Daily Update: NXT, WWE Network, Big Cass

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WON NEWSLETTER: March 8, 2021 Observer Newsletter: Death of Jim Crockett Jr., NXT moving to Tuesday

The story of Jim Crockett Jr., and the rise and fall of Jim Crockett Promotions is the lead story in the current double-sized issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.  

We look at the death of Crockett, the Crockett’s family original involvement in wrestling, how Jim took over the moves he made in building a small market territory into one of the big three companies in the U.S., original plans and why they changed, the rise of Ric Flair, where Jm was a Hall of Fame promoter, the fight with Vince McMahon from 1984-88, getting the TBS deal, what led to JCP selling to Turner, the framework of the NWA in the 70s and 80s, the rise of the super show concept, mistakes made at the end, what happened when TBS took over, attempts to get back in wrestling and life after wrestling.

Also in this issue:

NXT to Tuesday, why, what should be expected for the unopposed shows, WrestleMania plans, Takeover plans and how this affects the industry as  a whole.

We also look at the next four PPV shows in pro wrestling with current plans and what happened this week to change plans.

A court case that has major ramifications on major wrestling companies. 

A new documentary from a WWE star away from WWE.

Raw conflicting with college basketball, how other sports do on TV against AEW or WWE, Canadian rating updated, where wrestling stands with mother major sports programming, WWE losing a time slot to AEW, WWE injury dates, Ric Flair talks his angle being dropped, WWE market value and the most-watched shows of the past week on the WWE Network.

New Japan Cup and company plans going forward, Castle Attack shows, injury update, business notes and stadium shows.

Stardom’s biggest show in its history at Budokan Hall.

Life and times of Dean Higuchi, or Dean Ho, one of the major babyface stars of the 70s and his debut in Hawaii, his notoriety prior to wrestling, and his biggest career runs in WWWF and for Roy Shire.

Saturday’s UFC show.

The life of Art Michalik, who was responsible for a major change in pro football, his NFL career, getting into pro wrestling, headlining in Japan and life outside of wrestling.

The life of Johnny DeFazio, one of the most famous local stars in Pittsburgh, the heyday of Studio Wrestling and his life outside of wrestling including being a union head and for decades later a councilman.

The career of Don Serrano, who spent decades in wrestling and certain firsts he was involved in.

The life of Ann Casey, a noteworthy woman wrestling star of the 60s and 70s.

More into detail on the ratings than any other source, we have how every segment on NXT and AEW did as well as how it did with different age groups, genders and more, plus a look at all other wrestling shows of the past week.

Results of the major pro wrestling events of the past week.

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.

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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

WWE

  • Xia Li vs. Kayden Carter has been made official for tomorrow’s episode of NXT.
  • Toni Storm spoke to Sportskeeda ahead of her title match against NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai on tomorrow’s NXT: “This is to date the biggest opportunity that I’ve had so far and it’s against arguably the greatest professional wrestler in the world, men or women – Io Shirai. Luckily for me, I’ve already competed against her several times all over the world. So it’s exciting to go into this match with an entire… it’s just a whole different vibe, a whole different dynamic. When I first wrestled Io, I was about 19, 20. Now I feel like I’ve grown up. I’ve built myself up a lot and the world is going to see the best of Toni Storm this coming Wednesday. So it’s very exciting.”
  • Storm was also asked about the possibility of NXT Women’s Tag Team titles being introduced: “If that happens, like, that’s going to change the entire division. I mean, we’ve got more women than we ever have. So it’s going to be entertaining as hell. Like if that’s the case… it might as well just be all women (laughs).”
  • WWE president and chief revenue officer Nick Khan told the Associated Press about the WWE Network’s deal with Peacock: “The big question internally was how much can you invest and keep pace with the technology? It would be a massive investment. We can drop the price in half (WWE Network was $9.99 per month, while Peacock will be $4.99 per month) and add their technical support. Ultimately it became a no brainer, especially with their reach.”
  • Though WWE Network News reported that it would be premiering on Sunday (March 14), WWE Chronicle: Damian Priest isn’t listed among the new content coming to the WWE Network this week. When the episode will premiere remains to be seen.
  • In an interview with The Wrap, Bobby Lashley was asked if he thinks the historic nature of his WWE Championship win means he should turn babyface: “Let me tell you like this, I never put myself in that babyface-or-heel [polarity]. You lean to the heel side a little bit more because you guys just do what you want to do. But we’re not doing anything bad. I go out there and rough people up, so I guess I should be. But I think my character, who I am, kind of transcends that babyface-heel thing. I think it really depends on who I go against. I mean, if somebody else can bring your level up to being just a nasty heel that just does some very nasty stuff, then you know what… Look, even with The Miz, when I went against The Miz last Monday, people were kind of cheering for me and they were booing for Miz. So it was kind of like I was leaning toward the babyface side and Miz was almost the heel side, but he played the heel perfect.”
  • In a video uploaded by WWE, Bianca Belair, The Street Profits, Booker T, Ron Simmons, and Mark Henry congratulated Lashley on his WWE title win.
  • Peyton Royce cut a promo on Raw Talk last night about not getting the opportunities she feels she deserves. Royce ended the promo by saying to stop wasting her potential and give her a shot at Raw Women’s Champion Asuka.
  • New WWE broadcast team member Kevin Patrick debuted as a backstage interviewer on Raw last night. He also hosted Raw Talk with R-Truth. Patrick, whose real name is Kevin Egan, calls Atlanta United games for Fox Sports South and works for CNN International and SiriusXM. Patrick will also be a commentator for WWE Main Event.
  • Molly Holly, Shane Helms, and Damian Priest will appear on WWE’s The Bump tomorrow morning. Samoa Joe will also interview Rhea Ripley as part of his Chevrolet-sponsored Grit and Glory series.
  • Randy Orton continued his Twitter feud with rapper Soulja Boy.
  • WWE’s YouTube channel uploaded Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero from WrestleMania 21, Charlotte Flair vs. Brie Bella for the Divas Championship from Fastlane 2016, and Kairi Sane vs. Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women’s Championship from Evolution.

