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WEEKLY OVERVIEW – WWE (thru 4/3): Top stories of week, major show lineups, live event results, schedule of live events, noteworthy social media posts, more

By Zach Graham, PWTorch Contributor

April 4, 2019

Former champion reportedly returning to WWE
SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...

The following is the latest in a new series of weekly in-depth articles exclusive to PWTorch which will help put in perspective major wrestling promotions with a weekly overview, looking at news and roster developments, results, future line-ups, social media activity, key interviews, plus a timely commentary at the end. We will be featuring similar features on other promotions each week and each will be updated weekly.

•Top Stories of the Week

  • WWE announced another “Worlds Collide” tournament taking place at Axxess WrestleMania weekend. There are scheduled events from Thursday April 4 through Monday April 8 each day having a specific theme. One day of these Axxess events will be for NXT UK TV tapings, but Triple H noted on Twitter that these events would be broken into four WWE Network specials. Since all have a specific theme, each day may be one network show. The full schedule of events, the themes of each day, and advertised matchups can be found at WWE.com. SOURCE
  • Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake is the final entrant into the WWE Hall of Fame for the class of 2019.
  • Stephanie McMahon announced on Monday that the Women’s Triple Threat match at WrestleMania is for both the Raw and Smackdown Women’s Championships in a “winner take all” match. There was no indication that this would mean the titles would merge to have one unified WWE Women’s Champion, or if the winner would have to defend each title individually, or surrender one and just defend the other.

•WWE Weekly Event Results

WWE Live Event – Supershow (Pikeville, Ky.) 3/29/19

(1) Buddy Murphy (c) defeated Tony Nese to retain the Cruiserweight Championship
(2) The Usos (c) beat The Bar and Shinsuke Nakamura & Rusev to retain the Smackdown Tag Team Championships in a Triple Threat match
(3) A.J. Styles defeated Samoa Joe (c) via Disqualification, Joe retains the United States Championship
(4) Charlotte (c) defeated Becky Lynch to retain the Smackdown Women’s Championship via submission while using the ropes illegally. Asuka attacked Charlotte after the match
(5) Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Finn Balor ended in a Double Count Out, so Lashley retained the Intercontinental Championship
(6) Asuka & Naomi beat Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville
(7) Drew McIntyre & Baron Corbin defeated Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins
(8)Kofi Kingston beat Elias

SOURCE

WWE Live Event – Supershow (Wheeling, W.V.) 3/30/19

(1) The Usos (c) beat The Bar and Shinsuke Nakamura & Rusev to retain the Smackdown Tag Team Championships in a Triple Threat match
(2) Buddy Murphy (c) defeated Tony Nese to retain the Cruiserweight Championship
(3) A.J. Styles defeated Samoa Joe (c) via Disqualification, Joe retains the United States Championship
(4) Charlotte (c) defeated Becky Lynch to retain the Smackdown Women’s Championship via submission while using the ropes illegally. Asuka attacked Charlotte after the match
(5) Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Finn Balor ended in a Double Count Out, so Lashley retained the Intercontinental Championship
(6) Asuka & Naomi beat Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville
(7) Drew McIntyre & Baron Corbin defeated Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins
(8)Kofi Kingston (w/ Big E) beat Elias

SOURCE

WWE Live Event – Supershow (Hershey, Pa.) 3/31/19

(1) The Usos (c) beat The Bar and Shinsuke Nakamura & Rusev to retain the Smackdown Tag Team Championships in a Triple Threat match
(2) Buddy Murphy (c) defeated Tony Nese to retain the Cruiserweight Championship
(3) Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Finn Balor ended in a Double Count Out, so Lashley retained the Intercontinental Championship
(4) Charlotte (c) defeated Becky Lynch to retain the Smackdown Women’s Championship
(5) Samoa Joe (c) beat A.J. Styles & Cesaro to retain the United States Championship
(6) Asuka & Naomi beat Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville
(7) Drew McIntyre & Baron Corbin defeated Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins
(8)Kofi Kingston (w/ Big E) beat Elias

SOURCE

WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster (Roanoke, Va.) 4/1/19

(1) The Usos (c) beat The Bar and Shinsuke Nakamura & Rusev to retain the Smackdown Tag Team Championships
(2) Carmella beat Zelina Vega
(3) Samoa Joe (c) defeated Andrade & Jeff Hardy to retain the United States Championship
(4) Rowan beat Mustafa Ali
(5) The New Day defeated Sanity
(6) Asuka & Naomi beat Sonya Deville & Mandy Rose
(7) A.J. Styles defeated Randy Orton

SOURCE

If you attend a live event, please send results to pwtorch@pwtorch.com. Thanks!

