Daily Update: Raw, Ruthless Aggression doc, Texas judging
DAILY UPDATE
Latest News:
WWE reveals women’s Elimination Chamber match participants
Tag Team title match announced for ROH 18th Anniversary PPV
Double or Nothing fallout episode of AEW Dynamite set for Las Vegas
NXT TakeOver Portland post-show media call audio with Triple H
Riddle & Dunne capture NXT Tag Team gold at TakeOver: Portland
Charlotte accepts Rhea Ripley’s challenge for WWE WrestleMania 36
NXT UK coming to Dublin, Ireland for next TakeOver special
Latest Audio:
F4D: Why Otis should be the new Hulk Hogan, Smackdown, more! 2/17
WOL: NXT Takeover Portland, more! 2/17
Left My Wallet: Sports talk with Garrett Gonzales 2/17
WOR: NXT TakeOver Portland recap, AEW DoN tickets, XFL news 2/17
WON NEWSLETTER: WrestleMania 37 details, WWE financials, more
A look at next year’s WrestleMania in Los Angeles is the lead story in the new issue of the Observer. We look at the back story, regarding why the city wanted it in 2021 and WWE wanted it in 2022 and how the compromise was made. We note deals of the new stadium, attendance, the legit all-time company attendance record, , notes from the press conference and a look back at the previous WrestleMania in Los Angeles.
Also covered in the new issue:
2019 WWE business rundown in every category, what was up, what was down, how much the new television deals added in this year’s fourth quarter, why there is uncertainty about stock analysts about the company, and TV deals late in renewing,. We look at how badly the value of the company has dropped of late, what analysts are saying right now and what they are has to be done to get the company value back up.
Roster expansion, why production costs are so much higher, the decline over the past year in both network and PPV revenue, the arena business, the NXT house show business, merchandise, licensing, as well as a look at the company’s revenue and profits annually dating back to 1994.
More on the firing of Michelle Wilson and George Barrios from WWE, return of John Cena, Three more new members of WWE Hall of Fame, Becky Lynch talks pay, what wrestler looks to be leaving, future of MVP in WWE, UK ratings, most-watched shows on WWE Network and details of the weekend main roster and NXT arena events with business notes, results and highlights.
New Japan’s next show in Madison Square Garden, who are the key players and more dates for this year’s G-1 tournament.
Full coverage of New Beginning in Osaka, with business and creative notes, notes on all the upcoming title matches around the world, the latest angles, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
XFL’s first week of television, the good, the bad, the TV deals and what it needs to stay at to be successful, plus live attendance and why the chances of survival are very different from the first time.
WWE Super Showdown, and Elimination Chamber shows.
Full coverage of UFC 247, with the background on the show, business notes, match-by-match coverage and poll results.
Regarding the Wednesday numbers, we’ve got full details, demos that each side won, how every segment did and what match ended up as the difference maker.
Full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.
In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.
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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MONDAY NEWS UPDATE
We’re looking for reports from the WWE shows over the weekend in Eugene, OR and Kennewick, WA and the Warrior Wrestling show in Chicago to [email protected]. We’re also looking for your thoughts on the NXT Takeover show last night, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]”>[email protected]
Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw and the latest news. You can send questions for the show to [email protected]
NXT Takeover didn’t crack the Google trends, although it almost never does. Perhaps surprising is that the XFL didn’t on either Saturday or Sunday, with the weekend dominated by two sports events, the Daytona 500 (4 million) and the NBA All-Star game (3.5 million).
Being the Elite this week did have a thing related to Wednesday where Adam Page, in the guise of being their friends, told several of the other teams about the Young Bucks’ weaknesses after finding out they were in the tournament.
Impact announced that their Impact Plus VOD service will add a new event from Ontario-based Alpha 1 Wrestling, which is Ethan Page’s promotion. They will be uploading the 2/16 show in Hamilton, ONT.
