Daily Update: Dominik Mysterio, Seth Rollins, Jon Moxley

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

In this issue:

  • Match and Performer of the Week
  • The Bloodline saga comes very close to a first in the history of pro wrestling on television
  • A look at the Trial of Roman Reigns, the Reigns vs. Usos feud, and the storyline that has caused WWE business to grow
  • A preview of all the big matches of the weekend in three different countries, none of which are the U.S., with TripleMania, G-1, Miyahara vs. Nakajima and Collision
  • Updated news on SummerSlam and Great American Bash and business notes on both shows
  • The new AEW rules memo, what is and isn’t new and the reality of what this means to talent
  • Full coverage of UFC 290 with two of the best fights of the year, a unique television situation and two title bouts
  • Looking at the 2023 Wrestler of the Year award and the top candidates
  • Francis Ngannou vs. Tyson Fury, the questions about the show and why the hope for it to be a success is the evolution of understanding fighting being low
  • The most detailed look at the ratings of every major pro wrestling and MMA show of the past week, the analysis, competition, segment numbers and comparisons with one year ago
  • Lots of injury talks regarding major stars
  • Key husband and wife jumping promotions
  • Mercedes Mone rivalry planned
  • Update on major sports rights negotiations in the next few years
  • The death of Michael Halac, the former Bruiser Mastino and Mantaur
  • Wrestling magazine pioneer writer Ed Garea, The Phantom of the Ring, passes away
  • Notes on the new women’s promotion
  • RevPro Epic Encounters rundown
  • Battle of the two best 18-year-old wrestlers in the world announced for next month
  • Ticket sales for tons of big shows
  • Kenny Omega talks the Tiger driver spot
  • International TV ratings
  • Lots of new major UFC fights
  • Looking at the vacant UFC light heavyweight title situation
  • World champion in UFC talks about how two years ago he supplemented his income driving for Uber Eats
  • More major show dates fr WWE
  • Backstage issue at WWE
  • A look at all the major TV shows and WWE weekend show coverage

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

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Wednesday Update

WWE

  • WWE uploaded a post-show interview with Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley after Dominik defeated Wes Lee to win the NXT North American Championship last night.
  • Ripley tweeted a photo of Dominik pinning Lee: “Split second before greatness! Words cannot describe the feelings running through my body…. So bloody proud of you @DomMysterio35”
  • Finn Balor wrote about Dominik’s title win: “The proudest moment of my career. Congratulations @DomMysterio35”
  • TMZ Sports asked Seth Rollins if he thinks the Hollywood writers and actors strike could bring more interest to WWE:
          • I know it’s a difficult time for the actors and the writers. I believe they’re doing the right thing asking for what they deserve. I stand by them. But it is a fortunate part of not being part of a union that we’re able to still perform and, for our audiences and people who may not be familiar, now they get the opportunity to tune in and see what we’re all about.
  • Rollins said that he thinks WWE is in a boom period: “We’ve never been hotter. Business is the biggest it’s ever been. The talent across the board is the best it’s ever been. Business is hot right now. We’re in a boom, I think. When we look back on it, it’s going to be a special time.”
  • Denise Salcedo spoke with Cody Rhodes on the red carpet at the premiere of his Peacock documentary. The premiere took place in Atlanta last night. The documentary begins streaming on Peacock on Monday, July 31.
  • To sell the storyline injury from Brock Lesnar’s attack on Raw, Rhodes was wearing a cast on his arm at the documentary premiere.
  • Salcedo also interviewed Brandi Rhodes, Chelsea Green, Matt Cardona, Diamond Dallas Page, and Kevin Patrick.
  • ComicBook Nation has an interview with The Miz.
  • Tommaso Ciampa was the guest on this week’s episode of Out of Character.
  • Ciampa, Matt Riddle, and Shayna Baszler appeared on WWE’s The Bump this afternoon.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Shark Week, which is the sponsor of tonight’s Dynamite, posted a video of the Blood & Guts cage being constructed.
  • In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Jon Moxley discussed how excited he is for Blood & Guts:
          • We’re going after the best, or at least the supposed best, in The Elite. The freaking company is named after them. Blood & Guts is our chance to plant our flag as the most dominant group in AEW.
          • I’m f—ing excited as all hell to bring something very unique—our version of Blood & Guts—to those fans and all the history of pro wrestling in Boston. I don’t know if anyone in The Elite has ever wrestled in the TD Garden before.
  • Samoa Joe told SEScoops about how he’s evolved as a performer:
          • I think the biggest thing is, is I’ve learned, I’ve definitely learned to enjoy it more, especially, you know, as your career progresses, because a lot of times, you get very, very caught up in the moment, it’s almost overwhelming. But as time goes on, as you begin to kind of understand the flow of the crowd, the flow of the people and stuff, you know, you do definitely enjoy what you do a lot more.
          • Aside from that, just having the ability to be able to work with young up and coming talent and to see them flourish and develop in the same ways that you did during your certain points in your career. It’s always cool to see that happen and be a part of that. It’s good energy, it’s good to see people becoming stars in their own right and it’s always fun to be there for the journey.
  • Booker T spoke about Zilla Fatu’s (the son of Umaga) debut match for Reality of Wrestling:
          • That was Zilla Fatu’s first match in front of a crowd, and you could tell he was very, very composed. He had that thing where we say in wrestling, if you feel like you’re going slow, move a little bit slower. He has that effect going on. His quickness and explosiveness was definitely there. You could feel his dad in the arena. I swear to god, you could feel his dad in the arena. I could see his dad sitting right there next to me. I could feel his presence in that arena on Saturday night, and I think Zilla felt a little bit of it as well.
  • Nick Aldis tweeted after headlining Slammiversary against Alex Shelley: “#Slammiversary was a fantastic ppv start to finish and I was honored to be in the main event. It was a huge challenge following all the great matches on the card, and I felt we offered something totally different and unique. The future of @IMPACTWRESTLING is in good hands.”
  • Kevin Kelly noted that he’ll be doing solo commentary for G1 Climax events that Chris Charlton can’t make: “I’m going to be flying solo on #G1CLIMAX33 events that Chris Charlton can’t make because of his schedule. With all block matches, that means everyone available to me has wrestled a #G1 match earlier that night. Not fair to them or you. Eddie Kingston will still be my guest on 8/9”
  • TJP and Aria Blake announced that they’re now married.
  • Britt Baker was a guest on Not Just Football with Pittsburgh Steelers player Cam Heyward.
  • 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Stick to Wrestling podcast interviewed Matt Taven.