Daily Update: Jinder Mahal, PWG, Matt Hardy responds to Nordholm

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FIGURE FOUR WEEKLY: 5/22/2017: Jinder Mahal is actually WWE Champion

Even after having over a month to prepare for the possibility, it’s hard to believe that Jinder Mahal is actually WWE Champion. Title wins like Mahal beating Randy Orton at Backlash aren’t really supposed to happen in pro wrestling. When you have the ability to control wins and losses, challengers are theoretically built up over time and have enough credibility when they win a championship that the result is either obvious or hardly surprising.

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WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: May 22, 2017: NJPW business up, ROH War of the Worlds review, tons more

An update on upcoming WWE big shows, the Braun Strowman injury and plans for his return, a lot of notes on New Japan business in a number of categories, the ROH-New Japan relationship, coverage of all the major shows this past week all over the world including first day Super Juniors, the life of Doug Somers and the age old pro wrestling style debate are the lead stories in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

The issue goes through plans for now as well as directions long-term for WWE, this weekend’s Takeover and Backlash shows, and booking for summer shows.

Plus, look at New Japan’s total revenue, growth, merchandise sales, Tokyo Dome goals, realities of New Japan World and why it has limitations as well as what has happened since the Tokyo Dome, AXS ratings for New Japan as compared with Impact, plans for broadcasting the Long Beach shows, the pro wrestling industry in Japan, updates on Tomoaki Honma and Katsuyori Shibata, the Hiroshi Tanahashi injury, as well as how business has done for several of the leading promotions in Japan this year.

Have a look at the ROH/New Japan relationship, coverage of ROH War of the Worlds with match-by-match rundown, poll results and star ratings, and the lineup for the ROH Best in the World show.

Check out UFC 211 and questions regarding drawing power of Stipe Miocic and Joanna Jedrzejczyk, a look at how Mayweather and Pacquiao became top draws, business notes for the show when it comes to ratings, PPV and live attendance and future booking direction of the winners, plus match-by-match coverage and poll results.

Read about a change in the broadcasting of Smackdown in a few weeks, what company’s spent the most this year on advertising on Smackdown and what the list tells you about value and ad rights, notes on the UK special, a list of a number of upcoming shows with Rock Lesnar, Dwayne Johnson updates including a poll on if he ran for President against Donald Trump. 

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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 Meltzer, or by using PayPal directing funds to Dave@WrestlingObserver.com. 

Rates in the United States are $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to moonsault@mediaplusint.com. For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52. If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.)

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WON BACK ISSUE: May 1, 2000: Justin Credible wins ECW Heavyweight Championship, safety concerns in Japan, tons more

When the smoke cleared after nine months of title changes largely forced upon him and designed to surprise, Paul Heyman finally went back to the original Plan A–as the latest surprise. Justin Credible (Peter Polaco), who Heyman had planned to be ECW heavyweight champion dating back more than 18 months, with the idea of not putting the title on him until he had a national television outlet, and being the wrestler that Rob Van Dam would chase in the company’s top program, wound up with the title after two more switches at ECW’s “Cyberslam” show on 4/22 in Philadelphia at the ECW Arena.

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WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • In addition to revealing the participants for this year’s Money in the Bank ladder match, Shane McMahon announced that Randy Orton will get his rematch for the WWE Championship against Jinder Mahal at the pay-per-view. That may mean that their meeting that WWE.com indicated would happen on the June 13th episode of SmackDown will be a dark match.
  • A fatal five-way number one contender’s match is set for next week’s SmackDown. It will be Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch vs. Natalya vs. Carmella vs. Tamina with the winner challenging Naomi for her Women’s title at Money in the Bank.
  • The New Day made their first appearance on WWE TV since the roster shakeup on Talking Smack last night.
  • Matt Hardy responded to Impact Wrestling president Ed Nordholm’s statement and the documents that he released about The Hardys’ contracts and the legal situation over their “Broken” characters: “I tell the truth & I don’t need to desperately overcompensate to prove my public credibility. My facts will be shared via the correct venue.”
  • Mahal winning the WWE Championship was recognized by Graham Sucha in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Mahal also spoke to The Times of India and Fox Sports about winning the title.
  • Tony Nese criticized a fan who was on their phone while the table spot in last night’s 205 Live main event was happening.
  • NXT is taping its next round of television episodes at Full Sail University tomorrow.
  • Karl Anderson threw out the first pitch at yesterday’s Cincinnati Reds game.
  • Asuka tweeted about her undefeated streak: “I respect Goldberg so much. He is amazing. I am honored to be the undefeated champion with the longest streak in WWE history. #WWE #WWENXT”
  • ABC 12 in Michigan ran a story on Chris Jericho performing with Fozzy in Flint.

