Daily Update: Stacey Ervin Jr., Hulk Hogan, weekend house shows

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We’re looking for reports from tonight’s WWE Raw brand show in Trenton, NJ and the NXT show in Tampa to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com

We’ll also be doing a weekend poll on only the finals, the late Saturday night New Japan show from Nagaoka with the New Japan Cup championship, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com” target=”_blank”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com

NCAA DIVISION 1 WRESTLING TOURNAMENT SEMIFINALS FROM PITTSBURGH AT 8 PM. EASTERN ON ESPN

125 – Sebastian Rivera (Northwestern) vs. Jack Mueller (Virginia)

          Spencer Lee (Iowa) vs. Nick Piccininni (Oklahoma State)

133 – Daton Fix (Oklahoma State) vs. Luke Pletcher (Ohio State)

         Nick Suriano (Purdue) vs. Stevan Micic (Michigan)

141 – Yianni Diakomihalis (Cornell) vs. Jaydin Eierman (Missouri)

          Nick Lee (Penn State) vs. Joey McKenna (Ohio State)

149 – Anthony Ashnault (Rutgers) vs. Matthew Kolodzik (Princeton)

          Austin O’Connor (North Carolina) vs. Micah Jordan (Oho State)

157 – Jason Nolf (Penn State) vs. Hayden Hidlay (North Carolina State)

          Kaleb Young (Iowa) vs. Tyler Berger (Nebraska)

165 – Mekhi Lewis (Virginia Tech) vs. Evan Wick (Wisconsin)

          Josh Shields (Arizona State) vs. Vincenzo Joseph (Penn State)

174 – Mark Hall (Penn State) vs. Myles Amine (Michigan)

         Zahid Valencia (Arizona State) vs. Daniel Lewis (Missouri)

184 – Myles Martin (Ohio State) vs. Max Dean (Cornell)

         Drew Foster (Northern Iowa) vs. Chip Ness (North Carolina)

197 – Bo Nickal (Penn State) vs. Patrick Brucki (Princeton)

          Preston Weigel (Oklahoma State) vs. Kollin Moore (Ohio State)

285 – Derek White (Oklahoma State) vs. Jordan Wood (Lehigh)

          Gable Steveson (Minnesota) vs. Antony Cassar(Penn State)

NEW JAPAN WORLD PRO WRESTLING TONIGHT AT 8 P.M. EASTERN ON AXS TV

  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Kota Ibushi
  • Evil vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

BELLATOR TONIGHT AT 9 PM. EASTERN FROM THACKERVILLE, OK ON PARAMOUNT AND DAZN

  • Norbert Novenyl  Jr. (185.1) vs. Will Lavine (185.5)
  • Anatoly Tokov (185.9) vs. Gerald Harris (185.5)
  • Valentin Moldavsky (232.7) vs. Linton Vassell (246.7)
  • Emmanuel Sanchez (145.1) vs. Georgi Karakhanyan (146)

IMPACT TONIGHT AT 10 P.M. EASTERN ON THE PURSUIT CHANNEL

  • Eddie Edwards & Eli Drake vs. KM & Fallah Bahh
  • Rich Swann vs. Sami Callihan for X title
  • Scarlett Bordeaux vs. Disco Inferno
  • Taya  vs. Jordynne Grace for Knockouts tile
  • Brian Cage vs. Killer Kross

CMLL TONIGHT AT ARENA MEXICO AT 10:30 P.M. EASTERN

  • Star Jr. & Stigma vs. Coyote & Grako
  • Kaho Kobayashi & Marcela & Mystique vs. Amapola & Dallys & Reyna Isis
  • Audaz & Flyer & Stuka Jr. vs. Kawato San & Polvora & Vangellys
  • Forastero vs. Cavernario
  • Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja & Titan vs. Bestia del Ring & Mr. Niebla & El Terrible
  • Caristico & Diamante Azul & Volador Jr. vs. Ultimo Guerrero & Gran Guerrero & Euforia

Saturday has the Raw brand in Utica, NY, Smackdown in Elmira, NY and NXT in Fort Pierce, FL.  We’re looking for reports on those shows to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com

NEW JAPAN CUP SEMIFINALS FROM AORE NAGAOKA AT 3 A.M. EASTERN LATE TONIGHT

  • Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Michael Elgin & Colt Cabana & Yota Tsuji & Yuya Uemura
  • Bushi & Shingo Takagi vs. Shota Umino & Ren Narita
  • Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Togi Makabe & Toru Yano & Toa Henare
  • Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi vs. Will Ospreay & Ryusuke Taguchi
  • Tetsuya Naito & Evil  vs. Kota Ibushi & Tomoaki Honma
  • Juice Robinson & Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi & Mikey Nicholls vs. Jay White & Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale & Hikuleo
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Tomohiro Ishii
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Sanada

