Daily Update: WrestleMania main event, G1 Supercard, Flip Gordon

DAILY UPDATE

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We’re looking for reports on yesterday’s WWE Raw show in Amherst, MA tonight’s from Boston with matches on not Raw, Impact weekend tapings in Windsor, ONT, and the Smackdown house show in Altoona, PA tonight at newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

We’re also doing two weekend polls. The first is on today New Japan Cup finals, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match on the show to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

The other is a poll for the best match overall of the entire New Japan Cup to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

Raw is tonight from Boston with Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe announced.

Smackdown and 205 take place on Tuesday at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT. Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville, Naomi and Carmella meet in a four-way where the winner gets a title shot at Asuka at WrestleMania.

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: #KofiMania

A combination of timing, fan support, and strong performances have come together to make Kofi Kingston the unlikely star of WrestleMania season.

It was only a few weeks ago where this seemed completely implausible. Kingston wasn’t even originally supposed to be in the WWE Championship match at Elimination Chamber. He was on the outside looking in, with Daniel Bryan, AJ Styles, Randy Orton, Samoa Joe, Mustafa Ali, and Jeff Hardy set to take part in the match.

WON NEWSLETTER: March 25, 2019 Observer Newsletter: UFC PPVs to ESPN+, Wrestlemania 35 preview

A look at the details and ramifications of the new UFC PPV deal with ESPN+ is the lead story in the new double issue of the Observer. Look at the winners and loses of the deal, the economics of the deal, how it affects fans, what fans are going to be left behind, the role of Dana White, and the negotiations that led to UFC looking outside of TV for PPV.

This issue has a complete rundown of the WrestleMania card as it stands, as well as notes on matches not yet announced. Also look at the secondary market for the big shows over Mania weekend, as well as All In. 

Also look at the details of WWE’s planned move, update on Gallows & Anderson, Dana Warrior, a planned WWE match that fell through, why WWE stock is up, Sue Aitchison in the Hall of Fame, update on WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, Matt Hardy future, and several new WWE signings.

Read a major feature on the career of The Destroyer. Look at Dick Beyer’s transition from Syracuse line coach to The Destroyer, who came up with the gimmick, how it transpired, and the role of Fred Blassie and Jules Strongbow in the story.

Read full coverage of ROH’s 17th anniversary show, the ROH/NJPW Madison Square Garden show, and match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.

Also look at the suspension of T.J. Dillashaw and his vacating the UFC welterweight title, update the New Japan Cup, cover AAA Rey de Reyes and CMLL El Homenaje a Dos Leyendas.

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@wrestlingobserver.com or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

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MONDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer radio talking Raw, New Japan Cup, Kurt Angle, Bellas, Being the Elite, Mania main event and taking your e-mail questions to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com.

WWE has gotten a lot of pub regarding announcing the Ronda Rousey vs. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair match is going to be the main event for WrestleMania. It came down to that match and Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins, and the women’s match should have headlined. Plus, announcing it in advance gives the show more publicity than waiting until the last week. So it all makes sense. All three women are going to ESPN tomorrow for the 7:45 a.m. edition of Sports Center. Roman Reigns will be on First Take at 11 a.m.

For the NJPW/ROH Madison Square Garden show, the show is now starting at 6:15 p.m. with a Stardom tag team match, followed by the Rumble at 6:30 and Jeff Cobb vs. Will Ospreay starts the ten match main card at 7:30 p.m. The women’s match will not be streamed or on PPV.

Flip Gordon noted that when he woke up this morning, his knee locked up. He was scheduled to return to the ring on Sunday in Baltimore. Right now ROH is awaiting an update on his situation.

Tommy Dreamer’s House of Hardcore will be in a video game called RetroMania Wrestling. The game is being called the spiritual successor of the 1991 WWE arcade game Wrestle Fest and the roster features Dreamer, the Road Warriors, Zack Sabre Jr., and Austin Idol.   

WWE

  • With the retirement of Rob Gronkowski, there’s been a lot of speculation regarding him and pro wrestling, especially since he and Mojo Rawley were such good friends. Betonline.ag has put +150 odds that the next thing he does is wrestle in WWE, +200 on being an NFL commentator and +500 on acting or hosting a podcast. 
  • Raw is expected to top 10,000 fans tonight, which is a good number these days, but not expected to sell out. 
  • The weather for 4/7 (WrestleMania) at this point looks to be a 50 percent chance of rain.
  • The Bella Twins will be at WrestleMania Fan Axxess doing a signing. The climax of the final episode of the season of Total Bellas last night was Nikki announcing her retirement.
  • Sunday’s episode of NCIS Los Angeles on CBS will feature Shane McMahon and Bill Goldberg. Both play Department of Justice agents.

