Daily Update: Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, CannonballFest

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Notes from the new issue:

  • Life of Hulk Hogan, notes on his death, WWE expansion, comparisons with Rikidozan, Santo and Dwayne Johnson, the complicated legacy, the story behind the tape that ruined his legacy, last WWE appearance, Bobby Heenan comments, Jimmy Hart’s first connection with Hogan, first match with Andre and how it got him to national TV, lies about his career, meeting Superstar Billy Graham the start of his career and the real story on Hiro Matsuda, Ed Leslie, Austin Idol, New Japan Pro Wrestling, the Terry Funk hotel room story, never doing jobs, the myths about the AWA title, leaving the AWA, his most famous match with Inoki, his return to WWF, the first WrestleMania, record breaking attendance, WrestleMania III payoff, Ultimate Warrior, WestleMania VII with Sgt. Slaughter, the Zahorian and McMahon steroid trials, Jerry McDevitt, going to WCW, the rise and fall of WCW, the Sting & Goldberg matches, the end in WCW and return to WWE, the TNA run and life after wrestling.
  • Updates on SummerSlam
  • Notes on Buff Bagwell
  • The most detailed look at what we’ve learned about both viewing habits on Netflix as well as actual numbers for Smackdown, NXT, PPVs and shows from the past.
  • Complete UFC 318 coverage and retirement of Dustin Poirier
  • G-1 notes
  • TNA Slammiversary coverage
  • The most detailed look at the TV ratings over the past week
  • CMLL anniversary show taking shape
  • MJF headed to Arena Mexico
  • The amazing Friday night show this past week
  • The weekend battle of Mexico City
  • A look at why CMLL is on fire
  • Omos update
  • Stardom major show coverage
  • All Japan big matches
  • NOAH and the two GHC title bouts
  • Real American Freestyle update
  • How the financial situation after WWE has changed for certain women after leaving the company
  • A look at Ed Don George and his being honored this past week
  • More on Cowboy Bob Ellis
  • AEW on MAX update as well as DVR numbers
  • Bryan Danielson talks a lot about many different things
  • The Ali Act and the attempt to change it to benefit TKO
  • Dana White on Jon Jones
  • Lots of new UFC PP main events
  • Diego Sanchez arrested
  • Ben Askran returns home
  • Changes in the WWE workplace
  • Notes on Survivor Series this year
  • Punk on his promos
  • Goldberg talks
  • McIntyre with Logan Paul
  • A celebrity out of the video game after his situation with WWE has changed
  • WWE weekend house shows

This Week’s Back Issue

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Thursday Update

WWE

  • The White House streamed today’s executive order signing where Paul “Triple H” Levesque was among those named to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. Linda McMahon also attended the press conference.
  • Levesque posted a tweet thanking everyone who has watched WWE: Unreal on Netflix: “The reception of @WWE: UNREAL on @netflix has been incredible so far. Our goal has been to show the passion and drive that goes into our weekly television, as well as showcasing our talent through the highs and lows. Thank you all for watching.”
  • This week’s episode of “What’s Your Story?” is a conversation between Stephanie McMahon and John Cena.
  • On the show, Stephanie mentioned that – before Triple H’s heart issues in 2021 – she was always worried about losing him early. Now that he’s survived that, the feeling has gone away and she is no longer worried about him dying young. She opened up about realizing what’s important in life:
    • I believe in helping people as much as you can, if you can, even if that’s just listening to them, even if that’s just smiling at somebody that you don’t know. My favorite thing in the world is smiling at a little kid walking by and they smile back. That’s like the greatest feeling. Simple things are what it’s all about.
    • And I think that’s what you learn, if you learn, the longer you live. It’s not about the material stuff. It’s about the stuff that matters most. And, you know, I almost lost Paul, my husband. And what’s weird, and I haven’t talked about it, is I always had a feeling that I was going to lose him early. I just had that feeling. And after we got through everything, that feeling went away.
    • It’s like a pattern that was supposed to have been changed. And it was, I mean, such a gift, truly. And then I started going through all this stuff in the company, and I realized there is nothing more important to me than my family, than my husband and my kids. That’s what matters most, and I want to give as much time as I possibly can. I’ve given everything I possibly have to the business, you know, my whole life. And I wanted to give back to them. And that’s when I took that first leave of absence, which didn’t last very long. But I knew what mattered, and I know what matters now.
    • And I believe that love is what life is all about. And if you can help somebody in any way, I think that that is what it’s all about. You know, it’s about giving back.
  • Damian Priest and Zelina Vega surprised a young fan by inviting them and their family to attend SummerSlam and meet Rhea Ripley.
  • WWE wrestlers including Vega, Aleister Black, Raquel Rodriguez, and Roxanne Perez volunteered at the Nourish NJ soup kitchen today.
  • Vega was interviewed on a new episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet.
  • Cody Rhodes made appearances on ESPN First Take and WFAN Radio.
  • Jey & Jimmy Uso took The GQ Brothers Quiz, answering questions to see how well they really know each other.
  • Busted Open Radio has an interview with Jade Cargill.
  • The Toronto Sun’s No Holds Barred podcast spoke with Sami Zayn ahead of SummerSlam.
  • WWE uploaded a SummerSlam week vlog featuring Dominik Mysterio.
  • Logan Paul also uploaded a new vlog episode.
  • Lex Luger reacted to the passing of Hulk Hogan: “This one really hit me. Needed some time to process it all. Thank you Hulkster for all you did for me and so many others. My heartfelt prayers and condolences for your family and closest friends. I will see you again in heaven my friend. Save me a ringside seat”

Other Wrestling

  • Teal Piper, the daughter of Roddy Piper, remembered her father on the 10th anniversary of his death: “A decade gone today and the silence of your absence is still deafening. #riprowdyroddypiper”
  • Willow Nightingale vs. Tony Deppen is set to take place at CannonballFest in New Providence, New Jersey on September 14. “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Matt Tremont has also been announced for the show, which is a fundraiser for wrestler Jeff Cannonball as he battles ALS. Among the others who have been announced for the show are MJF, Mike Santana, Masha Slamovich, Wheeler Yuta, Joey Janela, and Megan Bayne. Tickets go on sale tomorrow (August 1).
  • AEW artist Melanie Coleman is the guest on a new edition of AEW Unrestricted.