Tag: elimination chamber

Daily Update: Elimination Chamber, Bad Bunny, Tom Cole

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

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WON NEWSLETTER: February 22, 2021 Observer Newsletter: Death of Tom Cole, NXT TakeOver review

The death of Tom Cole this week takes us back to one of the most sordid pro wrestling stories of the last 50 years, which involved media heavyweights at the time like Phil Donahue, Larry King, Geraldo Rivera and Phil Mushnick. It’s the lead story of a new double issue of the Observer.

We look at the story and its tragic end this past week and all the key characters involved. We look at Cole’s death, what exactly happened to him, different media appearances at the time, the WWF first settling his case, the unique plans for the Phil Donahue show, at the time the leading daytime talk show in the U.S. with a gigantic audience and how Vince McMahon planned the show and why it never transpired the way it was planned. Cole’s memories of what happened, and things that triggered his past including a first suicide attempt that few knew about.  This is a major piece of wrestling history that has been largely hidden except from those who were around at the time.

Also in this issue:

NXT Takeover show with match-by-match coverage, star ratings and poll results of what undoubtedly will be considered among the best shows of 2021.

WWE not offering raises and promotions and how that went down this past week, as well as a look at WWE performer salaries if they were paid the same percentage as sports stars or even UFC fighters, Lacey Evans’ pregnancy, a pilot for a new WWE Network show filmed, the attempt to re-litigate the concussion case and its likely outcome, injury updates, details of a number of different people having signed new deals, who they are and their background, notes on how many saw Sasha Banks start the Daytona 500, Finn Balor talks staying in NXT, TV show with WWE stars as guests, WWE & AEW international TV ratings and how last week’s shows did compared to other sports, another celebrity training to appear in WWE rings, upcoming TV matches, a what ever happened to, current company value and the most-watched shows of the past week on the WWE Network.

Gina Carano and her social media posts that cost her a television series was was to be built around her, her new affiliation, and the situation with Ariel Helwani, Dana White and ESPN as well as media criticism of ESPN for how they handled the situation.

UFC 258 with match-by-match coverage and all the business news.

How Keiji Muto became one of the oldest world champions in history, why NOAH made the move, a look at NOAH today after its biggest show in many years.

WWE social media regulations for its talent, what is and isn’t allowed.

Debut episode of “Young Rock,” its ratings, and what was real, nor real and in between about the stories with a look at early women wrestling promoters, Rocky Johnson, Peter Maivia, Lia Maivia and Dwayne Johnson growing up.

Second night of New Japan’s New Beginning in Hiroshima..

Television ratings of the past week, including segment-by-segment numbers for the past two weeks on Wednesday, who was watching in different age groups, how different segments did on Raw & Smackdown and more.

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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight covering Elimination Chamber as well as the rest of the current news on Wrestling Observer Radio. We also have a Friday night show where we talked to Jon Moxley on a ton of different subjects, and Garrett and I did an all news show that is up on the site right now.

Regarding tonight’s show, we were told about 90 minutes ago that they were in the process of figuring out the card due to all the changes. We still  don’t know if Keith Lee will or won’t be in the three-way with Bobby Lashley and Riddle..

Elimination Chamber starts at 7 p.m. with a pre show match likely at 6:30 p.m. but not announced at this moment. Only three matches were 100 percent as of this morning the two Chamber matches and the women’s tag title match were announced on Friday.  Lashley will defend the U.S. title and Roman Reigns defends the Universal title against the Smackdown Chamber winner.  We’re looking for your thoughts on the show so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]

  • Chamber matches themselves are usually very good to great. They are very careful with the Reigns presentation so it’s likely to be good. The show is really only about those three matches so of what is advertised and pushed, it should deliver strongly.
  • Smackdown chamber match:  The winner will face Roman Reigns.  Due to late betting, Cesaro has replaced Kevin Owens as the favorite at -150 while Owens is +125, Daniel Bryan is +450, Jey Uso is +1000, King Corbin is +5000 and Sami Zayn is +5000. One would expect a babyface to win and you can argue for any of the three as all would make for great opponents for Reigns, although Owens has had multiple matches already.  He’s also the one strongest in the program, but Cesaro would give Reigns a chance to have a new match not advertised and put Cesaro in one of the main events. The Smackdown chamber match is scheduled to start the show.
  • For the Raw Chamber, BetOnline has Drew McIntyre as a big favorite at -400, Sheamus at +350, A.J. Styles at +700, Randy Orton at +700, Kofi Kingston at +4000 and Jeff Hardy at +5000.  
  • Reigns is listed as a -2000 favorite  to retain his title.  Anything is possible and they always can do a quick switch, but I wouldn’t recommend it.  With Reigns vs. Edge as of last word planned to be the WrestleMania main event, that would seemingly make Reigns a huge favorite to retain his title tonight.
  • Lashley is a -300 favorite to retain his title whether it’s a singles match with Riddle or the three-way.  Keith Lee is out of the match although WWE has yet to announce this. Riddle has not been booked as competitive with Lashley so a win would likely be a match he gets mauled in and the win looks like a fluke if they do book the upset.
  • Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax are -200 favorites to retain over Sasha Banks & Bianca Belair. The traditional booking would be Banks & Belair having a falling out in the match and that leads to them wrestling at WrestleMania, but there are other ways you can book to get to the same destination.

