Daily Update: Joel Deaton, Jake Atlas, The Rock

DAILY UPDATE

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dave@wrestlingobserver.com

We’re looking for reports from tonight’s WWE Raw show in Rochester, NY and NXT show in Kelowna, BC to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com

We’re also looking for your thoughts on Impact Bound for Glory, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

IMPACT BOUND FOR GLORY TONIGHT AT 8 P.M. IN VILLA PARK, IL AT THE ODEUM

  • Call Your Shot Gauntlet (Rumble style) match with Eddie Edward, Mahabali Shera, Rosemary, Johnny Swinger, Jessicka Havok, Jordynne Grace, Kiera Hogan, Cousin Jake Deaner, Cody Deaner, Raj Singh, Adam Thornstowe, Luster the Legend and many others
  • Zachary Wentz & Dezmond Xavier & Trey Miguel vs. Dr. Wagner Jr. & Aerostar & Black Taurus
  • Naomichi Marufuji vs. Michael Elgin
  • Ken Shamrock vs. Moose
  • Josh Alexander & Ethan Page vs. Rich Swann & Willie Mack vs. Rob Van Dam & Rhino for the tag titles
  • Taya vs. Tenille Dashwood for the Knockouts title
  • Jake Crist vs. Tessa Blanchard vs. Daga vs. Sabu vs. Ace Romero in a ladder match for the X title
  • Brian Cage vs. Sami Callihan for the Impact title

NEW JAPAN JUNIOR TAG TOURNAMENT MONDAY IN AKITO ON NEW JAPAN WORLD (taped)

  • Sho & Yoh vs. TJP & Clark Connors

Raw will be live on Monday from Cleveland.  A.J. Styles & Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. Street Profits & ? will be on the show, plus Ric Flair, Rey Mysterio and Cain Velasquez, plus Sin Cara vs. Andrade.

The Smackdown crew runs Monday in Sydney, Australia and Tuesday in Brisbane, Australia.

NEW JAPAN JUNIOR TAG TOURNAMENT TUESDAY IN IWATE ON NEW JAPAN WORLD (taped)

  • Rocky Romero & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru 

F4W NEWSLETTER: WWE’s draft missed opportunity Joseph Currier looks at how the draft failed to establish a unique identity for SmackDown on FOX.

With a chance to establish a unique identity on FOX, this year’s draft was a missed opportunity for WWE.

The draft was an early indication of what WWE will look like on FOX. Following up on a loaded premiere episode, it gave SmackDown an opportunity to define itself as a FOX property. WWE had the full weight of the network behind them, complete with pre-taped appearances by FOX’s biggest sports personalities. But instead of leaning in to that identity, WWE gave mixed messages.

Ever since WWE struck their deal with FOX, there’s been some question about how SmackDown would fit into the network’s portfolio. It’s categorized as part of FOX Sports, with WWE Backstage even airing weekly on FS1. SmackDown gives FOX the benefit of having live programming on Fridays for 52 weeks out of the year, but it’s really more of a hybrid between sports and a weekly television show. WWE is never going to be — and shouldn’t be — a promotion that presents itself as a pure sport. The beauty of pro wrestling is that you can create the over-the-top spectacle that sports can only wish to achieve. With appearances by Cain Velasquez and Tyson Fury on the FOX premiere, it seemed like WWE was going to be taking SmackDown in that direction.

Current subscribers click here to continue reading.

WON NEWSLETTER: October 21, 2019 Observer Newsletter: Eric Bischoff fired, WWE draft disappoints

In a huge week of news,we’ve got all the details in the new issue. Our lead story looks at the firing of Eric Bischoff. We look at his hiring, why it was largely not expected to work out by those who had worked with him in recent years and why people from the past rarely work when brought back into wrestling.

This week’s Observer also covers: 

Bruce Prichard and the problems with both Raw and Smackdown.

