POST IT NOTES
**Today’s edition of Rewind-A-Raw is up on the main page of the site with Wai Ting and I reviewing Monday’s Raw, discussing the roster switches from the Superstar Shakeup, Jeff Hardy winning the United States title, lineup announcements for the Greatest Royal Rumble and Backlash, and we take your feedback and questions. The show can be downloaded at https://www.postwrestling.com/2018/04/17/rewind-a-raw-4-16-18-superstar-shake-up-night-1/ and subscribe on iTunes and any device by searching for POST Wrestling.
**Tonight, Wai Ting and I are back with Rewind-A-SmackDown to go through tonight’s show from Providence, all the roster changes that come out of the show, and we will review 205 Live and take your feedback at the end.
**Wai Ting and I were guests on the “Kings of Sports” podcast with Nate Milton to chat WrestleMania 34 fallout, our recent coverage from New Orleans, the launch of POST Wrestling, and more at https://kingsofsport.podbean.com/e/episode-217-its-our-anniversaryish/.
SHOWS THIS WEEK:
*Wednesday: British Wrestling Experience with Oli Court and Benno
*Thursday: upNXT
*Friday: Andre the Giant documentary review with guest Pat Laprade
*Sunday: Impact Wrestling “Redemption” review with John Pollock and Nate Milton
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WRESTLING NEWS
**The second night of the Superstar Shakeup is tonight on SmackDown from the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. There are no matches announced yet for the show other than a tornado tag match with Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik vs. Hideo Itami and Akira Tozawa scheduled for 205 Live.
Below is a preview of potential moves from Raw to SmackDown:
I feel it’s a safe assumption that the key talent on Raw (Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Ronda Rousey, and Braun Strowman) are staying on Raw. Given that no main event talent came over to Raw, it is unlikely they would move Strowman, who is only one of those four you could even remotely see moving, and I don’t.
Jeff Hardy appears to be a probable move along with the United States title and could set up a match with Hardy defending against Randy Orton at Backlash, as Orton earned the title shot on last week’s show when Jinder Mahal was still champion. If not Hardy, then it would make sense for Seth Rollins to bring the Intercontinental title over to the show. I prefer Hardy as you can see how far down on the depth list he is on Raw just by looking at the 10-men tag last night, and Hardy being slotted below those five babyfaces and you also have Roman Reigns above him. On SmackDown, Hardy can be a featured player and if utilized correctly can also be an asset to the SmackDown live events.
Natalya and The Riott Squad have left SmackDown, so that opens the door for several women to be moved in exchange. Nia Jax and Alexa Bliss are scheduled for a match at Backlash and I feel that rules out Bliss being moved as it would telegraph the finish at Backlash and no one is buying the Raw women’s title leaving the namesake of the title. Bayley and Sasha Banks appear to be continuing their program, although it wouldn’t be the worst thing for either one to move, especially Banks filling in the heel vacancy left by Natalya. Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville seem to be aligned with the Ronda Rousey and Natalya program and it’s unlikely they would move them after the angle on Monday and keep them separate from Paige. Of all the Raw women, I think Asuka going to SmackDown is the most likely option. She can come rescue Charlotte during a segment with The Iconics with Charlotte and Asuka teaming and eventually have their rematch.
On the tag team front, you have The Bludgeon Brothers, New Day, The Usos, Rusev and Aiden English, and The Colons. The top three teams have just wrapped up a feud and desperately need some fresh teams in the mix. There are lots of options to inject this side with new teams and I could see The Revival and Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows being moved. Gallows and Anderson have so much more chemistry with AJ Styles than they do with Finn Balor and they have already distanced Balor away from them in recent weeks. The Rewasl were dying on Raw and coming over for a feud with The Usos would “revive” them.
Big Cass is probably a good bet to show up on SmackDown as he is ready to return. Apollo and Cesaro could both benefit from being split from their current teams but there is nothing to they necessarily would, everyone knows the potential is there, but they feel slotted in a certain role that the tag association may be their best option at present. Jason Jordan will be ready to come back soon, but it feels like an incomplete story to take him off Raw without an explanation for his “father” trading him.
The top heels on Raw are currently Brock Lesnar, Samoa Joe, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Baron Corbin and Jinder Mahal. With Lesnar not being a regular performer, there is an opening for one of those listed to receive a big push this year or someone else to turn. Given the names provided, it could make sense to put Elias on SmackDown where it’s easier to book him on the show with less wrestling and get his act over his week, which is the strongest element of his presentation. Elias would also be a great feud for Rusev and Aiden English to have with the obvious musical crossover and present Rusev as a strong babyface in contrast.
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**Due to the NHL playoffs, SmackDown Live will not be airing live in Canada on Sportsnet 360. The episode will be streaming on Sportsnet Now and will replay on Wednesday at 8 pm Eastern on Sportsnet 360.
