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Sunday, March 3, 2019

Roman documentary, ECW brand revisited, AJ Network special, Mark Henry writing forward to book on classic star, Interviews with Chyna's mother/Cena, WrestleMania comic previewed, Nia theme played by marching band, HBK collection detailed, NWA legend diagnosed with cancer, MLW hires Cornette (seriously), Impact vs. OVW notes, injured WWE star returns, SDL+NXT live event notes, and Questions on Vice's wrestling show, WWE signing Prichard due to Starrcast, NJPW backlash for G1 in the US, covering Perry's stroke due to his son wrestling, and odd celebrity appearances in wrestling

After Raw, "WWE Chronicle" will focus on Roman Reigns' return. Then, "WWE Untold" will look at WWE's ECW brand, with Paul Heyman, Shane McMahon, and Tommy Dreamer all weighing in. That should be interesting - that brand was a really odd combination of visions.

After Fast Lane, AJ Styles will be on a new "WWE Photo Shoot." There's still no word of him signing a new contract.

Mark Henry is writing a forward to a book on 1930s-1950s wrestler Jim Mitchell.

Chyna's mother discussed the new Hall of Famer's passing. I'm glad there's something of a happy ending after the tragedy.

WWE's WrestleMania comic was previewed. I love the Undertaker/Kane lore.

Louisiana's Carmouche Performing Arts Academy played Nia Jax's theme song. That's impressive!

John Cena spoke about Becky Lynch and more:
- As glad as I am to see women headline WrestleMania this year, I truly can't think of a previous year where they should have done a women's main event. I certainly don't remember anyone pushing for it until Ronda Rousey came on the scene.

- Some wrestlers definitely need to take things into their own hands to get over, but that could come at a cost if Management doesn't like them not "staying in their line."

Shawn Michaels' WWE Network collection was detailed. It goes through WrestleMania XIV, although of course there's plenty more after that they could showcase.

Harley Race has been diagnosed with lung cancer. However, it is not terminal and he will continue to be active in the wrestling business. A sad turn of events, but I' glad it's not as bad as initially feared.

Jim Cornette has joined MLW's commentary team, and is also working as a producer for the matches. It blows my mind he keeps getting hired given his personal and professional missteps his entire career. How long before he blows his stack again and starts shooting on everyone in the promotion? Why does MLW want to emulate a style that went out of favor (at least) 20 years ago? A very disappointing move for a company that theoretically had an ability to move wrestling into the future.

At Impact and OVW's One Night Only show:
- Moose was part of a four-way match with three OVW names, but wasn't involved in the ending.
- Madison Rayne made her return to Impact, defeating OVW Women's Champion Cali Young in a non-title match
- The former Sawyer Fulton and Ace Austin teamed with the Crist brothers in an eight-man tag against four OVW talents, so they're seemingly in full-time and potentially part of oVe going forward.
- Brian Cage defeated OVW's Justin Smooth
- Johnny Impact joined an announced Eddie Edwards vs. Adam Revolver match to make a triple threat for the Impact World Championship. Johnny retained.
- Sami Callihan lost an OVW Championship match to Tony Gunn.

Mustafa Ali returned to Smackdown Live live events this weekend, losing to Daniel Bryan in a WWE Championship match Saturday in Minnesota.

- Also on that show, Nikki Cross teamed with Carmella to defeat The IIconics. WWE is still clearly figuring out what the heck to do with Cross. I expect Candice LeRae would have teamed with Carmella if she was on this loop, since that's what Kairi Sane did last month.

NXT's Stacey Ervin, Jr. returned to action on Florida live events this weekend. He lost to Riddick Moss on Friday and to Luke Menzies on Saturday. His last match was January 30's TV taping.

For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. It's still moving forward, as far as I know.

2. Prichard has been working with Vince informally since January, so the two stories aren't directly related. I definitely don't think they'd hire him in a major role just to spite Conrad. I wouldn't be surprised to see WWE retaliate in some way to Starrcast featuring "their" talent on Double or Nothing weekend, though. It has definitely been a wakeup call that WWE doesn't control the wrestling business as tightly as they did a year ago.

3. Not that I know of, although there's certainly going to be something of a schism among fans as the promotion makes moves to appeal to audiences outside Japan.

4. I could see there being backlash if the tangential wrestling connection was used to feature the story.

5. I can't say I disagree with that one, although I've got to mention Cheech and Chong appearing during a very PG era and making thinly-veiled marijuana jokes. Snooki and Charlie Sheen are interesting, too, given what they were usually associated with. Jared Fogle is DEFINITELY one they'd probably like to take back now.

More wrestling tomorrow.

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