Daily Update: AEW on PPV, Raw, Andre the Giant HBO documentary

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We’re looking for your thoughts on UFC 237, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

We’re looking for reports from these weekend shows:

  • Raw Marseilles, France on Friday
  • Revolution Pro Wrestling from York Hall in London on Friday
  • Evolve from Livonia, MI on Friday
  • Evolve from Indianapolis on Saturday
  • WWE Raw in Liverpool today
  • WWE Smackdown in Oslo, Norway today
  • ROH TV tapings in Chicago today

We’re looking for reports on these shows to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com. 

NEW JAPAN BEST OF THE SUPER JUNIORS DAY ONE IN SENDAI ON MONDAY AT 5:30 A.M. EASTERN ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • Yota Tsuji and Ren Narita vs. Taichi and DOUKI
  • Yuya Uemura, Rocky Romero and Bandido vs. Jado, Robbie Eagles and El Phantasmo
  • Juice Robinson & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Yoh & Ren Narita
  • Will Ospreay & Toa Henare vs. Tetsuya Naito & Bushi
  • Tiger Mask vs. Taka Michinoku
  • Titan vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Marty Scurll vs. Jonathan Gresham
  • Sho vs. Shingo Takagi
  • Dragon Lee vs. Taiji Ishimori

Raw will be Monday from the O2 Arena in London while there will be a Smackdown house show on Monday in Bornemouth, UK. Raw has announced Roman Reigns on Miz TV, Natalya vs. Naomi vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Dana Brooke, Ricochet vs. Baron Corbin and Braun Strowman vs. Drew McIntyre.

NEW JAPAN BEST OF THE SUPER JUNIORS DAY TWO IN SENDAI ON TUESDAY AT 5:30 A.M. EASTERN ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • Yota Tsuji, Jonathan Gresham and Tiger Mask vs. Taichi, Taka Michinoku and Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Juice Robinson & Dragon Lee vs. Sho & Shota Umino
  • Brody King & Marty Scurll vs. Taiji Ishimori & Gedo
  • Titan & Toa Henare vs. Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi
  • Ren Narita vs. Douki
  • Rocky Romero vs. Robbie Eagles
  • Bandido vs. Phantasmo
  • Will Ospreay vs. Bushi
  • Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Yoh

Smackdown and 205 Live will be taped on Tuesday at the O2 Arena in London while Raw has a house show in Paris, France. Announced for the London show is a possible Kevin Owens Show with Kofi Kingston, Finn Balor vs. Ali vs. Andrade vs. Randy Orton and Kairi Sane & Asuka vs. Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville plus for 205 Live, Tony Nese vs. El Ligero non-title and a four-way with Humberto Carrillo vs. Jack Gallagher vs. James Drake vs. Mark Andrews.

NEW JAPAN BEST OF THE SUPER JUNIORS DAY THREE IN AOMORI WEDNESDAY AT 5:30 A.M. ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • Yuya Uemura and Ren Narita vs. Robbie Eagles and Jado
  • Ryusuke Taguchi & Shota Umino vs. Taichi & Douki
  • Juice Robinson & Will Ospreay & Bandido vs. Rocky Romero & Yoh & Toa Henare
  • Tetsuya Naito & Bushi vs. Phantasmo & Gedo
  • Jonathan Gresham vs. Taka Michinoku
  • Tiger Mask vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Titan vs. Shingo Takagi
  • Marty Scurll vs. Taiji  Ishimori
  • Dragon Lee vs. Sho

Wednesday has Raw in Birmingham, UK and Smackdown in Magdeburg, Germany.

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Looking at AEW’s build to Cody vs. Dustin Rhodes

A brother vs. brother match will be one of the key pieces of All Elite Wrestling’s Double or Nothing card.

After weeks of teases, Dustin Rhodes was confirmed as his brother Cody’s opponent for Double or Nothing at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, May 25. Dustin issued a statement about his status with WWE after the announcement was made, revealing that he had requested his release from WWE and was granted it. Dustin also posted a video where he said goodbye to his Goldust character.

