DEFIANT Wrestling has announced that Christopher Daniels will be taking part in their ‘Magnificent 7’ match as part of the ‘Lights Out’ PPV on March 19th. The show will be taking place from the O2 Academy in Leeds, England and tickets are available to purchase via the tweet at the bottom of this article.
The Magnificent 7 match originated in DEFIANT’s previous incarnation WCPW. DEFIANT sent out the following press release confirming the return of the gimmick bout on March 19th:
Following the chaos of the five-on-five main event at Chain Reaction, Stu Bennett had plenty of business to take care of at the start of Defiant #10. After declaring that Austin Aries would defend his Defiant Championship against Martin Kirby at Defiant #11 on March 2nd, the GM noted that a new number one contender would be required to battle whichever of the two men emerged victorious.
Bennett then revealed the Magnificent Seven briefcase – looking somewhat worse for wear after the battering it took from former holder El Ligero – and announced that the Magnificent Seven match would return at Light’s Out on March 19th. The winner of that match earns the briefcase, which contains within it a contract for a Defiant Championship shot.
You can check out the first ever Magnificent 7 match via the YouTube video below:
New Japan has revealed the dates for this year’s Best of The Super Juniors. The 25th iteration of the prestigious round robin tournament will see the top Juniors competitors from NJPW take on stars from CMLL, ROH and the UK scene. Previous winners of this iconic tournament have been KUSHIDA, Will Ospreay, Jushin Thunder Liger, Ricochet, Kota Ibushi and WWE’s Finn Balor.
New Japan’s English language site NJPW1972.com sent out the following press release confirming the dates of BOSJ 2018:
Dates have been decided for the 2018 Best of the Super Juniors, and this year, the world’s premier junior heavyweight tournament will be bookended by huge shows in Korakuen Hall.
As announced on January 3 at Fan Festa, this summer will see a major collaboration between New Japan and Spike Chunsoft’s “Fire Pro Wrestling World”, and this kicks off with the game being the title sponsor for BOSJ 2018.
The tournament starts with two days in Korakuen Hall, on May 18 and 19. From there we go around Japan, with shows in Shizuoka, Tokyo, Shiga, Osaka, Aichi (for two nights), Tochigi, Fukushima, Aomori and Gunma before returning to Korakuen for the finals on June 4. Who will prove themselves to be the best junior heavyweight wrestler in the world?
Dates set for Best of the Super Juniors 2018! Tournament runs from May 18 to June 4; starts and ends in Korakuen Hall!!https://t.co/ItlhM8KdVZ
Eddie Edwards defeated Sami Callihan this week on Impact Wrestling but was attacked after the match by his opponent. During the post-match beatdown, Callihan placed a folding chair on top of Edwards and struck it with a baseball bat. The bat grazed the chair and then struck Edwards in the head.
This is exclusive behind the scenes footage of @TheEddieEdwards moments after @TheSamiCallihan brutally struck him in the face with a baseball bat. It includes alternate angles of the incident that weren't seen last night and is tough to watch. pic.twitter.com/RdxAWM6DMG
Eddie Edwards spoke to TMZ Sports about the incident:
Edwards suffered a broken nose and orbital bone.
Jim Cornette was not impressed and expressed as much below:
OK, I just saw this for the first time– @TheEddieEdwards should have beat the shit out of this stupid fuck–he set it up shoddy, was careless with his shitty swing & they shouldn't have been doing it to begin with. Who the fuck "trained" @TheSamiCallihan ? I'm fucking hot. https://t.co/lpTIqxca29
Due to the weather conditions currently plaguing travel across the UK and Ireland OTT Wrestling have had to unfortunately cancel an event that would’ve seen WWE United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne challenge for the company’s ‘Gender Neutral’ title. Dunne had been confirmed as the next challenger to the OTT Wrestling Gender Neutral Championship when he was set to face current Champion ‘Session Moth’ Martina on March 3rd from The Arena in Suir Road, Dublin.
OTT first introduced the Gender Neutral title back in 2017, ‘Session Moth’ Martina was crowned the first ever Champion at OTT’s Being The Elite event and has successfully defended her title twice in multiple person matches against the likes of Adam Maxted, Charlie Sterling, Angel Cruz and Chuck Taylor.
