Daily Update: WWE SmackDown, AEW Rampage, Ronda Rousey

Daily Update

Latest News:

Latest Audio:

Latest Free YouTube Video:

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

*The biggest issue of the year, the 2022 Awards issue is up on the site

*Winners and top ten finishes in dozens of categories related to both pro wrestling and MMA as well as as listing of everyone who had won an award dating back to 1980. We also have comments on the voting in the major categories and notes on different career breakthroughs.

*Match of the week and performer of the week

*Full coverage of Elimination Chamber, the decision on the main event, the WrestleMania direction, different options, WrestleMania ticket demand, records set at Chamber, and Tony Khan and Ariel Helwani

*Coverage of Keiji Muto’s retirement at the Tokyo Dome with the unique storytelling in the main event and some great matches underneath

*Mercedes Mone returns after nine months to win the IWGP women’s title with full coverage of New Japan in San Jose, Mone’s future in Japan, who is in for a major push in Stardom, notes on Stardom’s upcoming biggest show in its history and some of the top matches

*The most detailed look at the TV ratings over the past week for all wrestling shows, including segment by segment, why AEW Dynamite and WWE Raw were up and other notes

*Mercedes Mone talks coming to Stardom

*Stardom tournament updates and next big show

*Notes from the Yuji Nagata vs. Kento Miyahara Triple Crown change and future All Japan big shows

*What country is New Japan talking about touring soon

*Fantastica Mania notes

*Notes on the Jerry Jarrett funeral and more Memphis wrestling history

*The death of Richard Belzer and the incident with Hulk Hogan

*Kurt Angle talks health issues

*Death of Brian Bukantis

*WBD business update

*Contract notes on top AEW talent

*Lineup for Revolution

*Ticket advances for all WWE & AEW shows

*Streaming numbers for AEW & WWE

*International TV ratings including what show broke its all-time record in what country

*Congressman going after Power Slap

*New UFC fights

*More on WWE potential sale and value

*Details of how if there is a Saudi Arabian purchase of WWE and how interested they are in it, what that would mean

*Notes on the debut of Dwayne Johnson’s XFL

*A&E documentary notes

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter:

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.

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

Friday Update

Garrett Gonzales and I will be back today with your look at the news and topics in this week’s Observer. We will also have another show this weekend.

Smackdown tonight is from Evansville, IN, with Karrion Kross vs. Rey Mysterio, Charlotte Flair goes face-to-face with Rhea Ripley, The Firefly Fun House and Imperium vs. Braun Strowman & Ricochet & Madcap Moss. The show is sold out with almost 8,400 tickets out as of this afternoon.

Rampage tonight at 10 p.m. Eastern on TNT has Young Bucks vs. Aussie Open for the first time ever, plus Toni Storm vs. Willow Nightingale, Lance Archer vs. Bryce Saturn and Action Andretti vs. Sammy Guevara.

Ronda Rousey is scheduled for Raw on Monday.

The final episode of the Young Rock season airs tonight. 

UFC tomorrow on ESPN+

Nikita Krylov (206) vs. Ryan Spann (205)

Andre Muniz (186) vs. Brendan Allen (186)

Augusto Sakai (265) vs. Don’Tale Mayes (261.5)

Tatiana Suarez (125) vs. Montana De La Rosa (125.5)

Mike Malott (171) vs. Yohan Lainesse (171)

Erick Gonzalez (156) vs. Trevor Peek (155.5)

Jasmine Jasudavicius (125.5) vs. Gabriella Fernandes (126)

Jordan Leavitt (155.5) vs. Victor Martinez (154.5)

Ode Osbourne (130) vs. Charles Johnson (130) – they agreed to a catchweight fight

Joe Solecki (155.5) vs. Carl Deaton (156)

Rafael Alves (155) vs. Nurullo Aliev (155)

Bellator runs at 4 p.m. Eastern tomorrow on Showtime from Dublin, Ireland

Ciaran Clarke (146.4) vs. Leonardos Sis (148.8) – missed weight

Sinead Kavanagh (146.0) vs. Janay Harding (145.1)

