--Shaquille O'Neal confirmed that he would be at WrestleMania this year on Saturday night. O'Nela aws hosting the Cartoon Network Hall Games awards and said he would be there, but didn't say if he would be wrestling Big Show.
--Tonight is the start of the WrestleMania season. Tonight's big angle is to be an Undertaker confrontation with HHH to help build their match. They should also be promoting Rock's return which will be on the 2/27 Raw show and a clear slate for building matches since there are no other major events left to promote, although some of tonight's show will be promoting the live Smackdown tomorrow night in Rockford. They are advertising locally John Cena vs. Kane and C.M. Punk vs. Dolph Ziggler, but one or both could be dark matches.
--Tonight is the start of the WrestleMania season. Tonight's big angle is to be an Undertaker confrontation with HHH to help build their match. They should also be promoting Rock's return which will be on the 2/27 Raw show and a clear slate for building matches since there are no other major events left to promote, although some of tonight's show will be promoting the live Smackdown tomorrow night in Rockford. They are advertising locally John Cena vs. Kane and C.M. Punk vs. Dolph Ziggler, but one or both could be dark matches.
--For Rockford tomorrow, there is expected to be a Raw presence and C.M. Punk has been advertised locally for the show.
--Bryan and I will be back with Observer radio late tonight covering Raw as well as taking e-mail questions so you can send them to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com
--Both C.M. Punk and Chris Jericho were doing videos after the show strongly hinting Punk vs. Jericho will be the Raw title match at Mania.
--On the WWE's annual post-Mania tour of Europe, Kane is working a lot of Smackdown brand shows with Randy Orton. The advertised title matches are C.M. Punk vs. Chris Jericho and Daniel Bryan against either Big Show or Sheamus and there is a Cena vs. Kane last man standing match scheduled for 4/16 in London and Bryan vs. Show in a no DQ and no count out match for the title on 4/17 in London. (thanks to Cohen Morrison)
--The new Dwayne Johnson WWE DVD hits the streets tomorrow. Got a note from someone who saw a preview copy and said the documentary portion is very good.
--As noted on the radio show last night, there were signs confiscated during the show, and in particular they went to remove any anti-Cena sign that would be visible on camera, as well as any signs with "Boots to Asses." (thanks to James Kloetzke)
--At the building last night they announced an 8/27 return to Milwaukee for a Raw show.
--There were reports of Tara being injured on the TNA Saturday night house show in Beckley, WV, but she worked last night's show in Glenville, WV. She is great at selling her knee, probably because it really hurts given she's been working on torn ACL for almost her entire career as she never wanted to take the time off or at other times simply couldn't afford the surgery. When you think about it, it's pretty impressive she's been able to last so long in the business not to mention maintain her look for so long with a shot right knee that probably forces her to modify a lot of her training. We haven't gotten any reports if there is a new injury that has gotten worse that she's working through or that she just was selling great, like she did on the PPV, at the Beckley show.
--GQ Magazine has a big article on Ring Ka King at http://www.gq.com/entertainment/tv/blogs/the-stream/2012/02/the-broad-brilliant-strokes-of-ring-ka-king-and-indias-wrestling-revolution.html The article said that beyond a few WWE tours, that India has no pro wrestling history, which is far from the truth, although this generation in India as far as mainstream has no knowledge of pro wrestling. But there have been major historical peaks there including the Lou Thesz vs. Dara Singh stadium shows.
--Forbes Magazine looks at UFC Undisputed 3 at http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngaudiosi2/2012/02/19/thq-delivers-knockout-with-ufc-undisputed-3-game/
--Jon Jones joins John Cena at the Daytona 500 on Sunday. Cena will be starting the race. Jones will be an honorary race official for one of the biggest races of the year which airs at 1 p.m. Sunday on FOX. Jones will be at the diver's meetings, pre-race ceremonies and ride in an honorary race official car before the race starts.
--The Japanese TV commercial for UFC, designed around the fact the show starts in Saitama at 8:30 a.m. is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTwbv098Ry8
--Mark & Jay Briscoe vs. Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin was announced for the 3/31 ROH iPPV show from Fort Lauderdale.
--Chuck Langerman's daily wrestling trivia concerns former WCW wrestler Evan Karagias, who was also known as Evan Courageous. Karagias graduated from Hunter Huss High School, which was not named after HHH and Bruiser Brody, in Gastonia, NC. In high school, he was both active in school theater, and a strong enough wrestler to get a full Division I scholarship to North Carolina State. In college he studied theater arts and political science. Karagias had the worst win-loss record as a solo wrestler than anyone in WCW. Karagias met wife Jennifer on the set of "All My Children," when both were doing the show, and they now have four kids together.
--Chuck Langerman also noted to us he is going to be taking a hiatus from his daily reports. We thank him for all of his help and hope the hiatus is short-lived.
--No UFC on Fuel today. UFC 136 (Jon Jones vs. Rampage Jackson) airs at 9 p.m. on Tuesday as a lead-in to the new episodes of UFC Tonight and UFC Insider. Because they are in Japan, weigh-ins for UFC 144 in Saitama, Japan don't air until 11 p.m. on Friday night Eastern time. The PPV on Saturday is different as Facebook fights start at 7:30 p.m., and it's only one fight. There will be two hours on FX from 8-10 p.m. and the PPV will be seven fights and four hours.
