Daily Update: Hulk Hogan, NWA Samhain 2, Diaz vs. Masvidal

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

This week’s Wresting Observer Newsletter back issue

Friday Update

– Garrett Gonzales and I will be doing a show today covering the stories in the new issue of the Observer and week in review. I’ll be back up with Bryan on Sunday night covering NJPW Dominion, NXT Battleground and the weekend news.

– The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up on the site today. There is a ton of history with the story on part one of Who Killed WCW, as well as a look at Los Misioneros de la Muerte, the most influential trio in history with the death of El Signo.

Among the topics covered in the issue:

  • Update on what Mexican talent can work on the same shows as other Mexican talent, the recent changes and how they’ve gone down and the current political situation leading into Forbidden Door
  • Looking at WWE Clash at the Castle and NXT Battleground
  • Update on Forbidden Door, ticket demand and AEW’s top programs
  • Conor McGregor and UFC 303
  • Full report on UFC 302, business and match-by-match coverage
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi’s 10-point plan to strengthen New Japan Pro Wrestling. We look at where the company stands and its obstacles as Tanahashi hits the six-month mark as President
  • Death of El Signo and the heyday of Los Misionero de la Muerte
  • A look at episode one of Who Killed WCW?
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all pro wrestling and MMA television shows over the past week including competition, key demos, segment-by-segment, analysis, standing and how it compares with one year ago.
  • New promotion gets weekly television on a top 20 station starting in one week, as well as being on the verge of a second deal
  • Celebration of 20 years of Mistico shows
  • Arena Mexico continues big crowds
  • Dream Gate title change
  • A look at the Dominion show this week
  • Update on next week’s show featuring talent from a number of major promotions including a rematch of one of this year’s best matches
  • More on the B Block finals and semifinals of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament
  • Gable Steveson tries the NFL and how this very much differs from other former top level wrestlers who have had NFL success
  • Missy Hyatt talks Vince McMahon and details her own experience with him
  • Wrestling book writers Hall of Fame
  • AEW star challenges for British title
  • Notes on MLW Battle Riot
  • GCW has a major weekend
  • Update on TNA office cuts and changes
  • Mike Santana talks about battling drinking issue
  • Notes on people whose contracts are expiring and updates
  • Chuck Taylor and his hopes of returning to the ring
  • More details on AEW doing a residency in Arlington, TX and the economics behind it
  • Kevin Kelly talks his AEW departure and issues with Ian Riccaboni
  • Story behind the Collision rating report
  • International TV ratings
  • Why certain wrestlers haven’t been on AEW TV of late
  • Another AEW star comes out publicly
  • More on the Cung Le antitrust lawsuit settlement
  • Just how much Saudi Arabia is paying for these big events
  • How UFC & WWE are doing record grosses
  • Mark Shapiro talks about how Dana White reacted to the merger and talks about White’s previous problems with Vince McMahon
  • How McMahon first saved UFC and then became a powerful enemy
  • Former WWE stars talk about how talent is paid now, why not getting booked is better for your paycheck and how easily it is to get around WWE drug testing
  • Updated King of the Ring and Double or Nothing PPV notes
  • Reports on WWE weekend house shows

– SmackDown tonight is from Louisville, KY. They had 8,300 tickets out as of this morning in a major arena, so far from a sellout but they still will have a nice crowd. The only stuff announced is Apollo Crews vs. Angel, Johnny Gargano vs. Grayson Waller, Jade Cargill vs. Indi Hartwell, Solo Sikoa anoints Tonga Loa into the Bloodline and Cody Rhodes appears. In Birmingham, AL on WBRC the show will be airing tonight at 11:05 p.m. as they are airing the opening ceremony for the Alabama State Games in prime time on the station.

– For this weekend, we’ll be doing polls on both New Japan Dominion and NXT Battleground, so you can leave a thumbs up, down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match for each show to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

– We’re looking for reports on these weekend shows:

  • WWE SmackDown tonight in Louisville, KY (dark matches only)
  • NXT tonight in Davenport, FL
  • AEW tomorrow night in Council Bluffs, IA (reports on the matches not airing on television)
  • NXT tomorrow night in Sebring, FL

– Mistico vs. Magnus headlines tonight’s Arena Mexico show. How Magnus does in this match and how it draws is going to be very important to his future.

– Rampage is back in its regular 10 p.m. time slot on TNT tonight with a very weak lineup with Penta vs The Butcher, The Acclaimed vs. Hunter Gray & Harvez, Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun vs. Private Party, and Mina Shirakawa vs. Serena Deeb. On TV on Wednesday they only mentioned the main event.

