Daily Update: Tamina returns, Fedor vs. Mitrione, Samoa Joe

THE ROUND-UP

The Latest from the F4W Staff

NEWS

AUDIO

UFC TONIGHT FROM HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA AT THE SCOTIABANK CENTRE

Fight Pass at 6:30 p.m.

  • Ryan Janes vs. Gerald Meerschaert

FS 1 at 7 p.m.

  • Jack Marshman vs. Thiago Santos
  • Reginaldo Vieira vs. Alemann Zahabi
  • Carla Esparza vs. Randa Markos
  • Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Nordine Taleb
  • Paul Felder vs. Alessandro Ricci
  • Gina Mazany vs. Sara McMann
  • Cezar Ferriera vs. Elias Theodorou
  • Sam Sicilia vs. Gavin Tucker
  • Johny Hendricks vs. Hector Lombard
  • Derrick Lewis vs. Travis Browne

Today the Raw crew house show is in Long Beach, CA and a Smackdown crew show in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Raw will be Monday in Los Angeles at the Staples Center. Brock Lesnar is scheduled for the show and Big Show vs. Braun Strowman is the only match announced. There will also be a Smackdown brand house show in San Diego.

Smackdown and 205 Live will be taped on Tuesday in Ontario, CA. Announced for the show is a Battle Royal for the WrestleMania title shot, which is some sort of an angle situation, Nikki Bella vs. Natalya falls count anywhere and Naomi vs. Alexa Bliss for the women’s title.

FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: 2/13/2017: Bray Wyatt’s overdue WWE Championship win

From nearly the moment The Wyatt Family debuted on the main roster, Bray Wyatt’s place as a future WWE Champion seemed almost certain. The only surprising thing about Wyatt capturing the title is that it took until Sunday night at the Elimination Chamber, where he was finally presented as the force that WWE has all too often failed to portray him as over the last three-plus years… Subscribers click here to continue.

WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: February 20, 2017: WWE financials, death of Chavo Guerrero, more

An update on the WWE’s WrestleMania plans and then two PPV’s leading to WrestleMania is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. We update the situation with the Seth Rollins vs. HHH proposed match, new matches that have changed due to injuries, update injured talent and a new proposed championship match on the Mania show, as well as more on different planned matches.

We also look at plans for both Elimination Chamber and Fast Lane.

We’ve got full coverage of the New Beginning in Sapporo show headlined by Kazuchika Okada vs. Minoru Suzuki, with match-by-match coverage with star ratings, poll results and business notes. We look at the build up angle and the story behind the main event, and this week’s show in Osaka.

We look at the big coup by WWE Studios working with Dwayne Johnson, a current WWE star being talked about for doing MMA, Kurt Angle talks wrestling in WWE, NXT Takeover Orlando notes, and lots of thoughts on the XFL documentary and key points that were not in.

We also have more WWE WrestleMania week plans, more on Mike Adamle and his battle against dementia and his background, update on a lot of WWE injuries, a surprise coach at the Performance Center and update on where that come from, and another WWE movie project.

We also have tons of notes on the wrestlers brought to the Performance Center this past week as well as other athletes for tryouts, including who they are and their backgrounds including some very unique prospects. We also look at the most-watched shows of the past week on the network as well as a rundown of all the WWE and NXT arena events this past week with both highlights and business notes.

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: January 24, 2000 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: WCW Souled Out review, WCW turmoil, more

The most tumultuous four-day period in the recent history of World Championship Wrestling started with WCW getting the word that an injury would cause champion and main eventer Bret Hart to miss the Souled Out PPV. As dominos starting falling one by one, it ended with a new booker, the crowning of a new champion who asked to be released from his contract anyway, and his vacating the title voluntarily some 18 hours later and possibly with several wrestlers leaving the company… Subscribers click here to continue.

SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

We’ve got a lot of new audio up this weekend. We’ve got a show on George Steele and Ivan Koloff and their career histories, a show last night covering weekend wrestling news and the Bellator show, and will have another show tonight covering UFC. You can send questions for tonight’s show to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com.