WWE draft, why the moves were made, how the draft shows were put together and have a depth chart of where all the talent looks to be positioned, who got broken up and who haven’t had a brand chosen for them yet.

Signing of Tyson Fury and Cain Velasquez by WWE. We look at WWE’s place in Riyadh season, the kind of money being thrown around, why Anthony Joshua is facing heat while WWE really isn’t, the set up for Velasquez vs. Lesnar and questions about Velasquez and his WWE career going forward, the background of how Fury and Velasquez got to WWE, the challenges Velasquez faces in WWE and the Crown Jewel show.

WWE’s plans for NXT Japan, what major star has been signed and others who have been talked with, DVR viewership of Smackdown, updated WWE PPV numbers, Hulu numbers, Mike Bennett on why he wants to leave, Maria Kanellis responds. Hardy family drama, WWE gets award nominations, Injury updates, Evolve shows, most-watched shows on the WWE Network, plus a look at every arena event from WWE & NXT over the past week.

Coverage of King of Pro Wrestling with the background, the destination, the Tokyo Dome plans, Power Struggle, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.

Extensive coverage of Bushiroad’s purchase of Stardom, how this happened, why Rossy Ogawa sold to Bushiroad and not WWE, what WWE was offering, Stardom’s new TV deal, why this doesn’t mean New Japan and Stardom are affiliated, Stardom coming to the U.S. in December and political implications of all this, as well a plans for the biggest Stardom show ever.

UFC in Tampa this past week with Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Michelle Waterson and Jedrzejczyk’s quest for the strawweight title.

Full coverage of all the WWE television shows from the past week.

In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.

Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week. 

Current subscribers can access the issue here.

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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.

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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight and we have a ton of stuff to talk about, including UFC and Smackdown on Friday, Wednesday ratings, Jake Atlas, Marko Stunt, Heroes Inmoratles, Bound for Glory, Conor McGregor and more.

Joel Jones (Outlaw Joel Deaton) suffered a massive stroke on Friday and is currently in the Emory University Hospital in ICU. He was awake and talking, and can move his affected side. His prognosis is excellent but does have a long road ahead of him. His sister relayed the news on Facebook.

There are no dates finalized for Kenny Omega to return to Mexico and defend his AAA title, but the company’s last major show of the year will be on 12/14.

For the weekend, the only combat sports stuff that made Google trends were UFC stuff on Friday, with the show itself doing 200,000 searches, which is high for an ESPN 2 show, and Greg Hardy did 100,000 searches. Nothing from Smackdown or boxing made the list.

Dwayne Johnson noted that production will begin in July for him to play Black Adam based on the DC Comic character. Johnson, on Twitter, noted that he’s been wanting to do this for ten years.

Ken Marquez (Jake Atlas), who came out of Battle of Los Angeles as the basic first choice in the draft after his incredible matches with Jungle Boy and Dragon Lee, has informed promoters he’s not taking any dates after the end of the year.  He reports to WWE in January. He had turned down Impact and ROH and we don’t know if AEW made an offer, but it was known WWE was his choice. Hopefully it works out for him because he’s more talented than all but a few people on WWE’s main roster, but his style is so unlike WWE that it’s a risk. But he’s a guaranteed instant hit in NXT. Marquez was on the TV show Undercover Boss with Stephanie McMahon a few years back.

WWE

  • Jinder Mahal appeared at a political rally for NDL leader Jagmeet Singh for Monday’s Prime Minister election. (thanks to Kevin Rusan)
  • Canyon Ceman of WWE was at the PWA Colosseum shows in Australia scouting talent.
  • An interview with Seth Rollins. (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)
  • A story on Tyson Fury in WWE.
  • Oddsmakers at Kambi are not expecting a blockbuster Crown Jewel show.  Here are the over/under numbers you can set on:
    Braun Strowman vs. Tyson Fury *1/2
    Mansoor vs. Cesaro **1/2
    Tag Team turmoil **3/4
    Team Hogan vs. Team Flair **1/2
    Seth Rollins vs,. Bray Wyatt **1/2
    Brock Lesnar vs.Cain Velasquez **1/2

