Daily Update: Barrett gives WWE notice?; Rousey on Ellen; Rampage back to Bellator

Today’s Top Stories

Ryan Satin is reporting at his ProWrestlingSheet.com site that Wade Barrett has given notice to WWE. His contract is up in June and obviously he has legitimate reasons for not being happy.

Ronda Rousey was on The Ellen DeGeneres Show today and discussed having suicidal thoughts in the cage after the loss to Holly Holm, only to snap out of it when she saw her boyfriend at ringside.

Bellator and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson finally settled their lawsuit today, with Jackson returning to Bellator and the promotion issuing this statement: “Following an amicable agreement to settle the litigation between the two parties, the always entertaining and exciting Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is returning to Bellator. Bellator MMA is thrilled to have “Rampage,” one of the most recognizable fighters in the history of the sport, joining a very competitive light heavyweight division featuring champion Liam McGeary, Phil Davis, King Mo, Tito Ortiz, Emanuel Newton, Linton Vassell among others.”

Lesnar will make his first appearance on Smackdown since 2004 at the Tuesday tapings in Ontario, CA.

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Figure Four Weekly

Figure Four Weekly 2/1/2016: Weekly Hogan/Gawker update
A look at the past weeks developments in the Hulk Hogan and Gawker lawsuit.

 

 

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Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The Latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter: February 15, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Daniel Bryan retires 

The newest issue of the Wrestling Observer is one of the best of the year.  A very detailed look at the end of Bryan Danielson’s career and retirement. Looking back at sports, pro wrestling and the ramifications that are and are not being talked about.  Danielson’s retirement is a big story, both his short and long term impact on pro wrestling.  How his story will act as a catalyst for change not only within pro wrestling but all contact sports.  If you are a wrestling fan, a sports fan or a science fan, this may be the most important issue of the year.

Bryan Danielson’s retirement speech, career highlights, home town, character both in and out of the ring, booking, the crazy way he ended up as champion for the first time, the birth of the “Yes” chant, the build to WrestleMania 30 & 31, the various exams, why he wanted to continue wrestling and WWE didn’t, his goals outside of WWE and why he changed his mind in the last few weeks.

The quandary he was in about continuing his career, how his career began, the formation of ROH and the changing landscape of independent wrestling, the changing ideas of what a pro wrestling headliner can look like, the first time I ever saw him wrestle while sitting with Red Bastien and Nick Bockwinkel

The suspension of Titus O’Neil, a longtime WWE star talking about going into another sport, another star looking at retiring soon, lots of WrestleMania plans including an early summer major match, Steve Austin’s WrestleMania status, update on promotion of Stephanie McMahon, star who may be interested in returning, Fast Lane, A.J. Styles talks his beginnings in WWE and how hard he tried to hide the Royal Rumble story, how DDP figured in Styles’ return, Linda McMahon forms a new company, Roman Reigns in Raw main events, WWE cuts five in developmental, new WWE books. New announcer hired, Update on many Tough Enough competitors from the past season, plans for a WWE show taped this summer, international star WWE has interest in, as well as a look at all the weekend house shows from WWE & NXT with business notes.

PLUS MUCH MORE! CLICK HERE FOR A FULL WRESTLING OBSERVER PREVIEW

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Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.

Check out the latest Online Wrestling Observer BACK ISSUE: Jan 11, 1999 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Finger Poke of Doom, Awards results, Sam Muchnick passes away
Details on World Title changes in 3 promotions including the Finger Poke of Doom, full results of the Observer Awards, plus tons more.

TUESDAY UPDATE

WWE / Pro Wrestling

Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella were on Good Morning America this morning, talking about his concussion issues and her impending retirement. At least officially, they were saying that her retirement will be sometime this Summer.
WWE has a 100 Greatest Matches coffee table book coming out on May 24th from DK Publishing, which is available for pre-order now.
During the Golddust and R Truth segment last night on Raw, one of the extras used was indie wrestler Tatevik the Gamer.
Time Warner is looking to buy a 25% stake in Hulu, which it seems they see as a means to the end of getting current seasons off the service.
SmackDown tickets for the April 12th taping in San Diego go on sale this Friday.
Rob Van Dam will be working both shows for House of Hardcore on April 15th in Queens, NY and April 16th at the ECW Arena. Van Dam will also be at the Icons of Pro Wrestling convention during the day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m..
This week on the Between the Sheets podcast, Kris Zellner and David Bixenspan cover February 9-15, 1993, including the departure of Bill Watts as WCW’s Vice President of Wrestling operations and the entire controversy surrounding that including the role of the newsletters. Also: Ric Flair coming back to WCW, Big Van Vader signing with UWFi, just how hot Japan was at this time, AAA vs. EMLL war raging on, Lex Luger showing up in Memphis, Hulk Hogan returning to the WWF, & Dr. D David Shultz shenanigans, and much more.

UFC / MMA

Dave has a Kevin Randleman bio at MMAFighting.com.
Mike Jackson is saying that Mickey Gall will do to CM Punk what he did to him: Finish him in the first round.
WSOF Bantamweight Champion Marlon Moraes, one of the very best fighters outside the UFC, has announced that he will be testing out free agency.

ON THIS DAY IN WORLD PRO WRESTLING HISTORY: Bret Hart wins the WWF World Title