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  • NJPW Road to Invasion Attack results: Okada and Naito square off in 6-man tag action

    New Japan is back this morning in Korakuen Hall as the Road to Invasion Attack continues! On hand tonight is a six man tag featuring all of Los Ingobernables Japon taking on top members of Chaos. We’ll also see a big elimination match as the co-man, always a delight as these type of matches work pretty well in NJPW.

    Hirai Kawato vs. Teruaki Kanemitsu

    Solid opener. These two are pretty good considering how many matches they’ve had. That’s the entire point of the dojo though, to refine basic skills until you can graduate to having matches, and here they had a basic match with some fun back and forth between the two. Kanemitsu had the Boston Crab on Kawato but the ten minute time limit expired, thus turning it to a draw. He stomped on Kawato after the match and looked upset.

    David Finlay vs. Jay White

    Good match. These two have pretty good chemistry with one another. White looked really good. People buy into him and got behind him whenever he did a comeback or had a clever counter. Finlay is also very good. Both have a ton of potential down the line. Finlay had White on his shoulders, but White escaped and managed to counter into a boston crab, the required finish for all young lions. Finlay tried to escape, but ultimately couldn’t and tapped.

    Kushida, Tiger Mask and Jushin Liger vs. RPG Vice and Gedo

    Pretty solid stuff. It was very much your usual New Japan six man tag, but but the crowd was into it and maybe a bit more shorter than usual. Kushida stood apart from everyone else in terms of skill, he’s just fantastic at this point. Romero worked on trying to get the mask off of Tiger Mask during the match but couldn’t do it. Gedo & Kushida had a fun exchange towards the end with Kushida getting the submission with the hoverboard lock..

    Kushida cut a promo on Chaos after the match, then danced with his friends. That’s nice!

    Toru Yano & Yoshi-Hashi vs. Manabu Nakanishi and Yuji Nagata

    Not that interesting. It’s not the best four guys I’d put together to have a match. Wound up as a brawl on the outside fairly quickly with Yano using chairs and the like outside the ring. Nakanishi made a hot tag, or whatever you’d want to call it, and took down Yano. Nakanishi took out Yoshi-Hashi as he and Yano battled it out. Yano used the ref to his advantage, grabbing and lifting him high in the air. When Nakanishi went to check on him, Yano low blowed him and got the win with a roll up.

    Katsuyori Shibata & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Tencozy

    Good match. Largely a backdrop for the future NEVER title match coming at Invasion Attack, but still good stuff. Shibata and Tenzan went right at it at the bell. Kojima and Taguchi worked together as well, though wasn’t as interesting. Shibata kicked Tenzan right on the face on the apron, sending him crashing to the floor. He managed to get up rather quickly to be tagged in for the comeback. Maaaaaybe sell that spot a bit more. Kojima and Taguchi went at it for a while. Taguchi blocked a lariat attempt but after hitting a boma ye and attempting his own finish, Kojima clocked him with a lariat and pinned him.

    Shibata and Tenzan continued to go at it after the match, with referees and young lions having to pull the two apart.

    Elimination match: Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Juice Robinson, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Michael Elgin vs. Yujiro Takahashi, Kenny Omega, Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga and Tonga Roa

    Pretty fun match. Most elimination matches in New Japan are, as they’re pretty much full of action from start to finish. Everyone got a chance to shine early. Elgin came in and destroyed Yujiro, giving him a buckle bomb. Omega tried to stop it, but Elgin grabbed him off the top rope and powerbombed him into Yujiro, allowing Elgin to eliminate him with a powerbomb. Elgin and Omega fought to the outside of the apron where Elgin gave Omega a Death Valley Driver onto all of his opponents on the outside. Robinson made a comeback but Roa and Tonga hit their new finisher and pinned him, evening the odds.

    Honma fought back but got eliminated after a huge dropkick by Roa, sending him off the top rope to the floor. Roa was eliminated after two lariats to the outside, and soon after that both Tama Tonga and Makabe eliminated themselves going over the top rope. All that’s left is Tanahashi and Fale. They have some good back and forth until Tanahashi gets the win with a hurricanrana into a rollup. At least, that’s what they tried, but the execution wasn’t exactly there.

    Fale beat up on Tanahashi after the match. They’re still teasing something with these two as they’ve squared off on and on since New Beginning.

    Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii and Hirooki Goto vs. Evil, Tetsuya Naito and Bushi

    Fun main event. Everyone worked with one another and everything built up pretty well. Okada and Naito worked against one another and looked really good. They’ve had great matches in the past, so Invasion Attack shouldn’t be any different. Goto cleaned house as Okada set his sights on Evil. Bushi tried to interfere but was immediately given a Rainmaker. Evil came in but got tombstoned, then pinned after another Rainmaker.

    Okada was about to do his promo, but Naito (after acting calm and tranquillo following the bell) ran in and took out Gedo. Okada chased him out as he cut a promo on Naito to close out the show.

    Fun show overall. Nothing blow away, but if you like elimination and multi man matches, along with a couple of rookie bouts, this show is right up your alley.

  • WWE Smackdown results: Dean Ambrose turns water into wine against The Vintner

    AJ Styles def. Heath Slater w/ Social Outcasts by pinfall

    The Outcasts truly are the Caucasian New Day; pre-match promos are absolutely obligatory even when there is nothing funny or interesting to say. The Andre The Giant Battle Royale fodder babble about how there is only one of AJ and four of them. Curtis Axel creatively dubs his group the “Phenomenal Four” (Rose: “You must have really racked your brains for that one…”), before Bo Dallas one-ups him with the pun-derful (Mauro’s words) “Four-nomenal”.

    These two only got five minutes to do their thing, but the so-called Crimson Werewolf managed to get in plenty of offence in that time. AJ’s shine was quickly cut off by interference from Axel, who tripped him on the apron to allow Slater to assume control.

    Slater’s heat drills home why the company only sees him as enhancement talent and nothing more; all kicks, knees, chinlocks and stomps. Unfortunately this offensive offence takes up the majority of the match; AJ’s comeback is as brief as his shine and most notable for Jerry Lawler’s excitement prior to Mauro Ranallo’s inevitable call of the ushigoroshi.

    The finish saw AJ hit the Pele Kick to a meddling Adam Rose on the apron (which Lawler later refers to as the “miso soup dropkick” during the replays), followed by the unfortunately monikered Phenomenal Forearm for the three count.

    – We then cut live to Renee and Robo-Byron at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, where they are primed to hit us with all the hype and video packages we can handle. Renee asks Byron if he ever thought that Shane McMahon would make his return to the WWE. Someone then presses the button to enact Byron’s pre-programmed response, thus leading us into the talking heads hype video for Shane/Taker on Sunday night.

    – A very brief mention of NXT’s Takeover show on Friday night prefaces another Renee/Byron discussion, where the latter bleeps and bloops about Ambrose’s lack of fear. Quoth the Robot: “Imagine you’re in a neighbourhood, right? And you know Brock Lesnar’s coming to town and you turn off the lights….you hide under the bed! Ambrose is the guy sitting under his porch saying ‘Hey, come to my house, Brock! Come over here!’”. Gremlins in the system, I guess.

    – Props to Motorhead (now sans head) are delivered for the use of their “Sympathy For The Devil” track for ‘Mania. Robo-Byron opines that listening to it is likely to get one’s “HEAD in the game”. Data trying to understand humour springs to mind.

    – A recap of the Reigns/Authority capers from RAW airs, followed by a video package seeking to explain Snoop Dogg’s induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. WWE is now truly a “doggy dogg world” apparently. Yes, that was the actual last line of the package.

    D-Von Dudley w/Bubba Ray def. Jey Uso w/Jimmy by pinfall

    Another five minute match here, with the aim of teeing up Sunday’s pre-show match for “tag team supremacy” (presumably). Jey starts us off by punching D-Von “like he’s full of candy” in the corner, according to Mauro.

    Quickly into the heat as Jey gets posted and cracked with a Bubba right hand while the ref is distracted. D-Von lays down his usual offence, before missing a top rope diving headbutt to allow Jey back into the contest.

    Said comeback culminates in a superplex attempt from the Uso. Jimmy dives off the steps to prevent Bubba from meddling again, but can’t stop D-Von from clumsily escaping, tripping Jey and hitting Ron “Damn” Simmons’ spinebuster for the pin. Mauro tells us that D-Von has dubbed the move the RDS in Simmons’ honour. Nice.

