Daily Update: Roman Reigns, Atsushi Onita, WWE videos

  • F4W Staff
  • By 

DAILY UPDATE

Latest News

Latest Audio

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: WWE takes first steps toward WrestleMania 35 triple threat

It appears that WWE has officially taken the first steps towards Ronda Rousey, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte Flair all being involved in the main event of WrestleMania 35.

An angle where Vince McMahon suspended Lynch for 60 days and announced that Charlotte would be taking her place at WrestleMania closed last Monday’s episode of Raw. Charlotte aligned with Vince and fully turned heel, with Vince calling her someone with charisma, someone with charm, and someone who knows their lane and stays in it.

WON NEWSLETTER: February 25, 2019 Observer Newsletter: Elimination Chamber review

The show didn’t sell out, even in one of WWE’s best markets. The show had more good than bad, with the highlight being the main event, the men’s Chamber match where Daniel Bryan retained and the crowd got so strong behind Kofi Kingston in the Mustafa Ali slot that Vince McMahon changed plans for Fast Lane to put Bryan vs. Kingston on top.

The show was the brainchild of Motoko Baba, to run a big Baba celebration show in 2019, 20 years after his early 1999 death. With her passing away last year, it was her nieces and nephews who put the show together.

All but one count of Mark Hunt’s lawsuit against the UFC, Dana White and Brock Lesnar on the grounds they conspired against him to allow a juiced up Lesnar to fight him at UFC 200 was thrown out of court.

The 2020 Royal Rumble will take place on 1/26 at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Most likely that would also mean Takeover on 1/25 at the Toyota Center, Raw on 1/27 and Smackdown on 1/28.

FOX this weekend started advertising 10/4 as the debut of the new Friday Night Smackdown show.

“Fighting with My Family,” the Dwayne Johnson Seven Bucks Entertainment movie about Growing Up as Paige, which has its big national release on 2/22, has gotten great word-of-mouth so far.

Chris Jericho noted that while he and Gedo are on the same page, that New Japan management hasn’t talked with him about a new deal.

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.

MONDAY NEWS UPDATE

by Bryan Rose and Dave Meltzer

WWE

  • Raw tonight will be at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Roman Reigns will give an update on his battle against leukemia, while Ric Flair will have a 70th birthday celebration. Reigns will kick off the show.
  • A new Roman Reigns shirt has also been seen in the merch stands prior to Raw. The shirt says “We Fight. We Overcome. We Believe.”
  • According to PWInsider, Bruce Prichard is backstage tonight, his first night back with WWE creative. Also backstage are Sting, Shawn Michaels, Becky Lynch and Charlotte.
  • WWE’s YouTube page has a collection of Ric Flair promos ahead of his birthday celebration tonight.
  • WWE Day Of has a look at the women’s tag team ahead of their Elimination Chamber match.
  • SummerSlam travel packages will be available starting on March 5 at noon.
  • A by the numbers video in celebration of the fifth anniversary of the WWE Network.
  • Another video has Pat McAfee taking a look at the Lafayette crowd last week on Raw.
  • WrestleMania 34 in its entirety has been uploaded to YouTube in celebration of the WWE Network’s fifth anniversary.
  • Dwayne Johnson in a comic strip.

