DAILY UPDATE
Latest News
Three more wrestlers seeking releases from Lucha Underground
Lilian Garcia joins PFL as ring announcer
Brian Cage gives update on back injury after Impact Rebellion
WWE Stomping Grounds PPV set for Tacoma, Washington
NJPW Wrestling Hi no Kuni live results: Jay White vs. Hirooki Goto
Brian Cage suffers back injury at Impact Rebellion
Dallas to host Impact Slammiversary XVII
Latest Audio
WOL: Money in the Bank, New June PPV, Impact, Bryan vs. Jungle Boy 4/29
WOR: Cody promo, Rebellion PPV, UFC news 4/29
B&V: NWA World Championship Wrestling from 1988 and classic Flair matches! 4/28
We’re looking for reports from tonight’s Raw show in Lexington with the non-Raw results, tonight’s Smackdown show in Huntington, WV, tonight’s Impact tapings in Toronto and Saturday’s NXT show in Milwaukee to [email protected].
We’re also doing a poll for the Impact Rebellion PPV. You can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected].
Smackdown and 205 Live will be taped on Tuesday in Columbus, OH. Becky Lynch vs. Bayley is scheduled.
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Winners and losers of the Superstar Shake Up
Raw and SmackDown’s post-WrestleMania rosters were confirmed over the past week as WWE held their third annual Superstar Shake-up.
The most notable names to switch brands were AJ Styles and Roman Reigns. Styles had been the face of SmackDown since the 2016 brand split but is now a member of the Raw roster. Reigns had been on Raw since the 2016 draft but was moved to SmackDown in this year’s Shake-up, which comes in advance of SmackDown debuting on Fox in October.
WON NEWSLETTER: April 29, 2019 Observer Newsletter: Superstar Shake Up fallout, plus tons of news
After week one of the Superstar shakeup, things changed again. The who’s and the why’s is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer. Also look at what the original plan for Kevin Owens was and why it changed, and also seems to indicate bad news for one of the company’s biggest stars.
Read an updated depth chart for Raw and Smackdown with new rosters and positioning. This also points out problem areas, and we also look at the card for Money in the Bank, and notes on a lot of directions.
Read about C.M. Punk doing a run-in on an indie show, why and what happened.
Also look at the change for the Backlash PPV and how that affects the schedule, how the Saudi Arabian government made WWE look bad once again, analysts bullish on WWE and what their predictions were that missed, update on the next Saudi Arabia show, and more on WWE ratings drops.
This issue contains a rundown of New Japan’s Sengoku Lord show and the booking direction of the company.
Also look at UFC’s return to Russia.
This issue has a lengthy feature on the Viceland documentary on the 1997 Survivor Series, filling in a lot of the pieces regarding who was in on it, how the finish was done, and a look at some of history’s biggest double-crosses.
Read a feature on Mighty John Quinn, one of the greatest heels in U.K. wrestling including the build for his two big main events at Wembley Arena including the record crowd with Big Daddy.
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 [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell,CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
MONDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw and all the rest of the wrestling and MMA news tonight. You can send questions to the show to [email protected].
The story going around about an NXT Money in the Bank match at the next PPV was a fake.
The story from Fightful.com going around that The Revival turned down five-year contracts for $500,000 apiece per year is accurate. Tonight’s TV may give you WWE’s reaction to that.
The stuff on the Impact PPV last night pushing the new Impact+ streaming service is just basically a relaunch of the existing Global Wrestling Network service they’ve had, just with a new name, since they don’t want anything with the Global name.
WWE
Seth Rollins talks returning to Ireland.
UFC
Due to an injury to Siyar Bahadurzada, Nordine Taleb will now face Kyle Prepolee, debuting as a late replacement on Saturday’s show in Ottawa.
MISCELLANEOUS
IPW on Saturday night in Auckland, New Zealand before a sellout 300 fans: Vinny Dunn & Reuben De Jong b JK Moody & Kane Khan, Candy Lee b Harley Wonderland, Jakob Cross b Kingi-DQ, Jamie Tagatese won Rumble. Next show is 5/18. (thanks to Steve Ogilvie)
BCW on Sunday in Sydney, Australia: Ken Shamrock b Matt Diamond & Jude London in a handicap match to keep the tag titles, Mil Muertes b Gatt, Mil Muertes b Lucius Wolfe, Famous B b Vinnie Vain, Drago kept the AAA Latin American title over Aero Star, Bee Boy and Robbie Eagles, Mortar kept women’s title over Vixsin, Catrina, Arya Reign and Steph DeLander, Chavo Guerrero Jr. b Gabriel Wolfe, Mad Dog kept BCW title over Ken Shamrock and PJ Black. Next show is 6/28 in Melbourne and 6/29 in Sydney with Shamrock, John Morrison and Taya Valkyrie. They will be doing a 16 man two-night tournament. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
Melbourne City Wrestling on 5/18 has Gino Gambino & Sebastian Walker vs. Slex & Seb Costello. Costello is a local radio personality who has been feuding with Walker.