Regarding last week’s Takeover show and the Observer star ratings odds going in from Kambi, both Dusty Classic and Gargano vs Kushida beat the predicted star rating, the women’s three-way was 1/4 star under the prediction and Finn Balor vs. Pete Dunne was identical.   (thanks to www.wweleaks.org)

Madison Square Garden and the Barclays Center are now doing NHL and NBA games in front of spectators. MSG is running with a 2,000 seat capacity and Barclays for the Nets is running with just 300 seats, so you can imagine the prices are through the roof to get in.  

Bad Bunny had the 24/7 belt on him during Saturday Night Live last night. There were also some jokes made regarding the Gina Carano situation on the show.  They didn’t explain the belt or anything but he did have it with him.

Except for yesterday, nothing involved with combat sports trended all week. Bad Bunny was listed as No. 2 with 200,000 off his appearance but as is the case at times, his name disappeared and No. 2 (formerly No. 3) is listed as Derrick Lewis, the UFC fighter who beat Curtis Blaydes in the main event with a devastating knockout, also at 200,000. Adrian Broner was No. 5, also at 200,000  Boxer Oscar Valdez was No. 15 at 50,000.  Elimination Chamber should do between 200,000 and 500,000 depending on how much interest there is.

Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Sessions debuts a show with Sasha Banks tonight.

The London Times ran an obituary on Pat Patterson today. (thanks to Lee Wall)

AXS TV is promoting Hulk Hogan’s last match ever from the 2011 Bound for Glory PPV which was Hogan vs Sting no DQ from Philadelphia.  It will air on 3/2. Kurt Angle vs. Bobby Roode for the TNA title headlines plus RVD vs. Jerry Lynn in a Full Metal Mayhem match, Bully Ray vs. Ken Anderson falls count anywhere and Austin Aries vs. Brian Kendrick for the X title and A.J. Styles vs. Christopher Daniels in an I Quit match.

Just to clarify something in the Observer story on Tom Cole and the way it was written, what appeared to trigger Cole was the death of Pat Patterson and finding out in 2019 about the death of Mel Phillips. It was written to where some thought it was an article on Jamie Hemmings on Slam which it was not at all as Hemmings’ first article on Cole that I’m aware of didn’t even come out until just after his death.  But Cole had texted things to Hemmings that showed how upset he was after the death of Patterson in December.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post has not written anything about the death of Cole.

WWE

  • The Undertaker endorsed Dwayne Johnson if he were to run for President.
  • Shinsuke Nakamura’s theme played today during Ohio State vs. Michigan basketball game.
  • Sami Zayn’s videographer on Friday night’s Smackdown show was Andrew Steele, who is a Full Sail University graduate who started as an intern with NXT in 2017 before he got a job with WWE.  Steel had been a pro wrestler working mostly in Delaware and Florida before his career ended due to a 2015 broken neck injury.
  • The WWE Network yesterday ran the first Progress show since the pandemic started from the Theatre Peckham in London.  The show was actually taped:  Chris Ridgeway won a match to get a Progress title bout over Gene Mummy, Omari and Spike Trivet, Luke Jacobs b Man Like Dereiss, Ethan Allen b Kid Lykos II, Millie McKenzie (who is headed to WWE) b Mercedes  Blaze, Danny Black b Elijah, Warren Banks b Joe Gunns, Kid Lykos b Chuck Mambo, Cara Noir retained the world title over Dan Maloney with the blackout sleeper (thank to Shannon Walsh)
  • ICW will have a live special on the WWE Network on 3/20 called ICW Fight Club: Barred.  

UFC

  • Ottman Azaitar, who had been fired for breaking COVID-19 protocols and was said to be never coming back, is now back.  UFC confirmed this to MMA Fighting after his manager, Ali Abdelaziz told ESPN that the incident was a misunderstanding.

AEW

  • Miro was not on Wednesday’s show this past week because the blizzard hit Nashville, where he lives. There was to be a wedding follow-up segment this past Wednesday but it had to be taken off the show. For the show on 2/10, the high point audience wise was the end of the wedding segment.

OTHER NEWS

  • Ruaka won the Rumble and the complete results of today’s Stardom show in Tokyo. Stardom results from yesterday in Tokyo at Shin kiba:  Tam Nakano b Lady C, Himeka b Unagi Sayaka, Momo Watanabe & Saya Kamitani & AZM d Giulia & Syuri & Maiki & Natsupoi 15:00, Saya Iida b Honoro Hana to keep the Future of  Stardom title, Bea Priestley & Konami & Natsuko Tora & Saki Kashima b Mayu Iwatani & Starlight Kid & Gokigen Death & Ruaka (thanks to Shannon Walsh and Tomi Yamada)
  • Today’s Tokyo Joshi Pro tag team tournament results from Tokyo:  Hikari Noa & Shena Shioiri b Yuka Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu, Sakisama & Mei Saint-Michel b Mira Maiui & Suzume, Yuka Sakazaki & MizukI & Moka Miyamoto & Arisu Endo b Pom Harauku & Haruna Neko & Mariko Kobashi & Raku, Maki Itoh & Miyu Yamashita b Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe, Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao b Yuki Aino & Oodoka Tenma.  
  • Global Syndicate Wrestling debuted with a show last night at the Monster Factory in Paulsboro, NJ on FITE, featuring the return of Austin Aries, who looked great.  Michael Elgin also worked the show.  Michael Elgin b Wrecking Ball Legursky (Jacob Fato attacked Elgin after the match to set up a future match, Masha Slamovich b Hyan, Richard Holliday b Tyson Maddox, Vicious Vicki b Gabby Ortiz, Ricky Reyes b Gio Galvano, Deonna Purrazzo b Trish Adora thanks to help from Kimber Lee, Alexander Hammerstone b Austin Aries to become the first GSW champion.  Chris Dickinson then challenged Hammerstone for the title on the 5/22 show. (thanks to Kyle Prescott)
  • Dragon Gate has a match on Tuesday night in Kyoto which is the finals of a trios tournament to determine the next contender for the Open the Triangle Gate title held by Kzy & Genki Horiguchi & Susumu Yokosuka. The tournament final has Bokutimo Dragon & Punch Tominaga & Ryo Saito vs. Dia Inferno & Diamante & Hip Hop Kikuta

