THE ROUND-UP
THE LATEST NEWS
WWE Main Event results: The Revival vs. Titus Worldwide
Jimmy Hart inducting Hillbilly Jim into WWE Hall of Fame
WWE Boston, MA, live results: Brock vs. Braun vs. Kane
NXT St. Augustine, FL, live results: Andrews teams with Ohno
THE LATEST AUDIO
I Left My Wallet In Greg Polanco: Frankie Kazarian 3/31
WOL: ‘Dr. Lucha’ Steve Sims and Brody King 3/30
NXT TakeOver New Orleans conference call audio 3/30
Wrestling Weekly: Shane McMahon, early WrestleManias, Starrcade 3/30
We’re looking for reports from the Raw show in North Charleston, SC, Smackdown in Huntington, WV and NXT in Crystal River, FL to [email protected].
NEW JAPAN SAKURA GENESIS LATE SATURDAY NIGHT/EARLY SUNDAY AT 3 A.M. EASTERN AND MIDNIGHT PACIFIC ON NEW JAPAN WORLD
Young Bucks vs. Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi
Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs. Takashi Iizuka & Taichi
Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa vs. Togi Makabe & Michael Elgin & Ryusuke Taguchi for the Never trios titles
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs. Hirooki Goto & Jay White & Yoshi-Hashi
Tetsuya Naito & Evil & Seiya Sanada vs. Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr.
Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Desperado vs. Sho & Yoh vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Bushi for IWGP jr tag titles
Will Ospreay vs. Marty Scurll for IWGP jr. title
Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi vs. Cody & Hangman Page
Kazuchika Okada vs. Zack Sabre Jr. for IWGP heavyweight title
Sunday has WWE Raw in Macon, GA and Smackdown in Lexington, KY.
The WrestleMania go-home Raw is Monday night in Atlanta at Phillips Arena. Announced are a face-to-face confrontation with HHH, Stephanie McMahon, Ronda Rousey and Kurt Angle, as well as Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor. The show will also feature the climax of the John Cena / Undertaker storyline as well as the final angle between Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar.
There is also a Smackdown house show on Monday night in Knoxville.
The final main roster show before WrestleMania is the Smackdown / 205 Live / Mixed Match Challenge tapings on Tuesday in Nashville. The finals of MMC with The Miz & Asuka vs. Bobby Roode & Charlotte Flair will take place as well as Mark Andrews vs. Drew Gulak.
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Another chapter in Daniel Bryan’s unbelievable journey
When Daniel Bryan chronicled his “improbable journey” to the main event of WrestleMania in his first book in 2015, there’s no way that he could have known how unbelievable the story of his career would end up being. A day that, not long ago, seemed like it was never going to come arrived last Tuesday as WWE announced that Bryan has been medically cleared to wrestle for the company. “Following more than two years of extensive evaluations, four-time World Champion Daniel Bryan has been medically cleared to return to in-ring competition by leading neurosurgeons, neurologists and concussion experts, including Dr. Robert Cantu, Dr. Javier Cárdenas and Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher,” WWE’s statement said.
WON NEWSLETTER: April 2, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Changes to Wrestlemania card, more
An update on WrestleMania, with changes in he show, rumors about the show, ticket sales for all the major events of the week and what shows have the most and least interest is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
This issue has full coverage of New Japan going to the Cow Palace, the background of how that happened, notes on the Long Beach show with match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results. Also look at a Friday night show that week, the situation with Rey Mysterio Jr., thoughts on the main event, this week’s biggest shows and future booking.
Read the updated WWE/Hulk Hogan situation.
Examine the notes on PWG leaving its home base in Reseda and full coverage of the weekend show, the PWG business, and match-by-match coverage with star ratings.
Also inside is a full events calendar for WrestleMania week with the non-WWE and ROH shows, how the rules for independent shows will differ from those of WWE shows, and where the big stars and key matches will be taking place.
We also look at two lawsuits against WWE that were thrown out and why, and thoughts on both why they were and what questions they bring up. There is also more on the Greatest Royal Rumble show and the big ethical question everyone is avoiding.
Look at Vince McMahon’s competition for a spring football league and moves that they are making. Plus, get the update on Bryan Danielson, Charlotte Flair, changes in commercial content on Raw coming soon, as well as the latest plans for after WrestleMania.
There is a ton of WWE Hall of Fame news, non-wrestling news involving Paul Heyman, Ronda Rousey media, former WWE star to host a television show, key live dates for the next year, future of Jim Ross, and lots of women wrestlers defend Moolah and others who don’t.
Find out more on John Cena’s acting gigs, Ric Flair starting a new company, new DVD releases for 2018, update on Dean Ambrose, UK TV ratings, most-watched shows on the WWE Network as well as a rundown of all the WWE live evens over the past week with highlights and business notes.
Check out the weekly coverage of all the ratings of the major shows, detailed notes on who is watching all the WWE shows, results from the major league events held around the world, and the major TV show rundowns.
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 [email protected].
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 [email protected]. 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.
SATURDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
WrestleMania 34 is listed as being seven hours long on the WWE Network schedule for April 8th. The two-hour pre-show will begin at 5 p.m. Eastern time (with the second hour also airing on the USA Network) before the main card starts at 7 p.m. The replay of the show isn’t supposed to begin until midnight, but it will probably be like the last few years where WrestleMania ends whenever it ends instead of hitting an exact cutoff time.
Hulk Hogan replied to Mark Henry saying that he needs to apologize to all African American wrestlers, with Hogan saying that he feels he needs to apologize “not to the black wrestlers, to all the wrestlers.”