•WWE TV Match Results

Monday Night Raw TV Results 4/1/19

(1) Sasha Banks, Bayley, Natalya, & Beth Phoenix beat The IIconics, Nia Jax, & Tamina
(2) Apollo Crews defeated Jinder Mahal
(3) The Revival (c) beat Aleister Black & Ricochet via countout to retain the Raw Tag Team Championships
(4) Ronda Rousey, Becky Lynch, & Charlotte beat The Riott Squad
(5) Heavy Machinery defeated Bobby Roode & Chad Gable
(6) Braun Strowman beat 2 people he challenged to a match backstage
(7) Baron Corbin defeated Rey Mysterio

Smackdown Live TV Results 4/2/19

(1) The Usos & Ricochet & Aleister Black beat The Bar & Rusev & Shinsuke Nakamura
(2) The Miz beat Sanity in a Falls Count Anywhere 3 on 1 Handicap match
(3) EC3, Andrade, Shelton Benjamin, Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, Zelina Vega, Lana, Sonya Deville, & Mandy Rose vs. Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Heavy Machinery, R-Truth, Carmella, Nikki Cross, Noami, & Asuka ended in an impromptu example of what the two battle royals will look like on Sunday
(4) Samoa Joe defeated Mustafa Ali

205 Live Results (Aired on WWE Network) 4/2/19

(1) Oney Lorcan defeated Kalisto
(2) Akira Tozawa beat Mike Kanellis

WWE Main Event (Aired on Hulu and WWE Network) 4/4/19

(1) No Way Jose beat Tyler Breze
(2) Lucha House Party defeated The Ascension

SOURCE

•Upcoming Lineups for Stadium/PPV Events

WWE WrestleMania on April 7 from New York City, N.Y.

  • Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Charlotte (c) vs. Becky Lynch in a “Winner Take All” match for both the Raw and Smackdown Women’s Championships
  • Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Seth Rollins for the Universal Championship
  • Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Kofi Kingston for the WWE Championship
  • Samoa Joe (c) vs. Rey Mysterio for the United States Championship
  • Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Finn Balor for the Intercontinental Championship
  •  Bayley & Sasha Banks (c) vs. Beth Phoenix & Natalya vs. The IIconics vs. Nia Jax & Tamina for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships in a Fatal Four-Way
  • Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Tony Nese for the Cruiserweight Championship
  • The Usos (c) vs. Ricochet & Aleister Black vs. The Bar vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Rusev for the Smackdown Tag Team Championships
  • Triple H vs. Batista in a No Holds Barred match
    – If Triple H loses, his in-ring career is over.
  • Kurt Angle vs. Baron Corbin in Kurt Angle’s final match
  • Shane McMahon vs. The Miz in a Falls Count Anywhere match
  • A.J. Styles vs. Randy Orton
  • Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre
  • Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
    – Known Entrants (29): Braun Strowman, Colin Jost (from S.N.L.), Michael Che (from S.N.L.), Andrade, Apollo Crews, Titus O’Neil, Tyler Breeze, Jinder Mahal, No Way Jose, Bobby Roode, Chad Gable, Kalisto, Gran Metalik, Lince Dorado, Bo Dallas, Curtis Axel, Heath Slater, Rhyno, Viktor, Konnor, Mustafa Ali, Shelton Benjamin, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, Otis, Tucker, EC3
  • Women’s Battle Royal
    – Known Entrants (13): Asuka, Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville, Ruby Riott, Sarah Logan, Liv Morgan, Naomi, Lana, Mickie James, Nikki Cross, Zelina Vega, Dana Brooke, Carmella