Daily Pro Wrestling History: John Cena wins, loses WWE title on same night

CONTACT INFORMATION

Women’s Tag Team title match added to WWE Elimination Chamber

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Women’s Royal Rumble winner Bianca Belair and her potential WrestleMania opponent are set to challenge for the Women’s Tag Team titles.

WWE has announced that Belair & SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks will challenge for Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler’s Women’s Tag Team titles at this Sunday’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view. The match was announced after Belair, Banks & Carmella’s sommelier Reginald defeated Jax, Baszler & Bayley in a six-person tag match on SmackDown tonight.

Belair & Banks were confronted by Jax & Baszler on SmackDown last week. Jax & Baszler tried to attack Belair & Banks but were sent packing. Tonight, Jax & Baszler appearing on Bayley’s “Ding Dong, Hello!” talk show led to the six-person tag match.

WWE has yet to announce which title Belair will be challenging for at WrestleMania 37. WrestleMania 37 is taking place over two nights on Saturday, April 10 and Sunday, April 11.

Jax & Baszler became two-time Women’s Tag Team Champions by winning the titles from Raw Women’s Champion Asuka & Charlotte Flair on last month’s Royal Rumble pre-show.

The team that wins Sunday’s Women’s Tag Team Championship match will be in line to defend their titles against Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez on the Wednesday, March 3 episode of NXT. Kai & Gonzalez got the title shot by winning the first-ever women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.

Naomi & Lana are also set to receive a Women’s Tag Team title shot at some point. They defeated Asuka & Charlotte and Mandy Rose & Dana Brooke in a triple threat match on Raw earlier this month to get an upcoming shot at the titles.

Here’s the updated card for Elimination Chamber:

  • Elimination Chamber match: WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defends against Sheamus, Randy Orton, AJ Styles, Jeff Hardy, and Kofi Kingston (Sheamus will enter the Chamber last)
  • Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against winner of SmackDown’s Elimination Chamber match
  • United States Champion Bobby Lashley defends against Riddle and Keith Lee in a triple threat match
  • Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler defend against Sasha Banks & Bianca Belair
  • Elimination Chamber match: Kevin Owens vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Cesaro vs. Jey Uso vs. Sami Zayn vs. Baron Corbin (winner challenges for Roman Reigns’ Universal Championship later in the night)

Lacey Evans pregnant, out of WWE Raw Women’s title match

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Lacey Evans is actually pregnant in real life, aligning with a storyline on Monday’s WWE Raw where she announced the pregnancy and implied Ric Flair is the father.

As a result, Evans is out of Sunday’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view where she was scheduled to face Asuka for the Raw Women’s title. 

Wrestling Inc was the first to report the news with PWInsider also reporting it.

On Raw, Evans and Peyton Royce faced Charlotte Flair and Asuka in a tag team match. Evans avoided Flair during the entire match and when Royce forced Evans in with a tag, she bailed and left the ringside area. She then revealed that she was pregnant.

Evans and Flair have been feuding ever since Ric Flair turned on Charlotte and joined forces with Evans. The two have frequently interfered in Charlotte’s matches since then, including at the Royal Rumble pre-show where the two cost Charlotte and Asuka the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles.

Evans, 30, is married and has one daughter, Summer, who has appeared on WWE TV in the past.

Kofi Kingston replacing Miz in WWE title Elimination Chamber match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Image: WWE

A change has been made to the lineup for Sunday’s WWE Championship Elimination Chamber match.

Kofi Kingston has been added to the WWE title Elimination Chamber match, replacing The Miz. Drew McIntyre will defend his WWE Championship against Kingston, Sheamus, Randy Orton, AJ Styles, and Jeff Hardy at Sunday’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view.

The Miz, who holds the Money in the Bank briefcase, announced on tonight’s Raw that he was removing himself from the Elimination Chamber match. The Miz wanted John Morrison to take his place, but Kingston approached WWE authority figure Adam Pearce and said he hoped Pearce wasn’t taking Miz’s suggestion seriously. Pearce made a match to decide who would replace Miz.

Kingston defeated Miz to take his spot in the Elimination Chamber match. If Miz won, Morrison would have been added to the match instead.

McIntyre was the guest on a Miz TV segment earlier on tonight’s Raw. It ended with McIntyre headbutting Miz and throwing Miz’s Money in the Bank briefcase toward the stage. Miz then announced that he was removing himself from the Elimination Chamber match, saying the Money in the Bank briefcase means he isn’t under the same pressure McIntyre is. Miz said there are so many things that could go wrong for the Elimination Chamber participants, but he only needs one thing to go right.

