Daily Update: Randy Orton, Deonna Purrazzo, ‘Who Killed WCW?’

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

This is a huge issue covering all of the latest news in-depth:

  • Why the Janel Grant lawsuit against Vince McMahon is on hold including reaction from lawyers on both sides and an independent lawyer looks at what the breaking news means.
  • AEW negotiations with WBD and how they are going. The most detailed look at the state of the negotiations, what is and isn’t involved in the talks, how streaming fits in, opening it up for other companies to bid and much more. Plus we detail how the international wrestling marketplace changes that are relevant to AEW’s bottom line.
  • Full coverage of Double or Nothing, key angles, storylines, direction, Forbidden Door, business numbers, Adam Copeland injury, Owen Hart tournament, history of repeating stadium shows, and world title at All In.
  • More business notes from WrestleMania weekend.
  • Full King and Queen of the Ring coverage, business notes, PPV, other interest level measurements and crossover purchasers with other events.
  • A look at the life and career of  David “Silento” Rodriguez, a deaf wrestler who had a long career.
  • The most detailed look at the ratings from the past week, including rankings, comparisons with a year ago, demo numbers, competition and how segments did individually.
  • FantasticaMania Mexico
  • Big AAA main feud
  • Update on TripleMania
  • Great Triple Crown match
  • New Japan business note
  • Super Juniors tournament
  • Giulia update
  • Hawaiian wrestling history
  • Progress Strong Style 16 tournament
  • MLW strategy change this week
  • Changes in TNA
  • Notes on AEW departures
  • Notes on AEW injuries
  • Young Bucks shoe business
  • Advance ticket sales for upcoming AEW & WWE events
  • Major UFC show coming to ABC
  • Rousey says why she doesn’t go to UFC events
  • Lots of WWE contract updates
  • WWE firings
  • WrestleMania documentary updates
  • International TV ratings