•Upcoming Events

Sun. 4/7/19 WWE WrestleMania, Metlife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
Mon. 4/8/19 WWE Raw, Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Tue. 4/9/19 WWE Smackdown, Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mon. 4/15/19 WWE Raw, Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Tue. 4/16/19 WWE Smackdown, Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Fri. 4/19/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Mo.
Sat. 4/20/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wis.
Sat. 4/20/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Bank of Springfield Center, Springfield, Ill.
Sun. 4/21/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Mayo Civic Center, Rochester, Minn.
Sun. 4/21/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Tax Slayer Center, Moline, Ill.
Mon. 4/22/19 WWE Raw, Wells Fargo Center, Des Moines, Iowa
Mon. 4/22/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Sioux City, Iowa
Tue. 4/23/19 WWE Smackdown, Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, Neb.
Mon. 4/29/19 WWE Raw, Rupp Arena, Lexington, Ky.
Mon. 3/29/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Big Sandy Superstore Arena, Huntington, W.Va.
Tue. 4/30/19 WWE Smackdown, Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio
Sun. 5/5/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Ford Center Evansville, Evansville, Ind.
Mon. 5/6/19 WWE Raw, U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio
Mon. 5/6/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, The Corbin Arena, Corbin, Ky.
Tue. 5/7/19 WWE Smackdown – KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, Ky.
Wed. 5/8/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Thur. 5/9/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, 3Arena, Dublin, Ireland
Thur. 5/9/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Forest National, Brussels, Belgium
Fri. 5/10/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Helsinki Ice Hall, Helsinki, Finland
Fri. 5/10/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Arena Du Pays D’Aix, Aix-en-Province, France
Sat. 5/11/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Hovet, Stockholm, Sweden
Sat. 5/11/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Utilita Arena, Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Sun. 5/12/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Oslo Spektrum, Oslo, Norway
Sun. 5/12/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool, England
Mon. 5/13/19 WWE Raw, The O2, London, England
Mon. 5/13/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth, England
Tue. 5/14/19 WWE Smackdown, The O2, London, England
Tue. 5/14/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Accorhotels Arena, Paris, France
Wed. 5/15/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Resorts World Arena, Birmingham, England
Wed. 5/15/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Getec Arena, Magdeburg, Germany
Thur. 5/16/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Flydsa Arena, Sheffield, England
Thur. 5/16/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Barclaycard Arena, Hamburg, Germany
Fri. 5/17/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales
Fri. 5/17/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin, Germany
Sun. 5/19/19 WWE Money in the Bank, XL Center, Hartford, Conn.
Mon. 5/20/19 WWE Raw, Times Union Center, Albany, N.Y.
Mon. 5/20/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Tsongas Center, Lowell, Mass.
Tue. 5/21/19 WWE Smackdown, Dunkin’ Donuts Center, Providence, R.I.

•Latest TV Highlights

Monday Night Raw

  • Stephanie McMahon opened Raw to make an announcement that was teased by WWE in the hours leading up to Raw. She came out on stage and jokingly said that she was adding herself as a fourth competitor in the Main Event match. After pausing to soak in the boos, she said it was an April Fool’s joke. Stephanie then proceeded to the real announcement which was that the women’s match is a winner take all match. Whoever wins will be the Raw and Smackdown Women’s Champion. Ronda Rousey, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte teamed up to take on the Riott Squad, with the stipulation that if any of them turn on the others in the match, they’d be removed from WrestleMania. Ronda would eventually get the quick tap out victory on Liv Morgan. As soon as the bell rang Ronda jumped up and immediately began attacking Charlotte and Becky. They would brawl as security attempted to separate them, then the “police” would come put the three in handcuffs. Backstage, they were being dragged to two police cars waiting to “take them to jail” when they put Becky and Ronda in the same car together. The two began kicking each other before Ronda kicked out the window of the car. The police would remove Becky from the car and inexplicably Ronda ended up in the front seat where she managed to put the car in gear and drive it (with no hands) directly into the rear of the other police car. After being put back in the back seat, Ronda stuck her head out the window only for Charlotte to knee her right on the temple. Eventually the cars would leave with Becky in one, Ronda in the other, and Charlotte left behind to wait for a third car.
  • Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar appeared to make a final statement before the Universal Championship match at WrestleMania. Heyman said Lesnar will take everything from Seth, violate him, and desecrate WrestleMania, then he and Brock would go out to dinner to talk about what was next. Seth interrupted saying that nobody wants Brock there, Lesnar laughed as the fans chanted “burn it down.” As Lesnar went to leave, Seth kicked him in the groin. Lesnar got the upper hand after a German Suplex, but Seth regained the advantage with another low blow, followed by a Stomp. Seth then held up the championship before throwing it down on Lesnar.