Miz said that — whether he cashes in his briefcase at Elimination Chamber or not — he wants everyone vying for the WWE Championship or the Universal Championship to be on notice. Kevin Owens, Daniel Bryan, Cesaro, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn, and Baron Corbin are also facing off in an Elimination Chamber match on Sunday, with the winner challenging for Roman Reigns’ Universal Championship later that night.

An Elimination Chamber match was part of Kingston’s road to winning the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 35 in 2019. Kingston lasted until the end of that year’s WWE Championship Elimination Chamber match before being defeated by Daniel Bryan. Kingston went on to win the title from Bryan at WrestleMania.

Kingston returned to the ring on Raw last week after being out of action for more than a month due to a jaw injury.

Triple threat US title match added to WWE Elimination Chamber

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The United States Championship will be on the line in a triple threat match at this month’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view.

WWE has announced that United States Champion Bobby Lashley will defend his title against Riddle and Keith Lee in a triple threat match at Elimination Chamber. The PPV is taking place on Sunday, February 21.

Lee defeated Riddle on Raw tonight after hitting the Spirit Bomb. Lee helped Riddle up after the match, but Lashley then attacked them both. He dropped Lee with a slam and put Riddle in the Hurt Lock. Lashley then continued to attack Lee, threw him into the ring post, and then hit him with the steel steps. Lashley posed with his United States title belt on top of the announce table.

There had been a backstage segment earlier on tonight’s Raw where Lee asked if Riddle really wanted to keep pursuing the United States title when he keeps getting beat up by Lashley and the Hurt Business. Riddle vowed to defeat Lashley, but Lee said it might be time for someone new to make the attempt. Lee said he has what it takes to defeat Lashley.

Riddle challenged for Lashley’s title on Raw last week, but the match ended in a disqualification when Lashley had Riddle in the Hurt Lock in the ropes and wouldn’t let go. Lashley then put Riddle (who had helped eliminate Lashley from the Royal Rumble the night before) in the Hurt Lock two more times after the match and threw him over the barricade.

Lashley has been United States Champion since August of last year.

Tonight was the first time Lee has appeared on WWE programming since January 11.

Here’s the updated card for Elimination Chamber:

  • WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defends against Randy Orton, Jeff Hardy, AJ Styles, The Miz, and Sheamus in an Elimination Chamber match
  • Raw Women’s Champion Asuka defends against Lacey Evans
  • United States Champion Bobby Lashley defends against Riddle and Keith Lee in a triple threat match

Raw Women’s title match set for WWE Elimination Chamber

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Lacey Evans is getting a shot at the Raw Women’s Championship.

WWE has announced that Asuka will defend her Raw Women’s Championship against Evans at this month’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view. Evans got the title shot by defeating Charlotte Flair by disqualification on Raw tonight.

Evans is aligned with Ric Flair on WWE television, with the two of them feuding with Charlotte. Evans appeared with Ric on Raw tonight and took part in a face-to-face segment with Charlotte. The segment ended with Evans telling Charlotte that Ric had heard from WWE officials that Evans would get a Raw Women’s Championship shot if she defeated Charlotte in a match. Charlotte wanted to have the match right then, but Evans gave Charlotte a cheap shot with a microphone and threw her into the steel steps before accepting.

Evans defeated Charlotte by disqualification in their match when Charlotte wouldn’t stop attacking Evans in the corner and shoved the referee.

Asuka & Charlotte lost the Women’s Tag Team titles to Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler on the Royal Rumble pre-show after Evans and Ric Flair got involved and Evans struck Charlotte with a foreign object. Charlotte then walked out on Asuka during a tag match on Raw last week after Evans and Ric started to come out to the ring.

Asuka has been Raw Women’s Champion since August of last year.

Elimination Chamber is taking place on Sunday, February 21. Here’s the updated card for the PPV:

  • WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defends against Randy Orton, Jeff Hardy, AJ Styles, The Miz, and Sheamus in an Elimination Chamber match
  • Raw Women’s Champion Asuka defends against Lacey Evans

Drew McIntyre to defend WWE title in Elimination Chamber match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Drew McIntyre’s next WWE Championship defense will take place inside the Elimination Chamber.

WWE has announced that McIntyre will defend his WWE Championship against Randy Orton, Jeff Hardy, AJ Styles, The Miz, and Sheamus in an Elimination Chamber match at this year’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view. The PPV is taking place on Sunday, February 21.

Shane McMahon returned to Raw tonight to make the Elimination Chamber match announcement alongside on-screen authority figure Adam Pearce. It was said that McIntyre’s challengers were chosen because they’re all former WWE Champions.

The Miz also currently holds the Money in the Bank briefcase.

Styles defeated Hardy in a singles match on Raw tonight, targeting his leg and submitting him with the Calf Crusher. McIntyre is facing Orton in a non-title match later on tonight’s show.

McIntyre retained his WWE Championship by defeating Goldberg at the Royal Rumble on January 31. The next night on Raw, there was an angle where Sheamus turned against McIntyre and laid him out with a Brogue Kick.

