Daily Update: TakeOver Portland, Tito Ortiz, Big Show

DAILY UPDATE

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WON NEWSLETTER: WrestleMania 37 details, WWE financials, more

A look at next year’s WrestleMania in Los Angeles is the lead story in the new issue of the Observer. We look at the back story, regarding why the city wanted it in 2021 and WWE wanted it in 2022 and how the compromise was made.  We note deals of the new stadium, attendance, the legit all-time company attendance record, , notes from the press conference and a look back at the previous WrestleMania in Los Angeles.

Also covered in the new issue:

2019 WWE business rundown in every category, what was up, what was down, how much the new television deals added in this year’s fourth quarter, why there is uncertainty about stock analysts about the company, and TV deals late in renewing,.  We look at how badly the value of the company has dropped of late, what analysts are saying right now and what they are has to be done to get the company value back up.

Roster expansion, why production costs are so much higher, the decline over the past year in both network and PPV revenue, the arena business, the NXT house show business, merchandise, licensing, as well as a look at the company’s revenue and profits annually dating back to 1994.

More on the firing of Michelle Wilson and George Barrios from WWE, return of John Cena, Three more new members of WWE Hall of Fame, Becky Lynch talks pay, what wrestler looks to be leaving, future of MVP in WWE, UK ratings, most-watched shows on WWE Network and details of the weekend main roster and NXT arena events with business notes, results and highlights.

New Japan’s next show in Madison Square Garden, who are the key players and more dates for this year’s G-1 tournament.

Full coverage of New Beginning in Osaka, with business and creative notes, notes on all the upcoming title matches around the world, the latest angles, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.

XFL’s first week of television, the good, the bad, the TV deals and what it needs to stay at to be successful, plus live attendance and why the chances of survival are very different from the first time.

WWE Super Showdown, and Elimination Chamber shows.

Full coverage of UFC 247, with the background on the show, business notes, match-by-match coverage and poll results.

Regarding the Wednesday numbers, we’ve got full details, demos that each side won, how every segment did and what match ended up as the difference maker. 

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. 

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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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

We’re looking for reports from the WWE show last night in Eugene, OR, Warrior Wrestling last night in Chicago, WWE tonight in Kennewick, WA and the OTT show in Dublin yesterday to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com. We’re also looking for your thoughts on the NXT Takeover show tonight, with a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Takeover and the latest wrestling news. You can send questions to the show to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com.

Our F4W/WON Convention will take place once again in Las Vegas this year during Double or Nothing weekend. More information can be found here.

Takeover tonight in Portland has:

  • Adam Cole vs. Tommaso Ciampa for NXT title
  • Johnny Gargano vs. Finn Balor
  • Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair for women’s title
  • Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne for tag titles
  • Keith Lee vs. Dominik Dijakovic for North American title
  • Tegan Nox vs. Dakota Kai street fight

On paper this show looks super. Lee vs. Dijakovic has the potential to be incredible and the tag title match, Gargano vs. Balor and Cole vs. Ciampa almost can’t help but be great. One would think they’d also try and shoot some angles for Wednesday and do a surprise intro or two.

Both Tito Ortiz and Simone Johnson have been training of late at the PC.

On the weekend Google searches, nothing from pro wrestling made the list. For today at this moment, Diego Sanchez was No. 4 with 50,000, largely due to Conor McGregor mentioning him, and Caleb Plant, a boxer, was No. 8 with 20,000. For yesterday, UFC was No. 12 at 50,000.  For Friday, boxer Ryan Garcia was No.8 at 200,000 and Tyson Fury was No. 10 at 100,000.

WWE

  • Raw tomorrow night is from Everett, WA, has Randy Orton vs. Matt Hardy, Bobby Lashley & Angel Garza vs. Rusev & Humberto Carrillo and Big Show is scheduled to be there (not advertised at this point).

AEW

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Friday’s RevPro show in London will go up on their service tomorrow morning U.K. time.  That’s where Will Ospreay beat Zack Sabre Jr. to win the British title.
  • PWA iPPV from last night in Australia:  Big Fudge b Dazza, Mikey Broderick won over Carter Deems, Silvio and Tree Hugger Luchi, Madison Eagles b Matty Wahlberg, Jack Bonza & Kingley b Jimmy Townsend & William Preston, Sam Osborne b Adam Hoffman, Ricky South b Mat Diamond, Ricky South b Headhunter Rig, Ricky South b Caveman Ugg-COR, Paris De Silva b Michael Spencer, AJ & Rhys Angel b Concrete Davidson & Shazza McKenzie, Jessica Troy b Steph DeLander (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • NEW from last night in New Bethany, CT:  Jake Manning b Brian Anthony, Keith Youngblood b NEW champ Dan Maff-DQ, Facebook champ Christian Casanova D Flip Gordon 15:00, Bear Country & Richard Holiday b Chris Battle & Mike Gamble & Dexter Loux, Traevon Jordan & Jaylen Brandyn b Aiden Aggro & Danger Kid, Wrecking Ball Legursky b Mike Verna, JT Dunn b Sledge, Brad Hollister b Brett Ryan Gosselin (thanks to Nick Mahmood)
  • SICW from last night in East Carondelet, IL:  War Machine b Richard Shaw, Billy McNeil b Jake Prater, Frankie D b Kowalski-DQ, Steve Fender b Bobby D, Ax Allwardt b Damian Blade-DQ, Mauler McDarby b Chris Kade, Gary Jackson & Gil Rogers b Ken Kasa & Christopher Hargas, Ricky Cruz b CurtisWylde with Tito Santana as referee (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
  • EVE runs 3/7 at the Resistance Gallery in Bethnal Green, London, UK.  It will air live on FITE TV. Jazzy Gabert returns as Alpha Female to face Rhia O’Reilly. Gisele Shaw also faces Sammii Jayne, plus Holidead vs. Kasey.  Session Moth Martina from ROH will also be there.
  • Stardom from today in Tokyo:  Jamie Hayter b Hina, Momo Watanabe & AZM b Hana Kimura & Rina, Jungle Kyona & Itsuki Hoshino b Leo Onozaki (retirement match) & Saya Iida, Giulia & Maika b Konami & Leyla Hirsch, Natsuko Tora & Saki Kashima & Bea Priestley & Natsu Sumire & Zoey Skye b Mayu Iwatani & Arisa Hoshiki & Riho & Tam Nakano & Starlight Kid, Utami Hayashishita b Saya Kamitani to keep the Future of Stardom title, although she then vacated the title.
  • Ultimate Championship Wrestling from last night in Bay City, MI:  Nick Green b John E. Bravo, Adrian Chase & Alex Little & Brandon Marcinko b Nate Bock & Kyle Barrett in 3 on 2, Ingrid Isley b Kexy Blakk, Tommy Dreamer b Lawrence Jeter, Rohit Raju b Cousin Jake, Brooklyn Brawler & Bry Sullivan b Kurt Hendik & Kodiak K  Fabio Morocco, El Ridiculoso b Billy Ray Daniels in a ladder match. Sgt. Slaughter was a special guest and the show sold out. (thanks to Leonard Brand)
  • A story on former wrestler Patric Tanaka, who is now training wrestlers in Fargo, ND.
  • Sabu 90 minute interview with The Hannibal TV.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Bret Hart wins WWF title at In Your House 13

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