Daily Update: Corgan/NWA, Raw ratings, UFC 211

THE ROUND-UP

The Latest from the F4W Staff

NEWS

AUDIO

We’re looking for your thoughts on Friday night’s ROH War of the Worlds PPV and last night UFC 211 PPV, 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 on toady’s Smackdown show in Copenhagen, Denmark and today’s final War of the Worlds show, (Marty Scurll vs. Kushida for TV title, Cody vs. Frankie Kazarian, Tetsuya Naito & Evil & Seiya Sanada & Bushi vs. Bully Ray & Mark & Jay Briscoe & Dalton Castle, David Starr vs. Josh Woods plus Christopher Daniels, young Bucks, Hirooki Goto, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Gedo, Will Ospreay and Jay Lethal), a TV taping in Philadelphia at the 2300 Arena at newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

Raw will be Monday in Newark, NJ featuring Dean Ambrose vs. The Miz for the IC title. No Braun Strowman advertised on the show. Kurt Angle is advertised to return. There is no Monday night Smackdown house show this week.

Smackdown will be taped on Tuesday in Manchester, NH for the go-home show for the Backlash PPV.

NEW JAPAN BEST OF THE SUPER JUNIORS TOURNAMENT AT 5:30 A.M. EASTERN TIME WEDNESDAY ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • ACH vs. Bushi
  • Kushida vs. Desperado
  • Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Tiger Mask vs. Volador Jr.
  • Jushin Liger vs. Taka Michinoku
  • Ricochet vs. Taichi
  • Dragon Lee vs. Hiromu Takahashi
  • Will Ospreay vs. Marty Scurl

FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: 5/8/2017: Thinking outside the long talking segment

While it wasn’t entirely revolutionary, the two-part “Who is Roderick Strong?” series that aired on NXT television over the past couple of weeks again proved how effective WWE’s video profiles can be in getting characters over. Similar videos have aired in the past (with a series that focused on Finn Balor in NXT standing out as a highlight), but the profiles on Strong may have been the best that WWE has ever done. They made him feel like a fully formed character in a way that he never really has before.

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WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: May 15, 2017: WWE financials breakdown, Braun Strowman injured, tons more

It’s another double issue of the Observer out this week, with more of a look at the WWE business in every category, how the Braun Strowman injury affects booking, the death of one of pro wrestling’s leading historians J Michael Kenyon, New Japan’s direction, the life of Gran Apache, UFC business, indies and the WWE ratings declines.

Look at the current WWE finances, WWE network subscriptions, television revenue, how much WWE takes in for Total Divas, comparing this year’s WrestleMania to last year when it comes to network subscription growth, how many people added and canceled subscriptions to the network in the first quarter, revenue and expenses regarding adding new events on the network, what categories is the company losing money in, and the interesting stats regarding social media users and where they are from and where the money for WWE comes from.

Read about the realities of WWE attendance, merchandise sales, ticket sales, the value of the band extension, and a chart showing where the actual profits have come from in WWE over the past five years.

Examine the Strowman situation, the next couple of PPV shows and how the planned Raw main event scene has been changed.

Check out New Japan’s big shows over the next month, including a major storyline that starts next week, the full lineups for the Best of the Super Junior shows, what shows will be in English, a rundown of the Dontaku show in Fukuoka, and more thoughts on the Long Beach shows.

There is an update on the Hardys situation, Dwayne Johnson’s first movie with a pro wrestling backdrop, Johnson for President, WWE announcing for new shows, plans for the women’s tournament and the highlights of the first U.K. shows. 

Also, look at the WWE injury updates, how ratings for other sports and their drops are comparing with WWE, a major new WWE sieging, and details on two lawsuits against WWE including one that has potential major implications for current wrestlers.

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WON BACK ISSUE: April 17, 2000: Mike Awesome jumps ship to WCW, Russo/Bischoff era of Nitro begins, more

At press time, exactly what is going on between WCW and ECW regarding current ECW heavyweight champion Mike Awesome is apparently up in the air. In a strange series of circumstances, it appeared that Eric Bischoff and Vince Russo, in their attempt to re-create the debuting impact of Nitro in 1995 with Lex Luger’s surprising walking on the set, combined with the incident where Madusa threw the WWF womens title belt in the garbage can, since they were unable to secure any WWF talent, made a huge pitch to garner ECW’s heavyweight champion.

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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

We have two new shows up this weekend, a Friday night show covering War of the Worlds and the UFC press conference, and last night’s show covering UFC 211 and Joe Silva going into the Hall of Fame. We’ll be back tomorrow night covering Raw.

