Daily Update: Sami Zayn, Rich Swann, Impact ratings
THE ROUND-UP
THE LATEST NEWS
Gauntlet match set for Monday’s WWE Raw
Matt Mitrione advances past Roy Nelson in Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix
NJPW Melbourne live results: Okada & Omega face off in six-man tag
PWG Neon Knights results: Best Friends collide; Riddle vs. Keith Lee
WWE confirms move to dual-brand PPVs starting in May
CMLL Arena Mexico show canceled due to earthquake
THE LATEST AUDIO
WOL: Elimination Chamber, Braun Strowman, Ronda Rousey, Dr. Lucha and more! 2/16
Wrestling Weekly: This week in wrestling history 2/16
B&V&G: Granny, NXT, THURSDAY NIGHT POTPOURRI! 2/15
We’re looking for reports on the Raw show in Eugene, OR, Smackdown in Lubbock, TX, NXT in Cocoa, FL, Arolucha in Humble, TX (Juventud Guerrera & Blue Demon Jr. vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr. & John Morrison, LAX vs. Sammy Guevara vs. Laredo Kid, Hurricane Helms & Low Ki vs. MVP & James Storm) and New Japan’s Sunday show in Sydney, Australia (Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii & Will Ospreay vs. Young Bucks & Cody, Kushida vs. Rocky Romero, Tomohiro Ishii vs. Gino Gambino) to [email protected].
EVOLVE FROM QUEENS, NY
Zack Sabre Jr vs. Austin Theory for Evolve title
Keith Lee vs. A.R. Fox for WWN title
Chris Dickinson & Jake vs. The End for Evolve tag title
Matt Riddle vs. James Drake
Tracy Williams vs. Anthony Henry
Fred Yehi vs. Dom Garrini
Darby Allin vs. Jason Kincaid vs. Jarek 1:20
Sunday has WWE Raw in Prescott, AZ and Smackdown in Rio Rancho, NM, plus the final show of the New Japan tour of Australia will be in Perth (Kazuchika Okada & Rocky Romero vs. Evil & Sanada, Kenny Omega & Gino Gambino & Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale vs. Jonah Rock & Marcus Pitt & Slex & Damian Slater, Young Bucks vs. Juice Robinson & Henare, Minoru Suzuki vs. Davis Storm, Will Ospreay vs. Robbie Eagles vs. Cody)
UFC ON SUNDAY NIGHT FROM THE FRANK ERWIN CENTER IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
Fight Pass at 6 p.m. Eastern
Oskar Piechota vs. Tim Williams
Josh Burkman vs. Alex Morono
FS1 at 7 p.m. Eastern
Sarah Moras vs. Lucie Pudilova
Joby Sanchez vs. Roberto Sanchez
Brian Camozzi vs. Geoff Neal
Diego Ferriera vs. Jared Gordon
Sage Northcutt vs.Thibault Gouti
Brandon Davis vs. Steven Peterson
Thiago Alves vs. Curtis Millender
Francisco Trinaldo vs. James Vick
Derrick Lewis vs. Marcin Tybura
Donald Cerrone vs. Yancy Medeiros
EVOLVE ON SUNDAY FROM JOPPA, MD
Keith Lee vs. Tracy Williams no holds barred
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Chris Dickinson
Matt Riddle vs Austin Theory vs. Darby Allin vs. Jaka
James Drake & Anthony Henry vs. The End
Fred Yehi vs. Shane Mercer
Dante Cabenero vs. Ken Dixon
Monday has Raw in Phoenix and there is a Smackdown house show in El Paso, TX.
Tuesday has Smackdown, Mixed Match Challenge and 205 Live in Phoenix. Matches announced so far are Charlotte & Naomi & Becky Lynch vs. Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan & Sarah Logan, Charlotte & Bobby Roode vs. Apollo Crews & Nia Jax, and cruiserweight tournament matches with Jack Gallagher vs. Mustafa Ali and Buddy Murphy vs. Ariya Daivari.
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Can a reboot salvage 205 Live?, pt. 2
It may take a while before we know whether the ongoing 205 Live reboot will be able to salvage the show, but there were positive developments both on television and behind the scenes last week. The most encouraging sign from last Tuesday’s show was Roderick Strong advancing to the second round of the Cruiserweight Championship tournament.
WON NEWSLETTER: February 19, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: WWE 2017 earnings report, Rey Mysterio appearing for NJPW
The most complete look at WWE business for 2017 is the lead story in the new double issue of the Wrestling Observer this week. Look at every category of WWE business, including why profits were down even with record revenues, how much the company really makes off network subscriptions, why profits will almost surely be up big next year, how much the company’s annual loan payments are, changes in the network and PPV business, and how many people add and cancel subs.
This issue addresses the story regarding the end of brand-specific PPVs, how much Vince McMahon personally made in cash from his dividends this year, as well as how much stock and the value of it that HHH, Stephanie, Kevin Dunn, Michelle Wilson and George Barrios have. Vince McMahon talks about if his position in WWE changes with the XFL launch, HHH and Stephanie talk about the addition of Ronda Rousey, exactly how much interest there was on Rousey at the rumble, WWE Network numbers, predictions for numbers next quarter, and the paradox of social media, WWE network and revenue.
