Daily Update: Brock Lesnar, Owen Hart feature, Rey Mysterio

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We’re looking for your thoughts on Money in the Bank, 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 live reports from Raw in Albany, NY with anything not on the live show to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

Smackdown and 205 Live will be Tuesday night in Providence, RI. The only match announced is Lucha House Party vs. Singhs.

NEW JAPAN BEST OF THE SUPER JUNIORS WEDNESDAY AT 5:30 A.M. EASTERN AT TOKYO KORAKUEN HALL ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • Taiji Ishimori vs. Taka Michinoku
  • Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Robbie Eagles
  • Titan vs. Jonathan Gresham
  • Rocky Romero vs. Yoh
  • Tiger Mask vs. Dragon Lee
  • Bushi vs. Douki
  • Sho vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Bandido vs. Ren Narita
  • Marty Scurll vs. Shingo Takagi
  • Will Ospreay vs. Phantasmo

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Goldberg vs. Undertaker set for WWE’s return to Saudi Arabia

With less than a month until the show, WWE has revealed the name and announced the first three matches for their return to Saudi Arabia.

The third show in WWE’s controversy-filled 10-year deal with the Saudi General Sports Authority will take place at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah on Friday, June 7. It will air live on the WWE Network and is titled “WWE Super ShowDown,” which is the same name the company used for their event in Melbourne, Australia last October.

WON NEWSLETTER: May 20, 2019 Observer Newsletter: AEW announces TV deal with TNT

A look at the new AEW television deal with TNT and other aspects of starting up is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Look at the detail of the two nights being considered and the arguments for each night, international television, streaming, why the price is what it is, and how long talks have been going on for the TNT deal.

Read a lengthy bio on Silver King, a breakdown of what happened in the ring when he passed away and what lessons can be learned by it. Look at the start of his career, and his going to All Japan as a teenager.

Read the updates on the next two WWE PPV shows.

Read a detailed article on Lars Sullivan, from his background, to his fine, to the questions asked, to what got him in trouble, why he was fined now, why he wasn’t before and a lot of the questions regarding all this.

Also look at changes to WWE Network, Vince McMahon talks the move to FOX, WWE gets award nominations, tons of new news on the XFL, what happens to Vince McMahon when the XFL starts, why Percy Watson left the company, and an update on the Mauro Ranallo’s situation.

Have a look at the legend of Tom Magee, the match with Bret Hart and the WWE documentary.

Read complete coverage of UFC 237 with match-by-match coverage and poll results.

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.

MONDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw, Super Juniors, Being the Elite and the rest of the news with Wrestling Observer Radio tonight. You can send questions to the show to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com.

On last night’s show, they kept Brock Lesnar away from everyone and told everyone that Ali was winning the Money in the Bank match. The participants all were told that wasn’t the case, but were told the eighth guy who would arrive at the end would win. Most figured that to be Braun Strowman. Ali was told it would be Lesnar and others may have known but they knew Ali wasn’t winning.

John Pollock has a feature on Owen Hart’s last day, speaking to those that knew Hart, that was at Kemper Arena that night, media members that covered the story and were around Hart in the hours before his passing. This includes original interviews with former WWE referee Jimmy Korderas, Jeff Marek of Rogers Sportsnet, stuntman and former wrestler Paul Lazenby, “Pain and Passion” author Heath McCoy & more. 

Rey Mysterio was injured last night legit and is not expected to be able to wrestle tonight.  

Bryan and I are doing a live Q&A show at the Tuscany Suites Suites & Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. and doing other activities this weekend. Tickets are available.

WWE

  • Money in the Bank had 200,000 Google searches which is way low for a major WWE PPV show. Even the last UFC show with Jessica Andrade vs. Rose Namajunas on top did 500,000.
  • The Lesnar cash in curiosity, given Lesnar was at last word scheduled on the show, plus being the day after the PPV and the Foley tease of the new title should keep Raw from setting a record low tonight. If it was just a normal show going against the Warriors vs. Trail Blazers game, it would likely do either a record low, or very close to it.
  • Tommaso Ciampa will be doing a meet and greet as he recovers from major neck surgery on Evolve shows on 6/29 and 6/30 in Queens and  Brooklyn, and 7/13 and 7/14 in Philadelphia and Melrose, MA.

