Daily Update: WWE SmackDown, Bellator, weekend schedule

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Roman Reigns cutting back on WWE appearances, Kota Ibushi-NJPW issues

  • Roman Reigns schedule in detail, what he is working, next title defense, current plans on his biggest summer match.
  • Behind the issues with Kota Ibushi and New Japan, where they started, where it stands and who is trying to smooth things over
  • WrestleMania Backlash, business numbers, match-by-match with star ratings and poll results
  • Update on all the big AEW & WWE summer shows, how tickets are moving, secondary market interest and million dollar gates
  • The unique ending of the UFC strawweight title reign by Rose Namajunas and what it says about scoring, cornering and how open scoring plays a part in this
  • Complete UFC 274 coverage with PPV numbers, TV numbers, match-by-match, what next and more
  • The Hall of Fame career of Daniel Cormier, someone who made it to the top in two different sports and becoming a UFC champion having never trained in striking until nearly the age of 30
  • Major joint promotion show lineup
  • Ratings for the past week, where wrestling ranks on cable, where AEW ranks as far as youngest skewing sports shows, how each AEW segment did, and realistic comparisons with last year’s numbers
  • Wrestling at Arena Mexico
  • Juice Robinson and his NJPW contract
  • Best of the Super Juniors notes
  • Tammy Sytch updates including sad situation with Bill DeMott
  • Ted DiBiase sued by Mississippi Department of Human Services
  • The life of popular referee and office person Charlie Smith of GCW fame
  • Legend of the 90s coming out of retirement again
  • A look back at the British Bulldogs
  • Lowest rated cable station
  • Match of the week and performer of the week
  • AEW and Warner Media update
  • Upcoming AEW shows
  • Tony Khan talks Bret Hart in AEW
  • Blackpool Combat Club original idea
  • Amazing UFC business run
  • UFC revenue and how much goes to fighters
  • Upcoming UFC matches
  • Former WWE wrestler wins in Bare Knuckle fighting
  • Strange booking of Lacey Evans
  • Questions about the Money in the Bank in 2022
  • International TV ratings
  • Streaming numbers

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter: April 4, 2005 Observer Newsletter back issue: WrestleMania 21 preview, All Japan Women shuts down

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Friday News Update

  • Garrett and I will be doing Wrestling Observer Radio later today talking the news of the week and the current issue of the Observer.
  • Showtime just finished Bellator today. Logan Storley, a former Junior Hodge winner, captured the interim welterweight title beating Michael Page via decision using his wrestling.
  • Smackdown tonight on FOX has Naomi & Sasha Banks defending the women’s tag titles against Natalya & Shayna Baszler, plus Kofi Kingston vs. Butch and Randy Orton & Riddle will appear. Locally in Wilkes-Barre they are advertising a dark match with Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch vs. Rhea Ripley for the Raw women’s title.
  • A boxing show in Abu Dhabi with Floyd Mayweather and Anderson Silva scheduled to take place tomorrow in Dubai was canceled at the last minute with everyone in the country due to the death of UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The country ordered a three-day suspension of work to mourn meaning they had to cancel the show.
  • For the weekend, our only poll will be for the New Japan show on Saturday night in Washington,DC, which is headlined by Hiroshi Tanahashi defending the U.S. title against Jon Moxley, Juice Robinson and Will Ospreay. You can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com
  • We are looking for live reports on these shows this weekend:
  • Smackdown in Wilkes-Barre, PA (dark matches only)
  • Saturday night in Florence, SC
  • Sunday night in Roanoke, VA
  • We’re looking for results, finishes and highlights to dave@wrestlingoberver.com
  • UFC tomorrow is scheduled for ESPN at 7:30 p.m. with the main card at 10 p.m. on ESPN 2
  • Nick Maximov (184.5) vs. Andre Petroski (185)
  • Tatsuro Taira (125) vs. Carlos Candelario (126)
  • Virna Jandiroba (115) vs. Angela Hill (115.5)
  • Michael Johnson (155) vs. Alan Patrick (156)
  • Viviane Araujo (125) vs. Andrea Lee (125)
  • Jake Hadley (125.5) vs. Allan Nascimento (125.5)
  • Frank Camacho (155) vs. Manuel Torres (155.5)
  • Katlyn Chookagian (125.5) vs. Amanda Ribas (125.5)
  • Davey Grant (135.5) vs. Louis Smolka (136)
  • Ryan Spann (206) vs. Ion Cutelaba (205)
  • Jan Blachowicz (205.5) vs. Aleksander Rakic (205)
  • The New Japan Best of the Super Juniors tournament begins on Sunday.
  • The Kansas Athletic Commission will be the first in the nation to adopt fighter and corner safely licensing protocols. Concussion related education is part of the new protocols.

UFC

  • Jim Miller vs. Bobby Green looks to be happening on the 7/2 show according to MMA Fighting.
  • Michelle Waterson vs. Amanda Lemos is set for the 7/16 show as reported by Ariel Helwani.
  • Terrence McKinney vs. Erick Gonzalez is set for 8/6 according to MMA Junkie.
  • Vicente Luque vs. Geoff Neal is set for 8/6 according to ESPN.

Other Notes

  • Legacy Fighting Championships on UFC Fight Pass on 6/10 from the Bell County Expo Center in Belton, TX (a building the Von Erichs worked regularly in the 80s) is headlined by Muin Gafurov (17-4) vs. Herberth Sousa (15-1).
  • The LFA has a show at 9 p.m. Eastern tonight on UFC Fight Pass headlined by Italo Gomes vs. Meiquizael Costa.
  • MCW on Sunday on FITE has the Hardy Boys vs. Mike Bennett & Matt Taven, Ken Dixon vs. Moses vs. Brian Johnson vs. Nick Aldis, Mike Bailey vs. Joey Janela, Gia Scott vs. Mandy Leon, Action Andretti vs. Ninja Mack, AQA vs. KiLynn King and more. There is also a convention at Benifield Sports in Baltimore before the show with Sting, Britt Baker, Road Dogg, Billy Gunn, Hardys,Sammy Guevara, Tay Conti, Johnny Gargano, Pentagon Jr., Rey Fenix,Thunder Rosa, Jake Roberts, Toni Storm, Anna Jay, Kris Statlander, Rikishi and Demolition.
  • 559 Fights on 5/21 in Visalia, CA at the Convention Center.