DAILY UPDATE

Latest News

Updated WWE Elimination Chamber 2019 odds
Impact Wrestling TV taping spoilers: First night in Las Vegas
WWE Main Event results: Heavy Machinery make their show debut
RevPro High Stakes results: Will Ospreay vs. PAC
Impact Wrestling Uncaged results: Two title matches, World Cup
Minute Maid Park to host WWE Royal Rumble 2020

Latest Audio

JNPO: 65 minutes of UFC & Bellator MMA talk 2/16
Left My Wallet: NJPW announcer Mavs Gillis 2/16
WOR: Hunt’s UFC lawsuit dismissed, Bellator recap, Dave on Donahue 2/15
Portland Wrestlecast: Toni Rae Borne’s marriage to Buddy Rose 2/15
F4D: Lance Storm on Becky Lynch’s road to WrestleMania 2/15


F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Kenny Omega signs with AEW

While it had become expected leading into the announcement, that doesn’t make Kenny Omega joining All Elite Wrestling any less of a vital move for the start-up company.

Omega signing with AEW was confirmed at last week’s Double or Nothing ticket announcement party in Las Vegas. Omega signed a four-year deal that allows him to still wrestle for New Japan Pro Wrestling if he wants to (and if NJPW will have him). And in addition to his in-ring role, Omega will serve alongside Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks as an executive vice president of the promotion.


WON NEWSLETTER: February 18, 2019 Observer Newsletter: Death of Pedro Morales

I don’t expect more than a few more weeks of this format of Observers.

WWE grossed $930,160,000 and turned a $98,719,000 profit in 2018, both company records. Last year the company set a revenue record of $800,959,000 and turned a $32,116,000 profit.

Pedro Morales, best known for his three-year run as WWWF champion from 1971-73, passed away on 2/12 at Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, NJ, where he had been hospitalized for two weeks. He was 78 and had been battling Parkinson’s Disease for several years.

NJPW New Beginnings: As a legit shoot, while NJPW almost always sells out Edion Arena for big shows, they comped less and opened up more seats so this number was the highest since the 2015 show headlined by Hiroshi Tanhashi vs. A.J. Styles.

UFC 234 – Chaos erupted the day of UFC 234, the first UFC pay-per-view offering of 2019, at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia, causing dramatic change unheard of when it comes to UFC pay-per-view events.

It is now official that Kenny has signed with AEW.

Mustafa Ali’s eyeball got busted open and really messed up after a Garvin stomp by Randy Orton on SD Tuesday night.

Dwayne Johnson said he was the first choice to host the Oscars this year. But he said he couldn’t make it work due to the timing of shooting the Jumanji sequel.

Roman Reigns (Joe Anoa’i) will be making an appearance on a Nickelodeon series next month.


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.


SATURDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE
PWInsider reported that WWE “has come to terms to acquire the rights and trademarks” for WarGames from MLW, who had done WarGames matches last year and in 2003. PWInsider noted that, as part of the deal, MLW won’t be using the concept going forward.
WWE live streamed the Elimination Chamber being built ahead of tomorrow’s PPV.
Paige told the Los Angeles Times about the advice she gave Nia Jax after Jax accidentally injured Becky Lynch: “I had to calm Nia down from that because she was like, ‘I feel like everyone is mad!’ And I said, ‘You know what? This elevated Becky so much too. And you’re about to turn heel anyways — so who cares? Who cares if the internet’s mad at you? They’re always going to be mad at you! There’s a quote I love: You can be the ripest, juiciest peach, but not everyone’s always going to like peaches. It’s just one of those things.”
“Fighting with My Family” is up to 92 percent positive on Rotten Tomatoes with 53 reviews counted.
Dash Wilder tweeted The Revival’s picture with Triple H from after winning the Raw Tag Team titles and wrote: “‘Complain long enough and you can achieve anything.’ -The Revival”
Ruby Riott cut a promo on Ronda Rousey and their Raw Women’s Championship match at Elimination Chamber.
Mandy Rose spoke to Yahoo Sports about being in last year’s women’s Elimination Chamber match and teaming with Sonya Deville in this year’s Tag Team title match.
TMZ Sports interviewed Matt Riddle about NXT being different from Raw and SmackDown.
Pro Wrestling
PJ Black (the former Justin Gabriel) told Chris Van Vliet that he turned down an offer to go back to NXT before signing with ROH. He said his next goal is wrestling for NJPW. Black discussed his ROH contract: “It’s a great deal — like, financially. It’s only for 12 months too. After that, it becomes like a 30-day notice deal. I have a feeling it’s gonna be like two or three years, but — yeah — let’s see what happens.” Black also said he’ll be allowed to tie up storyline loose ends in Lucha Underground if it comes back.
With MLW Fusion moving to Saturday nights on beIN Sports, it will now be made available on YouTube on Sundays at noon Eastern time.
Hiromu Takahashi tweeted that he’s at 943 percent (out of 1000) recovery.

UFC/MMA

Matt Mitrione vs. Sergei Kharitonov ended in a no contest when Mitrione accidentally low blowed Kharitonov 15 seconds into their main event at Bellator 215 last night.
Jon Jones responded to Cain Velasquez saying he thinks he could beat Jones: “Your confidence is going to have to be on lock in order to beat me my guy. Can’t be talking about ‘I think I can.’ I feed off picograms of self-doubt, and I can smell it from miles away.  For now let’s just focus on the fights ahead of us. My heavyweight days are inevitable.”
Renan Barao, Jessica Penne, and Manny Bermudez all missed weight for tomorrow’s UFC show on ESPN, with Barao missing by four pounds, Penne missing by two pounds, and Bermudez missing by four pounds. They’ll still fight at the show but will be fined a percentage of their purse.
Today is the 23rd anniversary of Bruce Buffer’s UFC debut.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Bret Hart wins vacant WWF title


Ed in San Antonio presents the WRESTLEMANIA Weekend Events (more to be added):

Sunday, April 6th, at 12:00 pm: Lunch (all you can eat) at Churrascaria Plataforma ($90 per person), located at 316 W. 49th street in Manhattan. Purchase tickets here~! 
Luxury Bus to MetLife Stadium for Wrestlemania: We will depart from the Hilton Midtown (site of Wrestlecon) located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas. Departure time is 4:00 pm and will return from MetLife approximately 30 mins after the event. Times are subject to change, and cost $67.00 per person for the round trip. Purchase tickets here~! 


CONTACT INFORMATION

Poll opinions: [email protected]
Feedback: [email protected]
Show results and news tips: [email protected]
Wrestling Observer Radio questions: [email protected]
Support the Empire~! with F4W shirts. Grab yours today!