Whether or not the match will be rescheduled has not yet been confirmed.
We have tried everything in our power to bring you this event with safety as the number one priority, Unfortunately due to extreme weather conditions we must cancel this event, all eventbrite purchases will be refunded in the coming days. Apologies, #SafetyFirst#OTTpic.twitter.com/nk9oWd0woK
Germany’s biggest independent promotion wXw has announced the first round matches for their upcoming 16 Carat Gold tournament. The confirmed bouts for March 9th in Oberhausen are as follows:
The 2017 iteration of the tournament is widely regarded as one of the greatest in European wrestling history, you can check it out now on wXw’s on demand service, it certainly matches up to the annual New Japan G1 and PROGRESS Super Strong 16 tournaments on quality.
Revolution Pro has announced an absolutely huge name for their WrestleMania weekend show on Friday 6th April at WrestleCon.
NJPW star Kota Ibushi will be making his way over to New Orleans to compete alongside the likes of Tomohiro Ishii, Zack Sabre Jr and Minoru Suzuki. Rev Pro have a long standing relationship with New Japan and this could potentially lead to a UK appearance for the ‘Golden Star,’ who was last seen on UK shores setting fireworks on himself for XWA UK.
Kota’s opponent has not yet been named however the current rumor is that Will Ospreay will be facing his NJPW colleague…a match that could easily steal the match of the weekend plaudits should it happen, Ospreay himself addressed the potential dream match with the following tweet:
UK based All-Female promotion Pro Wrestling EVE has announced the main event for their upcoming sold out #Sheroes! event. The EVE Championship will be on the line as reigning champion Sammii Jayne will face Rhia O’Reilly on March 10th at the Resistance Gallery in Bethnal Green, London.
This will be O’Reilly’s shot at revenge as exactly 1 year ago Sammii broke the ankle of the ‘Fightin’ Irish star, forcing her to relinquish what is regarded as the top honor in European Women’s wrestling.
You may have read our recent report on the XWA UK vs EVE show where Rhia O’Reilly defeated then XWA Champion Cara Noir to become the first ever Woman to hold the title…which makes this bout for the EVE title even more intriguing as the XWA and EVE titles could be unified for the very first time.
You may have seen recent reports linking independent stars Keith Lee and WALTER with a possible move to WWE. WALTER has recently rebuffed these claims and categorically stated that WWE has had no contact with him recently regarding any potential contract. The initial report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter stated that; both performers have been offered spots at the Performance Center starting in May but it is unknown if WALTER will accept. Lee is expected to accept WWE’s offer.
WWN, PWG and PROGRESS star Keith Lee has remained silent thus far on the rumor but he recently took to Twitter to state that he will be addressing “a rumor I’ve been asked about most recently.”
Whether this refers to WWE remains to be seen, this could easily be a rouse and an intriguing way to push his upcoming independent dates, which include PROGRESS’ Super Strong Style 16 tournament in May.
I think tomorrow morning I'm gonna post a quick video to address a rumor I've been asked about most recently. Be on the look out.
PROGRESS has announced the latest name for their upcoming Super Strong Style 16 tournament in May. WWE United Kingdom division star Jordan Devlin will be making his return to the company at Alexandra Palace on May 5th, this will be first time that the Irish native has set foot in a PROGRESS ring since January 2017.
Devlin will be joining the already announced WWE United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne, David Starr and rumored WWE signee Keith Lee in Europe’s biggest tournament this May.
Jordan Devlin hails from Bray in County Wicklow Ireland, also home to WWE’s Finn Balor. The Irish superstar took part in WWE’s inaugural United Kingdom Championship tournament back in January of 2017, where he defeated Danny Burch in the first round but ultimately lost to eventual winner Tyler Bate.
Someone had a lot of time on their hands in WWE… and they used it well by creating alternative takes on Oscar nominated movies with WWE superstars in leading roles!
Grab the pop corn and enjoy:
The Greatest Strowman
This breathtaking musical chronicles the rise of a starry-eyed opportunist (Braun Strowman) who dreams of dazzling crowds from across the globe with awe-inspiring physical feats, spectacle beyond imagination and the ruthless destruction of anyone who dares oppose him. The soundtrack includes such unforgettable songs as “A Million Screams,” “Rewrite the Scars” and the empowering “Not Finished (With You).”