There were three movies in the top 15 featuring WWE performers in key roles. Guardians of the Galaxy 2, with Dave Bautista was easily No. 2 this week at $63.01 million estimated for the weekend. The Fate of the Furious, with Dwayne Johnson, in week five, did $5.30 million for 4th place, and the debut of The Wall, with John Cena in a key role, did $891,590 in its opening week, for 14th place in a limited release. As far as a per-screen average, The Wall was also in 14th place.

Sources close to the situation have confirmed that Billy Corgan signed a purchase agreement with Bruce Tharpe to purchase the NWA name and its intellectual property. A change in the original deal is that Corgan will now own the NWA on Demand website that has the Paul Boesch Houston tape library on it. The original deal did not include the NWA on Demand site.

Game seven of the Washington Wizards vs Boston Celtics will go head-to-head with Raw tomorrow night. As long as the number is above 2.85 million, that would say that last week’s bad number was because it was taped. But if they go lower than that, it’s not a good sign for where Raw will be holding steady at, as based on last football season, the non-football season Raw numbers should be in the 3.2 million range, and they’re not.

Dustin Poirier will be appealing the result of last night’s fight, which should have been a DQ win but was ruled a no contest because Herb Dean ruled that Eddie Alvarez didn’t strike Poirier illegally on purpose.

WWE

  • WWE will be releasing a Kurt Angle DVD in August.
  • WWE UK wrestlers will be working the NXT shows in England early next month. Trent Seven, Tyson T-Bone, Wolfgang and Pete Dunne are booked.
  • Dwayne Johnson will not only be appearing on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on Thursday night, but will be hosting Saturday Night Live on 5/20. Johnson will be pushing his “Baywatch” remake that premiers on 5/25. (thanks to Jon Southerland) 

