Daily Update: SmackDown ratings, WrestleDream, Brie Garcia

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • The new Observer is out right now. Among the key stuff covered:
  • Match of the week and performer of the week
  • The plight of the recently fired WWE wrestlers and where many can or will wind up
  • What is a key point about wrestlers who come from WWE and their ability to adapt to other companies and what things need to be considered
  • XFL/USFL merger talks and why
  • More on Terry Funk including his career title history and biggest awards, some of the biggest and most notable title change matches of his career, the only HBO wrestling special and the only time Vince McMahon did a broadcast announcing with Gordon Solie, why Funk’s proposed lengthy reign with the biggest regional title in the countr6 ended in a few weeks, the amazing Funk Brothers legacy in Japan, Funk’s NWA title reign and booking behind his biggest matches
  • Preview of the NXT & AEW shows, lots of talk by Bryan Danielson about Zack Sabre and his retirement, strange things about the show, AEW PPV airing on free TV in the U.K., and early notes on WWE Fastlane
  • Destruction in Kobe and the next few NJPW shows
  • More on the All In attendance mark
  • The dismissal of the landmark Mark Hunt suit against Dana White, UFC and Brock Lesnar and the judges ruling
  • Full UFC weekend coverage
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for the past week, the segments, the competition and where audiences were up and down
  • The KeMonito story in Mexico that is mainstream news there regarding his retirement
  • Lots of injury updates
  • Stardom Grand Prix updates
  • Junior Battle of Glory
  • Katsuhiko Nakajima update
  • How Jericho vs Takeshtia was put together
  • Two former WWE stars talk their steroid use
  • wXw major tag team tournament weekend
  • FantasticaMania notes
  • More on MLW and its relationship with CMLL and NJPW
  • GCW continues to tour overseas
  • Imapct Bound for Glory notes
  • PCO talks his departure from Impact and who Impact is looking to sign
  • Lots of thoughts on Tony Khan’s recent press conference
  • FOX and AEW comments, streaming comments, more PPV, ownership talk
  • How Dynamite changed this week and why
  • Kyle O’Reilly update
  • Title Tuesday
  • Notes on AEW DVR numbers for Grand Slam
  • Ticket sales for upcoming WWE and AEW shows
  • Jade Cargill to WWE
  • WWE back broadcasting in Japan
  • Shawn Michaels talks lots of WWE subjects
  • International TV ratings and streaming notes
  • WWE market value

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

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Saturday Update

WWE

  • The opening video for tonight’s NXT No Mercy event is a throwback to WWE’s classic No Mercy video game.
  • SmackDown averaged 2.16 million viewers in the fast national ratings last night. The rating in the 18-49 demo was a 0.5.
  • In a post-SmackDown dark match, Seth Rollins retained the World Heavyweight Championship against Gunther by disqualification. Rollins hit a stomp and was going for the pin when Imperium attacked him. Imperium then tried to put Rollins through a table, but he fought them off. Rollins gave Ludwig Kaiser a Pedigree and then powerbombed Giovanni Vinci through a table.
  • There was also a dark match last night where John Cena defeated Dominik Mysterio.
  • A video package aired on SmackDown highlighting some of the news coverage that Jade Cargill signing with WWE received.
  • Austin Theory, Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits, and Damage CTRL appeared on The SmackDown LowDown.
  • ComicBook Nation interviewed Tiffany Stratton.
  • Ilja Dragunov was the guest on WWE After the Bell this week.
  • Dragunov discussed the impact Gunther has had on his career:
          • There’s only one thing, and the one thing I can say is I would never be the person I am today without him. Not even slightly. There’s not one person to push me that hard, who shaped me this way, who taught me. The only reason that I am this good right now and making a name for myself is because of him. There’s not one person like him. There’s no Ilja Dragunov without Gunther.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Our Josh Nason previewed the card for AEW WrestleDream.
  • The full Countdown to WrestleDream preview special is available on AEW’s YouTube channel.
  • Tony Khan posted last night: “Sometimes, in awe struck gratitude, I can’t believe I’m able to work in wrestling. Tonight’s one of those times. You won’t want to miss #AEWWrestleDream. If you’re in Seattle, I promise you a great show + if you can’t be here, join us on ppv on Sunday for the start of a new era”
  • AEW star Swerve Strickland turns 33 years old today.
  • Strickland was a guest on the Under the Ring and Battleground podcasts.
  • Slam Wrestling interviewed “Speedball” Mike Bailey ahead of his match against Will Ospreay at Impact Wrestling’s Bound for Glory PPV later this month.
  • Cultaholic’s Tom Campbell will be the ring announcer for Impact Wrestling’s UK Invasion tour this October.
  • Brie Garcia (the former Brie Bella) noted that she plans on wrestling again once her son Buddy grows up a little more: “I will….waiting for Buddy to grow a little more. The great thing is there’s so many companies with great opponents!!! I’d loved to wrestle Saraya again, Brit Baker…..love to go wrestle Trin (Trinity)…Can’t wait to see her and (Mickie James) in action…..first on my list is The IIconics…wrestle them In Australia would be amazing!”
  • Mariah May spoke to the crowd following her final match for Stardom: “Today was my last match. Thank you everyone! I love Japan, I love Stardom, I love everyone! Don’t forget about me! Club Venus is here! Mariah May was here! See you!”
  • “Kayfabe” is one of 690 new words that Merriam-Webster has added to its dictionary:
          • kayfabe noun 1 : the tacit agreement between professional wrestlers and their fans to pretend that overtly staged wrestling events, stories, characters, etc., are genuine; broadly : tacit agreement to behave as if something is real, sincere, or genuine when it is not 2 : the playacting involved in maintaining kayfabe