Week in Wrestling - Sunday, April 22, 2018
WWE NEWS
Rest in Peace Bruno
News broke earlier this week that the legendary WWWF star Bruno Sammartino passed away at about 9am on Wednesday morning, after being hospitalized in Pittsburgh for about two months. He was 82 years old.
Bruno, as everybody in my family called him when I was growing up, was a hero to not just Italian fans but all wrestling fans of the 60's and 70's. For nearly eight years, he was the face of wrestling to everyone in Northeastern states of the U.S., and he was the WWWF champion. Bruno worked the legendary brutal schedule of 28 dates a month in Northeast cities like New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. A true legend. Dave Meltzer had so many great things to say about Bruno in last week's Observer, and her eis one passage.
"On the stage known as pro wrestling, Bruno Sammartino was the ultimate hero. In a world of black and white, both in how things were often viewed and the television sets he appeared on when he first became a legend, he was the ethnic John Wayne for two generations in the Northeast, where he will always be them most beloved wrestling star of them all.
Off the stage, some would say he was the ultimate hero, but I don’t think he would think that moniker would fit. He was always in amazement, as when he thought he was leaving pro wrestling in 1981 (he did come back from 1985 to 1987, but wished he never did), he figured after a few years, everyone would forget him. In a business that picks and chooses its history, Sammartino was remembered strongly by fans that grew up with him, but his ties to the newer generation were minimal.
He was a man who worked very hard. He got some lucky breaks. He was the right superstar at the right time. He connected with people in a way few ever could, and likely nobody in this business going forward ever will. It’s a different business and a different world. It’s not saying things were better in his day, or this day. He never fully understood how or why, but was grateful for it. You will hear stories about how gracious he was to fans. You will hear stories from people who grew up in the Northeast about what an impact he had on their childhood, or on families bonding around his triumphs." - Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Check out our latest Legends Tribute feature, which showcases compilations and classic matches from the career of Bruno. (Here)
Bruno, as everybody in my family called him when I was growing up, was a hero to not just Italian fans but all wrestling fans of the 60's and 70's. For nearly eight years, he was the face of wrestling to everyone in Northeastern states of the U.S., and he was the WWWF champion. Bruno worked the legendary brutal schedule of 28 dates a month in Northeast cities like New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. A true legend. Dave Meltzer had so many great things to say about Bruno in last week's Observer, and her eis one passage.
"On the stage known as pro wrestling, Bruno Sammartino was the ultimate hero. In a world of black and white, both in how things were often viewed and the television sets he appeared on when he first became a legend, he was the ethnic John Wayne for two generations in the Northeast, where he will always be them most beloved wrestling star of them all.
Off the stage, some would say he was the ultimate hero, but I don’t think he would think that moniker would fit. He was always in amazement, as when he thought he was leaving pro wrestling in 1981 (he did come back from 1985 to 1987, but wished he never did), he figured after a few years, everyone would forget him. In a business that picks and chooses its history, Sammartino was remembered strongly by fans that grew up with him, but his ties to the newer generation were minimal.
He was a man who worked very hard. He got some lucky breaks. He was the right superstar at the right time. He connected with people in a way few ever could, and likely nobody in this business going forward ever will. It’s a different business and a different world. It’s not saying things were better in his day, or this day. He never fully understood how or why, but was grateful for it. You will hear stories about how gracious he was to fans. You will hear stories from people who grew up in the Northeast about what an impact he had on their childhood, or on families bonding around his triumphs." - Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Check out our latest Legends Tribute feature, which showcases compilations and classic matches from the career of Bruno. (Here)
2018 Superstar Shake Up
Check out my full review of the Superstar Shakeup, which I detailed in last weeks Raw and Smackdown Reaction article (here). In my opinion, Smackdown was the clear winner.
The Greatest Royal Rumble Card
This Friday on the WWE Network, the company will air The Greatest Royal Rumble live from Saudi Arabia. The stadium is set to hold just over 52,000 people, and the company is getting paid a lot of money to bring all the stars over for this huge show. The Saudi General Sports Authority is in charge of finding a way to fill the stadium. They will be able to get people in, both with low ticket prices and free tickets.
The historic first-ever 50-Man Greatest Royal Rumble Match
Universal Champion Lesnar vs Reigns in a Cage
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WWE Champion AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
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John Cena vs. Triple H
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Undertaker vs. Rusev (Casket Match)
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The Miz vs. Rollins vs. Bálor vs. Joe – Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match
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U.S Champion Jeff Hardy vs. Jinder Mahal
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SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Bludgeon Brothers vs. The Usos
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RAW Tag Team Championships Bray Wyatt & “Woken” Matt Hardy vs. Sheamus & Cesaro
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Lesnar Update
While there are rumors going around of a Lesnar vs. Lashley match, right now there are no plans for it. If Lesnar is really leaving, you can probably get two losses from him, the title loss and hopefully one more to build someone. I don’t think the person that should go to should be over 40 or a part-time because it’s then of limited benefit. Like maybe just Reigns (who he pretty much has to lose to at some point) and Strowman, if they’ve even got him for enough dates to pull both off.