I, Lana
Relive the scandal that rocked sports-entertainment as a ravishing Russian immigrant (Lana) finds herself embroiled in a plot involving the sudden, crushing injury of one of her WWE rivals (Becky Lynch). Was the unconventional competitor responsible, or were other forces at work?
The Deletion Artist
Step inside the mind of one of the most enigmatic creators of his generation (“Woken” Matt Hardy), whose fascination with bringing “The Great War” to the big screen alerts friends and loved ones to his unique condition. It’s a biographical tale of wonder and delight as this exquisite mastermind risks it all to delete the doubts of critics, family … and those within himself.
Taker
All legends must end. After years of battling the forces of evil in a world that fears him, the unbeatable Last Outlaw (The Undertaker) takes refuge from the outside world in Death Valley. Yet, when he meets a young woman who shares his talents (Asuka), the legendary hero is drawn out of hiding for one final journey.
Three Billboards Outside Suplex City
After the mayor of Suplex City (Brock Lesnar) goes missing, a vocal advocate (Paul Heyman) becomes a thorn in the side of local law enforcement (Demon Kane) when he repeatedly defaces three billboards just outside of town, demanding justice.
WWE’s Booty And The Beast
“Try the pancakes, they’re not for dorks! Don’t believe us? Ask the forks!” In this breathtaking live-action take on a classic tale, two provincial dreamers (Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston) encounter a gruff loner (Big E) in his inflatable castle, and with the aid of a few anthropomorphic pieces of furniture, they discover that true booty isn’t on the outside.
Roman J. Reigns, Esq.
A mild-mannered lawyer (Roman Reigns) has spent his whole life shielded by his social activist beliefs in a small legal firm, but when an unforeseen tragedy forces him to transfer to a larger firm, he has no choice but to become a Big Dog in the courtroom. Despite his new, corporate position, however, he strives with hound-like determination to change the legal system for good.
The Legit Boss Baby
William Westington Ellerby Day Care is turned upside-down with the arrival of a brash baby in stunner shades (voiced by Sasha Banks), who teams up with three like-minded toddlers (voiced by Bayley, Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair) to start a babies’ evolution in this hilarious, action-packed animated comedy.
On Raw on Jan. 29, WWE shot an angle that removed Kane from television. During a Last Man Standing Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match, Strowman upended the stage beneath the Raw announce desk, crushing Kane beneath it.
As part of the storyline, WWE.com said Kane had difficulty breathing following the incident and was rushed to a local medical facility. However, before Kane could be evaluated by medical personnel in the emergency room, he sat up on the examining table and crawled his way out of the medical facility.
Kane is advertised to challenge Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship at tonight’s WWE live event in Chicago, Illinois at the United Center.
– In Stephanie McMahon’s latest “Midnight Workout” video, the Raw Commissioner does walking lunges with a 50-pound medicine ball.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf2YGtbBu8z/
– Ivory chats with Terri Runnels on this week’s edition of the Cigars, Scars & Superstars podcast. Here is the synopsis:
“On this week’s episode of Cigars, Scars & Superstars: we are joined by the lovely Ivory! On the heels of her induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, she talks about how she got into the business, her run in GLOW; relationship/working with Jackie Moore, Chyna & of course Terri! We find out where her name might have come from and what we might expect from her Hall of Fame acceptance! We also have the first Terri’s Life Line & answer your question about relationships!”
– Cheryl Roberts, the ex-wife of Jake “The Snake” Roberts, is dealing with some health issues. The WWE Hall of Famer sent out a tweet on Thursday asking for prayers.
I am so bleSSED. Want to ask for prayers for ex wife Cheryl who is dealing with health issues.
Back in 1988, “Ravishing” Rick Rude would often select a female fan from the audience for a post-match kiss. On the April 23, 1988, episode of WWF Superstars of Wrestling, Rude chose Cheryl, who refused to participate. After Cheryl revealed Jake “The Snake” Roberts as her husband, Rude began insulting her. Cheryl then slapped Rude, angering him before Roberts arrived to defend his wife. Roberts and Rude engaged in a personal feud that lasted several months and was exacerbated each time Rude began wore tights emblazoned with Cheryl’s likeness. This would sometimes result in Roberts ripping Rude’s tights off.
