Daily Update: WWE-Call of Duty, Roxanne Perez, Tony Khan
Daily Update
Latest News
- Tony Khan says Mariah May has become one of the ‘biggest stars in wrestling’
- Bron Breakker: Sami Zayn is so good, working with him is a ‘bucket list thing’
- Ilja Dragunov & Carmelo Hayes both eliminated in first-ever WWE Speed draw
- Darby Allin medically cleared to return at AEW Dynamite 250
- Dump Matsumoto-focused ‘Queen of Villains’ release date announced by Netflix
- Tony Khan: AEW not planning a US stadium show anytime ‘in the immediate future’
- AEW announces All In Celebration fan event
- Two new matches added to Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XI
- Tony Khan: Ricochet is one of the most exciting stars in all of wrestling
Latest Audio
- Wrestling Observer Live: NXT’s biggest success, AEW injuries, lots of news
- Bryan & Vinny & Craig & Shawn: WWE Challenge S2:E4, plus Granny!
- Big Audio Nightmare: NJPW G1 Climax preview & prediction show
- Big Vinny V: TNA with Slammiversary build, NXT guests
Latest Free YouTube Video
This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter
The new issue of the Observer is up on the site now. Among the stories covered are:
- Lots of news on John Cena’s retirement tour
- What plans are made and what are yet to be made
- WWE marketing of Cena
- The Ric Flair and Lou Thesz records
- Who actually held the most world title reigns
- The 15 biggest drawing cards in North American history
- Cena’s early career
- The Stephanie Vaquer timeline and why everything happened the way it did
- SummerSlam top seven matches
- Money in the Bank coverage
- Unique poll result
- Business notes on the show
- PPV updates on Money in the Bank, Forbidden Door, Double or Nothing and Diaz vs. Masvidal
- Dana White talks about two giant deals from the past and why they fell through at the last minute
- NXT Heatwave coverage
- All In update and business notes
- Explaining the decline in cable television and how AEW compares to that
- The most detailed look at the TV ratings for all wrestling and MMA shows including competition, one-year comparisons and segment-by-segment.
- Weekly TV placings for the top wrestling shows
- Mistico vs. Chris Jericho
- G-1 updates
- Oldest still-living major world champion agrees to come back for one last match
- Notes on the Marigold PV show
- Update on Kevin Sullivan
- Second oldest living wrestler passes away, career dates back to the 1940s
- Historical wrestling landmark about to be torn down
- Major matches in Europe
- Update on AEW TV negotiations
- Lots of health updates on WWE stars
- International TV ratings and streaming numbers and what wrestler in main events makes a 31% positive difference in AEW international numbers
- Studying the changes in submissions in UFC by the decade
- Ronda Rousey praises Dana White and Paul Heyman
- WWE talking new belts update
This Week’s Wresting Observer Newsletter Back Issue
Wednesday Update
WWE
- WWE and the Call of Duty video game franchise have announced a collaboration with Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, and Rey Mysterio being featured in season five of Call of Duty: Warzone & Modern Warfare III. The trailer for this season of the game, which launches on July 24, can be seen here.
- Today, Big E shared a video updating fans on how he’s feeling more than a month removed from undergoing stem cell treatment. Big E said pain wasn’t an issue for him even before treatment, so he hasn’t noticed any change there. But he’s feeling great, recommends the stem cell treatment, and is excited to see what it does for him.
- NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez name-dropped both Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer in her promo on NXT last night, complaining that fans are focused on their upcoming arrivals. Perez said no one compares to her in the ring.
- In a backstage segment last night, TNA star Joe Hendry said he likes it in NXT and will be sticking around.
- Zelina Vega tweeted today: “All my life, I’ve heard that my height holds me back. Today is no different. But there’s just so much you can prove here and there. I’ve gotten to touch the ball but never actually hold it. Give. me. the. ball. If I drop it F**K me, I’ll fall back..but I’m ready to settle this.”
- While praising Gable Steveson as a “super athlete,” Kurt Angle recalled an interaction they once had:
- I met him. He’s like, ‘Hey, Kurt Angle, I just want to tell you, I respect your career, and I want to be just like you.’ I was like, ‘Oh, thank you, Gable.’ He goes, ‘You know what? No, I want to be better than you.’ I was like, holy sh*t. [Laughs] What an assh*le thing to say [laughs]. I said, ‘Well, good luck, man.’
- The WWE Vault YouTube channel streamed a marathon of some of John Cena’s best matches.
AEW/Other Wrestling
- Tony Khan announced that AEW Dynamite 250 tonight will have an overrun. Plus, there will be limited commercial interruption for the first 30 minutes. Will Ospreay vs. MJF is kicking off the episode.
- Comicbook.com uploaded its full interview with Khan ahead of Dynamite 250.
- Khan named some of his favorite Dynamite moments from the show’s first 250 episodes:
- Debut: Sting at Winter is Coming 2020. The arrival of Sting.
- Return: Darby Allin in Atlanta. It was February 2020 to set up his AEW Revolution match against Sammy Guevara coming out of the Jon Moxley versus Jeff Cobb match.
- Title change: Mr. Brodie Lee winning the TNT Championship in Daily’s Place to close out Saturday Night Dynamite after the NBA playoffs.
- Promo: Jon Moxley first coming back from treatment. I thought it was super powerful. He wanted to talk to the fans, and that was a completely real moment. I’m very proud and appreciative of Jon. I really owe him a lot in wrestling and in life.
- Men’s match and women’s match: Hangman Page vs. Bryan Danielson, 60-minute draw from Winter is Coming 2021, and Thunder Rosa vs. Dr. Britt Baker, Lights Out match from St. Patrick’s Day Slam 2021.
- A contract signing for the Slammiversary main event will take place on TNA Impact this Thursday. Moose is defending his TNA World Championship against Nic Nemeth, Frankie Kazarian, Josh Alexander, Joe Hendry, and Steve Maclin in a six-way elimination match at this Saturday’s pay-per-view.
- Moose told the Metro that he thinks TNA’s working relationship with WWE is the best relationship TNA has ever had:
- I think this is the best relationship that TNA’s ever had. But way better than the one we had with AEW, better than what was done with AAA, and any other company.
- I think this relationship [with WWE], both companies respect each other and [are] doing great by each other. And there’s no, there’s not one company that is being selfish.
- Both companies are doing great. So I think this is how a relationship is meant to be in pro wrestling, and TNA and WWE is doing the best job of it.
- NJPW officially announced Hiroshi Tanahashi and Tomohiro Ishii for Capital Collision in Washington, D.C. on Friday, August 30.
- NJPW’s website posted an interview with Zack Sabre Jr.
- Chris Jericho spoke with Joe Hendry on Talk is Jericho.
- The Rascalz were guests on Busted Open Radio.