Daily Update: Backlash fallout, Alexa Bliss, Super Strong Style 16

THE ROUND-UP

THE LATEST NEWS

We’re looking for your thoughts on last night’s Backlash show, as well as both of the Dontaku shows, 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 also looking for reports from Raw at the Nassau Coliseum with Main Event results and anything not on the live show. We’re also looking for reports on the Progress tournament to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

Raw is tonight from the Nassau Coliseum in New York. The plan is to start Money in the Bank qualifying matches tonight. There is also a Smackdown house show in Allentown, PA.

Smackdown and 205 Live are Tuesday from Baltimore. Mandy Rose vs. Becky Lynch was announced for the show and Jack Gallagher & Brian Kendrick vs. Lince Dorado & Gran Metalik was announced for 205 Live. There will also be some Money in the Bank qualifying matches.

Wednesday we will be looking for live reports from WWE Raw’s house show in Bornemouth, England. NXT is also doing television tapings on Wednesday night at Full Sail University and we’re looking for reports from ROH in Lowell, MA to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

ROH WAR OF THE WORLDS WEDNESDAY NIGHT FROM LOWELL MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM ON HONOR CLUB AND IPPV ON FITE TV

  • Vinny Marseglia & TK O’Ryan vs. Coast 2 Coast
  • Silas Young & Beer City Bruiser & Brian Milonas vs. Tetsuya Naito & Evil & Seiya Sanada
  • Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky vs. Jay White & Chucky T & Jay Lethal non-title
  • Mark & Jay Briscoe vs. Jushin Liger & Flip Gordon non-title
  • Young Bucks vs. Bushi & Hiromu Takahashi
  • Cody & Adam Page & Marty Scurll vs. Rocky Romero & Sho & Yoh
  • Dalton Castle vs. Matt Taven for ROH title

NXT is also doing tapings on Thursday at Full Sail University while Raw will be in Belfast and Smackdown opens up its European tour in Oberhausen, Germany.

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: WWE’s bet on Saudi Arabia

If WWE was concerned about criticism of their partnership with Saudi Arabia, they certainly didn’t show it at the Greatest Royal Rumble.The first event in WWE’s 10-year agreement with the Saudi General Sports Authority was a weird mix of special event, house show, and propaganda. It wasn’t just a stadium show with Saudi Arabia as its backdrop. The location wasn’t just spotlighted in the set design or advertising like with WrestleMania host cities. 

WON NEWSLETTER: May 8, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Fallout from the Greatest Royal Rumble

A look at the Greatest Royal Rumble, both the financial and ethical aspects and answering a lot of questions about the show is the lead story in the new double-issue of the Observer.

Look at the different controversies, from why the show is completely different from anything in pro wrestling history, to the questions regarding the women and Sami Zayn, attempts at defending the situation. Review the show itself, with a complete rundown of the Rumble, match-by-match coverage with star ratings, records set for the Rumble, the Lesnar vs. Reigns finish, and Lesnar going forward.

Look at first day ticket sales for New Japan’s show at the Cow Palace, why it’s difficult for New Japan to promote matches when they put tickets on sale, the Okada vs. Tanahashi feud, Chris Jericho in New Japan, talk of running more Dome shows in the upcoming years, as well as full coverage of the Hi No Kuni show in Kumamoto with match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.

This issue features Glenn Jacobs and his mayor campaign, including his chances of winning the overall election, details of how he won the election and the campaign itself, and wrestlers who came in to support him.

Have a look at the life and career of Universo 2000, the longest reigning world heavyweight champion in pro wrestling of the modern era, who passed away on Wednesday.

There is a story looking back at the birth of UFC with the announcement of Art Davie into the UFC Hall of Fame.

Coverage of the birth of the new PFL, the $1 million tournaments and prize packages, the two-time gold medalist that is starting with the group, and a lot of former UFC names that have entered in the different weight classes.

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MONDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight covering Raw, New Japan and the rest of the news. You can also send questions to the show to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com.

Everyone on the site wants to apologize for the technical issues today. Because of how bad the WWE show was last night, it caused so many people to want to listen to the shows that the hosts thought the site was under a DDOS hacking attack and shut it down. Even when explained what the problem was and it wasn’t being hacked, the shut done couldn’t be undone. Hopefully everything will be okay from this point forward. 

WWE Backlash was the fifth most searched term on the Internet yesterday with 200,000 searches. That is normal levels for a non-major PPV show.

This has been a killer period of travel for the WWE crew. While they had the weekend off after last week’s trip to Saudi Arabia, the Raw crew leaves tonight after the show for a Wednesday night show in Bornemouth, England. The Smackdown crew leaves tomorrow night and starts their European tour on Thursday in Oberhausen Germany.

WWE reported Alexa Bliss had a left shoulder injury from last night’s match with Nia Jax.

The Lowell, Toronto, and Royal Oak, MI ROH War of the Worlds shows will be iPPVs through FITE TV priced at $10 each if you are not a member of Honor Club.

We’re looking for more on this, but Zack Sabre Jr. beat Kassius Ohno in the finals of the Progress tournament that was held over the past three days in London. Tyler Bate was in the tournament but had to withdraw due to a legit shoulder injury suffered yesterday. The only thing we’ve heard is the injury wasn’t that serious, but it was serious enough he had to take today’s show off. Progress will be doing a U.S. tour in August and we’ll try to have more on that later this week. Cities they are running are Boston, New York, Chicago, Detroit and Seattle.

