Daily Update: WrestleMania, Angle, Silva vs. Gastelum

THE ROUND-UP

The Latest from the F4W Staff

NEWS

AUDIO

Smackdown and 205 Live take place tonight in Pittsburgh. The New Japan Cup continues as well with second round action in Shiga.

The New Japan Cup also has second round action on Wednesday in Nagano.

FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: 3/6/2017: Bad booking disappoints at WWE Fastlane

Goldberg is one of WWE’s top champions in 2017. That it was a formality doesn’t make the reality of that sentence any less startling. Nearly 20 years after his peak in WCW, and over a decade after his first stint with WWE came to an end, Goldberg is going to main event WrestleMania. All of that was locked in when Goldberg defeated Kevin Owens to win the WWE Universal Championship at Fastlane. Predictably, the main event was a wrestling match in name only. Goldberg won with a spear and a jackhammer in just over 20 seconds…

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WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: March 13, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: WWE Fastlane review, Tomoaki Honma injury, plus tons of news

Updated the plans for WrestleMania, detail what happened with Tomoaki Honma and a progress update, features on Ron Bass, Rick Rude and Tom Jones, a major new WWE signing and future company plans all in the new double issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Our lead story runs down WrestleMania, what is on, what is in limbo and where everyone fits in, plus a breakdown of the Fast Lane PPV with business notes, stories behind the matches, match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.

Have a look back at the career of Ron Bass, his multitude of championships around the country, and why his career ended and post-wrestling.

There is a major feature on the 2016 Wrestling Observer awards, with a breakdown of winners, and notes about the different people in the major categories and compare and contrast them. Plus, discussion about the landslides and the close races and what made the difference.

This issue has a feature on the Hardys and Bully Ray in ROH, back-story of Hardys value on the independent market and where the different companies stand in the U.S. marketplace.

Take a look at the business of UFC 209, including Tony Ferguson’s pay when his fight was canceled, what was supposed to be a benefit to everyone that has backfired but nobody will say it, the judging of Wonderboy vs. Woodley, weight cutting, the welterweight position, as well as business notes on the show, match-by-match coverage and how much everyone was paid.

Examine Daniel Bryan possibly wrestling again, The Miz on promos, the Shane McMahon vs. A.J. Styles angle, notes on WWE talks with two of the best women wrestlers in the world, an update on the Jack Swagger situation, Dana Brooke competes in another sport, WWE Hall of Fame news, Jerry Lawler update, backstage when Dwayne Johnson was talking about C.M. Punk, this week’s Madison Square Garden show, Raw plans post-Mania, the most watched shows on the WWE Network, plus a look at all the arena matches over the past week with 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: February 21, 2000: 1999 attendance numbers, WCW turmoil, tons more

For the year, WWF increased attendance 20%. Monday night Raw ratings for the year as an average increased from a 4.40 average in 1998 to a 6.04 average in 1999, a 37% increase. PPV buy rates for the year increased from a 1.02 average in 1998 to a 1.25 average in 1999 which is a 23% increase. In 1998, WWF sold out 33.5% of its house shows while the figure increased to 63% of its shows in 1999. Average live gate per arena show increased from $188,482 in 1998 to $286,495, a whopping 52% caused by a combination of the increase in attendance and an increase in average ticket price from $18.84 to $23.84… Subscribers click here to continue.

TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • A clip of Kurt Angle meeting with Vince McMahon for the first time in over a decade was shown during Angle’s interview with Corey Graves on Bring it to the Table last night, with it being indicated that the footage is part of a future episode of WWE 24.
  • As was announced last night, the Raw Tag Team Championship match at WrestleMania will be a triple threat with Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson defending against Enzo Amore & Big Cass and Cesaro & Sheamus. That brings the number of announced matches for WrestleMania up to eight.
  • Big Show was confirmed as an entrant in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, which would likely mean that his match against Shaquille O’Neal is now definitely off.
  • Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman and a Highlight Reel segment with Chris Jericho “exposing the real Kevin Owens” are advertised for Raw next week.
  • Shane McMahon responding to AJ Styles confronting him after SmackDown last week is the only thing being promoted for SmackDown tonight aside from a continuation of the show’s other WrestleMania angles. 205 Live will have Austin Aries vs. Akira Tozawa vs. Brian Kendrick vs. Tony Nese vs. TJ Perkins in an elimination match, with the winner challenging Neville for the Cruiserweight title at WrestleMania.
  • AJ Styles, Alexa Bliss, Apollo Crews, Mojo Rawley, and Natalya visited the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh today.
  • Shawn Michaels spoke to Sports Illustrated’s Justin Barrasso about WrestleMania, Kurt Angle, and the Kliq.
  • Deadline has an article about television networks being upset about the delay in ratings, which was caused by power failure at Nielsen’s data center. The power failure delayed the ratings for last night’s Raw and likely will for SmackDown as well.

Pro Wrestling

  • Impact Wrestling posted a video on YouTube of an angle where Alberto El Patron relinquishes the World title after winning it last week. El Patron initially seemed to win the title on the first day of the latest TV tapings but later didn’t have it and Bobby Lashley still held the belt. Impact also uploaded a vignette for the return of LAX.
  • Lio Rush returns to EVOLVE on March 31st in Orlando, Florida. Rush will be facing Drew Galloway. The updated card for EVOLVE 81 is:
    EVOLVE Champion Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Michael Elgin in a non-title match
    Fred Yehi vs. Matt Riddle
    Keith Lee vs. Donovan Dijak
    Tracy Williams, Chris Dickinson & Jaka vs. Jason Kincaid, Sammy Guevara & Austin Theory
    Drew Galloway vs. Lio Rush
    Timothy Thatcher vs. ACH
  • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Kyle O’Reilly has been announced for AAW’s Homecoming show in Berwyn, Illinois this Friday.
  • Pluto TV launched a new pro wrestling channel.

UFC/MMA

  • Brett Okamoto tweeted that he’s confirmed that Anderson Silva will face Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 212 in Rio on June 3rd.
  • Dana White shot down rumors that the Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor boxing match has been finalized, saying that it’s “nowhere near being done.”
  • Roy Nelson vs. Alexander Volkov has been added to the card for UFC on Fox 24 on April 15th.
  • BBC has an article on the dangers of weight cutting.
  • A 14-year-old kickboxer passed away after a fight in England.

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). THERE ARE ONLY 5 SEATS LEFT!
  • The bus will leave at 3:30pm (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, including BIG DAVE MELTZER
  • 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).

Pro Wrestling Tees is now carrying our latest line of F4W shirts. Support the Empire~! Grab yours today!

CONTACT INFORMATION

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