. Rollins’ feud with Samoa Joe will continue after Joe interfered, and Balor’s program with Bray Wyatt will begin after Wyatt cost him the match.
  • In addition to the Chris Jericho vs. Kevin Owens rematch for the United States Championship, Naomi & Charlotte Flair vs. Natalya & Carmella is also set for tonight’s SmackDown.
  • TJ Perkins is now listed on the WWE roster page as only “TJP.” That’s what he was referred to on Raw last night as well. He’ll face Lince Dorado on this week’s 205 Live, with Rich Swann vs. Noam Dar also advertised for the show.
  • Today is The Rock’s 45th birthday. Triple H and Vince McMahon posted happy birthday messages to him on Twitter.
  • Fozzy’s new song “Judas” will be one of the official themes for NXT TakeOver: Chicago.
  • NXT announced three additional upcoming tour dates. Tickets for the shows will go on sale on Friday at 10 a.m. ET:
    June 15th in Richmond, Virginia
    June 16th in Bel Air, Maryland
    June 17th in Poughkeepsie, New York
  • WWE posted a video hyping content that will be coming to the Network soon. An episode of WWE 24 focusing on Finn Balor and his comeback from injury will premiere on May 15th. Episodes focusing on Goldberg and Kurt Angle will be coming after that. There will also be new episodes of Story Time and Table for Three.
  • USA Today has stories on WWE’s global recruitment of talent and amateur athletes transitioning to pro wrestling.
  • CBS Sports ran an article on Braun Strowman’s father, who is apparently a great slow-pitch softball player.
  • Paul Heyman spoke to Racer.com about the marketing campaign he’s involved with for the Richmond International Raceway.

Pro Wrestling

  • NWA president Bruce Tharpe confirmed in a post on his Facebook page that Billy Corgan has agreed in principle to acquire the NWA brand. Tharpe said that he’s excited for the NWA’s future and that Corgan is putting together a strong team.
  • After news of his arrest broke, Sean Waltman again denied that he had relapsed and said that the capsules that he was carrying were medication to treat a yeast infection in an interview with TMZ Sports.
  • NJPW is adding a limited number of additional seats for the July shows in Long Beach, California. They’ll go on sale on Ticketmaster at 10 p.m. ET on May 8th.
  • World of Sport officially announced that this month’s tapings are being rescheduled. They said that it was a result of contract negotiations.
  • Jack Sexsmith, Pastor William Eaver, Travis Banks, and Trent Seven are the first four confirmed entrants in PROGRESS Wrestling’s 2017 Super Strong Style 16 tournament.
  • EVOLVE’s latest mini-documentary looks at the Ethan Page vs. Darby Allin last man standing match from last month and the elbow injury that Allin suffered during it.
  • The Orlando Sentinel has a story on Division Pro Wrestling’s debut event.
  • A benefit show for Lance Archer, who is out of action after undergoing back surgery, will take place in Hearne, Texas this Saturday.

UFC/MMA

  • Daniel Cormier will be a guest on Edge & Christian’s podcast this week.
  • Cris “Cyborg” Justino and Megan Anderson are lobbying to fight each other at UFC 214.
  • Former boxer Antonio Tarver said that Conor McGregor doesn’t have a chance against Floyd Mayweather.
  • Bellator revealed the four fights that they’ll be putting on at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 20th as part of the Monster Energy Bellator MMA Fight Series.

Today in Professional Wrestling History (5/2): Curt Hennig wins AWA title at SuperClash II

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