Daily Update: Royal Rumble fallout, Ronda Rousey, Rey Mysterio
THE ROUND-UP
THE LATEST NEWS
Three WWE Elimination Chamber qualifying matches set for tonight
NJPW Strong Style Evolved tickets sell out within 20 minutes
The Dudley Boyz to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame
Ronda Rousey to WWE notes: Entrance song, merchandise, trademarks
Jonathan Coachman joining WWE Raw announce team
Update on Ronda Rousey’s WWE WrestleMania 34 plans
Shinsuke Nakamura wins Royal Rumble, sets his sights on AJ Styles
Ronda Rousey appears at WWE Royal Rumble, signs ‘full-time’ deal
WWE Royal Rumble: Women’s entrant order and eliminations
WWE Royal Rumble: Men’s entrant order and eliminations
Alicia Fox out of WWE Royal Rumble, MMC due to injury
WWE Royal Rumble 2018 live results, news & recap
THE LATEST AUDIO
WOL: Ronda Rousey signs with WWE, Royal Rumble fallout, more! 1/29
WOR: Royal Rumble 2018, Ronda Rousey, Rey Mysterio, tons of news and more! 1/29
B&V: Royal Rumble 2018 recap show! 1/28
We’re doing four polls this weekend, for the Royal Rumble, both New Japan New Beginning shows in Sapporo and NXT Takeover. You can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match for each show to [email protected]
We’re also looking for reports from Raw tonight in Philadelphia with the Main Event matches, dark matches and anything else not on the live show to [email protected]. We’re also looking for reports on tonight’s Smackdown house show in Newark, DE.
Smackdown, 205 Live and Mixed Match Challenge will be Tuesday in Philadelphia. The mixed match challenge match is Braun Strowman & Alexa Bliss vs. Sami Zayn & Becky Lynch.
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly 1/22/2018: Recapping WWE Raw 25
With a rare opportunity to present an episode that reached a bit beyond WWE’s usual audience, Raw’s 25th anniversary show took place in New York City on Monday night. It was the most-anticipated Raw of the year, with WWE putting their full promotional force behind the event and inviting seemingly every available name from the past. With a rare opportunity to present an episode that reached a bit beyond WWE’s usual audience, Raw’s 25th anniversary show took place in New York City on Monday night.
WON NEWSLETTER: January 29, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Enzo Amore rape allegations, WWE Raw 25, plus tons of news
The most detailed coverage of the Enzo Amore allegations and firing is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer. Look at all sides of the story, from the allegations by Philomena Sheahan, details of who was in the room, why WWE was so quick to fire him, her claims, claims of people who know her, what is in the text message, the problem with the police investigation, what is next for 205 Live and plans that have been scrapped.
Also have a look at the WWE this week, including Raw 25, angles on the show, WrestleMania current plans, future of Brock Lesnar, Royal Rumble, the Takeover special, what audience flocked to Raw that usually doesn’t, how Raw viewer patterns have changed since the last similar special, what age group nearly doubled from last week, and how the gender split changed.
Read about the history of Raw, why it was moved quickly from the Manhattan Center, the move to two hours, how close the show came to being canceled and why it wasn’t, when the show started making the company significant money, how Raw and Vince McMahon in 2005 were responsible for the start of a major sports franchise, the story of Raw going to Spike and back to USA, and what are really the longest lasting wrestling shows in U.S. television history.
Full coverage of Raw 25 inside this issue.
Check out the Podcastone situation and why people are leaving, more on the 2019 Royal Rumble plans, more on WWE stock and the move being made for a cheap WWE Network sub and the reason, George Barrios says strange things about WWE talent contracts, Hogan talks Bullet Club and the smoke to that fire, Cena movie gets Academy Award nomination, Cena up for lead for another movie, success of Dwayne Johnson’s current movie, funny quotes from Michaels & HHH about Goldberg being a Hall of Famer from a few years ago, and more WWE injuries.
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: January 8, 2001 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Paul Heyman considering selling ECW, more on Wrestler of the Year, more
Citing a number of factors, including the enormous pressure he’s been under over the past year, the large company debt and what he sees as the future landscape of the business, Paul Heyman said he was in serious negotiations to sell either a majority share or all of Extreme Championship Wrestling.
MONDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight covering Raw, the rest of the news and taking questions for the show. You can send questions to [email protected]. Please limit questions tonight to items related to this past weekend and current news.
While many expected Ronda Rousey last night, particularly when the word got out the women’s match was going last, they kept it a secret from everyone and hid her until she came out and didn’t tell hardly anyone.
Rousey is in the middle of filming a movie in Colombia legit, so I presume she flew back after the show. No word yet on when she’ll make her next appearance but her first match would be at WrestleMania.
The reason so many women from the past were booked, more than originally planned, was because they were filming a documentary on women’s wrestling. They are going to heavily push women, even more so than before, since at least right now the company’s biggest mainstream star is a woman.
There is also talk of pushing the Andre Battle Royal harder this year because the HBO special coming out on Andre will be on the Tuesday after WrestleMania. WWE realizes that if they get a good rating and showing on HBO for that, then it could lead to more projects involving wrestlers of the past, especially since Bill Simmons, the guy behind the project, is a longtime wrestling fan.
The Royal Rumble was the No. 1 most searched item on Google in the U.S. yesterday with 1 million searches. The three most searched topics related to the Rumble were Ronda Rousey, WWE Royal Rumble and WWE. Besides Rousey, the highest searches were for Rey Mysterio, Trish Stratus and Shinsuke Nakamura. The number of searches was about the same as last week’s UFC PPV show.
There were several changes in match order and in matches done and at least three different versions of the script during the day.
