WWE universal champion Kevin Owens(Photo: Photo: Courtesy of WWE)
In the River Region area, it appears for the past several years that a new year tradition is either Alabama or Auburn playing for a football national championship and the WWE stars paying a visit to Garrett Coliseum the weekend before the national championship game.
The WWE RAW brand will do a show at Garrett Coliseum at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
TV ads have broadcast the past couple of weeks during the “RAW” and “SmackDown Live” programs that Kevin Owens will defend the universal championship against United States champion Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins against Rusev.
Other stars promoted for the show on the Garrett Coliseum website include The New Day, Rusev with Lana, Enzo and Big Cass, RAW women’s champion Charlotte and Sasha Banks.
Ticket prices range from $15-$100.
Go to www.Ticketmaster.com, the Coliseum box office or order by phone at 1-800-745-3000.
Royal Rumble update: Another big match has been added for the “Royal Rumble” pay-per-view event, which takes place Jan. 29. AJ Styles will defend the WWE championship against John Cena. Another major title match features Owens and Reigns for the RAW universal title at the “Royal Rumble” pay-per-view event, which takes place Jan. 29.
WWE kicking off new year: WWE “RAW,” “SmackDown Live,” and “NXT” will begin the new year with big splashes.
Goldberg will make an appearance on “RAW” this Monday, and Sami Zayn will face Braun Strowman in a last man standing match.
On “SmackDown Live” this Tuesday, The Miz will defend the Intercontinental championship against Dean Ambrose.
“RAW” and “SmackDown Live” air on USA.
WWE Network will air an “NXT” special at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Melbourne, Australia. The event features a steel cage match between NXT champion Shinsuke Nakamura and Samoa Joe.
Lilian Garcia’s father passes away: Former WWE ring announcer Lilian Garcia’s father, U.S. Army retired Lt. Col. Eduardo Garcia, lost his battle with cancer on Christmas.
Lilian, who worked with the WWE for 15 years, left the company in August to take care of her father.
She will be singing the National Anthem at today’s NFL game between the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals in honor of her father.
Chyna’s cause of death: Former WWE star Joanie “Chyna” Laurer’s autopsy report revealed that she died of an overdose of alcohol combined with painkillers oxycodone and oxymorphone, anxiety drugs diazepam and nordazepam, as well as Valium, and sleeping aid temazepam.
Laurer was found dead April 20 in her Redondo Beach, California, apartment. Laurer was 46.
TNA news: Total Nonstop Action will air a live broadcast at 7 p.m. Thursday on Pop TV at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, and will air a live pay-per-view event, “One Night Only” on Friday.
The pay-per-view is currently scheduled to be a “One Night Only” event.
Byron Robinson, an Advertiser producer, can be reached by emailing him at bdrobinson@gannett.com.