A preview to WrestleMania leads off the current issue of the Wrestling Observer. We look at each match, thoughts on the match, who are the gambling oddsmaker favorites, chart ticket demand with Mania and the next two UFC PPV shows, rules in play, and non-WrestleMania ticket demand.
Also in this issue:
End of the Wednesday night war with the final standings, cover the two Takeover shows, look at television vs. streaming viewership, Canadian numbers, final stands in shows and quarters, and where AEW and NXT go from here.
Takeover with match-by-match coverage with star ratings and other notes from the shows.
Heat & Frost Insulators Local 36 held a mail ballot election in December for several positions whose terms were up. Ron Mathis was re-elected treasurer and Joel Hendrickson was elected recording secretary, succeeding his wife, Jessica. Both are one-year terms.
Dave Gamble, Chase Black, and Dave Madden were re-elected to two-year terms on the Executive Board. They join current members John Marchi and Lincoln Caldwell.
Gabe Markowski ran unopposed for trustee. The term is for three years.
Mathis also is an elected business agent/organizer. His term, along with that of business manager Walt Caudle, expires next year. Both plan to run for re-election.
Coming soon. You Shouldn’t Have Done That! (2:30PM Eastern)
Darien Hardway vs. Preacher
Marc Angel vs. Stan Stylez
Chris Bradley & Kristian Ross vs. the Kidz (Austin Luke & Marcus Mathers) (c) (H2O Tag Team Championship)
Dignified Administration (Edward Hawkins & Nicholas Grande) vs. Mitch Vallen (Handicap Match)
Lucky 13 vs. Reid Walker
Brandon Kirk vs. Ryan Redfield
Conor Claxton vs. Sean Henderson
Jimmy Lyon vs. Xavier Cross (Anything Goes Match) No Pity for the Weak (8:30 Eastern)
Frankie Pickard (c) vs. ??? (H2O Hybrid Championship Up in Smoke Challenge)
Jeff Cannonball vs. Jonny Nova
Kit Osbourne vs. Terra Calaway (Devil’s Bullrope Match)
Coming soon.
Jimmy Lyon vs. Xavier Cross (Hardcore Match)
Chuck Payne vs. Lowlife Louie Ramos (Anything Goes Match Last Chance #1 Contender’s Match)
Dyln McKay vs. G-Raver (Raver’s Rules Match)
Deklan Grant, Devon Moore, & Drew Blood vs. GG Everson, Mason Martin, & Stockade (Weapons Match)
Kit Osbourne vs. Terra Calaway (c) (ISW King of Crazy Championship)
Bam Sullivan (c) vs. Conor Claxton vs. Sean Henderson vs. SHLAK (H2O Danny Havoc Hardcore Championship)
The Kiz (Austin Luke & Marcus Mathers) vs. White Trash Forever (Bruce Grey & Tyler Voxx) (c) (H2O Tag Team Championship)
Frankie Picard (c) vs. Mouse (H2O Hybrid Championship Traps, Ladders, and Cigarettes Match)
UWFI CONTENDERS SERIES
The five-part UWFi Rules Contenders Series airs every Wednesday on IndependentWrestling.TV. The series features a group of Paradigm Pro Wrestling roster members competing with each other, and competing with a group of contenders looking to earn spots on the Paradigm Pro roster, in an empty arena setting with a sports-first style of presentation.
As implied by the name, every bout in the series is contested under UWFi Rules. Named for the now defunct Union of Professional Wrestling Forces International promotion in Japan, the UWFi used a unique rule-set that’s essentially a hybrid of traditional professional wrestling and mixed martial arts. Under UWFi rules, there are no pinfalls – matches may only be won via knock-out, TKO, submission, or points.