An interesting note is that as of earlier today, the Youtube views of Rey Mysterio’s entrance at the Rumble are 3.4 million and of Ronda Rousey’s are 1.4 million. Right now Mysterio only came in for a one-night deal. But with the reaction he got and how well he performed, I could easily see them wanting him for more dates.
WWE
Paul Heyman will be doing a one night show on 4/6, the Thursday before WrestleMania, at the Joy Theater in New Orleans. The show will be at 9 p.m. and be promoted by Inside the Ropes, the group that promotes those type of shows regularly in the U.K.
CNN’s article on Rousey listed Brock Lesnar and C.M. Punk as people who came from MMA and signed with WWE.
MISCELLANEOUS
We had reported this some time back, but it was made official that the Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin boxing match, maybe the biggest of 2018, will take place on 5/5 at the T Mobile Arena on HBO PPV. The two fought to a draw on 9/16, but most felt that Golovkin won and Adelaide Byrd’s scorecard for Alvarez of 118-110 was probably the most talked about bad scorecard of the year.
Progress Wrestling from yesterday in Camden, London, before a sellout 700 fans (immediate sellout): Chris Ridgeway b Omari in the Natural Progression Series, Roy Johnson b Pastor William Eaver, Zack Sabre Jr. won three-way over Chris Brookes and Trent Seven by pinning Brookes in what was said to be a great match, Travis Banks b TK Cooper to retain the Progress title, Toni Storm b Chakara to keep the women’s title, Mark Haskins & Jimmy Havoc b Danny Jones & Mark Andrews when Jones was pinned, Flash Morgan Webster b Doug Williams, Walter b Timothy Thatcher to keep the Atlas title in a match that people yesterday were raving to us about. (thanks to Matthew Smith)
A funny deal at the show is that Trent Seven in his match was doing comedy about wanting to hurry up so he could catch his flight to the U.S. and be in the Rumble. Of course he wasn’t scheduled, but he did that all night, including after his match, wheeling out his suitcase and rushing out in front of the people like he was rushing out. He later came back in five minutes later looking sad and said he had missed his uber. (thanks to Sam Patel)
The Professional Fighters League announced a deal with NBC Sports Group. They announced seven shows in prime time on NBC Sports network during the summer and also streaming on NBCSpots.com. There will both live and replay showings that night of all the events. The season will be built around 12 man tournaments in six different weight classes with those with the best records going into a championship tournament with the semifinals on two shows in October and the six championship fights will take place on New Year’s Eve. All six tournament winners are to get $1 million.
Barrie Wrestling on 3/3 at 49 Ferris Lane in Barrie headlined by Josh Alexander vs. Carter Mason.
Battlewar on 2/11 in Montreal at Poufounes Electriques.
AAW runs Saturday in LaSalle, IL at the Knights of Columbus with Rey Fenix vs. ACH for the AAW title, Jessicka Havok vs. Rosemary, Jeff Cobb vs. AR Fox, Penta 0M vs. Eddie Kingston, Sami Callihan vs. Matt Riddle, Trevor Lee vs. Shane Strickland and more.
Tenille Dashwood (Emma) faces Britt Bakers for AIW on 2/23 in Cleveland.
Total Combat Wrestling from yesterday in Bresso, Milan, Italy: Rocco Giolello b Carlo Birra, Fenice Rossa b Mistero for the extreme title, II Marchese b Jacob, Claudio Campari b Death Mask, Scandalo b Black Ice to keep the Rebel title (thanks to Alessio Garbini)
Bobby Lashley is still listed for several shows in February in the U.S. and India as well as joint Big Time Wrestling and Impact shows in California, even though he’s finished up with Impact itself and is a free agent.
IPW from Saturday night in Auckland, New Zealand: Vinny Dunn b Liam Fury, Mr. Tagataese b Devin Lockheart, Liger (not Jushin Liger) won three-way over Michael Richards and Falcon Kid, CTRL b Mason Daniels, Alex Savage b Pat Schisk, Candy Lee b Britenay, Jakob Cross b Kingi. Next show is 2/17 with the Bushwhackers. (thanks to Steve Ogilvie)
CZW on 2/10 in Voorhees, NJ at The Coliseum with Rickey Shane Page & Penta 0M & Rey Fenix vs. Sami Callihan & Dave & Jake Crist, MJF vs. Alex Colon for the Wired title and Ace Romero vs. Greg Excellent in a dog collar match.
Today in Professional Wrestling History: John Cena defeats AJ Styles for WWE Championship
WRESTLING OBSERVER / F4W – WRESTLEMANIA 34 in NEW ORLEANS
Here we go again! It’s back to New Orleans for Wrestlemania 34 and a huge weekend of spectacular professional wrestling related fun and wackiness. EdinSanAntonio Productions along with the Wrestling Observer / Figure Four Empire~! is proud to present the annual Wrestlemania weekend trip details. This huge weekend includes a number of website “members only” events. Below are the two events currently scheduled. Click here for full event details.
WOR Podcast Taping: Purchase TICKETS for the Wrestling Observer Radio LIVE MAILBAG~!
WHAT: Wrestling Observer Radio LIVE Podcast Recording with Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez
WHEN: Friday, April 6th, 2018 – 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Doors open at 8:45 a.m. for VIP ticket holders and at 9:15 a.m. for general admission)
WHERE: The Bourbon Room, Royal St. Charles Hotel in downtown New Orleans; 135 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130
WO/F4W Brunch: Purchase TICKETS for the Wrestling Oberver BRUNCH~!
WHAT: All you care to eat brunch buffet on the morning of Wrestlemania
WHEN: Sunday, April 8th, 2018 – T11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Court of Two Sisters restaurant in downtown New Orleans; 613 Royal St., New Orleans, LA 70130
CONTACT INFORMATION
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