DAILY UPDATE
Latest News
Roman Reigns to address the status of leukemia battle on WWE Raw
WWE announces return date for ‘Miz & Mrs’
Ospreay & PAC teaming together at RevPro WrestleMania week show
WWE SmackDown posts best ratings since November
VIDEO: Watch Georges St-Pierre’s retirement speech at 10:30 AM EST
New Japan Road results: Takashi Iizuka retirement match
WWE announces return of Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic
Latest Audio
WOL: RAW and Smackdown ratings, Hulk Hogan biopic, Dave Meltzer, more! 2/21
WOR: GSP retirement, RAW ratings, Smackdown, NXT TV tapings, more! 2/21
F4D: Tom in the UK, Smackdown, Geek of the Week, sponsorship game, more! 2/20
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: WWE takes first steps toward WrestleMania 35 triple threat
It appears that WWE has officially taken the first steps towards Ronda Rousey, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte Flair all being involved in the main event of WrestleMania 35.
An angle where Vince McMahon suspended Lynch for 60 days and announced that Charlotte would be taking her place at WrestleMania closed last Monday’s episode of Raw. Charlotte aligned with Vince and fully turned heel, with Vince calling her someone with charisma, someone with charm, and someone who knows their lane and stays in it.
WON NEWSLETTER: February 25, 2019 Observer Newsletter: Elimination Chamber review
The show didn’t sell out, even in one of WWE’s best markets. The show had more good than bad, with the highlight being the main event, the men’s Chamber match where Daniel Bryan retained and the crowd got so strong behind Kofi Kingston in the Mustafa Ali slot that Vince McMahon changed plans for Fast Lane to put Bryan vs. Kingston on top.
The show was the brainchild of Motoko Baba, to run a big Baba celebration show in 2019, 20 years after his early 1999 death. With her passing away last year, it was her nieces and nephews who put the show together.
All but one count of Mark Hunt’s lawsuit against the UFC, Dana White and Brock Lesnar on the grounds they conspired against him to allow a juiced up Lesnar to fight him at UFC 200 was thrown out of court.
Click Here: Kangaroos Rugby League Jersey
The 2020 Royal Rumble will take place on 1/26 at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Most likely that would also mean Takeover on 1/25 at the Toyota Center, Raw on 1/27 and Smackdown on 1/28.
FOX this weekend started advertising 10/4 as the debut of the new Friday Night Smackdown show.
“Fighting with My Family,” the Dwayne Johnson Seven Bucks Entertainment movie about Growing Up as Paige, which has its big national release on 2/22, has gotten great word-of-mouth so far.
Chris Jericho noted that while he and Gedo are on the same page, that New Japan management hasn’t talked with him about a new deal.
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THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE
by Joseph Currier and Bryan Rose
WWE
WWE uploaded a video that has interviews with new behind-the-scenes employees Jeff Jarrett, Chris Parks (Abyss), Sonjay Dutt, Shawn Daivari, and Shane Helms.
Triple H responded to the announcement that Roman Reigns will appear on Monday’s Raw to address the status of his battle with leukemia: “No one fights harder and is tougher than @WWERomanReigns. Can’t wait to see him back in his yard this Monday on #Raw and hear how his battle is going.”
Xavier Woods tweeted about New Day’s goal of Kofi Kingston becoming WWE Champion: “If you’re late to the party, #NewDay has been repping that @TrueKofi will become the WWE world champion since our inception. It will soon become a reality. There is no bandwagon. There is no alternate truth. We are here for him and always will be. #KofiVsBryan”
Pep Hamilton was officially introduced as the head coach/general manager of the XFL’s Washington DC team today. Hamilton was formerly the offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts and Stanford University.
Oliver Luck said the XFL is very close to announcing a “very strong broadcast package” for the league.
This week’s WWE Network Hidden Gems additions were:
Sputnik Monroe vs. Jack Pesek (Championship Wrestling from Florida, 1966)
Bobo Brazil & Dick the Bruiser vs. The Sheik & Bobby Heenan (AWA, 1974)
Rocky Johnson & Pedro Morales vs. Ivan Koloff & Mr. Saito (Championship Wrestling from Florida, 1978)
Junkyard Dog vs. Buzz Sawyer (Houston Wrestling, 1983)
The Charlotte Observer has a feature story on Charlotte Flair.
