Daily Update: Wilder/Fury, Nakamura, UFC notes

DAILY UPDATE

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WON NEWSLETTER: February 24, 2020 Observer Newsletter: Coronavirus affects Japanese wrestling, WrestleMania update STARDOM and NJPW events affected by coronavirus, a look ahead at WrestleMania weekend, and more.

We’ve got a WrestleMania update with new matches, an updated card, details on the women’s aspect of the show with new bouts and stars from the past who are scheduled and who are not scheduled.

Also covered in the new issue:

Ticket sales for all the WWE shows that week, as well as how the secondary market is doing right now for the WWE & AEW major events. 

More on both the Super Showdown and Elimination Chamber shows.

How the Coronavirus has affected some major shows that were scheduled.  We look at the Stardom cancellations, the empty arena show on YouTube, another promotion with a worldwide audience doing an empty arena show, as well a how New Japan is handling the situation.

Complete coverage of NXT Takeover Portland, with business notes, update on Matt Riddle, match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results on the show.

Update WWE talks regarding how WrestleMania will be broadcast this year, what AEW should be looking for, XFL ratings and analysis, NXT Japan update, Tito Ortiz training with WWE, Bill Goldberg’s dates, former WWE star tells story about Trump, new WWE documentary, Matt Hardy update, Injury updates, foreign ratings, return of John Cena, WWE bans former star from getting talent for their podcast and why, debut of former top star in Mexico, update on MSG, stock price update, most-watched shows on the WWE Network as well as a look at all the NXT and WWE arena events held over the past week.

Complete coverage of the UFC show from Rio Rancho, NM this past week, with business notes.

Update on the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony.

A note on the biggest Wednesday night ratings movers.

Revolution Pro High Stakes headlined by Will Ospreay vs. Zack Sabre Jr., and how Ospreay’s in-ring style has changed so much over the past year. We look at how pro wrestling handles weight classes as compared to real sports, why going back in time may provide a more updated view than what we have now about weight classes and pro wrestling.

2019 stats on WWE performers including who won this year’s Iron Man award, a well as wins and losses.

Our 2019 Awards ballot.

Regarding the Wednesday numbers, we’ve got full details, demos that each side won, how every segment did and what match ended up as the difference maker. 

Full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.

In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.

Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week. 

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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

We’re looking for reports from tonight’s NXT show in St. Paul, MN to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

Our weekend show is up, talking Wilder vs. Fury, changes at WrestleMania, Wednesday ratings in detail, WWE stock rise and many other topics.

For the weekend, the only thing from combat sports that trended on Google was the Fury-Wilder fight with 5.2 million searches, which is huge, but still well under half of McGregor-Cerrone which is quite the sign of the times. Paul Felder was No. 12 earlier today with 20,000, but that doesn’t mean he’ll crack top 20 today when the day is over.

Regarding yesterday’s fight, Deontay Wilder did not suffer a broken jaw or a ruptured eardrum, but he did have bleeding in the ear which wouldn’t have helped his balance. According to Kevin Iole, he did need seven stitches to close the cut in his ear.

Go out of your way to see the Manabu Nakanishi retirement ceremony from yesterday in Tokyo. Lots of tears flowing backstage as well after it was over.

Shinsuke Nakamura needed nine staples on the back of his head from when he was powerslammed on the piano on Smackdown on Friday night.

Dave Bautista is scheduled to appear Thursday night on the Late Late Show with James Cordon on CBS. (thanks to Jon Southerland)

WWE

  • No WWE events today. Raw is in Winnipeg tomorrow. Brock Lesnar is on the show.
  • Jordan Devlin was pulled from today’s Progress show due to elbow bursitis.
  • Brady Roberts was one of the security guards during the Braun Strowman segment and an EMT in the Matt Hardy segment. He produced the wrestling TV series Paper Champions on Amazon Prime and did the World of Hurt TV show with Roddy Piper. He was trained by Lance Storm.

UFC

  • Karolina Kowalkiewicz was injured early in the first round of her fight with Yan Xiaonan on yesterday’s show in Australia. She was hospitalized and will need surgery on her right eye. She had a small broken bone and couldn’t see out of the right eye, but continued fighting.
  • The main event with Paul Felder vs. Dan Hooker was great. Hooker won a split decision but I had it 48-47 for Felder, but it was close. Of media scores, they were 71 percent in favor of Felder. Judge Barry Foley gave Felder the last three rounds. Judge Howard Hughes gave Hooker rounds one, three and five. Judge David Leathaby gave Hooker the first three rounds. 
  • Ag Fight and MMA Fighting reported Ariane Lipski vs. Luana Carolina for a 5/16 show in San Diego.  

