Daily Update: Mantaur, Megan Morant, Impact TV taping matches

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

In this issue:

  • Match of the week and performer of the week for the past two weeks
  • Full coverage of Money in the Bank, the story behind all the matches angles and finishes
  • Eight confirmed matches for SummerSlam
  • Ticket sales for SummerSlam and records already broken and other records on the verge of being broken
  • Live gate for Money in the Bank and a breakdown of the multiple records set
  • WrestleMania in London and an update on where that stands
  • Total viewership for the show
  • PPV numbers for the show and how it compares to other shows plus crossover with AEW Forbidden Door
  • Story behind the results and angles on the show
  • The life and times of Darren Drozdov, comments from wrestlers, family, friends and the story behind the accident that changed his life and how he battled back and ended up close with his family.
  • His brief career in wrestling
  • Jerry McDevitt removed from the MLW lawsuit and announces his retirement. A look back at the legendary attorney and his history with WWE
  • What happened with Collision in week three. A detailed breakdown of what was one of the most important TV ratings of the year
  • WWE & AEW quarterly business, viewership, house shows, what is up and what is down and why
  • New Japan Strong at Korakuen Hall with four title changes and two brutal matches
  • Full UFC coverage for the week and business notes
  • Dragon Gate’s biggest show of the year takes place
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the major wrestling shows, including weekly rankings
  • CMLL runs major event with Romero vs. Volador Jr., and notes on the debut of Mascara Dorada 2.0
  • Stardom PPV coverage
  • Notes on the Five-Star Grand Prix tournament
  • Triple Crown title change and fantastic performance by Yuji Nagata
  • Father and daughter appear on show together in Japan
  • What companies in Japan have drawn the most fans so far this year
  • One of the biggest tag teams of all-time having a special show
  • Lots more on the Mildred Burke movie that was being filmed this past month and stories about Burke’s legend
  • Grappl lists its fan voted best matches in history
  • Matt Morgan talks back surgery
  • Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame notes for 2023
  • Stardom star coming to GCW and notes on the deal
  • Kenny Omega talks AEW video game
  • Updated ticket sales for All In and where it ranks on the all-time list
  • Update on Forbidden Door PPV numbers
  • Jon Moxley goal to become an historical first
  • Omega talks Will Ospreay match
  • Ticket sales to the upcoming WWE and AEW shows
  • Jim Ross updates his condition
  • Injury updates
  • Streaming number updates
  • Merch number updates
  • International TV ratings
  • Lots of gimmick fights being talked about
  • ESPN announce new multi-part documentary
  • Paul Levesque talks NXT Europe
  • Plans for net year’s Mania
  • Gable Steveson issues challenge for another sport he’s never done before
  • Rundown of all WWE events this past week

