THE ROUND-UP<\/p>\n
\n
THE LATEST NEWS<\/p>\n
Ronda Rousey to make MSG debut at WWE house show
\nOne of the biggest NCAA heavyweight matches of all time set
\nUFC Fight Night 127 live results: Werdum vs. Volkov
\nWWE Madison Square Garden live results: Lesnar defends his title
\nJon Bravo releases video, offers no proof against Roman Reigns
\nWar Machine make their debut at NXT house show<\/p>\n
THE LATEST AUDIO<\/p>\n
Best Of WOL: Chico El Luchador, Allie, Dave Meltzer 3\/17
\nBreaking News Audio: Jon Bravo’s WWE steroid allegation video 3\/17
\nF4D: Take Two 3\/17<\/p>\n
On Saturday, we’re looking for reports on the WWE Raw show in Tulsa, Smackdown in Odessa, TX, NXT in Largo, FL and Lucha Underground in Los Angeles to\u00a0newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.<\/p>\n
NEW JAPAN FROM HAMAMATSU AT\u00a02 A.M.\u00a0LATE\u00a0SATURDAY\u00a0NIGHT EASTERN TIME ON NEW JAPAN WORLD<\/p>\n
Seiya Sanada vs. Zack Sabre Jr. in the New Japan Cup semifinals\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sunday\u00a0has WWE Raw in Oklahoma City, Smackdown in San Angelo, TX and Lucha Underground in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
Raw is\u00a0Monday\u00a0in Dallas.\u00a0Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka in a non-title match has been announced.\u00a0They are advertising Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey again this week.\u00a0Smackdown’s\u00a0Monday\u00a0night house show is in Cedar Park TX.<\/p>\n
Smackdown will be\u00a0on Tuesday, also in Dallas.<\/p>\n
NEW JAPAN FROM NAGAOKA AT\u00a02 A.M.\u00a0LATE\u00a0TUESDAY\u00a0NIGHT EASTERN TIME ON NEW JAPAN WORLD<\/p>\n
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Sabre\/Sanada winner for New Japan Cup finals\u00a0<\/p>\n
UFC FROM THE\u00a0O2 ARENA IN LONDON WITH THE FULL SHOW ON FIGHT PASS STARTING AT\u00a01:45 P.M.\u00a0EASTERN TIME\u00a0SATURDAY<\/p>\n
Nasrat Haqparast (155) vs. Nad Narimani (155)
\nMark Godbeer (238) vs. Dmitriy Sosnovskiy (238)
\nKajan Johnson (155) vs. Stevie Ray (156)
\nMagomed Ankalaev (205) vs. Paul Craig (204)
\nHakeem Dawodu (145) vs. Danny Henry (146)
\nOliver Enkamp (171) vs. Danny Roberts (170)
\nCharles Byrd (184) vs. John Phillips (185)
\nLeon Edwards (170) vs. Peter Sobotta (171)
\nTom Duqesnoy (135) vs. Terrion Ware (136)
\nJan Blachowicz (205) vs. Jimi Manuwa (205)
\nFabricio Werdum (249) vs. Alexander Volkov (246)<\/p>\n
NEW JAPAN FROM HAMAMATSU AT\u00a02 A.M.\u00a0LATE\u00a0SATURDAY\u00a0NIGHT EASTERN TIME ON NEW JAPAN WORLD<\/p>\n
Seiya Sanada vs. Zack Sabre Jr. in the New Japan Cup semifinals\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sunday\u00a0has WWE Raw in Oklahoma City, Smackdown in San Angelo, TX and Lucha Underground in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
Raw is\u00a0Monday\u00a0in Dallas.\u00a0Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka in a non-title match has been announced.\u00a0They are advertising Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey again this week.\u00a0Smackdown’s\u00a0Monday\u00a0night house show is in Cedar Park TX.<\/p>\n
Smackdown will be\u00a0on Tuesday, also in Dallas.<\/p>\n
NEW JAPAN FROM NAGAOKA AT\u00a02 A.M.\u00a0LATE\u00a0TUESDAY\u00a0NIGHT EASTERN TIME ON NEW JAPAN WORLD<\/p>\n
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Sabre\/Sanada winner for New Japan Cup finals \u00a0<\/p>\n
F4W NEWSLETTER:\u00a0Figure Four Weekly: Looking at the Wrestlemania 34 card<\/p>\n
While there are a few more pieces that still need to fall into place, the card for WrestleMania 34 came closer to being finalized at Sunday night’s Fastlane pay-per-view. AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura was made official after Styles retained his WWE Championship in a six-pack challenge against Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, John Cena, Dolph Ziggler, and Baron Corbin. The SmackDown Women’s Championship match was also announced, with Asuka coming out after Charlotte Flair’s win over Ruby Riott and challenging her for WrestleMania.<\/p>\n
