By dave@wrestlingobserver.com”>Dave Meltzer

For this weekend, we’ll be doing a poll on the New Japan Dontaku show with thumbs up, thumbs down, thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com

Impact tonight is the Hard Justice show at 9 p.m. on Destination America

Taryn Terrell vs. Brooke for the Knockouts title

Rockstar Spud vs. Kenny King for the X title

Drew Galloway vs. Low Ki in a pipe on a pole match

Kurt Angle vs Eric Young stretcher match 

Saturday night in Las Vegas in Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, which will be, by a wide margin, the biggest grossing one day combat sport event of all-time.   
Saturday has WWE in Hamilton, ONT (Dean Ambrose, Rusev, Ryback, Bad News Barrett, Luke Harper, New Day, Kidd & Cesaro), WWE in Halifax, NS (Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Dolph Ziggler, Big Show, Kane) and NXT in Cocoa Beach, FL.

NEW JAPAN DONTAKU on Sunday (late Saturday night) at 3 a.m. Eastern and midnight Pacific time from the Fukuoka International Center Aren
Yuji Nagata & Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask & Mascara Dorada vs. Manabu Nakanishi & Captain New Japan & Ryusuke Taguchi & Kushida

Tetsuya Naito & Sho Tanaka vs. Kota Ibushi & Yohei Komatsu

Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima & Tomoaki Honma vs. Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga & Cody Hall

Rocky Romero & Barreta defend the IWGP jr. tag titles against Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly and The Young Bucks

Kenny Omega defends the IWGP jr. title against Alex Shelley

Michael Bennett & Matt Taven & Maria Kanellis vs. Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows & Amber Gallows

Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuyori Shibata & Togi Makabe vs. Toru Yano & Kazushi Sakuraba & Tomohiro Ishii

A.J. Styles & Yujiro Takahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada & Yoshi-Hashi

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Hirooki Goto for Never Open weight title

Sunday has WWE in Oshawa, ONT (Dean Ambrose, Rusev, Ryback, Bad News Barrett, Luke Harper, New Day, Kidd & Cesaro) and in St. Johns, NB (Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Dolph Ziggler Big Show, Kane).

PRO WRESTLING NOAH GLOBAL TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT FINALS from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo

B BLOCK

Super Crazy & Mitsuhiro Kitamiya (0-4) vs. Shelton Benjamin & Brian Breaker (2-2)

Akitoshi Saito & Quiet Storm (1-3) vs Chris Hero & Colt Cabana (3-1)

Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. (3-1) vs. Mohammed Yone & Daisuke Ikeda (3-1)

A BLOCK

Maybach Taniguchi & Maybach #2 (0-4) vs. Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste (3-1)

Takashi Sugiura & Masato Tanaka (3-1) vs. Daisuke Sekimoto & Kazuki Hashimoto (1-3)

Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka (3-1) vs. Naomichi Marufuji & Katsuhiko Nakajima (3-1)

Raw will be Monday in Montreal, which is also Pat Patterson Appreciation Night.

Smackdown and Main Event will be taped Tuesday in Ottawa. 

We’re looking for reports on tonight’s WWE show in Syracuse, NY (Dean Ambrose, Rusev, Ryback, Bad News Barrett, Luke Harper, New Day, Kidd & Cesaro) and tonight’s NXT show in Tampa at dave@wrestlingobserver.com”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com 

**** 

The newest issue of Figure Four Weekly is up on the site for subscribers (subscribe here) with the most extensive look at Doug and Tommy Gilbert’s lawsuit against WWE and ESPN that you’ll find anywhere, with lots of details about WWE’s history with lawsuits over video royalties, which past cases are or aren’t relevant to this one what people often misunderstand about the Jesse Ventura lawsuit, when WWE actually started paying every wrestler royaltis, and much more. Plus, as always, we have  all of the usual reviews and international news.

Also, now available for the first time on Kindle (meaning Kindle devices and anything with the Kindle app) is Fall Guys, the seminal 1937 book that has been described as being like the 1930s version of the Wrestling Observer. It was surprisingly not on Kindle already, so we put together a nice version with a full table of contents w/ chapter marks, proper formatting on everything, etc. Right now it’s available from the American, Canadian, and Australian Amazon/Kindle stores OR you can also buy it from anywhere in the world on PayHip, who will provide you with both Kindle and ePub (every other e-reader) format files, and you can either sideload them to your device or have them email it to your Kindle. 

