Daily Update: Styles back on house shows, Hogan, Joe & Jordan

THE ROUND-UP

THE LATEST NEWS

THE LATEST AUDIO

We’re looking for reports tonight from the NXT show in Jacksonville to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

Our only weekend poll will be on Sunday’s New Japan show from Long Beach, so you can send a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

IMPACT TONIGHT AT 8 P.M. ON POP TV

We’re looking for reports on Friday’s WWE Raw house show in Toronto and NXT show in Lakeland, FL to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

NEW JAPAN WORLD PRO WRESTLING AT 8 P.M. EASTERN FRIDAY NIGHT ON AXS

  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Seiya Sanada for IWGP heavyweight title

LEGACY FIGHTING ON AXS TV AT 9 P.M. EASTERN FRIDAY NIGHT ON AXS

CMLL FROM ARENA MEXICO AT 10:30 P.M. EASTER TIME FRIDAY NIGHT

  • Shockercito & Stukita vs. Mercurio & Pequeno Nitro
  • Magia Blanca & Pegasso & Star Jr. vs. Sagrado & Templario & Virus
  • Blue Panther Jr. vs Drone
  • Audaz & Fuego & Guerrero Maya Jr. vs. Misterioso Jr. & Puma & Tiger
  • Angel de Oro & Matt Taven & Niebla Roja vs. Cuatrero & Sanson & Volador Jr.
  • Diamante Azul & Marco Corleone & Ultimo Guerrero vs. Rush & Kraneo & El Terrible

We’re looking for reports on Saturday from the WWE Raw show in Kitchener, ONT, Smackdown in Trenton, NJ and NXT in Tampa to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

We’re also looking for reports on Sunday from the Raw show in Buffalo and the Smackdown show in Fairfax, VA to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

ALL JAPAN ON ALL JAPAN STREAMING SERVICE FREE FROM SAITAMA ON SATURDAY NIGHT AT 2 A.M. EASTERN TIME

  • Atsushi Maruyama & Yutaka Yoshie & Naoshi Sano & Keiichi Sato & CarBell Ito vs. Masakodo & Ishinriki & Revlon & So Daimonji & FG Mask
  • Masa Fuchi & Tajiri & Yohei Nakajima vs. Osamu Nishimura & Ultimo Dragon & Kotaro Suzuki
  • Koji Iwamoto vs. Josh Bodom
  • Naoya Nomura & Kai vs. Yoshitatsu & Yuji Hino
  • Suwama & Hikaru Sato & Yusuke Okada vs. Kazuyuki Fujita & Kendo Kashin & Nosawa
  • Jun Akiyama & Yuji Nagata vs. Takao Omori & Manabu Nakanishi for All-Asia tag titles
  • Atsushi Aoki vs. Shuji Kondo for jr. title
  • Zeus & The Bodyguard vs. Dylan James & Ryoji Sai for world tag titles
  • Joe Doering vs. Kento Miyahara for Triple Crown

NEW JAPAN STRONG STYLE EVOLVED AT 8 P.M. EASTERN SUNDAY ON AXS TV

  • Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky vs. Sho & Yoh & Rocky Romero
  • Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs. Hirooki Goto & Gedo
  • Chuckie T & Toru Yano vs. Lance Archer & Dave Boy Smith Jr.
  • Cody & Marty Scurll vs Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kushida & Ryusuke Taguchi & Dragon Lee vs. Tetsuya Naito & Seiya Sanada & Bushi & Hiromu Takahashi
  • Will Ospreay vs. Jushin Liger
  • Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki
  • Jay White vs. Hangman Page for U.S. title
  • Young Bucks vs. Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi

Raw is Monday night in Cleveland. John Cena, Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey are all advetised to be on the show and Cena vs. Kane has been announced. There is also a Smackdwon house show in Indiana, PA.

Smackdown, 205 Live and Mixed Match Challenge are all Tuesday night from Pittsburgh. Among the matches advertised are Bobby Roode & Randy Orton vs. Jinder Mahal & Samil Singh, Charlotte Flair & Bobby Roode vs. Finn Balor & Sasha Banks, and a four-way with TJP vs Akira Tozawa vs. Buddy Murphy vs. Kalisto.

​F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: WWE changes the name of Fabulous Moolah Battle Royal

For less than three days last week, the Fabulous Moolah Memorial Battle Royal was listed as part of the WrestleMania 34 lineup. The match, which will feature wrestlers from Raw, SmackDown, and NXT as WWE attempts to get as much of the women’s division on the card as possible, will still be happening. But it will instead be called the “WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal” after WWE had to change the name due to fan and sponsor backlash.

WON NEWSLETTER: Wrestling Observer Newsletter (March 26, 2018): WWE medically clears Daniel Bryan

A look at how Bryan Danielson got cleared to return to WWE in depth is the lead story in the new double-issue of the Wrestling Observer, in what is one of our biggest news issues of the year.

Read the details of the how, the when, what has happened over the past two years in his attempts to get cleared and try to answer every key question about it in this story. Look back at his last two years as a wrestler, why he didn’t leave and wrestle elsewhere, why WWE wouldn’t let him wrestle, the reactions from different doctors that he saw, the story behind his retirement speech two years ago and even doctor reactions to that speech.

