Daily Update: Road to Double or Nothing, Titan Games, Baszler

DAILY UPDATE

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WON NEWSLETTER: May 4, 2020 Observer Newsletter: Florida and UFC/WWE/AEW, more news

A look at how the major companies are looking at either running or not running is the lead story in this week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. We also have a major feature on the characters from ABC’s 20/20, from David Schultz, John Stossell, Jim Wilson and Eddy Mansfield, as well as a feature on Gerald Brisco and how Vince McMahon got control of the TBS time slot for one year.

The issue also covers:

The schedule for UFC, WWE and AEW. 

The time frame Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida talked about for live events, the hypocrisy sanctioning these events, why UFC isn’t running Las Vegas, ESPN’s change of policy, another state open to bring in wrestling, boxing and MMA, UFC’s first show back, update on Fight Island, Bellator plans and Scott Coker talks his ideas.

Another feature on WWE financials with Vince McMahon’s quotes on all facets of business going forward and what is and isn’t honest about them.  We also look at why you can’t compare live attendance, what category does look good and what doesn’t, empty arena shows, costs of taping now and why Vince says the WWE Network should grow.

The firings of Cain Velasquez and Curtis Axel and the departure, at least for now, of Gerald Brisco.

How close Brisco and Vince McMahon have been, the 1984 purchase of GCW by McMahon and how it went down, how McMahon lost the time slot after one year, the WWE signing and usage of Velasquez, and what major WWE decision-maker thought Axel would be one of the company’s signature stars.

The latest episode of Dark Side of the Ring on David Schultz. We look at the start of Schultz’s career, his feud with Hulk Hogan, slapping John Stossel, Eddy Mansfield, Jim Wilson, Jim Barnett, how Schultz got fired by WWE, Jim Cornette on the show, the Lou Thesz-Eddy Mansfield confrontation, the deregulation of wrestling, and how the story on Jimmy Snuka and the 20/20 story on wrestling intertwine.

New Monday night competition to Raw, 2K plans or 2020, How WWE stars get paid, wrestler who pulled out of tapings this past week, U.K. and Canada TV ratings, Taynara Conti and Mike Bennett talk being released, Jerry Lawler talks his remark bout Tozawa, Heath Slater talks his departure, David Starr talks current conditions and the most-watched bouts for the past week on WWE Network.

A harrowing story on Ilima lei-Macfarlane and her childhood going to the famed Punahou Schoolin Hawaii and the dirty secret the school covered up for decades that has just come to light.

Full coverage of the Impact Rebellion show with so many champions not there, as well as match-by-match coverage.

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

In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.

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

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MONDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw and the latest news. You can also send your questions for the show into mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com.

The first Road to Double or Nothing video is now avaliable.

Raw tonight has Drew McIntyre vs. Murphy, The Street Profits vs. Viking Raiders, Ricochet & Cedric Alexander vs. Brendan Vink & Shane Thorne plus a Gauntlet match for the final men’s spot in Money in the Bank. Post Wrestling reported the return of A.J. Styles as well for tonight.

Dwayne Johnson listed a number of stars who will be on the new season of Titan Games, which will air on NBC against Raw starting on 5/25. Among the names are former UFC champion Tyron Woodley, former NFL Pro Bowler Joe Thomas, former NFL player Victor Cruz and boxing gold medalist Claressa Shields. AEW announced that announcer Dasha Gonzalez (formerly Dasha Fuentes in WWE) would also be appearing on the show.

WWE

  • WWE Chronicle: Shayna Baszler debuts on the WWE Network on Saturday night, building up her being in the Money in the Bank ladder match the next night.
  • Jerry Lawler noted that King Jerry Lawler’s Hall of Fame Bar & Grille will open up tonight with social distancing measures in place. All tables will be six feet apart and they will operate at 50 percent capacity. Employees will all wear masks and gloves.
  • There were a couple of articles in Australia regarding the appearance of Daniel Vidot, a former Rugby League star, on Smackdown against Sheamus on 4/24.  The stories can be found here and here. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • Also the latesttwo episodes of Brendan Vink’s web series SMUG featuring Indi Hartwell and Rhea Ripley. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)

UFC

  • Matt Brown returns to face Miguel Baeza in a welterweight fight on the 5/16 UFC show in Jacksonville.

AEW

  • The movie “Cagefighter: World’s Collide,” an MMA movie where Jon Moxley plays a pro wrestling superstar turned MMA fighter, will be airing on FITE  for its premiere on 5/16. Chuck Liddell, Luke Rockhold and Christian are in the movie. There will also be a live roundtable after airing.
  • AEW Dynamite on ITV 4 will be airing at 12:15 a.m. late Friday night, the latest the show has aired and it’s the only two-hour broadcast of the show on television in the U.K. The show has usually started between 10:20 p.m. and 11 p.m.. They are airing the movie “8 Mile” at 10 p.m., a movie the station has aired many times. (thanks to Stephen Lyon)

MISCELLANEOUS

  • An interview in New Zealand with Travis Banks.
  • The Wrestling Estate has conducted a roundtable with five independent wrestling promoters in the U.S. to discuss how their business has been affected by coronavirus, what they’ve been doing to stay relevant and any changes they’re thinking of making when live events can return.
  • The U.K. hip hop duo The Rabble featured their second single, “The Raven,” born out of a lifelong passion for 90s and 00s pro wrestling.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: WWE Extreme Rules 2014

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