**** 

Part one of the life and times of Verne Gagne is the lead story on a jam-packed issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that is out today.  We’ve also got the most detailed look at the Jon Jones situation, the UFC light heavyweight title, as well as Ronda Rousey in WWE, Extreme Rules coverage, Payback notes, UFC 186, the life of Ashura Hara and four former wrestling personalities get elected to public office in one week.

Latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter: May 4, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Verne Gagne bio part 1, Jon Jones stripped of UFC title, bios of Ashura Hara & Rudy Reyna

Website subscriptions, which include access to both current and older newsletters as well as every audio show in the history of the site as low as $9.99 per month!

You can also order the print Observer right now and get it delivered to your door via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to dave@wrestlingobserver.com”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com

You can also order at www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com 
 
Rates are:
 
For the United States, it is $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 moonsault@mediaplusint.com  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.
 
The Wrestling Observer ranges weekly from 35,000 to 50,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA internationally. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sties and has the most complete look at the pro wrestling and MMA business anywhere, plus history pieces available nowhere else.

Our lead story looks back at the wrestling career of Verne Gagne, one of the most noteworthy pro wrestling of the 20th century.  We look at the booking of Gagne, the story of the promoter who promised Gagne an all-time attendance record for a title defense and he turned the match down and why, we look at the end of his career, Sports Illustrated ranking him as an athlete, his football career, his involvement in one of the biggest college wrestling matches of all-time, how Gagne spoiled the first Cael Sanderson record, Gagne and the Olympic games, starting as a pro wrestler, his rise to the top, his winning the world jr. title, and why he never won the NWA world heavyweight title.  We look at the creation of the AWA title, when the world title started getting fractured and why, the ironies of both Verne Gagne and Roy Shire as promoters, the expansion of the AWA, the AWA lifestyle, the biggest AWA angles, and Gagne vs Billy Robinson.

We also look at his training wrestlers, the Hogan era and the peak of the AWA.

We also have full details of the Jon Jones story, both why he got suspended and complete police records as to what happened this past week with his auto accident.  We look at his losing sponsors, Cormier vs. Rumble Johnson, UFC’s position, and Cormier talks his title shot.

We also have more on Dana White’s comments on Ronda Rousey in WrestleMania and the WWE’s reaction, as well as UFC fighters doing pro wrestling in recent years.

We’ve got a full rundown of the Extreme Rules PPV, a look at Payback, plus match-by-match ratings and poll results from the show.

We also look at the Daniel Bryan situation, who is being groomed for a unique babyface push to stardom, disappearing of the curb stomp, next NXT special, Samoa Joe and WWE, Furious 7 box office marks, NXT on tour, a TV documentary on one of the biggest shows in WWE history coming,  and notes on talent cut this past week by WWE.   

We also look at the Demetrious Johnson conundrum, the flyweight division, the business of UFC 186 and match-by-match coverage.

We look at the career of Ashura Hara, including his biggest matches, why his career at the top in All Japan suddenly ended, his appearance in G-1, his rugby background, his IWE start, some of his famous matches and the 1987 tag team tournament.

We also look at four pro wrestlers elected to public office this past week.

We also have a bio on exotico star Rudy Reyna, including his start in pro wrestling, how much of a shoot his act was, his health issues and career highlights.

The Observer is the world’s most detailed weekly pro wrestling publication, in its 32nd year of publication, and is read by the biggest names in the pro wrestling, industry, MMA industry, sports world and on Wall Street.
 
We also have our regular features such as the most complete look at ratings, plus results of the major house show events each week in pro wrestling and MMA, and complete inside rundowns of all the TV shows.
 
Also in this week’s issue:

–More on the World Cup tag team tournament

–New major AAA shows

–AAA & Lucha Underground notes

–Top promotion star breaks nose and gets teeth knocked out

–Dragon Gate builds to one of its biggest events of the year on iPPV

–Update on New Japan World

–Kidani talks New Japan pay

–How business is going with New Japan

–New Japan big show rundown

–Update on Jeff Jarrett and Global Force Wrestling

–Different names being talked about

–Jarrett and Eric Bischoff and Jarrett’s reactions to stories

–Bischoff history

–Missy Hyatt charges dropped story

–Bill Goldberg says he’ll wrestle again and more notes on the subject

–A look back at Bill Goldberg in WWE and why it didn’t work

–Why Goldberg’s career in Japan ended

–Funny note on Kevin Nash

–Japanese star looking at working indie dates in the U.S.

