Daily Update: Cain Velasquez, Hobbs & Shaw, Harley Race

DAILY UPDATE

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Raw is live on Monday from Pittsburgh.  Brock Lesnar will appear on the show.

Smackdown and 205 Live will be taped Tuesday night in Detroit.

NEW JAPAN G-1 CLIMAX FROM HAMAMATSU AT 5:30 A.M WEDNESDAY MORNING ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • Toru Yano & Yota Tsuji & Yuya Uemura vs. Minoru Suzuki & Taichi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi vs. Jon Moxley & Shota Umino
  • Juice Robinson & Tomoaki Honma & Toa Henare vs. Jay White & Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens
  • Tomohiro Ishii & Jeff Cobb & Ren Narita vs,. Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi & Bushi
  • Sanada vs. Lance Archer
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Bad Luck Fale
  • Will Ospreay vs. KENTA
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Evil

F4W NEWSLETTER: Raw Reunion and WWE nostalgia

Joseph Currier looks at the successes and failures of WWE’s latest nostalgia episode.

WWE went back to the nostalgia well for last week’s Raw Reunion episode.

The show featured dozens of returns and was capped off by Steve Austin, Ric Flair, and Hulk Hogan all making appearances. Austin led a toast to Monday Night Raw to close the episode, with all of the returning wrestlers coming out and taking part in what was genuinely a sincere moment. Austin didn’t give out stunners to anyone. There was no one to come crash the segment. He spoke about all of the returners being a family, and it was intended to be a real celebration for all of them.

Raw Reunion also included an increasingly rare appearance by John Cena, D-Generation X, Kevin Nash & Scott Hall saved Seth Rollins from AJ Styles, Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson, Bray Wyatt attacked Mick Foley and put him in the Mandible Claw, and there were nine 24/7 title changes. R-Truth started and ended the night as 24/7 Champion, with Drake Maverick (twice), Pat Patterson, Gerald Brisco, Kelly Kelly, Candice Michelle, Madusa, and Ted DiBiase holding the title between Truth’s reigns.

WON NEWSLETTER: August 5, 2019 Observer Newsletter: WWE financials breakdown, AEW TV taping details, more

The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has details on WWE’s second quarter financials. Financially, things look great. But product popularity continues to fall, slowly but steadily.

We cover how WWE was able to beat most projections and bring in higher profits in the second quarter, even with most key metrics showing declines. 

We discuss how the company’s finances look going forward, as well as two big television deals on the horizon. 

We also have news on what could end up being the most important pro wrestling show of the year, AEW’s TV debut. We break down the two key busiess aspects to the story, and discuss what those in the TV industry expect in terms of ratings for the show. 

We cover Jerry Lawler’s lawsuit against Hardeman County, TN regarding the death of son Brian one year ago.

The new issue also covers C.M. Punk and the rumor mill that seems to follow him everywhere. We talk about the reaction to his discussion of AEW in a recent interview, as well as those who say they expect him to go back to WWE. 

We also have the latest on the SummerSlam card, and how the show is doing on the secondary ticket market. We also cover how the other WWE shows in Toronto that week are doing in terms of ticket sales. 

We have coverage of UFC 240 from this past weekend, and have business notes on nthe show, and also detailed television ratings for the prelims. 

There’s also a run down of 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. 

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.

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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.

SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

We have three different weekend shows up on the site, a Friday show with Bugsy McGraw and talking AEW, a show last night covering G-1 and TripleMania as well as the latest news, and a show with Fumi Saito and Jim Valley talking Harley Race.

Colby Covington was the third most searched topic yesterday on the Internet with 200,000. President Trump called him up after his win over Robbie Lawler and Trump’s sons were at cageside for the fight.  There were more than 200,000 searches.  The only topics ahead were the shootings in El Paso and Dayton.  Harley Race’s was the 8th most searched term on Thursday with 100,000.  Cain Velasquez and the AEW sellouts did not track.

Hobbs & Shaw is estimated at $60.8 million for the weekend, easily No. 1.  That’s exactly at the $60 million mark projected by the studios.  The movie did another $120 million outside North America, the fifth largest worldwide opening in the history of Universal Studios.  It was No. 1 in 52 of 63 countries it opened in this past weekend.

My story on Cain Velasquez with quotes from his coach and AEW stars for MMA Fighting. Cody and Psycho Clown talked to ESPN about Velasquez.

Trevor Murdoch noted that a few days ago that Harley Race needed to be transferred from the hospital in Atlanta to St. Louis and take a Med flight because he was in bad shape.  Medicare wouldn’t cover it.  A call was made to WWE and Vince McMahon paid for it. 

WWE

  • WWE will debut a documentary on Kofi Kingston Sunday after SummerSlam on the WWE Network.
  • Matt Riddle threw out the first pitch at a Tampa Bay Devil Rays game and then did a running cross body to mascot Raymond.  This clip got a lot of sports coverage.  

