Daily Update: Gustafsson, Nashville fairgrounds, Super ShowDown

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F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Thoughts on AEW Double or Nothing

This year’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view offered WWE the chance to revitalize one of their best match types.

The Money in the Bank briefcases haven’t been all that much of a factor over the past couple of years. Both men’s winners (Braun Strowman and Baron Corbin) failed on their cash-ins. The women’s winners (Alexa Bliss and Carmella) were successful, but Bliss cashed in on the same night that she won the 2018 ladder match. WWE has missed out on being able to use Money in the Bank as a star-making tool or something to kick off notable angles.

WON NEWSLETTER: June 3, 2019 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Double or Nothing review

All Elite Wrestling, who with the talent, television deal and financial backing is already, after just one show, the hottest non-WWE force in the U.S. pro wrestling business in more than 20 years, debuted on 5/25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The show taught a lot of things, from the value of social media to the dissatisfaction with WWE. The show had one of the best atmospheres you could have for a wrestling show, and given the talent and line-up, a strong in-ring product was guaranteed.

The show was a major success, but in many ways, that’s been a lock since February when they sold almost all of their 11,000 tickets in a pre-sale in less than 30 minutes, and the few held back were sold in four minutes the next day.

The show, as far as interest level, was far bigger than its predecessor, All In. All In was one of the historically most important shows ever in U.S. when it comes to landscape changing. And this show, as the first show of the AEW promotion, may be a significant part of long-term wrestling history.

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SATURDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • Tommaso Ciampa will be part of today’s NXT TakeOver: XXV preshow.
  • Roman Reigns, AJ Styles, Randy Orton and Seth Rollins all cut localized promos for Super Showdown. Unlike other advertising, most of the promos mentioned Saudi Arabia.
  • PWInsider is reporting that the Authors of Pain are set to return to action this month. Akam has been out of action since early this year following a knee injury that required surgery.
  • Kofi Kingston’s trip to Ghana continues, with WWE taking a look at Kofi leading a UNICEF event. Kofi also visited his father’s hometown of Ejisu.
  • Mandy Rose talks about her Muscle and Fitness HERS cover.
  • The Miz and Maryse talked to People about their baby gender reveal party.
  • News 12 in Connecticut covered NXT stars visiting the Boys and Girls Club for an anti-bullying event.

Pro Wrestling

  • The Tennessean wrote an article about the Nashville fairgrounds hosting its final show tonight, a House of Hardcore event. The building has been hosting professional wrestling since the 1960s under territory promoters Roy Welch and Nick Gulas. The fairgrounds will be replaced by new buildings in the coming months.
  • Another article on the history of the fairgrounds.
  • Mance Warner talked to Wrestling INC about MLW and working with Jim Cornette.

UFC/MMA

  • Following his loss to Anthony Smith at this morning’s UFC event in Stockholm, Sweden Alexander Gustafsson announced his retirement.
  • Jon Jones on Gustafsson’s retirement announcement: “Honestly I don’t believe you but if you’re serious, thank you for everything. You held the division to a standard and made us better. Go kick ass with that Family”.
  • Today’s UFC card drew 14,319 and a live gate of 2 million. Anthony Smith, Aleksandar Rakic, Makwan Amirkhani and Leonardo Santo earned bonuses for their performances.
  • UFC announced this morning that they will hold their first-ever event in Copenhagen, Denmark on 9/28. Tickets go on sale 6/21.
  • Joaquim Silva will fight Nasrat Haqparast at UFC on ESPN 5 in Sochi, Russia.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: The Shield vs. Evolution

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