Daily Update: Strowman vs. Wyatt, Jericho vs. Cassidy, McGregor

DAILY UPDATE

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WON NEWSLETTER: August 10, 2020 Observer: The Rock & Dany Garcia buy XFL, new WWE president, more

The reasons behind Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia and Gerry Cardinale buying the XFL in bankruptcy court, the new WWE President and how television viewership of all the major pro wrestling shows has changed since the pandemic started are the lead stories in this week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer. Newsletter.

We look at the timeline of the XFL purchase, financials behind it, the goals, can the goals be achieved, why Dwayne Johnson is key, what Johnson is trying to do with the league that Vince McMahon couldn’t, and why this is such a difficult time to do so and why the interest level was what it was.

The new issue also covers:

WWE’s hiring of Nick Khan as President and Chief Revenue Officer, where he comes from, his connection with wrsetling, his connections in sports, the value of his contract, and the specific strongest value he brings. 

We go through every wrestling show with notes on viewership overall and in demos, who is losing and at what pace.  We look at what is turning viewers away, what is keeping viewers, and what show actually has increased viewers in an age group and what this says, the key takes from the patterns of gains and losses.

The return of pro wrestling to Mexico City and the restrictions that have been put in place.

The issues with unionizing wrestlers as well as Equity on treatmet of women in U.K. pro wrestling.

Updates on the major U.S. pro wrestling shows over the next month.

The NBA playoffs affecting the AEW schedule in August and September.

Rey Mysterio and contract talks.

Notes on furloughed WWE employees, chaos backstage at WWE tapings, WWE developmental and NXT talent and training, News from the Saudi Arabia lawsuit, behind Raw Underground, update on WWE draft, NXT writers update, Canadian ratings, Ali talks his situation, new WWE sigings, upcoming TV matches, and the most-watched shows on WWE Network.

A feature on Rollerball Mark Rocco, the best U.K. wrestler of his era.

This past week’s UFC show.

The migration of the audience and what days they watch wrestling, and the one demo that is holding firm to Friday in a big way.

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.

ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to dave@wrestlingobserver.com or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

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SATURDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • For the first time since his Swamp Fight against Bray Wyatt at Extreme Rules, Universal Champion Braun Strowman returned to SmackDown last night. Strowman appeared on the video screen and agreed to face The Fiend at SummerSlam. WWE has yet to officially announce that match.
  • There was an angle shot on Twitch today where Bianca Belair attacked Zelina Vega while she was streaming.
  • Big E spoke to Sports Illustrated about the fan reaction to him getting a singles run. “All we did was this backstage promo where we talked about me doing singles, and now people are talking about World title runs,” Big E said with a laugh. “For me, I’m very flattered and appreciative of that. It still floors me. All I said was I was going to do some singles. But I’m excited about it, and I’m excited that people are excited about it.”
  • Big E also discussed how his career was changed by Xavier Woods asking him to join The New Day: “There’s no New Day without him. If Woods doesn’t come up to me in 2014 and say, ‘Hey, I have an idea for a group. You want to join me?’ If that doesn’t happen, who knows where my career is right now, who knows if I’m even still employed here. He changed our lives. And the fact that he got the trombone over in wrestling? That’s incredible.”
  • Big E honored the lives of John Crawford III and Melvin Watkins on last night’s SmackDown.
  • The WWE Performance Center is now the venue that’s hosted the most episodes of SmackDown in history. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there have been 22 episodes of SmackDown at the Performance Center. That tops the 21 SmackDowns that have taken place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  • In an interview with Newsweek that was published on Wednesday, Rhea Ripley spoke about people who have felt she’s above feuding with Robert Stone: “At the end of the day, we are humans, right? Humans have different emotions and do different things and I needed to grow. Everyone has seen the serious side of myself and sometimes I need to take a chill pill and have a good laugh. That’s who I am as a person. I’d rather be real in the ring than someone who is trying to play a character.”
  • Pat McAfee appeared on ESPN’s Get Up yesterday to address accepting Triple H’s challenge for McAfee to face Adam Cole at NXT TakeOver XXX.
  • Today is Shayna Baszler’s 40th birthday. WWE uploaded a Playlist video of her most savage moments.
  • WWE’s YouTube channel uploaded Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Orton from SummerSlam 2006, Roman Reigns vs. Murphy from the August 13, 2019 episode of SmackDown, and The Miz vs. Rey Mysterio for the Intercontinental title from SummerSlam 2012.

Other Wrestling

  • A stipulation where The Inner Circle and Best Friends are banned from ringside has been added to the Chris Jericho vs. Orange Cassidy match on Wednesday’s episode of Dynamite: “This Wednesday on Dynamite — It’s a rematch as @IAmJericho takes on @orangecassidy in a $7,000 obligation match and as an extra added stipulation, the Inner Circle & Best Friends are BANNED from ringside!”
  • Cody responded on Twitter to someone who asked him to clarify who controls the AEW women’s division: “It’s a collaborative effort, one team! If you’re looking to give feedback, I’m all ears — I asked for it and I love genuine feedback from genuine people. You can warhorse’ my mentions ha, I listen. We try and make the best show for the fans every week! Proud of this group.”
  • Cody responded to a question about if fans should be worried about the changes at TNT/WarnerMedia: “No. We have been blessed to have had so many viewers(even opposed), thus the 3+ year extension. It’s a great partnership!” Cody also wrote that a second AEW show is still planned.
  • Brandi Rhodes wrote an Instagram post about the first official AEW Heels meeting.
  • AJPW revealed the participants for this year’s Champion Carnival.

MMA

Daily Pro Wrestling History: WCW Road Wild 1998

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