Other Wrestling

  • CazXL (Big Cass) spoke to WrestleTalk about his recovery from alcohol addiction: “It was just a long, long journey man. I had been in and out of rehab a few times and it just wasn’t clicking, and then I went back to rehab last January and everything started clicking at that point. I embraced the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous which I beforehand thought was silly, and I really, really started focusing on my recovery and myself, and magically when you do that you just start to get happier. It’s as if it’s this thing that millions of people had done successfully all over the world, but for me, I was like, ‘No that’s not for me’, but when I finally embraced the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, everything started going good mentally, I was a happy person for the first time in a really long time.”
  • Flamita vs. Flip Gordon, Kenny King vs. Tony Deppen, and a Pure Rules match with Fred Yehi facing Dak Draper are set for the ROH TV episode that premieres this coming weekend.
  • ROH uploaded this week’s episode of ROH Week By Week.
  • AEW’s YouTube channel has video of their post-Revolution media scrum with Darby Allin, Paul Wight, Hangman Page, and Tony Khan.
  • During an appearance on Action Sports Jax last week, Cody Rhodes spoke about the possibility of NXT moving to Tuesdays: “There was a fun nature to the Wednesday Night War that plenty of people took very seriously, but if we’re being honest and again, not trying to sound braggadocious, this is a just a run through. We have destroyed them for over a year now in that space, and them leaving, perhaps that opens up a different viewership for us on Wednesday’s, but we’re not reactionary to their booking. We’re not going to change anything we do with what they decide to do on Wednesday’s or not, and also, there’s a lot of smart people who work for WWE, and perhaps they’re planning something else. Maybe it’s going to be Wednesday night Raw for all I know. I’m not assuming that their white flag on moving to Tuesday nights is a true white flag. I’m gonna kind of wait and see myself, and in the interim, all we’re going to do is continue to come up with good content, great stories, and try to make new kings and queens on our roster. You’d be surprised. If you’re ever backstage at AEW, no one’s talking about our competition as far as how it affects our job that night. We’re talking about how much we love or are excited to do what we’re about to do, and that won’t change.”
  • Impact Wrestling’s Josh Alexander wrote about his The North tag team partner Ethan Page signing with AEW: “Hes been as elite as they come for his whole career. If you doubt it, he’ll make you regret it. Going to grab my popcorn and watch all those glass ceilings get smashed.”
  • Lio Rush will issue a “special invitation” on this week’s edition of MLW Fusion.
  • Jim Ross noted that he was interviewed for a Dark Side of the Ring episode on WWE’s “Plane Ride From Hell” from 2002.
  • Post Wrestling interviewed Dark Side of the Ring co-creator Evan Husney.
  • This week’s edition of Sammy Guevara’s vlog is now available.
  • KZT vs. Janai Kai is set for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 6. The show is taking place in Tampa, Florida on Thursday, April 8.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: The Steiners win WCW Tag Team titles

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