Daily Update: NXT tapings, The Hardys, Aron Rex done with Impact
THE ROUND-UP
The Latest from the F4W Staff
NEWS
Post-Mania SmackDown ties highest viewership since WWE draft
WWE & Simon Gotch come to terms on his release
WWE SmackDown video highlights: Shinsuke Nakamura debuts
WWE 205 Live results: Neville’s next challenger is decided
SmackDown off-air notes: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Dolph Ziggler
Shinsuke Nakamura makes long-awaited debut on WWE SmackDown
Tye Dillinger makes WWE SmackDown debut
WWE SmackDown live results: WrestleMania 33 fallout
AUDIO
WOL: Smackdown debuts, Superstar Shakeup, casual fans, more! 4/5
B&V&C: Retro Raw and Nitro from 19 years ago this week! 4/4
WOL: RAW after WrestleMania, Superstar Shakeup, WWE business, more! 4/4
The Bryan & Vinny Show: WCW Monday Nitro September 1995 4/4
WOR: Post-WrestleMania 33 Raw, more! 4/4
FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: 4/3/2017: Memorable moments make Wrestlemania 33
Despite the match quality and show length being similar, WrestleMania 33 was much better than its predecessor. That’s largely due to just having more memorable moments than WrestleMania 32. The Undertaker’s retirement is what will define this year’s show, even if he clearly held on too long. Jim Ross’ return to the WWE broadcast booth was a nice touch and necessary to stress the magnitude of Undertaker’s final match. The Hardys coming back brought genuine excitement while making the Raw tag team title ladder match feel like a big deal. And John Cena proposing to Nikki Bella at least gave reason for what was a nothing mixed tag after such a great build.
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WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: April 3, 2017: Massive WrestleMania weekend preview, plus tons of news
Your guide to WrestleMania is the focus of the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
The issue runs down the key matches, keys to what to look for, unique crowd reactions expected, the plight of Roman Reigns as the new face of the company, how booing top babyfaces is not unique to WWE today and why you have to look at business numbers and not who gets cheered and booed, plus a look at the public interest level in the top six singles matches on the show and what has the most and least interest generally.
Examine the Reigns situation, ticket sales for all the WWE events, thoughts on finishes and what, adjusted for inflation, were the biggest money pro wrestling events of all-time. Plus, look at this year vs. last year when it comes to incredible matches.
Have a look in depth at the legacy inductees into the WWE Hall of Fame, including just how big a name Rikidozan was in his prime in Japan, the amazing television ratings he did, the most-watched live pro wrestling match anywhere in the world in history, the backgrounds of the inductees and with June Byers, the story behind one of most legendary pro wrestling matches of all-time, the 1954 world women’s title unification match which was a completely legitimate shoot.
There is an update on Mauro Ranallo and his disappearance from WWE with a filled in the time line of what happened, why Ranallo’s close friend Bas Rutten pretty much points the finger at JBL, how it’s been handled and why it puts WWE in a tough situation as well as the Be a Star group.
Notes on a major business deal made by WWE, SummerSlam ticket sales, WrestleMania available in China, Hardys arrival, the inevitable changes in the UK market, Alberto & Paige getting married, Paige talks about her embarrassing situation, WWE star reportedly on the way out, Shawn Michaels talks about his offer to face A.J. Styles at WrestleMania, all inside, and Kane potentially running for Mayor of Knox County, TN.
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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].
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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: March 13, 2000: Beyond the Mat controversy, New York Daily News stories on wrestling deaths and drugs, more
The controversy over the movie “Beyond the Mat” grew this past week when pressure tactics from the WWF caused the USA Network, UPN and Cris Craft Communications to all ban any advertising on any of their programs for the film. While some were surprised at the lengths Vince McMahon would go to attempt to bury the movie, it has been clear for some time by anyone who understands the “with us or against us” and no in between philosophy of McMahon, that he felt the movie wasn’t “with us.”
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WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
Matt Hardy announced on Twitter that WWE is allowing The Hardys to fulfill previously booked independent wrestling dates. They’ll be wrestling for IWC on April 8th, House of Hardcore on the 21st and 22nd, and Pro Wrestling South on the 29th.
NXT tapes its first set of post-WrestleMania weekend episodes at Full Sail University tonight. The episode of NXT that airs on the WWE Network tonight will feature fallout from TakeOver: Orlando and matches that were taped at the Amway Center prior to Saturday night’s show.
There are new graphics for the NXT tapings tonight.
Dave Meltzer discussed WrestleMania, The Undertaker’s retirement, and everything else happening in pro wrestling on this week’s episode of Jim Ross’ podcast.
Lana appeared on the Busted Open radio show on Sirius XM today. She said that Rusev has recently started working out again after undergoing shoulder surgery and should be back in 2-4 months. She also claimed that her and Rusev didn’t get heat from WWE for announcing their engagement.
Simon Gotch is lining up wrestling and interview appearances after mutually parting ways with WWE.
AJ Brooks spoke to ESPN about her time in WWE and her new book (which was released yesterday).
Kurt Angle will be a guest on Talk is Jericho this Friday.
Pro Wrestling
The former Damien Sandow revealed in an interview with Title Match Wrestling that he’s no longer working for Impact Wrestling. He had wrestled there as Aron Rex and seemed to indicate that he might be done with wrestling now, but later tweeted that he’s not retiring and is just doing other stuff for a while. He also wrote, “I am not retired. @lmpactWrestIing was some of the most fun I have had in my career, great company. Just exploring other opportunities.”
Ricochet tweeted that “there’s an underground fighting company holding me back” when asked why he hasn’t signed with a major promotion.
Joey Janela and Game Changer Wrestling will be running another event in New Orleans during WrestleMania week next year after the success of Joey Janela’s Spring Break.
Kota Ibushi will face Taka Michinoku for Kaientai Dojo on April 23rd.
Impact Wrestling posted a video about the history of World of Sport on their YouTube channel.
UFC/MMA
King Mo claimed on the MMA Hour that Robbie Lawler is a closet John Cena fan and was wearing a Cena jersey at WrestleMania.
In other MMA fighters as pro wrestling fans news, Daniel Cormier revealed in an interview with Ariel Helwani (at 7:35) that Bobby Roode’s “Glorious” entrance music is his ringtone.
While appearing on Colin Cowherd’s show on Fox Sports 1, Dana White said that he doesn’t understand why Cormier hasn’t been embraced by UFC fans.
The Buffalo News ran a long feature on White.
The UFC uploaded episode three of Embedded for UFC 210.
Mike Jackson called out CM Punk on Twitter again.
The Rampage Jackson vs. King Mo main event at Bellator 175 averaged 1.4 million viewers and peaked at 1.6 million.
Today in Professional Wrestling History (4/5): WWF WrestleMania VIII
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