MON. UPDATE: Mania fallout, record set, death during show, early trends, Rock after show, Bruno

Monday's News, Notes & Links

 

--After the biggest wrestling weekend of the year by far, Bryan and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer radio, covering the Raw and Impact tapings.  You can also send questions for tonight's show to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com  We've got an extensive rundown of WrestleMania and the other weekend shows up on the site.

 

--There is surprisingly little news coming out of WrestleMania.  The company was very happy with the show overall.  There don't appear to have been any significant injuries other than Justin Gabriel, who suffered an elbow injury that appears to not need surgery and he'll be out for several weeks.  C.M. Punk looked like had a bad landing on his head during his match but we've heard nothing about it since.

 

--The WWE reported an $8.9 million gate, which would be by far the largest in pro wrestling history.  Keep in mind the original numbers are often very different from actuals that hopefully will come out in a month or two.  Still, they had broken the gate record in ticket sales a long time back, so whatever the final number is, it'll be the record.

 

--In Google searches, WrestleMania did not fare nearly as well as one would have expected.  The term WrestleMania hovered between No. 10 and No. 20 last night and until this afternoon, but nobody on the show including The Rock cracked the top 20.  A few hours ago the only mention was WrestleMania itself as No. 20.

 

--For what it's worth, our web site traffic yesterday was up 33% from last year, but I attribute that to all the Brock Lesnar stuff that broke combined with WrestleMania, as last year didn't have that.  That will mean little to nothing when it comes to the final buy rate.

 

--There were technical issues with WrestleMania in different parts of North America.  We didn't get a lot of complaints, but there were people who didn't get the show for an hour, and others who had sound and video being very slightly out of sync.  Nothing like the ROH show.

 

--After the show was over, Rock made a point of shaking hand with every fan in the front row, as well as the announcers and the crew members.  He also defaced a John Cena photo, which popped the crowd pretty big, and signed a lot of autographs.  It appeared he was sending a message to people as it was a lot more than the usual end of the show babyface shaking hands with the fans stuff that they do at the end of almost all the house shows.  Amazing that there wasn't one Rock interview on the entire show.  (thanks to Stephen Lyon)

 

--Not a ton of mainstream media coverage today of Mania.  Less than you'd think really.  This was the South Florida Sun Sentinel story at http://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/fl-wrestlemania-28-sun-life-0402-20120401,0,2462521.story which put over the idea that U2, Paul McCartney, five Super Bowls and two World Series never had as many people in the building as last night's show. 

 

--TNA has released Scott Steiner, although he is still with Ring Ka King.

--Actually, something that his getting mainstream coverage, and WWE is lucky the PTC isn't on their case because they blew stories like this up byond belief, is 24-year-old Stephan Arceneaux III died last night at his home in Destrehan, LA, died when a 14-year-old relative put him in a choke hold at 10 p.m. Central time while watching "a wrestling pay-per-view."  The 14-year-old weighed 110 pounds and the adult weighed 220.  He used what was called a rear naked choke for 30-40 seconds and didn't release him until he was stopped when they noticed Arcenueaux was turning blue and called 911.  His girlfriend was unable to revive him, and he was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.  Story is at http://www.wdsu.com/news/30819481/detail.html and has since been picked up nationally (thanks to Adam Lebow and others)

--A story about an April 2011 killing where the victim, Raymond Mohlman, 49, was listed as a former pro wrestler, was at http://www.sun-sentinel.com/fl-stand-your-ground-justifiable-homicides-20120401.0.179476.story   I don't think he ever wrestled professionally but he was an accomplished amateur wrestler.  If anyone knows the name and that he was a pro wrestler, let me know. (thanks to Paul Kacprzak) 

 

--If you haven't seen it, I do recommend going out of your way and getting the replay of ROH night two to see the Davey Richards vs. Michael Elgin match. 

 

--Joey Styles tweeted that he will host a new ECW Unreleased Volume I DVD that WWE is putting out, which will have the Terry Funk vs. Shane Douglas vs. Sabu Night the Line Was Crossed match that was gigantic at the time, plus a 1994 Tommy Dreamer vs. Jimmy Snuka match where Snuka led Dreamer kick out of the splash at a time when very few had done so.  It was a big deal in the Dreamer push. 

 

--Dana White announced that the winner of the 6/1 Jake Ellenberger vs. Martin Kampmann fight on FX at the Ultimate Fighter Final in Las Vegas will be getting a lightweight title shot.  Tickets are $354, $204 and $104 for the live show at the Palms.  Tickets go on sale 4/11 to Fight Club members, 4/12 to newsletter subscribers and 4/13 at Noon to the public.

 

--The Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins had a big fight yesterday afternoon in the last minute of the game.  There was a fan who looked like a small, out of shape version of Hulk Hogan with the white mustache, sunglasses and bandana.  There was no question he was trying to look like either Hogan or Dave Sullivan with sunglasses.  He was yelling at the Flyers coaches and players.  While the referee was sorting out all the penalties, Scott Hartnell of the Flyers pointed to the fan and started doing the Hogan ear cupping routine.  One of the broadcasters made a Junior Hulk Hogan reference regarding the fan.  You can see some of it at http://www.youtube.com/watch/v=6dYBHgPW9UQ  (thanks to Eric Fisher)

 

--River City Wrestling in Winnipeg from Saturday night:  Cory Diamond over James Beaver and Mr. Nasty, Lou Natik b Samuel, Dick Walker & Damon Marx b Billy Blaze & Buddy Wiser, Bobby Collins & Lou Natik b Zamil & Samuel (thanks to Paul Ranville)

 

--During the Yankees exhibition game in Florida, announcer Michael Kay noted that Alex Rodriguez would be going to WrestleMania after the game.  Rodriguez was shown with Torrie Wilson at ringside during the show.