WON NEWSLETTER: May 13, 2019 Observer Newsletter: AEW UK PPV details, WWE wild card rule, more

An update on AEW distribution, PPV, television and streaming, is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Look at the full distribution around the world for Double or Nothing, as well as updating where things stand when it comes to television.

Look at pricing, preshow, who is carrying it, how strong ITV 4 is, how this compares with WWE’s distribution and probable viewership, where things stand with U.K. television, details on Casino Battle Royale plans, the main championship, updating the show and lots of new signings.

Go in-depth on not just the XFL television deal and finances, but the lessons of the deal and how the deal is a 180 from the UFC deal. 

Also look at the changes in Raw and Smackdown this past week, why they were made, where NBC Universal and FOX stand, WWE star power, how the European tour affected this week’s television, how it affects touring, plus updates on the Money In The Bank show.

Also look at the 2019 Best of the Super Juniors tournament, including what matches to watch out for, the schedule, the positioning of Will Ospreay, and the schedule.

Look at the two New Japan Dontaku events, what the events say about both Japan and U.S. popularity, the story behind Okada vs. Sanada, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.

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 dave@wrestlingobserver.com or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

Our weekend show covering UFC, Bellator, AEW and WWE is already up on the site today.

ROH will be streaming live tonight’s ROH tag team title match from Chicago with Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defending against Mark & Jay Briscoe on Honor Club. 

The advance for tomorrow’s Raw in London is well below what it has been in the past. On Friday we were told it looks like about 10,000 fans,which is a great number for Raw nowadays, but Raw at the O2 Arena used to be an easy sellout.

Kambi has released the over/under for star ratings for Money in the Bank as:

  • Tony Nese vs. Ariya Daivari ***
  • Men’s ladder match ****
  • Becky Lynch vs. Lacey Evans **1/2
  • Roman Reigns vs. Elias ***
  • Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair ***1/4
  • The Miz vs. Shane McMahon **1/2
  • Samoa Joe vs. Rey Mysterio ***1/4
  • Seth Rollins vs. A.J. Styles ****1/4
  • Kofi Kingston vs. Kevin Owens ***1/2
  • Women’s ladder match ***1/2

AEW’s debut show is now official for all U.S. cable systems, plus DirecTV and Dish Network. The suggested price is $49.99. Shaw Cable in Canada is also carrying the shows. Not every system in Canada has it at this point but many do. Dish is also advertising the roast of Ric Flair the night before for $19.99. (thanks to Lou Pickney and Sammy Montanaro)

WWE

  • The HBO Andre the Giant documentary is now up on the WWE Network. It’s definitely a very entertaining doc even with the flaws and work mode and some people used for history that had no idea of the history they were talking about. It’s a great look at Andre and there’s a lot of info on his life that has never been released previously.
  • WWE tickets for the next Raw taping in Newark at the Prudential Center have cut back to $20 for the lowest priced tickets with attendance dropping. (thanks to Jeff Rozner)
  • DK Publishing just released the book “WWE Smackdown: 20 Years and Counting” this past Tuesday.
  • Primo Colon has been all over WWC television in Puerto Rico in recent weeks and will be on a show next week. (thanks to Fco Gaztambide) 
  • A story on Paul Levesque’s niece as a college softball player. (thanks to Anthony Aragona)

UFC

  • As far as mainstream interest this weekend, UFC 237 was the third most searched item yesterday with 570,000 searches. It won’t get close to this number, but that’s the equivalent of a 100,000 to 150,000 buy show. With it being only available streaming, one would expect the final number to be much lower. The only names off the show that trended individually were Anderson Silva and B.J.Penn, and not Jessica Andrade for winning the strawweight title. Harold Lederman, the HBO boxing scorer who has been fixture on the broadcasts for decades, and passed away yesterday from cancer at the age of 79, was No. 10. Silver King was No. 11, both in the 50,000 range.
  • Tom Duquesnoy announced his retirement today.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • AAW from last night in Chicago before a sellout 550 fans: Jake Something (Cousin Jake Deaner) won three-way over Air Wolf and Trey Miguel, Kristen Statlander b Clayton Gainz, Josh Alexander b Adam Brooks (said to be great), Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz b Davey Vega & Mat Fitchett, Myron Reed b TJP, MJF b Mance Warner to keep Heritage title, Jake Something b MJF to win Heritage title, Jacob Fatu b Ace Romero, Jessicka Havok b Thunder Rosa to keep women’s title, Penta 0M & Rey Fenix b Dan Barry & Bill Carr, Sami Callihan b David Starr to keep the AAW title when Something turned on Starr.
  • John Morrison is doing a Q&A on 6/27 in Melbourne before his matches in Melbourne on 6/28 and Sydney in 6/29 for BCW. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • OVO, the channel that has PWA is contacting Australian promotions trying to do an Australian version of what FloSlam tried. PWA has pulled its recent shows off pivotshare.
  • Marty Scurll & Brody King vs. Flip Gordon & Brian Cage was announced for the 6/21 World Series Wrestling show in Melbourne, Australia.
  • Pro Wrestling Phoenix runs its 14th anniversary show on 5/22 in Omaha at the Waiting Room Lounge.
  • AAW debuts in Milwaukee on 7/12 at Turner Hall, the same venue that NXT and ROH use. Announced for the show are Penta 0M, Rey Fenix, Juventud Guerrera, Sami Callihan, Jessicka Havoc and Besties in the World.
  • Bar Wrestling from Thursday night in Los Angeles: Delilah Doom & Eli Everfly b Tyler Bateman & Brandon Cutler, Andy Brown b Luchasaurus, Peter Avalon & Ray Rosas b Heather Monroe & Jake Atlas, KC Spinelli b Joey Ryan, Taya Valkyrie & Daga & Zokre & Phoenix Star b Watts & Yuma & BHK & Ryan Taylor, Jungle Boy b David Arquette.  Next show is 5/30 in Baldwin Park CA at the American Legion and then 6/12 at the Bootleg Theater in Los Angeles. This was the show that got a lot of TMZ coverage because of the main event, plus it was also the show The Young Bucks showed up at to offer Rick Knox a contract when Joey Ryan thought they were offering him a contract. (thanks to Shannon Walsh and wrestlingwithdemonsn.net)
  • A woman named Casandra Cass was the valet for Arquette on the show.
  • Warrior Wrestling had a loaded up indie show today in Chicago Heights, IL with Tessa Blanchard vs. Jordynne Grace with Molly Holly as referee, Austin Aries vs. Eddie Edwards in a cage match, Pentagon Jr. & Rey Fenix vs Daga & Kotto Brazil, Bran Pillman Jr. vs. Robert Anthony with Pillman’s hair at stake vs. Pillman getting five minutes with Frank the Clown, Sam Adonis vs. Pat Monix, Volador Jr. vs. Gringo Loco and Tom Lawlor vs. Chris Ridgeway. Brian Cage, their champion, was unable to wrestle on the show due to his back injury.
  • Brian Cage due to his injuries vacated both his WrestleCircus Ringmaster and Sideshow championship belts. (thanks to Shannon Walsh)
  • Cage is looking to start wrestling again on 5/18 for UCW outside of Chicago.
  • Michael Craven from New Japan has been in Australia helping promote the 6/29 show at Festival Hall in Melbourne.