WON NEWSLETTER:\u00a0March 19, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2017 Observer Newsletter Awards<\/p>\n
One of the biggest issues of the year is out this week:\u00a0The 2017 Observer Awards, with not just the top place winners in every category but also a list of every award winner in the categories dating back to 1980.<\/p>\n
A WrestleMania update\u00a0with this past week\u2019s changes to the card, the most complete lineup, thoughts surrounding the use of the Moolah name in the women’s Battle Royal, how things evolved on the card, changes in recent weeks, more on the Reigns vs. Lesnar plans, and more on the year’s biggest show.<\/p>\n
Also, full review of Fast Lane, with match-by-match coverage, star ratings and poll results.<\/p>\n
In addition, an update on Ronda Rousey missing Raw, John Cena’s next movie, Dwayne Johnson’s contract for an upcoming movie, ticket sales for New Orleans, update on the NXT Takeover show, WWE injury updates, WWE cuts, WWE returns, and the most-watched shows on WWE Network. This issue provides complete rundowns on all of this past week\u2019s WWE and NXT arena events, with highlights and business notes on every show.<\/p>\n
Coverage continues, taking a look at New Japan plans for its next show after March, the situation with Jeff Hardy following his recent arrest and when he was scheduled to return to TV, a look at the first week of the New Japan Cup tournament and coverage of the ROH Anniversary Show. Also,\u00a0preview\u00a0the NCAA Wrestling Championships, and take a look at the biggest weekend of the year for pro wrestling in Germany with the 16 Carat Gold Tournament.<\/p>\n
This\u00a0issue also delivers the weekly coverage of every major show\u2019s ratings, with detailed notes on who is watching all the WWE shows, results from the major league events held around the world, and the major TV show rundowns.<\/p>\n
As always, this past week\u2019s results for every major pro wrestling event around the world are covered\u00a0as well.<\/p>\n
ORDERING INFO:\u00a0Order the print Wrestling\u00a0Observer right now and get it delivered\u00a0via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to\u00a0Dave Meltzer, or by using\u00a0PayPal\u00a0directing funds to\u00a0Dave@WrestlingObserver.com.\u00a0
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\nRates in the United States\u00a0are $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.\u00a0In 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.\u00a0If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA\u00a095009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.)<\/p>\n
If you\u00a0are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can choose one free classic issue,\u00a0or\u00a0two free classic issues with a 40-issue subscription.<\/p>\n
SATURDAY\u00a0NEWS UPDATE<\/u><\/p>\n
\n
WWE
\n\u201cWWE 24: Empowered\u201d will be airing on the WWE Network after Raw on Monday. It\u2019s focused on women\u2019s wrestling, the women\u2019s Royal Rumble, and Ronda Rousey signing with the company. In a preview clip, Dana Brooke pays tribute to her late boyfriend Dallas McCarver with her Rumble gear.
\nNikki Bella returned to the ring at last night\u2019s house show at Madison Square Garden for only the second time since WrestleMania 33. She was originally supposed to team with John Cena against Bayley & Elias at MSG, but Sonya Deville took Bayley\u2019s place and Bayley was part of a triple threat match with Alexa Bliss and Sasha Banks.
