Daily Update: Rhea Ripley, SmackDown ratings, The Undertaker

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter: July 11, 2022 Observer Newsletter: Money in the Bank recap, WWE & AEW business notes

Among the highlights:

  • Match and Performer of the week
  • Full coverage of Money in the Bank, business numbers and analysis, crossover fans with AEW, SummerSlam show and business and a look at the SummerSlam card.
  • The last two months of business for WWE and AEW, including major notes regarding both companies as far as arena success and a change in momentum going forward, as well as major gains by wrestling in what age groups.
  • New Japan talks its business when it comes to training young talent, goals for G-1, women’s matches in New Japan, return to the UK, joint show with Stardom and changing from old traditions.
  • UFC 276 coverage and what comes next for the champions, controversies, rundowns of the fights and business notes.
  • The life of Masashi Aoyagi, one of the key players in the start of the Japanese indie scene, as well as in the connection of karate to pro wrestling
  • The career and controversies of the retiring UFC star Donald Cerrone
  • The story of PWG and its influence on the changes in pro wrestling and what we were taught that was no longer valid to modern fans. A look at 19 years of some of the best matches ever held and top stars before they became famous.
  • The most detailed look at pro wrestling on television and ratings over the past week
  • More on sports rights fees and Tony Khan talks negotiations
  • Realities of pro wrestling on television
  • The next ROH PPV show
  • AEW sets international ratings record
  • Ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • Looking back at WWE working with promotions on a joint promotion show
  • Streaming numbers for WWE & AEW
  • Big E update
  • Tyson Fury/WWE update
  • Israel Adesanya wants to do WWE
  • WWE & UFC head-to-head several more times this year for major shows
  • Next MSG show
  • Rundown of A&E TV shows on Sunday nights

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter:

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Saturday News Update

WWE

  • Rhea Ripley posted a picture on social media today where she was wearing a temporary heart monitor. Ripley is currently out of action, revealing last month that she’s dealing with brain and dental injuries. She had to miss Money in the Bank due to the injuries.
  • Last night’s SmackDown averaged 2.025 million viewers in the fast national ratings, down slightly from the 2.041 million viewers the show drew in the fast nationals last week. The rating in the 18-49 demo was a 0.4.
  • PWinsider reports that Curtis Axel and Ariya Daivari, who were working as WWE producers on a probationary period, aren’t currently being brought in due to budget cuts: “We are told that the company also recently instituted some budget cuts, so Curtis Axel and Ariya Daivari, who had been working as producers on a probationary basis, are no longer being brought in, which made everyone’s night [at SmackDown last night] even harder from a production standpoint. There had been a big push for more producers to be added right after Wrestlemania due to the insane workload and the time the company expects of the producers. That is what led to the probationary additions. Now, with the cutbacks, they have been dropped (at least short term), so the Producers are back to being what was described to PWInsider tonight as ‘extremely overworked.'”
  • Roman Reigns & The Usos vs. Riddle & The Street Profits has been announced (likely as the dark match main event) for Raw at Madison Square Garden on Monday, July 25.
  • Naomi reposted the following on her Instagram Stories today: “The moment you put a stop to people taking advantage of you and disrespecting you, is when they define you as difficult, selfish or crazy. Manipulators hate boundaries.” The message was originally posted by the account @black.successes.
  • Dave Meltzer appeared on Sactown Sports yesterday to discuss the Vince McMahon situation.
  • The Undertaker told Bleacher Report about the “Never Say Never” line from his Hall of Fame speech: “Just the fact you asked that question, mission accomplished. You never say never. I don’t have aspirations of ever stepping into the ring again, but this is the WWE, man. You never say never. You just never say never. I thought it was a great button that I can put on that and for that very reason. That was a little bit for Vince, too.”
  • WWE shared a sneak peek clip from the Undertaker Biography that premieres on A&E this Sunday.
  • In an interview with the Metro, Alexa Bliss revealed the advice Bray Wyatt gave her before he left WWE: “Before he left, he just said, ‘Keep it alive, keep it going,’ so I took that to heart and tried to keep it alive and going. If he ever did return, a hundred percent I’d want to work with him.”
  • KTAL News in Louisiana interviewed Ezekiel.
  • Angelo Dawkins appeared on WWE After the Bell this week.
  • WWE posted a behind-the-scenes photo gallery from Money in the Bank.
  • WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash turns 63 years old today. Shelton Benjamin also turns 47.
  • WWE’s YouTube channel uploaded Finn Balor vs. Shinsuke Nakamura from the July 9, 2019 episode of SmackDown, Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre from the July 9, 2018 episode of Raw, and John Cena vs. Sheamus from the May 17, 2010 episode of Raw.

Other Wrestling