Daily Update: AEW tickets, AAA/MLW, Ted DiBiase

DAILY UPDATE

Latest News:

Latest Audio:

We’re looking for dark match reports from tonight’s Smackdown show in Vancouver to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com  Hulk Hogan returns tonight for his angle laying out what he’s doing on the Saudi Arabia show, plus The Miz & John Morrison vs Roman Reigns & ?, and Bayley vs. Carmella for the women’s title.  Tonight is also the Otis date with Mandy Rose segment.

We’re doing a poll this weekend for NXT Takeover in Portland on Sunday 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

Tonight at Arena Mexico in Mexico City on the CMLL YouTube page:

  • Electrico & Oro Jr. vs. Raziel & Cancerbero
  • Marcela & Tsukushi & Princesa Sugehit vs. Dalys & Amapola & Reyna Isis
  • Volador Jr. & Atlantis Jr. & Valiente vs. Negro Casas & Euforia & Gran Guerrero
  • One-night Parejas Increibles tournament with:  Caristico & Forastero, Ultimo Guerrero & Bandido, Diamante Azul & Gilbert El Boricua, Felino & Niebla Roja, Titan & Mephisto, Hechicero & Flyer, Dulce Gardenia & Okumura, and Universo 2000 Jr. & Guerrero Maya

NXT Takeover Portland has:

  • Adam Cole vs. Tommaso Ciampa for NXT title
  • Johnny Gargano vs. Finn Balor
  • Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair for women’s title
  • Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne for tag titles
  • Keith Lee vs. Dominik Dijakovic for North American title
  • Tegan Nox vs. Dakota Kai street fight

UFC this week is an ESPN+ show that starts at 5 p.m. Eastern:

  • Mark De La Rosa (126) vs Raulian Paiva (126)
  • Macy Chiasson (135) vs. Shanna Young (134)
  • Casey Kenney (135.5) vs. Merab Dvalishvili (136)
  • Devin Clark (205) vs. Dequan Townsend (202)
  • Jim Miller (156) vs. Scott Holtzman (156)
  • John Dodson (133.5) vs. Natahaniel Wood (136)
  • Tim Means (171) vs. Daniel Rodriguez (171)
  • Lando Vannata (156) vs. Yancy Medeiros (155)
  • Rogerio Bontorin (126) vs. Ray Borg (128)
  • Brok Weaver (156) vs. Kazula Vargas (156)
  • Montana De La Rosa (126) vs. Mara Romero Borella (125)
  • Diego Sanchez (171) vs. Michel Pereira (170)
  • Corey Anderson (205) vs Jan Blachowicz (206)

Borg missed weight by two pounds.

WON NEWSLETTER: WrestleMania 37 details, WWE financials, more

A look at next year’s WrestleMania in Los Angeles is the lead story in the new issue of the Observer. We look at the back story, regarding why the city wanted it in 2021 and WWE wanted it in 2022 and how the compromise was made.  We note deals of the new stadium, attendance, the legit all-time company attendance record, , notes from the press conference and a look back at the previous WrestleMania in Los Angeles.

Also covered in the new issue:

2019 WWE business rundown in every category, what was up, what was down, how much the new television deals added in this year’s fourth quarter, why there is uncertainty about stock analysts about the company, and TV deals late in renewing,.  We look at how badly the value of the company has dropped of late, what analysts are saying right now and what they are has to be done to get the company value back up.

Roster expansion, why production costs are so much higher, the decline over the past year in both network and PPV revenue, the arena business, the NXT house show business, merchandise, licensing, as well as a look at the company’s revenue and profits annually dating back to 1994.

More on the firing of Michelle Wilson and George Barrios from WWE, return of John Cena, Three more new members of WWE Hall of Fame, Becky Lynch talks pay, what wrestler looks to be leaving, future of MVP in WWE, UK ratings, most-watched shows on WWE Network and details of the weekend main roster and NXT arena events with business notes, results and highlights.

New Japan’s next show in Madison Square Garden, who are the key players and more dates for this year’s G-1 tournament.

Full coverage of New Beginning in Osaka, with business and creative notes, notes on all the upcoming title matches around the world, the latest angles, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.

XFL’s first week of television, the good, the bad, the TV deals and what it needs to stay at to be successful, plus live attendance and why the chances of survival are very different from the first time.

WWE Super Showdown, and Elimination Chamber shows.

Full coverage of UFC 247, with the background on the show, business notes, match-by-match coverage and poll results.

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.

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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.

FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE

AEW tickets for Boston, Philadelphia and the Memorial Day PPV in Las Vegas went on sale today.  None are sold out at this point, with Las Vegas, as expected, doing the best of the three with about 6,000 tickets sold as of earlier today, probably more by now.

Court Bauer noted in regard to Konnan trying to get AAA talent under contract to U.S. groups like AEW, MLW and Impact, that they are not interested in signing AAA talent. He said they tried to do that in 2019 and the relationship fell apart. They will use AAA talent and spotlight them but their attitude is if they use someone and they get signed elsewhere, that’s fine. He did say they have signed Septimo Dragon, who is not an AAA wrestler, and will be building a lot around him.

The Rice University Media Center in Houston has an exhibit with rare photos and films called “Friday Night at the Coliseum” celebrating Houston Wrestling. There will be a reception on 2/22 from 6-8 p.m. and the exhibit will be open through 3/20. Rice Professor Geoff Winnningham, who wrote a book about Houston Wrestling, will have over 200 contemporary and historical photos as well as 16 mm black and white film from early 70s Houston Wrestling. This is timed to promote the re-release of Winningham’s 1971 book, “Friday Night at the Coliseum.” (thanks to Richard Lowery)

A story on Ted DiBiase’s ministry receiving more than $2 million from Mississippi Welfare.

