Daily Update: WrestleMania, Triple H on ESPN, Fedor vs. Mitrione

THE ROUND-UP

The Latest from the F4W Staff

NEWS

AUDIO

SmackDown & 205 Live will be taped tonight in Uncasville, CT at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: 3/20/2017: Is AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon the right match for Wrestlemania?

While the decision to have AJ Styles face Shane McMahon at WrestleMania has drawn criticism from a lot of people, I’ve remained mostly ambivalent about the matchup. Or at least that’s how I felt until last Tuesday’s episode of SmackDown. The seven weeks between Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania kept the feud between Styles and Shane from really building until now, but it was surprisingly worth the wait when it did… Subscribers click here to continue.

WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: March 20, 2017: Situation with Broken Matt Hardy and Anthem Sports, Wrestlemania card, more

This is a major news issue of the Wrestling Observer, with lead stories including full details on the legal questions regarding the Hardys’ gimmick, why Impact made the move they did, with the arguments from both sides and why they happened when they did.

Also look at the U.K. television battle with updates on ITV and WWE plans in the market.

There is a rundown of the 2018 WrestleMania main event as currently planned and long-term goals for the company and the top talent.

A WrestleMania show update for this year is included.

News on top talent leaving WWE after WrestleMania, NXT to Europe, Nakamura main roster update, Dwayne Johnson talks WrestleMania, several WWE injury updates, John Cena’s schedule, a look at wrestlers and other athletes WWE had in camp this past week including an Olympic silver medalist, WWE Hall of Fame, Jack Swagger, post-WrestleMania plans, WWE value and most watched shows on the WWE Network, is all inside.

Check out a full rundown of all the WWE and NXT live events over the past week with business notes, results and highlights.

Other major stories are on the New Japan Cup, the state of ROH talent and popularity, the 15th anniversary show coverage, who was Dennis Stamp, just how big a difference PEDs are in UFC, how much the top executives and the McMahon family earned last year, and the Japanese national poll on who the greatest pro wrestling stars ever to work Japan were.

This issue also contains a WrestleMania week schedule.

WWE & ITV’s moves for television in the U.K. are examined, plus a major rundown of former and current ROH talent, what is happening with WWE, ROH business and full coverage of the PPV with match-by-match coverage and star ratings.

Coverage of the UFC show in Brazil over the past week as well as the WWE house show in Madison Square Garden is in this issue.

Details on the ratings for all of the national shows over the past week, including a breakdown of who was watching all of the WWE shows are inside.

Examine 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 28, 2000, WCW Super Brawl review, Super J Cup, plus tons of news

There is little to say about SuperBrawl 2000 other than James Brown was there and got a big reaction, and the crowd popped pretty big for Hulk Hogan’s ring entrance. It was a WCW show filled with young guys who the crowd doesn’t know or care about and old guys that the crowd knows but isn’t interested in except as short-term nostalgia acts. The big surprise of Sting returning meant little. The return of Roddy Piper returning was really sad, and showing clips of the 1989 Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk I Quit match only emphasized how great they once were compared to what the company puts out today, and how much older they’ve gotten… Subscribers click here to continue.

TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • The Raw Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania is now a fatal four-way with Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks, and Nia Jax challenging Bayley after Jax was added to the match last night.
  • Triple H did a media tour on ESPN today to promote WrestleMania:
    Triple H talks about how WWE recruits from the NFL and internationally
    Peter Rosenberg interviews Triple H on the Cheap Heat podcast
    Triple H appears on First Take
    Triple H gives an update on Big Show vs. Shaquille O’Neal
    Triple H discusses his WrestleMania 28 Hell in a Cell match against The Undertaker
  • ESPN will again be covering WrestleMania this year.
  • WWE posted a teaser for upcoming WWE 24 specials, which will be focused on Finn Balor, Goldberg, the 2016 Raw after WrestleMania, and Kurt Angle.
  • Goldberg will be the first guest on Edge & Christian’s new podcast.
  • Charlotte Flair was interviewed on Pix 11 in New York.
  • Natalya spoke to Sports Illustrated about WrestleMania and her family.
  • Roman Reigns was a guest on the Boomer & Carton show yesterday.

Pro Wrestling

  • Adam Cole will challenge Marty Scurll for the ROH TV title at the promotion’s show in Lakeland, Florida on April 1st.
  • Cole also appeared on today’s episode of the Steve Austin Show.
  • PWG announced the card for their next show, titled “Game Over, Man,” which will take place on April 21st:
    Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Dick Togo in a non-title match
    Chuck Taylor vs. Marty Scurll in a Reseda street fight
    War Machine vs. The Young Bucks
    Mark Haskins vs. Michael Elgin
    Matt Riddle vs. Adam Cole
    Keith Lee vs. Jeff Cobb
    Rey Fenix vs. Lio Rush
  • The AV Club has an article on a Donald Trump storyline in DDT.

UFC/MMA

  • Fedor Emelianenko vs. Matt Mitrione will be the semi-main event of Bellator 180 at Madison Square Garden on June 24th. The show is Bellator’s return to pay-per-view and will be headlined by Chael Sonnen vs. Wanderlei Silva. Fedor was originally supposed to face Mitrione last month until their fight was canceled on the day of the show due to Mitrione having kidney stones.
  • After officially signing with Bellator, Ryan Bader called out Phil Davis for the MSG show.
  • The Liverpool Echo posted an update on former UFC and Bellator fighter Terry Etim after Etim was injured running in and out of traffic last month.

Today in Professional Wrestling History (3/21): WCW/NJPW Supershow

F4W / WO EMPIRE WRESTLEMANIA GROUP INFO

BUS INFO:

  • The Empire bus trip, which will be hosted by Leva “Blue Pants” Bates, 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 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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