Pete Queally (155.4) vs. Bryce Logan (155.8)

Pedro Carvalho (145.4) vs. Jeremy Kennedy (146.0)

Yaroslov Amasov (169.4) vs Logan Storley (169.4) for the welterweight title

For the Wednesday and Friday AEW shows at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, they are selling four tickets for each night for $60 total using the password 4PACKAEW

We are looking for reports from these weekend shows:

*Smackdown tonight in Evansville, IN (dark matches only)

*NXT tonight in Jacksonville, FL

*WWE house show Saturday in Champaign, IL

*NXT house show tomorrow night in Lakeland, FL

*WWE house show Sunday in Rockford, IL 

We’re looking for results, finishes, highlights and thoughts on the show to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

We’re also doing a poll on Tuesday’s Keiji Muto retirement show at the Tokyo Dome, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@werstlingobserver.com

On May 6, there will be UFC 288, WWE Backlash and a Canelo Alvarez fight all on the same night.

The first ROH taping at Disney in Orlando is sold out.

Takumi Iroha will be in the 5/13 Queen of Indies show West Coast Pro is putting on in San Francisco.

Pat McAfee regarding a WWE return said: “Baby girl on the way… what’s that mean for my future with @WWE? I LOVE it but, they’re allegedly gonna be sold, who’s buying them? Do I want to work/make money for those people?

The Mercedes Mone vs. Kairi match from San Jose will air on AXS TV on Thursday night. On 3/9 they will air both Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi and Eddie Kingston vs. Jay White from that show.

Impact No Surrender odds from BetOnline for tonight’s Impact  show live from Sam’s Town in Las Vegas

Josh Alexander -2000 Rich Swann +700

Mickie James -700 Masha Slamovich +400

Joe Hendry -150Moose +110

Death Dollz -400 The hex +250

Steve Maclin -500 Heath +400

PCO +400 Brian Myers +500

Bullet Club -160 Time Machine +120

Jonathan Gresham -200 Mike Bailey +150

Frankie Kazarian -600 KON +350

Deonna Purrazzo -500 Gisele Shaw +300

Other Notes

Wrestling Revolver on 3/4 from the Horizon Events Center in Clive, IA with Jonathan Gresham vs. Kushida, Steve Maclin defends the Revolver title against Rich Swann, Tag champs Ace Austin & Chris Bey vs. Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz vs. Mance Warner & Matthew Justice, John Morrison vs. Ninja Mack, Alex Shelley vs. Matthew Palmer, Rosemary & Taya Valkyrie & Jessicka vs. JT Dunn & Tyler Matrix & Logan James in a no DQ match,Rocky Romero vs. Jake Crist vs. Lince Dorado for the NWA welterweight title, Dirty Dango vs. Dan the Dad and Manders vs. Crash Jaxon.

The Fight Network in Canada announced a ten part series called “Diary” airing Mondays at 9 p.m. Eastern and on the Invicta YouTube channel. The series will feature Impact and Invicta stars. Monday’s show has Josh Alexander followed by Jordynne Grace, Gisele Shaw, Jessica Delboni,Karina Rodriguez, Bhupinder Gujjar, Trey Miguel, Kay Hansen and Rosemary.

Lucha Va Voom has announced a residency inside the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino with shows on 4/27, 4/28, 4/29, 10/27 and 10/28. Taya Valkyrie, Peter Avalon, Magno and Jack Cartwheel will be on the April shows.

High Tension Wrestling on 3/18 in South Philadelphia at the Sheet MetalWorkers Local 19 at 1301 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.

LFA announced 4/14 from Sioux Falls, SD on UFC Fight Pass with Jalin Fuller (7-2) vs. Tre Waters (6-1) in a welterweight main event.

Bron Breakker, Wes Lee, Gallus, Fallon Henley, Kiana James, Tiffany Stratton and Alicia taylor are guests for the Orlando Solar Bears (minor league hockey) vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits game on Sunday at the Amway Center.