–More notes on the future of Lucha Underground

–How close are they to being No. 2 in the market

–Notes going into the second season

–Why there is a premium on guys who can wrestle well

–Update on Adam Cole in ROH

–Notes on the booking of the ROH/New Japan shows

–Notes on the broadcasting of the entire tour

–ROH final show before the New Japan tour

–Notes on Jeff Hardy’s injury

–ROH star returns from injury

–Lots on Billy Corgan signing with TNA and his thoughts on wrestling creative

–Wrestling stars get engaged

–Rampage Jackson talks TNA

–Another longtime performer out of TNA

–Taryn Terrell heel turn notes

–UFC on FOX ratings notes

–Notes on the Reebok sponsorship in UFC

–Reaction to those numbers

–UFC fighter sues another UFC fighter over a sponsorship deal gone bad

–UFC signs one of the best wrestlers in the world as a project

–Lots of new UFC fights

If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today.  With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today.
 
New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues have to let us know what major stories of the past 11 years you are most interested in and we’ll send the issue with the best coverage of that story. We’ve got coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits into those descriptions over the past 11 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue.
 
Our most requested issues in our history are:
 
*November 17, 1997 (full details of everything leading to the most famous wrestling match finish of modern times at the Survivor Series plus a history of in-ring double-crosses)
 
*December 21, 1998 (the complete Vince McMahon-Bret Hart conversation right before the Survivor Series match so you’ll know exactly what was said–the conversation played in edited form both on the inaugural broadcast of Confidential as well as in Wrestling with Shadows, but everything that was said between the two about the match that was going to take place that same night)
 
*August 1, 1994 (the most detailed coverage anywhere of the Vince McMahon steroid trial, an issue praised in numerous newspaper article and Sex, Lies and Headlocks)
 
*March 26, 2001 (death of WCW and history of pro wrestling on the Turner networks)a
 
*October 22, 2001 (why the adult audience has left pro wrestling in such great numbers and what needed to have been done to save them)
 
*July 8, 1991 (Ric Flair leaves WCW as world champion/Zahorian steroid trial)
 
*February 8, 1993 (the life and times of Andre the Giant)
 
*May 13, 2002 (the life story of the most incredible pro wrestling career ever, a look at Lou Thesz, in one of the largest issues of our history)
 
*January 27, 2003 (part one of the two-part series covering the career and life of The Sheik)
 
*February 3, 2003 (Part two on The Sheik including thoughts from people who worked with him and where he stands historically)
 
*March 24, 2003 (history of the WWWF title, inside behind the Sammartino, Backlund and Backlund era)
 
*April 21, 2003 (history of WWF continues with the expansion nationally, the death of the regional territories and the rise of Hulk Hogan)
 
*May 12, 2003 (The life and death of Elizabeth and the rise of fall of Lex Luger)
 
*June 9, 2003 (Part 1 of history of WWF vs. WCW wars and what many say was the greatest year in U.S. wrestling; plus a look at Fred Blassie)
 
*June 16, 2003 (Freddie Blassie through the eyes of his biggest rivals and friends)
 
*July 28, 2003 (Part 2 of the history of the WWF vs. WCW war and the plans to make new superstars in the early 90s, what happened, and the night where the three biggest wrestling companies in the world combined for a joint show and what happened)
 
*August 25, 2003 (2003 Hall of Fame issue with huge profiles on the controversial career of Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit as well as historical features on Earl Caddock and Francisco Flores)
 
*September 22, 2003 (Part 3 of the history of the WWF vs WCW war with the seeds that caused the collapse of the industry in the 90s, Zahorian trial, Gulf War controversy, Flair leaves WCW while holding world title and much more)
 
*October 27, 2003 (The fascinating life of Stu Hart plus the story of Road Warrior Hawk)
 
*January 19, 2004 (2003 Awards issue)
 
*February 2, 2004 (History of Toronto wrestling, Jack Tunney life story, Royal Rumble and Battle Royal history)
 
*February 23, 2004 (History of Guerrero family with Eddy’s win over Brock Lesnar)
 
