Daily Update: Atsushi Aoki, OWE, Jimi Manuwa

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F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Thoughts on AEW Double or Nothing

If it wasn’t already clear, the success of All Elite Wrestling’s Double or Nothing has solidified one thing: the remainder of 2019 is going to be a great time for the professional wrestling industry and its fans.

AEW’s maiden voyage had a lot of hype to live up to. There’s always difficulty when something transforms from an idea to a fully-formed product, complete with its own issues and imperfections. And while Double or Nothing wasn’t perfect, it managed to exceed reasonable expectations.

WON NEWSLETTER: June 3, 2019 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Double or Nothing review

A look at Double or Nothing and the debut of AEW is the lead story in this week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Look at how the show did on PPV, where the buys came from, and how this number compares with the other companies. Compare it with All In, look at what was both good and bad about running in Las Vegas, the problems with Starrcast and high spots of Starrcast, merch numbers, the Cody vs. Dustin match,

Look at what Jon Moxley is doing next, why he left WWE, and cover his detailed interview on Talk is Jericho about why he left WWE and his goals going forward.

Also look at WWE’s Super Showdown, including some questions that you can’t get away from asking. Also run down the show, and the issue of it being easy to say things when it’s to your benefit but another having to make decisions that back up your proclaimed beliefs.

Examine this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament and where New Japan goes next.

Read about new legislation that could greatly affect how WWE and AEW wrestlers are treated, preview Takeover Bridgeport, updated PPV cards, update on Ric Flair, update on Sasha Banks, Lineups for big shows and WWE looking at making more purchases. 

Have a look at the Hall of Fame career of Rashad Evans, from his start in winning The Ultimate Fighter, to winning the light heavyweight title, to his grudge matches with Jon Jones and Rampage Jackson, and famous bouts with the likes of Lyoto Machida and Chuck Liddell. 

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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TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE

Additional notes by Joseph Currier

WWE

  • SmackDown takes place tonight in Laredo, Texas at the Sames Auto Arena. Goldberg will be on the show, talking about his match against the Undertaker at Super ShowDown. Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods will team against Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn, Bayley will appear on A Moment of Bliss, and Lars Sullivan will give an “exclusive interview.”
  • Kingston spent his final day in Ghana meeting the Asante King.
  • ICW announced that Toni Storm will defend the NXT UK Women’s Championship against Piper Niven at Shug’s Hoose Party 6 night two in Glasgow, Scotland on July 28.
  • Tyler Breeze discussed his NXT TakeOver experience and his return to the brand after five years.
  • On Instagram, Ronda Rousey wrote about her WWE 24 episode that premiered on the Network last night: “Watched 24 last night on #wwenetwork … Thank you @wwe for making such a beautiful piece I could watch with my husband and sons… what incredible year… I miss and love you all so much”
  • BOOM! Studios announced today that their WWE comic book series will end with the upcoming 25th issue.
  • The second season of Figure it Out, Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder’s figurine show, will premiere on WWE’s YouTube page on Thursday.
  • Vic Joseph established the Mark A. Kapusta Memorial Scholarship in his hometown of Independence, Ohio. The scholarship honors a childhood friend of Joseph’s who suffered from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
  • The XFL announced the establishment of their health advisory committee.

Pro Wrestling

UFC/MMA

  • Jimi Manuwa is retiring from mixed martial arts following his loss to Aleksandar Rakic in the co-main event of UFC Stockholm on Saturday. He wrote in an Instagram post: “I’ve had a great martial arts career and the last 4 fights have been tough losses to take not only for myself but for my family who is always first. I’ve given out a mostly knockouts and taken a few myself, that’s my fan loving style but it takes a toll on the body especially concussions which are not visible to the eye. I’ve met a lot of great people along the way and travelled the world but it’s time to leave this chapter and on to the next one because there’s a life after fighting and I feel it’s my obligation to give more to combat sports, which I love dearly outside of fighting.
  • Johnny Walker is medically cleared following shoulder surgery. He’s currently targeting a September return.
  • Anthony Smith is getting surgery for his hand, which was broken during an early exchange in his fight against Alexander Gustafsson. He is expecting to be out around four months.
  • Santiago Ponzinibbio is recovering after an emergency bacterial infection surgery.
  • The first episode of UFC 238 Embedded is now up.
  • Nordine Taleb bs. Muslim Salikhov has been set for UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi.
  • Cyril Gane vs. Raphael Pessoa is set for UFC Uruguay on August 10th.
  • ONE Championship will be opening offices in Los Angeles and New York City this summer.
  • Dana White’s Contender Series will return on June 18 on ESPN+.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Hiromu Takahashi wins 2018 Best of the Super Juniors

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