Daily Update: Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou, WWE SmackDown, Georges St-Pierre

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

In this issue:

  • Match of the week and performer of the week for the past two weeks
  • Full coverage of Money in the Bank, the story behind all the matches angles and finishes
  • Eight confirmed matches for SummerSlam
  • Ticket sales for SummerSlam and records already broken and other records on the verge of being broken
  • Live gate for Money in the Bank and a breakdown of the multiple records set
  • WrestleMania in London and an update on where that stands
  • Total viewership for the show
  • PPV numbers for the show and how it compares to other shows plus crossover with AEW Forbidden Door
  • Story behind the results and angles on the show
  • The life and times of Darren Drozdov, comments from wrestlers, family, friends and the story behind the accident that changed his life and how he battled back and ended up close with his family.
  • His brief career in wrestling
  • Jerry McDevitt removed from the MLW lawsuit and announces his retirement. A look back at the legendary attorney and his history with WWE
  • What happened with Collision in week three. A detailed breakdown of what was one of the most important TV ratings of the year
  • WWE & AEW quarterly business, viewership, house shows, what is up and what is down and why
  • New Japan Strong at Korakuen Hall with four title changes and two brutal matches
  • Full UFC coverage for the week and business notes
  • Dragon Gate’s biggest show of the year takes place
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the major wrestling shows, including weekly rankings
  • CMLL runs major event with Romero vs. Volador Jr., and notes on the debut of Mascara Dorada 2.0
  • Stardom PPV coverage
  • Notes on the Five-Star Grand Prix tournament
  • Triple Crown title change and fantastic performance by Yuji Nagata
  • Father and daughter appear on show together in Japan
  • What companies in Japan have drawn the most fans so far this year
  • One of the biggest tag teams of all-time having a special show
  • Lots more on the Mildred Burke movie that was being filmed this past month and stories about Burke’s legend
  • Grappl lists its fan voted best matches in history
  • Matt Morgan talks back surgery
  • Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame notes for 2023
  • Stardom star coming to GCW and notes on the deal
  • Kenny Omega talks AEW video game
  • Updated ticket sales for All In and where it ranks on the all-time list
  • Update on Forbidden Door PPV numbers
  • Jon Moxley goal to become an historical first
  • Omega talks Will Ospreay match
  • Ticket sales to the upcoming WWE and AEW shows
  • Jim Ross updates his condition
  • Injury updates
  • Streaming number updates
  • Merch number updates
  • International TV ratings
  • Lots of gimmick fights being talked about
  • ESPN announce new multi-part documentary
  • Paul Levesque talks NXT Europe
  • Plans for net year’s Mania
  • Gable Steveson issues challenge for another sport he’s never done before
  • Rundown of all WWE events this past week

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter:

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Friday Update

We won’t be having a show today but Garrett Gonzales and I will be back tomorrow night covering Collision, Smackdown, UFC 290 and all the news of the past week including all the Observer stories and business notes, and there is a lot of it.

The new Observer issue is up on the site now. We’ve already gotten a lot of great feedback on the Darren Drozdov story. 

Ariel Helwani reported that Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou is expected to be announced shortly under boxing rules no doubt.

Smackdown tonight is from Madison Square Garden. The huge ratings run will likely continue tonight with the trial of Roman Reigns by the Usos, plus Edge returns in the Grayson Waller Effect, A.J. Styles faces Karrion Kross and Austin Theory defends the U.S. title against Sheamus. Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor for the world title is scheduled as a dark match. Trick Williams was sent to the show, so he may be in a dark match or in an angle. Vince McMahon is at the show as he would be expected to be because he almost always goes to MSG events. About 13,500 are to be in attendance and it is sold out.

Georges St-Pierre, who will be doing a grappling match in December coming out of retirement, has said he would like to face Anderson Silva, Khabib Nurmagomedov or Kamaru Usman.

Bandido after surgery yesterday on his broken wrist is hopeful to be back in action in six to weight weeks. All In is 7 1/2 weeks and that is the hoped for goal if he would even be booked on the show.

Josiah Harrell, who was to face Jack Della Maddalena tomorrow on the UFC show, in his MRI was found with moyamoya syndrome, a rare disease that results in blocked arteries at the base of the brain according to Nolan King of MMA Kings. He will undergo a brain procedure and is obviously out of the fight. UFC confirmed that Della Maddalena will be off the card.

