Daily Update: NXT overrun, Bandido, Usman/Covington

DAILY UPDATE

Latest News:

Latest Audio:

F4W NEWSLETTER: NXT’s USA Network era starts strong Joseph Currier gives his thoughts on NXT’s live premiere. Plus, Vinny’s TV reviews.

NXT took advantage of their head start over AEW by hitting a home run with last week’s live premiere.

It wasn’t surprising that NXT’s first live episode was good — it would have been pretty shocking if it wasn’t. Even if there have been occasional peaks and valleys, NXT has always been a good show. Triple H and his team know what they’re doing and the roster is stacked with talent. But NXT was able to pass one of their most important tests: creating a show that feels must-see and different from what they were already offering viewers.

It’s become clear that NXT is going to be a place that features all of WWE’s non-main roster sub-brands. In addition to the regular NXT talent on display, the show featured an appearance by WWE United Kingdom Champion WALTER and his Imperium stablemates. There was also a Cruiserweight Championship number one contender’s match, with Lio Rush making his return and defeating Oney Lorcan.

Due to the final episodes of the USA Network series “Suits,” the first two live editions of NXT are being split across USA and the WWE Network. Last week’s USA Network hour featured a really good fatal four-way number one contender’s match that saw Candice LeRae defeat Mia Yim, Bianca Belair, and Io Shirai to become NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler’s next challenger. Cameron Grimes squashed Sean Maluta, and Roderick Strong became the new NXT North American Champion by defeating Velveteen Dream. The first NXT broadcast of the USA Network era ended with every member of Undisputed Era holding a title.

Current subscribers click here to continue reading.

WON NEWSLETTER: Everything changes next week, Impact moving to AXS

With perhaps the most important week for the U.S. industry in a decade coming up, a double issue this week:

Goes through details of the moves by WWE and AEW, what plans are, advertisers wants, promotion and much more. 

Includes an extensive look at Battle of Los Angeles, New Japan’s upcoming big shows and Tokyo Dome plans, what to learn from the NXT ratings and much more.

The lead story talks about WWE’s big week, the importance of the different shows, overdoing nostalgia, ticket sales, announcing changes,  205 Live’s future, plans for all the shows, what demos to look at, what happened with AEW and ITV, NXT, Smackdown and AEW on the West Coast, replays shows, Smackdown ad rates, as well as a look at Hell in a Cell.

Impact to AXS and what the plans are for specials leading to the regular show. 

The keys in week two’s NXT show and the audience change.

Brock Lesnar’s future, John Hennigan coming in, CM Punk, former UFC legend talks coming to WWE, Shayna Baszler talks her career, WWE injuries, WWE stock update, most-watched shows on WWE Network for the past week, as well as a look at every WWE & NXT arena event over the past week with results, highlights and business notes.

NJPW coverage of Destruction in Kobe, Tokyo Doe direction, King of Pro Wrestling, the Young Lions Cup and match-by-match coverage with star ratings.

Battle of Los Angeles, Bandido’s win, past winners, other PWG alumni, business notes, the good and the bad, the stars of the weekend, the stars of the future, Aramis, Alex Zayne, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings.

Full coverage of the UFC from Mexico City along with business notes.

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

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

Current subscribers click here to read.

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@wrestlingobserver.com or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

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.

In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE

Additional notes by Joseph Currier

WWE

  • Tomorrow’s episode of NXT is listed as having a 15-minute overrun, meaning it will end at around 10:15 p.m. ET.
  • Joaquin Wilde gave an update on his orbital bone surgery: “My eye is swollen shut but i just wanted to let yall know that surgery was a success and im officially on the road to recovery. I have a steel plate in my face now. Surgeon said 4 weeks til i can start doing stuff again. So ill be back at it real soon!”
  • Triple H spoke to the Sporting News about NXT’s new era on USA Network.
  • WWE launched official playlists on Apple Music today. They feature a workout playlist by Triple H and a pump-up playlist by Asuka.
  • Stephanie McMahon appeared on FOX & Friends and FS1’s First Things First today to promote SmackDown’s move to FOX.
  • Roman Reigns took part in an episode of Actually Me for GQ.
  • It was officially announced yesterday that TLC will take place at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on December 15.
  • Sasha Banks, Jeff Hardy, Seth Rollins and Ricochet will be part of Ringsidefest 2019 on November 3rd.
  • The WWE Performance Center uploaded a video on Dio Maddin and him doing commentary at Madison Square Garden last month.
  • WWE has a video on the making of Raw’s new opening.

Pro Wrestling

  • Bandido on Instagram posted a picture of himself in the hospital indicating that he will be out seven weeks due to his injury.
  • AEW welcomed Alex Abrahantes to their broadcast team.
  • Jon Moxley sent out a tweet hyping up his appearance on tomorrow’s AEW Dynamite premiere: “Moxley. Live TV. Pissed Off. Tomorrow night. TNT. #AEWDynamite”
  • Cody, Brandi Rhodes, and MJF are doing a meet-and-greet at Anniversary Plaza on the south side of the Illini Union in Urbana, Illinois at noon Central time this Thursday.
  • Kevin Kelly tweeted that he was heading into the studio today to do English commentary for last Saturday’s NJPW Fighting Spirit Unleashed show in New York City.
  • CM Punk appeared on the Kevin & Bean radio show today.
  • Ohio Valley Wrestling moves to Tuesdays starting tonight on Louisville’s local channel 21, WBNA.
  • John Morrison has been added to RetroMania Wrestling, an upcoming video game based on WWF WrestleFest that is coming out for the PC, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

UFC/MMA

  • UFC today officially confirmed that the Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington Welterweight title fight is back on, this time for UFC 245 on December 14.
  • A warrant has been issued for Anthony “Rumble” Johnson stemming from a missed court date. He was scheduled to be in court in relation to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge from earlier this year.
  • The first two episodes of UFC Embedded for UFC 243 are now available.
  • Georges St-Pierre’s coach Firas Zahabi thinks the ship has sailed regarding the idea of St-Pierre vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov at 155.
  • Kevin Lee vs. Gregor Gillespie is being targeted for UFC 244 in New York.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Samoa Joe vs. Kenta Kobashi

CONTACT INFORMATION