    – Renee and Byron stay hyped by previewing the Divas title match and bigging up the WWE 24 documentary on Daniel Bryan’s final day as a professional wrestler. They then throw to a recap video of Kofi Kingston’s victory over Alberto Del Rio on RAW, followed by Coach’s appearance to hype Sportscenter’s all day ‘Mania coverage.

    – Final video package of the night centres around the oh-so-cold WWE title program, culminating with a match graphic that does not yet reflect the rumoured no-DQ stipulation; a well-established crutch for the most insecure man in professional wrestling. Hey, at least he can say he main evented the biggest Wrestlemania of all time…

    Dean Ambrose def. Erick Rowan by pinfall

    The Vintner enters the arena with his pals Bray and Braun, who rather confusingly disappear to the back before the match starts. This is a good tune-up match for Dean on paper, given Rowan’s extensive no holds barred experience against the legendary Brody Hoofer back in the day.

    This, for my money, was unquestionably Rowan’s best singles match in the WWE; comfortably outstripping anything from his unfortunate babyface run two years ago. It went 15 minutes, if you include the action during the commercial break, and remained engaging throughout.

    Dean has the advantage leading into said break courtesy of a flying clothesline from the apron, but Rowan is in control when we get back; channeling Lucha Underground’s Matanza with a big spinning powerslam.

    Dean’s comeback starts off the back of Erick’s deadly signature double noogie, but he’s quickly cut off by a big boot and a spinning forearm from the second rope. Alas, Rowan is silly enough to go to the well a second time, which allows Dean to scurry over and hit a massive superplex!

    The workrate continues as Rowan bumps to the outside off a dropkick, before eating a tope suicida and a top rope elbow. There’s also a nice spot in the nearfalls segment where Dean escapes a pumphandle slam attempt and looks for his stupid seesaw clothesline, only to get creamed with a uranage sideslam for two.

    The finish sees Rowan get frustrated after his spinning heel kick fails to put the lunatic away. He slaps Dean repeatedly, ordering him to stay down, until Dean eventually hits the ropes, pops back with the seesaw clothesline and then finishes with the Dirty Deeds to send him on his way to Dallas.

    – The show closes with Stone Cold Steve Austin flapping his gums backstage with a member of WWE staff ahead of his impending live podcast with Mick Foley.

    Final Thoughts

    Pretty lame show if you watched it live, given that it only contained 20 minutes of actual wrestling and served to function mainly as a two-hour Wrestlemania hype vehicle. The main event was surprisingly good though; credit to Dean for pulling a good match out of such an opponent and to Rowan for playing his part.

  • Dave Meltzer’s WWE WrestleMania Diary: WaleMania, highway ads, Balor Club, Jim Cornette

    Editor’s Note: Most of Dave’s diary excitement will start Friday when he starts attending shows including Ring of Honor and NXT.  We will have assorted shows up for members throughout the weekend, the first being a solo show with Bryan later tonight. Then, Dave and Bryan Alvarez will be back tomorrow to talk all of the news and fesitivites.  Mike Sempervive will also be helming Wrestling Observer Live every day through Wednesday when Bryan returns.

    *There is WWE information listing HHH vs. Roman Reigns now as a no DQ match, which it was never pushed as prior to today.

    *There are WrestleMania ads all over the major highways and downtown here, usually a photo of a WWE star, the ones I’ve seen the most are Undertaker, Shane McMahon, John Cena, HHH, Roman Reigns and Sasha Banks. Officials at AT&T Stadium have noted that there has been far more local promotion done for WrestleMania then for the Super Bowl when the stadium hosted it a few years ago.

    *Things already started with Jim Cornette doing a live talk show in Fort Worth. He did his usual bits, talking about how much he hated Vince Russo, but other names on his list included Dixie Carter, Shawn Michaels, and, to an extent, John Laurinaitis. 

    *WaleMania is tonight (Thursday) in Dallas which is now an annual event as tickets sold out immediately. Last year a ton of wrestlers came with the exception of WWE talent as I think they aren’t supposed to be at anyone else’s shows.

    *If Finn Balor loses the NXT title Friday night to Samoa Joe at TakeOver, that means the Balor Club is headed to the main roster. Either way, Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows are debuting imminently and are in Dallas already.

