Daily Update: Brock Lesnar, Hidden Gems, Thiago Santos

DAILY UPDATE

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F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Smackville, EVOLVE & the WWE Network

Joseph Currier looks at two Network specials and what they could mean for the future of the service.

EVOLVE’s 10th Anniversary Celebration streamed on the Network opposite AEW Fight for the Fallen on July 13. Another in-ring special has also been added to the Network schedule for this month, with “Smackville” set to air this Saturday (July 27).

Smackville is similar to past specials like The Shield’s Final Chapter and WWE Starrcade. The WWE Network broadcast of Smackville will be an hour long. Kofi Kingston will defend the WWE Championship against Samoa Joe and Dolph Ziggler in a triple threat match, Finn Balor will face Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura in a rematch from Extreme Rules, and there will be a musical performance segment with Elias.

The Smackville name is playing off the show taking place in Nashville, Tennessee and the city’s Bridgestone Arena, which is the home of the Nashville Predators. The event was just a house show prior to the special being announced, and it will still feature some untelevised matches.

Televised house shows have been something WWE has surveyed subscribers about for a long time. Smackville feels very much like a by-the-numbers house show card. After already having defeated them in his most recent pay-per-view title defenses, Kingston is facing Joe and Ziggler again. Balor has already moved on to a storyline with Bray Wyatt and is set to take some time off from WWE after SummerSlam, so it seems unlikely that he’ll be regaining the Intercontinental title. The Smackville theme should play into the Elias segment, but it’s unlikely that it will have much meaning to the larger audience.

WON NEWSLETTER: July 29, 2019 Observer Newsletter: AEW announces TV details, more

The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has details on the first episode of AEW on TNT, the possible name of the show, why the host city was chosen, and potential TV competition in the first few weeks of airing. 

We detail the latest G1 Climax 29 shows, and how it compares to last year’s tournament. 

We have coverage of Jon Jones and his latest potential legal trouble.

We cover Summerslam, how the card is shaping up, and the possible return of a WWE Hall of Famer on the show. 

We look back at Saturday’s UFC show, and the business notes on the show.

We have details on Dragon Gate’s biggest show of the year, and have business notes on that as well. 

We also have coverage of a wrestling star being part of Hollywood box office history.

There’s also a run down the ratings of all the major TV shows, along with detailed demo info for the WWE shows and results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.

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THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE

Additional notes by Joseph Currier

WWE

  • After today’s second quarter earnings report, WWE stock closed the day at $74.68 per share. That’s up over eight percent from yesterday.
  • In addition to being advertised for Monday’s Raw, the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh announced Brock Lesnar for the August 5 episode. That’s Raw’s go-home show for SummerSlam.
  • WWE has cancelled their 11/3 and 11/4 dates in Florence and Milan, respectively. This is presumed to be due to WWE’s next show in Saudi Arabia taking place sometime near those dates.
  • This week’s WWE Hidden Gems addition is a Pro Wrestling USA show from 1985. Although the promotion was a joint project between the AWA, Jim Crockett Promotions and other NWA territories, this card features mostly AWA talent. The main event is a Ugandan Death Match between Kamala and Sgt. Slaughter.
  • WWE Japan’s website mentioned they donated 193,947 yen (or $1,400) to the TAKAYAMANIA Foundation, which goes directly to the care of Yoshihiro Takayama.
  • Mandy Rose talked to TheWrap about building her brand, admitting wrestling isn’t going to last forever.
  • Finn Balor turns 38 years old today.

Pro Wrestling

  • Vampiro announced that he and Matt Striker are doing the English commentary for TripleMania.
  • When asked about the possibility of Stephen Amell coming to AEW, Cody was open to the idea, saying he thinks Amell is a wrestler, and if he ever gets back in the ring, they got ideas.
  • Dr. Justin Yeung, the surgeon who is being sued by Bret Hart for negligence, has filed a statement of defense. “Dr. Yeung denies any negligence on his part and states that the treatment provided to Hart was skillful, competent and careful and within the accepted standard of practice of plastic surgery in Calgary and elsewhere in Alberta” the statement says.
  • A WrestleCircus event that was set to take place on 7/28 has been cancelled. Rosemary, who was on the card, confirmed. 

UFC/MMA

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov is on the cover of Forbes Russia this month and was named the most successful Russian athlete.
  • Thiago Santos shared thoughts on his double knee surgery recently, saying the days are tough, but the pain is subsiding and is making progress. 
  • Jon Jones told Santos on Twitter: “Remember God gives his toughest battles to his toughest soldiers. Life is all about perspective. Use this time wisely, I have no doubt you will. Handle this adversity with your head high, never know who you’re inspiring. God Speed.”
  • Claudio Silva vs. Cole Williams has been added to the UFC on ESPN 5 card in Newark, New Jersey on August 3.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: WWF Fully Loaded 1999

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