DAILY UPDATE
Latest News:
WWE Raw ratings down six percent, little audience drop during show
World Heavyweight title rematch set for MLW Never Say Never
Bandido confirmed for PWG Battle of Los Angeles
WWE SmackDown video highlights: Extreme Rules go-home show
WWE 205 Live results: Anything Goes match
Aleister Black to face Cesaro at WWE Extreme Rules
Combate Americas planning Tito Ortiz-Alberto Del Rio fight
WWE SmackDown live results: Kevin Owens vs. Dolph Ziggler
Latest Audio:
WOL: SmackDown thoughts, busy weekend, your calls, more 7/10
Pacific Rim: Perro Aguayo and the relationship between Mexico-Japan 7/10
B&V&C: Retro Raw and Nitro from 19 years ago this week! 7/9
WOL: Dismal RAW, Extreme Rules, Fight for the Fallen, more! 7/9
F4W NEWSLETTER: First Raw of the Paul Heyman Era
Before this week’s return to the norm, Joseph Currier looked at Heyman’s promising start in his new role.
Though it was only the beginning of him easing into the role, the first Raw of the Paul Heyman era showed promising signs for his future as executive director.
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It was surprising that — during the build to a pay-per-view where the top of the card has already been announced — Heyman’s presence was so obvious. Even if WWE didn’t announce his executive director role, it still would have been easy to tell that something was different about the episode.
It started with a literal bang that doubled as a statement of intent. Braun Strowman and Bobby Lashley’s falls count anywhere match kicked off the show and ended in a no contest. Strowman charged at Lashley, with explosions going off as they crashed through the stage. The angle was treated with complete seriousness. Corey Graves even let out an uncensored “holy sh*t” on commentary.
WON NEWSLETTER: July 8, 2019 Observer Newsletter: The life and death of Perro Aguayo
With a gigantic week of news, we’ve got a double issue of the Observer this week, leading off with a look at the career of Perro Aguayo, one of the biggest drawing cards in pro wrestling history.
We look at his career highlights, the feud that made him a superstar, the big rivalries and big business booms he was part of, his most famous matches, the formation of AAA and his biggest career wins.
We also have more on Eric Bischoff and Paul Heyman leading brands going forward. We look at the angles on Raw and whose fingerprints were on what, the level of power they look to have, why this move was made, Wall Street’s reaction to the move, how AEW fits into the picture, the audience they are trying to get back the Raw ratings increase that didn’t hold for Smackdown, Heyman and Bischoff talk about their new positions, when Bischoff starts and an analysis of Heyman’s first moves.
We also look at AEW’s Fyter Fest, the chair shot, the preshow, the business numbers, comparisons with WWE and UFC programming, match by match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
We also look at why the U.K. November tour is being rapidly changed, the Evolve special on WWE Network, Stomping Grounds business update, the story behind David Starr stomping on WWE tile belt and WWE reaction, Performance Center news, most-watched shows on the WWE Network and a rundown with business notes on all the WWE arena events this past week.
We also look at the career of Jacques Rougeau Sr, one of the biggest stars in Montreal wrestling history. We look at the history of the Rougeau family, how Jacques got into wrestling, why he quit at first, what brought him back, how role in making the career of Ivan Koloff, his sons getting into wrestling, his biggest matches, his Jarry Stadium main event, the first $100,000 gate in Canada, and the Rougeaus feud with the Garvins.
We also look at WWE’s tour of Japan this past week, with notes on both shows and business notes as well.
We run through New Japan’s tour of Australia, with business notes , Southern Showdown match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results and the Ospreay-Eagles match.
We also update Extreme Rules with matches announced and others that could be added.
We’ve also got full coverage of UFC in Minneapolis including detailed business notes.
We’ve got a rundown on ROH Best in the World from Baltimore, with business notes, match-by-match coverage and star ratings.
We also look at the changing television situation in the U.K. with the WWE’s new deal with BT Sports and AEW’s new deal.
We look at the TripleMania card and the unique team of Cody & Psycho Clown & Cain Velasquez. There’s also notes from Killer Kross, who is training Velasquez.
We also look at the wrestling career of Yoshiaki Yatsu, who had his leg amputated over the past week. We look at his 1980s heyday when he was one of the best in the world, why he was important in history, his amateur background and his famous Pride match with Gary Goodridge.
We also look at the death of Jerry Seltzer, the famed Roller Derby promoter, how that game worked, how it exploded in popularity, why it died off, and Seltzer’s later role in the ticketing business.
We also run down the ratings of all the major TV shows, along with detailed demo info for the WWE shows.
We also have the results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
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WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
WWE Network News reported that an October 1993 WWF dark match between Sabu and Scott Taylor (Scotty 2 Hotty) will be added to the WWE Network’s Hidden Gems section tomorrow. The Tazmaniac vs. Taylor from May of that year, which WWE previously released on DVD, is also set to be uploaded.
Pat McAfee will host WWE Watch Along on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter during Extreme Rules on Sunday. Cathy Kelley, Peyton Royce & Billie Kay, Beth Phoenix, Jeff Jarrett, Adam Cole, The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford), Matt Hardy, Ali, and Dana Brooke are also advertised for it.
