Daily Update: WrestleMania, Bryan & Miz, SmackDown ratings

THE ROUND-UP

The Latest from the F4W Staff

NEWS

AUDIO

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: February 27, 2017, Massive Ivan Koloff bio, death of George “The Animal” Steele, tons more

The 2016 awards issue of the Observer is out with not only the winners, but the top place winners in every category as well as every winner of the awards which date back to 1980. Plus, have a look at the pros and cons of the Georges St-Pierre vs. Michael Bisping fight that looks to be the biggest PPV event at least until the fall, plus a detailed look at all the changes going on in TNA including people leaving, why they are leaving, where they are headed, who is coming in, and office changes.  We also look at the New Japan Cup, the career of Beth Phoenix, and Honor Rising tour.

The new issue has awards in these categories:

  • Ric Flair/Lou Thesz Award for Wrestler of the Year
  • MMA MVP
  • Most Outstanding Wrestler
  • Most Outstanding MMA Fighter
  • Best Box Office Draw
  • Feud of the Year
  • Tag Team of the Year
  • Most Improved
  • Best on Interviews
  • Most Charismatic
  • Bryan Danielson Award for Best Technical Wrestler
  • Bruiser Brody Award for Best Brawler
  • Best Flying Wrestler
  • Most Overrated
  • Most Underrated
  • Promotion of the Year
  • Best Weekly TV show
  • Pro Wrestling Match of the Year
  • MMA Match of the Year
  • Rookie of the Year
  • Best Non-Wrestler
  • Best TV announcer
  • Worst TV announcer
  • Best major show
  • Worst major show
  • Best maneuver
  • Most disgusting promotional tactic
  • Worst TV show
  • Worst match of the year
  • Worst feud of the year
  • Worst promotion of the year
  • Best Booker
  • Promoter of the Year
  • Best gimmick
  • Worst gimmick
  • Best Book
  • Best DVD/documentary

In this issue, there are notes on the business climate headed into WrestleMania week in Orlando as compared to last year, notes on Fast Lane, more on the WWE concussion lawsuit, departure of Jack Swagger from WWE, lots more on WrestleMania week, WWE Hall of Fame, HHH wrestling dates in March, a new WWE signee, John Cena outside activities and talks about Dwayne Johnson, Kurt Angle update and notes no next week’s TV. Plus, look at the most-watched shows on the WWE Network, business notes from all the WWE and NXT weekend shows and highlights.

There is also the results of the major league arena events held all over the world this past week, as well as notes on the various TV shows.

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 14, 2000, Vince McMahon announces the XFL, 1999 awards, more

Vince McMahon made sports and business headlines on 2/3 with the announcement of him starting his own professional football league called the XFL. McMahon, who failed in negotiations last year to buy the Canadian Football League, looks to be that league’s No. 1 rival for players not quite good enough for the NFL in his eight-team league scheduled to start in February 2001 with each team playing ten games and ending with championship playoffs in April… Subscribers click here to continue.

WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • SmackDown averaged 2.738 million viewers on Tuesday night. That number is up from the 2.566 million the show did last week, which was against President Donald Trump’s address to Congress, and closer to the strong number that SmackDown did two weeks ago when it averaged 2.792 million viewers.
  • Daniel Bryan and The Miz continued to blur the line between storyline and reality on Talking Smack last night. After Bryan said that he didn’t want to be an actor like Miz claimed to be, Miz replied that Bryan wants to wrestle but can’t because of his history of head injuries. Bryan then asked if it was because he couldn’t wrestle or if WWE wouldn’t let him, and said that we’ll see in a year and a half.
  • There was also a continuation of the storyline between AJ Styles and Shane McMahon, with Styles confronting Shane after SmackDown went off the air.
  • Austin Aries returned to the ring against Tony Nese on 205 Live last night.
  • A 12-foot-tall version of the WWE Championship was unveiled on the shore of Lake Eola in Orlando today in advance of WrestleMania 33 taking place in the city next month.
  • Edge celebrated International Women’s Day with a post on his Facebook account about his wife Beth Phoenix and her induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.
  • WWE released the first new Kurt Angle t-shirt since he returned to the company’s good graces.
  • Shinsuke Nakamura vs. TJ Perkins will air on tonight’s episode of NXT TV. The match will be Nakamura’s return from the storyline knee injury he suffered against Bobby Roode at NXT TakeOver: San Antonio.
  • Big Show posted a video reflecting on Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena, which was where he debuted for WCW. Next Monday’s Raw will be the last episode to take place at the arena before it closes down.

Pro Wrestling

  • The Hardys will face The Briscoes at ROH’s TV tapings in Las Vegas on Saturday after the promotion’s 15th Anniversary pay-per-view the night before.
  • Christopher Daniels appeared on Wrestling Observer Live today to promote the Anniversary show.
  • The next set of Impact tapings will take place over four days on April 20-23.

UFC/MMA

  • Henry Cejudo vs. Sergio Pettis has been announced for UFC 211 in Dallas on May 13th. Eddie Alvarez will also face Dustin Poirier on that show, which was previously verbally agreed to.
  • Tony Ferguson said that he received “less than half” of the $250k that he was supposed to get for fighting Khabib Nurmagomedov after the fight was canceled due to issues with Nurmagomedov’s weight cut.
  • Rashad Evans is going to keep fighting despite his loss at UFC 209.

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!

    Today in professional wrestling history (3/8): Frank Gotch retains the World title

    CONTACT INFORMATION

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