UFC

  • Alexander Volkanovksy has been able to return to Australia after suffering a blood infection after his win over Jose Aldo in Brazil.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • The best of the Super Juniors tournament resumes on Wednesday with shows Wednesday night through Friday night at Korakuen Hall.
  • I’d highly recommend going out of your way to see the two-part Muhammad Ali series on HBO. It’s tremendous. WWE also did a great piece on Becky Lynch that aired after Money in the Bank last night on WWE Network.
  • Former UFC star Yoshihiro Akiyama debuts for ONE on 6/20 in a show in Shanghai, China at the Baoshan Arena, facing Agilan Thani (8-3).
  • Philipe Lins, who won the $1 million prize last year in the PFL heavyweight tournament, has pulled out of the 2019 season due to an injury.  He was scheduled to face former judo gold medalist Satoshi Ishii on 6/6 at NYCB Live (the Nassau Coliseum) on ESPN+. Zeke Tuinei-Wily will replace Lins, who played football at Utah.
  • AWS from Friday night in South Gate, CA: Simone Sherie b Leslie Iris, Miranda Alize & Vipress b Heather Monroe & Aerial Monroe, Rosemary b Ashley Vox, Zoe Lucas b Delim Exo, Shotzi Blackheart won the AWS women’s title in a three-way over Cheerleader Melissa and Raze, Taya Valkyrie b Jake Atlas, Watts & Jesse James & Hoss Hogg & Suede Thompson & Fidel Bravo b Buggy Nova & Sandra Moone & Ayoka Muhara & Desi Derata & Hector Canales, Mercedes Martinez b Nicole Savoy to keep the AWS title. Next shows are 6/29 and 6/30 in Bridgeview IL as part of the Chi-Town Hot Sauce Expo, and back in South Gate on 7/27. (thanks to Shannon Walsh, John L and wrestlingwithdemon.net)
  • IPW from Saturday night in Auckland, New Zealand: Jamie T b Liam Fury, Charlie Roberts & Alfred Valentine & Lil Ted & Matty Short & TKD b Liger & Curtis Castlewood & Mr. Burns & Hours & Mitch Gray, Manalanche b Dapper Dynasty, Jake Shehaan b Mick Moretti, Will Stone b Paul Sayres, Kellyanne b Candy Lee to win the women’s title, Jakob Cross won four-way over JK Moody, Markus Kool and Knight. (thanks to Steve Ogilvie)
  • CWE on Saturday night in Winnipeg at St. George St. for a free admission block party with Adam Knight, Bobby Collins, Kevin O’Doyle and more.
  • Carlito is working 7/13 for PWP in Cairna, Queensland, Australia.
  • Tome & Stevie Filip face Fenix & Pentagon Jr. in June for World Series Wrestling.
  • Ken Shamrock comes back to Australia on 6/29 for BCW in Sydney. Shamrock & Carlo Cannon face Michael Morleone & Hayden Zenith. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • All Star Wrestling on 5/25 in Cloverdale, BC at the Alice McKay Building with Azeem the Dream vs. Matt Xstatic plus Randy Myers, Funnybone and Artemis Spencer.
  • Combate Americas runs 5/31 in Lima, Peru with a ten fight show. The card will air live on Univision at midnight Eastern and Pacific, Univision Deportes (midnight Eastern, 9 p.m. Pacific) as well as on DAZN in English at 10 p.m. Eastern and 7 p.m. Pacific. The main event has Daniel Zellhuber (6-0) vs. Gian Franco Cortez (4-0).
  • Myron Reed vs. Rey Hours has been added to the 6/1 MLW show from Milwaukee.
  • World Series of Fighting, not to be confused with the former promotion of the same name, announced a 6/15 show at Sam’s Town in Las Vegas. It’s a submission fighting event with four five-man teams, with Team Drysdale, Team 10th Planet of Las Vegas, Team Arizona BJJ and Team Zangief. Gilbert Burns of UFC will be on Team Drysdale.   
  • Pro Wrestling Phoenix has its 14th anniversary show on 5/22 in Omaha at The Waiting Room Lounge headlined by Michael Elgin.
  • Paulie Malignaggi vs. Artem Lobov will headline a bare knuckle boxing PPV show on 6/22 in Tampa from the Florida State Fairgrounds. It will go for $39.99 and also stream on Fite TV. Malignaggi hates Conor McGregor. Lobov is McGregor’s teammate and the two have been trading words for some time. Former UFC star Chris Leben vs. former Bellator star Brennan Ward and Johnny Bedford vs. Reggie Barnett are also on the show.
  • Defy on 6/15 in Portland, OR at the Hawthorne Theater has Artemis Spencer, Brian Cage and TJP appearing. They also run 6/16 in Tacoma with Randy Myers, and Schaff and the Super8XGP on 7/26 and 7/27 in Seattle at Washington Hall with Tama Tonga, L.A. Park, Artemis Spencer and Joey Janela. 
  • The Cauliflower Alley Club awards banquet from this year is at the Gold Coast Hotel in Las Vegas featuring awards to such wrestlers as Kamala, Haku, The Barbarian, Dory Funk Jr., Mark Henry, Bambi, David Schults and others.
  • A story on 80s pro wrestling in Richmond, VA with Jim Cornette talking about the glory days of the territory. (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Samoa Joe makes his NXT debut

F4W Empire Convention Info:

  • Ed in San Antonio presents PODER~! at the FSW arena on Friday 5/24 – Showtime is at noon – Main event: Bryan Alvarez vs. Logan Stunt
  • Empire dinner on Friday 5/24 at 8:30 p.m. at Texas de Brazil – Price is $82 – All you can eat meat and salad, sodas, tea, and coffee, plus dessert included
  • Empire suite party on Friday 5/24 for those who were not able to get the Q&A package – Price is $25

Purchase tickets here. 

[Advertisement]  You can watch a discussion with Cody & the Bucks about All Elite Wrestling and twenty other shows for just $59 at STARRCASTonFITE.com. The package includes the live feed plus on demand with unlimited replays on any smart device, PC, etc. For the best service pre-ordering is encouraged at STARRCASTonFITE.com.

Cody & the Young Bucks will be doing a Q&A as part of their panel about All Elite Wrestling just 48 hours prior to Double or Nothing in Las Vegas. Starrcast will be streaming it on FITE and allowing viewers the chance to ask questions.

Arn Anderson and Sting both have panels at Starrcast on May 24th. Tony Schiavone will taking questions from fans watching at home on FITE for the Q&A portion of the show.  

The Young Bucks and Joey Janela will be guests for Colt Cabana’s live Art of Wrestling show on May 24th.  

Bret Hart and Tom Magee will discuss their now infamous match from 1986 with Sean Mooney on Saturday, May 25th in Las Vegas.

All of the above can be watched live or demand by pre-ordering today at STARRCASTonFITE.com.

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