For those in Canada, CBC’s Documentary Channel tonight will be debuting a documentary about wrestling legend Reggie “Sweet Daddy” Siki. It debuted at 10 a.m. Eastern today, and also airs at Noon Eastern tomorrow and at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Wednesday night. (thanks to Steven Ashe) 

If you are not in Canada, you can access the Siki documentary this month.

WWE

  • WWE will have a presale for the Takeover in Brooklyn before SummerSlam as well as the Raw in Brooklyn after SummerSlam starting after Raw tonight.
  • WWE is filming a Carpool Karaoke show with The New Day, Natalya, Charlotte Flair, Naomi, Becky Lynch, and Nia Jax today.
  • Kevin Owens turned 34 today. Owen Hart, who Kevin’s last name in WWE came from, would have turned 53 today. (thanks to Anthony Alvarez)
  • Renee Young will be appearing for Northeast Wrestling on their annual August show at Dutchess County Stadium in Wappingers Falls, NY.

UFC

  • Chad Mendes will return from a PED suspension on the 7/14 show in Boise, ID. He is signed to face Myles Jury.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Rey Mysterio Jr. has pulled out of the Niagara Falls Comic Con from 6/1 to 6/3 in Niagara Falls. Those who are appearing are Ric Flair, Big Show, Trish Stratus, Lita, Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake.
  • Major League Wrestling will have a TV taping on 7/19 at the Melrose Ballroom in Long Island City, NY. Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. Announced for the show are Shane Strickland, Pentagon Jr., Rey Fenix, MVP, Barrington Hughes, MJF, Sami Callihan, Salina de la Renta and ACH. They have a really cool television show. It’s different and easy to watch.
  • Young Bucks, Cody and Kenny Omega Funko Pops are now available at Pro Wrestling Tees and Hot Topic stores.
  • New ROH War of the Worlds matches announced are Tetsuya Naito vs. Beer City Bruiser in Toronto on Friday night and the Dawgs vs. Jushin Liger & Cheeseburger at the TV tapings in Chicago this coming Sunday.
  • Rob Van Dam will be appearing 10/13 and 10/14 at the Hamilton, ONT Comic Con. Henry Winkler who starred in a wrestling movie 40 yeas ago “The One and Only” will also be there.
  • Hulk Hogan will be at the Nickel City Con on 5/18 to 5/20- in Buffalo. For $295, you can get a meet and greet, a photo, an autograph, an unsigned 8×10, a T-shirt and a VIP swag bag. The Young Bucks will also be there and for $75 you get a Q&A session with them, an autographed photo, a meet and greet with a selfie and a T-shirt.
  • CWE on 5/24 in Calgary at the Marlborough Community Hall featuring an appearance by Ron Simmons. They also run 5/27 in Regina, SK at The Exchange.
  • Glory Pro Wrestling from yesterday in Collinsville, IL: Mikey McFinnegan & Camaro Jackson & Frank Wyatt b Edvin Kdic & Kody Lane & Ethan Price, DJZ & Everett Connors b Anthony Henry & James Drake in a tag team title match, Jimmy Jacobs b Air Wolf, Kylie Rae won four-way over Shotzi Blackheart, Savanna Stone and Rahne Victoria, Hakim Zane b Space Money, Jeff Cobb b Moose, Kevin Lee Davidson & Danny Adams b Davey Vega & Mat Fitchett, Tyler Matrix b MJF, Jake Parnell b Gary Jay in a knockout only match, Curt Stallion & Barakus & T-Money & Russ Myers b Jake Something & Myron Reed & Paco Gonzalez & Stephen Wolf in an elimination match. (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
  • PCW announced for 6/8 in Wilmington, CA the main event would be Pena 0M vs. Sami Callihan for their title plus Tessa Blanchard, Shane Strickland, Warbeast managed by Kevin Sullivan, Ace Romero, Darby Allin, Jeff Cobb, Jake Atlas, ACH, Brody King, Hammerstone, Steve Madison, Rachael Ellering, Eli Everfly, Dragon Lee and former UFC star Stephan Bonnar will be wrestling.
  • Evolve is doing a seminar on 5/20 in Livonia, MI before their show there with Robby Brookside. 
  • Lucha Los Angeles from last night in South Los Angeles before 350 fans: Sexy Chino won over Montezuma and Twisto, Jaguar de Oro b Calavera, Capt. Jack Fancy & Maligno b Vulcan Jr. & Imperio, Kayan & Jalisco & Alas de Oro b Malice & Vito Fratelli & Super Natural, Warhog b Mummy. Next show is 6/3.
  • Defy Wrestling ran two weekend shows and on the first night Flip Gordon was able to wrestle in front of his hometown friends and family.
  • Friday night in Missoula, MT: Flip Gordon b Matt Riddle, Brian Cage b Kid Khash, Schaff b Jorel Nelson, Kevin & Brian Cook b Guillermo Rosas & CJ Wilson, Thomas Santel b Cody Chhun, Hero b Kevin Mathis.
  • Saturday night in Spokane, WA: Flip Gordon b Brian Cage, Matt Riddle b Kid Khash, Jorel Nelson b Thomas Santel, CJ Wilson & Jackson Price b Kevin & Brian Cook, Schaff b Guillermo Rosas, Hero b Kevin Mathis, Leon Negro b Cody Chhun.

Daily Professional Wrestling History: Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat at WrestleWar ’89

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