*March 1, 2004 (History of WWF continues with the period that brought the company down in early 1992, the mistakes, the real stories and how the business changed)
 
*March 8, 2004 (History of Wrestlemania, its greatest matches and best and worst shows as voted both by wrestlers and non-wrestlers and Wrestlemania history books)
 
*July 5, 2004 (A look behind the scenes and Ric Flair’s book and his background with Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan)
 
*July 12, 2004 (A look at more on Ric Flair’s book and his comments on Bruno Sammartino, Bret Hart and Mick Foley)
 
*August 16, 2004 (History of the Olympians in pro wrestling)
 
*August 23, 2004 (2004 Hall of Fame issue and biggest issue of the year with huge profiles on Kazushi Sakuraba, Undertaker, Bob Backlund, Masahiro Chono, Ultimo Dragon, Kurt Angle and Tarzan Lopez–this counts as one issue if you are asking for a free issue, but ordered separately, due to size, is $6 in North America and $7 overseas)
 
*October 4, 2004 (the life and times of Big Bossman; as well as details of the life and times of one of the most influential men world wide in pro wrestling history, Jim Barnett)
 
*November 15, 2004 (the full story of what happened between Kurt Angle and Daniel Puder, plus coverage of the most important week in the history of TNA)
 
*January 24, 2005 (2004 Awards issue, Rock and WWE part company)
 
*March 14, 2005 (the 50 biggest money players in the history of WWF and a look at their Hall of Fame)
 
*May 9, 2005 (the life and times of Chris Candido)
 
*June 20, 2005 (The full story behind Paul Heyman and the death of ECW, as well as coverage of One Night Stand, Hardcore Homecoming and behind the scenes of both shows)
 
*July 18, 2005 (death of Shinya Hashimoto and his records with a look at the fall of New Japan, the Matt Hardy angle, tons of WWE firings, Cornette firing in detail as well as problems of a WWE developmental territory in our biggest news issue of the year which is a double-sized issue and would be $6 on its own and $7 overseas)
 
*August 24, 2005 (2005 Hall of Fame issue with career profiles of Paul Heyman, HHH and Freebirds plus debut of MMA Hall of Fame)
 
*September 12, 2005 (History of Mid South Wrestling)
 
*October 10, 2005 (Life and Times of the Ultimate Warrior)
 
*November 21, 2005 (Life and Times of Eddy Guerrero and Crusher, double issue $6 on its own and $7 overseas)
 
*December 5, 2005 (The Eddy Guerrero special issue, double issue $6 on its own, $7 overseas)
 
*January 9, 2006 (The life and times of Superstar Billy Graham, plus New Year’s Eve 2005 coverage)
 
*January 16, 2006 (2005 Awards double issue, $6 or $7 overseas)
 
*April 3, 2006 (Story of Ann Calvello and the history of Roller Derby–many called this the best issue of the Observer ever)
 
*April 10, 2006 (Behind the scenes at the 2006 Wrestlemania/Hall of Fame week)
 
*July 24, 2006 (The History of the Von Erichs and World Class Championship Wrestling–the most unreal story ever in wrestling)
 
*September 4, 2006 (The Rise and Fall of Kurt Angle; 2006 Hall of Fame inductions of Eddie Guerrero, Paul Bowser, Masakatsu Funaki, Aja Kong and Hiroshi Hase including tons of wrestling history around the world from the 20s through the 60s, the evolution of working to not working in Japan, and a look at Guerrero in hindsight, double issue $6 or $7 overseas)
 
*October 9, 2006 (A look back nine years later at the life and legacy of Brian Pillman with tons of inside information about what made him tick as his real objectives)
 
*November 15, 2006 (History of WCW part one, Eric Bischoff’s book and how the industry was changed forever)
 
*November 20, 2006 (History of WCW part two, Why Jim Ross left WCW, How Bischoff changed the company, signing of Hulk Hogan, Beginning of Nitro, Jesse Ventura, Brian Pillman, Chris Jericho and signing Wrestlemania planned celebrity away)
 
*November 27, 2006 (History of WCW part three, When Bischoff challenged McMahon to fight; Truth and fiction around Bret Hart signing with WCW and why it didn’t click)
 
*December 6, 2006 (details behind Pride’s offers to sell promotion and Part four of History of WCW part four, Hogan-Goldberg match and why there was no rematch, WCW loses NBC network deal in 1999 and the real reasons the company fell apart)
 
