Daily Update: WWE creative firing, Double or Nothing, Sasha Banks

DAILY UPDATE

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We’re looking for reports from Raw in Cincinnati tonight with any matches or anything else that’s not on the live show, as well as reports from the Progress Strong Style tournament to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

We’re looking for your thoughts on both Dontaku shows from New Japan so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match from each show to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

Smackdown and 205 Live are being taped on Tuesday in Louisville.

The WWE European tour opens on Wednesday in Belfast, Ireland.

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Looking at AEW’s build to Cody vs. Dustin Rhodes

A brother vs. brother match will be one of the key pieces of All Elite Wrestling’s Double or Nothing card.

After weeks of teases, Dustin Rhodes was confirmed as his brother Cody’s opponent for Double or Nothing at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, May 25. Dustin issued a statement about his status with WWE after the announcement was made, revealing that he had requested his release from WWE and was granted it. Dustin also posted a video where he said goodbye to his Goldust character.

WON NEWSLETTER: May 6, 2019 Observer Newsletter: WWE earnings report, Brock Lesnar, more

One of the biggest news issues of the year, a double issue, leads off with a basic state of the industry right now. Read about how WWE business fell in the first quarter, what is and isn’t the long-term prognostication, usage of fake stats in business that history shows are meaningless to growth, WWE injuries, WWE getting behind new talent, changes in October, and more.

Read a lot more on Brock Lesnar staying with WWE and not returning to WWE, such as how the ESPN deal has changed things for top stars in UFC, when Lesnar can command so much money, what has happened over the last year with Lesnar, UFC and WWE and more.

Read the update on Money in the Bank and Double or Nothing and the ticket demand for both.

Look at the front runner for 2021 WrestleMania, notes on 2020 WrestleMania plans including what match is off the books, Dean Ambrose becomes Jon Moxley and what that means, update on situation with Luke Harper, The Revival, Gallows & Anderson and others.

Read rundowns on the UFC and Bellator shows this past week, with business notes, how much the fighters got paid and match-by-match rundowns of both events.

Read more on the Japanese legacy of The Destroyer, listing all of his championship matches in Japan, as well as his biggest wins and his infrequent losses in All Japan in the 70s and 80s.

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MONDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight to talk Raw, XFL, AEW, NJPW Super Juniors and all the other news for what should be a very busy Wrestling Observer Radio show tonight. Only questions on the XFL and its TV deal will be on the show tonight so if you’ve got questions on that subject send to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com.

Speaking of, our own Bryan Alvarez’s newest book, 100 Things WWE Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die, is available for pre order now. 

While there has been no official announcement, a number of cable companies are listing Double or Nothing as a regular television PPV event. It’s listed thus far only for cable systems, with nothing announced for Dish or DirecTV, but one would think it would make sense from both sides to be on those systems.

Ryan Callahan, who was the lead writer for the home (the crew that doesn’t travel) team writing crew on Raw was fired. Sean Sapp on Fightful was the first to report this and we confirmed it. We’ll have more on this is the new issue. Callahan clashed with longtime writer Dave Kapoor and Kapoor won the battle. 

Sasha Banks has said she wants to do a match with Tessa Blanchard. That will take some work and it’s not likely. I have a feeling WWE will freeze Banks’ contract so long she’ll think she’s in Antarctica.