UFC

  • UFC 211 was the second searched for term on the Internet in the U.S. yesterday behind searches related to Mother’s Day. There were more than 500,000 searches. That number usually figures to around 300,000 buys, which is the same range as the prior two shows had done.
  • Even thought it was a split decision, media members were 100 percent behind Demian Maia in his fight with Jorge Masvidal last night.
  • In UFC picks last night:
    4-0:  Josh Nason, John Pollock, Steve Juon
    3-1:  Mike Sempervive, Mike Sawyer, Ryan Frederick, Dave Meltzer, Front Row Brian, Paul Fontaine
    2-2:  David Bixenspan
            The decisive fight was the Maia vs. Masvidal, as most got the other fights correct.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • New Japan’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament begins late Tuesday night with a Korakuen Hall show. The lineup is up top.
  • C.M. Punk and A.J. Mendez-Brooks will be appearing at the Eternal Con on 7/1 and 7/2 at the Nassau Coliseum. Mendez-Broooks will be pushing her new autobiography.
  • A great historical find, Jim Londos winning the world heavyweight title from NFL legend Bronko Nagurski in 1938.
  • Progress Wrestling from today: Flash Morgan Webster b James Drake, Jinny b Session Moth Martina, Chuck Mambo & William Eaver b London Riots, Trent Seven b Travis Banks in a great match, Nathan Cruz b Rockstar Spud, Matt Riddle b Tyler Bate-DQ in the match of the night due to interference from Trent Seven, Pete Dunne won three-way to keep the Progress title over Mark Haskins and Mark Andrews. Bate and Seven came out and attacked Andrews and Haskins. Riddle tried to make the save and was beaten down. CCK hit the ring and Dunn, Bate and Seven left. (thanks to Michael Bradbury)
  • The Legacy Fighting Alliance on 6/23 in Houston at the Arena Theater on AXS is headlined by Brendan Allen (7-1) vs. Eryk Anders (7-0) to create the company’s first middleweight title and Roberto Sanchez (6-0) vs. Jerome Rivera (7-0) to create the company’s first flyweight champion.
  • Former ECW referee Jim Molineaux suffered a heart attack this past week. Best wishes to him on a speedy recovery.
  • Pro Wrestling Resurgence from Friday night in Sauget, IL: ACH b Paco Gonzalez, Jake Parnell b Aaron Szinic, Davey Vega won four-way over Brandon Espinosa, Danny Adams and Matt Kenway, Michael Elgin b Curt Stallion, Jason Roberts & Evan Gelistico b Adrian Surge & Cornelius Wyverstone, Evan Gelistic won Rumble Royal, Everett Connors b Joey Ryan. (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
  • ICW Fight Club from Friday night in Leicester, UK before 100 fans: Zack Gibson b BT Gunn, Lionheart b Jack Jester, Stevie Boy & Davey Blaze b Jackie Polo & Mark Coffey, Grado b Ravie Davie, Wolfgang b Chris Renfrew, Kenny Williams b Kay Lee Ray, Joe Coffey b Sha Samuels. (thanks to James Ryder)
  • CZW from last night in Voohees, NJ: Marq Queen & Isaiah Kassidy b Dave McCall & Nate Carter, Maxwell Jacob Feinstein b Yuma, Zack Sabre Jr. b David Starr, Shane Strickland b Sami Callihan, Dan O’Hare & Shlak b G-Raver & Stockade, Lio Rush b Joe Gacy, Matt Tremont b Joey Janela in a cage match. Next show is 6/10 in Townsend, DE for the annual tournament of death with first round matches of Ricky Shane Page vs. John Wayne Murdoch vs. Jimmy Havoc, Jeff Cannonball vs. G-Raver, Mazada vs. SHLAK and Conor Claxton vs. Clint Margera, plus Matt Tremont vs. Mad Man Pondo in a non-tournament bout.
  • WSU from yesterday afternoon in Voorhees, NJ: Jordynne Grace b Faye Jackson, Maria Maniac b Eddie McQueen & Rick Cataldo in a handicap match, LuFisto b Willow Nightinglae, Hiera Hogan b Lana Austin, Mercedes Martinez b Nevaeh to keep WSU title, Brittany Blake & Chrissy Rivera & Samantha Heights & Annie Social & Su Yung b Leva Bates & Xandra Bale & Veda Scott & Missy Simpsin & Mia Yim (Jade in TNA). (thanks to Michael Hottle)
  • Mid Missouri Wresting Alliance from last night in St. Louis: Big Texan b Jimmy D, Da’Marius Jones b Moondog Rover, Barackus b J-Mal Swag, Frodo Meyer b JD Wilk, Brandon Espinosa b Ace Hawkins in a ladder match, Deacon Cash b Johnny Park, Gary Jackson & Brian James b AJ Williams & BT Daramola (thanks to Ben Simon)
  • UPW from last night in Rochester, NY: Nick Ando b Lionel Knight, Icon Ace won scramble over Jason Savior, Jordan Falco, Charlie Locke, Rysk, Jeremy Jensen and Cecil Nix, Carter Mason b Justin Sane, Wrestling U b The Eh Team, Efiance won tag team gauntlet over Rico Figueora & Pat White, Wet Bandits and Wrestling Liberation Front, Dick Justice b Colin Delaney, Buzz won Rumble, Bobby Fish b Mattick to win UPW heavyweight title. (thanks to Todd Brantley)
  • The TV Show “48 Hours” featured a story on the woman who former UFC fighter and pro wrestler Joe Son raped and tortured in a completely hideous crime. (thanks to Matt Farmer) 
  • Ultimate Championship Wrestling from last night in Vasaar, MI: Gary Dawson b Shelton Jean, Lewis Lambda DDQ Sean Lawhorn, Soultaker b Lewis Lambda & Sean Lawhorn, Aaron Orion won Battle Royal, Lawrence Jeter & Fabio Morrocco b Chuck Wagon & Kurt Hendrix, Brooklyn Brawler b Aaron Orion. Eric Bischoff appeared at this show to put over the promotion and sign autographs. (thanks to Leonard Brand)
  • Great North Wrestling from last night in Smiths Falls, ONT: Paul Rosenberg b Genesis, Jacques Lamoureux d Colin Oliver, Blade & Amanuel Hassan b Freak Nation-DQ, Davey Boy Smith Jr. b Maximum Testosterone a 2/3 fall match, Preston Perry b Knine (Knine suffered a broken eardrum), Lady Yasmine b Stefany Sinclair, Rene Dupree b Hannibal via blood stoppage in a 2/3 fall to retain the Canadian title. Next show is 6/30 in Pembroke, ONT at the Memorial Center with Shelton Benjamin. It will be a free show with a donation to the food bank. (thanks to Anthony Ambros)
  • Pro Wrestling All-Stars from Friday night in Melvindale, MI: Frank Isaac Anderson b Daniel Wolf, El Mano Del Diablo b Blaek Acumen, Zach Mani & Alex Bearrdlsee NC Matt Hagan & Unknown, Gavin Quinn b Malcom Monroe III & Maltese Tiger, Jay Maynard & Dougie the Creep b Movado & Ridiculoso, Leah Vaughn b Thunder Kitty, Breyer Wellington won four-way over Shane Douglas, Atlas Hytower and Paul Bowser to win the heavyweight title Douglas held. (thanks to Leonard Brand)
  • Vampiro’s Underground Invasion on 5/28 at Lee’s Palace in Toronto. You must be over the age of 19 to attend. Matches include Drago vs Aerostar, Willie Mack vs. Son of Havoc, Tyson Dux vs. Carter Mason and Space Monkey vs. The Hacker vs Sebastian Suave.

Today in Professional Wrestling History (5/14): First WWF In Your House

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