Daily Update: AEW, Super Bowl ticket prices, Desmond Green

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WON NEWSLETTER: February 3, 2020 Observer Newsletter: Royal Rumble review, WM 36 takes shape

A look at the current WrestleMania card, as well as what big name is being talked with, what big name is not on the card, as well as the Royal Rumble decision making is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

We also have complete Rumble coverage including a table with each participant, how long they were in, eliminations, number of entry and exit and more.  We look at Vince McMahon’s change in the winners in the last week, the stories told in the Rumble, why the winners were changed, the return of Edge, his new contract, how he got such a big deal, the WWE injuries, the Andrade drug test failure, those who were not in the Rumble and why, business notes on the way and what are expected to be the biggest wrestling crowds of the year.  We also look at viewer interest in the show, the interest as compared to the UFC 246 show, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.

The new issue also covers: 

The sale of Pro Wrestling NOAH to CyberAgent, more on big companies buying wrestling franchises, plans for NOAH under the new ownership and the relationship with DDT as it stands right now.

UFC 246, with show notes, business notes and match-by-match coverage.

Worlds Collide with match-by-match coverage, star ratings, business notes and what did and didn’t work on the show.

Changes in the WWE house show business and why.  We look at both the positive and negative of it. We also look at the behavior of Vince McMahon at the Rocky Johnson funeral, the incident with Brock Lesnar and Matt Riddle, new contracts signed, wrestler asking for her release, WWE Canadian numbers, Charlotte Flair talks Kairi Sane concussion, new WWE signees, the most-watched shows on the WWE Network and house show coverage.

New Year’s Dash from New Japan, the Jushin Liger retirement ceremony, match-by-match coverage with star ratings and the angles coming out of the show.

A bio on Hercules Ayala, one of the biggest stars of the glory days of Puerto Rican wrestling, covering how he started there, his work outside Puerto Rico, how he first got into Stampede Wrestling, his biggest matches on major stadium events including major bouts with Ric Flair and Randy Savage, his heel turn with Carlos Colon, the aftermath of the death of Bruiser Brody and how he was used to try and get the business back.

NWA Hard Times PPV show.

A bio on Carlos Rocha, the Portuguese star who was one of the biggest drawing cards in North America in 1971 and 1972 with his bloodbaths against The Sheik and Abdullah the Butcher. We look at those feuds as well as look back at The Sheik in Toronto during the period when he was one of the biggest single city draws in pro wrestling history, and how his undefeated streak put limits on the Rocha feud. We look at how Sheik vs. Rocha was the biggest drawing Toronto feud of the era, and why he outdrew Andre, Bruno, Bobo Brazil and all the other major Sheik foes in Toronto. We also look at his return to North America and his retirement run in the WWWF.

Regarding the Wednesday numbers, we’ve got full details, demos that each side won, how every segment did and what match ended up as the difference maker. 

Full 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. 

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 is up, covering the two New Japan shows in Sapporo and the George Barrios/Michelle Wilson firing, as well as WWE injury updates.

Nothing wrestling, boxing or MMA related made the Google trends this weekend, but nothing would have. With it being Super Bowl weekend, nobody ran except smaller groups that wouldn’t trend.

The Super Bowl is the most expensive ticket in the history of the secondary market with a $6,043 get-in price.  If you are in a group of more than two and need tickets, that’ll get you up to $6,427 per ticket. For other big events, WrestleMania is at $62, AEW Revolution is at $68, AEW Newark is at $54, WWE Elimination Chamber is at $39, NXT Takeover Portland is at $39, UFC 247 is at $160, UFC 248 is at $138 and UFC 249 is at $232.

AEW is bringing in some legends of the Southeastern promotion for Wednesday’s show and also to help promote the show in Huntsville, AL. Those who are confirmed are Austin Idol, Arn Anderson (who would be there anyway as Cody’s manager), Missy Hyatt and Doug Gilbert. Not sure what they are going to be doing at the show itself.

 WWE

UFC

  • It’s been reported in Australia that both Perth and Sydney are competing to get the Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway featherweight title rematch.
  • Desmond Green, a former UFC fighter, was taken into custody on Wednesday for violating terms of his pretrial release in a DUI manslaughter case according to MMA Fighting. Green was taken into custody after he was charged on 1/22 with felony driving without a license which led to a revoking of his bond. Green was released by UFC and has since signed with the Absolute Championship Akhmat promotion.  He will remain in jail until his next hearing on 3/6. Green faces 20 different charges from a 2018 accident that left two women dead and police claim he was intoxicated at the time and was driving with a suspended license. 

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Melbourne Championship Wrestling from yesterday: Zane Zodiac won over Royce Chambers and Zeke Andino, Jake Andrewartha b Leo Pratt, Paris DaSilva & Jude London b Jett Rouka & Tyson Baxter, Avary b Steph De Lander to win women’s title, Lochy Hendricks b Marcus Kool, Caveman Ugg b Danny Psycho to win Intercommonwealth title, Nick Bury & Mitch Waterman b Tome & Stevie Filip to keep tag titles Adam Brooks b Davis Storm to keep MCW title.  Jimmy Havoc was announced for the 3/21 show (thanks to Dave Roughton,. William Purssey and Kevin Chiat)
  • Defy from Friday night in Seattle,WA:  Josef Samael & Jacob Fatu won over Ricky Gibson & Eddie Pearl and Ethan HD & Mike Santiago in a deathmatch for the tag titles, Sonico b Travis Williams, Brody King b Cody Chunn, Jaiden & Big Ugly & Coyote Azteca & Judas Icarus &  Bryan Cook b Guillermo Rosas & Dave Cook & Titus Alexander & Marcus Anderson & Jet Knight in an elimination match, Killer Kross b King Khash (Khash looked to have gotten legit injured), Luchasaurus & Marko Stunt & a guy in a panda mask b Cima & T-Hawk & Lindaman, Schaff b Artemis Spencer in a ladder match to keep the title in a great match (thanks to Scott Janicek)
  • International Combat Sports announced a 2/29 show in Dunbar, WV at the Rec Center as a fundraiser for Tracy Smothers, who is fighting stage three lymphoma.  Local and regional stars from the past and present are coming together to raise money for Smothers. 
  • North Wrestling,coming off a Sky Sports documentary on the company, sold out for the first time last night with 286 fans in Newcastle, UK:  Shreddy & Connor Renshaw b Liam Slater & Alexander Henry, Roxxy b Dani Luna, Anti Fun Police b Amir Jogan & Gee Munny, Rory Coyle b Eddie Kingston in a no DQ match, TK Cooper b HT Drake, Gia Dams over Kurt Fraser Thomas and Zoe Knox,Spike Trivet b Screwface to keep title (thanks to Jordan Clark)
  • Today is Teddy Hart’s 40th birthday
  • Rocky Mountain Pro on 2/7 in Golden, CO at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds for a taping of their TV show, RUMP Charged,that airs on Twitch and Fite TV.
  • Showcase TV, which operates in the U.K.and Sky and Freeview, has been down since Saturday morning.  They air Fight Network Canada programming every night from 9 p.m. on including Impact, ROH and UK indies. No word on what the issue is. (thanks to Matthew Evans)
  • Newsday has a story on the death of John Mair aka Crusher Doogan from last week (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Midnight Express win NWA Tag Team titles

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