Also, there is an update on the WrestleMania card, with new matches official and other matches on the schedule. Go through the name change of the Moolah Battle Royal and how that went down.

Look at Vince McMahon’s new competition for a football league.

This issue has a story on the New Japan Cup, as well as this week’s Long Beach show, and the booking of Zack Sabre Jr. to become the next big-time superstar in the promotion. Review all the tournament matches of the past week and the business of the tournament.

Plus, there’s more on the video alleging PED use by Roman Reigns, the failure to provide any proof and even possible legal ramifications from all this.

Find out about the press conference for next year’s WrestleMania, who was brought in and who wasn’t, lots more on WWE’s big show in Saudi Arabia, new Ronda Rousey business, mainstream interest in WrestleMania, Jeff hardy, Ultimate Deletion, update on WWE injuries, thoughts about more major house shows, an update on the WWE U.K. project as well as several more names that WWE has either signed or is looking into signing including one major superstar. 

Take a look at 5 Star Wrestling and its closing up shop after a disastrous run.

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THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE

PW Insider reported that WWE has been in talks with Hulk Hogan about returning, although here are always talks about returning and it’s always about when WWE and its sponsors would feel it’s okay. WWE did send them a response about it saying, “We have had discussions with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan) about how he can help others learn from his mistakes, however, he is not under any contract with WWE.” Hogan is scheduled for a WWE event this coming Thursday for the premiere of the Andre the Giant documentary in Los Angeles.

For this coming weekend, John Cena is booked on the Raw house show in Buffalo, but not for Toronto or Kitchener. Brock Lesnar is only scheduled for Monday, as is Ronda Rousey. Randy Orton is only scheduled for Tuesday.

According to WWE, A.J. Styles will be back wrestling on all the house shows this weekend.

Impact has announced that its Saturday night show in Salinas, CA will be a One Night Only TV taping. The advances for both Impact shows this weekend in Newark, CA on Friday and Salinas are good. Both are expected to sell out. 

Samoa Joe and Jason Jordan are scheduled to be back in time for the May European tour. Joe is pretty much waiting for the creative and is scheduled as of right now to be working with Roman Reigns on top after WrestleMania, although obviously that can change.

The New Japan show on Sunday has a four-hour window on AXS from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Charlie Ebersol says that it was really Vince McMahon who announced his league first because he found out Ebersol was doing a league.

WWE

  • Sky in the U.K. has announced that the WWE Greatest Royal Rumble on 4/27 in Saudi Arabia will air live at 5 p.m. Greenwich time on Sky Sports.
  • WWE released these talent appearances to build WrestleMania:
    Tomorrow – John Cena on Ellen
    Saturday – John Cena hosts the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards at 8 p.m.
    Tuesday – Ronda Rousey on ESPN, appearing on Golic & Wingo at 9 a.m. on ESPN 2, SportsCenter at both 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and First Take at 11:30 a.m.
    Wednesday – HHH & Stephanie McMahon on SportsCenter at 10:30 a.m. and First Take at 11 a.m.
    Thursday – John Cena hosts the Today Show at 10 a.m.
    4/2: Big Show will ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange
    4/4: John Cena on Jimmy Kimmel Live at 11:35 p.m. on ABC
    4/9: Winners of the women’s title matches at WrestleMania will be on the Today Show at 7 a.m. As far as who they would want on the Today show between Charlotte and Asuka, would favor Charlotte, but we’ll see.
  • Under Armour and Dwayne Johnson have released new training apparel today called the Project Rock Chase Greatness Collection.
  • Ric Flair’s new Custom Made suit business will be launching on Monday. As the story goes, Ric Flair is personally picking out the fabrics, colors and patterns for new suits for Dwayne Johnson, Jamie Foxx and Todd Gurley. 
  • TMZ reported that Draylen Mason, the 17-year-old who was murdered last week in Austin, TX by an exploding package bomb, was friends with Mark Henry. Henry did an interview.
  • Xavier Woods defends the use of pancakes as part of their act as being nothing racial in Newsday.
  • Brian Shields talks writing the book “Second Nature” with Ric & Charlotte.

UFC

  • Sean O’Malley will be having surgery on his right foot, the one what he couldn’t stand on in his recent fight with Andre Soukhamthath on 3/4. UFC wanted him on its 7/6 show but he won’t be recovered in time.
  • Jason Knight vs. Makwan Amirkhani has been added to the 5/27 show in Liverpool

