Daily Update: Rush, Titus O’Neil, Dark Side of the Ring ratings

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

In this issue:

  • Poll results from all the major shows plus Match of the week and Performer of the week
  • Looking back on a week with some of the best matches of the year, story behind the matches and complications involved
  • Week one G-1 Climax coverage, what stories have been told, where is business, what is and isn’t working and match-by-match coverage
  • Coverage of TripleMania, including what really happened with Don Callis, the story behind Vikingo vs. Omega, as well as looking at the 8/12 show in Mexico City
  • Tony Khan press conference coverage, update on All In with new ticket sales info and how close to records is the show, more PPVs question, longer Dynamite, Death Before Dishonor and more
  • Full coverage of Saturday’s UFC show and what is next for the participants
  • Eric Young returns and Impact Slammiversary, as well as the return of Josh Alexander
  • How many homes are the networks that carry wrestling in
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the wrestling and MMA television shows, with a lot of shockers in the weekly and daily standings. Including what show placed No. 7 for the week in network television, where the wrestling and MMA shows finished on cable, segment-by-segment, competition and more
  • What promotion is killing it every week in ticket sales at the same arena
  • Major talent jump to join his brother
  • Documentary on the life of one of the biggest stars in history hits movie theaters internationally in the fall
  • Major TV documentary on the Ali vs. Inoki fight, what was revealed and some new news being reported
  • 75th anniversary of the birth of the NWA and the real story of its birth and growth
  • How the public’s viewing has changed
  • The Rick Steiner situation and how it was handled
  • More on the Teddy Hart arrest and what he was in Florida for
  • Notes on upcoming Impact TV shows
  • Upcoming ticket sales for WWE & AEw shows
  • Lots of new major UFC fights
  • Iconic company set for a return in September
  • Updated Money in the Bank and Forbidden Door PPV numbers
  • WWE injury updates
  • Dwayne Johnson reportedly sets an all-time money record
  • Gable Steveson’s decision
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

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Wednesday Update

WWE

  • Rey Mysterio, Titus O’Neil, and Chad Gable & Otis were guests on WWE’s The Bump this afternoon.
  • During his appearance, O’Neil gave his thoughts on doing commentary for WWE:
          • I love it. I want to do more, but I also am very understanding of the fact that it’s a very difficult job to sit there for three hours. I would have to stop drinking two gallons of water a day. But yeah, I want to learn the craft more, I want to do it more. I want to be more involved in every aspect of WWE. Obviously, being a WWE Global Ambassador is busy work in itself, but if I can add to the show in any way and also have a chance to see the beautiful faces of my WWE coworkers on a consistent basis, I’d love to do that. So commentary is definitely something I’m interested in doing more of, and I have a love of fun doing it. But it has a craft. I think a lot of people say, ‘Yeah, Titus O’Neil needs to be on commentary every week.’ Well, guys, slow down. Michael Cole, everybody that’s in the profession knows, it’s a very difficult job to do. You got so many things that are moving around. You got to make sure you’re not stepping on the person next to you and making sure you’re getting out certain information. Somebody’s got to call the match. It’s a lot. So I’m interested in learning more about the craft so that when I am on there, I’m not only entertaining but I’m also a real commentator.
  • Xavier Woods named Chad Gable as the most underrated wrestler in WWE:
          • Chad Gable. There are, there are a lot of very underrated people. And, not to get on a weird high horse, I don’t believe that wrestling like owes you anything. You know, like wrestling is its entity in itself. And we are all trying to be the absolute best that we can be. And we all want a shot. We all wanna be on camera. We all want to have these long grueling matches to show everybody how hard we’ve worked and what we’ve been able to do.
          • And I think that there, right now, especially right now, not just in WWE but in all of wrestling, I don’t think that there’s been a time where there have been more talented people across the board in this industry ever. And that’s not a slight on the previous generation, but I do believe that the generation that comes before you, it’s their job to help you become the best generation of all time. So it’s our job to make the next generation the best generation of all time so that things get better for the boys, girls, and fans. So, right now seeing as many people as talented as they are in this industry, it makes me so happy for the future of what we have as pro wrestlers to see people grow. But I want to see Chad Gable get a spotlight because he deserves one. He’s a guy who came in, an Olympic-level wrestler, and fell into this and, and learned it quick and is athletic, agile, smart, creative, all of these things. And so my vote is for Gable. And that’s a very long-winded way to say that.
  • Grayson Waller appeared on The MMA Hour and Out of Character.
  • People shared an exclusive clip from Cody Rhodes’ Peacock documentary. The documentary premieres next Monday (July 31).

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Jose The Assistant tweeted about why Rush chose to re-sign with AEW: “RUSH re-signed with #AEW because of how much concern Tony showed for Rush’s wife and newborn. Family is important to Rush, seeing how much Tony cared is what solidified the deal. There were other offers, but NEVER any consideration to go, AEW cares, Tony cares about his people”
  • Sports Illustrated reports that, though Bryan Danielson wasn’t able to compete in Blood & Guts due to injury, Danielson still has Kota Ibushi on his list of desired opponents:
          • The match also featured Ibushi, who is a former IWGP world heavyweight champion in New Japan Pro-Wrestling but largely unknown in the U.S. Seeing him share the ring with Danielson, who was a retired wrestler dabbling in color commentary seven years ago during Ibushi’s brief WWE run in the Cruiserweight Classic, was a moment that Danielson badly wanted. His injury prevented that from happening, but Ibushi remains on Danielson’s list of desired opponents.
  • Jim Ross gave an update on his health:
          • It’s been good. The chiropractor visit has been very well-timed. I got another one later today. I’m sore as hell. I feel like I got beat up, with just pushing and prodding and twisting and so forth. But I’ve gotten some good, timely relief on the sciatica, which is a bitch. Those of you who have had to experience know exactly what I’m talking about. I went like three days, I couldn’t walk. I crawled or I limped, or I pulled myself here or there. I got me a walking stick, goddamn, I hate that. So anyhow, it’s better. My radiation wound seems to be healing, but it’s just so slow. They’re very concerned about infection, which I don’t want to get that infected because that’s not good business. So I’m on some heavy ass antibiotics. One more treatment today, then I’ll fly back to Jacksonville on Thursday as we’re talking here today, and move on. So it’s all good.
  • AEW uploaded a one-hour video chronicling the feel-good bromance between MJF and Adam Cole.
  • The promotion also has an AEW Stories feature on Nick Wayne.
  • In an interview with Monthly Puroresu, KUSHIDA discussed competing for Impact Wrestling:
          • That is what I want to say out loud. Impact has been consecutively holding great events and has so many great wrestlers there. They are professional. Their matches are high quality, and we can see pure wrestling in Impact. Impact is a great place for wrestlers to work. Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley, who are my best friends, are in Impact, so I also like that point, I will continue to work hard to ensure that New Japan Pro Wrestling and Impact continue to develop in a good relationship. I will do my best to become a wrestler who is valuable to New Japan & Impact.
  • Last night’s Dark Side of the Ring documentary on Bam Bam Bigelow averaged 185,000 viewers on Vice TV. The rating in the 18-49 demo was a 0.05. The viewership was up from the 178,000 viewers last week’s Abdullah the Butcher episode drew, but the demo rating was down from a 0.06.
  • TalkSport interviewed Paul Wight.