UFC

  • Li Jingliang is out of his 4/27 fight with Cowboy Alex Oliveira due to what is being reported as a spinal injury and he hasn’t been able to train hard.    

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Teddy Hart vs. Ace Austin was announced for the middleweight title on the 4/6 MLW Battle Riot show in Queens, NY.
  • Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling on 4/20 in East Carondelet, IL at the Community Center.
  • IPW from Saturday night in Auckland, New Zealand: Will Stone b Paul Sayres, Vinny Dunn & Reuben de Jong b Short & Sweet, Mr. Tagatese b Keanu & Little Ted & Charlie Roberts & Liger & Mr. Burns in a handicap gauntlet match, Candy Lee b Grease Lightning, Alfred Valentine b Ringo Ryan, Jukebox Hero b Curtis Castlweood, Jake Sheehan b James Shaw, Jakob Cross b Will Power. Next show is 4/27 with a Rumble match. (thanks to Steve Ogilvie)
  • IPW from last night in Maidstone, UK: Chief Deputy Dunne & Los Federales Santos Jr. & Joe Nelson b Jay Garner & Andreas Corr & Ashley Dunn, Ben Basden b James Castle-DQ, Sam Stoker & Lewis Howley b Connor Mills & Maverick Mayhew to keep IPW tag titles, Matt Taven b Rob Sharpe, Luke Phoenix b Danny Duggan, Bobby Tyler b Sierra Loxton to keep women’s title, Rob Sharpe won 30 man Rumble to earn a title shot over the next 365 days. They have a Super 8 tournament on 7/21 in Maidstone with James Storm and T.J. Perkins. (thanks to Dean Ayass)
  • St. Louis Anarchy from Saturday night in St. Louis: Mikey BMOC b Ace Perry, Briar & Brad Mercury won over Friendhip Team 9000, Everett Connors b Kody Lane, Devin & Mason Cutter b Luke Langley & Graham Bell, Jeremy Wyatt b Larry D-DQ, Christian Rose b Matt Kenway, Mat Fitchett & Davey Vega b Chip Day & Logan James, Jake Parnell b Thomas Shire, Nick Gage b Gary Jay. (thanks to Tommy Peterson)
  • Pro Wrestling YEG noted having raised more than $15,000 for a cancer benefit show they are running on 4/13 in Edmonton. The money will be donated to the Kids With Cancer Society.
  • In yesterday’s update, we noted about basketball announcer Wally Sczezerbiak’s appearance on Nitro in 1999. He was the one talking about it during the game and mentioning Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash and Bill Goldberg. (thanks to Brian Henke)
  • UPWA on 4/3 in Wayne, NJ at the Wayne PAL Building with Billy Gunn, Buff Bagwell, Chris Masters, Mercedes Martinez, Stro, Ricky Reyes, Sunny Kiss and more.
  • FloSports announced they would be handling live streaming coverage of the Best the Streets wrestling show on 5/6 at the Hulu Theater in Madison Square Garden. The theme will be Team USA vs. Team NCAA champions. Tickets for the show start at $30.   
  • Action Wrestling from Friday night in Tyrone, GA before 325 fans: AC Mack b Shawn Dean, Michael Marshall b Matt Sells, Cain Justice & Jaden Newman b The Carnies, Slim J b Bobby Flaco, Team Tag b Will Kaution & Axel & Erik Havok, James Bandy b O’Shea Edwards, Fred Yehi b Arik Royal falls count anywhere. Next show is 4/26 in Sharpsburg, GA at the East Coweta High School with AR Fox, Fred Yehi and Anthony Henry.
  • CWE on 4/6 in Edmonton at the Norwood Legion #176 with Psicosis & Vinnie DaVinci vs. Jess Youngblood & Morning Mercenary. 
  • Former wrestlers Rock Riddle and Brian Blair will be wrestling later next month as part of the Cauliflower Alley Club festivities. 

Daily Pro Wrestling History: WWWF Champion Backlund vs. AWA Champion Bockwinkel

Ed in San Antonio presents the WRESTLEMANIAWeekend Event:

  • Saturday, April 6th, at 12:00 pm: Lunch (all you can eat) at Churrascaria Plataforma ($90 per person), located at 316 W. 49th street in Manhattan. Purchase tickets here~!

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