Daily Update: Eddie Marlin passes away, AEW TV tickets, FOX

DAILY UPDATE

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F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Seth Rollins wins Universal title at SummerSlam

Joseph Currier gives his thoughts on SummerSlam 2019. Plus, Bryan Rose’s Japan notes, and Vinny’s TV reviews.

This year’s SummerSlam main event was a pivotal moment in the career of Seth Rollins.

If that wasn’t made clear going into the pay-per-view, it certainly felt true in the moment. As much as headlining a Big Four PPV is a huge spot for anyone, Rollins’ match against Brock Lesnar came at a time when Rollins was at a tipping point. He could either win and regain his momentum — or his character would probably have to go in a different direction.

With how WWE built to their match, Rollins winning was the right outcome. He had been viciously beaten down by Lesnar in angles on Raw each of the last two weeks. After the second attack, a subdued Rollins vowed to be at SummerSlam and guaranteed that he would defeat Lesnar.

Rollins came through on his guarantee. After hitting his third curb stomp of the match, Rollins pinned Lesnar to regain the Universal title. The match delivered on a much higher level than Rollins’ previous bouts against Lesnar. Rollins was put over strongly and positioned as the current top babyface in the company.

WON NEWSLETTER: August 19, 2019 Observer Newsletter: Summerslam and G1 Finals reviews, more

One of the most shocking and heated angles in modern wrestling is covered as the lead story in the new Wrestling Observer Newsletter. 

We discuss the angle itself, how it came together, and what it might be leading to. 

Reviews of WWE Summerslam and NJPW’s G1 finals, plus tons of news are also covered this week. 

We have results and star ratings from SummerSlam, as well as data and analytics on who bought the show on traditional PPV. 

Of course we have star ratings and business notes on the final G1shows of the year, as well as the readers’ poll for G1 MVP. We also examine how this year’s tournament compared to last year’s from a business perspective. 

We have a story on some changes to upcoming WWE house shows. We also have notes on WWE PPV buying habits in major markets in 2019.

As you might expect, we also have complete coverage of NXT TakeOver: Toronto, as well as star ratings for the matches. 

Also in this issue, Ryan Frederick covers this past weekend’s UFC show, and we have detailed TV ratings and business notes on the show. 

We have full coverage of all the WWE television shows from the past week.

As always, we have in-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows,the key demos for the WWE shows and what can be learned from them.

We also have the 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.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

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.

THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE

Very sad to report the death of Eddie Marlin, the longtime wrestler, road manager and television authority figure for Jarrett Promotions and Tennessee Wrestling.  Marlin passed away this morning at about 5 a.m. We have a lot of notes on Marlin in the new issue.  Marlin,who just turned 89, was in hospice care with multiple organ failures.  He started wrestling in 1949, and was a regular for the Gulas Promotion in the 50s and 60s, with his biggest in-ring stardom being in the early 70s as part of a babyface tag team with Tommy Gilbert. 

After retiring as a wrestler in 1980, he became “promoter Eddie Marlin” on Championship Wrestling, an always-babyface authority figure who was part of the company’s office staff as well.  Marlin was extremely well liked and respected within the business.

When we spoke about Marlin on today’s audio show, before his death, I mentioned seeing him wrestle live.  The show was on October 10, 1988, at the Mid South Coliseum in Memphis as part of a Texas vs. Tennessee feud with Kevin & Kerry Von Erich & Frank Dusek (authority figure) & Steve Cox representing Texas against Jerry Lawler & Bill Dundee & Jeff Jarrett & Eddie Marlin.

Tickets for the AEW second and third television shows on TNT, on 10/9 in Boston at the Agannis Arena and 10/16 in Philadelphia at the Licouras Center, go on sale at Noon tomorrow. These shows will probably tell a lot regarding how AEW television ticket sales will be going forward.

We’ll have a lot more next week, but Tomohiro Ishii, Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada had the second, third and fourth best G-1 tournaments in modern history based on star ratings.  Nobody could break the record set last year by Kota Ibushi.  But this is generally considered by those who were following it as being the greatest tournament in wrestling history.

NXT is taping tonight. There were a few major things planned to take place.

A Go Fund Me campaign has been launched for Jeremy Ganger, the former wrestler who prevented the shooter in Dayton from getting into Ned Pepper’s bar and was hit with shrapnel.

WWE

  • FOX is putting together a Los Angeles based production team for WWE, and hiring for a Production Coordinator, a Senior Associate Producer, a Feature Producer, a Digital :Producer and a Senior Director of Digital Marketing.
  • Steve Austin will be appearing on Saturday in San Jose at the Convention Center as part of the Silicon Valley Comic Con put on by Steve Wozniak.
  • In the talk in the current issue about WWE live events and dual branding, a 9/8 show in Syracuse, NY is billed as a supershow with Kofi Kingston vs. Randy Orton and Seth Rollins vs. Baron Corbin and Becky Lynch vs. Lacey Evans as the main bouts.
  • The March 17, 1984 major show at the Greensboro Coliseum, Boogie Man Jam, has been added to the WWE Network.  The show features a 60:00 Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat NWA title match before 13,000 fans, plus Jimmy Valiant put up his hair against the mask of The Assassin, Dick Slater vs. Greg Valentine for the U.S. title, Dory Funk Jr. vs. Tully Blanchard, Ernie Ladd vs. Rufus Jones, Bob Orton Jr. & Don Kernodle vs. Wahoo McDaniel & Mark Youngblood and Angelo Mosca & Angelo Mosca Jr. & JYD vs. Ivan Koloff & Great Kabuki & Gary Hart.  WWE also has added Dwayne Johnson’s first or second pro wrestling match, with Chris Candido.
  • Toni Storm is reportedly injured which explains her missing at least one date last week with wXw.
  • Miz talks WWE’s debut on FOX. (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)