\nWWE.com posted a list of the top 10 women\u2019s matches in company history:
\nSasha Banks vs. Bayley (NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn)
\nCharlotte Flair vs. Sasha Banks (July 25th, 2016 episode of Raw)
\nCharlotte Flair vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch (WrestleMania 32)
\nAsuka vs. Ember Moon (NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III)
\nCharlotte Flair vs. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch (NXT TakeOver: Rival)
\nTrish Stratus vs. Lita (December 6th, 2004 episode of Raw)
\nPaige vs. Emma (NXT TakeOver: Arrival)
\nCharlotte Flair vs. Bayley (February 13th, 2017 episode of Raw)
\nAlundra Blayze vs. Bull Nakano (SummerSlam 1994)
\nThe first women\u2019s Royal Rumble (Royal Rumble 2018)<\/p>\n
Dave Bautista said he\u2019s never accepted an offer to go into the WWE Hall of Fame because he doesn\u2019t feel like his career is over yet. He said he\u2019d love to go back, but scheduling and creative will decide that.
\nIn an interview with The Metro, Ronda Rousey spoke about the differences between her relationships with Dana White and Vince McMahon, her thoughts on CM Punk, and how she\u2019s learned from Roddy Piper and Brian Kendrick.
\nChris Jericho and Chael Sonnen talked Rousey\u2019s move to WWE\u00a0and whether she’ll succeed.
\nSportsDay interviewed Bayley about Rousey, wrestling in the women\u2019s Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber matches, and her feud with Sasha Banks.
\nElias detailed his performances and potentially playing at WrestleMania in an interview with Guitar World.
\nMatt Hardy gave a tour of the Hardy Compound ahead of the Ultimate Deletion airing on Monday\u2019s Raw. WWE also uploaded a video where Hardy “consults” with George Washington the giraffe.
\nAiden English discussed his part in carrying the Guerrero family legacy.
\n\u201cFunniest WrestleMania moments\u201d are the subject of this week\u2019s video top 10 list.
\nJohn Cena debuted a teaser video for the game show that he\u2019s executive producing for Nickelodeon.
\nPro Wrestling
\nImpact ratings were up this week, with this being the third straight week that they’ve averaged over 300,000 viewers. Thursday\u2019s show did 350,000 viewers, and the two episodes before that did 325,000 and 365,000 (for Eddie Edwards vs. Sami Callihan and the post-match baseball bat incident).
\nThis year\u2019s ROH Best in the World PPV will be taking place on June 29th at the new UMBC Events Center in Baltimore. Tickets go on sale this Wednesday at 10 a.m. Eastern time for HonorClub subscribers and to the general public this Friday at 10 a.m.
\nSami Callihan was the guest on the latest episode of Talk is Jericho.
\nTo promote Fozzy\u2019s upcoming show at Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee Magazine interviewed Chris Jericho about the event, his cruise, and the freedom that he has in his career.
\nDarby Allin and Rickey Shane Page will be debuting for PROGRESS Wrestling in New Orleans on April 6th and 7th.
\nUFC\/MMA
\nDuke Roufus, CM Punk\u2019s coach, claimed that Punk is \u201c200 percent better\u201d than he was when he made his UFC debut against Mickey Gall.
\nAfter it was announced yesterday that Darren Till would be headlining the UFC\u2019s first show in Liverpool, Till called it a dream come true to fight for them in his hometown.
\nMichael Bisping said he\u2019s open to fighting on the Liverpool show and would take the offer if the UFC made him one that he couldn\u2019t refuse.
\nAndrei Arlovski vs. Tai Tuivasa is set for UFC 225 in Chicago on June 9th.<\/p>\n
Today in Professional Wrestling History:\u00a0Rock vs. Hogan at WrestleMania X8<\/p>\n
CONTACT INFORMATION<\/p>\n
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