THE ROUND-UP
The Latest from the F4W Staff
NEWS
Io Shirai trying out at the WWE Performance Center
WWE SmackDown video highlights: AJ Styles attacks Shane McMahon
WWE 205 Live results: Fatal five-way elimination main event
John Cena & Nikki Bella vs. The Miz & Maryse set for WWE WrestleMania 33
WWE SmackDown live results: Shane McMahon responds to AJ Styles
WWE & UFC ratings delayed due to power failure at Nielsen
AUDIO
WOL: Smackdown fallout, AJ vs. Shane, WrestleMania card, more! 3/15
B&V&C: Retro Raw and Nitro from 19 years ago this week! 3/14
WOL: WWE Raw fallout, Smackdown, WrestleMania, tons more! 3/14
WOR: RAW report, WrestleMania, New Japan Cup, Dennis Stamp, more! 3/14
WOL: Warrior Award, Kurt Angle first interview, new WrestleMania matches, more! 3/13
FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: 3/6/2017: Bad booking disappoints at WWE Fastlane
Goldberg is one of WWE’s top champions in 2017. That it was a formality doesn’t make the reality of that sentence any less startling. Nearly 20 years after his peak in WCW, and over a decade after his first stint with WWE came to an end, Goldberg is going to main event WrestleMania. All of that was locked in when Goldberg defeated Kevin Owens to win the WWE Universal Championship at Fastlane. Predictably, the main event was a wrestling match in name only. Goldberg won with a spear and a jackhammer in just over 20 seconds…
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WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: March 13, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: WWE Fastlane review, Tomoaki Honma injury, plus tons of news
Updated the plans for WrestleMania, detail what happened with Tomoaki Honma and a progress update, features on Ron Bass, Rick Rude and Tom Jones, a major new WWE signing and future company plans all in the new double issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Our lead story runs down WrestleMania, what is on, what is in limbo and where everyone fits in, plus a breakdown of the Fast Lane PPV with business notes, stories behind the matches, match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
Have a look back at the career of Ron Bass, his multitude of championships around the country, and why his career ended and post-wrestling.
There is a major feature on the 2016 Wrestling Observer awards, with a breakdown of winners, and notes about the different people in the major categories and compare and contrast them. Plus, discussion about the landslides and the close races and what made the difference.
This issue has a feature on the Hardys and Bully Ray in ROH, back-story of Hardys value on the independent market and where the different companies stand in the U.S. marketplace.
Take a look at the business of UFC 209, including Tony Ferguson’s pay when his fight was canceled, what was supposed to be a benefit to everyone that has backfired but nobody will say it, the judging of Wonderboy vs. Woodley, weight cutting, the welterweight position, as well as business notes on the show, match-by-match coverage and how much everyone was paid.
Examine Daniel Bryan possibly wrestling again, The Miz on promos, the Shane McMahon vs. A.J. Styles angle, notes on WWE talks with two of the best women wrestlers in the world, an update on the Jack Swagger situation, Dana Brooke competes in another sport, WWE Hall of Fame news, Jerry Lawler update, backstage when Dwayne Johnson was talking about C.M. Punk, this week’s Madison Square Garden show, Raw plans post-Mania, the most watched shows on the WWE Network, plus a look at all the arena matches over the past week with highlights and business notes.
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.
WON BACK ISSUE: February 21, 2000: 1999 attendance numbers, WCW turmoil, tons more
For the year, WWF increased attendance 20%. Monday night Raw ratings for the year as an average increased from a 4.40 average in 1998 to a 6.04 average in 1999, a 37% increase. PPV buy rates for the year increased from a 1.02 average in 1998 to a 1.25 average in 1999 which is a 23% increase. In 1998, WWF sold out 33.5% of its house shows while the figure increased to 63% of its shows in 1999. Average live gate per arena show increased from $188,482 in 1998 to $286,495, a whopping 52% caused by a combination of the increase in attendance and an increase in average ticket price from $18.84 to $23.84… Subscribers click here to continue.
WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
Neville defending the Cruiserweight Championship against Austin Aries is set for WrestleMania after Aries became the number one contender on 205 Live last night. There are now 10 matches announced for the WrestleMania 33 card, including seven title matches.
AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon hasn’t officially been announced yet, with WWE continuing the storyline of whether the match will happen or not a bit longer. The angle continued after SmackDown went off the air last night as Daniel Bryan said on Talking Smack that he wasn’t sure Shane was in the right mind to decide to face Styles at WrestleMania.
WWE posted an interesting teaser for “Southpaw Regional Wrestling,” which appears to be a parody show based on territorial wrestling.
NXT will be touring the UK from June 5-11. The last three dates of the tour will again be part of the Download Festival at Donington Park in Leicestershire, England. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. GMT on Friday. The schedule for the other shows is:
June 5th — GE Oil & Gas Arena in Aberdeen, Scotland
June 6th — Manchester Arena in Manchester, England
June 7th — First Direct Arena in Leeds, England
June 8th — Brighton Centre in Brighton, England
Kassius Ohno challenging Bobby Roode for the NXT Championship airs on tonight’s episode of NXT.
After posting an article about Io Shirai being at this week’s Performance Center tryouts, WWE.com took it down and replaced it with one that doesn’t mention Shirai at all.
Stephanie McMahon appeared on Xavier Woods’ UpUpDownDown YouTube series to celebrate the channel reaching 1,000,000 subscribers.
WWE has added two members to its management team in Latin America.
Pro Wrestling
The first two seasons of Lucha Underground have officially made their way to Netflix and are available for streaming in North America.
Bobby Fish tweeted that he’ll be accepting independent wrestling bookings starting on March 27th.
Independent wrestler Anthony Bowens wrote an article for Outsports about coming out as bisexual.
Ricochet, Will Ospreay, Tama Tonga, and Tanga Loa will be appearing at MLW Radio’s WaleMania III event in Orlando on March 30th and will be part of a live podcast. Our Dave Meltzer is also scheduled for the show.
UFC/MMA
The UFC officially confirmed Anderson Silva vs. Kelvin Gastelum for UFC 212 in Rio.
Yoel Romero is waiting to challenge the winner of Michael Bisping vs. Georges St-Pierre for the middleweight championship in his next fight.
Demetrious Johnson discussed the factors that make fighters a draw in the UFC.
Daniel Cormier was interviewed about the UFC’s light heavyweight division.
Today in Professional Wrestling History (3/15): WCW Uncensored 1998
F4W / WO EMPIRE WRESTLEMANIA GROUP INFO
BUS INFO:
The Empire bus to WrestleMania will cost $50.00 and will be round trip from Rosen Inn at 9000 International Drive 32819 (a few blocks away from Wrestlcon). THERE ARE ONLY 5 SEATS LEFT!
The bus will leave at 3:30pm (time subject to change) for WrestleMania and will leave WrestleMania no later then one hour after the show. If you would like a seat email Ed at [email protected] or message him on the BOARD~! for Paypal payment instructions.
DINNER INFO:
WHAT: Dinner at Texas de Brazil
WHEN: Friday March 31st
WHERE: 5259 International Dr Ste F1, Orlando, FL 32819 at 5 p.m. (they may open at 4:30 for us)
WHO: All your best empire buddies, including BIG DAVE MELTZER
DETAILS: The cost of the dinner will be $68.00 which includes the dinner, salad bar, soft drinks and tea, and dessert, tax and tip. This is a pre pay dinner and you can send payment to paypal at [email protected] (please send as a gift to a friend). Payments must be made by March 24th (if you wait until after that, Ed will charge an extra $5.00 for being a pain).
Pro Wrestling Tees is now carrying our latest line of F4W shirts. Support the Empire~! Grab yours today!
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