There was a backstage segment on tonight’s Raw where McIntyre approached Shane McMahon as he was leaving the building. McIntyre said he would have liked a heads up and said he thought it was going to be him facing Sheamus one-on-one at Elimination Chamber, but Shane said there’s nothing bigger than McIntyre defending the title in an Elimination Chamber match. Shane said if McIntyre wants to prove his mettle, this is the place to do it.

Elimination Chamber on Sunday, February 21 and Fastlane on Sunday, March 21 are the last two remaining WWE PPVs before WrestleMania 37. WrestleMania 37 will be a two-night event taking place at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, April 10 and Sunday, April 10.

Sami Zayn wins Intercontinental title at WWE Elimination Chamber

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Sami Zayn is the new Intercontinental champion.

Zayn pinned Braun Strowman tonight at Elimination Chamber in a 3 on 1 handicap match for the Intercontinental title that also included Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro. After being posted, Strowman was held up by Nakamura and Cesaro in the suplex position. Zayn then finished off Strowman with the helluva kick.

Strowman only held the championship for 37 days, defeating Nakamura on the January 31 edition of SmackDown. This is Zayn’s first championship win on the main roster. 

Originally scheduled to be a rematch between Nakamura and Strowman, it was changed to a handicap match during a contract signing on SmackDown last week. After saying he might as well face all three men in the same match, Zayn challenged him to a handicap match. Strowman ended up agreeing.

Zayn has only wrestled sporadically in recent months, positioning himself more as a manager for Cesaro and Nakamura. He last wrestled on television back in December, teaming with Cesaro and Nakamura in a losing effort to The New Day and Strowman.

The Undertaker appears at WWE Elimination Chamber

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The build to AJ Styles facing The Undertaker at WrestleMania 36 was furthered with Undertaker making an appearance at Elimination Chamber tonight.

Undertaker appeared after Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson interfered in Styles and Aleister Black’s no disqualification match. Gallows and Anderson laid out Black with the Magic Killer and were holding him in position for the Phenomenal Forearm when Undertaker’s gong hit and the lights went off.

When the lights came back on, Undertaker was going to chokeslam Gallows and Anderson. Styles tried to give Undertaker the Phenomenal Forearm, but Undertaker caught him and chokeslammed him.

The lights then went out again and Undertaker was gone when they came back. Black hit Black Mass on Styles to get the win.

Undertaker also used a chokeslam to defeat Styles at Super ShowDown in Saudi Arabia in February. The Tuwaiq Trophy gauntlet match at that show came down to Styles and Rey Mysterio, but there was an angle where Mysterio was attacked backstage by Gallows and Anderson. Undertaker took Mysterio’s place, chokeslammed Styles, and pinned him before even taking his entrance gear off.

Daily Update: UFC fallout, Elimination Chamber, Triple H

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

DAILY UPDATE

Latest News:

Latest Audio:

We’re looking for your thoughts on both the Elimination Chamber and UFC 248 shows, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]

We’re looking for reports on the TNA show on Friday in Atlanta, as well as NXT shows from Cleveland on Friday and Detroit on Saturday to [email protected]

Elimination Chamber at 6:30 p.m. Eastern on WWE Network:

  • Women’s Chamber: Shayna Baszler, Asuka, Natalya, Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan. Since the winner faces Becky Lynch and they’ve already shot the angle for Lynch vs. Baszler, one thinks Baszler wins. If not, then Vince changed his mind.  Baszler is a -1500 favorite while Asuka is +1200, Morgan is +3300, Riott is +2800, Natalya is +3300 and Logan is +10,000. 
  • Smackdown tag title chamber: Miz & John Morrison, New Day, Usos, Lucha House Party, Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode and Heavy Machinery.  The big thing looks to set up Otis vs. Ziggler. Miz & Morrison are -210 to retain the titles. On paper this looks like the best match on the show along with Daniel Bryan vs. Drew Gulak
  • Street Profits vs. Seth Rollins & Murphy for Raw tag titles. Street Profits are -350 favorites and Rollins & Murphy are +225.  Should be a good match.
  • Braun Strowman vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Sami Zayn & Cesaro in a handicap match for the IC title. Lots of late betting on the heels so Strowman is only a -120 favorite.
  • Andrade vs. Humberto Carrillo for the U.S. title. Andrade is a -130 favorite. This should be good as well.
  • A.J. Styles vs. Aleister Black no DQ.  Black is a -165 favorite. The only way I can see Styles losing, given he’s facing Undertaker at WrestleMania, is that there is outside interference and his guys either botch it and he loses, or it’s Undertaker who causes it.
  • Daniel Bryan vs. Drew Gulak. Technically this should be good. Bryan is a -420 favorite. The thing here is whether the crowd gets into Gulak, since he’s gotten very little of a push. It should be noted that Gulak is from the area so the crowd should be better for him  than somewhere else.
  • Viking Raiders vs. Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder. It reads like a Viking Raiders win.

From a star power standpoint, this is one of the weakest PPVs the company has ever done, and it’s on a short build. So many regular top stars aren’t on the show and neither the WWE nor Universal titles are at stake. The idea of the key matches have changed many times. 

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: 40th Annual Awards Issue The results from the 2019 WON awards are in.

