Daily Update: Superstar shake-up, DJZ injured, Kurt Angle DVD

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IMPACT TONIGHT AT 8 P.M.  ON POP TV

FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: 4/3/2017: Memorable moments make Wrestlemania 33

Despite the match quality and show length being similar, WrestleMania 33 was much better than its predecessor. That’s largely due to just having more memorable moments than WrestleMania 32. The Undertaker’s retirement is what will define this year’s show, even if he clearly held on too long. Jim Ross’ return to the WWE broadcast booth was a nice touch and necessary to stress the magnitude of Undertaker’s final match. The Hardys coming back brought genuine excitement while making the Raw tag team title ladder match feel like a big deal. And John Cena proposing to Nikki Bella at least gave reason for what was a nothing mixed tag after such a great build.

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WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: April 10, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Wrestlemania 33 review, WWE financials, more

Our annual WrestleMania double-issue of the Observer is out today, covering not only the big show, but also the entire week in Orlando with NXT, ROH, the top indie shows and even the NXT tapings.

Stories on New Japan’s quick sellouts and plans for their first U.S. shows, behind-the-scenes bullying in WWE and what’s next in WWE, in this issue.

Plus, look at all of the business numbers for WrestleMania, how to analyze the network number and what numbers need to be out before fully getting a picture of everything, the gain of subscribers this year as compared to the past two years and how much time the average subscriber spends during Mania week watching the network. Also, look at the live gate, what aspects of the show were the most talked about, general public reaction compared to big UFC events, and television ratings for the prelims.

Undertaker’s retirement, the Cena proposal, return of the Hardys sans gimmick, Goldberg vs. Lesnar, ring psychology, length of matches, as well as when the finishes were finalized and the gambling money came in, inside.

This issue also has match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results for WrestleMania, NXT Takeover and ROH Supercard of Honor.

Read about the returns to WWE of Jim Ross and Drew Galloway and the backgrounds of everything as well as the unique Ross/New Japan/WWE dynamic that under normal circumstances would be unheard of, and also look at how the situation with Galloway went down.

Also, look at the dynamic of the Takeover show and why decisions were made the way they were.

This issue goes through the plans for the New Japan shows in Long Beach, what will be on the shows and goals of the shows.

Finally look at the highlight matches during the week from smaller promotions in Orlando.

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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: March 13, 2000: Beyond the Mat controversy, New York Daily News stories on wrestling deaths and drugs, more

The controversy over the movie “Beyond the Mat” grew this past week when pressure tactics from the WWF caused the USA Network, UPN and Cris Craft Communications to all ban any advertising on any of their programs for the film. While some were surprised at the lengths Vince McMahon would go to attempt to bury the movie, it has been clear for some time by anyone who understands the “with us or against us” and no in between philosophy of McMahon, that he felt the movie wasn’t “with us.”

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THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE

Michael Paris (Impact’s DJZ) was injured last night at The Crash show in Mexico City. He has undergone major surgery due to issues with his colon rupturing and internal bleeding stemming from that. He was in great pain. He took a 450 splash in a match with Rey Horus, Laredo Kid, Mr. 450, Septimo Dragon and Ultimo Ninja and couldn’t continue. He’s doing better today and the surgery was successful. Sexy Star was also apparently injured an in great pain and taken out of a title match. Not sure if that was just a way for her to lose her title without doing a job or it was a real injury. Fans thought it was real.

Sonjay Dutt has signed a deal with Impact. He’s been tight with Jeff Jarrett for some time so that’s not a surprise. He had spent a week as a guest instructor for WWE at the Performance Center and also worked the ROH show in New York last month.

Jonathan Gresham has signed with ROH.

The three biggest events this weekend are tomorrow night’s Reyes del Aire match at Arena Mexico, Saturday’s UFC 210 which is followed about two hours later by New Japan’s Sakura Genesis show, which is the company’s biggest event since the Tokyo Dome show. WWE will be doing lots of roster changes on Monday and Tuesday and we’ve got a lot about that in the new Observer.

The WWE Network has added a lot of 1981 and 1982 Mid South Wrestling shows, including a stream of them in a row so they can be viewed in context. They’ve also posted old episodes of Tuesday Night Titans, 1997 episodes of ECW that build up the Barely Legal PPV, and older episodes of NXT.