During the feud, Cheryl would often accompany Roberts to ringside for his matches against Rude. Once the feud ended, Cheryl disappeared from WWF television. According to WWE’s 2005 DVD on Roberts, after his 1997 firing from the company, Cheryl filed for divorce.
– Former WWE Superstar Rikishi was backstage visiting friends and family at Tuesday’s SmackDown LIVE at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bfuoyl8hqSy/
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bfun1j7hmRD/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BfuSViyBuYq/
– Former WWE Superstar Darren Young announced on Twitter that he is accepting bookings for wrestling appearances, autograph signings, wrestling clinics and speaking engagements.
– One-half of the NXT Tag Team Champions may have a problem working shows in Canada.
WWE advertised Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly for NXT’s recent four-event tour of Ontario, Canada (Feb. 22 through Feb. 25), but the duo did not appear at any of the events. The Undisputed ERA instead worked NXT shows in Florida over those days.
According to Dave Meltzer in the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Fish, at least in the past, had problems entering Canada. However, he was told that the problem “was taken care of.”
Meltzer also notes that he can’t find a record of Fish working in Canada since 2014 for Ring of Honor.
– NXT announcer Percy Watson appeared on Thursday’s season premiere of the FX comedy-drama series Atlanta as a Georgia state cop.
NJPW may not have to worry about Kenny Omega making the jump to WWE anytime soon.
Omega, the former IWGP United States Heavyweight champion, recently reunited with Kota Ibushi to reform the Golden Lovers. The team will meet The Young Bucks on March 25th for Strong Style Evolved. Omega’s current storyline definitely sounds like one of those “bucket list” things he mentioned back in early 2017 when he re-signed with NJPW following Wrestle Kingdom 11.
Freedom Over Spectacle
Because he’s regarded as the hottest talent outside of WWE, naturally fans question when he’ll make the trip to Stamford. If you’re one of those fans, then hold your horses. During a recent Twitch stream, Omega broke down why he doesn’t want to be in the WWE at this time (via Cageside Seats):
“Going back to the last question everyone is asking, if I will go to WWE? Right now the answer is no. I’m just having too much fun doing what I am doing. It really means a lot to me in my profession, to feel like I’m making a difference. I don’t want to be a robot. I don’t want to be controlled. Ummm even though there is a lot of great talent, some of my good friends are still in WWE. I wish them all the best but to be able to tell the stories, the kind of stories I want to tell with who I believe are the greatest talents in the world, um that’s most important to me right now.”
WWE announced that they will be returning to Japan in June with two shows in Tokyo on Friday, June 29th and Saturday, June 30th.
Superstars currently advertised for the shows include A.J. Styles, Bobby Roode, Charlotte Flair, The New Day, Naomi, Becky Lynch, Kevin Owens, Shinsuke Nakamura, Rusev and more.
Here’s the official announcement regarding the upcoming tour of Japan:
WWE Live returns to Tokyo this June
WWE and the Superstars from SmackDown LIVE return to Tokyo, Japan for two nights on Friday, June 29, and Saturday, June 30. Ticket details and information will soon be made available.
After thrilling the WWE Universe in Osaka last September, the Superstars of SmackDown LIVE, including Japan’s own Shinsuke Nakamura, AJ Styles, Bobby Roode, Kevin Owens, Charlotte Flair, The New Day, Naomi and many more,* come to Tokyo’s Rygoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena for two nights of unforgettable ring action and entertainment.
Check back with WWE.com and wwelive.jp as ticket details become available, and be a part of the WWE Live experience in Japan this June.
Ronda Rousey continues to train for her professional wrestling debut inside the WWE ring. Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that Rousey was training at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando last week. Prior to making her official WWE debut at the Royal Rumble this past January, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne had reported that Rousey was training at the WWE Performance Center late at night and very few people were in the know.
We also previously reported that Rousey was at WWE headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut this past week for business meetings. Meltzer reports that Rousey has been training with WWE coaches Norman Smiley and Sara Amato, WWE NXT Superstar and one of Rousey’s best friends Shayna Baszler, MMA Four Horsewomen member Jessamyn Duke (who had previously ceased her professional wrestling training for a brief period of time), and NXT’s Wesley Blake and Steve Cutler. It was also reported that Rousey’s husband, UFC heavyweight Travis Browne, has also been training inside the ring for the past several months.
