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Friday, March 27, 2020

Coronavirus-related wrestling updates, WWE taping update, Mania changed extensively, AEW talents missing tapings, HoFer has serious cancer, assorted wrestling press, another Hart arrest, Dynamite+NXT audiences, AEW tryouts, wrestling return postponed, Punk-WWE update, Alberto-WWE note, and Questions on WWE making the Network free, ice cream bars, and AEW continuing to run live

Coronavirus-related wrestling updates:
- Takeover: Dublin has been postponed to October 25.

- PROGRESS has opened a Twitch channel to support UK wrestlers.

- WWE has taped TV through April 6. Most of WrestleMania has been taped, though at least the Boneyard Match wasn't taped at the WWE Performance Center due to its stipulation.

- WrestleMania will not feature a number of competitors due to illness or high temperature. Others will miss the show due to looking to avoid the outbreak. Man that's a tough break.

-- Roman Reigns was the first name announced as voluntarily missing the show. Wowwwwwwww. That's major. That could really throw plans out the window.

- Jerry Lawler did not appear at WWE's empty venue tapings due to his age.

- WrestleMania will not feature any battle royal matches due to rules on how many people can appear in one place. Surreal times.

- Rey Mysterio was scheduled to team with Humberto Carrillo in Raw's tag team championship match. That would have been cool.

- NXT changed plans with Walter and the Grizzled Young Veterans due to travel restrictions for the UK.

- AEW will not feature The Death Triangle, Young Bucks, SCU, Bea Priestley, and Yuka Sukazaki during travel restrictions for California, the UK, and Japan.

- Korakuen Hall has banned spectators.

- Stardom's Cinderella tournament event mandated fans wear masks that were passed out before the show. Temperatures were taken and hand sanitizer was used.

- NJPW has canceled its April 11 event.

- AAA has canceled its April 25 TV taping.

- Game Changer Wrestling raised $12,000 with their events.

- Tijuana has shut down wrestling through April 20.

- ROH's TV show will not air in Quebec as the station that showed it has been shut down temporarily.

"Bullet" Bob Armstrong has serious bone cancer, but has chosen not to be treated. That's very sad to hear.

WWE Network has an editors' choice list. I like that.

The Young Bucks are on the latest AEW podcast.

Sammy Guevara and Darby Allin fought at 7-Eleven. I'm still waiting for someone to do a toilet paper on a pole match or something during the COVID-19 crisis.

Teddy Hart has been arrested following an altercation with indie wrestler Ace Montana. It's been a really bad stretch for Teddy.

Dynamite drew 819,000 viewers this week, declining from last week. It certainly looks like NXT got some of its regular viewers back from AEW with the more "normal" episode.

NXT drew 669,000 viewers this week, rebounding from the show with no fresh matches.

AEW Dark competitors from the double episode were being used in tryouts.

Stardom's Japanese TV show is moving from 12:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Missy Hyatt was going to work WrestleMania weekend as a surprise return on an indie event, but will now be unable to do so.

Jazzy Gabert was looking to create her own wrestling promotion in Europe, but that has been put on hold due to the pandemic.

C.M. Punk's agent tried to open discussions with WWE, but was shot down. WWE feels his Backstage appearances have devalued his potential wrestling return, given its small audience. WWE stipulated he can only appear on the show once a month. It's definitely been an underwhelming "return" for anyone expecting him to wrestle in WWE again.

WWE's German TV deal has been renewed. WrestleMania's Kickoff events will air live.

Kevin Dunn has gotten nearly 18,000 new shares of WWE stock.

WWE refuted Alberto Del Rio's reports of discussing a return with them. That did sound like a long shot.

For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. WWE Network was underperforming in subscriptions even if it wasn't for COVID-19, and I don't think that was going to change.

Nothing to add to 2 or 5.

3. As you might expect, there have been other things in the news cycle in this time, so that news has been relatively unnoticed.

4. They are pre-taping some content for Dynamite in case they're not able to be live. AEW wants to provide live content where possible, and are doing their best to keep that commitment.

More wrestling tomorrow.

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