One of the year’s biggest issues, our 40th annual awards issue is out this week.  The issue covers these awards:

1) Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award for Wrestler of the Year; 2) MMA MVP; 3) Most Outstanding Wrestler; 4) Most Outstanding MMA Fighter; 5) Tag Team of the Year; 6) Best On Interviews; 7) Promotion of the Year; 8) Best Weekly TV show; 9) Pro Wrestling Match of the Year; 10) MMA Match of the Year; 11) U.S/Canada MVP; 12) Japan MVP; 13) Mexico MVP; 14) Europe MVP; 15) Non-heavyweight MVP; 16) Women’s Wrestling MVP; 17) Women’s MMA MVP; 18) Best Box Office Draw; 19) Feud of the Year; 20) Most Improved; 21) Most Charismatic; 22) Bryan Danielson Award/Best Technical Wrestler; 23) Bruiser Brody Award/Best Brawler; 24) Best Flying Wrestler; 25) Most Overrated; 26) Most Underrated; 27) Rookie of the Year; 28) Best Non-Wrestler; 29) Best TV announcer; 30) Worst TV announcer; 31) Best Major wrestling show; 32) Worst major wrestling show; 33) Best wrestling maneuver; 34) Most Disgusting promotional tactic; 35) Worst TV show; 36) Worst match of the year; 37) Worst feud of the year; 38) Worst promotion of the year; 39) Best Booker; 40) Promoter of the Year; 41) Best gimmick; 42) Worst gimmick; 43) Best book; 44) Best documentary

We have the top placings in every category as well as a list of winners of every award dating back to 1980.

The new issue also covers:

Coronavirus and an update on its affect on Japanese pro wrestling.

Young Bucks vs. Kenny Omega & Adam Page match and compare it to great tag team matches of the past, in particular Misawa & Kobashi vs. Kawada & Taue from 1995 and Midnight Express vs Fantastics from 1988.

AEW Revolution with business notes, storylines, match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.

Preview Elimination Chamber with early business notes and the current demand.

Folding of the Wrestle-1 promotion.

WWE and All Japan, WrestleMania ticket sales and secondary market interest, update on WrestleMania show, Jeff Hardy, John Layfield in the Hall of Fame, XFL ratings updates, Injuries and other WWE absences, notes on a new WWE wrestler who just had his first match this past week, Renee Young talks her situation and Jon Moxley, next MSG show, Notes on the Tampa Takeover show, company value, most-watched shows on WWE Network, and a rundown of all the WWE and NXT live events over the past week with highlights and business notes.

Saturday’s UFC show, looking at the key matches and stories, business notes and match-by-match coverage.

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.

SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer Radio covering a ton of stories including David Starr, Scott Steiner, Wednesday ratings, Elimination Chamber and everything else we didn’t get to last night. Our awards show is up on the site right now from last night.

For Google searches, UFC 248 had 2.1 million searches. That’s a strong number, really better than would have been expected for that show, so the late build of the two main events was strong.  Things not associated with UFC 248 that made the list was Tony Ferguson at No. 17 on Friday with 50,000 and Scott Steiner due to his health scare at No. 17 on Saturday with 50,000.

Regarding the two title fights at UFC 248, in Israel Adesanya vs. Yoel Romero, Sal D’Amato scored rounds three through five for Adesanya, Chris Lee scored rounds two through five for Adesanya and Ron McCarthy scored three through five for Adesanya. I scored three through five for Adesanya as well.  Media scores at last look were 61 percent for Adesanya. It was close.

For Zhang Weili vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Michael Bell scored one, four and five for Weili, Derek Clearly scored two, four and five for Weili and Eric Cohen scored three through five for Jedrejczyk. Media scores were 71 percent for Weili. That fight is likely to win fight of the year and was one of the greatest fights in UFC history.

Paul Levesque received a Lifetime Achievement award from Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday as part of the Arnold Classic in Columbus, OH.

AAA has a press conference on Wednesday to announce TripleMania.

WWE

  • Paige will be appearing 7/3 to 7/5 for WAW, her parents’ promotion, in the U.K. at Pontins Southport.

UFC

  • Dana White last night said that if a Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor rematch happens, it would be the biggest fight in combat sports history. Well, that’s up there with Arum predicting Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder would do McGregor-Pacquiao numbers. At least McGregor-Khabib will come closer than Fury-Wilder did.  
  • Brian Ortega reportedly slapped Korean music artist Jay Park at last night’s show. It was quickly broken up. Park was the translator for Chan Sung Jung and evidently Ortega was mad at how he translated something.  Park told Ariel Helwani that Ortega came up to him when Jung went to the bathroom and asked if he was Jay Park. When he said “Yes,” according to Park, Ortega open palm slapped him. 