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

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Wednesday Update

WWE

  • WWE.com posted a tribute to Mike “Mantaur” Halac following his passing:
          • WWE is saddened to learn that Mike Halac, better known to WWE fans as Mantaur, has passed away.
          • Halac’s combination of size and charisma immediately captivated fans worldwide as he took to the ring in a giant bull head to highlight his half-man, half-minotaur persona.
          • Halac spent time in both WWE and ECW where he faced some of the biggest stars of his generation like Bam Bam Bigelow, Razor Ramon, and Bret Hart.
          • WWE extends its condolences to Mike Halac’s family, friends and fans.
  • WWE broadcaster Megan Morant is donating a kidney to help save the life of her former boss’ wife. She wrote on Instagram yesterday:
          • I’m still not really sure where to start with this post, but here’s my best try:
          • Tomorrow I am donating my kidney.
          • I’m sure you have lots of questions so here goes nothing: You see, back in November I learned that my friend @mstevenk needed a kidney. After chatting with him about kidney transplants at work, I was intrigued. I rushed home and spent the entire weekend reading kidney.org before telling Kirsh that I would gladly test for him. A few blood tests later, and I got a call that Kirsh and I were not a match.
          • Instantly, I felt very sad. I wanted to help, but couldn’t. So I made a promise to myself: if the opportunity to donate a kidney ever comes up again in my life, I’ll do it.
          • About a week later, on a group chat with my old work pals at the @patriots I learned that my previous boss’ wife was in kidney failure. It all felt meant to be. After 5 months of testing, and a few more months of waiting, the day has finally come. While Margrette and I also are not a blood type match, through the National Kidney Registry’s joint donor program, I will advance donate tomorrow and in return, Margrette will get a kidney to save her life.
          • Throughout this whole process, Margrette has been an absolute rockstar. She remains extremely positive through her daily dialysis and continues to work in the nonprofit space to make life better for others all while enduring the pain and discomfort that is kidney failure. I feel so blessed to be in a position to help Margrette and her family. It’s truly the honor of my life, and it reminds me why we are all here: to help and be there for each other. While I’ve had my strong/brave girl face on this entire process, I’m not gonna lie, I’m a little nervous, so If you’re a person that prays, please keep us in your prayers tomorrow. I ’ll see you all on the other side! We’ve got our green nails on and we are ready to go! #DonateLife #kidneydonor #kidney
  • Morant posted an update after the operation: “Everything went perfectly! I’m overwhelmed with gratitude and cannot thank you all enough for the prayers. I’m eternally grateful! We did it”
  • Last Friday’s SmackDown ranked as the number one entertainment show of the week in the 18-49 demo: “For ratings purposes, WWE SmackDown was recategorized as an entertainment program beginning last week. In its first airing as such, SmackDown was the #1 entertainment show of the week among Adults 18-49 (0.76 rtg/986k viewers [in the demo]).”
  • Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Dany Garcia’s Seven Bucks Productions is involved in the making of a new documentary on Andy Kaufman. The project is from documentarian Clay Tweel and is being produced by Campfire Studios, Seven Bucks Productions, Worldwide Pants Incorporated, and Fifth Season. The documentary is in partnership with The Andy Kaufman Estate.
  • NXT’s Amari Miller posted a tweet about the importance of getting help with mental health when you need it: “During my depression stage, not knowing why I was changing, gaining weight, not getting along with people, trying to survive day by day. It is ok to ask for help!! Mental hospitals are not a sign of weakness!! I got the help I needed and I’m back healthy and happy inside &out”
  • Grayson Waller, Chelsea Green, Sonya Deville, and Johnny Knoxville appeared on WWE’s The Bump this afternoon.
  • Matt Riddle, Shayna Baszler, and Tommaso Ciampa will be on The Bump next Wednesday.
  • Brock Lesnar turns 46 years old today, Sami Zayn turns 39, and Shane “Hurricane” Helms turns 49.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • GCW clarified that, while he’ll be appearing at the show, Jeff Hardy won’t be wrestling at their Friday, August 4 event in Detroit. It will be the first time Hardy has ever appeared for GCW.
  • In an interview with the Daily Mail, Matt Hardy discussed the best moments he’s had in AEW so far:
          • When I think about my greatest moments of AEW, I’m still really proud of that street fight we had where I ran over [Sammy Guevara], and me in the golf cart. That was a lot of fun with myself and Kenny Omega, Sammy and Jericho.
          • The Stadium Stampede was a great thing. I really love the match with myself and Jeff and The Young Bucks at Double or Nothing a year ago, and then I enjoyed the Hardy Family Office. Especially when it was myself Isaiah and Marq Quen, and I feel like if was able to stay contained to the three of us, I think it would have been even better.
          • But then it kind of got to that point where there were some guys that just they said, Hey, can we put them with you, Matt? You know a little bit of a rub, and you can come talk for him, whatever, and we ended up doing that. I think that watered it down a little bit.
          • It’s going to be very funny once this contract stuff is done with Ethan, which we’re getting very close to the end game here, but I’ll make sure to make a comment about it because I’m never going to be in a contract story again at all, because I’ve done my fair share.
  • Britt Baker is featured on the cover of PennStater magazine.
  • Impact Wrestling has announced Lio Rush vs. KUSHIDA and Chris Bey & Ace Austin vs. Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster for this Sunday’s Slammiversary fallout TV tapings. The tapings are also set to feature Tommy Dreamer & former NHL player Darren McCarty vs. Champagne Singh & Shera.
  • Chris Sabin spoke to Sports Illustrated about holding the X-Division title 19 years after his first reign: “I always thought the X Division was the future of wrestling. Now I get to show that with a new generation of wrestlers. This is a chance for a lot of the new guys to get a chance. And I can prove I can still hang with these younger guys, too.”
  • MLW Fury Road 2023 will take place at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia on Sunday, September 3. The show is airing live on Fite+.