Daily Update: AEW Dynamite, Kota Ibushi, Joe Tessitore

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • Update on AEW rights negotiations and what new things we know about both the deal that is done and the one being worked on  
  • Analysis of AEW, what ratings it would do on FOX, the value structure, why it won’t happen, FS1 coverage and value
  • The problems AEW faces even if it turns profitable with the new deals
  • A look at All In
  • The Jon Moxley angle
  • A look back at the original angle with Terry Funk, why that backfired and how cultural changes mean this one won’t face the same issues
  • Early PPV number estimates for All Out and the reaction to the show
  • Notes on the next AEW PPV show
  • The life of Kuniaki Kobayashi
  • A look at the heyday of New Japan on television and Tiger Mask vs. Kobayashi
  • The jump to All Japan
  • Kobayashi winning match of the year
  • His biggest career bouts
  • His role in making two Hall of Famers by putting them over in their gimmick debuts
  • Life after pro wrestling and battles with cancer
  • His run during a boom period in Mexico
  • The end of Smackdown on FOX and a look back
  • Analyzing why FOX didn’t bid to keep the show
  • The retirement of Demetrious Johnson
  • The business of UFC Noche
  • CMLL’s 91st anniversary show preview
  • Details on a major story in European wrestling
  • The most detailed look at the ratings this past week
  • International TV ratings
  • Advance ticket sales for WWE & AEW shows
  • Arena Mexico notes
  • JBL angle in Mexico
  • New stars in Dragon Gate
  • NOAH goes to Europe
  • New Japan’s big matches of the past week
  • David Taylor the Magic Man comes out of retirement for World Team Trials
  • One of the 80s greatest technical stars to retire next month
  • Andy Quildan talks European business
  • Wrestler to host new television show
  • UFC TV contract news
  • Why WWE is cutting back on house shows
  • How the style of work in wrestling is going to change in the U.S. because of the decline of house shows
  • Lots of notes on Raw with its move to Netflix
  • Notes on the next few PPV shows
  • Change with NXT with the move to CW

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • PWInsider reports that there was “a lot of praise internally” for Joe Tessitore’s commentary on WWE Raw this week.
  • Paul Heyman explained to Jazzy’s World TV why he thinks he has been successful in his professional career:
    • I think I’m successful because I never really wanted a real job in my life – and I have successfully avoided having a real job for the entire width of my existence. It was probably from my mother saying, ‘You’re a schmuck and nobody’s going to like you, so do what you want to do with your life anyway.’
  • Je’Von Evans cut a promo addressing his upcoming match against Randy Orton on the October 8 episode of NXT.
  • On Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Otis praised the WWE women’s division:
    • Oh yeah [Maxxine Dupri has improved]…I love our whole women’s division to be honest with you. I’m a big Zoey Stark guy, she’s a badass worker, we have a stud-ass women’s division for sure.
  • Denise Salcedo interviewed Lyra Valkyria.
  • The WWE Vault YouTube channel uploaded Eddie Guerrero & Art Barr vs. El Hijo del Santo & Octagon from When Worlds Collide. The video includes a brief introduction by Dominik Mysterio.
  • WWE Vault also has a Playlist video spotlighting the rivalry between Triple H and Batista. 
  • Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton, and Pretty Deadly visited Pike Place fish market while in Seattle.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • AEW has added Hangman Page and Jon Moxley appearances to tonight’s Dynamite.
  • Kota Ibushi shared photos on Instagram of him reuniting with Kenny Omega and the two of them training together: “World domination is just days away!! Had a golden practice after a long time. We are still far from done! Next AEW!!!”
  • In an interview with Inside the Ropes, Will Ospreay discussed how he’s adapted to cutting promos on U.S. television:
    • I’m always nervous about promos, and that goes back to years ago, when I found out that I had ADHD. I’ve always really struggled with eye contact, and I’ve struggled with stringing sentences together. So then when you sign up for American TV, that’s 60 percent of the job.
    • You’ve got to be able to talk people into the building and you’ve got to have that type of unique charisma. I guess it goes in my favor because I don’t sound like everybody. I don’t sound like the Yanks. I think the main thing is I’m just happy to be here and I just treat all the audience like they’re my mate. I’m your weird mate down the pub.
    • So I feel like because I have that aura, I get away with a little bit more. I slipped up on one of my lines that I said in the week before my match with Max and I kicked myself about it. But I’d rather be honest with people and say, you know what, no, I slipped up on a line but I worked twice as hard next time because, once again, I’m not used to this and I’ve always struggled with this. I’m not perfect when it comes to promos. In fact, I wouldn’t even put me in the top 10 when it comes to promos.
    • But I’m learning a whole new thing, this is still six months into me being here. I’m still getting used to this. If people want to throw shade my way because of that, they’ve never been in my shoes, they don’t understand what’s in my brain. For me, it’s all about being vulnerable, honest and open, and I think that’s what connects people with me a little bit more, the fact that I do show my mistakes.
  • Nigel McGuinness opened up to TV Insider about how much the reaction he received from the crowd at All In meant to him:
    • It was incredible. It was a surreal moment. The whole world seems like a different universe than it was before. When those things happen in your life, it just changes your entire perspective. I had no idea what reaction I would get, if I’d be remembered, and by how many people. When I came out, I felt a sense of euphoria and a wave of emotion as the crowd realized what was about to take place. I got swept up in it. If I had any nerves or anxiety beforehand, they were blown away once I get that reaction. They were with me for the journey. It changed my life forever.
  • A new promo video for AEW WrestleDream highlights Jon Moxley’s betrayal of Bryan Danielson.
  • Joe Hendry will face Joey Janela at House of Glory’s show in Queens, New York on Sunday, September 29.
  • Cesar Duran has been announced for MLW’s Lucha Apocalypto show in Cicero, Illinois on Saturday, September 9.
  • Laynie Luck and Brent Banks have been added to Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling’s debut shows in Windsor, Ontario, Canada on Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20.