Daily Update: Lars Sullivan, WWE notes, Double or Nothing

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F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Looking at AEW’s build to Cody vs. Dustin Rhodes

A brother vs. brother match will be one of the key pieces of All Elite Wrestling’s Double or Nothing card.

After weeks of teases, Dustin Rhodes was confirmed as his brother Cody’s opponent for Double or Nothing at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, May 25. Dustin issued a statement about his status with WWE after the announcement was made, revealing that he had requested his release from WWE and was granted it. Dustin also posted a video where he said goodbye to his Goldust character.

WON NEWSLETTER: May 6, 2019 Observer Newsletter: WWE earnings report, Brock Lesnar, more

One of the biggest news issues of the year, a double issue, leads off with a basic state of the industry right now. Read about how WWE business fell in the first quarter, what is and isn’t the long-term prognostication, usage of fake stats in business that history shows are meaningless to growth, WWE injuries, WWE getting behind new talent, changes in October, and more.

Read a lot more on Brock Lesnar staying with WWE and not returning to WWE, such as how the ESPN deal has changed things for top stars in UFC, when Lesnar can command so much money, what has happened over the last year with Lesnar, UFC and WWE and more.

Read the update on Money in the Bank and Double or Nothing and the ticket demand for both.

Look at the front runner for 2021 WrestleMania, notes on 2020 WrestleMania plans including what match is off the books, Dean Ambrose becomes Jon Moxley and what that means, update on situation with Luke Harper, The Revival, Gallows & Anderson and others.

Read rundowns on the UFC and Bellator shows this past week, with business notes, how much the fighters got paid and match-by-match rundowns of both events.

Read more on the Japanese legacy of The Destroyer, listing all of his championship matches in Japan, as well as his biggest wins and his infrequent losses in All Japan in the 70s and 80s.

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WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • Big E responded when asked about a Reddit thread that compiled racist and other offensive posts that appear to have been made by Lars Sullivan on a bodybuilding forum earlier this decade: “Many are aware. If true, he has to bear the albatross of being a bigot & working in a company that is now filled with minorities.”
  • PWInsider reported that Mauro Ranallo has agreed to a new deal with WWE to remain as the lead announcer for NXT. It was noted that the deal was agreed to about a month back and Ranallo will be able to continue working in his other boxing/MMA announcing jobs.
  • Buddy Murphy made a non-televised appearance on last night’s SmackDown, cutting a promo where he hyped up his arrival on the brand and insulted Ali. WWE has also had non-televised promos with Titus O’Neil and The IIconics at Raw and SmackDown this week. Murphy hasn’t been on SmackDown since the video where it was announced he was joining the brand in the Superstar Shake-up.
  • WWE uploaded video of their 2019 Business Partner Summit.
  • WWE stock closed the day at $84.28 per share, which was down under one percent from yesterday.
  • Today is Tommaso Ciampa’s 34th birthday. Io Shirai also turns 29 today.
  • Ciampa tweeted about the results of his latest follow up x-ray: “Got the results to my 2 month follow up x-ray. Doc said ‘this doesn’t look good…it looks great’. Happy Birthday to The Greatest Sports Entertainer of All Time #PartMan #PartWolverine #AllBlackheart”
  • Dakota Kai tweeted about Meiko Satomura’s stint as a guest coach at the WWE Performance Center: “So amazing to have @satomurameiko teaching at the PC over the last few weeks… safe travels back to [Japan]! I hope you will be back again soon when I’m able to wrestle again.” Satomura then responded to her: “Thank you very much!! I had a great time! I hope soon(*^^*)”
  • Kevin Owens spoke to The Wrap about turning heel on Kofi Kingston. “I wish I would have been able to stay on the other side of the fence a little longer, to be honest. I don’t think anybody’s really seen me as a babyface ever, or, like, the way that I envision myself being. I don’t think people have any idea what I can do on the other side. But, you know, what’s done is done. If I’m gonna speak candidly about it, I would have done it differently. I would have turned on Kofi differently at a different time,” Owens said. “I ended up being wrong because once I did it, I knew that was the right time and place.”
  • Sports Illustrated and CBS Local Sports have interviews with Becky Lynch.
  • WWE uploaded a 10-minute mockumentary on ring announcer Greg Hamilton.
  • The XFL named Winston Moss as the head coach and general manager of their Los Angeles team.

Pro Wrestling

  • On the latest episode of the Road to Double or Nothing, it was officially confirmed that Double or Nothing will air as a live pay-per-view.
  • Independent wrestler Dustin Thomas was also announced for the Casino Battle Royale at Double or Nothing. Thomas, who had both of his legs amputated as a child, got a lot of buzz after he wrestled at this year’s Joey Janela’s Spring Break.
  • Due to circumstances beyond their control, Stardom announced that a Toni Storm vs. Bea Priestley match that was scheduled for May 16 will no longer be taking place: “For the upcoming Korakuen Hall show on May 16, the previously announced match between Toni Storm and Bea Priestley will not take place due to circumstances beyond our control. Thank you for undestanding.” Storm is the NXT UK Women’s Champion, while Priestley is part of AEW.
  • Dave Meltzer is the guest on today’s episode of Talk is Jericho, discussing Vince McMahon purchasing WCW in 2001.
  • Dark Side of the Ring uploaded a bonus clip from tonight’s Gino Hernandez episode, with Hernandez’s mother denying rumors that Paul Boesch was Hernandez’s father.
  • Smash Wrestling announced a partnership with Oriental Wrestling Entertainment: “We are very happy to announce that through recent talks we have entered a partnerships with China’s Oriental Wrestling Entertainment @ORIENTALWRESTL1 that we expect to be mutually beneficial. We look forward to announcing more on this partnership soon!”
  • Black Label Pro’s YouTube account uploaded Bryan Alvarez’s match against Marko Stunt from November.
  • The 10 episodes from the first season of ITV’s World of Sport will air weekly on Stadium starting on May 12.

UFC/MMA

F4W Empire Convention Info:

  • Ed in San Antonio presents PODER~! at the FSW arena on Friday 5/24 – Showtime is at noon – Main event: Bryan Alvarez vs. Logan Stunt
  • Empire dinner on Friday 5/24 at 8:30 p.m. at Texas de Brazil – Price is $82 – All you can eat meat and salad, sodas, tea, and coffee, plus dessert included
  • Empire suite party on Friday 5/24 for those who were not able to get the Q&A package – Price is $25

Purchase tickets here. 

CONTACT INFORMATION