Daily Update: Hulk Hogan, Erik, TNA Impact lineup

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • What people thought of WrestleMania and Stand & Deliver
  • An in-depth look at WrestleMania
  • Crowd reactions
  • Dwayne Johnson and his role in the show and the entire back story
  • How the John Cena story started and evolved
  • Why the Cena retiring the belt story makes no sense historically
  • Johnson tells his version of what went down
  • Matches that at different points were scheduled for the show and how they changed
  • Show audience
  • Joe Hendry story
  • How much WWE spent on Mania week compared to what AEW spent for Double or Nothing week
  • A look at all the matches and angles
  • Detailed look at how the WWE purchase of AAA went down, the partners, different people comment on what it means, AAA’s history as well as its attempt to expand to the U.S., Lucha Underground, does this effect CMLL, the original When Worlds Collide, how AAA was formed and more
  • The death of Hisashi Shinma, the golden age of New Japan Pro Wrestling, how he first got into wrestling, what he’s credited with as a booker, the rise of Inoki, the first UWF, Universal Lucha Libre, WWE Presidency, Backlund vs. Inoki, Inoki vs. Ali and more
  • A look at the life and career of Steve McMichael
  • CMLL and a week of sellouts including a killer Friday main event
  • WWE NXT Stand & Deliver coverage and poll
  • The life and times of Black Terry
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the wrestling and MMA shows this past week, demos, competition and segments looked at, as well as streaming numbers for Raw
  • Universal tournament ends this week
  • Biggest women’s show of the year this week
  • What’s new with Tetsuya Naito & Bushi
  • Dark Side of the Ring on Billy Graham
  • A look at the Mania week on the indies side including Bloodsport
  • Notes on future AEW PPV shows
  • Kenny Omega on What is the best schedule for wrestlers?
  • Mark Hunt’s case against UFC and Brock Lesnar thrown out
  • Advanced ticket sales to WWE & AEW shows
  • How streaming platform advertising works vs. television
  • Bayley talks her knee injury
  • WWE ID tournaments

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Thursday Update

WWE

  • Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff & Izzy Martinez were on Fox & Friends this morning to promote their new Real American Freestyle amateur wrestling venture. Hogan said they do not want to compete with WWE and UFC, but Real American Freestyle’s goal is to be just as big or bigger than them:
    • Our goal is not to be competitive with Dana White and the UFC or the WWE, but to be just as big or bigger. Because this is an underserved market.
  • Hogan told TMZ Sports that he plans to make a “special phone call” to invite Donald Trump to Real American Freestyle’s first event.
  • Erik of The War Raiders said on Insight with Chris Van Vliet that he’d like to have a singles run, but he never wants his tag team with Ivar to break up:
    • Yes – so, absolutely [he thinks about having a singles run]. I think there is untapped potential there where I don’t have any doubt. Ivar proved it when I was down with a neck injury that, ‘Give me the ball and I can perform at any point on the card.’ Like, I have full confidence in my ability that – you want me to cut a promo? Great, I’ll cut a promo. You want me to – whatever, whoever, anybody on our roster, especially our roster now, it’s ridiculously talented, like ridiculously stacked and talented. You want me to wrestle AJ Styles on Raw? Great. I’ll tear the house down. You want me to wrestle – pick a guy, anybody. I have a skill set, and I’ve been doing this since 2003. From the indies, I was [a] good guy, bad guy, comedy guy, you know, you’ve seen it just in WWE with Viking Raiders. We’re serious, we’re scary, we’re heels, we’re comedy, whatever, wherever you want to go. We can do that. We have the skill set. So absolutely, there is a part of me that wants to have that spotlight always. We’re in this as wrestlers, but there’s also part of me that I never want that to be at the expense of being The War Raiders.
  • Zelina Vega told Screen Rant that she’d like her first United States Women’s Championship defense to be against Dakota Kai:
    • Dakota, honestly – I would love to give her the first shot. I’m just saying that. Like, Dakota Kai gets first shot. I would love that. She’s become like a sister to me.
  • The Miz has launched a new YouTube channel called Miz Golf:
    • Welcome to the most must-see YouTube Channel, welcome to… Miz Golf! Join WWE Superstar The Miz on his quest to become a scratch golfer. Watch as The Miz partners with celebrities, friends and golf pros as he tries to improve his skills on the course and lower his handicap.
  • WWE posted a photo gallery with behind-the-scenes pictures from WrestleMania week.
  • Logan Paul uploaded a new vlog. He also released the official music video for his “Still Humble” WWE entrance theme.

Other Wrestling

  • Thekla, who is rumored to be AEW-bound following her departure from Stardom, teased on social media that she’s “off to new lands.”
  • The Associated Press listed MJF among their 11 breakout actors to watch in this year’s summer movies. He’s playing one of Happy Gilmore’s sons in “Happy Gilmore 2,” which will premiere on Netflix on Friday, July 25.
  • Lance Archer was the guest on AEW Unrestricted this week.
  • Rocky Romero appeared on Busted Open After Dark following Dynamite last night.
  • Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling has announced Gabe Kidd vs. Michael Oku vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey for their Northern Rising show in Toronto on Saturday, May 10.
  • MLW Women’s Featherweight Champion Shoko Nakajima is set to appear at the promotion’s Azteca Lucha show in Cicero, Illinois on May 10.
  • An X-Division Championship match with Moose defending against Zachary Wentz has been added to the card for tonight’s live episode of TNA Impact. The show will begin at 10 p.m. Eastern time and has the following lineup:
    • Joe Hendry & The Hardys (Matt & Jeff Hardy) vs. Frankie Kazarian & The Nemeths (Nic & Ryan Nemeth)
    • X-Division Champion Moose defends against Zachary Wentz
    • Leon Slater vs. KC Navarro
    • Jody Threat vs. Maggie Lee
    • Mike Santana in action
    • Indi Hartwell will speak live
    • We’ll hear from TNA International Champion Steve Maclin
  • TNA World Champion Joe Hendry turns 37 years old today.
  • The Wrestling Classic uploaded an interview with Leah Van Dale (Carmella).