Daily Update: AEW, Young Bucks, Royal Quest

DAILY UPDATE

Latest News:

Latest Audio:

NEW JAPAN FROM KORAKUEN HALL WEDNESDAY MORNING AT 5:30 A.M. EASTERN ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • Shota Umino vs. Clark Connors
  • Yota Tsuji vs. Alex Coughlin both Young Lions tournament bouts

NEW JAPAN FROM KORAKUEN HALL THURSDAY MORNING AT 5:30 A.M. EASTERN ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • Ren Narita vs. Karl Fredericks
  • Yuya Uemura vs. Michael Richards both Young Lions tournament bouts 

F4W NEWSLETTER: NXT moving to USA Network Joseph Currier looks at the implications of NXT going head-to-head with AEW. Plus, Vinny’s TV reviews and live NJPW report.

The early stages of the modern-day pro wrestling war between WWE and AEW picked up last week as NXT’s move to the USA Network was officially announced.

The move will begin on Wednesday, September 18, meaning that NXT on USA will get a two-week head start before AEW premieres on TNT on October 2. NXT will become a two-hour show and will be live on USA Network, with NXT and AEW going head-to-head and airing from 8-10 p.m. Eastern time.

After debuting on USA, the NXT episodes will be made available on demand on the WWE Network every Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern. TakeOver events will continue to stream live exclusively on WWE Network.

Full Sail University will also remain the home venue of NXT, with WWE announcing NXT TV dates at Full Sail through the remainder of the year.

“The move to USA Network provides an opportunity to deepen our relationship with NBCUniversal and further build the NXT brand,” Vince McMahon said in a press release. “Over the long term, our goal is to develop a following that can be monetized to the same level as our flagship programs, Raw and SmackDown.”

“Can’t describe this announcement in any other word than PROUD,” Paul “Triple H” Levesque tweeted. “Proud of everyone involved from day one. Proud you’ve let your voice be heard and carried the banner of this brand. Proud you’ve loudly & clearly said #WeAreNXT. And I’m proud to say, we’re just getting started.”

WWE has denied that NXT going to USA is a response to AEW, with a WWE spokesman telling Deadspin that “It isn’t called counter-programming if you continue to air a series on the same day/time as it has been on for nearly five years.” Though it may be spin, the statement has enough truth to it that WWE doesn’t look completely ridiculous. NXT (in its one-hour taped format on the WWE Network) has long been a Wednesday night show, but it’s hard to believe that WWE wouldn’t have counter-programmed AEW regardless of what night it aired on.

It’s a smart business move for WWE to give AEW competition on Wednesday nights. It’s been estimated that USA is paying WWE $30-50 million per year, though the length of the deal isn’t known. When TNA would face any competition from WWE, the ratings for Impact would decrease. AEW is going to need to put on a must-see show that has a broad coalition of viewers. They have a significant core fanbase made up of those who are already invested in The Elite, but they have to go beyond that and draw casual fans, lapsed fans, people who are dissatisfied with WWE, and others who like WWE but are willing to try out a new product. The most important thing for the future of AEW is that they build their audience and make as much money as possible on their second TV deal. Having to go against NXT is inevitably going to cannibalize some of their viewership. The only question is how big of a hit AEW is going to take.

WON NEWSLETTER: September 2, 2019 Observer Newsletter: Changes in the wrestling landscape in the coming weeks

Questions regarding NXT vs. AEW’s upcoming showdown that will determine the wrestling landscape is the lead topic of discussion in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter. 

We raise fourteen questions regarding the Wednesday Night War, and discuss what the answers will tell us about the global pro wrestling scene, as well as when we might have those answers. 

We also break down what Google searches over the last 90 days in the United States can tell us about the upcoming Wednesday Night War, as well as what oddsmakers think about who will win in the ratings. 

Along those lines, we also look at the AEW ticket sales information for their fourth and fifth weeks of television, and talk about what they might indicate. 

Also in the new issue, we have full coverage of the Super-J Cup, including star ratings from the San Francisco show of the tour. 

The issue also features an update on the upcoming Clash of Champions show, including an updated card, and a look at how the show is doing on the secondary ticket market. 

We also have a historical piece covering Harley Race’s key years on top, 1977-1981.