A new episode of Ride Along with AJ Styles & Bobby Roode and Jinder Mahal & Sunil Singh will air on the WWE Network after Monday’s go-home episode of Raw.
Mustafa Ali cut a promo on Cedric Alexander ahead of their Cruiserweight Championship match at WrestleMania, referencing the different paths they’ve taken and Ali originally being chosen as an alternate in the Cruiserweight Classic.
Bill Simmons spoke to the Hollywood Reporter about HBO’s Andre the Giant documentary and being able to make the project happen after it didn’t work out at ESPN when 30 for 30 was created: “I developed a better relationship with the WWE. In 2015, we (at HBO) tried to convince Vince McMahon to do it. The WWE had their network and created a lot of content, but they also saw the big picture and they saw the value that this is with HBO. And then it unfolded and worked out.”
In an interview with Barstool Sports, Paul Heyman explained why Daniel Bryan being cleared by WWE moved him to tears.
Shawn Michaels also discussed Bryan being cleared and their history together.
Triple H wished Arnold Schwarzenegger well after Schwarzenegger underwent emergency heart surgery: “Thinking of @Schwarzenegger after hearing the news of his open heart surgery today. Sending you strength for a speedy recovery my friend.”
Before the news was revealed, WWE interviewed Jimmy Hart about inducting Hillbilly Jim into the Hall of Fame on the red carpet for the Andre the Giant documentary.
The New Day cosplayed as characters from Black Panther while at Awesome Con.
WWE put out a video feature on Kalisto that looks at his career and personal life.
WWE listed the greatest WrestleMania endings in this week’s video top 10 list:
Daniel Bryan overcoming The Authority and winning the WWE Championship (WrestleMania 30)
Seth Rollins cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase and winning the WWE title (WrestleMania 31)
The Undertaker retiring Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XXVI)
Hulk Hogan slamming and defeating Andre the Giant (WrestleMania III)
The Undertaker’s “farewell” (WrestleMania 33)
Shawn Michaels defeating Bret Hart in their Iron Man match and winning the WWF title (WrestleMania XII)
Steve Austin and Vince McMahon joining together (WrestleMania X-7)
Mike Tyson punching out Shawn Michaels and aligning with Steve Austin (WrestleMania XIV)
Bret Hart’s WWF title win (WrestleMania X)
The Rock passing the torch to John Cena (WrestleMania 29)
The Undertaker’s Hell in a Cell match with Triple H from WrestleMania 28 has been uploaded for free on YouTube.
Pro Wrestling
Vader wrote about his recovery from open heart surgery: “5 days since my surgery & it has been some the worst pain I have ever endured. The Hospital staff has been excellent and my surgeon was fantastic. I am greatful for the life I’ve had & the opportunitny to continue to live. THANK YOU JESUS.”
Revolution Pro Wrestling announced that NJPW’s Strong Style Evolved shows in the UK this summer (Milton Keynes on June 30th and Manchester on July 1st) will feature 14 names from Japan, along with wrestlers from the RevPro roster. Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, and The Young Bucks have noted that they won’t be on the shows.
Adam Brooks vs. Brian Cage is set for RevPro in New Orleans on April 6th.
Kazuchika Okada did an interview with New Japan World and spoke about the meaning of strong style (translation by Chris Charlton): “To be honest, I don’t know what Strong Style is, what it’s meant to be. I know I’m the champion. That means I’m strong. I have Style. So I guess I’m the most Strong Style.”
Okada discussed visiting NJPW’s dojo in California for the first time.
As an April Fool’s joke, NJPW posted an article about signing Eevee from Pokemon for a match against EVIL.
Matt Taven won the NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship from Volador Jr. at Arena Mexico last night.
Flip Gordon lost a fan vote to get booked for All In, falling short to Cody Rhodes’ dog Pharoah.
Impact Wrestling added to their WrestleMania weekend Twitch streaming schedule, which includes podcasts with Josh Mathews and Sonjay Dutt and streams where members of the Impact roster take part in other activities in New Orleans.
The WrestleCon Supershow will be known as the “Mark Hitchcock Memorial Supershow” from this point forward, paying tribute to Hitchcock (who worked with Highspots) after he passed away while on his honeymoon last month.
Chris Brookes will face Rey Horus for PROGRESS Wrestling in New Orleans on April 7th. Tyler Bate & Trent Seven challenging PROGRESS Tag Team Champions Zack Gibson & James Drake is set for April 6th, with the stipulation being that Bate & Seven can’t challenge for the titles for at least six months if they lose.
Title Match Wrestling uploaded Fred Rosser’s (Darren Young) first match since leaving WWE, which took place at WrestlePro earlier this month.
Devin Danger, who was the pro wrestler who spat gum at a child during a show and was attacked by her father, claimed that it wasn’t intentional and tweeted out an apology: “I apologized to the girl & her father the night it happened.The gum wasn’t intended to hit her, that was an accident. I am again very sorry”
UFC/MMA
Dave Meltzer has an article for MMA Fighting about Robert Whittaker having to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games to defend his middleweight title against Yoel Romero in June.
Khabib Nurmagomedov said he’ll hit Tony Ferguson with a left hook and then choke him out next Saturday.
Ferguson believes that Conor McGregor used a “Game Genie” by talking his way into his success.
Darren Till predicted that he’ll knock out Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson in the third round of their fight in Liverpool.
BJ Penn said he doesn’t see how he could turn down a UFC fight in Hawaii.
Eddie Alvarez thinks Dustin Poirier is a more skilled fighter than Justin Gaethje, but Gaethje has the edge in intangibles.
Combate Americas signed a multi-year deal with Univision to air live programming.
Daily Professional Wrestling History: The first WrestleMania
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