There are mixed reports going around as to whether or not Browne will be wrestling as well. Rousey’s first match in a WWE ring is expected to take place at WrestleMania 34. She’s rumored to be teaming with RAW General Manager Kurt Angle against the team of WWE COO Triple H and RAW Commissioner Stephanie McMahon.
– WWE Tweeted out a clip from former WCW President Eric Bischoff’s “WWE Photo Shoot” episode on the WWE Network. During the clip Bischoff talked bout his relationship with two-time WWE Hall Of Famer Ric Flair. Bischoff talked about having an up and down relationship with “The Nature Boy” for the best 25 years, however, they were able to still put on great storylines during their time together in WCW Nitro:
– Former WWE Superstar Rosa Mendes said in a recent interview with Sportskeeda that she planned on making a return to the ring soon. She returned to the ring this week at MCW Pro Wrestling’s Training Center in Joppa, Maryland for a few training sessions. MCW Tweeted out the following picture of Mendes at their training center:
Fell asleep early, and now I’m up thinking about how I can’t wait to get back in the ring tomorrow, being in that ring is the best feeling in the world, although I’m so sore. It’s so worth it ??
– WWE and The New Day are set to release their new book “The Book of Booty: Shake It. Love It. Never Be It.” The book will be released on Tuesday, March 13th. The New Day will be holding a small book tour in which they will hit several sports for book signings. You can check out the dates for the signings and the book’s synopsis below:
– Friday, March 9th: World of Wheels in Chicago
– Sunday, March 11th: Barnes & Noble in Columbus, OH (Townsfair Way)
– Monday, March 12th: Barnes & Noble in Dayton, OH (Miamisburg-Centerville Road)
“Multi-time W . . . W . . . E! (WWE) TAG! TEAM! CHAMPIONS! The New Day want you to feel the power!! And now you can with The Book of Booty: Shake It. Love It. Never Be It. From the purveyors of positivity themselves, each chapter of this handy guide will help you embrace the New Day way of life. Even if you’re feeling booty—and who (who?! who?! who?! who?! who?!) has never felt booty? —you’ll be clapping, gyrating, and radiating positivity like the New Day themselves.
Fans will learn:
* The New Day’s official definition of “booty,” and the telltale signs that you or a loved one might be booty
* The proper attire and headwear for the new you
* How to twerk like a man
* What your spirit animal says about you
* How to project positivity
“By the time you finish this book, you’ll be a rainbow-gazing, trombone-playing, unicorn-loving soldier of positivity, ready to take on nefarious WWE tag teams with a smile on your face. Pro tip: Eat your Booty O’s every morning for added strength!”
– WWE uploaded the following video to their YouTube channel in which they take a look at John Cena’s Road To WrestleMania 34. Check it out here:
– Stephanie McMahon uploaded a clip on Instagram from her latest “Midnight Workout.”You can watch it below:
A few years ago WWE Superstar Sasha Banks revealed in an interview that she didn’t speak to Vince McMahon much because she was intimidated by him. Now a few years later, “The Legit Boss” said in a recent interview with Al Arabiya English’s William Mullally that the situation has changed:
“It is [different]. It comes with growing up, becoming more mature and becoming a woman. You have this more comfortable feeling of, ‘ok, you work for the boss, you work for the man, a legend, Vince McMahon, but hey, you’re the Legit Boss, so you better go through that door, tell him what you’d like to do and what you’d like to have. Honestly, that’s the biggest thing—not being afraid to stand up for yourself. If you’re very passionate about something, he’s the man to talk to.
“I’ve learned that it’s actually very easy to talk to him, and it’s so much better for me to talk to him than to talk to writers, because you get the right answer, and you get the answer right away. You kind of understand what he wants from you as a performer. It’s been so much easier talking to him, and I feel less intimidated,”
Banks also said that going directly to Vince on certain things has actually made life a lot easier:
“A lot of times, when it comes to whether we’re handed a promo that I’m not really feeling, or trying to figure out what the story—if we don’t know what we’re doing, it’s hard to perform. Recently we asked him, ‘hey, where are we going with this storyline? Can you tell me what direction you’d like to see me go?’ Getting the answer right from him straight up makes it so much easier.”