NCAA DIVISION 1 WRESTLING TOURNAMENT MEDAL MATCHES FROM PITTSBURGH AT 11 A.M. EASTERN ON ESPNU

KSW FROM LUDZ, POLAND SATURDAY AT 2 P.M. EASTERN ON DAZN

  • Dawid Graka (138) vs. Pawel Politylo (135)
  • Bartomiej Kopera (156) vs. Mioceij Kazieczko (156)
  • Karolina Owczarz vs. Marta Chojnoska
  • Marcin Wrzosek (146) vs. Krzysztof Klaczek (146)
  • Damian Janikowski (186) vs. Aleksandar Ilic (186)
  • Satoshi Ishii (241) vs. Fernando Rodrigues Jr. (251)
  • Boris Mankowski (171) vs. Norman Parke (170)
  • Mariusz Pudzianowski (257) vs. Szymon Kolecki (226)
  • Phil DeFries (257)  vs. Tomasz Narkun (230) for heavyweight title

UFC FROM NASHVILLE SATURDAY AT 5 P.M. EASTERN ON ESPN+

  • Jordan Espinosa (126) vs. Eric Shelton (126)
  • Chris Gutierrez (135.5) vs. Ryan MacDonald (135.5)
  • Angela Hill (116) vs. Randa Markos (116)
  • Alexa Davis (125) vs. Jennifer Maia (126)
  • Frankie Saenz (135.5) vs. Marlon Vera (135.5)
  • Bryce Mitchell (145.5) vs. Bobby Moffett (145.5)
  • J.J. Aldrich (125) vs. Maycee Barber (126)
  • Luis Pena (148.5) vs. Steven Peterson (146)
  • Deiveson Figueiredo (126) vs. Jussier Formiga (126)
  • John Makdessi (154) vs. Jesus Pinedo (155.3)
  • Curtis Blaydes (262) vs. Justin Willis (266)
  • Stephen Thompson (170.5) vs. Anthony Pettis (171)

        Pena was fined 30 percent of his purse for missing weight

NCAA DIVISION 1 WRESTLING TOURNAMENT FINALS FROM PITTSBURGH AT 7 P.M. EASTERN ON ESPN

NEW JAPAN CUP FINALS FROM AORE NAGAOKA AT 1 A.M. EASTERN LATE SATURDAY NIGHT ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

Sunday has the Raw brand in Amherst, MA and Smackdown in Buffalo, NY.

Raw on Monday is from Boston.  There is a Smackdown brand house show in Altoona, PA on Tuesday.

Smackdown and 205 take place on Tuesday at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT.  Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville, Naomi and Carmella meet in a four-way where the winner gets a title shot at Asuka at WrestleMania.

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: #KofiMania

A combination of timing, fan support, and strong performances have come together to make Kofi Kingston the unlikely star of WrestleMania season.

It was only a few weeks ago where this seemed completely implausible. Kingston wasn’t even originally supposed to be in the WWE Championship match at Elimination Chamber. He was on the outside looking in, with Daniel Bryan, AJ Styles, Randy Orton, Samoa Joe, Mustafa Ali, and Jeff Hardy set to take part in the match.

WON NEWSLETTER: March 25, 2019 Observer Newsletter: UFC PPVs to ESPN+, Wrestlemania 35 preview

A look at the details and ramifications of the new UFC PPV deal with ESPN+ is the lead story in the new double issue of the Observer. Look at the winners and loses of the deal, the economics of the deal, how it affects fans, what fans are going to be left behind, the role of Dana White, and the negotiations that led to UFC looking outside of TV for PPV.

This issue has a complete rundown of the WrestleMania card as it stands, as well as notes on matches not yet announced. Also look at the secondary market for the big shows over Mania weekend, as well as All In. 

Also look at the details of WWE’s planned move, update on Gallows & Anderson, Dana Warrior, a planned WWE match that fell through, why WWE stock is up, Sue Aitchison in the Hall of Fame, update on WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, Matt Hardy future, and several new WWE signings.

Read a major feature on the career of The Destroyer. Look at Dick Beyer’s transition from Syracuse line coach to The Destroyer, who came up with the gimmick, how it transpired, and the role of Fred Blassie and Jules Strongbow in the story.

Read full coverage of ROH’s 17th anniversary show, the ROH/NJPW Madison Square Garden show, and match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.

Also look at the suspension of T.J. Dillashaw and his vacating the UFC welterweight title, update the New Japan Cup, cover AAA Rey de Reyes and CMLL El Homenaje a Dos Leyendas.

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.

FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE

Regarding rumors that Stacey Ervin Jr. has quit WWE, the only comment WWE has made is that Ervin Jr. remains under contract.  The story that he was thinking of quitting due to a concussion goes back a few days.  

For the weekend shows, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Ronda Rousey aren’t advertised on any of the Raw brand shows this weekend, but all are scheduled for television on Monday.  On the Smackdown side, Rey Mysterio, Daniel Bryan, Kevin Owens, The Miz and Randy Orton are not advertised for Elmira, NY on Saturday.  Bryan and Mysterio are listed for Sunday through Tuesday’s events.  Owens is advertised for Monday and Tuesday. The Raw main event matches will be Braun Strowman vs. Baron Corbin and Drew McIntyre vs. Dean Ambrose.  Smackdown’s main events will be Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch.  Daniel Bryan faces A.J. Styles on the Sunday show in Buffalo and Bryan vs. Styles vs. Owens headlines the Allentown show on Monday. 

