Daily Update: AEW notes, Travis Banks-Big Lucha, Randy Orton

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WON NEWSLETTER: November 8, 2021 Observer Newsletter: WWE cuts 18 wrestlers, Jon Moxley enters inpatient alcohol treatment program

In this week’s issue: 

  • Details on all the WWE cuts, reasons some were cut, and new philosophies on talent
  • WWE finances, its future, how the return of arena shows has impacted business, short and long-term TV rights fees talked about by Nick Khan, why certain cities are getting stadium shows in 2022 
  • How WWE ratings are doing compared to the rest of television 
  • Update on Survivor Series
  • 2021 Hall of Fame ballot, leading candidates to go in, how the balloting works, which active wrestlers have the best qualifications, candidates that aren’t well known in North America, which wrestlers have gotten the highest vote totals in history, the list of first ballot Hall of Famers, which active wrestlers have been voted into the Hall of Fame
  • Ticket sales for the upcoming major WWE & AEW shows 
  • Jon Moxley talks about a ton of different subjects 
  • An early look at the first AEW special on TNT
  • Jim Ross talks battle with skin cancer
  • Television ratings from the past week, international TV ratings
  • NJPW big shows the next two weeks
  • Notes from Stardom PPV show
  • Full coverage of UFC 267

Current subscribers click here to read.

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WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

Other Wrestling

  • AEW uploaded a control center video with Tony Schiavone breaking down Full Gear week.
  • Schiavone spoke to Sports Illustrated about working for AEW: “It’s been the best two and a half years of my career. It’s worth your weight in gold to work for good people, and it’s a pleasure to work here. And I can’t stress this enough — the acceptance of the fans for my return has been mind-blowing. So for me, it’s really easy doing what I do because I love it so much.”
  • Lio Rush dedicated his match on tonight’s Dynamite to his late grandmother, who he found out passed away from a heart attack last night: “Just got some rough news that my grandmother has sadly passed from a heart attack. We talked about how she looked forward to seeing me wrestle on TV again. Tomorrow I’ll be making my @AEW  debut without my grandmother. But i know she will still be watching. This is for you.” Rush & Dante Martin are facing Matt Sydal & Lee Moriarty on tonight’s show.
  • In an interview with DAZN, Eddie Kingston said his match against CM Punk at Full Gear will be the most personal of his career: “It’s 15 years in the making. I wouldn’t say it’s the biggest match of my career but it’s definitely the most personal match. Professionally, it was me and [Jon] Moxley last year because I truly believe in my heart that the AEW World title is the biggest prize in all of America. That was the biggest match for me, but this weekend, personally, it’s me and Punk.”
  • Kingston was also interviewed by GiveMeSport ahead of Full Gear.
  • TalkSport asked Malakai Black about the nod of respect he gave to Dante Martin after their match last month:

I think for a kid in his early 20s, to have the ability that he has, that match for me was a way of saying it’s make or break. He’s fearless. He’s extremely talented. He’s a little ahead of himself, but that’s where people like me step in to bring him back a little bit more.

From a competitive point of view, I feel he has the capacity, if he stays the right course, to have this Will Ospreay effect on high flying wrestling. And that’s incredibly high praise. 

Whether you love or hate him, Ospreay is a guy who when I saw him I told him — and you can ask him this — ‘If you stay the course, you’re going to change the high flying part of wrestling.’ Same with Ricochet.

He falls in that category with Will Ospreay and Ricochet. When I met Will Ospreay, all he wanted to be was Ricochet, which I get because Ricochet is a game-changer.

If we talk about those guys, we talk about the Amazing Reds, the Rey Mysterios, the Kentas and the [Naomichi] Marufujis; the guys who in that more modern day setting changed the landscape of wrestling.

Even a guy like Brock Lesnar, who completely changed the entire landscape of wrestling, Roman Reigns is doing it right now just adding to the legacy. I think if Dante stays the course, he can have that effect.

He could do something in wrestling and that nod for me was an acknowledgment that ‘you gave me a run for my money that I wasn’t expecting, so good on you, kid.’