You can read Banks’ full interview with Al Arabiya English by clicking this link here.
– It looks like Monday Night RAW could be moving back to two hours if they sign a broadcast deal with FOX. Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer was asked about RAW possibly moving back to two hours if a FOX deal comes through after WWE’s contract with NBC Universal is up. Meltzer confirmed RAW would revert back to two hours if they sign with FOX:
@davemeltzerWON Any insight on changing RAWs timeslot if it moves to FOX- or going 2 hours? Affiliates will not be interested in pre-empting 10 pm newscasts
– WWE Hall Of Famer Edge recently had a great back-and-forth with a fan on Twitter. The fan criticized wrestlers for taking pride in winning titles in a scripted entertainment event. Edge fired back noting that actors do the same thing when they accept awards, such as an Oscar, for their acting performances:
Ive always wondered why WWE wrestlers take pride in winning championship belts. Its scripted. Its like Tom Hanks bragging to people in real life that he faught in ‘Nam cause Forrest Gump did
No, it’s not. It’s pride in being recognized for hard work. I would guess Hanks is proud of winning the Oscar for best actor for his hard work in Forrest Gump. Or because it’s scripted does that not count? Plus, it’s fought, not faught. #TheMoreYouKnow#imcrankyhttps://t.co/8BmpFHHpQ5
As we’ve previously noted, a WrestleMania 34 match-up between Sasha Banks and Bayley is being rumored for April. Banks and Bayley have been teasing a rivalry with one another for the past several months. Things boiled over during the first-ever Women’s Elimination Chamber match this past weekend. Banks turned on Bayley after they had been working together, however, it was “The Hugger” who ended up eliminating Banks from the match.
The following night on RAW Banks and Bayley were on the same team in a Six Woman Tag Team match. Banks was about to make a tag to Bayley before she jumped off of the ring apron, leaving Banks hanging. It seems like we’re going to see this rivalry between the pair evolve in the coming weeks. The WrestleVotes Twitter account is reporting that, if the match happens at WrestleMania, it will make history.
It will be the first time in WrestleMania history where two women meet in a singles non-title match with no stipulation. The other was billed as a “cat fight” at WrestleMania 2000:
History on the horizon @ WrestleMania:
If @SashaBanksWWE & @itsBayleyWWE have a singles match, it will be the first time in Mania history 2 women compete in a standard (no stipulation), non title, 1 on 1 match.
Only other non title singles was billed as a "Catfight" at WM2000
Road Dogg hasn’t forgotten his early days in WWE as The Roadie.
Back in the mid 90s, Road Dogg aligned himself with Jeff Jarrett. He played the role of Jarrett’s assistant. At the time, Jarrett’s character was one who had delusions of his musical talents. He viewed himself as a country music star who wanted to share his “expertise” with WWE fans.
In a recent interview posted on WWE’s official YouTube channel, Road Dogg talked about how Jarrett helped influence his career:
“I couldn’t be happier for Jeff. Jeff and I kind of came up together, second generation southern superstars. So I couldn’t be happier for Jeff and I’ve really enjoyed the resurgence of the “With My Baby Tonight” song. My daughter actually played it for me through the car on her cell phone … I really had a good time with Jeff growing up. He taught me a lot not only about sports entertainment, but about being a businessman. I think people forget that that’s what sports entertainers are.”
WWE Fastlane Free Match: Paige vs. Nikki Bella
To hype up Fastlane next Sunday (March 11), WWE has posted the full Fastlane 2015 match between Paige and Nikki Bella:
Ring of Honor returns to the Hammerstein Ballroom tomorrow night. The show will be the first Ring of Honor live event to air on their new streaming service, Honor Club.
The event will also build to the promotion’s next PPV and 16th Anniversary show on March 9th from Las Vegas. The company will then hold a set of TV tapings the next day in Vegas before heading to New Orleans for SuperCard of Honor XII on April 7th.
ROH Manhattan Mayhem Lineup
Tenille Dashwood & Deonna Purrazzo vs. Sumie Sakai & Jenny Rose
Kenny King and Fans choice (options: MCMG, Best Friends, Briscoes, Coast 2 Coast, the Kingdom) vs the Beer City Bruiser, Silas Young, and Brian Milonas
Dalton Castle & Volador Jr. vs. Jay Lethal & Ultimo Guerrero
Punishment Martinez vs. Soberano Jr.