On last night’s SmackDown, WWE set up Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville vs. Ember Moon and a partner for next week.
Shotzi Blackheart vs. Brandi Lauren has been added to EVOLVE’s 10th Anniversary Celebration, which will air on the WWE Network this Saturday.
Yahoo Sports has an interview with R-Truth. He spoke about people in the 24/7 title picture coming up with their own ideas: “Guys like Drake Maverick, Jinder Mahal, EC3, these guys came up with their own gimmick with regard to the title. Drake Maverick came up with the poster idea on his own, he took that leap. The company takes notice of that. When the opportunity is there, you have to let your creative juices start flowing and reach and grab for it.”
WWE’s YouTube channel uploaded Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn from WrestleMania 34.
Pro Wrestling
Joey Janela tweeted that he got into the “sh*ttiest fist fight of the year’ with the former Enzo Amore at a Blink 182 & Lil Wayne concert in New Jersey last night: “Not a work, So i saw the dude and walked up and said ‘Hi I’m Joey Janela’ at the blink 182 show and we proceeded to have (I’m not lennox lewis) to have the sh*ttiest fist fight of the year, I’m not a p*ssy but we had fun!” Amore then responded to Janela: “Boy we didn’t have the sh*ttiest fist fight of the year, I slapped ur f*ckin hands down and walked at u with mine up and u walked away and let me know all that Sh*t u talk IS A WORK… which is fine if I were a wrestler.”
Amore released video from the incident, with Janela responding: “Of course the dude didn’t post the rest of the video Lmfaooooo, but really don’t give a sh*t today was thoroughly hilarious, I live for this sh*t…”
Ahead of the show taking place on Saturday, Cody & Dustin Rhodes spoke about their match against The Young Bucks on today’s Road to Fight for the Fallen.
Chris Van Vliet interviewed The Young Bucks at Florida Supercon.
Jun Akiyama is resigning as president of AJPW, with the official announcement to be made on October 10. Akiyama said he’s going to focus on his in-ring work.
The challenger for Nick Aldis’ NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship at ROH Summer Supercard will be revealed at ROH’s Manhattan Mayhem tapings on July 20. The NWA posted video of a segment with Aldis and Marty Scurll where it was announced that Scurll can choose any member of Villain Enterprises — including himself — to challenge Aldis at Summer Supercard, which is taking place in Toronto on August 9.
Brian Johnson and Dante Caballero are the first two wrestlers announced for ROH’s Top Prospect Tournament. It will begin at Mass Hysteria in Lowell, Massachusetts on July 21, with the winner receiving an ROH contract and a shot at the TV title.
Jordynne Grace vs. Kiera Hogan vs. Madison Rayne, which was taped before Slammiversary XVII on Sunday, will air on this Friday’s episode of Impact.
Chris Jericho paid tribute to Paco Alonso on today’s episode of Talk is Jericho.
Jim Ross is the guest on the latest episode of the Steve Austin Show.
Ross’ “Under the Black Hat” book is now available for pre-order. It’s set to be released on March 31, 2020.
MLW Fusion is now available via Playstation Vue.
UFC/MMA
Chad Mendes has confirmed that he’s retiring from MMA. He told ESPN: “The main reason I didn’t say something sooner was there were some loose ends I wanted to tie up. I wanted to step away for a little bit and let everything settle, and just make sure my feelings didn’t change, as I was coming right out of a training camp and a fight. And they haven’t, man. It’s just that time for me. I have no regrets. I had an amazing time, being able to come right out of college wrestling and join an amazing team. All these guys at Team Alpha Male [in Sacramento] are like brothers to me. It was fun. But I always said, right off the bat, I’ll probably fight until 35 and reassess. My wife and I spoke before this last training camp, and we knew going in this was the last one.”
Holly Holm released a statement about her loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 239: “I always say I get to live the life of a dream. I never actually dreamed of getting kicked in the face, that’s never part of my dream. That’s like on the nightmare part, living a little nightmare, wake up every morning like, ‘Yup, that’s real, that just happened. But I just want you guys to know I’m feeling good and I know one thing: I’m still pushing forward. A lot of heartbreak right now, but I’m doing fine, I just want you guys to know I appreciate the love and support. And if you would like to have free lip filler, just get kicked in the face.”
Alexander Gustafsson spoke to MMAnytt about his retirement: “I fought my last fight against Anthony Smith and it didn’t go as planned. I felt an incredible frustration, I’m a really sore loser and I left my gloves in the cage and felt that it’s enough now. But with that said I still have this tingle in my hands. This is very new, it’s been a month and I’m far from a retired fighter in my way of thinking and such. I’ve made my decision and so on but it takes time to adapt and accept the new things in life and your role in all of it.”
The UFC is finalizing Cub Swanson vs. Kron Gracie for their ESPN+ show on October 12.
Forbes ranked Conor McGregor 65th on their 100 highest-paid entertainers of 2019 list. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was ranked 15th.
All five winners on last night’s Dana White Contender’s Series were awarded UFC contracts. This is the first time every winner received a contract.
Ken Shamrock is starting his own bare knuckle fighting promotion called Valor Bare Knuckle Inc.
Daily Pro Wrestling History: Great American Bash 1988
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