We’ve looking for reports from these weekend shows:

  • Smackdown tonight in Madison Square Garden (dark matches only)
  • NXT tonight in Largo, FL
  • NXT tomorrow night in Melbourne, FL
  • We’re looking for results, finishes and highlights

Some more notes on the AEW ratings from Wednesday, which came out today. Dynamite’s 855,000 viewers and 0.29 was first place on cable, and also beat everything on at least English language television except The Price is Right from 8-9 p.m. on CBS in 18-49. It was second on television and an 0.29 on cable is more impressive than an 0.42 on network in hour one. In house two, it was tops on all of television. Sista Series on BET was second on cable at 0.18 and Real Housewives of Orange County on Bravo was third at 0.17, followed by Expedition Unknown on Discovery at 0.16. The 35-49 numbers were way up but 18-34 was still at the same 0.19 as last week. The MJF/Adam Cole post-match was the 18-49 and 18-34 high point.

The G-1 Climax tournament starts a week from Saturday, which is also the day of the Kenny Omega vs. El Hijo del Vikingo match for AAA in Tijuana.

UFC 290 is tomorrow from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas:

6 p.m. on ESPN 2

  • Kamuela Kirk (155.5) vs. Esteban Ribovics (156)
  • Shannon Ross (126) vs. Jesus Aguilar (126)
  • Cameron Saaiman (135) vs. Terrence Mitchell (135)
  • Vitor Petrino (206) vs. Marcin Prachnio (206)

ABC and ESPN at 8 p.m.

  • Tatsuro Taira (130) vs. Edgar Chavez (129)
  • Jimmy Crute (205) vs. Alonzo Menifield (205.5)
  • Yazmin Jauregiu (115.5) vs. Denise Gomes (115.5)
  • Robbie Lawler (170.5) vs. Niko Price (171)

PPV at 10 p.m.

  • Bo Nickal (186) vs. Val Woodburn (185.5)
  • Jalin Turner (158) vs. Dan Hooker (155.5)
  • Robert Whittaker (185.5) vs. Dricus Du Plessis (186)
  • Brandon Moreno (125) vs. Alexandre Pantoja (125) for the flyweight title
  • Alexander Volkanovski (144.5) vs. Yair Rodriguez (145) for the featherweight title
  • We have a preview in the current issue. Turner missed weight by two pounds and has to forfeit 20 percent of his purse.

Dana White is claiming that 100 percent Mark Zuckerbeg and Elon Musk want to fight in UFC and he said he has a date planned for the fight. He said if a commission says no, he’ll find a commission who says yes and said the show will do one billion in revenue.

Becky Lynch & Seth Rollins and Montez Ford & Bianca Belair are being sent by WWE to the Espy Awards.

Best wishes to former pro wrestler Rick Allen, known as Sunny Beach on Northeast indies and the Herb Abrams UWF, who had heart surgery on Thursday. He worked many television matches for WWF as well.

The Impact shows this past week in Wagga Wagga, Australia will be airing later this month on Impact in 60.

MLW is doing a PPV show on FITE+ tomorrow night from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia with Alex Hammerstone vs. Alex Kane for the title as the main event.

Battery charges against former UFC fighter Luis Pena were dismissed, stemming from an October 2021 arrest. Pena was accused of striking two women, and injuring them, one of which was his partner who he allegedly struck several times with a cosed fist and another woman attempted to stop him and he allegedly punched her and knocked her down. UFC then released Pena from the promotion but has fought five times in smaller companies since.

Marlon Vera will face Pedro Munhoz at UFC 292 according to Vera’s management team on social media. Munhoz replaces the injured Henry Cejudo.

Other Notes

Combate Global, coming off one of its best ratings in years, will be on Univision and Paramount + at 11 p.m. tomorrow night Carlos Briseno vs. Micaias Ureno as the main event.

MCW Fan Jam on 7/23 at the RJ Meyer Arena in Joppa, MD has a free admission fan fest with Roderick Strong, Lio Rush, Headbangers, Eric Bischoff, Ricardo Rodriguez, Mickie James, Melina Perez, Reby Hardy, Matt Hardy, Renee Paquette, Jeff Hardy and more.

Pro Wrestling Revolver tomorrow night in Grand Prairie, TX at The Epic with Alex Shelley vs. Zachary Wentz, Keith Lee vs. Aaron Eagles, Sami Callihan vs. Allie Katch in a street fight, Rich Swann vs. Shane Taylor, Mike Bailey vs. JD Griffey in a no ropes fight pit match, Lance Archer vs. Matthew Palmer and Chris Bey & Ace Austin vs. Gabe Wilder & Tommy Prince.

Former WWE developmental wrestler Kyla Rasmussen, 42, pleaded no contest to charges of trying to strangle the driver on a moving vehicle in Rochester Hills, MI. (thanks to Mike Malasev)

AAA has its first TV taping in six weeks tomorrow night in Orizaba, Veracruz with Jack Evans & Pentagon Jr. & Aramis vs. Bestia 666 & Mecha Wolf & Pagano plus Negro Casas & Dalys vs. Daga & Chik Tormenta as the top bouts.