– There was a brawl yesterday after the press conference for the Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz boxing match. They exchanged words and then after it was over, members of each men’s teams exchanged words and a brawl broke out. Diaz wasn’t there for the brawl. Diaz then did show up and saw Masvidal’s team and yelled at them, “Come down and get your f***ing asses whipped again.” But security kept anything from happening a second time. Earlier, Masvidal was shoved and some members of each camp started throwing punches. The two fight on 7/6 at the Honda Center in a 10-round boxing match.

– Mick Foley turns 59 today.

– Gabe Kidd said that he wants to wrestle Randy Orton at Wrestle Kingdom. I don’t expect that will be happening.

– The legendary International Vale Tudo promotion in Brazil, is returning with retro rules soon.  The promotion, which put Wanderlei Silva on the map, run by Sergio Batrelli, told MMA Fighting he’s looking for a show in September or October in Sao Paulo, Brazil. They are going back to the 90s rules, with no rounds, a 30-minute time limit for fights and head-butts, jumping kicks and stomps and soccer kicks would all be legal as it was in that era. IVC included early fights of Chuck Liddell, Dan Severn, and Renato Babalu Sobral. They announced Jorge Patino vs. Johil de Oliveira as one of the fights.

– UFC is tomorrow from Louisville, as TKO has the Yum Center booked for SmackDown tonight and UFC tomorrow night.

On ESPN+ at 5 p.m. Eastern

  • Rayanne dos Santos (116) vs. Puja Tomar (116)
  • Cody Stamann (135.75) vs.  Taylor Lapilus (135.5)
  • Edouarda Moura (116.5) vs. Denise Gomes (116) – Moura missed weight by 0.5 pounds and she has been fine 20 percent of her purse
  • John Castaneda (135) vs. Daniel Marcos (135.25)
  • Andrea Lee (126) vs. Montana De La Rosa (126)
  • Brad Katona (136) vs. Jesse Butler (136)
  • Charlie Radtke (171) vs. Carlos Pirates (169.5)
  • Thiago Moises (156) vs. Ludovit Klein (156)

Main card at 8 p.m. Eastern on ESPN

  • Miguel Baeza (171) vs. Punahele Soriano (171)
  • Julian Marquez (185.5) vs. Zachary Reese (185)
  • Brunno Ferreira (186) vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (184.5)
  • Raul Rosas Jr. (136) vs. Ricky Turcios (136)
  • Dominick Reyes (205) vs. Dustin Jacoby (204.5)
  • Jared Cannonier (185) vs. Nassourdine Imavov (185)

– Monday night in Puebla, Mexico has a double main event with Mistico vs. Angel de Oro plus Averno defends the CMLL light heavyweight title against Esfinge.

– Announced for 6/22 at Arena Coliseo in Mexico City is Angel de Oro vs. Rocky Romero, Hechicero vs. Zack Sabre Jr., and Mistico & Taiji Ishimori vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Volador Jr .  The next day at Arena Mexico is Averno vs. Romero, Takahashi & Magia Blanca & Rugido vs. El Hijo del Villano III & Ishimori & Villano III Jr., plus Mistico & Mascara Dorada vs. Magnus & Sabre Jr.

– CMLL is teasing that Titan would be doing something with AEW soon.

– Hulk Hogan’s Twitter was hacked yesterday and used to promote cryptocurrency. All of the tweets on Hogan’s account have now been deleted. On Instagram, he shared the following statement: “Hello Family, Appreciate your love and support always. Please do not take notice of any posts posted today. They are not from me and will be promptly removed. Thank you, Hulk.”

– Northeast Wrestling on 7/13 in Niles, OH at Eastwood Field has Mark Henry, Matt Riddle, Bully Ray, Tyler Breeze and Dirty Dango appearing.

– The St. Louis Cardinals are doing a WWE Night on 8/6.

– The PFL announced a 7/12 show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for its MENA season with welterweight and lightweight tournament matches. It will air live prime time on broadcast television there. They also announced a 9/28 show for PFL Europe at the Ovo Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland.

– Beside The Ring Wrestling on 8/31 in Mountain City, TN, announced appearances by Kid Kash, Jimmy Valiant and Savannah Evans. Kash will be doing a seminar on 8/31.

– The NWA announced Samhain 2 on 10/26 in Sarasota, FL at Robarts Arena which was a regular stop for Championship Wrestling from Florida in the area’s heyday.