 WWE

  • Tonight’s show was close to sold out. It will be the largest crowd for a WWE television taping, or for that matter any show other than the Royal Rumble in North America, since at least October, if not sooner.
  • Randy Orton vs. Matt Hardy has been added to Monday’s Raw in Everett, WA.  Originally Monday’s angle was to be Hardy’s farewell, but it did so well in the ratings, plus there are several injuries and talent unavailable that even though it looked like a long-term injury angle which was the plan,they’ve changed plans.  Also due to injuries, Big Show will be back on Monday.   
  • Odds from www.BetOnline.ag for WWE Super Showdown
    Bray Wyatt -850 vs. Bill Goldberg +450
    Brock Lesnar -2000 vs. Ricochet +650
    Roman Reigns -450 vs. King Corbin +275
    John Morrison & The Miz -250 vs. New Day +175
  • For Takeover:
    Adam Cole -110 vs. Tommaso Ciampa =110
    Rhea Ripley -850 vs. Bianca Belair +450
    Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne -150 vs. Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly +110
    Finn Balor -160 vs. Johnny Gargano +120
    Dakota Kai -200 vs. Tegan Nox +150 
  • A preview for Sunday’s Takeover with Paul Levesque.

UFC

AEW

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Adam Brooks will be debuting with ROH on the 3/13 PPV show from Las Vegas.   
  • Evolve on 2/29 in Queens, NY has AR Fox & Leon Ruff vs. Adrian Alanis & Liam Gray with the winning team getting a tag title shot at the Besties in the World on 3/15 in Chicago, plus  Joe Gacy vs. Colby Corino. On 3/1 in Melrose, MA it’s JD Drake vs. Curt Stallion and Joe Gacy v. Anthony Gutierrez.
  • Shine runs on 2/29 in Queens, NY with Ivelisse vs Lindsay Snow for the Shine title, Natalia Markova vs. Brandi.Lauren for the Nova title and Jayme Jameson & Marti Belle vs. Avery Taylor & Brittany Blake for the tag titles.
  • AAW on 2/21 at the Logan Square Auditorium in Chicago has The Besties in the World defending the AAW tag titles against AR Fox & Myron Reed, Kris Statlander defending the women’s title again–Hst Jody Threat, Josh Briggs vs. Hakim Zena vs. Fred Yehi vs. Jordan Oliver with the winner getting an AAW title shot, ACH vs. TJP, Matt Justice vs. Nick Gage, Paco vs. Zicky Dice and more.
  • ONE has set up its complete 2020 schedule. Shows over the next few months are 2/28 in Singapore, 3/20 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 4/10 in Jakarta, Indonesia, 4/17 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 5/29 in Malina, The Philippines, 6/5 in Jakarta, 6/20 in Shanghai, China and 7/3 in Singapore.
  • The next KSW show is 3/21 from the Atlas Arena in Lodz, Poland. 
  • GWN Championship Wrestling on 3/8 in Hamilton, ONT at the Germania Club for a show where the doors open at 1 p.m.
  • LFA on 4/3 at the 1st Bank Center in Broomfield, CO headlined by featherweight champion Justin Gonzalez (10-0) vs. Steve Garcia Jr. (11-3).  The show airs live on UFC Fight Pass. 
  • Canadian Wrestling Elite announced that D-Lo Brown is off their 2/27 to 3/1 shows and will be replaced by Nick Dinsmore.  This will be for shows on 2/27 in Roseau R vier First Nations, Manitoba, 2/28 in Winnipeg, 2/29 in Regina, Saskatchewan and 3/1 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
  • Combate America announced changes in its 2/28 show in Fresno, CA that airs on Univision and AXS TV.  Alejandro Martinez (4-4) replaces an injured Pablo Sabori in the main event against Adrian Guzman (6-1) in a lightweight fight.  The Zoila Frausto vs. Karla Benitez fight has been changed and it will instead be Zoila’s sister, Stephanie Frausto (7-6) vs. Charisa Sigala (4-1).
  • Combate Americas also runs 3/13 in Tucson at the Arena with Juan Puerta (18-6) vs. Ivan Lopez (14-4-1)  at flyweight and German Orineda Ponce (0-0) vs. Federico Flores (1-1). Ponce is an undefeated kickboxer with Juan
  • 559 Fights on 3/13 in Visalia, CA at the Convention Center with Larry Gonzales (4-0) putting up his heavyweight title against Jordan Pankey (4-2).
  • Qatar Pro Wrestling SuperSlam 2 on 2/21 in Doha, Qatar at the Lusail Sports Arena has Alberto El Patron vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Chris Raaber  Alofa, Apolo & Apolo Jr. vs. Carlito & Chris Masters vs. Jody Fleich & Jonny Storm, Brian Cage vs. Michael Elgin, nZo vs. Brian Pillman Jr, plus Eric Bischoff, Kevin Nash, Mark Henry, Road Warrior Animal, Great Khali, Matt Sydal, Davey Boy Smith Jr., PJ Black, Caprice Coleman, Mil Muertes, Dos Caras, Matt Cross, Michael Kovac, Tristan Archer and White Eagle appearing.
  • Wrestling Travel has announced ManiaCrawl 7 on 4/5 in Tampa. The event is a cosplay competition with drink discounts on the way to Raymond James Stadium for WrestleMania as a fundraiser for Connor’s Cure 
  • Homicide vs. Brody King has been added to the ROH Past vs. Present show on 3/14 in Las Vegas at Sam’s Town Live.
  • A story on Blake Lawler, the grandson of Jerry Lawler and son of Brian Lawler, who is wrestling in high school  (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)

Daily Pro Wrestling History: WWF St. Valentine’s Day Massacre

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