WWE

  • Bobby Lashley and Bill Goldberg are going at it on Twitter so that could be the Saudi match.
  • The Raw crew files out after the show tonight to Belfast, Northern Ireland for the start of the European tour.
  • Listed for Smackdown tomorrow is Shane McMahon crowning new tag team champions, Ali vs. Andrade, Charlotte Flair & Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville vs. Ember Moon & Bayley & Carmella, plus Mike Kanellis vs. Akira Tozawa in a no DQ match is on 205 Live.
  • WWE will be involved in the Upfronts on 5/13 from both NBC Universal at Radio City Music Hall and FOX at the Beacon Theater in New York. With most of the talent in Europe for Raw, it’ll be interesting to see who they have as guests. 
  • There is a Table for 3 with wrestler wives tonight after Raw with Reby Hardy (Matt’s wife), Giovanna Angle and Kim Orton.
  • A lot of WWE talent will be appearing on 5/29 at a benefit show from Samula Anoa’i, who is battling liver cancer. The show will be in Allentown at the Ville Sports Center. Samoa Joe, Michael Hayes and Kassius Ohno will all be appearing at the show.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • The Super Juniors tournament bracketing and cards will be announced shortly. The information should be out around the time we do our show.
  • David Starr beat Jordan Devlin to win the Super Strong Style 16 tournament but on the past three days by Progress. There were complaints about so much WWE talent beating the locals with Progress’ affiliation with WWE, but Starr is a non-WWE talent who went over at the end. Heard lots of really strong matches today. (thanks to Karl Giles)
  • Session Moth Martina will be wrestling for PWA on Friday night in Sydney, Australia.
  • Slex defends the MCW Intercommonwealth title against Lochy Hendricks on 5/11 in Melbourne.
  • Robbie Eagles announced he was doing an open challenge for any junior heavyweight on Friday night’s show in Sydney. That’s right before leaving for Japan for Best of Super Juniors. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)  
  • Dragon Lee is listed in the main event at Arena Mexico on Friday night. If he’s there, that’ll be his only appearance in Mexico for some time since he’s booked in Japan through Dominion on 6/9. 
  • Ooh La La Lucha from Saturday night in Detroit: Mano de Diablo b Ridiculoso, Joe Coleman & Idris Abraham b Gavin Quinn & Junhtai, Mojo McQueen b Trador & Golden Dragon, Alyx Skyy b Queen Aminata, Ultimo Dragon & Mysterious Movado b Sam Adonis & Gringo Loco.
  • Gamechanger Wrestling on Saturday night in Summit, IL: KTB won over Nate Webb, AJ Gray & Egotistico Fantastico, JJ Garrett, Isais Velasquez and Reed Bentley, Marko Stung b Tony Deppen, Shane Mercer b Jake Atlas, Orin Viedt b Eric Ryan, Alex Colon b Jimmy Lloyd, Marcus Crane b John Wayne Murdoch, Joey Janela b Orange Cassidy, Nick Gage b Mance Warner to keep GCW title.
  • Gamechanger Wrestling from Friday night in Asbury Park, NJ: Marko Stunt b MJF, Orange Cassidy b Lucky 13, Mance Warner b Homicide, KTB won over Teddy Hart, Facade, Grim Reefer, Joe Gacy and Pinkie Sanchez, Tony Deppen b Jonathan Gresham, G-Raver b Shlak, Dan Maff b Chris Dickinson, Jimmy Lloyd b Colby Corino, Nick Gage b Joey Janela to keep GCW title. (thanks to Leonard Brand)
  • The PFL’s first show of the new season takes place Thursday night from the Nassau Coliseum. There will be fights on ESPN+ from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern, and then on ESPN 2 starting at 9 p.m. The main event has changed due to an injury. Kayla Harrison, the two-time gold medalist in judo, will now face Larissa Pacheco from Brazil.
  • Combate Americas on Friday night from Stockton, CA airs live on Univision at midnight Eastern headlined by Hector Sandoval (14-4) vs. Jorge Calvo Martin (10-4). Sandoval comes from Urijah Faber’s Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, Team Alpha Male’s Erick Sanchez (8-4) vs. Alex Velasco (8-3) and former Bellator champion Zoila Frausto (14-5) faces Simone Duarte (8-1) in a women’s bantamweight fight.
  • 559 Fights on 5/18 in Fresno at the Rainbow Ballroom.
  • Allisyn Kay, who did not have her NWA title belt, captured the Shine title from Miyu Yamashita earlier today on the Tokyo Pro Wrestling show in Sapporo, Japan. She won with the discus lariat and will return as champion for the Friday night Shine show in Livonia, MI at the Knights of Columbus Hall against the debuting Samantha Heights. (thanks to Shannon Walsh and wresetlingwithdemons.net)
  • The Shine show will be a prelude to Friday’s Evolve show in Livonia, MI at the same building at 8 p.m. on www.wwnlive.com which has:
    Austin Theory vs. Adam Cole non-title
    JD Drake vs. Joe Gacy for the WWN title
    Kassius Ohno & Harlem Bravado vs. AR Fox & Leon Ruff
    Eddie Kingston vs. Curt Stallion
    Josh Briggs vs. Adrian Jaoude
    Anthony Henry vs. Juntai
    Anthony Greene vs, Stephen Wolf
            Shotzi Blackheart will also be on the show.
  • There is a tournament on MLW television with Alexander Hammerstone vs. Gringo Loco on this Saturday’s Fusion show, Rich Swann vs. Brian Pillman Jr. on the following Saturday and the winners meeting for the newly created National open weight championship on 6/1 in Waukesha, WI. Tom Lawlor and a mystery partner face the Contra Unit on that show.
  • Defy Wrestling on Friday night in Seattle at Washington Hall with Pentagon Jr. & Rey Fenix vs. Schaff & Chris Ridgeway in the main event, plus Josef Samuel & Jacob Fatu defend the Defy tag titles against former champions the Amerikan Gunz, Ethan HD & Mike Santiago plus Tom Lawler vs. Randy Myers. Spectators must be 21 or older to attend.
  • Sorry to report the death of longtime reader, promoter and hardcore fan Paul Spiegel of Florida, who passed away today from a stroke at the age of 70. Spiegel was involved in the area independent scene and used to attend a lot of major shows and fan conventions.  He was a good guy.
  • A story on Shannon Moore.
  • A story on the first famous Tupelo concession stand brawl with Jerry Lawler & Bill Dundee vs. Larry Latham (Moondog Spot) & Wayne Farris (Honky Tonk Man). (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Kerry Von Erich wins NWA title at Parade of Champions

F4W Empire Convention Info:

  • Ed in San Antonio presents PODER~! at the FSW arena on Friday 5/24 – Showtime is at noon – Main event: Bryan Alvarez vs. Logan Stunt
  • Empire dinner on Friday 5/24 at 8:30 p.m. at Texas de Brazil – Price is $82 – All you can eat meat and salad, sodas, tea, and coffee, plus dessert included
  • Empire suite party on Friday 5/24 for those who were not able to get the Q&A package – Price is $25

Purchase tickets here. 

CONTACT INFORMATION