AEW

MISCELLANEOUS

  • A story on DirecTV likely to be falling.
  • 70-year-old Mike Jackson worked on Friday for Impact at their TV taping in Atlanta. Reports are he looked great.
  • Former UFC star Chris Leben will face former University of Alabama linebacker Marcel Stamps in a Bare Knuckle fighting championships main event on 4/11 in Birmingham, LA at the Boutwell Auditorium. Heavyweight champion Joey Beltran defends his title against Mark Godbeer.  Stamps played form 2004 to 2008 and knocked out Kendall Grove previously in a Bare Knuckle fight.
  • Wrestling Go from yesterday in Sydney, Australia:  Bee Boy b King Shahil, Lena Kross & Parker Tomas b Kingsley & Xena, Ricky South b Lex Lennock, Cear & The Buccaneer b Lee Morrow & Matthias Clock, Matty Wahlberg NC Tree Hugger Luchi, ASPN b Shazza McKenzie to keep the New Zealand women’s title, Aaron Jake won over Massive Q, Mr. Christmas and Nikki Van Blair, Saxon Hughes b Axton Ursus, Jay Sorbert won three-way over Jessica Troy and Donnie Mako to win the Silver medal.  (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • Chris Masters and Minoru Tanaka work for All-Star Wrestling Australia on 4/18 in Sydney.
  • Wrestling Go from Friday in Sydney:  Johnny Wehlan b Chris Stevens, Jessica Troy b Lena Kross, Alex Irvine b Jackson Spade-DQ, Mat Gauge & Milen Malice b Lex Lennock & Silvio Milano, Parker Tomas b King Shahil, Big Fudge d The Perfects, Saxon Hughes b Johnny Wehlan, Kai Drake b Robbie Eagles in 47:00.  Match was said to be technically good but too long for the crowd.
  • EPW from last night in Perth,Western Australia:  Tipene b Aaron Hawk, Casey Johns b Edith Night, Del Cano b Jay Taylor, Gavin McGavin won over Taylor King, Michael Morleone and Dan Steel, Bobby Marshall & Dan Moore b Damien Slater & Julian Ward, Bruno Nitro NC Junior Li, Davis Storm b Marcius Pitt to win Coastal title in a career vs. title match.  There was a sendoff to Ward who is moving to Canada.
  • Keith Greenberg is writing a book for ECW Press on Pro Wrestling in 2020 with Brexit, the US presidential election and the coronavirus as backdrops. He’s looking to hear from wrestlers or promoters at [email protected]
  • Northeast Wrestling from last night in New Bethany, CT:  JT b Chris Battle, Brad Hollister b Chuck O’Neill, Wrecking Ball Legursky b Richard Holliday, Karen Bam Bam b Little Mean Kathleen, Bobby Orlando b  Kenny Bengal, RJ Rude & Zane Bernardo b Bear Country-DQ, Vincent b Mike Verna, Christian Casanova b Delirious to keep the Facebook title, Keith Youngblood won four-way over JT Dunn, Wrecking Ball Legursky and Brad Hollister
  • Hoosier Pro Wrestling from last night in Columbus, IN: Cooter b Guy Lombardo, Rudy Switchblade b Scarecrow, Randall Floyd b Big D, Dodo Brown b John Doe-DQ, Truth Magnum b Ace Jackson, Jay Lee b Allie Parker, Buck Sexton b TJ Kemp.  Next show in Columbus, IN is 4/4. .
  • Pro Wrestling EVE from yesterday in London: Laura Di Mateo b Kira Chimea, Kasey b Maddison Miles, Jetta b Clementine, Sammii Jayne b Holidead to keep International title, Zoe Lucas b Rebel Kinney, Skye Smitson b Session Moth Martina, Rhia O’Reilly b Jazzy Gabert to keep Eve title, Kasey b Sammii Jayne to win International title. Jetta challenged  O’Reily in a career vs. title match for the 5/10 anniversary show. 
  • Eve announced an all-women’s show on 5/8 where the entire crew,announcers, referees and backstage people will be women and tickets are available to anyone who identifies as a woman (thanks to Chris Gannon)

Daily Pro Wrestling History:The Wild Samoans win WWF Tag Team titles

CONTACT INFORMATION

Tag team match added to WWE Elimination Chamber pre-show

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A pre-show match has been added to tonight’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view.

The Viking Raiders will face off with Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder on the pre-show tonight. The announcement of that match was made on today’s pre-Elimination Chamber edition of WWE Now.

The Viking Raiders and Hawkins & Ryder are both part of the Raw tag team division. New Raw Tag Team Champions The Street Profits are defending their titles against former champions Seth Rollins & Murphy on tonight’s main card.

The Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is hosting Elimination Chamber tonight. It’s WWE’s last PPV before WrestleMania 36.

Tonight’s pre-show begins at 6 p.m. Eastern time, with the main card starting an hour later. Here’s the updated card for the PPV:

  • Elimination Chamber match: Shayna Baszler vs. Asuka vs. Natalya vs. Ruby Riott vs. Liv Morgan vs. Sarah Logan (winner challenges for Becky Lynch’s Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 36)
  • Elimination Chamber match: SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Miz & John Morrison defending against The New Day, The Usos, The Lucha House Party, Heavy Machinery, and Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode
  • Raw Tag Team Champions The Street Profits defending against Seth Rollins & Murphy
  • Intercontinental Champion Braun Strowman defending against Shinsuke Nakamura, Sami Zayn & Cesaro in a handicap match
  • United States Champion Andrade defending against Humberto Carrillo
  • No DQ match: AJ Styles vs. Aleister Black
  • Daniel Bryan vs. Drew Gulak
  • The Viking Raiders vs. Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder (pre-show)

Daniel Bryan vs. Drew Gulak set for WWE Elimination Chamber

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The card for Sunday’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view is now up to seven confirmed matches.

It was announced on tonight’s SmackDown that Daniel Bryan vs. Drew Gulak will take place at the PPV. It’s being held at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sunday.

The storyline between Gulak and Bryan began when Gulak approached him backstage two weeks ago and said he had created a PowerPoint presentation about Bryan’s weaknesses and the things he’s been doing wrong. Tonight, Bryan challenged Gulak to face him at Elimination Chamber if he’s so confident that he can exploit Bryan’s weaknesses. 

