About this Episode

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I’m Matt Carlins and this is JUST Pro Wrestling News for Saturday, April 10, 2021.

A special welcome to those of you listening on WrestleMap.com. If you want to bring our updates to your website...email us: [email protected].

(STINGER: WWE)

It’s Night 1 of WrestleMania tonight from Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium.

WWE’s Raw and SmackDown rosters back in front of LIVE fans for the first time in over a year. Around 25,000 fans are expected to be in attendance for both nights.

WWE made it official yesterday - the main event closing tonight’s card will be Sasha Banks defending the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Bianca Belair.

The opening match will be WWE Champion Bobby Lashley defending against Drew McIntyre.

Two heavily hyped in-ring debuts.

Grammy Award winner Bad Bunny, tagging with Damien Priest against The Miz and John Morrison...

And Omos, teaming with AJ Styles, to challenge Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston for the Raw Tag Titles.

Also tonight, Seth Rollins vs. Cesaro...

Braun Strowman vs. Shane McMahon in a Steel Cage.

And a Tag Team Turmoil Match - Natalya & Tamina vs. Mandy Rose & Dana Brooke vs. the Riott Squad vs. Naomi & Lana vs. Carmella & Billie Kay. The winner gets a shot at the WWE Women’s Tag Titles held by Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler on Night 2 of Mania.

Expect to see Hulk Hogan and Titus O’Neil. They are the co-hosts of WrestleMania.

The kickoff show starts at 7PM Eastern. The main card begins at 8PM Eastern on Peacock in the United States and the WWE Network everywhere else.

Here’s something to get your imagination running for tonight - Becky Lynch STRONGLY implied in a social media post Friday that she COULD show up for Night 1 of WrestleMania.

A lot Mania hype on last night’s SmackDown, but also TWO big matches:

Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode survived a FATAL 4-Way to retain their Smackdown Tag Titles.

Jey Uso won the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal - last eliminating Shinsuke Nakamura.

Saturday is another busy day for the independent promotions in Tampa for WrestleMania week - including a handful of shows that will go head-to-head with Night 1 of Mania.

(STINGER: Impact)

We have an Impact Plus exclusive show this afternoon - Hardcore Justice - starting at 3PM Eastern. Here’s what’s on the card:

Jazz's CAREER is on the line as she challenges for Deonna Purrazzo’s Knockouts Championship.

A Hardcore War: Tommy Dreamer and THREE mystery partners vs. Violent By Design: Eric Young, Joe Doering, Deaner and Rhino.

A #1 Contender Knockouts Weapons Match: Alisha vs. Rosemary vs. Havok vs. Tenille Dashwood vs. Susan vs. Jordynne Grace.

X-Division Champ Ace Austin, TJP and Josh Alexander each must find a partner for a 3-way tag team match.

Brian Myers vs. Jake Something in a Hardcore Blindfold Match.

Shera vs. Hernandez in a CHAIRLY LEGAL Match.

And Doc Gallows vs. Black Taurus.

CMLL announced Friday that it’s parting ways with Bandido, who’s also signed with Ring Of Honor.

(STINGER: New Japan)

On last night’s New Japan Strong...FOUR first round matches in the U.S. version of the New Japan Cup tournament.

Brody King beat Chris Dickinson.

Kevin Kelly during commentary did acknowledge King and Dickinson’s new alliance in Ring Of Honor.

Hikuleo used a pre-match ambush to grab an early advantage over Fred Rosser, but that did not lead to an easy win. This was a hard-hitting contest that Hikuleo eventually won.

FILTHY Tom Lawlor choked out Ren Narita.

And Lio Rush beat Clark Connors.

Semifinals next week: King vs. Rush...and Hikuleo vs. Lawlor.

(STINGER: AEW)

AEW ran its first-ever non-televised event last night. And fans at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville got to see the AEW debut of Konosuke Takeshita. He tagged with Kenny Omega, Michael Nakazawa and the Young Bucks.

Takeshita is only 25 years old, but he’s already held multiple titles in his home promotion DDT Pro.

This appears nothing more than a short visit to the U.S. DDT Pro announced early last week that Takeshita would be away from the promotion this month. DDT Pro said he’ll return for a show in early May.

That’s JUST Pro Wrestling News for Saturday, April 10. Our next update comes your way tomorrow morning as we keep you updated throughout WrestleMania Weekend. Please subscribe to this feed. We also thank you in advance for leaving a glowing rating or review..

I’m Matt Carlins. Thank YOU for listening.

~~~Full run down at www.justprowrestlingnews.com~~ ~
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