DAILY UPDATE
Latest News:
AEW Dynamite and NXT ratings hit hard as closed set shows continue
NXT UK results: Number one contender’s battle royal
Kushida set for action on WWE 205 Live this week
ESPN2 airing Brock Lesnar marathon on Sunday
AEW Dynamite video highlights: TNT title tourney preview
MLW reschedules Texas show, gives update on future events
WWE NXT video highlights: Lee vs. Dijakovic vs. Priest
AJPW cancels Champion Carnival tournament
Latest Audio:
WOL: More cancellations, WrestleMania price, AEW vs. NXT, Amber Nova, more! 4/2
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: History of the NWA title, pt. 3 4/2
WOR: More shutdowns, AEW vs. NXT, RAW ratings, New Jack, more! 4/2
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: April 6, 2020 Observer Newsletter: Florida lockdown, WrestleMania preview
With UFC, WWE and AEW as being among the last events still trying to run in the U.S., the last vestiges of doing empty arena matches may have been shut down.
On 4/1, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ordered a 30-day stay-at-home order except for essential businesses. That would in theory eliminate the planned 4/18 UFC 249 show that was targeted for the state, and also eliminate both WWE and AEW from taping at least in April in the state.
AEW had just moved out of Jacksonville and into Norcross, GA, just outside of Atlanta, a decision made on 3/27. WWE was planning on doing Smackdown live at the Performance Center on 4/10, and now they would have to find either a new location or do studio wrap-arounds of old matches.
However that isn’t so simple either because Connecticut, where the WWE studios are, also has a stay-at-home order for non-essential businesses.
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THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
WWE issued a new storyline update on Elias’ condition after the angle where he was attacked by Baron Corbin on SmackDown last week: “Elias’ status remains uncertain for his WrestleMania match against King Corbin after last Friday’s brutal fall on SmackDown. As Elias performed from the perch of the WWE Performance Center, Corbin viciously blindsided him and kicked the songbird from the railing, resulting in a brutal fall. Stay tuned to WWE digital platforms as the story develops heading into The Show of Shows.” Elias also furthered the storyline by posting a video where he said he’s doing everything in his power to make the match happen.
WWE Shop is now selling WrestleMania 36 event folding chairs: “Now is your chance to own the Official WrestleMania 36 Event Folding Chair! Quantities are limited, so don’t miss out on this opportunity!” The chairs are $99.99 for one or $299.99 for a four pack.
WWE Shop has also released a WrestleMania 36 “In Your House” T-shirt.
Sports Illustrated asked Brent Colborne, ESPN’s Senior Director of Programming, if WrestleMania could potentially air live on ESPN in the future: “It’s a great question. We’re always open to discussing a lot of different ideas with various leagues, but right now the focus for what we’re doing with WWE is on the short-term. We felt like this was a really good content opportunity for us to show these three encores, and a really good promotional opportunity for WWE to help utilize our reach and our brand to create more excitement for WrestleMania this upcoming weekend.”
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Stephanie McMahon was asked about Roman Reigns not wrestling at WrestleMania 36: “With all of our superstars, it really is a voluntary basis. It’s not my place to give his personal situation, but we support our superstars. We support their personal opinions and concerns, and again, this is all voluntary. Especially when you have a talent or a performer with pre-existing conditions, or whatever the reason might be. If someone is uncomfortable, we will absolutely honor that. We want our talent to perform at WrestleMania, but only if they’re comfortable. Regardless of their reasons, they have to be comfortable. It has to be something they want to do. We absolutely support all of our superstars and their decision of whether or not to perform, especially at this time.”
Triple H will be on ESPN Radio’s Golic & Wingo show at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time tomorrow morning.
Jake Atlas made his NXT TV debut last night, losing to Dexter Lumis.
WWE’s Dream Match Mania special aired on their social media accounts and the WWE Network today, featuring matches streamed on WWE 2K20 and wrestlers doing commentary for them.
Bleacher Report has a feature story on Edge and his return to the ring.
Edge also spoke to USA Today about his last man standing match against Randy Orton at WrestleMania.
Adelaide Now interviewed NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley.
BT Sport released a behind-the-scenes video on their Drew McIntyre WrestleMania hype video.
John Cena appeared on today’s episode of After the Bell with Corey Graves.
Other Wrestling
The state of Georgia has issued a shelter-in-place order that will be in effect from this Friday through at least April 13. The location for last night’s AEW Dynamite was in Georgia. Dave Meltzer reported earlier this week that it was believed AEW would be taping “matches throughout Tuesday and Wednesday for this week’s Dynamite and Dark as well as future shows.”
Brandi Rhodes is the guest on today’s episode of the AEW Unrestricted podcast.
The Tampa Bay Times has a story on Chris Jericho.
GCW uploaded their social distancing rules match between Joey Janela and Jimmy Lloyd.
Alicia Atout posted an interview with Kylie Rae.
Eli Drake did a watchalong looking back at the premiere episode of NWA Power.
MMA
The California State Athletic Commission has canceled all combat sports events in the state through the end of May. The UFC had been set to hold a Fight Night show in San Diego on May 16.
Conor McGregor tweeted about Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson apparently being off UFC 249: “I am in shape to fight right now! At the beginning of all this, I said to myself – I’m happy I don’t have an official fight booked. If I did, I would have consumed all the incorrect data to support me taking part in the bout, and I would have followed through, competed. And won. The fact of this matter is, both Tony and Khabib where engaged in a game of chicken here towards the fight bell. With Khabib chickening out first. Making it 3-2 in pullouts in Tony’s favour. Khab scurried out of the U.S to home, and amid the crisis. Very high risk. Congrats Tony.”
Nurmagomedov told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto that he’d still be willing to fight on April 18 if the UFC could give him a location that he’s able to get to.
Nurmagomedov spoke about when he could potentially return to the Octagon if he doesn’t fight at UFC 249: “So much questions, but no answers, but we’ll see what’s going to happen. I hear UFC (is working) on making a show in San Francisco in August. This one is very good. Maybe in August everything is maybe finished, but nobody knows. I hear they’re going to make show in Abu Dhabi in middle of September. September in Abu Dhabi. August in San Francisco. Maybe, I don’t know. If now they can’t make show, of course after Ramadan is going to be August. But right now in U.S. everything goes crazy. Nobody knows when this thing’s going to go down. Nobody knows. Maybe June. Maybe July. But for sure, April, May is going to be crazy months. Too much questions. Right now, it’s time to think about [health]. Stay healthy. Take care of yourself.”
Daily Pro Wrestling History: Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage at WrestleMania V
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