  • Chris Jericho joined Richard Deitsch on the latest episode of Deitsch’s sports media podcast. When asked about promos skating the line between kayfabe and reality, Jericho brought up a line MJF said about Lex Luger being in a wheelchair. Jericho said he doesn’t think that gets heat:

People at this point know that this is show business. There’s only so deep you can go. I think that, for example, there was a line a few weeks ago that MJF used about Lex Luger being in a wheelchair to Sting. I don’t think that gets heat, I think it makes people feel uncomfortable. I think it makes people feel bad, and you don’t want that. So there is a fine line between using real life issues, and going to inside baseball, where it’s like, ‘I don’t know what this guy is talking about, but it just doesn’t feel right.’ To me, that is the fine line of a pro wrestling promo. If there’s something in the universe that people know, then you can use it because it’s been on the show or whatever. If it’s something behind the scenes like, ‘well, your dad was a drunk.’ And it’s like, ‘where did that come from? His dad’s a drunk? Well that sucks. My dad was a drunk too. I don’t want to watch this show anymore.’

That’s how I feel. I don’t think it gets more heat, I think it actually gets reverse heat, which has people going, ‘ugh. We know it’s a show.’ It’s like watching the new Star Wars movie and someone going, ‘Kylo Ren, your mom in real life had an abortion when she was sixteen.’ What does that have to do with Kylo Ren? It’s two different things. So, I think there’s a fine line to it. You can make things seem real with your intentions and the way you say things and the words you use. That makes it real. You give me a Chinese menu, I can do a promo that will make it feel real. So you’ve got to be careful. And people sometimes go, ‘oh, I’m going to say this and it’s going to get major heat.’ And people just kind of sit there going, ‘I don’t know what he’s talking about.’ So there’s a fine line.

  • Tony Khan made an appearance on The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz yesterday.
  • Darby Allin was the guest on today’s edition of Insight with Chris Van Vliet.
  • AEW announced today’s set of roster rankings.
  • Big Lucha announced that Travis Banks (real name Travis Bligh), who was accused during the #SpeakingOut movement, will no longer be appearing for them: “Due to the events that occurred with Mr. Travis Banks, which the company was unaware of and was not involved, he terminates his stay in our facilities and appearances in Big Lucha. Wishing him the best in his future projects.”
  • Bandido had issued an apology on Tuesday after booking Banks to appear for Big Lucha. In September, Bandido also apologized for Banks working a Big Lucha show. Banks appeared under a mask this time and used the name “Galactico.” In June 2020, Millie McKenzie accused Banks of being in a mentally and emotionally abusive relationship with her when she was a 17-year-old trainee.
  • PCO will return to Game Changer Wrestling at Blood on the Hills on Friday, December 17. The show is taking place at the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Los Angeles.
  • The Briscoes have been announced for five GCW shows in December and January. They’re the current GCW Tag Team Champions.
  • In his GCW debut, Leon Ruff will be part of a six-man scramble at Evil Deeds in Detroit this Friday. It’ll be Ruff vs. Chase Burnett vs. Cole Radrick vs. Brayden Lee vs. Nate Webb vs. Yoya.
  • Jack Cartwheel is set for three GCW shows in December.
  • Keith Lee tweeted yesterday: “I believe in a future where there can be trust. I believe in a future where there can be honor. That reminds me….gutted by the Ring of Honor news. Hugs and love to the boys and gals.”
  • “Cowboy” Bob Orton turns 71 years old today.
  • Today is also Knockouts Tag team Champion Cassie Lee’s 29th birthday. Her tag team partner Jessica McKay tweeted: “IT’S MY BEST FRIENDS BIRTHDAY!!! @cassielee every year that I get to celebrate with you, I realize just how much you continue to inspire me to be a better woman. You’re a f**king star & I’m your biggest fan. I love you so much. Here’s to 29 my love”
  • The NWA posted video of an angle where Trevor Murdoch was attacked by Mike Knox after By Any Means Necessary.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Eddie Guerrero wins WCW Cruiserweight title

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