Daily Update: Talk is Jericho, opening night of G1 Climax, WWE notes

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F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Recapping WWE Money in the Bank 2019

This year’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view offered WWE the chance to revitalize one of their best match types.

The Money in the Bank briefcases haven’t been all that much of a factor over the past couple of years. Both men’s winners (Braun Strowman and Baron Corbin) failed on their cash-ins. The women’s winners (Alexa Bliss and Carmella) were successful, but Bliss cashed in on the same night that she won the 2018 ladder match. WWE has missed out on being able to use Money in the Bank as a star-making tool or something to kick off notable angles.

WON NEWSLETTER: May 27, 2019 Observer Newsletter: Death of Ashley Massaro, Double or Nothing preview

A story on Ashley Massaro, the ramifications of her death, mental illness in pro wrestling and the legal fight she was in, the horrible story about Kuwait are all part of an extensive lead story in the current issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Look at her career before wrestling, life after wrestling, rundown the physical toll of pro wrestling, winning Diva Search, comments from those who knew her, her thoughts on a comeback, the concussion lawsuit and all the different questions her career as a swimsuit contest winner being rushed into pro wrestling matches because she got so popular so quickly raise.

Also look at the one debut of a promotion show in history that can compare with AEW’s Double or Nothing, look at the difference between this show and All In, the different fights the promotion has to face, and a detailed rundown of why Pac isn’t on the show, his status with the company, what the company wants out of its PPV shows, where a number of suggested surprise wrestlers are booked on that night, and why putting on the best shows is not the complete or even close to the key factor in a wrestling war.

Also look at the changes in television wrestling in the U.K. in 2020, and what this may mean when it comes to WWE and AEW in that market as far as exposure, and whether that is or isn’t a big issue.

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WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • WWE has canceled another one of SmackDown’s Monday night house shows. The house show that was scheduled to take place at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas next Monday (June 3) will no longer be happening, with WWE citing a scheduling conflict. Aside from the week of their European tour, WWE has canceled all of SmackDown’s Monday events since the Wild Card rule was introduced.
  • Ronda Rousey finally got her cast off after the hand injury she suffered at WrestleMania 35.
  • WWE stock closed today at $72.51 per share, which was down 2.15 percent from yesterday.
  • WWE Network News reported that three matches from Texas in the 1950s will be added to the Network’s Hidden Gems section tomorrow morning. They are: The Sheik vs. Juan Humberto (1954), Danny Savich vs. Wild Bill Curry (1955), Maurice Vachon vs. The Amazing Zuma (1957).
  • Daniel Bryan told Sports Illustrated about how long he wants to wrestle for: “There are people who say, ‘I only want to do this for three or four more years,’ or ‘I only want to do this until I’m 45.’ No. I want to do this until I’m 70. Months before I die, I want to be doing a wrestling show. I won’t be able to do the stuff I do now, but I want to go out and do this thing I’ve been passionate about wrestling my entire life. I want to do that my whole life.”
  • The National has an interview with Kofi Kingston.
  • The WWE Performance Center’s YouTube account uploaded a video of Kacy Catanzaro returning home to New Jersey to wrestle for NXT.
  • WWE Universe, WWE’s new mobile game, is now available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Pro Wrestling

UFC/MMA

  • Dana White told ESPN that the UFC is finalizing Cris Cyborg vs. Felicia Spencer for UFC 240 in Edmonton on July 27. It will be the semi-main event.
  • MMA Junkie reported that the UFC is targeting Aspen Ladd vs. Germaine de Randamie as the headliner for their ESPN+ show in Sacramento on July 13.
  • Max Holloway spoke to MMA Junkie about his loss to Dustin Poirier: “Nothing really surprised me. I knew Dustin was game and he was going to show up to the fight and he did. He did that day. He got the nod and that’s what it is. I ain’t mad. I ain’t mad at him. I ain’t mad at nobody. If I wanted to win the fight I should’ve finished. I couldn’t find myself and fair play to him. He went out there and did his thing and he got the W.”
  • Rory MacDonald vs. Neiman Gracie for the welterweight title will be the main event of Bellator 222 at Madison Square Garden on June 14, with Chael Sonnen vs. Lyota Machida serving as the semi-main.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Charlotte wins NXT Women’s title

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