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Evolve is opening a wrestling school in Queens, NY. There will be an open house on Friday from 6-10 p.m. The location is the Coliseum Gym 2.0 at 98-31 Jamaica, Ave., in Woodhaven.  Evolve also announced a 3/14 Tommaso Ciampa seminar/tryout in Livonia, MD or $149 and a 3/15 seminar/tryout with Terry Taylor in Chicago for $199, or both for $299.  There will also be seminars in late March with WWE’s William Regal, Robbie Brookside, Christopher Guy (Ace Steel), Sean Hayes (training), Ryan Katz (writing promos and character development), James Long (promos and character development), Daryl Sharma (refereeing) and Gabe Sapolsky involved.
  • Impact Sacrifice from last night in Louisville: AJ Daniels b D’Mone Solvanio, Max the Impaler b Cali Young, Rohit Raju b Corey Storm, Josh Alexander & Ethan Page b Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz, Kiera Hogan b Ray Lyn, Willie Mack b Jay Bradley, Acey Romero & Larry D b Mad Man Fulton & Dave Crist, Daga b Jake Crist, Joey Ryan b Johnny Swinger, Jordynne Grace b Havok, Rhino b Moose-DQ, Tessa Blanchard b Ace Austin
  • AAW from Friday night in Chicago before 475 fans:  Deonn Rusman & Joseasa b Benjamin Carter & Travis Titan, Karam b Solomon Fatu, The Hyan won three-way over Christi Jaynes & Kenzie Paige, Jake Lander won over Ace Perry, Clayton Gainz, Jason Cade, Nate Webb and Stephen Wolf, Kris Statlander b Jody Threat to keep the AAW women’s title, Mance Warner b Sami Callihan to keep the AAW title, Nick Gage b Matt Justice, Paco b Zicky Dice, Fred Yehi won over Hakim Zane, Jordan Oliver and Josh Briggs, TJ Perkins b ACH, Davey Vega & Mat Fitchett kept AAW tag titles over AR Fox & Myron Reed. (thanks to Leonard Brand)
  • Next AAW show is the 16th anniversary show on 3/20 in Chicago at the Logan Square Auditorium with Mance Warner vs. Fred Yehi for the AAW title, Curt Stallion vs. Adam Brooks and Kimber Lee vs. Jessicka Havok.
  • There is an 80s Wrestling Con on 4/48 in Freehold, NJ at iPlay America from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with Jim Duggan, Honky Tonk Man, Ricky Morton, Robert Gibson, Lex Luger, David Schultz, Teddy Long, Dutch Mantell, Jose Estrada, Jose Luis Rivera, Zeus, Sean Mooney, Larry Zbyszko, Ivan Putski, Tony Garea, Dean Malenko, Bill DeMott, Terri Runnels, Teddy Long, The Ascension and Ted Arcidi.
  • Femme Fatales from Friday nght in Ottawa, ONT:  Maeve O’Farrell b KC Spinelli, Veda Scott won three-way over Ashley Vox and Nevaeh, LuFisto b Priscilla Kelly, Sally & Cecil Nyx b Ava Everett & Davienne, Kimber Lee b Ivelisse, Alexia Nicole b Nicole Savoy.  The next show will feature an intergender tag team tournament on 5/2 in Quebec City.
  • Adrenaline Pro Wrestling from last night in Melbourne, Australia: Matty Wild b Xavier Black, Aria b Vixsin, Jayson Krash b Kris Law, Michael Weaver b Mad Dog, The Inmates b J2, Aiden Miller won over Mike Kaos, Jett Rouka and Tyson Baxter, Zane Zodiac b JXT, Sammy Guevara b Zane Zodiac.  Guevara did an impromptu match where he didn’t take any bumps. Zodiac was laid out by JXT before the match started and Guevara hit just one move to get the pin. He will do a return match with Zodiac on 5/30. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • Defy from Friday night in Seattle,WA:  Super hot crowd. Sonico b Black Danger, Rebel Kel b Danika Della Rouge, Eddie Pearl & Ricky Gibson b Guillermo Rosas & Damian 666 to keep Defy tag titles, Jeff Cobb b Cody Chhun in what was said to be ****+, Judas Icarus won four-way over King Khash, Eli Surge and Travis Williams, Anthony Bowes b Jet Knight, Bestia 666 & Mecha Wolf 450 b Mike Santiago & Ethan HD to keep the Crash tag titles, Randy Myers b Schaff to win the Defy title.  The main event was said to be awesome with fans storming the ring similar to Dusty Rhodes NWA title win in Tampa and people were crying in the stands. Next show is 3/29 in Seattle at Washington Hall. (thanks to Scott Janicek) 
  • Orange Cassidy was announced for the World Series Wrestling tour in June.
  • Adam Brooks, who is headed to the U.S., has his last match in Australia on 2/29 in Melbourne for PCW. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • Robbie Eagles headlined a show for PWR in Manila, The Philippines earlier today, losing to local champion Chris Panzer in the main event.  Emi Sakura will appear on the next show.
  • Insane Wrestling Revolution from Friday night in Monroe, MI:  Willie Watts b Ben Boone, Chin Strap Jesus & Nate Bock b Mysterious Movado & Ridiculoso, Reggie Collins b Rohit Raju, Joe Coleman b Dread Kdaveing Loga, Beastman b Nick Green, Aaron Orion & Jack Price b Malcolm Monroe III & Jaimy Coxxx, N8 Mattson b Kurt Hendrik, Rhino b Shane Douglas & The DBA( thanks to Leonard Brand)
  • Kevin Eck with the latest ROH news.
  • Billy Jack Haynes discusses the serious health condition of Portland Wrestling Legend Rip Oliver in this interview.
  • A feature on the Qatar Pro Wrestling show over the weekend.
  • There is a new Roddy Piper action figure from the movie “They Live”. (thanks to Joe Puccio)
  • An article on Tito Santana and his new book.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: The Era of Honor Begins

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