This week’s Wresting Observer Newsletter back issue

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • Ahead of challenging Roxanne Perez at Battleground, TNA star Jordynne Grace made her NXT debut by defeating Stevie Turner last night. Grace tweeted after the match: “In the midst of the chaos, give @StevieTurnerWWE her flowers. Couldn’t have made history tonight without her. I’ve been the underdog many, many times, and I know how hard it can be to bet on yourself. Keep going. See you down the road!”
  • Grace had “NXTNA” written on her ring gear for the match against Turner.
  • Grace gifted Shawn Michaels a “Chef Michaels” hat after the meme he tweeted last week referencing all that he’s cooking up on NXT.
  • Brooks Jensen teased showing up in TNA after the off-air angle where he was kicked out of NXT. Jensen said that, with him being able to go anywhere he wants, maybe he’ll “make an Impact.”
  • Randy Orton told Sportskeeda WrestleBinge that he doesn’t expect anyone will break his record as the youngest WWE World Champion anytime soon, if ever:
    • As far as someone becoming the youngest World Heavyweight Champion and taking that from me, I don’t see that happening, only because I think it was a very special circumstance when I became the youngest World Champion. I was 24 years old, and I don’t know if there’s anyone young enough to make it to that yet, so I think I’m gonna hold that for quite some time, if not from here on out.
  • NXT’s Je’Von Evans responded by taking Orton’s comments as a challenge: “All Respect To You @RandyOrton But I Love A Challenge OG”
  • WWE filed a new trademark for “WCW” on June 4. The filing information, which can be read below, is the same as when WWE filed for the term in 2020. It’s listed as being for the following merchandise:
    • Cardboard and paper hangtags; paper for wrapping and packaging; collector albums for sticker collectables, namely, sticker albums; stickers; sticker albums; collectable photos, namely, collectable pictures; collectable photos, namely, collectable picture cards; photo albums; photographs; framed pictures; vinyl and plastic clings, namely, plastic cling film extensible, for palletization and vinyl static cling sheets on which slogans are printed for affixation in windows and window shields; labels, namely, printed paper labels; folders; paper place mats, paper table mats, paper napkins; paper tablecloths; paper table linens; paper lunch bags; postcards; greeting cards; pictures; calendars; posters; decals; temporary tattoo transfers; collectable trading cards; sports training cards; trading cards, other than for games; brochures, magazines and newspapers in the field of sports entertainment; coloring books; children’s activity books; souvenir programs concerning sports entertainment; books in the field of sports entertainment; books featuring pictorial biographies in the field of sports; comic books; picture books; book covers; paper book markers; notebooks; memo pads; note pads; date books; address books; agenda books, namely, agendas in book form; markers; pens; pencils; pencil sharpeners; pencil cases; rubber stamps; stamp pads; chalks; paper banners; printed paper signs for doors; drawing rulers; erasers, rubber erasers, chalk erasers, blackboard erasers; bumper stickers; window decals; lithographs; paper party bags; stencils for tracing designs onto paper; paper gift wrap; paper cake decorations; paper; stationery
  • Trick Williams was a guest on The Paul Finebaum Show today.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Vice TV uploaded the complete first episode of its “Who Killed WCW?” docuseries that premiered last night. It’s a four-part series that will continue over the next three weeks.
  • Executive producer Evan Husney tweeted that it was an “incredible experience” working with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Brian Gewirtz, and Seven Bucks Productions on the docuseries. “Such an honor collaborating with a team so passionate about this very special chapter in wrestling history,” Husney added. “Here’s to many more!”
  • Gewirtz was a guest on the Cheap Heat podcast.
  • Will Ospreay won’t be appearing on AEW Dynamite tonight. He noted that he’s at home tonight and then will be back to work for AEW.
  • An appearance by MJF will be the opening segment of Dynamite.
  • In an interview with Dexerto, Deonna Purrazzo commented on the possibility of AEW adding Women’s Tag Team titles:
    • I think Women’s Tag Titles are tricky. I think women easily fall into this category of ‘we’ll just put Deonna and so and so together, you guys be a team.’ If AEW was to introduce Women’s Tag Titles, it would be an amazing opportunity for us women, but I’d want to see a larger story being told.
    • Let’s give women the opportunity to tell stories, make the audience understand why these two people work together.
  • Purrazzo said, before Kris Statlander’s heel turn, Willow Nightingale & Statlander were an example of a team with good chemistry: 
    • We understood their chemistry. We understand why they were friends, the reason they had each other’s back. If we’re going to have Tag Titles, we need multiple tag teams that have that same chemistry.
    • So it’s not something I’m shooting down completely, I just think that type of division needs a lot of investment, a lot of storytelling to get there.
  • Josh Martinez of Z100 in New York City interviewed Swerve Strickland & Prince Nana on Superstar Crossover.
  • Andreza Giant Panda & Tomoya vs. Toru Yano & Tomoaki Honma will be the kickoff match for All Together Sapporo on Saturday, June 15.
  • The Hollywood Reporter covered Sukeban’s Los Angeles debut:
    • With Lakers season over, what could possibly draw crowds to downtown Los Angeles? The answer might just be women’s Japanese wrestling, at least judging by the 2,000 people who flocked to the Trinity Auditorium on May 30 to watch the L.A. debut of Sukeban, a new all-female league that launched last year in New York. Among the attendees: Diplo, Beef star Steven Yeun, Past Lives‘ Greta Lee and Vice Media co-founder Shane Smith. The wrestlers wore elaborate costumes and had their own anime avatars, while matches were a blend of acrobatics and arch theatrics. In one bout, blue-haired Lady Antoinette used a metal trash can to beat down her opponent, Atomic Banshee, who wore white face paint and black fishnet tights. ‘The audience has been welcoming,’ notes retired wrestler Bull Nakano, now commissioner of Sukeban (which means ‘delinquent girls’ in Japanese). ‘But I can’t tell how big this is going to be.’