Smackdown Live

  • A.J. Styles and Randy Orton faced off again, this time on the KO Show. Owens introduced them both, then asked Randy if he was proud of ruining last week’s Styles vs. Kurt Angle match. Randy said he saved the fans from watching a beaten down old man face off against a guy who thinks he’s still at the top of his game. A.J. responded by criticizing Randy for only having one move, the RKO. Randy went back to his criticisms regarding A.J.’s time on the indies, and Styles responded this time by saying while he was wrestling on the indies, Orton was in WWE failing drug tests. Orton got the last word in by saying that since Cena is now in Hollywood, A.J. has become the new WWE “corporate bitch” Kevin Owens quickly walked out of the ring and Styles and Orton began to brawl. The brawl would end after Styles went for the Phenomenal Forearm, but was hit with an RKO midflight.
  • Kofi Kingston and Daniel Bryan met face to face to sign the contract for the WWE championship match. Daniel Bryan told Kofi not to get caught up in the fad and cautioned him of reveling in the fan’s cheers. Bryan said Kofi doesn’t feed off the fans, they feed off of him and that the fans will use him. Bryan then told Kofi to suck it all in because this is the best it will ever get for him. Kofi sat silently until that final line. Bryan’s last line sparked Kofi to stand up and grab his microphone and tell Bryan to shut up. He told Bryan that he doesn’t know a thing about him, he reminded Bryan that he was champion within two years of debuting in WWE and he watched that, meanwhile he’s been in WWE for 11 years and never had a singles match for the WWE Championship. Kofi said the one thing he and Bryan have in common was that they know what this all feels like, and they know what comes next: Kofi becomes WWE Champion.

•Listen to the latest Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Post-Show – Smackdown Post-Show

PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by ProWrestling.net’s Jake Barnett as they discuss WWE Smackdown with live callers first, then an on-site correspondent from Baltimore, followed by a mailbag segment. They talk about Kofi Kingston’s spirited closing promo opposite of Daniel Bryan, Miz’s passionate promo headed into WrestleMania against Shane McMahon, A.J. Styles and Randy Orton’s buzzworthy exchanges, and much more.

-On Tune In Radio HERE
-On Apple Podcasts HERE
-Or search “Wade Keller” on your podcast app of choice

•WWE Social Media Highlights

Luke Harper posted a very heartfelt message regarding his injury, his in ring return at Axxess this weekend, and his status in WWE.

Naomi was very vocal this week on Twitter regarding the women of Smackdown and the state of the division in WWE.

https://twitter.com/TitusONeilWWE/status/1112492341468848134

https://twitter.com/NatbyNature/status/1112517491710967808

Weekly Becky Update:

Tyler Breeze and Rusev are speaking out again:

https://twitter.com/MmmGorgeous/status/1112438911010250753

•Closing Commentary

– With so many matches, I’m going to try to keep predictions and comments short. Rest up Saturday; we’re in for a long, long Sunday, everyone…

(1) Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Charlotte (c) vs. Becky Lynch in a “Winner Take All” match for both the Raw and Smackdown Women’s Championships

– Finally, it’s time for this match. The build has been up and down, but I think most people are still really excited for this one. This week was a decent attempt at getting some heat back in this match, even if the segment on Raw was a little cartoonish.

Prediction: Becky wins, there’s an outside chance it is Charlotte if they want to delay the Becky win, but I don’t think that happens

My Hope: Becky wins

(2) Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Seth Rollins for the Universal Championship

– It took two low blows for Seth to get the upper hand on Brock this week. Then he held up the Universal Championship, which traditionally tells us Seth may not be winning on Sunday…

Prediction: Seth wins, but I’m not nearly as convinced as I was after the Royal Rumble

My Hope: Seth wins, if he doesn’t people will find a way to blame Roman, especially if he gets the next title shot and beats Brock again. That is an absolutely terrible idea.

(3) Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Kofi Kingston for the WWE Championship

– Kofi’s promo on Smackdown was great. He was passionate, and it truly showed how badly he wants to win. The New Day music at the end of his promo was funny because it didn’t really match his tone during the promo.

Prediction: Kofi wins and in all likelihood this will mark the end of the hemp title belt, which is a shame.

My Hope: Kofi wins, ride the momentum and see where it takes you. Don’t pull a Zack Ryder on Kofi and have him drop the belt on Tuesday!

(4) Samoa Joe (c) vs. Rey Mysterio for the United States Championship

– Rey’s son being involved is not a coincidence. I’m just not entirely sure what is going to happen with him.

