Daily Update: Vince McMahon, WWE Raw at MSG, XFL

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Monday News Update

  • Bryan and I did a special show today covering the major announcements today regarding Paul Levesque running creative and the Vince McMahon issues, and how that changes a lot of dynamics of the wrestling world. We will be back with another show.
  • The Wall Street Journal reported that The Securities and Exchange Commission and federal prosecutors have launched inquiries into payments made by Vince McMahon to settle allegations of sexual misconduct.
  • Raw is tonight at a sold out Madison Square Garden. There are 13,300+ tickets out as of this morning. Earlier today the get in price for the show was $139. Keep in mind there was no great secondary market demand at all a few days ago. With all the news of the day, most feel this will do a huge rating. Smackdown did 2,256,000 viewers and an 0.62 in 18-49. When you have these “scandal” days where the ratings go up, the increase is heavily in the 18-49 age group so that would be expected. The Friday 18-49 number was Smackdown’s best since January pre-Rumble when a lot more people are watching television. There isn’t a lot advertised, just the Rey Mysterio 20th anniversary show with Rey & Dominik vs. Damian Priest & Finn Balor, Logan Paul doing his Impaulsive TV interview segment and Roman Reigns and Ronda Rousey have both been advertised locally with Reigns pushed hard for television.
  • We’re looking for reports from WWE’s house show in Utica, NY, last night, as well as both NXT weekend shows in Melbourne, FL and Cocoa, FL with results, highlights, finishes and any other major happenings to dave@wrestlingobserver.com We’re also looking for dark match notes or anything off the air from MSG tonight.
  • We’re also doing our weekend poll on the ROH PPV show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com
  • I’ve got a number of media appearances scheduled over the next few days. I’ll be doing the Sports Illustrated Jimmy Traina podcast this week as well as WPIX morning news in New York tomorrow. I did CNN on Saturday. 
  • Miz & Mrs. will have its final two episodes of the season airing on USA at 11 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. It most likely gets the benefit of a big lead-in.
  • The XFL, headed by Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia., sent out a press release announcing the season opens February 18, 2023, with teams ni Arlington, TX (Bob Stoops coaching), Houston (Wade Phillips coaching), Orlando (Terrell Buckley coaching), Las Vegas (Rod Woodson coaching),San Antonio (Hines Ward coaching), Seattle (Jim Haslett coaching), St. Louis (Anthony Becht coaching) and Washington DC (Reggie Barlow coaching). Season tickets are being put on sale today.
  • The G1 Climax continues tomorrow at 5:30 a.m. from Korakuen Hall with Great-O-Khan vs. Chase Owens (B bock), KENTA vs. Evil ((C block), Tom Lawlor’s G-1 debut against Lance Archer (A block) and David Finlay vs. Juice Robinson (D block).
  • Aussie Open became the first New Japan Strong tag team champions yesterday beating Yuya Uemura & Christopher Daniels in the finals of the tournament in Charlotte, NC at the Grady Cole Center. It was said to be a great match (thanks to John Edwards)

Other Notes

  • Kaito Ishida announced today that he was leaving Dragon Gate. He had been frustrated over the booking change. 
  • The Gathering III on 8/4 to 8/7 at the Hilton University Place in Charlotte, NC has announced a giant lineup of people including Jacques Rougeau, Kim Duk, Mike Enos, Wayne Bloom, Paul Roma, Shane Douglas, Francine, Tito Santana, Haku, Ricky Morton, Paul Ellering, Nikita Koloff, Marc Mero, Jerry Jarrett, Sandman, Jeff Jarrett, The Mulky Brothers, The Berzerker, Bill Apter, Tonga Kid, Masked Superstar, Krusher Khrushcev, Gunner, Stan Hansen, Bill Dundee, Lodi, Brooklyn Brawler, Robert Fuller, Ted DiBiase, Ken Patera, Tugboat, George South, Magnum TA, Torrie Wilson, PCO, Jim Valiant, Kevin Sullivan, Kimberly, Bret Hat, 2 Cold Scorpio, The Fulton Brothers, Baby Doll, Sam Houston, Tommy Young, Jimmy & Ronnie Garvin, Scott Norton Baron Von Raschke, Warlord, Barbarian, Teddy Long, Tony Garea, Robert Gibson, Rachael Ellering, and Nick Aldis.
  • Garden State Pro Wrestling from Saturday night in Newark,NJ: Alan Angels b Kevin Blackwood (first round of GSPW title tournament), Heather Monroe & Bailyan Akki b Dark Sheik & Jai Vidal, Titus Alexander b Calvin Tankman (tournament first round) Jordan Oliver &Charlie Tiger & Griffin McCoy b Marcus Mathers & Reid Walker & Austin Luke, Tayak Valkyrie b Trish Adora to retain the AAA Reina de Reinas title, Bryan Keith b Effy (first round tournament match)),Robert Martyr b Davey Richards (first round tournament match), Miyu Yamashita won three-way over Janal Kai and Billie Starkz, Konosuke Takeshita d Josh Alexander.
  • Defy Wrestling comes to Tacoma, Wa on Friday with Christopher Daniels va. Adam Brooks for the Interim Defy title, Ortiz of AEW vs Cody Chhuhn, Bollywood Boyz vs. Midnight Heat in a Mumbai street fight plus Levi Cooper (Tucker from WWE), vs. Guillermo Rosas, Su Yung vs. Rebel Kel, and Ethan HD vs. No Way Jose. Only standing room tickets are available.
  • Rooted in Wrestling from Saturday night in Alameda, CA: Karisma b Scarlett Rose, Dash Riprock b Boyce LeGrande, Dom Cirrus b Levi Shapiro, Anna Diaz b Brittany Wonder to win the women’s title, Shane Kody b Super Diablo, Daga won three-way over Mecha Wolf and Rey Genesis, Gangrel b Jeckles, Tasha Steelz b MJ Jenkins, Carlito b Juicy Finau,Moose b Cody Hall, Jacob Fatu & Sionne Finau & Journey Fatu b JTG & DD Fresh & Alpha Zo. Tonga Kid hit JG with a chair after the match (thanks to Mike Lano)