DAILY UPDATE

Latest News:

WrestleCon settles financial issues with Marriott Tampa Westshore
WWE Raw from Performance Center draws best ratings since February 17
ROH cancels all shows through end of May
WWE moves next SmackDown and Raw to Performance Center
WWE Raw video highlights: 3:16 Day with Steve Austin & Becky Lynch
Lesnar, McIntyre, Orton to appear on WWE Raw next week
GCW Collective, WWN, WrestleCon announce WrestleMania week changes
Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins set for WWE WrestleMania 36
The Undertaker vs. AJ Styles official for WWE WrestleMania 36
Edge challenges Orton to last man standing match at WrestleMania 36

Latest Audio:

WOL: WWE finally makes WrestleMania decision, RAW, plus Shazza McKenzie! 3/17
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Old Tyme Wrestling Hour with Dave Wills 3/17
Big Audio Nightmare: Wrestling in Japan and life in uncertain times 3/17
WOR: Coronavirus and WrestleMania, RAW, more 3/17

Are you interested in attending our annual F4W/WON convention? We will hold it during AEW Double or Nothing weekend. For more information, check this post for activities and prices.

WON NEWSLETTER: Coronavirus cancellations, Rob Gronkowski, more

A story on the Corona Virus and pro wrestling and MMA shows around the world is the lead story in a double-issue of  the Wrestling Observer Newsletter this week.

We go through:

Where everything stood at press time for large and small promotions all over the world, as well as other sports. 

Which companies can survive this period the best and how this threatens the future of many companies and wrestlers, a well as WWE and other name indie talent that likely can’t be coming to the U.S. because of travel bans. 

This is one of the biggest stories to have faced the world in our lifetime, and it affects every business, but sports and entertainment businesses, like all, will take an unforeseen shock.

The issue also covers:

Rob Gronkowski and WWE, what is believed to be the extent of the deal, who is Gronkowski, his prior experience in WWE, what he had said about doing pro wrestling in the past and what kind of impact his being in WWE could have.

The series of copycat lawsuits filed by a number of legal firms against WWE, the claims in the cases and a response by Jerry McDevitt to the cases.

The situation with David Starr being pressured out of wXw and Progress, the attempt to unionize wrestlers in the U.K.  and companies that have jumped on board.

Full coverage of the Elimination Chamber show with notes on the show, updated plans for WrestleMania, business notes and match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.

Update WWE PPV talks, Davey Boy Smith in Hall of Fame, salary of WWE’s top executives, the change in Paul Levesque’s backstage role, how talent contracts have changed, who owns the most WWE stock, XFL ratings and how this week changed the narrative, Cena movie delayed by a year of release due to Corona Virus, Rousey in WWE offices, change that was made in Friday tapings, Canadian ratings, UFC star talks about doing WWE, injury updates, more on a new athlete that just started, plus he most-watched shows on the WWE Network and details of all NXT & WWE arena events over the past week.

An extensive feature on Wayne Bridges, one of the biggest names in European pro wrestling during the 70s and 80s.  We look at his sports background before pro wrestling, how he could into pro wrestling, his unique role in some major movies, his Japanese tours and his time in North America, the history of the world heavyweight title as recognized in the U.K., plus his biggest run as world heavyweight champion, appearing on the big Wembley and Royal Albert Hall shows, tragedies in his life and much more.  This is a great history piece about an era of pro wrestling that a lot of U.S. fans aren’t aware of.

Complete coverage of UFC 248, including the show, what happens next, the judging, who the media thought won the key fights, and business notes.

Oregon wrestling in the 80s and its top heel, Rip “The Crippler” Oliver, who passed away last week. We look at the atmosphere when he first arrived, his life and career before Oregon, his attempts to leave and why he always ended up back, his records set, biggest feuds, extensive title history, the 1982 tag team tournament at the Omni in Atlanta,Billy Jack Haynes, Roddy Piper, Buddy Rose and the death of the Don Owen territory.

Update the situation with Scott Steiner.

End of an era, as after 41 years, Stu Sacks leaves Pro Wrestling Illustrated and a career in wrestling journalism that goes back 50 years to his childhood.

Regarding the Wednesday numbers, we’ve got full details, demos that each side won, how every segment did and what match ended up as the difference maker. 

All the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.

In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.

Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week. 

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.

TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE
The Tampa Bay local organizing committee issued a statement about WrestleMania being moved from Raymond James Stadium to the Performance Center: “Our community has waited 36 years to host WrestleMania, and while we are saddened that this unforeseen situation has led us to today’s announcement, this is totally the right call for the safety and security of everyone involved. A huge thank-you to all of our local leaders and our friends at the WWE, as we collectively worked through the unprecedented fluidity of the last few weeks. The Team Tampa Bay-WWE partnership has never been stronger.”
Raymond James Stadium announced that “Refunds for all WrestleMania Week events are available at all original points of purchase. If you purchased your tickets through Ticketmaster, you will automatically be refunded in the next 30 days. If you purchased your tickets at the ReliaQuest Ticket Office at AMALIE Arena, refunds will be made available once the ticket office reopens. Currently the ticket office is closed for safety reasons due to the current COVID-19 virus situation.”
Georgia Smith, the daughter of Davey Boy Smith, wrote about what she’s been told regarding the WWE Hall of Fame: “Just a heads up! I have spoken with @WWE and they are postponing the Hall of Fame for a later date, and are hoping to do it for Summerslam (which would be appropriate for my dad) thanks again for all your support! Let’s all stay safe out there”
CM Punk tweeted after it was announced that WrestleMania is being moved to the Performance Center: “Well that’s one way to make sure Roman finally gets not booed and nobody chants for meeeeeeee.”
Shayna Baszler wrote about her WrestleMania match against Becky Lynch taking place at the Performance Center: “My first #WrestleMania moment will be perfect. No one in the arena to dampen the sound of tendons ripping and bones cracking & snapping as I become the RAW women’s champion & usher in a new era #Reality”
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson then responded to Baszler: “Now thats a ‘ticket sellin’ tweet (empty arena is quite fun though;) Can’t wait”
With the market up today, WWE stock closed the day at $32.75 per share, rebounding 7.59 percent from yesterday.
In an interview with the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Jerry Lawler said everyone is having their temperature taken before they enter the Performance Center.
WWE’s house show that was scheduled to take place at Madison Square Garden on Sunday is now officially postponed and listed as date and time to be announced.
WWE’s YouTube channel has uploaded Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch from WrestleMania 32, Edge vs. John Cena vs. Big Show from WrestleMania XXV, and Shawn Michaels vs. Steve Austin from WrestleMania XIV
Other Wrestling
AEW has released new Chris Jericho and Cody T-shirts, with all profits for the Jericho shirt going to the World Health Organization COVID-19 Response Fund and the profits for the Cody shirt going to the United Way COVID-19 Family Support Fund.
Marko Stunt won’t be at this week’s Dynamite due to feeling under the weather: “So, I originally wasn’t going to say anything, because everything is nuts right now, and I don’t want to alarm anyone. After talking to my boss’ and lots of contemplation, I decided to stay home this week due to being under the weather. I’m ok though! No need to worry”
AEW uploaded this week’s Road to Dynamite video.
In place of today’s scheduled Super Power episode, the NWA is streaming their 70th anniversary show from October 2018.
Impact Wrestling announced that TNA: There’s No Place Like Home is officially canceled: “After consultation with representatives of Wrestlecon, all events associated with Wrestlecon have been cancelled, including TNA – There’s No Place Like Home. All refunds will be sent out in the next 7 days.” The event was going to be part of WrestleCon.
Colt Cabana has made his Wrestling Road Diaries documentary from 2009 available for free.
WWN uploaded Adam Cole vs. WALTER from EVOLVE 107 to their YouTube channel. It’s the first time the match has been released.
Vice released the trailer for their Chris Benoit episode of Dark Side of the Ring.
MMA
Khabib Nurmagomedov said he doesn’t care where his fight with Tony Ferguson takes place: “Honestly I don’t care. It’s going to be good if fight happens in the U.S. because I am here already for like one-and-a-half month. I’ve been training, and from this day we have like 30 days before the fight. Almost one month, and it’s going to be very good if we fight here in the U.S. But if not, any place. Any place, I don’t care.”
Nurmagomedov also spoke about health being the number one priority: “The most important thing is to be healthy. If we’re healthy, our family is healthy — this is the most important thing right now. We have to take care of ourselves. But if we’re healthy, OK, on this card, we have 13 fights. That’s 26 fighters and their corner. If they’re healthy and the UFC people who make show, like judges, athletic commission and everything — we need maximum 100 people inside the arena. Close the arena, 100 healthy people come inside and make the show. Put the camera, turn on pay-per-view, and all of us can make money. Everyone can fight.”
ESPN is airing 11 straight hours of classic UFC programming on Saturday. The marathon will include Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson 1, Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 1 and 2, Shogun Hua vs. Dan Henderson 1, Kelvin Gastelum vs. Israel Adesanya, Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz, and more.
ESPN Executive Vice President of Programming Acquisitions and Scheduling Burke Magnus spoke about what role ESPN plays in rights holders’ decisions to cancel, postpone, or suspend events: “We don’t play any role in those specifics decisions and those complex considerations go well beyond the media distribution of their content. With that said, the lines of communication have been constantly open between ESPN and our league partners. In very difficult and challenging circumstances, our team has sincerely appreciated how leagues and properties have communicated with us as much as they possibly can about the decisions and complications they are facing.”

Daily Pro Wrestling History: The Rock vs. Hogan at WrestleMania X8

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