Week in Wrestling - Sunday, March 25, 2018
WWE NEWS
Daniel Bryan is Cleared to Return!!
The best news of the past week was the fact that after three years, Daniel Bryan received clearance from multiple specialist to return to to in ring competition. This was the best news any true wrestling fan could hope for, and it instantly raised the excitement level I have in this year's Wrestlemania in New Orleans.
The Medical Director for the WWE, Dr. Joseph Maroon, ruled Bryan out of action back in 2015, after learning he had suffered two seizures due to concussions, along with a history of more than 20 concussions dating back to the start of his career in 1999. This caused Maroon to sideline Bryan and rule his career with WWE over and done.
The Medical Director for the WWE, Dr. Joseph Maroon, ruled Bryan out of action back in 2015, after learning he had suffered two seizures due to concussions, along with a history of more than 20 concussions dating back to the start of his career in 1999. This caused Maroon to sideline Bryan and rule his career with WWE over and done.
But Bryan refused to take no for an answer, and has worked to receive clearance to return ever since. The real breakthrough was Bryan undergoing treatment in a Hyperbaric Chamber. Bryan started doing the therapy about one year ago, and in cognitive testing, showed improvement as he went along. Earlier this year, he made essentially a last ditch effort to get back in the WWE ring. He asked Dr. Maroon to send him to the brain specialists that Maroon felt were the best in the country. And when bryan went to them, they all cleared him. It worked.
Dr. Maroon was asked to evaluate Bryan once again on 3/19, and after more testing, Maroon reversed his long-held position and cleared Bryan to return. Even with that, it was still Vince's call, and on the morning of 3/20, Bryan was told he was back!!
Dr. Maroon was asked to evaluate Bryan once again on 3/19, and after more testing, Maroon reversed his long-held position and cleared Bryan to return. Even with that, it was still Vince's call, and on the morning of 3/20, Bryan was told he was back!!
Last week on Smackdown, Bryan jumped right back into the physical part of performing and it was great. I can't lie, I was a bit nervous watching him though. Speculation of Bryan returning has been there from me for months, but it really heated up when they shot the angle at Fast Lane and then on Smackdown with Shane McMahon, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. We were hearing possibly a three way, or handicap match, but none of that made sense with how strong they beat Shane down. The natural next move would be a tag match, with Bryan as his partner. But this was all before Brayn was cleared.
Well, at the time, there were multiple plans in place, one of which was the natural story, if Bryan was cleared, putting McMahon & Bryan vs. Owens & Zayn. There were backup plans. Among them was Shane getting a different partner, or them doing a three-way where Bryan would be the referee. WWE had no issues with Bryan refereeing a match while not cleared, but he wouldn't be allowed to take bumps.
Well, at the time, there were multiple plans in place, one of which was the natural story, if Bryan was cleared, putting McMahon & Bryan vs. Owens & Zayn. There were backup plans. Among them was Shane getting a different partner, or them doing a three-way where Bryan would be the referee. WWE had no issues with Bryan refereeing a match while not cleared, but he wouldn't be allowed to take bumps.
The WrestleMania plan is Bryan & Shane vs. Owens & Zayn. He is back as a regular. His schedule hasn't been decided. As far as the contract situation goes, nothing has changed, but there is nothing indicating that he wouldn't sign a new deal as long as everything goes right. A major thing also is Bryan agreed that after every match, until WWE is comfortable that he was okay, he would go to the WWE doctors backstage and get Impact testing and a neuropsychological evaluation done.
There is the question of his durability. He did have neck problems before that threatened his career. He also has had three years to heal up and perhaps that won't be the case. He's under the microscope right now. Anyone, at any time, in this business can get injured or get a concussion. But if he gets a concussion, he's far more likely to be not cleared than anyone else on the roster. But either way, we are all just hoping he will be healthy and entertaining us for many years to come.
There is the question of his durability. He did have neck problems before that threatened his career. He also has had three years to heal up and perhaps that won't be the case. He's under the microscope right now. Anyone, at any time, in this business can get injured or get a concussion. But if he gets a concussion, he's far more likely to be not cleared than anyone else on the roster. But either way, we are all just hoping he will be healthy and entertaining us for many years to come.
Wrestlemania Card
Check out our our Road to Wrestlemania podcast series, where we run down the upcoming Mania card and give in depth thoughts on the direction of the show.
Universal title - Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns
WWE Title - A.J. Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
John Cena vs. The Undertaker
Shane McMahon & Daniel Bryan vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
Kurt Angle & Ronda Rousey vs. HHH & Stephanie McMahon
Smackdown women's title - Charlotte vs. Asuka
Raw women's title - Alexa Bliss vs. Nia Jax
IC title - The Miz vs. Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor
U.S. title - Randy Orton vs. Bobby Roode vs. Jinder Mahal
Smackdown tag titles - The Usos vs. Luke Harper & Erick Rowan vs. New Day
Raw tag titles - Sheamus & Cesaro vs. Braun Strowman and a partner
Cruiserweight title - Cedric Alexander vs. Mustafa Ali
WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal
Andre the Giant Battle Royal
Universal title - Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns
WWE Title - A.J. Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
John Cena vs. The Undertaker
Shane McMahon & Daniel Bryan vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
Kurt Angle & Ronda Rousey vs. HHH & Stephanie McMahon
Smackdown women's title - Charlotte vs. Asuka
Raw women's title - Alexa Bliss vs. Nia Jax
IC title - The Miz vs. Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor
U.S. title - Randy Orton vs. Bobby Roode vs. Jinder Mahal
Smackdown tag titles - The Usos vs. Luke Harper & Erick Rowan vs. New Day
Raw tag titles - Sheamus & Cesaro vs. Braun Strowman and a partner
Cruiserweight title - Cedric Alexander vs. Mustafa Ali
WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal
Andre the Giant Battle Royal
Ready to Return
Samoa Joe was backstage at Raw. No word on when he'll be coming back. If he's ready, unless they have a roles that is significant and tells a story, he should be held off until the day after Mania, because it serves no purpose for him to just be a guy thrown out of the Battle Royal unless he's there to win it or set something up in an angle out of it.