*January 22, 2007 (2006 Awards issue, double issue $7 on its own, $8 overseas)
 
*February 14, 2007 (Life and Times of Bam Bigelow)
 
*March 5, 2007 (WWE begins plans that will change the business)
 
*March 12, 2007 (Life and Times of Mike Awesome)
 
*March 19, 2007 (Life and Times of Ernie Ladd)
 
*April 4, 2007 (Life and Times of Badnews Allen Coage–which many are calling one of the best issues in history)
 
*July 2, 2007 (Part one of the Benoit double murder-suicide)
 
*July 5, 2007 (Part two of the Benoit double murder-suicide)
 
*July 10, 2007 (Part three of the Benoit double murder-suicide)
 
*July 19, 2007 (Part four of the Benoit double murder-suicide)
 
*July 23, 2007 (Part five of Benoit double murder-suicide)
 
*July 25, 2007 (Part six of Benoit double murder-suicide)
 
*August 15, 2007 (The legend of the God of Japanese wrestling and his influence on MMA, Karl Gotch)
 
*October 15 (2007 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas including inductions of The Rock, Tom Packs and the original Strangler Lewis)
 
*November 12, 2007 (Life and times of Fabulous Moolah and history of U.S. women’s wrestling) .
 
*December 31, 2007 (History of Ric Flair and the heyday of wrestling at the Greensboro Coliseum)
 
*January 21, 2008 (2007 Awards issue, double issue $7 on its own, $8 overseas)
 
*March 17, 2008 (Life and times of Johnny Weaver)
 
*March 24, 2008 (Life and times of Gary Hart)
 
*April 10, 2008 (Farewell to Ric Flair; My thoughts, Shawn Michaels talks of Flair’s meaning to him; Hall of Fame; Wrestlemania double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas)
 
*August 11, 2008 (Ric Flair leaves WWE; Updated history of pro wrestlers and MMA fighters who went to the Olympics)
 
* September 8, 2008 (2008 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas; part one of Killer Kowalski bio)
 
* September 15, 2008 (Life and Times of Evan Tanner)
 
* September 22, 2008 (The amazing career of Killer Kowalski, one of our most in-depth bios)
 
You can also order any of these issues on their own for $4 in North America or $5 overseas.
 
We now have available personally autographed copies of Tributes II, our latest book, as well as a DVD that comes with it talking more about the subjects in the book. The book covers the life stories of Lou Thesz, Wahoo McDaniel, Elizabeth, Fred Blassie, Road Warrior Hawk, Andre the Giant, Curt Hennig, Johnny Valentine, Davey Boy Smith, Terry Gordy, Owen Hart, Stu Hart, Gorilla Monsoon, The Sheik and Tim Woods..
 
To get all of those biographies as back issues of the Observer would be a $60 value today. This is a collection of some of the best Observer articles of the past several years in a hardcover, full-color format that is 239 pages. There is also a foreword by Bret Hart. The book price is $12.95 plus $3.50 for shipping costs in the U.S., $20 for shipping costs to Canada and $25 for shipping costs outside North America. You can order the book the same way you order the newsletter.