UFC

  • Trainer Javier Mendez talks about Daniel Cormier regarding Saturday’s fight with Stipe Miocic.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • In a correction from the new issue, while Bea Priestley is in the Five Star Grand Prix for Stardom that takes place over the next few weeks, she is not booked on their 9/1 show, which means she is available to appear for AEW at the All Out show in Chicago.  That’s a nice way of saying she’s likely on that card as they try and determine the two women who will face off on 10/2 in the first women’s championship match.
  • An interesting story on EVE Wrestling. (thanks to Lee Wall)
  • Matt Taven vs. Jay Lethal vs. Jeff Cobb vs. Kenny King was added to the 8/25 ROH show in Nashville in an elimination match.  If Taven is pinned, the person who beats him gets a ROH title shot.  If Taven wins, the person he beats last can never challenge for the ROH title as long as Taven is champion.
  • L.A. Park is no longer on tomorrow night’s NEW show in Poughkeepsie, NY.  That’s the show headlined by Jon Moxley vs. Pentagon Jr at the Mid Hudson Civic Center.
  • Enzo & Cass, who are wrestling on the Poughkeepsie show, talk about their returns on FOX.
  • A preview of Saturday’s B block final on AXS is at
  • MLW has hired Tom Prichard as a producer and he will start as a coach and  producer with the 9/7 show in Dallas.
  • Legacy Fighting on 9/6 in West Valley City, UT at the Maverick Center is headlined by Division I wrestler Troy Lamson (13-2) vs. BJJ black belt Arthur Estrazulas (11-4) in a lightweight fight.  The show airs live on AXS TV.
  • Chavo Guerrero Jr., Cryme Tyme, Godfather Charles Wright, Ron Simmons, Teddy Long and Stevie Ray are doing an autograph signing on 9/28 from Noon to 3 p.m. at Harry’s Hofbrau in San Leandro,CA.
  • Southern States Wrestling raised $1,587 in a benefit show on Sunday for Don Wright, who wrestled in the main event on the show.  Both lost their home and car in a fire on 7/4 while they were away.  Les Thatcher and former referees Mac McMurray and Bobby Simmons were also part of the show.
  • The Stardom Five Star Grand  Prix opens on Saturday at Shinkiba in Tokyo with Bea Priestley vs. Andras Miyagi, Arisa Hoshiki vs. Jamie Hayter, Utami Hayashishita vs. Jungle Kyona, Kagetsu vs. Konami, Natsu Sumire vs. AZM, Tam Nakano vs. Hana Kimura, Momo Watanabe vs. Hazuki and Mayu Iwatani vs. Saki Kashima.
  • Frank Mir and Alex Shelley have been added to the 9/1 Warrior Wrestling show in Chicago Heights, IL at Marian Catholic High School.  It’s a loaded show with a main event of Pentagon Jr. & Rey Fenix vs. Daga & Tessa Blanchard and Ultimo Guerrero vs. Atlantis vs. Caristico, Dragon Lee vs. Andrew Everett, Lance Archer vs. Alex Zayne, Tom Lawlor vs. Killer Kross, Michael Elgin vs. Brian Cage, Templario vs. Soberano Jr., plus Mick Foley appears.
  • CWA on 10/12 in Hot Springs AR at the Convention Center Hall D.
  • Hoosier Pro Wrestling on 9/7 at the 4-H Fairgrounds in Columbus, IN.  
  • CWE from last night in Grande Prairie, Alberta:  Danny Duggan b Sigmon, Montana Black & Jordan Kage b Jordan Kingsley & James Tapia, Jude Dawkins won three-way over Shaun Martens and Slave, AJ Sanchez & Kevin O’Doyle b Warlord (80s star) & Giant Orion, Alix Zwicker & Kimberly Ford b Kylie Morgan & Jade, Johnny Devine b Tony Kozina.  Next show is 11/15 in Grande Prairie with Juventud Guerrera.
  • Impact announced a deal with Wrestling Travel, which will sponsor Prelude to Glory on 10/18 in South Bend, IN and will be the Impact travel partner for Bound for Glory on 10/20 in Chicago.
  • Combate Americas runs 8/23 from Lake Tahoe, CA on Univision, Univision Deportes and DAZN with Gustavo Lopez (10-4-1) defending the bantamweight title against Joey Ruquet (7-1) and Andres Quintana (18-2) vs. Bruno Cannetti (8-6)  to determine the first featherweight champion.
  • Innovate Wrestling on 8/24 in Morristown, TN at the Talley Ward Rec Center.
  • Jake Atlas, who is one of the most improved wrestlers in the business, has said that the upcoming Ground Zero show in San Diego could be his last show in San Diego.
  • An interview with Lex Luger.
  • A podcast on the death of Chris Benoit.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: WWE SummerSlam 2010

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