 

--Dana White did watch Mania, largely to see the main event because he's good friends with Dwayne Johnson.  He actually didn't turn it on until the Punk match, so don't go asking him about what he thought of Undertaker's match.  We've noted it here a few days back, but White has no problem with Lesnar doing pro wrestling.

 

--John Cena came out last night with anew green shirt that appeared to resemble a Boston Celtics type shirt.

 

--ROH announced shows for 6/15 at the Charleston, WV Civic Center and on 6/30 at the Rostraver Ice Garden in Belle Vernon, PA, outside of Pittsburgh.  There will be a meet and greet before the show with Bruno Sammartino. 

 

--The AP ran a national story today about how Jon Jones and Rashad Evans are both natives of New York (both upstate New York) and how UFC was not allowed to bring their fight to the state.  It noted how both fighters have gone to Albany to meet with legislators and would have wanted the match in Madison Square Garden.  The story noted that Bob Reilly, the legislator most well known for blocking MMA in the state, is retiring after this year, but Reilly said that there are others in the legislature who will continue to oppose it, and in particular noted that UFC pays a bonus on every show for the best knockout, claiming they are promoting concussions at the same time most sports are backing away from them. 

 

--The UFC build for Jones vs. Evans starts Friday night at 11 p.m. on FX after the conclusion of Ultimate Fighter.  It will air the next three Fridays leading into the show.

 

--A note regarding El Generico working for Evolve on 4/13 and Dragon Gate, is that he was never signed to an ROH contract after his last deal expired.

 

--A John Cena interview is at http://www.betweentheropes.com/620/john-cena-on-the-rock-I-just-dont-like-the-guy-personally/  

--Chris Jericho interview is at http://www.betweentheropes.com/624/chris-jericho-adding-new-things-with-current-incarnation/

--Dwayne Johnson talks at http://www.betweentheropes.com/622/the-rock-back-at-wrestlemania-28-to-make-biggest-match-ever/

 

What was the best TV show of the past week?

Rock-Cena Once in a Lifetime 37.0%

Raw 24.6%

ROH 12.2%

Ultimate Fighter 9.2%

Bellator 5.2%

Impact 4.6%

Smackdown 3.6%

UFC Tonight 1.2%

MMA Uncensored 1.2%

Inside MMA 1.2%

 

 

--The 13th annual Kenny Jay benefit for cystic fibrosis was held Saturday night in Savage, MN, just outside of Minneapolis.  Besides Jay, other longtime area wrestlers who attended were Dr. X (was that Beyer or somebody else?), The Big K, Larry Hennig, Greg Gagne, Jim Brunzell, Baron Von Raschke, Eddie Sharkey plus former announcers Al DeRusha and Mick Karch and historian George Schire.  Nick Bockwinkel was scheduled but was unable to appear (thanks to Brian Hoops)

 

--Dan Lennard talks Necro Butcher's bloody death match with Krackerjak in Australia and interviews Krackerjak at http://kirbyyourenthusiasm.libsyn.com/webpage/what-would-chris-benoit-do-ep-21-my-weekend-with-necro

 

--IPW on Saturday night in Papatoetoe, New Zealand:  Neo Justice over Dal Knox & Dave O'Connor to win IPW tag titles, Antonio b T.J. Rocket, T Man b Brother T, Tykade & Dominic LeFauce b Vinny Dunn & Reuben De Jong (former WWE developmental), Brian St. James won Rumble, Alexander b Kingi (thanks to Steve Ogilvie)

 

--AWWL Big Time Wrestling is looking for women wrestlers over the age of 18 with pro wrestling experience for a television show.  They prefer you live in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana, but it's not a necessity.  Contact liveawwl@yahoo.com or visit facebook.com/myawwl for information.  Filming will begin in June.   

 

--WPW from yesterday afternoon in Santa Ana, CA before 175 fans:  War Hog b Big Tony, Cyber Ram over Lee Steele, Mircrobio and Terremoto Jr. to get a title shot later in the show, Ariekin b Angel Guerrero, Sgt. Stryker & Frankie Segura b Yumi & Amazona, Cyber Ram b Pentacgoncito to win the WPW cruiserweight title, Mariachi Loco & Little Cholo b Infernal & Red Rum to win the WPW tag titles. (thanks to Roy Lucier)

 

--IWF on 4/28 in Nutley, NJ for an American Cancer Society benefit show at the Parks and Rec Building has Tito Santana and Marty Jannetty as headliners and Jim Powers will host a meet and greet.

 

--A Nigel McGuinness interview is up at http://archive.org/download/NigelMcguinnessWrestlingnewsradioInterview/NigelMcGuinness.mp3 

 

--Amazing Red has pulled out of the ECWA Super 8 tournament that takes place Saturday in Newark, DE at the Boys and Girls Club and will be replaced by Tony Nese of TNA. 

 

--Uhaa Nation blew out his knee on Thursday night in Hollywood, FL and unable to wrestle the rest of the week.