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Mark Gallo, who wrestled as part of the Tokyo Bullets tag team for Windy City Wrestling and in the AWA, passed away yesterday due to pancreatic cancer. We send the best to his family and friends.
  • MVP vs. Jacob Fatu has been added to the 4/12 MLW Show a Gilt Nightclub in Orlando. They have also announced Santana Garrett vs. Priscilla Kelly for their May show. They are also doing a fan voting of the stipulation for a Sami Callihan & Joey Janela vs. Jimmy Havoc & Darby Allin match. You can vote on twitter on MLW for either a tables match, a street fight or Sami & Joey’s Bogus Adventure.
  • Mark Henry will be part of this year’s Walemania show on 4/5 in Orlando at Gilt Nightclub. There are only a handful of tickets remaining for the event at WaleMania.com
  • Khalilah Camacho Ali, who was Muhammad Ali’s wife from 1967 to 1977, celebrated her birthday this past Saturday night attending a Platinum Pro Wrestling show in Cooper City, FL, sitting in the front row. She will also be coming to the Team Vision Dojo on 4/6 in Orlando for the I Believe in Wrestling show.
  • ACH defending the AAW title against Trevor Lee was announced for the Pancakes and Piledrivers show in New Orleans on 4/7. That is dependent upon ACH retaining his title on 3/31 against Keith Lee in LaSalle, IL.
  • ESW on Saturday in North Tonawanda, NY with AR Fox, Jimmy Jacobs, Braxton Sutter and Dick Justice.
  • Stardom results from yesterday: Hiromi Mimura b Nao Yamaguchi, Bea Priestley won three-way over Xia Brookside and Shiki Shibusawa, Momo Watanabe & Viper & AZM b Jungle Kyona & Konami & Natsuko Tora, Mary & Faby Apache b Io Shirai & HZK, Toni Storm & Mayu Iwatani & Tam Nakano b Kagetsu & Hana Kimura & Sumire Natsu. (thanks to Jake Koch)
  • Wrestle Circus has changed its location for Saturday’s show to Emo’s in Austin, TX.
  • AAW on 3/31 in LaSalle, IL at the Knights of Columbus has ACH vs. Keith Lee for the AAW title, Jessicka Havok vs. Ivelisse for the women’s title, Davey Vega & Mat Fichett vs Curt Stallion & Jake Something for the tag titles, AR Fox & Myron Reed vs Trey Miguel & Steven Wolf, a rumble and more, plus Trevor Lee, David Starr, Eddie Kingston, Moose and Shane Strickland.
  • Jeff Hughes (8-3) defending the LFA heavyweight title against Maurice Green (5-1) will headline a 4/27 AXS show from the Armory in Minneapolis. 
  • LFA also announced a 5/4 show in Vail, CO at the Dobson Arena with Ian Heinisch (9-1) vs. Gabriel Checco (10-2) for the interim middleweight title, also live on AXS.
  • Premiere Championship Wrestling has its 16th anniversary show on Saturday night in Winnipeg at Doubles Bar. The company’s first show was March 3, 2002, before 1,700 fans, with Eddy Guerrero beating Will Damon in the main event. The opening match on that first show saw Kenny Omega beat Mentallo. PCW is the longest running promotion in Manitoba and is considered the home promotion of Omega.  
  • Meltdown Comics in Los Angels announced it would be closing after 25 years in business. A number of celebrities worked there before they became famous and they were a sponsor for Championship Wrestling from Hollywood’s TV show and had some pre-show event matches at the store last year.
  • Chase Owens will be part of the Smoky Mountain Cup tournament on 4/7 in Kingsport, TN at the Civic Auditorium.
  • The 4/13 Rise women’s show in Berwyn, IL is now sold out.
  • Queen of Combat on Saturday in Gibsonville, NC at the Mid Atlantic Sportatorium has shows at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. headlined by Su Yung vs. Hudson Envy in a cage match, Samantha Heights vs. ?, Nicole Pain vs. Leyla Hirsch, Angel Rose vs. Isla Dawn, Keira & Renee vs. Pretty Mean Girls and Veda Scott vs Savannah Evans. 
  • Freelance Wrestling on 5/11 in Chicago Heights, IL has Alberto El Patron, Jack Swagger, Penta 0M, Rey Fenix, Matt Sydal, DJZ, El Hijo del Fantasma, El Hijo de Dos Caras, Moose, Brian Cage, Robbie E, Dave & Jake Crist, Nick Aldis Swoggle and James Ellsworth. (thanks to Suju Abraham)
  • Combate Americas on 4/20 in Monterrey Mexico at Gimnasio Nuevo Leon features Erik Perez, the former UFC star, against David Fuentes in he main event.
  • H2O Wrestling on 4/6 in Williamstown, NJ at the Old Time Wrestling Arena at 1041 Glassboro Rd is headlined by Matt Tremont vs. Jimmy Lynn in a no rope barbed wire match.
  • A video on the upcoming Nick Aldis vs. Tommy Dreamer NWA title match.
  • Arlocha tries to explain the Harris Twins tattoos.
  • Brian Tramel interviews Jeff Jarrett about his career in Tennessee and the WWE Hall of Fame.
  • Women on the RISE LIVE in NOLA, 2 p.m. April 6 will be a podcast recording AND Women’s Wrestling Meet and Greet with many on hand. Confirmed for the podcast so far are Shotzi Blackheart, Leva Bates, Vada Scott, and Nicole Savoy. Purchase tickets here.
  • Terry Funk is asked about Donald Trump and Joe Biden wanting to fight and says he’ll kick both of their asses.

Daily Professional Wrestling History: Dutch Mantel defeats Jerry Lawler to win Southern title

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