**Here is the full list of performers that moved over to Raw on Monday night: Jinder Mahal and Sunil Singh (presumably Samir is coming as well once he is healthy), The Riott Squad, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Zack Ryder, Breezango, Natalya, Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre (who received a big reaction for his main roster call-up), Baron Corbin, The Ascension, Bobby Roode, Mojo Rawley, Mike Kanellis, and Chad Gable.
**The WWE isn’t wasting any time by promoting Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz on a series of cards for the upcoming European tour. Bryan and Miz are scheduled to have three matches on the tour with matches scheduled for May 16th in Liverpool, May 17th in Newcastle, and May 18th in Sheffield, England.
**The constant flip-flopping of The Undertaker’s Casket Match at the Greatest Royal Rumble has now been changed back to the original opponent, Rusev.
**Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman will be appearing on next week’s episode of Raw from St. Louis, Missouri for the final Raw before the Greatest Royal Rumble event later that week.
**The WWE is holding a four-day tryout in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia this week, beginning on Wednesday and wrapping up on Saturday. It appears to be by invite only with the news release stating that over 25 athletes are being given an opportunity to try out and list the variety of background but no identification of those trying out.
**Progress Wrestling has announced that WWE performer Kassius Ohno will be part of the Super Strong Style 16 tournament from May 5-7 in London, England at the Alexandra Palace.
**An “All In” press conference has been announced for Sunday, May 13th at 2 pm Eastern from the Pro Wrestling Tees headquarters in Chicago (2348 N. Damen Ave). The press conference will stream live on Facebook and Twitch with Cody, The Young Bucks, Hangman Page, Marty Scurll, and Tessa Blanchard scheduled for the event. The first 50 fans to arrive will be allowed into the press conference. The event is taking place prior to that evening’s War of the Worlds show in Villa Park, Illinois, which is the fourth and final date of the tour.
**The Champion Carnival tournament resumes on Wednesday morning at 6 am Eastern on AJPW.tv from Ehime with the following matches and their point totals in brackets:
*KAI (2) vs. Dylan James (4) – BLOCK B
*Naomichi Marufuji (4) vs. Yutaka Yoshie (2) – BLOCK B
*Jun Akiyama (6) vs. Yoshitatsu (4) – BLOCK B
*Ryoji Sai (0) vs. Yuji Hino (8) – BLOCK A
**MLW has announced that they have signed Jake Hager (formerly Jack Swagger) and he will debut at their next card on May 3rd in Orlando, Florida at the Gilt Nightclub. Hager is also working towards his Bellator debut after signing with the promotion last year and will compete in their heavyweight division. Hager joins Tom Lawlor as two MLW performers that will be featured on their television that also have contracts with a major MMA organization.
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**New Japan World has added matches from ROH’s Supercard of Honor and the Revolution Pro card over WrestleMania Weekend involving New Japan talent. From Supercard of Honor, they have posted Cody vs. Kenny Omega, The Briscoes vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi and Jay Lethal, Hangman Page vs. Kota Ibushi, and Punishment Martinez vs. Tomohiro Ishii. From Rev Pro, they have the British heavyweight title match between Zack Sabre Jr. and Tomohiro Ishii, and the tag match with Hiroshi Tanahashi and Juice Robinson vs. Aussie Open.
**The next Lion’s Gate Project show that New Japan is promoting will be on May 15th from Shinjuku Face. The card will be headlined by Yuji Nagata taking on Ayato Yoshida and will also feature Daisuke Sekimoto taking on Shota Umino in a unique match. Hiro Saito is also listed as the teammate for Hiroyoshi Tenzan against Ren Narita and Tetsuhiro Yagi. Saito and Tenzan were part of the Team 2000 group and Saito last appeared for New Japan in the 2017 New Japan Rumble at Wrestle Kingdom 11.
**New Japan World will also be carrying every match from the Best of the Super Juniors tournament from May 18th through the finals on June 4th. There will be English commentary for the final two nights of the tournament.
*****
REWIND-A-RAW 4/16/18 – Superstar Shake-Up Night 1
https://postwrestling.podbean.com/mf/download/5ggkh2/180416_RAR.mp3
*****
POST ROUNDTABLE #4 feat. Conrad Thompson
https://postwrestling.podbean.com/mf/download/a4mky6/180415_ROUNDTABLE.mp3
*****
REWIND-A-WAI – NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9 (Patreon bonus show)
https://www.patreon.com/posts/18150645/
*****
KEEP IT 2000 – Ep. 28 “Traffic Cone Enema” with Evan Susser (July 10, 2000)
https://keepit2000.podbean.com/mf/download/7ex9vq/Keep-It-2000-July-10-2000_mp3.mp3
*****
REWIND-A-SMACKDOWN 4/10/18 – Carmella cashes in, New SD Live GM
https://postwrestling.podbean.com/mf/download/9dxqu3/180410_RASD.mp3
*****
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