I’ve never seen a WWE doc getting such vehement negative reviews as the one on the Ruthless Aggression era. I’ve been reading Jim Ross’ book that should be out soon, and let’s just say his version of the same events not only is 180 degrees different but in some cases even acknowledges the mindset that led to the issues.
WWE
I would just say if you didn’t see the Takeover show last night, I’d go out of your way to watch it.
Scheduled for Raw tonight in Everett, WA is Randy Orton vs. Matt Hardy no holds barred, Bobby Lashley & Angel Garza vs. Rusev & Humberto Carrillo. We were just told neither Rhea Ripley nor Big Show will be on tonight’s show. There had been reports of both. Things constantly change.
The company will be doing a four-day open tryout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in June.
Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre was added to the 3/22 show in Madison Square Garden.
The writer and artist of Spiderman Absolute Carnage were made aware and discussed Johnny Gargano comic inspired ring gear. Although both he and Seth Rollins have worn a number of comic inspired gear, this was the first time the creators were aware. (thanks to Michael O’Brien).
UFC
In a nutshell. this is the big problem, when commissions continue to book judges that have repeatedly given bad scores. And Jones-Reyes was not Soliz’s biggest issue of late or even on that show.
Dan Hooker talks about his Saturday main event with Paul Felder to Submission Radio.
Israel Adesayna’s trainer talks about him jumping up two weight classes and going for the heavyweight title and Stipe Miocic.
MISCELLANEOUS
NBA regional game ratings are down 13 percent so far this season as compared to last year for all the same reasons the national games are down. Still, 13 teams are up and 14 are down with not enough detail on the other three based on a story in Sports Business Journal.
New Jack (Jerome Young) has released an autobiography called “New Jack: Memoir of a Pro Wrestling Extremist” by New Jack and Jason Norman through McFarland Publishing.
Impact lineup on AXS tomorrow night
Tessa Blanchard & Trey Miguel & Tommy Dreamer vs. Ace Austin & Reno Scum
Josh Alexander vs.; TJP
Michael Elgin vs. Eddie Edwards
Madison Rayne open challenge
EVE on FITE on 3/7 at 3 p.m. Eastern from London has Rhia O’Reilly vs. Jazzy Gabert for the Eve title, Sammii Jayne vs. Gisele Shaw for the International title, Holidead vs. Kasey, Jetta vs. Clementine, Zoe Lucas vs. Session Moth Martina plus more.
Rhino & Cody Deaner & Harley Davidson vs. Rob Rage and two surprise partners headlines Pro Wrestling Eclipse on 3/1 in Oshawa, ONT at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 43.
CWE on 3/1 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is headlined by Nick Dinsmore vs. Dice Steele. Former UFC fighter Mitch Clarke will wrestle on the show. Dinsmore will also be doing seminars before the 2/28 show in Winnipeg, the 2/29 show in Regina and the 3/1 how in Saskatoon.
MLW announced the signing of Zachary Cooper, who will debut on the 4/18 show in Chicago. Cooper has been wrestling in wXw in Germany as well as the U.K. He is from Tampa and is billed at 6-foot-3 and 267 pounds.
Defy runs Friday night at Washington Hall in Seattle with talent from The crash, plus Jeff Cobb vs. Cody Chhun, Schaff defends his Defy title against Randy Myers, Ricky Gibson & Eddie Pearl defend the tag titles against Damian 666 & Guillermo Rosas. Crash tag champs Bestia 666 & Mecha Wolf 450 defend against The Amerikan Guns. You must be 21 to attend.
IWF announced a buy one get one free tickets to its 23rd anniversary show on 4/18 in Nutley, NJ. Tony Atlas, Terri Runnels, Bull James and Kevin Knight will be appearing at the show.
Low Ki beat Tom Lawlor on the NHPW show on Saturday in Perth, Western Australia. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
Dan Lambert did an interview with The Wrestling Estate discussing his 40-year love of pro wrestling, working with Impact, King Mo joining MLW and much more.
Daily Pro Wrestling History: Sid Vicious wins WWF title
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