FRIDAY’S NEWS UPDATE

The claim is that the advance for PPV orders for Saturday’s Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight are the strongest in the history of PPV to the point that they are asking for people to order today in case there are problems with companies who won’t be able to handle the volume of Saturday night orders.
The plan is for the main event to start at 11 p.m. Eastern, which is an hour earlier than most major boxing PPV main events.  Jim Lampley, Al Bernstein and Roy Jones Jr. will be the lead announcers, so no Mauro Ranallo.  
I heard ridiculous numbers for scalper prices for not just the fight.  Weigh-ins are going for $200 in some cases.  One person purchased three tickets for $1 million for the fight ($333,333.33 per ticket) and there was also a $250,000 buy on the secondary market.  In Las Vegas alone, there are about 50,000 closed-circuit tickets available, all sold out, at $150 each. 
While the general rule for bar prices to air the fight are $30 per person based on the capacity of the bar or restaurant, one bar owner told us that the price they were quoted was $3,900 for their 49 seat bar, which they turned down.  A lot of bars have been turning down the price.  The person noted he was paying $360 for SD or $460 for HD for WWE shows until they went on the network and dropped them.
For those in Canada, this is a listing of places carrying the show.  As the site recommends, people should still call ahead to make sure 
Jeff Hardy, even though he just had surgery Wednesday due to a broken leg suffered in a dirt bike accident, he will be appearing on Saturday night in Cameron, NC for Chaos in Cameron 2 for OMEGA wrestling.  He got home last night from the hospital.  He is walking with crutches but is in a lot of pain.  Even though it was a bad break, doctors believe it will be strong upon healing with the titanium rod and plate put in.
The note yesterday regarding NXT shows in the Northeast being sold out was incorrect.  As of this morning, there were plenty of seats left for all three shows.  Tickets went on same to the public this morning.
Awesome story on the New Japan shows in North Korea 20 years ago this week with interviews with Ric Flair, Eric Bischoff, Scott Norton, Scott Steiner, Sonny Onoo, myself and others on the two largest crowds in pro wrestling history and the strange week
A note regarding a radio show from a few days ago regarding Chris Candido where I said he was in TNA so couldn’t work the WWE One Night Stand show, he was actually planning on working that show because he was not under contract to TNA, and that he was also going to work the Shane Douglas Hardcore Homecoming show. 
Funeral arrangements for Verne Gagne are Tuesday at the Pax Christi Catholic Community in Eden Prairie, MN.  There will be a visitation Monday night from 4-7 p.m. and 10-11 a.m. Tuesday.  The funeral is at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Jim Cornette noted on our show with him yesterday that he’s working the 6/12 and 6/13 shows for Global Force Wrestling in Jackson, TN and Knoxville.
Jeff Jarrett will be throwing out the first pitch at the Mississippi Braves minor league baseball game tonight to promote a 6/20 show at that stadium.  Jarrett will also be at the Jackson (TN) Generals game tomorrow night, promoting the 6/12 show at the same stadium.
The Huffington Post ran a story called “UFC Star Banned after fleeing hit-and-run with pregnant woman” and the photo used with the tease of the story was of Daniel Cormier.   
Hulk Hogan in Austraila promoting the WWE’s August tour
Paige VanZant plays the teenage daughter in this TV commercial for Bissel vacuum cleaners
Masked Republic announced a commemorative Perro Aguayo Jr. T-shirt available at ProWrestlingTees.com
One reader noted to us that he signed up for the WWE Network’s free April trial, went to cancel yesterday, and was told he was being given May for free as well. 
Great White North Wrestling on 5/29 in Smiths Falls, ONT and 5/30 in Ottawa at the Earl Armstrong Arena featuring Brutus Beefcake.
Capital City Championship Combat on 5/23 in Ottawa at the Vanier Columbus Club.
Ryback talks about his uncle who played major league baseball
Something new with Dave Bautista
A new Andre the Giant graphic novel
Notes on a Big Japan Pro Wrestling house show
Really great story by Mick Karch on Nick Bockwinkel
Notes on an undercard fight on Saturday night’s PPV

ON THIS DAY IN PRO WRESTLING HISTORY INTERNATIONAL (thanks to Graeme Cameron)

1980 – Jumbo Tsuruta beat Dick Slater to win the Champion Carnival tournament

1983 – Tatsumi Fujinami beat Canek to win the UWA heavyweight title on a show headlined by Bob Backlund vs. Antonio Inoki in a 60 minute draw with both the WWF and NWF world titles at stake in Naucalpan, Mexico

TODAY’S WRESTLING VIDEOS

WWE

An Injured Sheamus Is Furious:  April 28, 2015

Sheamus Receives Medical Attention:  April 28, 2015

R-Truth Reacts To Being Eliminated From WWE King Of The Ring Live:  April 28, 2015

Neville Discusses His King Of The Ring Defeat:  April 28, 2015

Barrett Is Now The King Of Bad News:  April 28, 2015

5 Things-5 Tag Team Champions You Forgot

Kane Speaks Candidly About Seth Rollins:  April 29, 2015

10 Things You Didn’t Know About “The Marine 4”

Michael Cole Interviews Sami Zayn And Kevin Owens This Week On WWE NXT

WWE Inbox (Episode 169)

INDY TV SHOWS

4/6/15 Snakepit Adelaide Pro Wrestling “PowerSlam” TV

lUCHA UNDERGROUND

Ringside WIth Vampiro:  Lucha Underground Trios Champions

TNA

I’m With Spud Wednesday (Episode 27)

Rockstar Spud, Mandrew And Kenny King Comment On Friday’s X-Division Title Match

Interview With Brooke Following Her #1 KO Contendership Win

INDY TV SHOWS

Covey Pro Wrestling TV (Episode 203)

TOMORROW’S WWE NETWORK SCHEDULE (thanks to Burt Duckwall)

12:00 AM ET
FLOYD MAYWEATHER VS BIG SHOW Two worlds collided when undefeated boxing sensation Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather took on the 7-foot Giant, Big Show at WrestleMania XXIV!

12:30 AM ET
WWE BEYOND THE RING The Greatest Superstars of the 21st century profiles 15 superstars that dominated the ring for the first decade of the 2000s.

2:00 AM ET
WWE NXT After the brawl erupted last week, NXT Champion Kevin Owens addresses the NXT Universe about Sami Zayn.

3:00 AM ET
WWE SUPERSTARS WWE Superstars features the best of the best in matches you’ll have to see to believe. You never know what to expect – so expect everything.

4:00 AM ET
TOTAL DIVAS Brie regrets quarreling with her husband when he delivers devastating news. Nikki’s secret has John fearing the end of their relationship.

5:00 AM ET
WCW MONDAY NITRO Long time rivals square off once again when ‘Nature Boy’ Ric Flair battles WCW World Heavyweight Champion, N’Macho Man’ Randy Savage.

6:00 AM ET
TOTAL DIVAS Brie regrets quarreling with her husband when he delivers devastating news. Nikki’s secret has John fearing the end of their relationship.

7:00 AM ET
TOUGH ENOUGH WWE Superstar Rey Mysterio and former NBA star John Salley are on hand to offer advice about teamwork to the dwindling group.

8:00 AM ET
MONDAY NIGHT WAR WCW signs international superstars to bring an innovative, high-flying brand of excitement to Monday Nitro.

9:00 AM ET
WWE EXTREME RULES 2015 On the night WWE goes extreme, Seth Rollins defends the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Randy Orton inside a Steel Cage and more!

12:00 PM ET
TOUGH ENOUGH WWE Superstar Rey Mysterio and former NBA star John Salley are on hand to offer advice about teamwork to the dwindling group.

1:00 PM ET
WWE COUNTDOWN Counting Down the Top Ten Most Imposing Superstars ever in WWE history.

2:00 PM ET
THIS WEEK IN WWE Get caught up on all the highlights from Raw and SmackDown with This Week in WWE.

2:30 PM ET
FLOYD MAYWEATHER VS BIG SHOW Two worlds collided when undefeated boxing sensation Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather took on the 7-foot Giant, Big Show at WrestleMania XXIV!

3:00 PM ET
SATURDAY NIGHTS MAIN EVENT Randy Savage defends the WWE Title against One Man Gang. Demolition battle The British Bulldogs. Rick Rude, Ted Dibiase, and more.

4:30 PM ET
LIVE! WITH CHRIS JERICHO Chris Jericho brings his uncensored podcast Live to WWE Network with special guest – WWE’s Chief Brand Officer, Stephanie McMahon!

5:30 PM ET
THIS WEEK IN WWE Get caught up on all the highlights from Raw and SmackDown with This Week in WWE.

6:00 PM ET
WWE COUNTDOWN Counting Down the Top Ten Most Imposing Superstars ever in WWE history.

7:00 PM ET
MONDAY NIGHT WAR WCW signs international superstars to bring an innovative, high-flying brand of excitement to Monday Nitro.

8:00 PM ET
SATURDAY NIGHTS MAIN EVENT Randy Savage defends the WWE Title against One Man Gang. Demolition battle The British Bulldogs. Rick Rude, Ted Dibiase, and more.

9:30 PM ET
LIVE! WITH CHRIS JERICHO Chris Jericho brings his uncensored podcast Live to WWE Network with special guest – WWE’s Chief Brand Officer, Stephanie McMahon!

10:30 PM ET
THIS WEEK IN WWE Get caught up on all the highlights from Raw and SmackDown with This Week in WWE.

11:00 PM ET
SATURDAY NIGHTS MAIN EVENT Randy Savage defends the WWE Title against One Man Gang. Demolition battle The British Bulldogs. Rick Rude, Ted Dibiase, and more.