Big Cass was also backstage and has been cleared to return. Similar to Joe, if he's to back as a Battle Royal surprise, I could see his return right after Mania.
Jeff Hardy was training at the Performance Center this past week. That would indicate they are expecting him back shortly and his DUI arrest is not factoring into things. He did make his cameo in the Ultimate Deletion video and they could have easily edited him out of they had wanted to.
Big Cass was also backstage and has been cleared to return. Similar to Joe, if he's to back as a Battle Royal surprise, I could see his return right after Mania.
Jeff Hardy was training at the Performance Center this past week. That would indicate they are expecting him back shortly and his DUI arrest is not factoring into things. He did make his cameo in the Ultimate Deletion video and they could have easily edited him out of they had wanted to.
The Great Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia
WWE has announced that its 4/27 show at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which holds 62,000 fans, billed as "The Great Royal Rumble," will not only feature a Royal Rumble but will have seven championship matches. While this has not been officially announced yet, the show is scheduled to air on the WWE Network, as well as live on television in Saudi Arabia. For the WWE Network, Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler will be doing the show according to Lawler.
They announced that the WWE title, the Universal title, the IC title, the U.S. title, both tag team titles and the cruiserweight title will all be on the line. Names announced as wrestling on the show are Cena, HHH, Reigns, Styles, Strowman, New Day, Orton, Nakamura and Wyatt. There has been at least talk of trying to add Jericho and Undertaker to that list because the deal is so lucrative.
They announced that the WWE title, the Universal title, the IC title, the U.S. title, both tag team titles and the cruiserweight title will all be on the line. Names announced as wrestling on the show are Cena, HHH, Reigns, Styles, Strowman, New Day, Orton, Nakamura and Wyatt. There has been at least talk of trying to add Jericho and Undertaker to that list because the deal is so lucrative.
Mark Henry to the HOF
Mark Henry was announced as an inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame last week, and in many ways he deserves it. Henry has been has been with WWE since 1996, and is none as the World's Strongest man because he legitimately was at one point. Vince McMahon helped sponsor Henry for the Olympics, and in return, Henry was expected to come to WWF and be huge star. He never was a big time main eventer, though e won the Smackdown title at one point and they tried pushing him several times throughout his career. He just wasn't at that level. To me, I will always think of him as Mae Young's baby Daddy. Lol. Congrats big fella.
New Japan Pro Wrestling News
Zack Sabre Jr. wins New Japan Cup
Zack Sabre Jr. got the super push last week when he defeated, in order, Tetsuya Naito, Kota Ibushi, Seiya Sanada and Hiroshi Tanahashi all by submission in winning the New Japan Cup. The win sets up the Kazuchika Okada vs. Sabre Jr. IWGP heavyweight title match that will headline Sakura Genesis on 4/1 at Sumo Hall in Tokyo. In doing so, Sabre will become the first U.K. wrestler in 23 years to get a shot at Japan's leading championship.
New Japan in Long Beach
Tonight is the Strong Style Evolved show from the Walker Pavilion at Long Beach State University. The nine-match show, which will air live on AXS TV at 8 p.m. Eastern time, features Sho & Yoh & Rocky Romero facing the ROH trios champions, SoCal Uncensored of Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky (who is a trainer at the newly-opened New Japan Dojo in Los Angeles) in a non-title match; Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs Hirooki Goto & Gedo; Chuckie T & Toru Yano vs. Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr.; a Bullet Club battle with Cody & Marty Scurll vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa; Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kushida & Ryusuke Taguchi & Dragon Lee vs. Tetsuya Naito & Seiya Sanada & Bushi & Hiromu Takahashi; IWGP jr. champion Will Ospreay vs. Jushin Liger in a non-title match (Ospreay will replace Rey Mysterio Jr., who is now officially off the show), Okada & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Minoru Suzuki & Sabre Jr.; Jay White vs. Hangman Page for the U.S. title; and the Young Bucks vs. Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi) dream match.
Ring of Honor News
Supercard of Honor in New Orleans
The updated lineup for the 4/7 show in New Orleans is Cody vs. Kenny Omega, Dalton Castle vs. Marty Scurll for the ROH title, Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky vs. Young Bucks & Flip Gordon in a ladder match for the trios titles, Mark & Jay Briscoe defending the tag titles against Hiroshi Tanahashi & Jay Lethal, Kota Ibushi vs. Hangman Page, Tomohiro Ishii vs. Punishment Martinez, a tag team match with Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley and the Women of Honor championship match.
Best in the World in Baltimore
The next regular PPV show will be the Best in the World show on 6/29 in Baltimore. They are moving from the small DuBurns Arena, their home base in Baltimore for years, to the new UMBC Event Center, which holds 5,000 fans.
INDEPENDENT NEWS
All In Show Update
Regarding the All In show and the 9/1 date, the plan was to hold the show later with Daniel Bryan headlining. However, they were aware he was working so hard to get cleared by WWE. They felt there was a significant enough chance for it to happen, and decided upon, and later announced the Labor Day weekend show, a date where it was impossible Danielson could appear on. Cody Runnels, in particular, saw this opportunity and began taunting him by using the LeBell lock in his big matches. The idea was to build a proposed "All In" show for the fall around Bryan's big return against him.
By: Larry Causion Jr. CausionCreations.com
Posted: Sunday, March 25, 2018
Credit: Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Posted: Sunday, March 25, 2018
Credit: Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter