Daily Update: Rousey, Cruiserweight tournament, McIntyre
DAILY UPDATE
Latest News:
NXT interim Cruiserweight title tourney Group B announced
NXT interim Cruiserweight title tourney Group A announced
MLW Fusion video & results: The AAA Super Series begins
WWE addresses resuming of live weekly programming
Latest Audio:
Left My Wallet: Jim Valley on Batman, TV shows & all-time wrestling greats 4/12
DragonKing Dark: Lord Humungus and our (possible) dystopian future 4/12
Are you interested in attending our annual F4W/WON convention? We will hold it during AEW Double or Nothing weekend. For more information, check this post for activities and prices.
WON NEWSLETTER: April 13, 2020 Observer Newsletter: UFC postpones all future shows, WrestleMania 36 review
The battle to keep UFC 249 alive is the lead story in our annual WrestleMania double issue, which shows how big a story that became.
We look at how a U.S Senator, government agencies, doctors and Dana White all chimed in and what killed plans for the show next week. We look at the fighters who dropped out of the top two bouts, the reaction locally, the commission, how the association of commissions didn’t back the California commission, how UFC was to be regulated, what happens next, what the doctors said, the business reasons behind why UFC pushed so hard for the show, and what the show originally had.
The new issue also covers:
The wrestling industry going forward after WrestleMania, with a look at WWE, AEW, Impact, MLW and New Japan and what has and hasn’t been taped, who returns to WWE this week, Money in the Bank, Double or Nothing, AEW California crew wrestling, and more.
WrestleMania with a look at the good and the bad of the show, business numbers, the stories of the different unique matches, Roman Reigns update, television ratings for the prelims, and media criticism. We also have match-by-match coverage of both nights with poll results.
President Trump’s meeting with the key players in the sports world including Vince McMahon and Dana White as well as others talking about when or if spectator sports can return.
The key numbers to look for at the next WWE investors call, new WWE TV deals, Paul Levesque talks Wednesday night ratings, Michael Cole’s new role, WWE new documentaries including thoughts on the Edge documentary, new angles, Drew McIntyre talks about a number of subjects, new WWE movie, NXT booking, Kurt Angle talks Brock Lesnar, C.M. Punk talks Vince McMahon, FS 1 TV block, TV sports ratings, Charlotte Flair talks WrestleMania, WWE market value and the most-watched shows of the past week on the WWE Network.
A story on one of the strangest lawsuits you’ll ever see against Dana White.
A story on the break-in of the home of Anthony Smith.
A huge back-of-the-book story on the life of Danno O’Mahoney, one of the biggest short-term drawing cards in pro wrestling history. We go back to the 1930s, the politics that led to the creation of O’Mahoney, how Paul Bowser put the plan in place, the story of Jim Londos, the biggest drawing card in U.S. history and his role in this, some of the biggest matches in wrestling history and why the O’Mahoney vs. Shikat match changed the industry for a dozen years after and some historians call it the most important match in history. It’s all here, creation of world titles, promotions not getting along, in-ring double-crossess, stadium shows and the tragic story about how happy ever after end up lasting five weeks.
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.
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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE
We have a few new weekend shows up. Friday night I did a show with Jim Valley talking about WWE’s decision to run live again and UFC 249 being canceled and UFC plans going forward. Today, Garrett Gonzalez and I did a show that will be up shortly, covering the latest news and we went in depth on the subject of Andre the Giant with Pat Laprade, whose book on Andrew comes out on Tuesday. I’ll also be doing Talk is Jericho with Chris Jericho and Laprade later in the week talking to Andre.
There actually were a few topics that trended on Google this past week. Ronda Rousey was No. 17 with 50,000 tweets yesterday based on her own twitter activity. Friday has XFL at No. 8 with 200,000 about the folding of the league, UFC 249 being canceled was No. 17 with 100,000 and Dwayne Johnson, because of an interview he did, was No. 18 with 100,000.
Sports Illustrated on live sports not coming back with spectators for a while.
Although everything on Twitter with a number of WWE women would make you think differently, right now Ronda Rousey isn’t returning at this point. I expect some day she will.
WWE is trying out a Japanese style tournament with two Round Robin blocks of four people, similar to Pro Wrestling NOAH, to create the interim cruiserweight title. Each wrestler has three tournament bouts in their block and the best record in A faces best in B. If there’s a tie, whoever has the head-to-head match win advances.
From the New Japan standpoint, there are no plans for anything as long as Japan is in a state of emergency.
WWE
For those who have asked about changes in getting to see NXT on the WWE Network in certain countries, there are cities where the first-run is delayed based on local television contracts that the local station put in to protect their television rights.
Just to kill rumors about the identity of the person with COVID-19, it is not Corey Graves nor is it Carmella. It was not an active wrestler but it was an on-air personality.
The Times in the U.K. has a story on Drew McIntyre. The Guardian also talked to McIntyre. (thanks to Lee Wall)
MISCELLANEOUS
AEW on Wednesday has Jon Moxley vs. Jake Hager for the AEW title. This is an empty arena match and Jim Ross will be doing the voice over work. It was taped in Jacksonville. Kip Sabian vs. Chuck Taylor, Lance Archer vs Dustin Rhodes in the TNT tournament and Britt Baker in action has also been announced.
A story on Kerry Morton, the son of Rick Morton, getting into pro wrestling. (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)
Bill Apter posted an interview he did with Gene Okerlund and Howard Finkel.
CWE announced that its British Columbia shows at least through the end of May are off, and Quebec is out until 6/30. They still have shows scheduled for 4/26 in Gladstone, Manitoba, 4/27 in Oak Lake, MB, 4/28 in Dauphin, MB, 5/18 in Regina, Saskatchewan, 4/19 in Weyburn, SK, 5/20 in Brandon, MB, 5/21 in Morden, MB, 5/22 in Winnipeg, 5/23 in Thunder Bay, ONT, 5/24 in Sault Ste. Marie, ONT, 5/25 in Blind River, ONT, 5/26 in Elliot Lake, ONT and 5/28 in Sudbury, ONT.
Ring of Honor’s Month of Honor continues tonight at 9 p.m. EASTERN time with a special watch-along on Ring of Honor’s YouTube channel with Jay Lethal’s first championship win in ROH vs John Walters for the Pure Championship.
A story on Toronto wrestling in the 70s at Maple Leaf Gardens (thanks to John Campbell)
Daily Pro Wrestling History: New Japan Battle Formation ’97
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