The WWE will be releasing a three disc DVD called “Kurt Angle: The Essential Collection” this summer according to Wrestling DVD Network. It will feature Angle matches with Steve Austin, The Rock, John Cena, Edge, Shawn Michaels, HHH and others.

WWE

  • The WWE sent out a press release stating that there were more than 165,000 people in total attending WrestleMania, Fan Axxess and the other live events. They listed 5.19 million Facebook and Twitter interactions during the show and 2.8 million tweets related to WrestleMania on Sunday. They said WrestleMania 33 had nearly 30 percent of all social media interactions, beating the Country Music Awards, Walking Dead finale and the Opening Day baseball game.
  • There have apparently been more changes made today regarding top stars and brand movement. 
  • WWE announced a partnership today with SEGA for a free-to-play idle mobile game called WWE Tap Mania. It’s developed by The Tap Lab in Cambridge, MA for launch later this year. 
  • Tickets for NXT shows on 5/4 in Phoenix, 5/5 in Riverside, CA and 5/6 in San Diego go on sale at 10 a.m. Pacific time tomorrow.
  • NXT also announced a 5/18 show in Cincinnati and 5/19 show in Evansville, IN and tickets are available with the code: NXTLIVE
  • Jim Ross has a talk show set for 5/21 in Chicago at 2 p.m., at Zanie’s in Chicago, prior to the Backlash show that night at the All-State Arena.
  • Howard Stern discussed the John Cena proposal on his Tuesday show saying that Cena knows where his bread is buttered and made sure to propose during WrestleMania. (thanks to Jeff Cohen)
  • All Hardys shirts will be deleted on Pro Wrestling Tees on 4/17.  

