DAILY UPDATE
Latest News
WWE Raw posts lowest ratings since January, big drop in second hour
The Undertaker and Kurt Angle no longer appearing at Starrcast II
NWA Women’s title match set for Crockett Cup
WWE Raw video highlights: AJ Styles becomes number one contender
NJPW announces participants for this year’s Best of the Super Juniors
NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku results: SANADA, Okada in tag action
WWE to reveal Raw’s Money in the Bank participants next week
Seth Rollins vs. AJ Styles set for WWE Money in the Bank
Latest Audio
WOL: RAW, Shakeup, Sasha, Bray Wyatt, tons more! 4/23
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1976 in pro wrestling 4/23
WOR: RAW, Shakeup, Sasha, AEW, Viceland must-see, more! 4/23
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Ronda Rousey confirms hiatus from WWE
Part one of Ronda Rousey’s professional wrestling career officially came to an end at WrestleMania.
Nearly three months after Dave Meltzer first reported that Rousey was likely finishing up with WWE at WrestleMania 35, Rousey made things official this week. She wrote on Instagram that she was going on an “impregnation vacation” with her husband Travis Browne. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, who Rousey is friendly with, then reported that Rousey is taking a hiatus from WWE to start a family.
WON NEWSLETTER: April 22, 2019 Observer Newsletter: WWE Superstar shake up results, more
A rundown of the fallout of the Superstar Shakeup leads off this week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Go through the moves, the names, the direction, what it says about 205 Live, those coming and going, key people not brought up, couples and read a depth chart of the new rosters.
Look at the situation with Undertaker, the U.K. talk show situation and what happened, how did it happen, update on Sasha Banks situation, update on Money in the Bank PPV, update on Luke Harper, Alexander Wolfe, WWE’s relationship with Stardom, and WWE injury updates.
Also look at UFC 236, with match-by-match coverage, poll result and business notes.
Examine the Viceland documentary and the situation that led to the Montreal screwjob, including claims by Jim Cornette and Vince Russo about being the architects, from the background, and why it happened.
Also look at the career of Rich Franklin as he goes into the UFC Hall of Fame.
Read a feature on the legacy wing inductees in the WWE Hall of Fame, including major write-ups on Jim Barnett and Primo Carnera, as well as Hisashi Shinma’s role in Japanese wrestling booking history.
Run down the ratings of all the major TV shows, along with detailed demo info for the WWE shows.
As always, read the results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
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TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE
by Bryan Rose and Joseph Currier
WWE
SmackDown tonight takes place at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska. The preview for the show teases a storyline where Roman Reigns may be fired by Vince McMahon tonight following his actions last week. Kofi Kingston is set to face Shinsuke Nakamura, and Becky Lynch will come face-to-face with Charlotte Flair for the first time since WrestleMania.
For 205 Live, Drew Gulak will face Humberto Carrillo.
WWE stock reached $100 per share at one point today before closing at $99.25. That was up over three percent from yesterday.
The NXT roster has started “The Ricochet Family Fund.” There are eBay auctions with items donated from those in NXT, with all proceeds going to Ricochet’s mother and family to support them after his mother’s house was destroyed in a fire.
Bobby Roode is now going by “Robert Roode” on WWE TV. The new direction for Roode debuted last night.
WWE will be heading to Colombia for the first time this summer, running a show in Bogota on August 23.
The second Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match from 2017 has been uploaded in full on WWE’s YouTube page.
Happy birthday to John Cena, who turns 42 today. Vince McMahon’s Twitter account sent a birthday message to Cena: “Happy birthday to @WWE’s Babe Ruth, @JohnCena! I really can’t describe in words how much @JohnCena means to me and the @WWEUniverse. #HustleLoyaltyRespectLove”
Ronda Rousey’s appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will air next Monday.
NXT Champion Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae visited the Cleveland Browns’ practice facility today. Gargano will throw out the first pitch at tomorrow’s Cleveland Indians game.
Pro Wrestling
Ethan Page called out AAW this afternoon for allegedly telling people they could not work certain promotions including Black Label Pro, Freelance Wrestling and Warrior Wrestling. Page wrote “Hey. You know it’s okay to wrestle for multiple companies in same city right? Unless you signed an agreement/contract that states otherwise. Don’t let someone else dictate where you work, unless they’re willing to pay for exclusivity. Own yourself. Don’t sell out for fake hype.” He has given AAW the option of cancelling him for their 5/31 event but will honor the date if they choose not to, saying that he “couldn’t care less working for them at this point”.
In addition to their current Dark Side of the Ring series, Viceland will be airing a ten part documentary series called The Wrestlers, which will look at the world of independent wrestling. It will be airing this year, but no specific timeframe has been set. The show originally aired in Canada.
Taz has been announced for Starrcast II. In the Sports Illustrated article about The Undertaker and Kurt Angle being pulled from the event, Conrad Thompson said he’s working on bringing a Japanese legend to Starrcast: “I’m continuing my search for rare meet-and-greets and unique experiences for Starrcast. We have announced a very rare appearance from Tatsumi Fujinami and we’re working on another Japanese legend. We’ve got at least a couple more surprise names fans may not see coming in the next several days, and I’m most proud of ‘The Roast of Ric Flair,’ which is going to be extremely big.”
MLW uploaded this week’s Fusion episode to their YouTube account. Mance Warner faced Sami Callihan in the main event, with The Lucha Bros vs. Rey Horus & Air Wolf, Ace Romero vs. Josef Samael, and Puma King vs. Gringo Loco also airing on the show.
On the most recent IPWA show in Tel Aviv, Israel, Matt Sydal became the Israeli Pro Wrestling Association champion by defeating Rabbi Swissa, and Jay Lethal defeated David Star.
UFC/MMA
Uber has fired Jefferson Roger Maciel, the driver that is accused of killing former UFC fighter Rodrigo de Lima, 26. The fighter allegedly got into a verbal altercation with the driver on Sunday, which led Maciel to kick him out of the car. Maciel initially drove away from the scene, but then turned around and smashed into de Lima from behind. Police have yet to find Maciel.
Christina Ferguson, Tony Ferguson’s wife, has dropped her restraining order against him. She originally filed for one on March 13 and a hearing was set for April 5, but that did not happen.
Darren Till was ordered to pay a fine of 700 euros after allegedly stealing a taxi and thrashing a hotel room in Spain.
Stephen Thompson is hoping for an August return after being knocked out by Anthony Pettis.
Dana White’s Contender Series will launch a third season on June 18 on UFC Fight Pass. This season will consist of ten episodes and will take place over ten consecutive weeks.
Rory MacDonald is planning on re-signing with Bellator after his deal expires, saying that he doesn’t see any reason why he should test free agency.
Eddie Wineland will fight Grigory Popov at UFC 238.
Romania’s Diana Belbita has signed with UFC.
Daily Pro Wrestling History: Mr. Perfect wins WWF Intercontinental title
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