ONE has announced it is launching ONE Studios, a TV and film production division. It’s similar to WWE’s idea which never panned out to make mainstream stars out of their athletes by having them star in movies.
Stardom’s Cinderella tournament took place today at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. Toni Storm came out and apparently there were issues with non-Japanese fans and what was considered inappropriate behavior. Hanan & Saya Iida won three-way over Ruaka & Rina and Leo Onozaki & Hina, AZM b Rebel Kel, Starlight Kid b Natsu Sumire, Hazuki b Bea Priestley (finishes were pins, submission or over the top rope, Priestley, who was actually scheduled to reach the final four in the tournament, accidentally went over the top and was eliminated causing the booking to change during the show), Arisa Hoshiki b Saki Kashima, Hana Kimura b Andras Miyagi, Kagetsu d Tam Nakano 10:00 (both were eliminated), Natsuka Tora b Jungle Kyona, Konami b Momo Watanabe, Starlight Kid b Hazuki, Konami b AZM, Natsuko Tora b Hana Kimura, Arisa Hoshiki b Natsuko Tora, Konami b Starlight Kid, Arisa Hoshiki b Konami to win the tournament. Hoshiki then challenged Watanabe for her Wonder of Stardom title. (thanks to Shannon Walsh and wrestlingwithdemons.net)
CWE tonight in Blind River, ONT at the Blind River Community Centre with Psicosis vs. Norman Harass. They also run on 5/2 in Toronto at the Franklin Horner Community Centre with Psicosis and Johnny Devine.
CWE from last night in Sault Ste Marie, ONT: Diego DaVinci b Matt Powers, Roy Gordon b Martn Pain, Psicosis b Vinnie DaVinci, AJ Sanchez & Kevin O’Doyle b Norman Harass & Alex Ace, Danny Duggan b Robin Lekime.
Defy on 5/10 in Seattle at Washington Hall with Pentagon Jr. & Fenix, plus Tom Lawlor vs. Randy Myers. Must be 21 or older to attend.
Thunder Rosa debuted for Tokyo Joshi Pro today in Itabashi, Japan.
Action Wrestling from Saturday night in Sharpsburg, GA: Alan Angels over Matt Sells, Damyan Tangra, Shawn Dean, Mr. Brickster and Kvn Kanyn, O’Shay Edwards b Jaden Newman, AJ Grey b Michael Marshall, Bobby Flaco b AR Fox, Matt Griffin & Dani Jordyn & Cabana Man Dan b Billy Buck & Chris Spectra & Kevin Blue, Fred Yehi b Anthony Henry, AC Mack b James Bandy.
Regarding the note yesterday on Bushwhacker Luke Williams, the situation is actually even stranger than it sounds. Dan Mirade booked Luke for two autograph sessions. Williams was told about the dates but didn’t know one of the dates was for a Walmart. He then got asked on social media about him appearing at a Walmart. So he thought they were false advertising him since he knew he had a booking that day. He then told the local media he was being false advertised. But in fact, he wasn’t being false advertised. So it’s all been settled except for one of the TV news stations still has the story up about him being false advertised and won’t pull it because they had an interview with him saying it. So Luke shot an interview today explaining that he, in fact, will be in Ozark, AR on 5/3 and Fort Smith, AR on 5/4.
Daily Pro Wrestling History: Inoki vs. Flair at Collision in Korea
F4W Empire Convention Info:
Ed in San Antonio presents PODER~! at the FSW arena on Friday 5/24 – Showtime is at noon – Main event: Bryan Alvarez vs. Logan Stunt
Empire dinner on Friday 5/24 at 8:30 p.m. at Texas de Brazil – Price is $82 – All you can eat meat and salad, sodas, tea, and coffee, plus dessert included
Empire suite party on Friday 5/24 for those who were not able to get the Q&A package – Price is $25
Purchase tickets here.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Poll opinions: [email protected]
Feedback: [email protected]
Show results and news tips: [email protected]
Wrestling Observer Radio questions: [email protected]
Support the Empire~! with F4W shirts. Grab yours today!