Daily Update: Will Ospreay, WWE SmackDown, NJPW

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • Update on AEW rights negotiations and what new things we know about both the deal that is done and the one being worked on  
  • Analysis of AEW, what ratings it would do on FOX, the value structure, why it won’t happen, FS1 coverage and value
  • The problems AEW faces even if it turns profitable with the new deals
  • A look at All In
  • The Jon Moxley angle
  • A look back at the original angle with Terry Funk, why that backfired and how cultural changes mean this one won’t face the same issues
  • Early PPV number estimates for All Out and the reaction to the show
  • Notes on the next AEW PPV show
  • The life of Kuniaki Kobayashi
  • A look at the heyday of New Japan on television and Tiger Mask vs. Kobayashi
  • The jump to All Japan
  • Kobayashi winning match of the year
  • His biggest career bouts
  • His role in making two Hall of Famers by putting them over in their gimmick debuts
  • Life after pro wrestling and battles with cancer
  • His run during a boom period in Mexico
  • The end of Smackdown on FOX and a look back
  • Analyzing why FOX didn’t bid to keep the show
  • The retirement of Demetrious Johnson
  • The business of UFC Noche
  • CMLL’s 91st anniversary show preview
  • Details on a major story in European wrestling
  • The most detailed look at the ratings this past week
  • International TV ratings
  • Advance ticket sales for WWE & AEW shows
  • Arena Mexico notes
  • JBL angle in Mexico
  • New stars in Dragon Gate
  • NOAH goes to Europe
  • New Japan’s big matches of the past week
  • David Taylor the Magic Man comes out of retirement for World Team Trials
  • One of the 80s greatest technical stars to retire next month
  • Andy Quildan talks European business
  • Wrestler to host new television show
  • UFC TV contract news
  • Why WWE is cutting back on house shows
  • How the style of work in wrestling is going to change in the U.S. because of the decline of house shows
  • Lots of notes on Raw with its move to Netflix
  • Notes on the next few PPV shows
  • Change with NXT with the move to CW

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Tuesday Update

Lee South Will Ospreay Segment Calgary, AB AEW Dyanmite July 10, 2024

WWE

  • WWE has uploaded the match between Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio from last night’s Raw.
  • Adam Pearce on X said that Bronson Reed has been fined for his actions on Raw, where he attacked Braun Strowman and caused damage throughout the arena in the process: “Bronson Reed has been fined a massive undisclosed amount for plucking an adult human male from the Portland audience and firing him at Braun Strowman. Both men have been fined an equal undisclosed amount for destroying walls, golf carts, production equipment, and my sanity.”
  • In an interview with Metro, Jey Uso invited Noel and Liam Gallagher of Oasis to settle their differences in a WWE ring when the company returns to Manchester next month: “You guys are more than welcome to come to Manchester. You step in the ring and both y’all catch these Yeet-downs to each other. Come to WWE, get in this ring! I got some baby oil for you, I got some extra boots for you guys.”
  • SmackDown’s new theme song, ‘Neva Play’ by Megan Thee Stallion & RM, is number one on Billboard’s digital song charts.
  • On September 16, WWE filed for the trademarks ‘Austin 3:16’ and ‘Shotzi Blackheart’.
  • WWE Vault has added the Hell in a Cell match between The Undertaker and Edge from SummerSlam 2008.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Will Ospreay reflected on his match against Bryan Danielson earlier this year in an interview with Inside the Ropes: “Yeah, 100% met my expectations. The moment we were in the ring they started saying ‘Holy s—t.’ I know what’s a good match and what’s not. All I gotta do is close my eyes and just listen to the audience, and they were enjoying every single minute of it. Getting to come backstage was just one of those incredible moments. You ever see Avengers: Endgame where Iron Man sits down and he’s dying, and she goes, “you can rest now.” It was an incredible moment and then here comes another Iron Man film.”
  • Deonna Purrazzo on X noted she is starting graduate school today.
  • Daniel Garcia is celebrating a birthday today. 
  • NJPW, along with the Inoki Genome Federation and several Chinese wrestling promotions will take part in an Antonio Inoki Memorial Show in Shanghai on December 14.
  • Masahiro Chono is also celebrating a birthday today.
  • AKIRA and Mads Kruger will meet in a Weapons of Mass Destruction match at MLW Slaughterhouse on October 4. MLW’s details on the match: “The ringside area will be transformed into a war zone in St. Petersburg at MLW Slaughterhouse. Military-grade equipment and mysterious crates filled with elements of destruction will be stationed around the ring, setting the stage for a bloody battle.”
  • GCW is returning to Rochester in January.