Flip Gordon vs. “The American Nightmare” Cody (fans choose the stipulation: lumberjack match, 2 out of 3 falls match, or if Gordon beats Cody, he is booked on “all in”)
Marty Scurll, Hangman Page, and the Young Bucks vs SoCal Uncensored and Shane Taylor (members from each team enter at 2-minute intervals)
Next week, Impact Wrestling will present “Cross Roads”, a free-for-view special edition of their weekly show on POP.
4 championship matches have been confirmed for the show as well as a tag-team match featuring oVe taking on Lashley and Eddie Edwards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3YEa0Q9pGI
Impact Wrestling’s Cross Roads
Impact World Championship
Austin Aries (c) vs. Johnny Impact
Title vs Title
Taiji Ishimori (X-Division Champion) vs. Matt Sydal (Grand Champion)
Tag Team Championships
LAX (c) vs. the Cult of Lee
Knockouts Championship
Laurel Van Ness (c) vs. Allie
oVe vs. Lashley and Edwards
Following Cross Roads, Impact will be building towards their Aprill 22nd PPV from Orlando. The company will hold their next set of TV tapings the following week.
Charlotte has recently been preoccupied with The Riot Squad On SmackDown Live, teaming up with Becky Lynch and Naomi to battle for control of the women’s division on Tuesday nights.
The SmackDown Live champion has also teamed up with Bobby Roode for the Mixed Match Challenge:
But when it comes to WrestleMania, Charlotte has one opponent on her mind as she appeared on Conversations With Maria Menounos.
Charlotte said that she wants to be the one to break Asuka’s streak. They’ve never faced each other and believes the clash of background, cultures, and styles makes it the perfect WrestleMania moment.
On being questioned “why not Ronda Rousey?” Charlotte said “She has to pay for her dues first to face me!”
However she then explained whether the rest of the women on the roster are happy to be working with Rousey:
“Oh, they should be. Ronda’s a star and an attraction and with her coming to be a part of the women’s division, obviously it brings more eyes on the women’s division, not just our audience. I mean, people that don’t even watch wrestling, they know who Ronda Rousey is. They’re like, ‘oh she’s on WWE, oh let’s tune in for a second.’ So I think that’s huge. But, you know, we’re on the road 265 days a year and you just can’t call yourself a WWE Superstar. So the easiest thing she’ll do is sign a contract. Whether she’s willing to put in that work, that’s where the respect and understanding our culture and what it means to be a star in our industry… we’ll see how the future plays out. “
Charlotte stated that she, and the rest of the locker room, is more than happy to take Ronda under her wing if the opportunity presented itself.
And from one professional to another, Charlotte offered the following words of advice:
“It doesn’t matter how athletic you are… It’s about being a performer and eliciting a reaction from the crowd. The best superstars are the ones who can have an emotional connection, whether positive or negative, with their audience. And that’s what makes the greats, great.”
During the interview, Charlotte also touched on her relationship with her father’s career and that she wasn’t aware of just how much of a success he was/is in the industry.
“I didn’t really know about his legacy. That’s what’s crazy. People are like, ‘well, your Dad was Ric Flair, you must have grown up around the business.’ Yes, I went to my Dad’s matches, but I was always playing sports and I just wasn’t really into, I don’t know, the celebrity scene. It’s when I started, that’s when I started to learn, wow, my Dad means a lot to a lot of people in this industry and I started to understand his choices. Now being a part of a company, now I get it. The feel you get when you walk on stage, in front of 101,000 people, there’s nothing like it. Being able to control an arena full of emotions, now I understand. And then the road life becomes your family.”
You can catch the whole interview in the video underneath.
Discussion:
It feels as though Charlotte’s road to WrestleMania hasn’t been put in place yet. In fact, it almost seems as though Charlotte may feature on the kick-off show against Ruby Riot. Even if Carmella cashes in her Money In The Bank contract, WrestleMania 34 doesn’t look that exciting for The Queen of SmackDown Live, with her dream WrestleMania moment likely to take place in 2019.