  • Mikey Nicholls vs. Dan Steel was added to the 5/25 EPW show in Perth.
  • Sami Callihan vs. Mance Warner in a falls count anywhere match has been added to the 6/1 MLW show in Waukesha, WI.
  • Megan Anderson has joined the broadcast team for Warfare Sports, a new boxing digital platform. She debuted on a show over the weekend from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. She’ll be joined on the team by Al Bernstein and Marc Abrams.
  • MCW from last night in Preston, Victoria, Australia: Slex b Lochy Hendricks to keep the MCW title, Indi Hartwell b Millie McKenzie, Mike Burr b DCT 2/3 falls, Nick Bury & Mitch Waterman b Jett & Kaz Jordan to keep tag titles, Session Moth Martina b Avary.
  • MCW from today: Kellyanne b Lena Kross, Steph De Lander b Aria, Kellyanne & Tarlee b Viksin & Chanel Phoenix, Indi Hartwell b Session Moth Martina, Avary b Millie McKenzie. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • Shine from Friday in Livonia,MI: Allysin Kay b Samantha Heights, Brandi Lauren b Thunderkitty, Lindsay Snow b Marti Belle, Santana b Kimber Lee, Shotzi Blackheart b Aja Perera to win Nova title, Ivelisse b Natalia Markova, Mercedes Martinez b Su Yung, Luscious Latasha & Gabby Gilbert b Thunder Rosa & Holidead in a lumberjills match to keep the tag titles. (thanks to Shannon Walsh)
  • A DVD of the documentary 350 Days is available at Turner Classic Movies and all major retailers.
  • Pro Wrestling Eve from today in London: Jetta & Erin Angel b Kay Lee Ray & Viper, Charli Evans b Laura DiMatteo, Roxxy b Nicole Matthews, Jinny b Bobby Tyler, Nightshade b Rebel Kinney, Nina Samuels b Jamie Hayter. They announced Kay Lee Ray & Viper’s last matches with the promotion will be on WrestleKingdom 2 since they’ve signed with WWE. Announced for that show are: Kay Lee Ray vs. Viper for the Eve title, Hayter vs. Utami Hayashishita for the International title, Charli Evans & Millie McKenzie vs. ? for tag titles plus several more wrestlers from Japan’s Stardom group will be on the show. (thanks to Chris Gannon)
  • Defy sold out Friday night in Seattle: Josef Samuel & Jacob Fatu b Mike Santiago & Ethan HD to retain tag titles, Guillermo Rosas b Travis Williams, Penta 0M & Rey Fenix b Schaff & Chris Ridgeway, Tom Lawlor b Randy Myers, Cat Powers b Danika Della Rogue, Vaquero Fantasma b Cazador Del Alma, Sonico & Leon Negro b Eli Surge & Judas Icarus. Next show is 6/15 in Portland and they also have a show 6/16 in Tacoma. (thanks to Scott Janicek)
  • Comedy Central aired the debut episode of Klepper, a documentary series starring Jordan Klepper Thursday night.The episode was focused on three Afghanistan war veterans who wrestle for a Texas independent promotion. The veterans talked to Klepper—who was previously a correspondent on the Daily Show, then hosted The Opposition, a satirical show which exposed the phony hysteria of extremist media—about their experiences in Afghanistan, returning home, survivors guilt, and using wrestling as therapy, before ending the show with them putting Klepper‘s heel persona Mr. Red Tape through a table. Clips can beseenhere. (thanks to Denis Gorman)
  • Jake Hager talked to Sporting News about Kofi Kingston winning the WWE title and pro wrestling fans’ reaction to him in MMA.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Kevin Steen wins ROH title

F4W Empire Convention Info:

  • Ed in San Antonio presents PODER~! at the FSW arena on Friday 5/24 – Showtime is at noon – Main event: Bryan Alvarez vs. Logan Stunt
  • Empire dinner on Friday 5/24 at 8:30 p.m. at Texas de Brazil – Price is $82 – All you can eat meat and salad, sodas, tea, and coffee, plus dessert included
  • Empire suite party on Friday 5/24 for those who were not able to get the Q&A package – Price is $25

Purchase tickets here. 

CONTACT INFORMATION