    Here’s some non-WWE notes:

    *UFC 198 in Curibita, Brazil, is now sold out with approximately 45,000 tickets sold. Most likely, It would have sold out yesterday, but some systems crashed. It was noted to us that it would sell out today. The show features Fabricio Werdum vs. Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight title, Anderson Silva vs. Uriah Hall, Vitor Belfort vs. Jacare Souza, Cris Cyborg vs. Leslie Smith, and Shogun Rua vs. Corey Anderson.

    *TNA will be taping Impact from 4/21-4/24 at Universal in Orlando. The dates changed slightly from what the talent was told last week.

    *New Japan is doing a free show on New Japan World tonight/tomorrow from Korakuen Hall. It’s a free sample to try and get people to buy the service for Invasion Attack  on 4/10.  In theory, they should then be shooting some angles to build that show. The top matches are an elimination match with Togi Makabe & Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomoaki Honma & Michael Elgin & Juice Robinson vs. The Bullet Club of Bad Luck Fale & Kenny Omega & Tama Tonga & Yujiro Takahashi & Cody Hall, plus Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii & Hirooki Goto vs. Tetsuya Naito & Evil & Bushi.

    Historically, New Japan ten man elimination matches, where you can be eliminated either by pin, submission, or over the top rope, are usually very good. The show starts at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time early Friday morning and will be available on VOD shortly after its conclusion.

  • WON Preview WrestleMania 32, Hogan vs Gawker

    Subscribers click here to read:  April 4, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Wrestlemania 32 preview, Jon Jones arrested

    The latest on WrestleMania 32, the Daniel Bryan story updated, the entire weekend and a look at the history of St. Louis wrestling are all part of the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

    The lead story goes into WrestleMania 32, including updated ticket sales, updated gate numbers, how tickets are selling, plus a look at ticket sales and secondary market prices for all the sold out events over the weekend.

    We look at the scheduled for the show, what matches will air at what time, what hasn’t been promoted, a look at the matches and the odds for the various matches.

    We also have an update on the aftermath of the Hulk Hogan/Gawker trial, including what is next, Nick Denton’s attempt to explain their decision, and more that has come out.

    We also have more on the Jon Jones arrest, the key points and what he’s facing. 

    We have a lot more regarding Daniel Bryan, the retirement of Brie Bella, the WWE special on Daniel Bryan, and a lot more details of his issues and a time line of thing. 

    We look at Friday night’s Madison Square Garden event.

    We also have a major feature on St. Louis wrestling and Joe Garagiola, the first host of Wrestling at the Chase.  We look at how powerful the show was in its heyday, when Vince McMahon promoted Wrestling at the Chase and why one of the most noteworthy moments in modern pro wrestling took place at the show.  We look at the beginnings of the show and the role Garagiola played in it.

    We look at St. Louis wrestling before Sam Muchnick and Lou Thesz, the arrival of Muchnick, the heyday of Bill Longson, the Muchnick vs. Thesz feud and reconciliation, the boom and bust of pro wrestling in the 50s, .  We look at stories from the early days of the show, the first episode, We look at why Garagiola left the show and the story of his last show.  We also look at the story of the only tape from the early era that has survived.

    We look at the change in locations of the show and why.  We also look at the Muchnick retirement, the ratings collapse, and St. Louis in modern pro wrestling.  We also look at the colorful life of Garagiola, including his interactions with The Beatles, Yogi Berra, President Gerald Ford along with a look at the baseball career.

    We also look at SummerSlam tickets, a crazy Hulk Hogan story from years back, Update on John Cena, more on ESPN’s coverage of WWE, WWE wrestler whose push is being rethought, Roman Reigns talks being booed, Newcomers to WWE, and more people getting looks.

    We also have notes on all the weekend WWE & NXT shows and details and business notes.

    We’ve got an update on the Global cruiserweight tournament that WWE is putting together.  We also have an update on the WWE Hall of Fame.

    We also look at the Hodge trophy and more on the NCAA tournament in Madison Square Garden.

    We’ve also got a look at the AAA Rey de Reyes show

    Subscribers click here to read: April 4, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Wrestlemania 32 preview, Jon Jones arrested

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    Check out the latest Online Wrestling Observer BACK ISSUE: February 22, 1999 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: ECW having financial problems, St. Valentine’s Day Massacre review, more  Details on ECW’s financial issues including bounced checks, a full review of WWE’s St. Valentine’s Day Massacre with Steve Austin vs. Vince McMahon in a cage, plus more.

