DAILY UPDATE
Latest News:
NXT UK results: Gallus vs. Mastiff, Seven & Webster
AEW & NXT ratings: Dynamite tops 900k viewers for closed set episode
USADA to continue testing UFC fighters during coronavirus pandemic
WWE South Africa house show tour rescheduled to September
AEW Dynamite video highlights: Matt Hardy and Brodie Lee debut
Matt Hardy debuts on AEW Dynamite, joins Blood & Guts match
New date set for WWE Madison Square Garden house show
AEW adds lumberjack match, parking lot fight to next Dynamite
Brodie Lee revealed as The Exalted One on AEW Dynamite
Latest Audio:
WOL: WrestleMania two-day extravaganza, NXT vs. AEW, more! 3/19
WOR: WrestleMania changes, AEW vs. NXT, tons more! 3/19
Are you interested in attending our annual F4W/WON convention? We will hold it during AEW Double or Nothing weekend. For more information, check this post for activities and prices.
WON NEWSLETTER: Coronavirus cancellations, Rob Gronkowski, more
A story on the Corona Virus and pro wrestling and MMA shows around the world is the lead story in a double-issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter this week.
We go through:
Where everything stood at press time for large and small promotions all over the world, as well as other sports.
Which companies can survive this period the best and how this threatens the future of many companies and wrestlers, a well as WWE and other name indie talent that likely can’t be coming to the U.S. because of travel bans.
This is one of the biggest stories to have faced the world in our lifetime, and it affects every business, but sports and entertainment businesses, like all, will take an unforeseen shock.
The issue also covers:
Rob Gronkowski and WWE, what is believed to be the extent of the deal, who is Gronkowski, his prior experience in WWE, what he had said about doing pro wrestling in the past and what kind of impact his being in WWE could have.
The series of copycat lawsuits filed by a number of legal firms against WWE, the claims in the cases and a response by Jerry McDevitt to the cases.
The situation with David Starr being pressured out of wXw and Progress, the attempt to unionize wrestlers in the U.K. and companies that have jumped on board.
Full coverage of the Elimination Chamber show with notes on the show, updated plans for WrestleMania, business notes and match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
Update WWE PPV talks, Davey Boy Smith in Hall of Fame, salary of WWE’s top executives, the change in Paul Levesque’s backstage role, how talent contracts have changed, who owns the most WWE stock, XFL ratings and how this week changed the narrative, Cena movie delayed by a year of release due to Corona Virus, Rousey in WWE offices, change that was made in Friday tapings, Canadian ratings, UFC star talks about doing WWE, injury updates, more on a new athlete that just started, plus he most-watched shows on the WWE Network and details of all NXT & WWE arena events over the past week.
An extensive feature on Wayne Bridges, one of the biggest names in European pro wrestling during the 70s and 80s. We look at his sports background before pro wrestling, how he could into pro wrestling, his unique role in some major movies, his Japanese tours and his time in North America, the history of the world heavyweight title as recognized in the U.K., plus his biggest run as world heavyweight champion, appearing on the big Wembley and Royal Albert Hall shows, tragedies in his life and much more. This is a great history piece about an era of pro wrestling that a lot of U.S. fans aren’t aware of.
Complete coverage of UFC 248, including the show, what happens next, the judging, who the media thought won the key fights, and business notes.
Oregon wrestling in the 80s and its top heel, Rip “The Crippler” Oliver, who passed away last week. We look at the atmosphere when he first arrived, his life and career before Oregon, his attempts to leave and why he always ended up back, his records set, biggest feuds, extensive title history, the 1982 tag team tournament at the Omni in Atlanta,Billy Jack Haynes, Roddy Piper, Buddy Rose and the death of the Don Owen territory.
Update the situation with Scott Steiner.
End of an era, as after 41 years, Stu Sacks leaves Pro Wrestling Illustrated and a career in wrestling journalism that goes back 50 years to his childhood.
Regarding the Wednesday numbers, we’ve got full details, demos that each side won, how every segment did and what match ended up as the difference maker.
All the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.
In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
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 [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
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.
THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
On this week’s episode of The Bellas Podcast, Daniel Bryan mentioned wanting to reduce his wrestling schedule when his contract comes up: “WWE has been great. They’re gonna give me six weeks paternity leave, which so few places in the United States do that. So I’ll get to be home that first six weeks. But then after that, it’s not long until my contract is up. We’ve been talking about what we do from there. To me, in my mind, it’s almost like, I think I’m just done being a full-time wrestler. I love being a dad. I will always love wrestling, and I always want to do wrestling. But when I say always do wrestling, that means maybe once a month or once every couple months.”
Renee Young and Paige are doing a Watch With WWE Backstage on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter at 10 p.m. Eastern time tonight. They’ll be rewatching Paige vs. Emma to determine the first-ever NXT Women’s Champion and Charlotte Flair vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch from WrestleMania 32.
After Roman Reigns tweeted that one of the WrestleMania main events belongs to him and Goldberg and asked who will claim the other night, Edge responded: “Aw that’s cute Big Pup. But whether you realize it or not, if @RandyOrton has the nads to accept my challenge for #WrestleMania we’ve already marked our territory on what the real main event is. After 9 years the wolf is back in the yard. #LastManStanding #MainMainEvent”
“The Big Show Show” and “The Main Event” are featured in Netflix’s New on Netflix video for April. “The Big Show Show” debuts on April 6, while “The Main Event” premieres on April 10.
The New Day will guest star on All That at 9 p.m. Eastern time on Nickelodeon this Saturday.
Alexa Bliss, Jeff Hardy, Braun Strowman, Drake Maverick, and Xavier Woods will be call-in guests on a special edition of WWE’s The Bump tomorrow. It will begin at 10 a.m. Eastern.
Baron Corbin is the guest on today’s episode of After the Bell with Corey Graves.
WWE’s YouTube channel uploaded Seth Rollins vs. Triple H from WrestleMania 33.
Other Wrestling
On Twitter, Matt Hardy responded to Cody welcoming him to AEW: “Thank you. I am very honored & proud to join @AEWrestling, a company that takes great pride in listening & respecting their loyal audience. Excited to CHANGE THE WORLD with you.”
Hardy will appear on tomorrow’s episode of Talk is Jericho.
AEW has released two new T-shirts each for Hardy and Brodie Lee.
Episode 12 of Hardy’s Free the Delete series was uploaded last night.
Impact Wrestling has announced Ken Shamrock vs. Sami Callihan for their Rebellion PPV. The show has been scheduled to take place at Terminal 5 in New York City on April 19, but Impact noted earlier in the week that they “continue to monitor the situation actively and are reviewing the recommendations from the appropriate government agencies and local communities.”
NJPW president Harold Meij spoke to Sports Illustrated about how NJPW has responded to the coronavirus pandemic: “At this moment in time, our events, up to and including March 21, have been canceled. Everyone involved in this situation wants to get back to business as usual immediately afterward, and we are working toward that. The situation is fluid, however, and we have to act responsibly. The coronavirus has dramatically affected how sports and events-based businesses worldwide are able to operate. Being the biggest professional wrestling organization in Japan put a spotlight upon us and gave us a significant social responsibility. It has been our duty to not just act in the best interests of our fans, wrestlers and staff, but of society at large.”
This year’s Cauliflower Alley Club reunion has officially been postponed to September 21-23.
GCW is running the Acid Cup at an “undisclosed location” tonight and tomorrow and has started an Indiegogo with all proceeds for the show going to the wrestlers and referees.
Chris Van Vliet has an interview with Eddie Kingston.
MMA
Dana White spoke about Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson still happening on April 18: “We’re looking at a lot of different things. Listen, if you’re a fan, a media member, whatever you might be, do you want to bet against me? You want to bet that I can’t pull stuff off? At some point you stop doubting me I’d imagine but maybe not. We’ll see.”
Nurmagomedov is currently the only fighter allowed to train at AKA.
Daily Pro Wrestling History: E&C, Dudley Boyz win WWF Tag Team titles
CONTACT INFORMATION
Poll opinions: [email protected]
Feedback: [email protected]
Show results and news tips: [email protected]
Wrestling Observer Radio questions: [email protected]
Support the Empire~! with F4W shirts. Grab yours today