Daily Update: AEW Collision fallout, Bandido, Forbidden Door

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

In this issue:

  • Match of the week and performer of the week
  • The debut of Collision, AEW’s ratings decline and reasons and what the return of Punk will tell us
  • The problems Collision will have from the get go
  • Why the success of Collision is so important financially to AEW
  • The reaction as far as cheering and booing for Punk outside of Chicago and what is far more important than booing or cheering
  • Oversaturation of television in the marketplace
  • Ticket sales for Collision and all AEW & WWE events this summer
  • Update on WWE negotiations
  • Value of WWE to a new station with interest
  • The situation with WBD and potentially getting WWE
  • How many homes the key stations that could carry WWE & AEW are in right now
  • Conor McGregor sexual assault charge
  • Lawyer Eric Anderson breaks down the judges ruling to continue the MLW lawsuit against WWE, WWE’s arguments on antitrust, the judges reaction and what comes next
  • B.J. Whitmer fired
  • Full details on G-1 Climax tournament, the blocks, the favorites, the key matches and some storylines to look for going in
  • Update on the Forbidden Door show and business and key things to learn from about the business results
  • UFC 289 coverage including the retirement of Amanda Nunes, why, what about the titles she retires and other storyline notes from the most recent show and business notes as well
  • Updates on WWE Money in the Bank
  • Full coverage of All Together Now, the Japanese show with New Japan, All Japan and NOAH’s top talent and how it went down
  • Coverage of Final X
  • The most detailed look at the ratings of the wrestling and MMA shows this past week, with key breakdowns, segment-by-segment, who watches, rankings in sports and entertainment for the week
  • An attempt to make a superstar with a new character later this month
  • Update on Rush in AAA and TripleMania
  • New Japan Strong goes to Japan
  • More on the longest world title reigns in wrestling history
  • Movie on wrestling star to be released in September
  • Against All Odds results and Slammiversary notes
  • New AEW hires
  • What was Brock Lesnar’s biggest-ever one night payoff?
  • Jon Jones and Tyson Fury talk business
  • XFL business notes
  • Lots of injury updates

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter:

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Sunday Update

Bryan and I did our weekend show last night after Collision and will be back tomorrow night after Raw. Garrett and I also did our weekly show covering the news of the week.

We talked extensively about Collision on last night’s show. Collision was the No. 10 most searched topic on Google yesterday, although the number was listed was 20,000. That would seem to indicate a good rating. I expected a good number with the debut of a new show that has been promoted for a month and C.M. Punk’s return being heavily promoted as well. It’s more about the staying power past the novelty but all indications I had was interest in this show was high. I don’t know the cost, but getting Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting as the theme was cool as hell.

Regarding Punk’s interview, the key comment was the saying David Zaslov calling him “1 bill Phil” and the reference to the counterfeit Bucks, that line was approved by management. The 1 bill Phil line was taken by many as a reference to the supposed $1 billion deal that AEW was supposedly getting in a new five-year contract with WBD (Zaslov is the head of WBD). AEW and Tony Khan have been quiet on that story and all negotiation stories which is why I was surprised on television they would have a reference to that. It was ambiguous enough that you could just say it was a line in a promo. 

The Young Bucks made a reference on Twitter just saying that if this was the old days there would already be a Counterfeit Bucks T-shirt at Pro Wrestling Tees.

No update on Jim Ross past him writing that he was going to take time away to heal. 

Regarding the Bandido injury, which took place in the match with Konosuke Takeshita that aired on Rampage, it was described as a freak injury as he planed his hand to break his fall and his wrist broke. Whether he has surgery or not, which he said is likely to be determined tomorrow, he will be out of action for a while.

AEW has to release the entire undercard for Forbidden Door next week and also hard sell. The New Japan members haven’t been announced but their tour is over so everyone from New Japan on Forbidden Door would be available for Wednesday in Chicago as well as Saturday night in Toronto. None have been announced yet and if they do an angle with Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay in Chicago the reaction will be probably not be favorable to Omega while in Toronto it would likely be extremely favorable, but Toronto is Collision which is the show Omega normally wouldn’t work. It will be a very interesting week of match announcements and fan reactions.

For the week in Google searches, the only thing besides Collision from boxing or MMA or wrestling on the list was Conor McGregor at No. 5 on Thursday for the sexual assault allegation story. 

TMZ had a video here that showed McGregor and the accuser at a club after the basketball game and after the claim he sexually assaulted her.

Local Ch. 10 has a report on this including some messages from the alleged victim, an interview with the attorney who made claims about how the police reacted and the basic insinuation from the police that the story wasn’t correct. 

Smackdown on Friday in Lexington at Rupp Arena drew the largest gate in the history of pro wrestling in Kentucky. It was not close to the largest audience but still an all-time gate record is still notable. 

After Collision went off the air, Dax Harwood said he gets a lot of crap for what he says and blamed it on being Punk’s best friend. He said it’s not Dynamite vs. Collision and it’s all AEW. CM Punk spoke up in support of LGBTQ and said that the ice cream bars he gave out from two years ago was to support trans youth and didn’t get ice cream bars this time because he thought everyone hated him. (thanks to Eric Krol)

WWE in Cincinnati with a rare Roman Reigns house show:

  • Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn b Finn Balor & Dominik Mysterio to keep the tag titles when Zayn pinned Mysterio
  • Austin Theory b Sheamus to keep the U.S. title
  • Bobby Lashley b Karrion Kross
  • Becky Lynch & Michin & Zelina Vega & Shotzi b Bayley & Iyo Sky & Chelsea Green & Zoe Stark when Lynch used the disarmer on on Green
  • Seth Rollins b Damien Priest to keep the world title
  • Chad Gable & Otis b Viking Raiders
  • Gunther won a three-way over Shinsuke Nakamura and Matt Riddle to keep the IC title beating Nakamura
  • Roman Reigns b Rey Mysterio to keep the Universal title. There was interference by Sikoa, Usos and Dominik Mysterio and Rey took out Dominik and got in the ring and Reigns speared him. (thanks to Shannon Walsh)

Two matches from Japan yesterday I was told to try and watch were Kento Miyahara & Yuma Aoyagi vs. Atsuki Aoyagi & Rising Hayato for the All Japan world tag titles and the Jake Lee vs. Takashi Sugiura match for the GHC title in NOAH.

The 6/30 Rampage will air on TSN 2 at 10 p.m. Rampage almost never airs on television in Canada. (thanks to Jeff Zinger) 

Other Notes

MCW runs Saturday night at the RJ Meyer Arena in Joppa, MD.

ICW No Holds Barred from Friday night in Berwyn, IL: Tommy Vendetta b Nate Webb, Dr. Redacted b Satu Jinn, Bobby Beverly b Eric Ryan, Shazza McKenzie b Danny Demanto, John Wayne Murdoch & Reed Bentley b LuFisto & Mickie Knuckles, Hoodfoot won over Abdullah Kobayashi, Krule and Tank (Thanks to Leonard Brand)

Insane Wrestling Revolution from Thursday night in Monroe, MI: Jason Hotch b KJ Reynolds, Zack Thomas & Damien Chambers b Saint Brother & Aaron Arion & Tommy Vendetta, Madman Fulton b Jackson Stone, Tanner Nix & Nikki Ratu b Sam Beale & Benjamin Boone, Trey Miguel & Myron Reed b Solomon Tupu & Conan, Buckeye Sam b Gia Miller,Sami Callihan b Ryan Matthias, Ace Austin b Dread King Logan to keep the U.S. title, N8 Mattson & Aren Daniel Norman & Ace Evans b DBA & Kenny Urban Rod Lee, Thomas Latimer b Big Kon. Next show is 8/2 with Rhino, The Rascalz and Latimer (thanks to Leonard Brand)

House of Glory sold out Friday night in New York: Nolo Kitano b Mike Bailey, Encore & Ken Broadway b Smoothe Blackmon & Michael Fain and Eden & Osedo, Ultra Violette b Kamar to keep the women’s title, Alex Shelley b Mighty Mante, Joey Silver won over Raheem Royal, Darren Richards and Ben Ruten, El Hijo del Vikingo b Charles Mason via DQ so Mason retained the Crown Jewel title, Matt Cardona b Carlito-DQ to retain the HOG title. Next sho w is 8/18 with Mason vs Eddie Kingston in a no holds barred match for the Crown Jewel title and a cage match with Amazing Red & BXL defending the tag tile against Midas Black & Jay Lyon, The Mane Event. (thanks to Samuel Rosenthal)

UWC on 6/24 in New Egypt, NJ at the American Legion for the company’s 200th event

Stardom from today in Tokyo: Mina Shirakawa & Xena b Natsuko Tora & Momo Watanabe, Syuri & Mirai & Ami Sohrei b Utami Hayashishita & Saya Kamitani & AZM, Suzu Suzuki b Starlight Kid, Giulia & Mika vs. Mayu Iwatani & Hazuki vs. Tam Nakano & Natsupoi was a 15:00 draw, Mariah May won a Rumble match to qualify for the Five Star Grand Prix over Aya Sakura, Lafy C, Waka Tsukiyama, Yuna Mizumori, Hanako, Miyu Amasaki, Saya Iida, Ruaka, Thekla, Koguma, Momo Kohgo, Fukigen Death, Rina, Mei Seira and Mai Sakurai