WWE posted full video of the sit-down interview Matt Riddle did with Jeremy Borash that aired on this week’s NXT TV.
People has an interview with Paige about “Fighting with My Family.”
Billy Gunn appeared on Busted Open Radio to discuss D-Generation X being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Gunn said he thinks Chyna going into the Hall of Fame is the most exciting thing about it.
Pro Wrestling
The ROH World Championship will be defended in Israel for the first time when Jay Lethal faces David Starr at Israeli Pro Wrestling Association’s Passover Bash on April 21. ROH noted that if Lethal loses the title before the match, the new ROH Champion will take his place.
Sumie Sakai will be wrestling for Stardom in Osaka on February 24.
Impact Wrestling announced that Xplosion will air on Twitch every Wednesday at 7 p.m. Eastern time.
Brian Pillman Jr. vs. Alex Hammerstone is set for MLW Intimidation Games in Cicero, Illinois on March 2.
Air Wolf will make his MLW debut at Intimidation Games.
Britt Baker vs. Charli Evans has been announced for Pro Wrestling: EVE’s She Fights on Fridays show on March 8.
Jimmy Lloyd is facing Masashi Takeda in a deathmatch at Joey Janela’s Spring Break 3, part one in Jersey City, New Jersey on April 5.
UFC/MMA
At his retirement press conference today, Georges St-Pierre spoke about why a fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov didn’t happen: “My agent was talking to the UFC, we tried to organize the fight with Khabib. I know Khabib wants it and I want it, but the UFC had other plans. To the point where I am in my career, for me it’s more at this time taking one fight at a time instead of being there for several fights. The way the business works in UFC, if they promote someone they want to keep him there to have a guarantee that the guy is there. It’s like an investment.”
Nurmagomedov wrote on Instagram: “Now look at this video and you’ll understand why I wanted to fight with him, simply he’s one of the best оf all times. I just wanted to share cage with him while he’s active, that’s the history and people be watching it again and again, I want to fight with the best. Anyway, good luck to you Legend @georgesstpierre time is merciless, and your decision is right.”
ESPN2 will be airing three GSP fights starting tomorrow morning at 2:30 eastern. First will be the fight against Johny Hendricks, then the second fight against Matt Hughes followed by his fight against Carlos Condit.
With a message on their marquee, Madison Square Garden thanked GSP and congratulated him on his career.
Scott Coker also wished GSP the best in his retirement.
GSP was honored at tonight’s Canadiens/Flyers game.
Amanda Nunes doesn’t feel she will be ready to fight by May for UFC 237. Her goal is to fight in November or December against Holly Holm, then rematch against Cyborg next year before retiring.
ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong posted a picture with himself and Vitor Belfort, saying that he will be at ringside tomorrow as his guest, and to “stay tuned for some big news!”
The ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix tournament brackets have been revealed.
Jose Aldo is looking at fighting Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 237.
Rose Namajunas announced a partnership deal between her and Reebok.
Bethe Correia vs. Irena Aldana has been booked for UFC 237.
Marcin Tybura will fight Shamil Abdurakhimov at UFC St. Petersburg on 4/20.
Daily Pro Wrestling History: Vader vs. Sting at WCW SuperBrawl III
Ed in San Antonio presents the WRESTLEMANIA Weekend Events (more to be added):
Sunday, April 6th, at 12:00 pm: Lunch (all you can eat) at Churrascaria Plataforma ($90 per person), located at 316 W. 49th street in Manhattan. Purchase tickets here~!
Luxury Bus to MetLife Stadium for Wrestlemania: We will depart from the Hilton Midtown (site of Wrestlecon) located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas. Departure time is 4:00 pm and will return from MetLife approximately 30 mins after the event. Times are subject to change, and cost $67.00 per person for the round trip. Purchase tickets here~!
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