UFC

  • Proper No. 12, Conor McGregor’s Irish whiskey, will be debuting in Canada after selling 200,000 cases in its first six months in the U.S,.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Ads for the first AEW TV show were played this weekend before Hobbs & Shaw at AMC Cinemas.
  • Harley Race’s World League Wrestling show went on as scheduled last night in Troy, MO:  Moses b Rahim de la Suede, Jaden b Colton Vaught, Lucy Mendez b Seishin,Jon Webb b Kenny Alfonso, Da’Marius Jones b Kyle Roberts, Deek Stone NC Camaro Jackson, Leland Race & Camaro Jackson &  Kenny Alfonso b Derek Stone & Jon Webb & Jaden.  (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
  • Regarding Bugsy McGraw, whose book “Brute Power” comes highly regarded, here’s the Facebook page for the book, as well as the Amazon link if people are interested in purchasing it.
  • Stardom results from yesterday in Tokyo:  Saya Iida won three-way over Rina and Hina, Tam Nakano d Starlight Kid 15:00, Hazuki & Natsuko Tora & Jamie Hayter b Zoe Lucas & Bobbi Tyler & Ruaka, Kagetsu & Andras Miyagi & Natsu Sumire b Bea Priestley & Momo Watanabe & AZM, Utami Hayashishita retained the Future of Stardom title over Leo Onozaki, Hana Kimura & Jungle Kyona & Konami b Mayu Iwatani & Arisa Hoshiki & Saki Kashima (thanks to Shannon Walsh and wrestlingwithdemons.net)
  • Jayla Dark from Scotland, after keeping her title yesterday on the Ice Ribbon show in Osaka, announced she would be retiring after a match on 9/28 for Pro Wrestling Eve in the U.K. against Tsukasa Fujimoto.  Dark follows Kris Wolf and Charlie Morgan this year in having retirement matches with Eve.
  • All Pro Wrestling on Friday night in Daly City,CA before 400 fans:  Steve Tesario won three-way over Aaron Solow and Wiseguy, Will Hobbs b Zicky Dice, Chavo Guerrero Jr. b Papa Esco, Marcus Lewis & Keita Murray b RJ Santos & Dom Kubrick, Dominic Teixeira & Derek Slade & Boyce LeGrande & Rik Luxury b Jody Kristofferson & Ring Crew Charlie & Alpha Zo & D-Dre, Levi Shapiro b Dave Dutra to keep Internet title, JR Kratos b Jake Frost, Shawn Spears b Matt Cross, Jake Atlas b Jacob Fatu to win APW Universal title.  Main event said to be outstanding.  I’m really surprised nobody has signed Atlas yet.  Nobody has improved more over the last year and he’s got star charisma. (thanks to Matthew Mann)
  • I Believe in Wrestling from Friday night in Orlando:  Mike Reed & Jake Shadows b Carlos Gabriel & Jay Sky, Lexi Gomez b Sofia Castillo, JD Amazing b Kwame Nas, Jarett Diaz won 12 way, Amber Nova b Blake Banks, Chasyn Rance b Deon James, Kaci Lennox b Gia Roman, Aaron Epic b Andrew Merlin.  Next show at the Dojo is 9/6 (thanks to Al Haft)
  • I Believe in Wrestling early earlier today in Orlando:  Ariel Dominguez & Jake Shadows & Jay Sky b Kwame Nas & Christian Mills & Ahmed Ayooti, Djokovic Rabbit b Jarett Diaz, Deon James b Cisco Sucio, Kaci Lennox b Gia Roman, Chasyn Rance b Aaron Epic to win Florida title
  • Wrestling Go from Friday night in Sydney, Australia:  Artificial Jude & Paris De Silva b Jason Dewhusrt & Nikki Van Blair, Will Kedis b Gatt, Bee Boy b Bel Pierce, Kai Drake won four-way over Matty Wahlberg, Robbie Eagles and Zac Reynolds, Jessica Troy b Mick Moretti, Silvio Milano won Battle Royal, Bee Boy won three-way over Kai Drake and Will Kiedis to win the Ewan Monkleigh Memorial Cup, Massive Q b Ricky South to keep the gold medal, TJ Perkins b Michael Spencer (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • There will be an autograph signing with Cryme Tyme, Godfather, Teddy Long, Ron Simmons and Chavo Guerrero Jr. on 9/28 from Noon to 3 p.m.  at Harry’s Hofbrau in San Leandro CA.
  • CWE this coming Saturday in Winnipeg at Buhler Park.
  • Rocket City Wrestling in Hazel Creek, AL on 8/17 has announced an ECW themed show with autograph signings with Jerry Lynn, Francine, Super Crazy, Raven and Sandman.
  • Mike Mooneyham talks “The Gathering,” a wrestling convention upcoming.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Lex Luger wins WCW title from Hollywood Hogan

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