Various: John Cena on Becky Lynch’s Star Rise in WWE, New Japan Cup Update, Indies

John Cena Comments on Becky Lynch’s Stardom Rise in WWE

Uproxx held a recent interview with John Cena and one of the topics discussed included his thoughts on Becky Lynch’s rise in stardom in WWE and the comparisons with his own rise as a star.

“We are in the entertainment business. Whatever the consumer finds most entertaining, regardless of sex, race, creed, color, religion anything. What the consumer wants, WWE will give. I think Daniel Bryan a few years ago in the main event of WrestleMania was a great example of that. And I think the women that are supposedly within the main event of WrestleMania this year were pushing forward toward that historic, monumental occasion.

I’m one of those people who think that it should’ve happened a whole lot earlier, but I’m very proud that our audience is at a point where they’re screaming at the top of their lungs, ‘Hey, this is what we want to see.’ I was so extremely happy for Becky Lynch to be able to find this personality that she carved out of thin air and almost out of desperation and become so successful with it.”

“I’m really passionate about this stuff. I’ve always looked at WWE as the land of opportunity. I have been surrounded by performers that so many times become complacent and negative and they think like, ‘Oh, I can’t do this because of X.’ Or ‘I can’t do this because this person is holding me down.’ I know when I speak to those people they don’t necessarily take stock in what I say, but I only say what I do because I started from nothing. I was about to be fired. I was in a Becky Lynch-type scenario where I was forgotten and I was about to be let go and I took a chance on myself. I took a chance on redefining my character and it worked and I’ve never stopped. And I wasn’t the corporate headquarters first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth choice, but the audience began to make noise. And I connected with the audience and the rest is history.

That’s what’s wonderful about WWE. It truly is an enterprise system for any performer to connect with the audience. And once they connect with the audience, it doesn’t matter if they’re male or female. It doesn’t matter where you’re from. What you look like. You become a centerpiece of our entertainment and I think that’s the most fascinating thing about what we do. It truly is go out there and connect and then see what happens.”

New Japan Cup 2019 Tournament Update

As noted before, New Japan Pro Wrestling recently announced the full schedule and participants for this year’s New Japan Cup tournament, which takes places from March 8th to March 24th.

NJPW announced earlier this week that they have pulled David Finlay from their upcoming tournament due to him recently suffering a left shoulder injury. It was also announced that a replacement for Finlay will be officially revealed at a later date.

Prior to his injury, Finlay was scheduled to face off against Hiroyoshi Tenzan in a first round match on March 10th.

Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) announced that they have recently signed a partnership deal with Mexican promotion The Crash Lucha Libre. It was also announced that The Crash will become a member of the larger partnership between CMLL, NJPW, and ROH.

Tanga Loa reportedly is currently working without a contract in NJPW, according to a recent episode of the Art of Wrestling podcast show.

WrestleCon announced a new match for the card of their April 4th Supershow event in New York City, New York:
– Will Ospreay vs. Bandido

Revolution Pro Wrestling announced a new match for the card of their May 10th Epic Encounter event in London, England:
– Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Aussie Open