Pro Wrestling

  • PWG officially announced that this year’s Battle of Los Angeles tournament will take place on September 1st-3rd. The promotion also revealed the card for their June 16th show (which will be called “Man on the Silver Mountain”):
    reDRagon vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Marty Scurll
    Matt Sydal vs. Sami Callihan
    War Machine vs. Brian Cage & Michael Elgin
    Lio Rush vs. Keith Lee
    Chuck Taylor & Trent Barreta vs. Jeff Cobb & Matt Riddle
    Jake Crist vs. Trevor Lee
    Jason Cade vs. Dezmond Xavier
  • Another PWG show (named “Pushin Forward Back”) is scheduled for July 7th.
  • A watch party event for Impact Wrestling that was scheduled for this Friday in Manchester has been canceled due to the terrorist attack that took place in the city earlier this week. The company’s UK Twitter account posted yesterday: “Due to the horrific terrorist attack yesterday, so close to where Friday’s fan event was scheduled, we feel a party is not appropriate. Ticket holders have been emailed. Full refund are being provided and alternative plans made so they can still meet Jeff Jarrett and JB. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Manchester and the whole of the UK.”
  • Tetsuya Naito spoke to Sports Illustrated about his thoughts on WWE, NJPW’s shows in Long Beach, and eventually setting his sights on the IWGP Heavyweight Championship again.
  • Tomohiro Ishii will wrestle in a non-tournament match at WCPW’s Pro Wrestling World Cup Japanese qualifiers in Manchester, England on July 7th.
  • Tiger Mask IV is the final entrant in Revolution Pro Wrestling’s British J-Cup. He joins Jushin Thunder Liger, KUSHIDA, Will Ospreay, Marty Scurll, Kyle O’Reilly, Josh Bodom, and Ryusuke Taguchi in the July 8th tournament.
  • Paste Magazine posted a trailer for the return of Lucha Underground.
  • PROGRESS Wrestling announced that they’ll be crowning the promotion’s first Women’s Champion in the main event of their show on Sunday. It will be Jinny vs. Toni Storm vs. Laura Di Matteo in the Natural Progression Series final. Kay Lee Ray will face Katey Harvey the next day to determine the next contender for whoever wins.
  • NBC Connecticut has an update on a charity wrestling show that was supposed to benefit an organization that supports people with autism. The wrestlers weren’t paid for their expenses and the charity didn’t receive any money from the event, but the person in charge of it said that there was no money left over after the costs.

UFC/MMA

  • An argument between CM Punk and MTV’s Johnny Bananas aired on “The Challenge: Champs vs. Pros” last night. Bananas told Punk that he couldn’t handle it in wrestling and “got his ass handed to him” in MMA.
  • Ray Borg responded to TJ Dillashaw potentially challenging for Demetrious Johnson’s flyweight title instead of him.
  • Jessica Andrade volunteered to fight Angela Magana on behalf of Cris Cyborg.
  • Joanna Jedrzejczyk told Sports Illustrated that fighters should be more concerned with fighting than outside obligations.
  • Matt Serra showed Neil deGrasse Tyson how to apply a Kimura while recording an episode of the UFC Unfiltered podcast.
  • Stipe Miocic made an appearance during Machine Gun Kelly’s halftime performance at last night’s Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics game.

Today in Professional Wrestling History (5/24): Harley Race wins his first NWA World title

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