Gulak then tweeted about facing Bryan: “The last time I competed at home in Philly I successfully defended my Cruiserweight Championship. When I return this Sunday I will teach the man who used to be known as ‘American Dragon’ a thing or two as we step in the ring for the first time ever at #WWEChamber!”

Here’s the updated lineup for Sunday’s PPV:

  • Elimination Chamber match: Shayna Baszler vs. Asuka vs. Natalya vs. Ruby Riott vs. Liv Morgan vs. Sarah Logan (winner challenges for Becky Lynch’s Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 36)
  • Elimination Chamber match: SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Miz & John Morrison defending against The New Day, The Usos, Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode, The Lucha House Party, and Heavy Machinery
  • Raw Tag Team Champions The Street Profits defending against Seth Rollins & Murphy
  • Intercontinental Champion Braun Strowman defending against Shinsuke Nakamura, Sami Zayn & Cesaro in a handicap match
  • United States Champion Andrade defending against Humberto Carrillo
  • No DQ match: AJ Styles vs. Aleister Black
  • Daniel Bryan vs. Drew Gulak

Humberto Carrillo to challenge for US title at WWE Elimination Chamber

Posted on by Joseph Currier

After last night’s Raw, WWE confirmed that there will be a United States Championship match at Elimination Chamber.

Andrade will defend his US title against Humberto Carrillo at Sunday’s PPV. The match was set up by Carrillo & Rey Mysterio defeating Andrade & Angel Garza on Raw last night.

Carrillo pinned Andrade in that tag match. In a post-show interview that WWE uploaded, Carrillo was asked about getting the title shot at Elimination Chamber. Carrillo said teaming with a legend like Mysterio last night gave him the power to handle Sunday’s title match.

This will be Andrade’s first televised title defense since he returned from his 30-day wellness policy suspension. He returned to the ring as part of the Tuwaiq Trophy gauntlet match at Super ShowDown last Thursday.

The Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is hosting Elimination Chamber. Here’s the updated card:

  • Elimination Chamber match: Shayna Baszler vs. Asuka vs. Natalya vs. Ruby Riott vs. Liv Morgan vs. Sarah Logan (winner challenges for Becky Lynch’s Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 36)
  • Elimination Chamber match: SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Miz & John Morrison defending against The New Day, The Usos, Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode, The Lucha House Party, and Heavy Machinery
  • Raw Tag Team Champions The Street Profits defending against Seth Rollins & Murphy
  • Intercontinental Champion Braun Strowman defending against Shinsuke Nakamura, Sami Zayn & Cesaro in a handicap match
  • United States Champion Andrade defending against Humberto Carrillo
  • No DQ match: AJ Styles vs. Aleister Black

No DQ match added to WWE Elimination Chamber

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The card for Sunday’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view is now up to five announced matches.

It was announced during Raw tonight that AJ Styles and Aleister Black will face off in a no disqualification match at Sunday’s PPV. It’s taking place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Black faced Styles on Raw tonight — but only after winning matches against Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows. Black pinned Anderson and then defeated Gallows by DQ when Gallows wouldn’t obey the referee’s count and kept attacking Black in the corner. Gallows and Anderson also laid out Black with the Magic Killer before his match against Styles started.

Styles then defeated Black in their match. He used an Undertaker-style pin to get the win.

Styles vs. Undertaker is scheduled for WrestleMania 36. After an angle where Rey Mysterio was attacked backstage by Gallows and Anderson, Undertaker took his spot at Super ShowDown and gave Styles a chokeslam to win the Tuwaiq Trophy gauntlet match.

Here’s the updated card for Elimination Chamber:

  • Elimination Chamber match: Shayna Baszler vs. Asuka vs. Natalya vs. Ruby Riott vs. Liv Morgan vs. Sarah Logan (winner challenges for Becky Lynch’s Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 36)
  • Elimination Chamber match: SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Miz & John Morrison defending against The New Day, The Usos, Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode, The Lucha House Party, and Heavy Machinery
  • Intercontinental Champion Braun Strowman defending against Shinsuke Nakamura, Sami Zayn & Cesaro in a handicap match
  • Raw Tag Team Champions The Street Profits defending against Seth Rollins & Murphy
  • No DQ match: AJ Styles vs. Aleister Black

The Street Profits win WWE Raw Tag Team titles, rematch set

Posted on by Joseph Currier

New Tag Team Champions were crowned on tonight’s episode of Raw in Brooklyn, New York.

The Street Profits defeated Seth Rollins & Murphy to win the Raw Tag Team titles on the show. The match was billed as “Now or Never” for The Street Profits, with it being the final shot they would get at the titles.

The referee ejected AOP from ringside during the match. As the ref argued with AOP and Murphy, Kevin Owens gave Rollins a stunner. Montez Ford then hit a frog splash on Rollins and pinned him to get the win.

There was a backstage segment where Rollins & Murphy were interviewed after losing the titles. Rollins vowed that they would win them back in a rematch against The Street Profits at Sunday’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view.

This is Ford & Angelo Dawkins’ first title reign on the main roster. They previously held the NXT and EVOLVE Tag Team titles.

The Street Profits had unsuccessfully challenged Rollins & Murphy at Super ShowDown in Saudi Arabia last week. The finish of that match was Murphy pinning Dawkins after Rollins gave Dawkins a stomp on the apron while the ref was distracted.