Thanks to everyone for the response to this week’s issue and the story on The Destroyer in particular. That was one of the more fascinating bios I’ve done just because of all the different ways he influenced history.  He would have to be considered one of the greatest wrestlers in the history of Southern California wrestling and in some ways, as far a mainstream goes, the biggest American wrestling star ever in Japan.  Many would say Stan Hansen, but Destroyer had more longevity and he was a far bigger mainstream name.

PWInsider is reporting that Hulk Hogan will be part of WWE’s WrestleMania festivities this year.

Frank Shamrock was reported as being accused of animal cruelty.  He was moving his mother out of her home and she could no longer care for her dogs.  He said he put one in a shelter but the shelter wouldn’t accept two and the TV news report by WFAA in Dallas was that he left the other dog in the back of the truck from 3/2 to 3/7 at the airport with food and water.  Shamrock was upset with the report saying he is not being investigated for anything.

WWE

  • Keith Lee is out of action with an undisclosed injury.
  • Becky Lynch was in San Francisco getting publicity for the opening of the new Chase Center that opens in the fall.  WWE has the arena booked as soon as it opens in October for two straight nights, a Raw and a Smackdown TV taping. Lynch appeared on TV during the Warriors game last night from the Oracle Center in Oakland cutting a promo on Ronda Rousey.
  • Televik the Gamer was trying to trademark the term Sister Abigail, and WWE is opposing that trademarks saying that Windham Rotunda created the name for usage with his Bray Wyatt character.
  • A video of the making of the WrestleMania ring

UFC

  • Connor McGregor will be appearing on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on Monday night. (thanks to Jeff Beecher) 
  • Alexa Grasso is off next week’s UFC show in Philadelphia.  Her opponent, Maria Rodriguez, will now face Jessica Aguilar.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • The David Starr story was covered by the Jerusalem Post here (thanks to Kevin Chiat).
  • First Wrestling Live from last night in Minneapolis:  Shotzi Blackheart b Solo Darling, Sierra b Kara Noia, Orange Cassidy b Darin Corbin to win VFW title, Priscilla Kelly b Kylie Rae, Mercedes Martinez b Jordynne Grace, Penelope Ford b Joey Ryan, Jessicka Havok b Kimber Lee.  Kelly vs. Rae and Martinez vs. Grace were show stealers, with our report saying Martinez vs. Grace was the best women’s match in the U.S. so far this year. (thanks to Shannon Walsh and wrestlingwithdemons.net)
  • Penn State, the favorite, is well out in front in the NCAA wrestling tournament team standings, with Ohio State second and Oklahoma State third.  Top seeds still alive are Sebastian Rivera of Northwestern a 125, Daton Fix of Oklahoma State at 133, Yianna Diakomihalis of Cornell at 141, Anthony Ashnault of Rutgers at 149, Jason Nolf of Penn State at 157, Mark Hall of Penn State at 174, Myles Martin of Ohio State at 184, Bo Nickal of Penn State at 197 and Derek White of Oklahoma State at 285.  Nolf, Hall and Nickal are the big stars this year and the heavyweight division is very interesting with White, Gable Steveson of Minnesota and Anthony Cassar of Penn State.  Steveson, a freshman who is being touted for potential Olympic, pro wrestling or MMA stardom, was unbeaten going into the Big 10 championships, where he lost a close battle in the finals to Cassar.  White has beaten Cassar, but Steveson has beaten White.
  • Combate Americas announced Estrellas MMA on 4/12 from Monterrey, Mexico on Univision, Univision Deportes and DAZN.  The main event has Levy Marroquin vs. Alejandro Flores and John Castaneda vs. Marcelo Rojo.  The show also features the MMA debut of Dulce Maria Garcia, who was a major Mexican/Lucha Underground pro wrestling personality as Sexy Star.  Garcia has boxed professionally as well and will probably become the first woman to be a genuine pro wrestling star, a hyped boxing star and a hyped MMA fighter.
  • Mid States Wrestling on 4/13 in Springfield, MO at Matt Riviera vs. Tim Storm, a Battle Royal and appearances of Bill Dundee, Bob Orton Jr.,and Miranda Gordy, the daughter of Terry Gordy.
  • Penta 0M was announced for the next World Series Wrestling tour of Australia.
  • Air Wolf vs. Fenix has been added to the 4/4 MLW TV tapings at the Melrose Ballroom in Queens, NY.
  • A story on Brian Blair (thanks to Joe Puccio)
  • A trailer for the movie 350 Days about pro wrestling
  • An interview with Tony Schiavone can be seen here.
  • A story on King Kong Bundy’s cats needing a new home.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Flair vs. Fujinami at WCW-NJPW Supershow

Ed in San Antonio presents the WRESTLEMANIAWeekend Event:

  • Saturday, 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~!

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