Prediction: Rey Mysterio wins with the help of his son Dominic. I’m assuming that Dominic may end up sucker punching Joe after Joe taunts him with a beaten down Mysterio on the outside of the ring or something like that.

My Hope: Samoa Joe retains clean. I’ll admit I’m a Joe fan and that plays a big role here, but also he’s been so defined down. He loses every feud! He needs to win and hold the title for some time.

(5) Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Finn Balor for the Intercontinental Championship

– I’m super disappointed that The Demon is coming out for this after it didn’t for Finn’s last two Universal Championship matches. I understand the logic, but now The Demon is coming out for a program where he’s been booked to go 50/50 with Bobby Lashley and his sidekick.

Prediction: Finn Balor wins

My Hope: This feud is over and Lashley and Balor don’t cross paths again for months and months

(6) Bayley & Sasha Banks (c) vs. Beth Phoenix & Natalya vs. The IIconics vs. Nia Jax & Tamina for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships in a Fatal Four-Way

Prediction: Bayley & Sasha retain

My Hope: Bayley & Sasha retain

(7) Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Tony Nese for the Cruiserweight Championship

Prediction: Buddy Murphy retains

My Hope: Buddy Murphy retains

(8) The Usos (c) vs. Ricochet & Aleister Black vs. The Bar vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Rusev for the Smackdown Tag Team Championships

– Interesting move here on multiple levels because this could be a very bad weekend for Ricochet and Aleister Black. I know Vince doesn’t think about NXT, but if they’re moving up, it’s unlikely they’d win the NXT Tag Team Championships. If they don’t win those on Friday, but win here, does that define down the other three teams in this match? The logic being these other teams aren’t as good as the developmental system’s champions? Or, if they also lose this match, they’ve lost twice in two title matches in one weekend. Vince logic would say they’d lose; just not be the ones to eat the pinfall, and that would save that impression, but that’s not a foolproof plan.

Prediction: The Usos retain

My Hope: The Usos retain, but Ricochet and Black have an outing and look like they should be the ones to win, only for the Usos to win opportunistically.

(9) Triple H vs. Batista in a No Holds Barred match

– If Triple H loses, his in-ring career is over, and we all know that isn’t happening.

Prediction: Triple H wins

My Hope: Triple H wins in a very short action packed match. We absolutely do not need a twenty minute Triple H “classic” here.

(10) Kurt Angle vs. Baron Corbin in Kurt Angle’s final match

– I’m conflicted on this. Kurt Angle deserves a better final opponent, but the match is going to be pretty bad. I feel like that’s what we’ve learned in his little farewell run here in the past few weeks.

Prediction: Angle wins

My Hope: Angle wins quickly and I’m hoping Cena comes out and they have an impromptu match that goes a few minutes. I’m nervous though because Cena hasn’t been wrestling and if this happens it could be a very ugly match.

(11) Shane McMahon vs. The Miz in a Falls Count Anywhere match

Prediction: The Miz wins

My Hope: Shane wins by cheating and we can continue this feud. Shane has been an annoying heel and The Miz has been a good baby face. I think this needs to go past WrestleMania.

(12) A.J. Styles vs. Randy Orton

Prediction: Randy Orton wins

My Hope: Randy Orton wins to continue this feud as well. Their promos have been amazing, we need more of this.

(13) Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre

Prediction: Drew McIntyre wins and sets him up as Seth’s first Universal Championship contender

My Hope: Drew wins. Don’t propel Roman back to the top immediately, if you do you’re sabotaging him and I don’t think he will ever be able to be the top baby face Vince wants.

(14) Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal

Prediction: I have no idea, it isn’t like they ever do anything with this winner anyway. How about Andrade?

My Hope: All I hope is that this is on the kickoff show, doesn’t last all that long, and that the winner is actually propelled from winning instead of this continuing to be a waste of time.

(15) Women’s Battle Royal

Prediction: Again, I have no idea what they may do. I’ll predict Lacey Evans even though she hasn’t been officially announced.

My Hope: Same as the Men’s Battle Royal, Kickoff show, not overly long, and the winner is actually propelled by winning.

NOW CHECK OUT OTHER WEEKLY OVERVIEWS HERE.

OR JUMP TO LAST WEEK’S WWE OVERVIEW: WEEKLY OVERVIEW – WWE (thru 3/27): Top stories of week, major show lineups, live event results, schedule of live events, noteworthy social media posts, more

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