Daily Update: Natalya, Ronda Rousey, Lodi

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

In this issue:

  • Fan reactions and poll for Forbidden Door
  • Thoughts on the Omega-Ospreay and Okada-Danielson matches, as well as the difference in match of the years today with in the past that is concerning. We look at the Omega-Ospreay storyline, the business record that was set in Toronto as well as PPV numbers, theater numbers, what we learned, the Okada-Danielson finish and the situation with C.M. Punk.
  • We have the biggest money live events in AEW history, match-by-match coverage, Danielson, Sting, Tony Khan and others talk after the show and more
  • A look at Money in the Bank and its unique record that was quietly set
  • Full coverage of Saturday’s UFC show
  • Business notes on the show
  • What’s next for the top people on the show
  • The most detailed look at the ratings of all the wrestling shows this past week, talking competition, ranking, segment-by-segment, the unique change in the Raw audience this week as well as the low rating for AEW and notes on that
  • Early Fantastica Mania notes
  • 64th anniversary of pro wrestling in one of its legendary arenas that likely has had more shows than all but a few in history
  • Notes on AAA’s next major show after TripleMania in Tijuana
  • Stardom PPV notes
  • Next Stardom PPV card
  • Stardom Five-Star Grand Prix tournament
  • Battle of two people who trained together as youths sells out standing room tickets at Korakuen Hall weeks ahead of time
  • The new three Musketeers in New Japan and thoughts
  • Update on this week’s New Japan major shows
  • A look in detail about the movie “Iron Claw” about the heyday of the Von Erichs and the collapse of their empire along with thoughts on it
  • One of the best wrestlers of the 90s and 00s goes into a sports Hall of Fame
  • Outsports talks about the most powerful LGBTQ+ people in the sports world including many from both pro wrestling and MMA
  • Notes on Ross Forman, who works backstage at Impact, making the list and his background and thoughts
  • WWC 50th anniversary show draws huge crowd in Puerto Rico and rundown of the show
  • Impact notes from the next few weeks of TV
  • AEW video game notes
  • Jim Ross update
  • Danielson talks Okada
  • Variety says AEW TV show deserves an Emmy nomination
  • Upcoming ticket sales for all WWE & AEW shows
  • Anthony Bowens felt crowd reaction was a real breakthrough, as does a reader who grew up in Chicago
  • Ariel Helwani responds to Tony Khan
  • What percentage of revenue did UFC fighters make last year
  • Lots of new UFC fights
  • Fighter rebounding from nearly fatal heart attack
  • Lots of notes on Vince McMahon and WWE
  • Notes on what happens with the new company, how much money Vince made WWE by staying and what percentage of the new company he will own
  • Notes on ideas for changes in NXT and main roster shows
  • WWE injury updates
  • International TV ratings
  • WWE top streaming segments for the week

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter:

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Tuesday Update

WWE

  • Natalya wrote on Twitter about her match against Rhea Ripley on Raw Monday: “Tonight was personal. It was an apology to myself for putting up with what I didn’t deserve. Thank you so much to everyone who still believes in me, even when I didn’t always believe in myself. It truly means the world to me. Sometimes people forget, until I get the chance to remind them. I was made in The Dungeon. I can take anyone to their limit on any night, because that’s what top level competitors do. Now line up the rest and let me loose on them too.”
  • Ronda Rousey wrote on Instagram: When your time gets cut three times but you still put on a banger #ChickenSalad #TagTeamChampionships
  • Damian Priest and Drew McIntyre will be guests on this week’s episode of The Bump.
  • Regarding the WWE vs. MLW lawsuit, PWInsider reported on 6/30 WWE requested for an extension, noting that they “recently retained new counsel”.
  • Becky Lynch spoke to Cosmopolitan UK on her career and injuring her shoulder last year at SummerSlam against Becky Lynch.
  • Matches added to WWE’s YouTube on Tuesday include The Usos vs. The Street Profits from SummerSlam 2022, Asuka vs. Becky Lynch in a no holds barred match from the July 4, 2022 episode of Raw, and Sheamus vs. Randy Orton from SummerSlam 2010.

AEW

  • ROH Supercard of Honor 2023 has been added to HonorClub.
  • This week’s Sammy Guevara vlog.

Other Wrestling

  • Former WCW star Lodi wrote on Facebook he recently underwent open heart surgery after wrestling a match on June 17. He wrote: “On June 21, I went in for a triple by-pass heart surgery. I came out with FIVE by passes as two of the arteries needed 2 by-passes each. After two days in ICU, I walked out of the hospital on Sunday evening, June 25th. 9 days in the hospital is not my idea of fun. 4 days later I ended up back in the hospital with a blood clot and infection from an IV site. After two days I walked out again. I will address this more in depth soon. I just wanted those that called, texted, etc to know what was going on. Life for LODI will be a little different for a while, and today I am not even sure what that looks like.”
  • PWInsider recently contacted Reelz about a potential second season of MLW content on the channel. Reelz’s statement reads: “Talks for season two continue. Fans of Major League Wrestling can still watch past episodes of Underground Wrestling on subscription VOD services including Amazon Channels, Fire TV and Roku.”
  • Backstage comments from NJPW Strong’s Independence Day show in Japan from Tuesday morning.
  • Triplemania XXXI in Tijuana will air on HBO Max in Mexico on July 15.