Daily Update: WWE creative hires, Impact notes, Rory MacDonald

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F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Winners and losers of the Superstar Shake Up

Raw and SmackDown’s post-WrestleMania rosters were confirmed over the past week as WWE held their third annual Superstar Shake-up.

The most notable names to switch brands were AJ Styles and Roman Reigns. Styles had been the face of SmackDown since the 2016 brand split but is now a member of the Raw roster. Reigns had been on Raw since the 2016 draft but was moved to SmackDown in this year’s Shake-up, which comes in advance of SmackDown debuting on Fox in October.

WON NEWSLETTER: April 29, 2019 Observer Newsletter: Superstar Shake Up fallout, plus tons of news

After week one of the Superstar shakeup, things changed again. The who’s and the why’s is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer. Also look at what the original plan for Kevin Owens was and why it changed, and also seems to indicate bad news for one of the company’s biggest stars.

Read an updated depth chart for Raw and Smackdown with new rosters and positioning. This also points out problem areas, and we also look at the card for Money in the Bank, and notes on a lot of directions.

Read about C.M. Punk doing a run-in on an indie show, why and what happened.

Also look at the change for the Backlash PPV and how that affects the schedule, how the Saudi Arabian government made WWE look bad once again, analysts bullish on WWE and what their predictions were that missed, update on the next Saudi Arabia show, and more on WWE ratings drops.

This issue contains a rundown of New Japan’s Sengoku Lord show and the booking direction of the company.

Also look at UFC’s return to Russia.

This issue has a lengthy feature on the Viceland documentary on the 1997 Survivor Series, filling in a lot of the pieces regarding who was in on it, how the finish was done, and a look at some of history’s biggest double-crosses.

Read a feature on Mighty John Quinn, one of the greatest heels in U.K. wrestling including the build for his two big main events at Wembley Arena including the record crowd with Big Daddy. 

ORDERING INFO:  Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered  via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to dave@wrestlingobserver.com or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

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If you order by  mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell,CA  95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE

Additional notes by Joseph Currier

WWE

  • WWE SmackDown tonight is at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio. Raw & SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch will square off against Bayley in a one-on-one non-title match. WWE Champion Kofi Kingston will also respond to Kevin Owens turning on him last week, and the SmackDown side of the men’s and women’s Money in the Bank ladder matches will be revealed.
  • Drake Maverick announced that 205 Live tonight will have Cruiserweight Champion Tony Nese taking on Drew Gulak in a non-title match. It’s a rematch from this year’s Cruiserweight Championship tournament.
  • Michael James Nelson (NBC’s Off Their Rockers) and Andrea Kail (TruTV’s Comedy Knockouts) have been added to WWE’s creative team, PWInsider reports.
  • Rey Mysterio made his debut 30 years ago today. He wrote on Twitter: On this day at the age of 14 I made my debut and it’s a very special day in Mexico “ Día del niño” “Day of the Kid” if I had the opportunity to [relive] these 30 yrs I would do it all over again. Thank you to all my fans!! Much love and respect!”. He also spoke about it on WWE’s YouTube page.
  • Kurt Angle told Wrestling Inc that he has signed a five-year deal with WWE. Angle said he’ll be working as a producer and may make part-time non-wrestling appearances on TV if WWE needs him in that type of role.
  • Kofi Kingston spoke to The Mirror about being stuck in Dublin, Ireland during the Iceland volcanic eruption in 2010.

Pro Wrestling

UFC/MMA

  • Rory MacDonald reiterated on Twitter today that he has not retired from MMA, and will face Neiman Gracie at Madison Square Garden on June 14th.
  • Retired fighter Renato Sobral says that he believes he is showing the first signs of CTE, saying he can’t walk a straight line and has lost sight of his left eye.
  • Felice Herrig is out of UFC 238 due to a torn ACL that requires surgery.
  • Greg Hardy says he hopes to fight Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis next.
  • This past weekend’s UFC prelims on ESPN averaged 720,000 viewers.
  • Brett Okamoto talked to Donald Cerrone on his ranch.
  • Bryan Barberena vs. Randy Brown has been set for UFC Fight Night in Greenville, South Carolina on June 22.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: The Rock wins WWF title at Backlash 2000

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