UFC

  • The Kelvin Gastelum vs. Anderson Silva fight on 6/3 in Rio de Janeiro is off as Gastelum tested positive for marijuana the day of his 3/11 win over Vitor Belfort and is on a provisional suspension.
  • Tryouts will be held on 5/23 in Las Vegas at the Palace Station Hotel at 2411 W Sahara Ave. for the 26th season of Ultimate Fighter. They are looking for women to compete at 115 and 135 pounds, and men at 185 pounds for that season. Tryouts start at 8 a.m. You have to have at least three pro fights, an above .500 win-loss record and be between the ages of 21 and 34.  Filming takes place beginning in July and will air in the fall and winter. Here are the applications.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • A.J. Brooks (A.J. Lee) has been doing media promoting her autobiography. Her main point was that she is suffering from bipolar disorder, as does her mother. She said WWE wanted to do an angle based on that and she said she wasn’t comfortable with it and they took her off TV for two months after that.
  • Discovery Wrestling on 4/12 in Edinburgh, Scotland at the Edinburgh Corn Exchange has Young Bucks & Kenny Omega vs. Lewis Girvan & Joe Coffey & BT Gunn and Will Ospreay vs. Marty Scurll.
  • Northeast Wrestling on 4/15 in Bethany, CT a the NEW Arena has Cody Rhodes vs. Bobby Fish for the NEW title, Robbie E vs Vinny Marseglia and Flip Gordon vs. Dijak.
  • Jeremy Borash was at The Crash show in Mexico City last night. They had Borash, as well as a rep from Pro Wrestling NOAH, and Konnan together to talk about the three promotion alliance.
  • Also at the show last night, Demus 3:16 jumped from CMLL and looks to be working regularly with Mascarita Dorada (formerly Torito in WWE).
  • Sumie Sakai has put up a Go Fund Me for her good friend, Japanese woman wrestler Aliya, who has stage IV breast cancer and was told by her doctor that she doesn’t have much time left.  She has her retirement show tomorrow at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo after a 21 year career.
  • Frankie Kazarian’s band VexTemper’s debut album “Doom Engine” will be released tomorrow digitally. The lead song is a ten minute song called “I, Desert.” Kazarian said “A lot of people I know in 2017, their attention span can’t handle (a ten minute song) but we kind of said, `Screw it, this is our band, this is what we’re going to do.'”
  • There will be a huge wrestling convention on 4/22 in Philadelphia at the 2300 Arena.
  • Here is the latest update on Jason Mayhem Miller and his legal issues.
  • A video on Bellator’s Michael Chandler is here.
  • Kevin Nash appeared on Comedy Central’s TV show Detroiters last night. His character was the focus of the plot.
  • The Fight Network in Canada announced a doubleheader tomorrow with a KSW 38 MMA show from Warsaw, Poland at 3 p.m. Eastern and TKO 38 from Montreal at 6 p.m. Eastern. KSW is headlined by Artur Sowinski (17-8) vs. Lukasz Chiewicki (14-5-1). TKO is headlined by Jesse Ronson (16-8) vs. Derek Gauthier (8-6). 
  • The Fight Network will also have extensive coverage starting at 1 p.m.of UFC 210 with their own show UFC in 60 as well as the UFC Countdown and the pre-game show. The fights themselves will air tomorrow on TSN2 from 8-10 p.m. and the main card at 10 p.m. on PPV. 
  • Legacy Fighting Alliance on 4/14 in Shawnee, OK on AXS has a new main event with Myron Dennis vs Danilo Marques. Marques replaces Ryan Spann. Marques is 7-1, and as a main training partner of Demian Maia. The two are light heavyweights. Dennis holds a win over former UFC fighter Paul Buentello.
  • Combate Americas has a show on 4/20 in Tucson, AZ at the Casino del Sol with a main event of Roman Salazar (10-5-1) vs. Ricky Palacios (7-1). It airs live on ESPN Latin America, UFC Fight Pass and airs on a tape delay the next night on TV Azteca in Mexico. Salazar is a former UFC fighter while Palacios has a four-fight winning streak and came from pro boxing.
  • Flo Slam has put up Tommy Dreamer’s second House of Hardcore show up today with Tommy Dreamer vs. Lance Storm and Young Bucks vs. Brian Kendrick & Paul London. 
  • Northland Wrestling on 5/6 in North Bay, ONT is at the Davdei Club.
  • NWA Smoky Mountain Wrestling on Saturday night in Kingsport, TN at the Civic Auditorium with the Smoky Mountain Cup tournament. It’ll have six first round matches of Menace vs. Michael Starr, White Mike vs. Tracer X, Jeff Connelly vs. Timmy Lou Retton, Jordan Kage vs. Myron Reed, Toby Farley vs. Chip Day and Chris Richards vs. Axton Ray. The winners will then face off in a six-way elimination match.
  • CWA on 4/8 in North Little Rock, AR at the Maumelle Event Center headlined by Jim Duggan. There will also be a meet and greet tomorrow from 2-4 p.m. with Matt Riviera, Michael Barry, Americos and Johnny Morton at Marco’s Pizza in Maumelle, AR.
  • There will be a new TV show called Y Ffeit on S4C in Wales which will alternate with MMA and boxing shows each week. 
  • Toro Road Entertainment is presenting a tryout for talent for AAA and WWC with Vampiro and Carlos Colon judging the competition. The winner is guaranteed a tryout match with either AAA or WWC and two runners-up with be guaranteed a tryout match with Lucha Underground. This will take place on 8/20 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at The Fight Factory Gym in Brooklyn. It’s open to pro wrestlers all over the world 18 or older with at least one year experience. You must apply by 7/30. 
  • Absolute Intense Wrestling on 5/26 and 5/27 has the 24 person J.T. Lightning Invitational tournament in Cleveland at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. They also run Saturday night at Tequila Jaxx with Jimmy Rave vs Dominic Garrini and Alex Daniels vs. Space Monkey.
  • Thoroughbread Championship Wrestling from Tuesday night in Morehead, KY: Ronnie Roberts b Brandon Taggard, Beau James b Krutch, Larry D b Jordan Clearwater, Wes Howard b Matty B, Chief Tomahawk b Stan Lee-DQ.
  • Cody Rhodes will headline against Chase Del Monte plus Elia Markopolous vs. Donovan Dijak tomorrow night in Woburn, MA. Rhodes has a meet and greet at 6:45 p.m.
  • Appalachian Wrestling TV is here.
  • Trina Michaels gives yoga tips to fans at Axxess and WrestleCon.

Today in Professional Wrestling History (4/6): WWE WrestleMania 30

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