Daily Update: SmackDown ratings, Samantha Irvin, Serena Deeb
Daily Update
Latest News:
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- Becky Lynch and Bobby Lashley segments set for WWE Raw
- WWE SmackDown video highlights: Lita returns, Reigns & Rollins face-to-face
- Malakai Black & Brody King vs. Varsity Blonds set for AEW Dynamite
- WWE 205 Live results: Ivy Nile vs. Valentina Feroz
- Report: Lita had previous talks with AEW, Britt Baker program discussed
- Charlotte Flair vs. Naomi rematch set for next week’s WWE SmackDown
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SATURDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
- Last night’s SmackDown averaged 2.06 million viewers in the fast national ratings, down from the 2.16 million viewers that the previous week’s Day 1 fallout episode of the show drew in the fast nationals. The overnight rating for last night’s show was a 0.5. In the final ratings, last week’s SmackDown averaged 2.271 million viewers and drew a 0.58 in 18-49.
- Samantha Irvin (real name Samantha Johnson) is the new ring announcer for SmackDown. She started in the role this week. Before the episode went on the air, WWE uploaded an interview with Irvin. She joined WWE in April 2021 after previously appearing on “America’s Got Talent.” Irvin has done on-air work for NXT and 205 Live.
- Irvin tweeted about her new role: “Honored, blessed, and oh, so excited to be your new Friday Night Smackdown Ring Announcer! #Smackdown”
- Shane McMahon turns 52 years old today. WWE and Stephanie McMahon wished him a happy birthday on social media.
- Kelly Kelly, who will be an entrant in this year’s women’s Royal Rumble match, turns 35 years old today.
- Bobby Lashley was the guest on this week’s episode of the WWE After the Bell podcast.
- Lita, The Viking Raiders, and Sheamus were interviewed on Talking Smack this week.
- WWE’s YouTube channel uploaded Brock Lesnar vs. Kofi Kingston from Beast in the East 2015, Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor from the June 15, 2018 episode of Raw, and a Money in the Bank qualifying battle royal from the March 24, 2006 episode of SmackDown.
Other Wrestling
- During a virtual signing for East Coast Autograph Auctions, Serena Deeb said she hopes to open a wrestling school in 2023: “I’ve landed on this submission, technical style that I really love so I watch [Dean] Malenko, Harts, Bryan Danielson. You know, I think you gotta just figure out what you like, what you enjoy and what you have fun with in the ring. But point one is find a reputable school and I am hoping to open Deeb’s Dojo hopefully in the next year. Maybe in Orlando so, stay tuned.”
- Scott D’Amore thanked Matt Striker for the time he spent working for Impact Wrestling: “Now that @IMPACTWRESTLING #HardToKlll & this weeks #IMPACTonAXSTV episode are done I’d like to take a moment and thank [Matt Striker] for his time with us. I asked Matt to join us at the beginning of the pandemic. It’s always great to work with a friend of 20+ years. #ThankYou” Striker was replaced by Tom Hannifan (the former Tom Phillips) starting with Hard to Kill.
- Kevin Nash tweeted after appearing for GCW in his home city of Detroit last night: “They say you can’t come home. I live for it. Thank you @GCWrestling_ and [Alex Shelley] for a memorable evening. Thank you Detroit for the love. Something so special about the 313. Oz told Dorothy to click her heels and say ‘There’s no place like home’ the Oz gimmick was spot on.”
- Jonathan Gresham said that he believes Deonna Purrazzo is the best technical wrestler in the world.
- Sports Illustrated has a Q&A with Jay White.
- Leyla Hirsch was interviewed on this week’s edition of AEW Unrestricted.
- Johnny Gargano is doing a watchalong on Twitch tonight for Zicky Dice’s Outlandish Paradise.
- Bandido vs. Dante Martin has been announced for Warrior Wrestling 19 at Cicero Stadium in Cicero, Illinois on Saturday, February 12. The match was originally supposed to happen last month, but Bandido tested positive for COVID-19.
- Thunder Rosa will make her return to GCW at The Coldest Winter on Saturday, February 26. The show is being held at the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Los Angeles.
- Slade will be Biff Busick’s opponent for his first post-WWE match. It’s taking place at Beyond Wrestling’s Day 91 show at Fete Music Hall in Providence, Rhode Island on Friday, February 4. Busick was formerly known as Oney Lorcan in WWE.