Cena and Nikki Bella Split
After six years together, WWE mainstay and budding Hollywood star John Cena and fiancee Nikki Bella have parted ways, announced exclusively to US Weekly on Sunday.
In a joint statement to the magazine, they said, "While this decision was a difficult one, we continue to have a great deal of love and respect for one another. We ask that you respect our privacy during this time in our lives.”
The two made headlines at 2017's WrestleMania 33 when, following a mixed tag match, Cena proposed to Bella in the ring. The two have also been a staple of the E! reality TV show Total Bellas with sister, Brie, wife of Daniel Bryan. The 34-year-old Bella is no longer a full-time member of the WWE roster while the 40-year-old Cena is essentially part-time as he balances a growing commitment to several Hollywood projects like his movie Blockers that was released last week.
In a joint statement to the magazine, they said, "While this decision was a difficult one, we continue to have a great deal of love and respect for one another. We ask that you respect our privacy during this time in our lives.”
The two made headlines at 2017's WrestleMania 33 when, following a mixed tag match, Cena proposed to Bella in the ring. The two have also been a staple of the E! reality TV show Total Bellas with sister, Brie, wife of Daniel Bryan. The 34-year-old Bella is no longer a full-time member of the WWE roster while the 40-year-old Cena is essentially part-time as he balances a growing commitment to several Hollywood projects like his movie Blockers that was released last week.
Bruce and Conrad on the WWE Network
WWE posted a preview clip of the premiere of Something Else to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard, which covers WrestleMania 14. The episode is just under two hours long and is now available in the on-demand section of the Network.
Jericho Back Longer?
Jericho was on the StillRealToUs.com podcast and regarding the casket match, said, “You learn to roll with the punches and sometimes things that are planned for six months fall apart, Sometimes things that you never expect to happen (do so) with a week’s notice.” He said that he would not be wrestling at SummerSlam this year. He also said he was done with New Japan. “Yeah, you know it was a good idea. It was good when it happened. We had a blast. But sometimes things just don’t work out. So New Japan was a lot of fan. Not to say that I wouldn’t go back there again, but as of right now, our relationship is pretty much finished at this point.” Those in WWE said the change back was a creative decision.
IMPACT News
TNA Redemption PPV Tonight
As we reported last week, Alberto was fired due to no-showing the show in New Orleans over Mania weekend, which caused them to change the main event for the PPV. They had to completely re-edit the Impact show that aired on 4/12 and 4/19 because those shows were all about building Austin Aries vs. Alberto as the main event. They addressed it at the top of the 4/12 show. This is the company’s first PPV of the year, from Orlando. After that they will be taping nine weeks worth of television from 4/23 to 4/26, so next week’s tapings will get them through the to 6/21.
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Impact signs new UK Deal
After a period of uncertainty, Impact will remain on the air in the United Kingdom. Impact renewed their agreement with 5 Spike in the UK to continue broadcasting Impact every Friday at 11 p.m. In addition, they announced that Impact will be available on demand for free every week on their Global Wrestling Network streaming service at the same time the show is broadcast in the United States.
Impact’s future on 5 Spike had been in question after the show was removed from upcoming listings while the two sides were negotiating on a new deal. They have been airing episodes of Impact on the network since last spring.
Impact’s future on 5 Spike had been in question after the show was removed from upcoming listings while the two sides were negotiating on a new deal. They have been airing episodes of Impact on the network since last spring.
INDEPENDENT NEWS
MLW on beIN Network
For the MLW television show, the first episode on 4/20 will feature the Pentagon Jr. vs. Fenix match that they feel is the best bout they've done but the second show on 4/27 will start several weeks of stuff from their 4/12 show in Orlando. They'll be doing four one hour shows and with packages and backstage stuff, the plan is to tape every four weeks or so. Shane Strickland became their first champion pinning Matt Riddle in the tournament final.
All In
There will be an All In press conference on 5/13, a Monday at 1 p.m. Central time at Pro Wrestling Tees in Chicago which will include the first announcements regarding tickets as well as the first announcement regarding some of the matches. Those scheduled to be there are Young Bucks, Cody, Brandi Rhodes, Hangman Page, Marty Scurll, Tessa Blanchard. The event will be streamed live on Facebook.
By: Larry Causion Jr. CausionCreations.com
Posted: Sunday, April 22, 2018
Credit: Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Posted: Sunday, April 22, 2018
Credit: Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter