Daily Update: Tetsuya Naito, TKO boxing details, Mayu Iwatani

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • Lots more on the AAA sale to TKO (and that it’s not actually completed), CMLL’s cryptic response, Grand Slam Mexico, Dorian Roldan talks why he sold and Konnan and Latin Lover talk the future of AAA and in theory how things change in Mexico and the U.S., plus the major business goals.
  • Tam Nakano ends her career, Mayu Iwatani leaves Stardom, Stardom puts on its biggest show with its biggest match in history and a couple of award categories this should do well in.
  • Update on WWE Backlash
  • Update on both major lawsuits against Vince McMahon and WWE. New plaintiffs emerge in the ringboys suit and a new Vice President is implicated, and Janel Grant’s attorneys push for the case to move forward while the defendants want discovery held up.
  • Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff promote Real American Freestyle. What they need for success, what mistakes they’ve already made and is Hogan the right person to the face of the company
  • Full coverage of TNA Rebellion
  • Long story on the Hollywood Demons episode on the Von Erichs, how this is different from other stories, more on the deaths, the political situation in Texas and things in the new documentary that aren’t completely accurate, as well as dispelling major myths.
  • The most detailed look at the ratings, including placings, demos, competition and more for all the shows
  • End of the CMLL Universal championship tournament with a super finish
  • MLW vs. CMLL matches this week
  • Champion Carnival update
  • Lots of New Japan big matches coming up
  • Meiko Satomura retires
  • Big indie shows this week
  • Big Progress tournament this week
  • RVD injury update
  • More NXT stars on TNA television
  • AEW expects one of its biggest gates for upcoming show
  • Bryan Danielson talks his career and AEW
  • Advanced ticket sales for upcoming WWE and AEW shows
  • Lots of injury updates
  • PFL involved in a number of messy lawsuits
  • Freak show fight with powerlifters gets major attention
  • SmackDown time slot change
  • Did you know the person behind the movie with Liv Morgan did a movie based on a Hall of Fame 80s and 90s pro wrestling legend
  • Value of WWE’s PLEs on the open market
  • The story of the most powerful man in combat sports that most reporters aren’t touching
  • Lots of notes on the Smashing Machine movie
  • How much Dwayne Johnson has made since joining the TK Board
  • More talk on a WWE all-women’s PPV show

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Sunday Update

— We did our weekend show last night instead of tonight to get the WWE releases analysis out as soon as possible. Last night’s show went in depth on everyone that was released, lots of talk as to why the releases were done, some reasons, and future prospects for everyone. We also talked about the rest of the weekend news. Garrett Gonzales and I did our week in review as well with instant thoughts on the releases, Hogan & Bischoff’s new promotion, and answered a lot of questions. Bryan and I will be back tomorrow night after Raw.

— WWE just added Iyo Sky vs. Roxanne Perez in a non-title match to Raw. Those in WWE are very high on Sky as you can tell and these two were great on Tuesday’s NXT in the tag match.

— Tetsuya Naito’s final New Japan match earlier today in Fukuoka drew the largest crowd in the city for wrestling in six years with Hirooki Goto over Callum Newman in the IWGP world title match main event. Naito & Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi & Bushi beat Shota Umino & Tomohiro Ishii & Taichi & Taka Michinku.  

— Turki Al-Sheikh announced yesterday that the expected TKO boxing debut show will be 9/12 with Canelo Alvarez vs. Terrenice Crawford for the Ring Magazine title as the main event. Dana White and Nick Khan will be promoters of the show at Allegiant Stadium, the site of WrestleMania. They said that the TV platform for the show will be announced shortly. I wonder if they will go with PPV or try and get as many viewers as possible. I think Netflix looking to repeat the one-night boxing model that worked for them with Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul is a good bet.

— Mayu Iwatani’s Marigold debut today over Nanae Takahashi at Korakuen Hall was recommended to us as an excellent match. Iwatani won. Reports that Korakuen Hall sold out instantly were incorrect as they were not sold out at all.

— The other match outside of New Japan heavily recommended was Ozawa over KENTA in the Sumo Hall main event yesterday for NOAH to retain the GHC title.

— TNA announced a media rights deal with Claro Sports in Mexico, South and Central America for all its programming. It will both air on Pay TV as well as streaming.

— Mistico beat Kushida in Friday’s Arena Mexico main event in the CMLL vs. MLW show. MLW talent is there for the weekend.

— Maple Leaf Wrestling’s debut in Toronto is said to be selling well for the Mattamy Athletic Center. They took out ads during Dynamite on TSN as well as have a billboard up in Dundas Square in Toronto, which is the closest thing they have to Times Square.

— Ryan Bader was at the Tokyo Dome for today’s show put on by Rizin. He indicated fighting the winner of their heavyweight Grand Prix on 12/31. Bader, who plays Mark Coleman in the movie “Smashing Machine,” said that he would be heavyweight champion after the fight.

— There are two more episodes of LFG tonight, one at 8 p.m. Eastern and the other at 9:30 p.m. Eastern. The second show will air the male semifinals with the winners meeting for “a contract” (keep in mind everyone on the show is already under contract) at an event in Madison Square Garden.

— For Google searches this weekend, Canelo Alvarez, who beat William Scull via unanimous decision in what has been dubbed the most boring major fight weekend in modern boxing history had 560,000 searches. Terrence Crawford had 50,000. Last night’s UFC show had only 120,000 with most of the talk about Reiner de Ridder stopping Bo Nickal in the second round, handing Nickal his first loss. WWE releases had 100,000.

— Insane Wrestling Revolution had a show last night in Monroe, MI. We were told that they offered all fans 40 percent off tickets to Collision on Thursday in Detroit. Those tickets are not selling well with nothing announced for the show. They had a Wrestlefest with Kurt Angle, RVD, Eric Bischof, Shark Boy, Boogeyman, Rhino, Heath Slater, Brookln Brawler, Victoria and ODDB.  Benjamin Boone won a Battle Royal. Angle put Pierre Guerin in an ankle lock in a segment.  Country Gentlemen b Rhino & Heath Slater to keep the tag titles, Johnny Swinger b Buckeye Sam, KJ Reynolds & Ryan Matthias b Aaron Orion & Adam Wicks, Dread King Logan b Zeeko ODB b Jessicka Havok, Adam Wick won a four-way over Myron Reed, Jake Crist and Rich Swann (all four got a standing ovation after the match) to win the U.S. title, Eh eam b Alienated Youth and PCO & Soultaker to keep the IWG tag titles, Kitty Lafleur & Kenny Urban b Sam Beale & Shelly Benson, NWA champion Thom Latimer beat IWR champion Silas Young to win the title. (thanks to Paul Meade)

— Invicta on 5/16 in Kansas City has announced Katharina Lehner vs. Olga Rubin as the main event.  

— Dominick Cruz will replace Joe Rogan as announcer for Saturday’s UFC 315 show in Montreal. Rogan has said he won’t go to Canada.