As noted, Matt Mitrione suffered a kidney stone and they wouldn’t let him fight Fedor Emelianenko on last night’s Bellator show. He wanted to fight even though he was in intense pain. We talked about all the details on the audio show but the attempt will be made to book a match between the two in June, with San Jose as a possible destination. It’ll all likely be announced in a few weeks. Bellator runs on Friday night in Belfast this coming week.

Tamina Snuka was back with WWE last night on the SmackDown brand. She worked as a face last night teaming with Natalya, who, because they were in Edmonton, also worked as a face.

Samoa Joe started on the Raw brand working with Sami Zayn the past two nights.

For the weekend searches, Bellator was No. 11 yesterday with 50,000, Ivan Koloff was No. 13 yesterday with 50,000, while George Steele was No. 3 on Friday with 200,000 and Nicole Bass was No. 8 on Thursday with 100,000.

WWE

  • There is a Goldust tribute drag racing car. (thanks to Mark Heck)

MISCELLANEOUS

  • AAW from Friday night in Merrionette Park, IL: Trent Baretta & Chuck Taylor b Mat Fitchett & Davey Vega, Zema Ion b Conor Braxton, Matt Riddle b Jason Kincaid, Trevor Lee b Matt Sydal in what was a tag team title match to retain, Low Ki b El Hijo del Fantasma, Michael Elgin & Brian Cage b Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz, Abyss b Eddie Kingston, Fenix & ACH & AR Fox b Dave & Jake Crist & Sami Callihan. Heard main event was awesome. Next show is 3/4 in LaSalle, IL and 3/17 in Berwyn IL at the Eagles Club. The Berwyn show has Homicide, Andrew Everett, Drew Galloway, Shane Strickland and Zack Sabre Jr. (thanks to Qumar Zaman)
  • A video making the rounds of a knockout while a guy was showboating is here.
  • Red Rock Wrestling on 4/7 in Stratford, Prince Edward Island.
  • Hogtown Wrestling tomorrow night in Toronto at the Lula Lounge.
  • All Star Wrestling on 2/25 in Surrey, BC at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds at the Alice McKay Building with Nicole Matthews vs. Holidead for the Girls Gone Wrestling title.
  • Lucha Libre Monster Fights on 3/5 in Toronto at Lee’s Palace featuring Kikutaro.
  • Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling on 3/11 in New Westminster, BC at the Sapperton Pensioners Hall.
  • Smash Wrestling on 5/14 in Toronto at the Phoenix Concert Theater.
  • On the AXS Fights show on Friday night from Bossier City, LA, women’s flyweight champion Andrea Lee retained her Legacy Fighting Alliance women’s flyweight title over Heather Bassett with an armbar at 3:40 of the third round and Kevin Aguilar beat Damon Jackson in the featherweight title fight via knockout at 4:05 of the fourth round.
  • I Believe in Wrestling from Friday night in Orlando, FL: Aaron Epic b Carlos Gabriel, Daniel Drennen b Rey Xion, Kaci Lennox won three-way over Gabi Castrovinci and Amber Nova, Josh Hess b CT Brown, JD Amazing b Leo O’Farrell, Chasyn Rance b Chris Silvio, Jonny Vandal & Tyranus b Chico Adams & Tyler Matrix, Rhett Giddins DDQ Jesse Neal. Next show is 3/3 with Giddins vs. Neal in a no DQ match. (thanks to Al Haft)
  • Destiny Wrestling on 3/24 at the Battlearts Academy in Mississauaga, ONT features Billy Gunn plus a cage match with Moose vs. Josh Alexander.
  • Big Time Wrestling March of Champions on 3/24 in Newark CA at the Newark Pavilion features Rhyno, Carlito, Jade and Chris Masters.
  • Lucha Xtreme TV in Fresno from yesterday: El Spirito won a three-way over Dark Usagi and SoCal Crazy, Sean Black b Chazz Herrera, Sgt. Major b Lukas Riley & Alfonso Alvarez in a handicap match, Hunter Freeman b Dark Usagi-DQ. (thanks to Jon Southerland)
  • Best of the West iPPV on 3/12 in Fresno at the University Square Hotel at 6 p.m. on FITE TV. They also have a TV taping on 4/15 in Merced, CA at the American Legion Post 83.
  • Last summer’s Oklamania show streams today at 8 p.m. on FITE TV with Hardys vs. War Machine managed by Jim Cornette, Jerry Lawler vs. Jeff Jarrett, plus Sting, Abyss, Lance Hoyt, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Moose, EC3, Mickie James, Angelina Love, Nikki Knight, Dalton Castle, Roderick Strong, Marshall & Ross Von Erich, Jim Duggan, Donovan Dijak, Aron Rex and more, with Jim Ross announcing the show. 
  • NWL Kansas City before 300 fans last night: Dak Draper b Thor Theriot, Flex Zebra b Laz Kalo, Niles Plonk b Joe of the Union, Jeremy Wyatt b Skyler Beckett, Ken Dharma (Mike Sydal) b Gil Rogers, Chad Barstow b Ray Briggs, Red Cloud & Blaine Mieeks b The Howletts-DQ. (thanks to Brian Hoops)
  • ICW fro last night in Sheffield, England before 250 fans: Ravie Davie b The Sam Barbour Experience, Krobar & Stevie James b Jackie Polo & Mark Coffey, Kay Lee Ray b Lana Austin to keep women’s title, Lionheart b DCT, Wolfgang b Grado, Joe Coffey b Sha Samuels, Kenny Williams b Zack Gibson to keep Zero G title, Drew Galloway NC Jack Jester, Trent Seven b Joe Hendry to keep ICW title. They ran today in Manchester.
  • Premier Championship Wrestling from last night in Winnipeg: Moses Luke b Bobby Shink, James Beaver b Trent Nash, Scott Justice b Antonio Scorpio, Richard Blood & William Jennings Blaze b London Dynasty and Ace Riviera & Brett Evans, Alix Vanna b Jackie Lee, Chad Tatum b Jay Walker. (thanks to Andrew Shallcross)
  • Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling from last night in East Carondelet, IL before a sellout 300 fans: Dave Vaughn b Clint Poe, Ken Kasa b Superstar Steve Fender-COR, Gary Jackson b Waco, Chris Harges b Big Texan, Jimmy D b Curt Ganno-DQ, Ax b Jayson Chaos, Mark Houston b Bobby D, Curtis Wyld b Moondog Rover, Flash Flanagan b Johnny Blade. (thanks to Larry Matysik)