    The Wrestling Observer ranges weekly from 35,000 to 50,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA internationally. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sties and has the most complete look at the pro wrestling and MMA business anywhere, plus history pieces available nowhere else.

    Also in this issue:

    • The first Cibernetico vs. Ultimo Guerrero match
    • The 73rd anniversary of pro wrestling at Arena Coliseo in Mexico City
    • Next AAA TV taping
    • More on Joe Doering’s fight with cancer
    • History of Americans who have held the Triple Crown
    • Ticket sales for upcoming New Japan shows
    • A look at the AXS TV shows
    • Building the next New Japan major show
    • More on shows over WrestleMania weekend
    • Notes on Lucha Underground business with iTunes
    • Notes on the Lucha Underground talent situation in a few months
    • Lucha Underground’s big goals
    • One of the major stars who hasn’t been back for the third season
    • Lots of newcomers to Lucha Underground
    • Lucha Underground injury updates
    • Notes on Aztec Warfare
    • Updates on the 2017 Lucha Underground season and all the news from the tapings this past week
    • Updated news on TNA looking for an investor
    • A new TNA deal
    • More on people leaving
    • More on the issues with Preston City Wrestling
    • Ken Anderson says his remarks were taken out of context
    • TNA signs five new wrestlers
    • Ariel Helwani leaves FOX
    • Why his leaving is a black eye to FOX
    • Nate Diaz talks McGregor vs. GSP
    • More on Cris Cyborg’s UFC debut
    • More on the UFC’s big show in Curitiba, Brazil
    • Update on Yoel Romero
    • Update on Paige VanZant
    • UFC 200 update
    • C.M. Punk update
    • Update on Mayhem Miller   

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  • Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 2 set for UFC 200, Edgar vs Aldo for interim belt

    UFC announced tonight two main events for UFC 200 as well as a huge advance for UFC 198.

    UFC Tonight released that Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz in a rematch at 170 pounds will headline UFC 200 on 7/9 in Las Vegas at the new T-Mobile Arena.  On the show it was stated that Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta and John Kavanagh, the coach of McGregor, all wanted the fight at 155, but said McGregor insisted on fighting at 170.

    They also announced Frankie Edgar vs. Jose Aldo for the interim featherweight title in another five round fight.  McGregor has not been stripped of the title, but since he’s been inactive, they will have this fight and the winner will unify the title with McGregor at some point.

    At least one more championship fight will be added to the show.

    Other fights announced for UFC 200 are Cain Velasquez vs. Travis Browne in a heavyweight battle where the winner could get a title shot; Joe Lauzon vs. Diego Sanchez; Gegard Mousasi vs. Derek Brunson; Johny Hendricks vs. Kelvin Gastelum and Jim Miller vs. Takanori Gomi.

    Tickets went on sale today for UFC 198, which takes place on 5/14 at the Arena de Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil.  The show, headlined by Fabricio Werdum vs. Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight title had so much demand that ticket outlets crashed but already 38,000 tickets have been sold to the show.  They are looking at a 45,000 capacity for the event.

    The UFC 200 Card so far:

    • Conor McGregor vs Nate Diaz 2
    • Jose Aldo vs Frankie Edgar for the Interim Featherweight Title
    • Travis Browne vs Cain Valesquez
    • Derek Brunson vs. Gegard Mousasi
    • Joe Lauzon vs. Diego Sanchez

  • April 4, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Wrestlemania 32 preview, Jon Jones arrested

    WrestleMania 32 on 4/3 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas is far from the strongest WrestleMania lineup in history, and is likely not to be remembered as the biggest, but it caps off what looks to be the biggest weekend of shows in one location in history.

    At press time, WrestleMania had 85,000 tickets out for $13.5 million, both records. There have been virtually no primary outlet sales in the last week because almost no tickets are left. There may be some seats released at the last minute after production is moved in and seats are opened, but the real attendance figure won’t be much above this figure.

    Current subscribers click here to continue reading.

  • Joe Doering has surgery to treat brain cancer

    Joe Doering, who for years was the top foreign star with All Japan Pro Wrestling, revealed today that he is battling brain cancer.

    The announcement will be made within the next few hours by the promotion.

    Doering revealed that he was diagnosed with a brain tumor on 2/25, and had surgery to remove it on 3/4.

    He will begin both chemotherapy and radiation treatment next week.  The treatment will last for six weeks.

