THE ROUND-UP

The Latest from the F4W Staff

NEWS

AUDIO

We're looking for reports on tonight's NXT show at Center Stage in Atlanta and Revolution Pro show in London to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

IMPACT ON POP TV AT 8 P.M.

Davey Richards vs. DJZ

Andrew Everett vs. Suicide (Caleb Konley) vs. Gregory Shane Helms vs. Marshe Rockett

Reno Scum vs. Decay vs. Garza Jr. & Laredo Kid

Team JB (Alberto El Patron & Chris Adonis/Masters & Magnus & Matt Morgan) vs. Team Josh (Bobby Lashley & Bram & Tyrus & Eli Drake) for the lead announcing position on Impact

Only one major show this coming weekend in North America, which is the UFC show in Kansas City on FOX on Saturday. No weekend polls since we only do UFC PPVs at this point.

FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: 4/10/2017: ESPN's complicated relationship with WWE

As Mauro Ranallo's absence from the SmackDown broadcast booth nears a month and may become permanent, concerns about the legitimacy of ESPN's coverage of WWE have again been raised. Singling out ESPN from a group of mainstream media outlets that provide similarly toothless reporting probably isn't entirely fair, but the prominence of ESPN and their expanding relationship with WWE has made it so they will be criticized every time they fail to give a story that is critical of WWE the attention that it deserves.

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WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: April 17, 2017: WWE Superstar Shakeup, Mauro Ranallo situation, more

A look at the fallout of the WWE "Superstar shakeup" is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer. Have a look at the moves, chart the talent on Raw, Smackdown and 205 Live, look at the next few PPVs and different programs, and identify weaknesses on each side as well as look at possible main event programs.

Also look at the death of Joaquin Roldan, the head of one of the largest pro wrestling companies in the world, and his role within AAA and the challenges that face AAA going forward.

Examine the Mauro Ranallo situation with his leaving WWE, plus look at how the situation was and has changed. There were comments from people regarding John Layfield, the TV change in Layfield, the crowd reaction in Boston, the story of Justin Roberts and his passport being stolen and ESPN coverage of WWE.

There is a backstage story in All Japan from 1994, while also talking about Katsuyori Shibata and his injury, and the nature of hard hitting Japanese matches and what the human body can take.

Full coverage of the Sakura Genesis show and the Okada vs. Shibata match, plus look at the big picture direction New Japan seems to be going, the lineups for the next series of big shows as well as match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results, all inside.

The Renee Young/Dean Ambrose wedding, Vince & Linda McMahon's assets, WrestleMania merchandise numbers, Kane running for mayor and his thoughts, why they did the Stephanie McMahon injury angle, Update on Kofi Kingston, Kurt Angle admits he was foolish in thinking about MMA, Backstage at Mania, Jim Ross' deal, WWE makes deal with streaming service, NFL story that has WWE implications, plus notes on the WWE house show schedule for the next year, Kevin Owens DVD, most popular network shows and coverage of all the company's events this past week, all inside this issue of the Wrestling Observer.

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WON BACK ISSUE: March 20, 2000: WWF to leave USA network, ECW Living Dangerously review, more

The landscape of American pro wrestling may undergo major changes within the next month. Starting off, WWF officially gave notice to the USA Network on 3/1 that it is cancelling its contract with them effective in September when the new TV season starts. This isn't necessarily as big as it sounds, but most feel it is bigger. The WWF's deal for Raw, Livewire and Superstars expired in September 2001, but WWF has the right to get out of the deal in September 2000 by giving the network six months notice and USA Network has the right to match any offer.

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THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE

An update on the situation with Katsuyori Shibata. Unfortunately the news appears to be very bad and that the injuries are not storyline. This is not 100 percent because there are many situations historically where this could be just storyline or a cover for something else, but it appears this is the case and that a combination of dehydration and the trauma of the legitimately skull-on-skull head-butt hospitalized him and at this point it is believed he will never be cleared to wrestle. He is currently in the hospital and is awake, can carry on a conversation, has some memories of the match itself. He initially had some right side paralysis but that is getting better. There is a major story that affects independent promotions and WWE as well who made revenue from YouTube. By doing this, almost all wrestling channels will be losing virtually all ad revenue, which in cases of companies that pushed product consumption on YouTube as a significant part of their business plan, that's a major hit. By doing this, almost all wrestling channels will be losing virtually all ad revenue, which in cases of companies that pushed product consumption on YouTube as a significant part of their business plan, that's a major hit. A collection of John Layfield hazing and bullying stories are here. ESPN is taken to task on WWE coverage of real stories. Kevin Eck talks to Justin Roberts on the JBL story. WWE Another WWE bullying story makes press in Australia. (thanks to Greg Delaney)

The house show listings for the weekend are listing talent with their old brands. Roman Reigns is still advertised as the top star on the Raw brand shows this weekend.

Another Kane story is here.

A story on how Braun Strowman tipped over the ambulance is here.

WWE and DK Publishing are releasing a book called "The WWE Book of Top 10s," with more than 100 lists of top 10s in different categories covering all eras of WWE.

Smackdown will air on tape delay this coming Tuesday in Canada. Sportsnet 360 will be airing the NHL Playoffs on Tuesday night so Smackdown will air Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. on the station.

David Otunga just picked up another movie role so he'll be off television for the next six weeks. He had been scheduled to start on Raw this coming week.

Drew McIntyre starts at NXT house shows tonight in Atlanta.

ICM Partners took out a full page ad in last week's Variety congratulating their client, John Cena, for winning the CinemaCon Action Star of the Year award.

Here is a story on Sheamus where he says today's wrestling is much better than in the past.

Producer Mike Ryan said on Dan LeBatard's show in the third national hour yesterday that he believed WWE had banned them from getting guests, saying, "They don't trust us, and you know what, that's probably a good call by them." Ryan is a big fan. They had DDP on last week and he seemed to get mad when LeBatard tried to press him on a fight he had with Scott Steiner in the 90s. (thanks to Jeff Parker) UFC / MMA The broadcasting team for Saturday's FOX show will be Jon Anik and Brian Stann, while the desk crew will be Daniel Cormier, Dominick Cruz and Curt Menefee, and Todd Grisham will also be in studio with Megan Olivi doing interviews. The main event is Demetrious Johnson vs. Wilson Reis for the flyweight title. Here are the Bellator weigh-ins for tomorrow's show in Budapest, Hungary. The show will air on tape delay on Spike in prime time at 9 p.m., with MMA fights followed by kickboxing at about 11 p.m. MMA fights Adam Borics (144.4) vs. Anthony Taylor (147.4)

Lena Ovchynnikova (124.6) vs. Helen Harper (126.2)

Daniel Weichel (145) vs. John Teixeira (145.6)

Eduardo Dantas (134.6) vs. Leandro Higo (139)

Higo failed to make weight so the fight is no longer for the Bellator bantamweight title that Dantas holds. Kickboxing fights Gabriel Varga (145.4) vs. Gabor Gorbics (145)

Jorina Baars (142.7) vs. Irene Martens (140.5)

Raymond Daniels (170.2) vs. Csaba Gyorfi (167.6)

Joe Schillings (187.8) vs. Alexandru Negrea (186.5)

Zoltan Laszak (166.1) vs. Karim Ghaji (168.7) for the welterweight title MISCELLANEOUS