F4W / WO EMPIRE WRESTLEMANIA GROUP INFO

BUS INFO:

  • The Empire bus to WrestleMania will cost $50.00 and will be round trip from Rosen Inn at 9000 International Drive 32819 (a few blocks away from Wrestlcon).
  • The bus will leave at 4pm (time subject to change) for WrestleMania and will leave WrestleMania no later then one hour after the show. If you would like a seat email Ed at f4wfan@hotmail.com or message him on the BOARD~! for Paypal payment instructions.

DINNER INFO:

  • WHAT: Dinner at Texas de Brazil
  • WHEN: Friday March 31st
  • WHERE: 5259 International Dr Ste F1, Orlando, FL 32819 at 5 p.m. (they may open at 4:30 for us)
  • WHO: All your best empire buddies
  • DETAILS: The cost of the dinner will be $68.00 which includes the dinner, salad bar, soft drinks and tea, and dessert, tax and tip. This is a pre pay dinner and you can send payment to paypal at Srjaialaiot@yahoo.com (please send as a gift to a friend). Payments must be made by March 24th (if you wait until after that, Ed will charge an extra $5.00 for being a pain).

Today in Professional Wrestling History (2/19): Kurt Angle vs. Undertaker at No Way Out 2006

CONTACT INFORMATION

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