    He expects that he will be eventually able to return to the ring.

    Doering, 33, began training under Scott D’Amore in 2004, and worked in TNA when D’Amore was booker, as well as in the WWC in Puerto Rico before his first run in All Japan from 2007 to 2009.  In his first year in the promotion, Doering & Keiji Muto beat Suwama & Satoshi Kojima in the finals of the annual tag team tournament.  Doering & Muto followed by winning the world tag team titles on the second show of 2008.

    He left All Japan for WWE in 2010, using the new Drake Brewer in developmental. But he was released after only eight months with the promotion and returned to All Japan at the end of 2010.

    On July 27, 2014, Doering became only the sixth foreigner to win the Triple Crown title, beating Suwama, before dropping the title on January 3, 2015, to Go Shiozaki.

    He won the 2013 tag team tournament with Suwama as his partner.

  • Full WrestleMania card plus TV, Network and PPV schedule

    WWE has officially updated the plans for Sunday’s WrestleMania regarding where the different matches will air on the show.

    As of right now, and this could change during the week, the Kalisto vs. Ryback U.S. title match will take place at about 4:30 p.m. Central time, 5:30 p.m. Eastern, and will be a WWE Network exclusive.

    The USA Network and WWE Network one hour simulcast from 5-6 p.m. local time and 6-7 p.m. Eastern time, which will also air at WWE.com, the WWE app, and YouTube, will have the women’s ten person tag team match and the Usos vs. Dudleys match.

    The 20 man Andre the Giant Battle Royal will now be on the WrestleMania PPV card.

    The rest of the show has:

    Triple H vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE World Heavyweight Title.

    Shane McMahon vs. Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match where if Shane wins he gets control of Raw and Undertaker can never work another WrestleMania.

    Dean Ambrose vs. Brock Lesnar in a no holds barred streetfight.

    Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks for the WWE Divas Title.

    New Day vs. League of Nations in a three-on-four match which is not for the WWE Tag Titles.

    AJ Styles vs. Chris Jericho.

    Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Zack Ryder vs. Sin Cara vs. The Miz vs. Stardust in a ladder match for the Intercontinental Title.

    Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez reviewed Raw on last night’s Wrestling Observer Radio, plus Bryan and Mike Sempervive discussed a number of possible big match finishes on today’s Wrestling Observer Live, both available now for subscribers.

  • Raw ratings for the go-home WrestleMania show

    The final Raw before WrestleMania did 3.77 million viewers, an 11 percent increase from near historical lows for non-football season posted for the show on 3/21 from Philadelphia.

    A show that advertised every major character from WrestleMania appearing, including Vince McMahon, Undertaker, Brock Lesnar and Shane McMahon, from the Barclays Center, was down 10 percent from the WrestleMania go-home show last year which did a 3.03 rating and 4.19 million viewers. The 2014 go-home show did a 3.18 rating and 4.38 million viewers.

    The ratings pattern was in line with the daylight savings time season, where the peak was in the second hour. There was a third hour drop, but it wasn’t as pronounced as many weeks, even though the only thing pushed for the end of the show was a segment involving HHH and Roman Reigns, who had already done two segments earlier in the show.

    The three hours were:

    8 p.m. 3.82 million viewers
    9 p.m. 3.85 million viewers
    10 p.m. 3.64 million viewers

    Next week’s show is likely to be the highest rated Raw of the year, as that is the usual pattern for the day after WrestleMania. It is usually about two weeks after WrestleMania where the ratings settle into what ends up being the usual spring levels.

  • Figure Four Weekly 3/28/2016: Developments in WWE’s concussion lawsuits, plus more news

    Just a few hours after Hulk Hogan was awarded another $25.1 million in punitive damages by a Pinellas County, Florida jury, the concussion-themed lawsuits against WWE took a major hit last week after a 71 page ruling by Connecticut Federal District Court Judge Vanessa L. Bryant. The wrestlers/plaintiffs did have a minor win in there: Vito Lograsso and Evan Singleton didn’t have their cases thrown out, in part thanks to Bryant buying the argument that WWE’s outreach to former talent tolls (extends) the statute of repose (more strict than a statute of limitations). But by and large, this was a victory for WWE. Right before the judge agreed with WWE’s argument that they should be protected “under the contact sports exception they could only be held liable for reckless and intentional conduct, and not ordinary negligence,” she wrote this:

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