Dragon Gate’s Dangerous Gate show is also covered in the issue. 

We also have news and notes on all of the top wrestling and MMA promotions in the world. 

We have full coverage of all the WWE television shows from the past week.

As always, we have in-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows,the key demos for the WWE shows and what can be learned from them.

We also have the 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.

MONDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight talking all the weekend shows, Raw and the latest news. You can send e-mail questions to the show to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com  but please limit them only to stuff pertaining to the current situation.  We can do history questions at another time.

Becky Lynch will be on Straight Up Steve Austin after Raw tonight on the USA Network. 

We have a third part of the Harley Race story that will be in an upcoming issue.  Part two is in the current issue and it’s an extensive look at his world title years, key matches, key angles and key opponents and the story of the night someone tried to double-cross him and steal the title. 

I’ll talk more about it tonight, but watching the AEW show live and the PPV version I have a lot of different thoughts about it show which we’ll get to. The funny thing is, because this is usually not the case, the crowd came across better in most matches on the TV version, possibly because of where I was sitting.  It was a very good crowd, but the production people did a great job of micing it for the most part.  Although some spots like the ladder match craziness and Arn Anderson, they were more electric live.

The Young Bucks are both banged up from the ladder match still, but no serious injuries.  No word on Fenix but he went into the match hurting and still he did so much amazing stuff.  Pentagon & Fenix worked a show the next night in Chicago.  When people talk about the top tier in-ring performers in the business, Fenix and Nick Jackson usually aren’t mentioned but they both should be.  So should Walter, Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate.  There was a lot of dangerous stuff on the show, particularly that match and the Joey Janela vs. Jimmy Havoc vs. Darby Allin match. 

WWE:

  • J Sports in Japan announced Smackdown would be moving from Thursday to Saturday, live at 9 a.m. starting on 10/5.  Smackdown with Japanese subtitles will be on J Sports 4 at 6 p.m. every Friday starting on 10/11, as well as J Sports on Demand.  Smackdown highlights will air on J Sports 3 at 10 p.m. every Friday starting 10/11.
  • Another article comparing Donald Trump to WWE (thanks to George Maranville) 

UFC:

  • One of the biggest fights of the year will take place Saturday with lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov facing interim champion Dustin Poirier.  Both have been very respectful to each other in building the fight, but what you can say badly about Poirier, a guy who stumbled at featherweight, moved up to lightweight, and has had some of the most exciting fights around.

MISCELLANEOUS:

  • Royal Quest is now up on New Japan World. I haven’t watched or heard but was told yesterday that it would not have technical issues on World.  People live raved about that show.  Even with the problems I could tell the wrestling was really strong.
  • There were issues with the All Out stream on PS4 Saturday night, at least in the U.K.  We don’t know how extensive this was but there were refunds offered.
  • Warrior Wrestling from yesterday in Chicago Heights, IL:  Soberano Jr. b Templario, Sam Adonis & Gringo Loco b Wardlow & Brian Pillman Jr., Caristico won three-way over Atlantis and Ultimo Guerrero, Killer Kross b Tom Lawlor, Lance Archer b Alex Zayne, Austin Aries (managed by Frank Mir) b Alex Shelley, Pentagon Jr. & Rey Fenix b Daga & Tessa Blanchard, Dragon Lee b Andrew Everett, Brian Cage b Michael Elgin to keep Warrior Wrestling title (thanks to Shannon Walshj)
  • A story on former Olympic gold medal winning wrestler Helen Maroulis attempting to make the team after having horrible concussion issues (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)
  • PWA sold out in Sydney, Australia Friday night:  TJ Perkins b Matty Wahlberg, Jessica Try b Mat Diamond for PWA title, Concrete Davidson NC Unsocial Jordan, Jude London & Paris DeSilva b Jack Bonza & Mick Moretti to win tag titles, Jack Bonza won 30 man Rumble (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  •  EPW in Perth on Saturday night:  Logan Grey & Alex Kingston b Tyler Jacobs & Taylor King, Julian Ward b Craven, Kiel Sterita b Zenith,Damian Slater b TJ Perkins, Dan Moore b Marcius Pitt, Gavin McGavin b Gorgeous Garry, Michael Morleone b Davis Storm to keep EPW title.  Morelone defends against Mikey Nicholls on 11/9.
  •  MCW on Saturday night in Melbourne:  Danny Psycho b Matty Wahlberg, Atlas Whittaker & Emmanuel & Shaun Young b Jake Lindo & Kaz Jordan, Jett Rouka, Jake Andrewartha b Tony Villani, Ritchie Taylor b DCT, Steph De Lander b Indi Hartwell, Nick Bury & Mitch Waterman b Tome & Stevie Filip to win tag titles, Slex NC Adam Brooks.  Indi Hartwell did her farewell show.  She’s signed with somebody.  The Filip Brothers lost because they are also going to the U.S. and also Japan.  Aussie Open will be there in October as will Hartley Jackson, an NXT coach, which is most notable a WWE employee working an Australian independent date.  Buddy Murphy was at this show.  He’s best friends with Brooks.  
  • LFA comes to Southern California on 10/11 for a live show on AXS TV from the Riverside Municipal Auditorium.  Tyler Diamond (10-1), who competed on the Ultimate Fighter, before losing in the semifinals to Bryce Mitchell, faces Machida student Rafael Barbosa (12-1) in a featherweight main event.
  •  RISE from yesterday in Berwyn, IL:  Laynie Luck b Hawlee Cromwell, Sierra b Queen Aminata, Max the Impaler b Valentina Loca, Sophie King b Elayna Black, Effy b Devn Monroe, Jake Atlas b Priscilla Kelly, Laynie Luck b Sierra, Max the Impaler b Sophie King, Jessicka Havok & Nevaeh b Dust & Rosemary & Raven’s Ash, Big Swole b Double D Rose, Max the Impaler b Laynie Luck in the tournament final.  Luck gets the first shot in an 11/1 ladder match. (thanks to Shannon Walsh at wrestlingwithdemons.net)
  • Shoko Nakajima, who has worked for AEW in the past, was not in the Battle Royal because she was defending her Princess or Princesses championship for Tokyo Joshi Pro, in Osaka, yesterday, beating Mizaki.
  •  Stardom from Sendai yesterday:  Hazuki & Natsuko Tora b AZM & Hina & Leo Onozaki, Saki Kashima & Starlight Kid & Saya Iida b Hana Kimura & Jungle Kyona & Rina, Mayu Iwatani b Avary, Tam Nakano b Momo Watanabe, Utami Hayashishita b Jamie Hayter, Konami b Arisa Hoshiki, Andras Miyagi b Kagetsu.  The singles matches are all part of the Five-Star tournament. 
  • PWP on 9/18 in Omaha at the Waiting Room Lounge.
  •  River City Wrestling on Saturday at the Hybrid School of Wrestling at 7114 Eckhert Rd. Suite B in San Antonio.  Only 100 tickets at $10 for a students show.
  •  BCW from Friday night in Melbourne:  Cody Swift won three-way over Nick Bury and Mitch Waterman, Dan Severn b DCT, Mortar b Viksin, Gabriel Wolfe won 15 man Rumble, The Preston Kindred b Ken Shamrock & Carlo Cannon to win tag titles, Mad Dog b Masashi Takeds to retain BCW title in an Ultraviolent rules match.
  •  BCW from Saturday in Sydney:  Carlo Cannon b Bee Boy, Mortar & Masashi Takeda b Mad Dog & Viksin, Mortal wins the women’s title in this match, Preston Kindred b Vinnie Vain & Lucsious Wolfe to keep tag titles, Niki Nitro b Blame, Ken Shamrock NC Dan Severn in a no holds barred match.  They announced Tenille Dashwood for 10/25 in Melbourne (thanks to Kevin Chiat) 
  • Zenshi vs. Jordan Oliver has been added to Saturday’s MLW show in Dallas which is the War Chamber show with the Von Erichs, plus Kevin returns to Dallas as their manager. 
  • CWE has a free shot on 10/19 in Winnipeg at the St.Amanut Large Gym.
  • A story on Aja Perera, an independent wrestler in New Jersey (thanks to Barry Werner).
  • A movie starring Paul London is looking at getting funding.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Eric Bischoff awards World Heavyweight title to HHH

CONTACT INFORMATION