Pro Wrestling

  • Atsushi Onita underwent surgery for three hours on 2/21 to replace both knees. He will still be coming to the US on 4/5, but only for pictures and autographs. He’s been announced for Joey Janela’s Spring Break events WrestleMania weekend.
  • PWInsider is reporting that Tammy Sytch was arrested for a DWI on 2/23. She is currently incarcarated at the Monmouth County Correctional Facility in Freehold, New Jersey.
  • The latest episode of NWA Ten Pounds of Gold has Nick Aldis talking with Dory Funk Jr. about the history of the title.
  • Tae Honma, the ace of the J@st women’s promotion in Japan is looking to do independent shows around 4/14 and 4/15.  The promotion is flying her to the U.S. J@st is a break off from Reina that runs at Shinkiba first ring. Honma is coming for a tour of Mexico that starts on 4/17 with CMLL so they are looking for U.S. dates prior to the tour.  Officials of the promotion would attend the shows with her and would scout U.S.,. women’s talent on those shows. They would also have Japanese media cover the shows so the promotion will get coverage in Japan, They are also looking at sending her to the U.S.,. and Mexico around June or July.  For more info, contact MagicaDo@live.jp
  • USA Championship Wrestling is doing an Eddie Gilbert Tribute show on 3/9 in Jackson, TN at the Oman Arena headlined by Jerry Lawler & Doug Gilbert vs. Tommy Rich & Matt Riviera in a fall count anywhere in Madison County match, plus Jimmy Valiant and Tom Prichard will wrestle on the show and Phil Hickerson will make an appearance.  The show is being taped for Pivotshare.
  • AAW from Saturday night in Chicago before a sellout 575 fans:  Ace Perry b Sheldon Jean, Savannah Stone b Judy Threat, Gringo Loco won four-way over Jake Landers, Logan James and Aaron Orion.  The first three bouts were preshow matches for their You Tube channel. Main card for Art of War: Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz & Trey Miguel b Ace Romero & Paco & Rich Swann, Sammy Guevara b Darby Allin (Guevara before the match vowed to win with a side headlock takedown, and got the pin after a low blow and a side headlock takedown), Mance Warner b Jimmy Jacobs, DJZ b Australian Suicide in a heritage title match, David Starr & Eddie Kingston & Jake Something & Curt Stallion b Mat Fitchett & Sami Callihan & Jessicka Havok, MJF b Kimber Lee, Jacob Fatu b Stephen Wolf (Fatu’s debut), Kylie Rae b Su Yung to keep women’s title, LAX won three-way elimination match over Penta 0M & Rey Fenix and champions AR Fox & Myron Reed to win the tag titles in 13:54.  Fox & Reed were eliminated first. This was where the Young Bucks interfered and took out the Lucha Bros that allowed LAX to win and take the title. Next show is 3/16 in Chicago at the Logan Square Arena with Psicosis and Juventud Guerrera.
  • ICW from Sunday in Glasgow, Scotland before 1,000 fans:  Kings of Catch b Rampage Brown & Ashton Smith to keep the tag titles, Kay Lee Ray NC Toni Storm in a women’s title match, Joe Coffey b Ilja Dragunov to keep the Zero G title, Lionheart b Angelico to keep the ICW title, Lightning won Square Go (a rumble match where the winner earns a title shot on a day they choose for up to one year throwing out Joe Hendry.  Jeff Jarrett was in the Rumble. (thanks to Jordan Clark)
  • Progress from Sunday in London before a sellout 700 fans:  Mark Haskins b Trivet & Chuck Mambo-DQ in a handicap match, Millie McKenzie b Bea Priestley, Nina Samuels b Jinny (both earn shots in a four-way later for the women’s title), Jordan Devlin b Travis Banks-DQ, Will Ospreay & Paul Robinson b Aussie Open to keep the tag titles, Trent Seven b Timothy Thatcher to keep the Atlas title, Walter b Chris Ridgeway to retain the Progress title.  Seven challenged Walter to a title vs. title match in May. Next Electric Ballroom show is 3/31 with Ospreay & Robinson vs. Aussie Open in a TLC Match for the titles plus LAX vs. Jonathan Gresham & Chris Brookes. (thanks to Paul Sosnowski)
  • Northeast Wrestling from Saturday night in Bethany CT:  Keith Youngblood & Zane Bernardo & RJ Rude b Cam Zagami & Tommy Grayson & PJ Grayson, Chuck O’Neil (the MMA fighter) b Hammer Tunia, Brian Anthony b Chris Battle, Wrecking Ball Legursky b Brian Milonas, Anthony Battle & Daniel Evans b Mike Gamble & Dexter Loux, JT Dunn b Josh Briggs, Jake Manning b Christian Casanova, Brad Hollister b Bandido to keep the heavyweight title (thanks Nick Mahmood)
  • Femme Fatales from Friday night in Ottawa before 350 fans:  Alexia Nicole & Willow Nightingale b Veda Scott & KC Spinelli, Samantha Heights b Neveah, Jessicka Havok b Penelope Ford, Mary Lee Rose b Angie Skye, Nicole Savoy b Nicole Matthews, Kris Statlander won three-way over Mercedes Martinez and Allysin Kay.  Next shows are 5/4 in Quebec City and 8/10 in Toronto, the day before SummerSlam.
  • Pro Wrestling Phoenix on Thursday in Omaha at the Waiting Room Lounge.

UFC/MMA

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Roman Reigns wins WWE Elimination Chamber

Ed in San Antonio presents the WRESTLEMANIAWeekend Events (more to be added):

  • Sunday, April 6th, at 12:00 pm: Lunch (all you can eat) at Churrascaria Plataforma ($90 per person), located at 316 W. 49th street in Manhattan. Purchase tickets here~!
  • Luxury Bus to MetLife Stadium for Wrestlemania: We will depart from the Hilton Midtown (site of Wrestlecon) located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas. Departure time is 4:00 pm and will return from MetLife approximately 30 mins after the event. Times are subject to change, and cost $67.00 per person for the round trip. Purchase tickets here~!

CONTACT INFORMATION