AEW

MISCELLANEOUS

  • This week is the 60th anniversary of Bruno Sammartino’s first match.A Pittsburgh story talking about him before and when he started.
  • This week’s MLW TV show is up.
  • Terry Funk talked to the Two Man Power Trip podcast about the Wednesday Night War, Vince McMahon and more.
  • Northeast Wrestling from last night in Bethany,CT:  Buddy Costa b Bret Gosselin, Cody Vance b DL Hurst, JT Dunn d Chuck O’Neil (MMA fighter), Wrecking Ball Legursky b Sledge, Keith Youngblood b Christian Casanova, Hale Collins b Chris Battle, Mike Gamble & Dexter Loux & Mike Verna b The ICW, RJ Rude & Zane Benardo b Ron Zombie & Jimmy Preston, Darby Allin b Brian Anthony (thanks to Nick Mahmood)
  • There are tickets available at Eventbrite for the Rick Titan (Rick Bogner) Memorial Celebration of Life which takes place on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in Calgary.  We were told there were 17 tickets left. Rick Titan was a big star as Big Tytan in FMW, and also wrestled in New Japan, WAR and ECW, and was the fake Razor Ramon in WWF.  He started his career in Calgary with Lance Storm & Chris Jericho among others.
  • Pro Wrestling Eclipse on 12/27 in Oshawa, ONT with the Eclipse Cup tournament.
  • Great North Wrestling from last night in Rockland,ONT before 350 fans:  Davey Boy Smith Jr. b Nathan Banner to win the Hannibal TV title, Blood Hunter b Haku, Jessicka Black b Lady Yasmine, Jeremy Prophet b Wes Brisco for the Canadian title, Savio Vega b Paul Rosenburg, Bruiser b Mathis Myre in a tables mach, Harley Davidson & Colin Oliver b Steve McDaniel & :, Marc Burell b David Juno in a kickboxing match.  They announced for a show next year that Haku & Barbarian would face Hannibal & Savio Vega after Vega attacked Haku and cost him his match on the show. (thanks to Anthony Ambros)
  • Stardom from earlier today in Okayama:  Session Moth Martina won three-way over Saya Kamitani and Saya Iida, Hana Kimura & Death Yama-san b Andras Miyagi & Natsuko Tora, Bea Priestley & Jamie Hayter b Riho & Starlight Kid in the tag tournament, Tam Nakano & Arisa Hoshiki b Zoe Lucas & Bobbi Tyler in the tournament, Jungle Kyona & Konami b Mayu Iwatani & Saki Kashima in the tournament, Kagetsu & Hazuki & Natsu Sumire b Momo Watanabe & AZM & Leo Onozaki (thanks to Shannon Walsh and wrestlingwithdemons.net)
  • All Star Wrestling November to Remember on 11/2 in Tzeachten Hall in Chilliwack, BC.
  • Canadian Wrestling Elite’s 50 man Rumble to Remember is 11/29 in Winnipeg.  The winner will get a title match on the company’s 11th anniversary show on 5/22. 
  • Defy from last night in Seattle.  Report was the show was fine but not at the normal Defy levels:  Douglas James b Jet Knight, Rebel Kel b Kikyo, Jacob Fatu b Amazing Red (very good), Randy Myers b Drexel, Cima & Cody Chunn & Guillermo Rosas b Matt Sydal & Cook Brothers, Josef Samael b Mike Santiago in a street fight (said to be terrible), Schaff b Tom Lawlor to retain the 8xGP title.  Alexander Hammerstone attacked Schaff after the match (thanks to Scott Janicek)
  • A podcast interview with C.M. Punk.
  • A story on Bronson Rechsteiner, the son of Rick Steiner, who we’ve written about a few times (thanks to Ric Garni)

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Mad Dog Vachon wins AWA World Title

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