Look at stats that are really fake and why, where revenue comes from as well as WWE profits and losses every year since 1994.
Also, look at the next three WWE PPV shows, with what is announced and other directions.
Read about New Japan’s next major show, the ROH tour, Rey Mysterio in New Japan, as well as the title picture.
This issue discusses the New Beginnings in Osaka, with notes on business, match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results from the show.
There are also notes on the history of the longest running pro wrestling TV show still in existence, and it beats Raw by 25 years.
Find out about wrestlers renewing deals, Rob Gronkowksi, WWE in talks for major overseas show, WWE & Mysterio update, Dwayne Johnson sets a personal record, why a WWE main roster performer was booked on an indie show this past weekend, the Booker T and Corey Graves situation, and lots of WWE injury updates.
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 29, 2001 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Royal Rumble review, Shawn Michaels to return
In what was one of the best PPVs in the history of the WWF, the company gave a big tease for the eventual Rock vs. Steve Austin match which at this point still looks to be the headliner at Wrestlemania, putting Austin over in the Rumble. The show, featuring some strong highs and only a few lows, featured an early match of the year candidate in the Chris Jericho IC title win over Chris Benoit in a ladder match.
SATURDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
Sami Zayn was presented with a Humanitarian Award by The Syrian American Medical Society last night for the work he’s done with his Sami for Syria mobile clinic campaign. He wrote about the honor: “Last night @sams_usa presented me with The Humanitarian Award, an honor I can’t put into words. There are others who deserve acclaim far more than I do. Namely, the medical workers risking their lives to save others in Syria. Please support them. Donate: www.SamiForSyria.com”
ESPN.com interviewed Rusev about Rusev Day, how the idea began, and his character changing from a stereotypical foreign heel: “I had no idea this was going to happen. This was supposed to be a one-time ‘Rusev Day’ thing. I never thought in a million years it was going to be what it is today. It was something we planned to do, but just for one day. But it just caught on fire ever since then. Nobody expected that.”
Samir Singh has started to walk with a crutch after undergoing surgery for a torn ACL last month.
For what it’s worth, Mark Andrews has been added to the 205 Live roster on WWE.com. He’s the only non-regular from the Cruiserweight tournament to be put on the roster page so far.
A new episode of WWE Photo Shoot will air on the Network after Raw on Monday. It features Kurt Angle looking back at moments from his career.
“The Saraya Store,” which is a physical location for Paige’s online merchandise store, will have its grand opening in Anaheim, California on February 26th.
Responding to a video that WWE put out about AJ Styles vs. Rey Mysterio being a potential dream match, Mysterio tweeted: “Can’t answer on how fast to buy the tickets, but what I can answer is on how fast would I accept….Right Away!!” Mysterio and Styles previously wrestled each other for 5 Star Wrestling in 2016.
Inside the Ropes interviewed Mysterio about his appearance in the Royal Rumble.
While speaking with TMZ, Mark Henry said he’d be open to Hulk Hogan coming back to WWE if he apologized to all of the black wrestlers on the current roster.
Braun Strowman approved of a Strowman-inspired parody song by Andrew David Cox.
This week’s WWE top 10 list looks at Elimination Chamber leaps.
Pro Wrestling
Rich Swann has started to book his first post-WWE in-ring appearances. He’ll be wrestling for House of Hardcore on March 23rd, March 24th, and April 7th. He’s also set to wrestle at The Crash Lucha Libre’s show in Tijuana on March 17th.
Viewership for this week’s episode of Impact was up slightly as ratings continue to be relatively stable after football season. The show averaged 300,000 viewers after doing 294,000 the previous Thursday.
Impact tweeted about their next PPV and recent regime change: “Redemption isn’t just the name of our next PPV, its a mission statement. We’re not asking for redemption, we plan to earn it – little by little every week. Jump on board now because we’re creating something special. Thanks for watching, we’ll see you next week. #IMPACTonPop”
Michael Elgin received a negative reaction from the crowd during his match against Tetsuya Naito in Dayton last night.
Despite it being a house show, the storyline of the Bullet Club’s ongoing split continued at NJPW’s event in Melbourne today. In a post-match promo, Cody Rhodes said Bullet Club is fine and Matt Jackson replied that it isn’t because things aren’t right with Kenny Omega. Omega later used the Cross Rhodes on Rocky Romero before hitting him with the One Winged Angel to win the show’s six-man tag main event, which featured Omega and Okada squaring off on opposite sides.
Minoru Suzuki is putting together a Takaymania show at Korakuen Hall on August 31st to support Yoshihiro Takayama.
After announcing that she’s been diagnosed with cervical cancer, LuFisto thanked everyone for their support and wrote that it was caught at an early stage and there’s lots of hope.
Christopher Daniels will be wrestling for wXw in Oberhausen on May 5th.
UFC/MMA
Kevin Wirth used a superkick to defeat Isaiah Gutierrez at Legacy Fighting Alliance 33.
Jon Jones tweeted out a message for his haters and wrote that hard work is the reason for his success.
Vitor Belfort wrote that he chose to face his friend Lyoto Machida in his final fight to send the message that fighters should show respect.
Sage Northcutt didn’t get the role of Ivan Drago’s son in the next Creed movie.
Today in Professional Wrestling History: Sid Vicious wins WWF World title
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