--An article on the late Eddie Gilbert, who passed away 19 years ago this week at http://wrestlingnewscenter.blogspot.com/2012/02/vince-hates-us-all-vol-9-remembering.html
--Dave Bautista talks to the Sun in the U.K. at http://www.thesun.co.uk/ He talked about a potential return, saying he's not closed his mind to it but he's got nothing planned and what it would take. Plus, given who he wants to work with, it's going to be difficult (Undertaker or HHH).
--Poll on Saturday night's ROH TV show
Excellent 27.8%
Good 36.1%
Average 12.5%
Fair 9.7%
Poor 9.7%
55.5% of those responding didn't see the show
--Best TV show of the past week
Smackdown 25.3%
UFC on Fuel 23.5%
Raw 18.4%
Impact 17.1%
ROH 12.4%
UFC Tonight 1.4%
UFC on Fuel pre and post game 0.9%
Inside MMA 0.9%
--An interview with Mean Gina Carano is at http://news.yahoo.com/mma-fighter-turned-action-star-gina-carano-game-164513384.html
--An interview with Trish Stratus talking about how she got into wrestling, her career, her new movie, women's wrestling today and more is at http://www.sportsvibe.co.uk/articles/other/former-wwe-diva-trish-stratus-on-starring-in-bounty-hunters-movie-current-state-of-women-s-wrestling-and-yoga-15305/
--Edge will be appearing at this year's Toronto Comic Con, which is the same weekend as the WrestleReunion in Toronto.
--Jim Ross talks Chamber, and C.M. Punk's twitter feud with Chris Brown at http://www.jrsbarbq.com
--Chaotic Wrestling runs on Friday night in Lowell, MA at the Polish American Veterans Club.
--NWA Mountain State Wrestling on Sunday at 3 p.m. in Mount Hope, WV at the Old Mt. Hope High School.
--The drama show "Taira no Kiyomori" that we talked about with Jinsei Shinzaki on NHK airs in Los Angeles on Ch. 18.2 UTB and Cox Cable 480 in Los Angeles on 5/19 and will have English subtitles.
--Dan Hardy is doing a seminar on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. for $65 (or for $75 you get the seminar plus get access to a UFC PPV viewing party with Hardy and a VIP party after the show at a local night club) in Charleston, WV at Butch Hiles Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA. for ore info you can call Hiles at 304-549-9370 or e-mail to advancedbkj@yahoo.com
--Tully Blanchard appears on the 3/24 BANG show in Ocala, FL called BANG A Mania, which sounds like a lot of fun.
--All Pro Wrestling and the Hawaii based Action Zone Wrestling are doing the Pacific Challenge on 3/3 in Hayward, CA at the garage, a best of three series with APW Universal champion Timothy Thatcher vs. AZW champion Jeff Cobb (a 2004 Olympian in wrestling), Jeckles vs. Kaimana and A.J. Kirsch & Dylan Drake vs. Mark Anarchy & Bobby Bolt. For more info you can go to http://www.allprowrestling.net/
--Legends of the Ring 14 on 6/2 in Monroe, NJ at the Crowne Plaza Hotel features Maryse, Bobby Lashley, Matt Hardy, Don Muraco, Lance Storm, Godfather, Boogeyman, Del Wilkes, Larry Zbyszko, Judy Martin, Leilain Kai, Hugo Savinovich, Mil Mascaras, Koko Ware, Bryan Clark, Taryn "Tiffany" Terrell, Harry Del Rios, Rosita, Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake.
--CHIKARA on Saturday in Reading, PA at the Goodwill Beneficial Association has UltraMantis Black & Hallowicked vs. FIST and Sara Del Rey vs. Archibald Peck.
--Fight Now TV has signed up the Ultimate Challenge promotion in the U.K. and the two most recent shows from that promotion will air on Wednesday and Thursday night this week at 10 p.m.
--NWA Rampage Pro Wrestling returns to Johnny G's in Warner-Robins, GA on Sunday at 3 p.m. with Kyle Matthews vs. Jeremy Vain.
--New England Fights returns for a show on 4/14 in Biddeford, ME. They noted it's a 1,600 seat arena and expect an early sellout.
--Jonathan D'Antoni is moving and has a collection of Observers from mid 1996 to the present that he's looking to sell either by the year or together as a group. He can be reached at jonathan_dantoni@yahoo.com
--New York Wrestling Connection from Saturday night in Deer Park, NY: John Silver won Battle Royal, Martie Belle & Sean Bergin (local newsman doing the let's play pro wrestler gimmick) b Nikki Syx & Victor Cruz, Danny E won three-way over Francis Kipland Stevens and D.J. Pat, Tony Nese won four-way over John Silver, Papadon and Bandido Jr. in more than 30:00, Big O b Manny Martinez. Next show is 3/10 in Long Beach, NY at the MLK Center.
--The pro wrestling show School of Roc: Class Wars, inspired by Ultimate Fighter from Billy Roc's School of Roc at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvCgbdBH9IA and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtEmgniMYSM
--Pro Wrestling Phoenix from Saturday night in Council Bluffs, IA: Sir Bradley Charles b Zac James, Mad Dog McDowell b Zach Thompson, Paul Daniels b Joey Daniels-COR, Hype Gotti b David Clark, Gangrel b SM King, Sean Cruz b Jimmy Rockwell, Matty Star b Ryan Slade, Sir Bradley Charles b Matty Star, Vic Victory & Darren Russell b Preston Maxwell & Branden Juarez in a cage match. Next show is 3/24 in Council Bluffs at the National Guard Armory
No comments:
Post a Comment