Daily Update: WWE, Dave Hebner, weekend schedule

Daily Update

Latest News:

Latest Audio:

Latest Free YouTube Video:

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter: June 20, 2022 Observer Newsletter: Vince McMahon under investigation by WWE Board of Directors

One of the most important wrestling news stories in years is taking place right now and is the lead story in the new issue of the Observer out today. The issue has:

  • Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis, the alleged payouts, the key aspect of the story, how the story broke, notes on the investigation, the prior burial of Stephanie McMahon, the timing of her leaving, the firm handling the investigation, and what happens next.
  • Jeff Hardy arrested, more details, AEW response and more
  • Update on AEW Forbidden Door show and fan interest levels
  • The career of Keiji Muto with his retirement announcement
  • Report on the changes to the 2022 G1 Climax tournament
  • Issues with top AEW talent in G1 this year
  • Update on WWE Money in the Bank and ticket interest levels
  • UFC 275–coverage of one of the greatest fights in MMA history, business notes and poll coverage
  • New Japan Dominion coverage, match-by-match with star ratings, storylines, business notes and poll results
  • Cyberfight show
  • College athletes that WWE signed this week to NIL deals
  • How the death of Hana Kimura led to a change in Japanese laws on cyberbullying
  • Pro wrestling TV ratings over the past week
  • Notes on the oldest tradition in wrestling, now in its 89th year
  • The family tag team tournament update
  • News from this week’s Triplemania
  • Key Stardom rule
  • Dream trios match of Triple Crown champions
  • Early notes on N-1 tournament
  • Movie on famous pro wrestling family
  • NWA 74th anniversary show
  • 70s and 80s star doing autobiography
  • One of the year’s best independent matches
  • Ticket sale updates for all the major pro wrestling and UFC shows
  • AEW injury update and story
  • FTR managed by Bet Hart
  • Politics of Forbidden Door show
  • International TV ratings
  • AEW stars announcing MMA
  • New major UFC fights and this week’s card
  • Another major UFC retirement
  • News for those who get Peacock free
  • Notes on Paige being dropped by WWE
  • Roman Reigns schedule
  • Oliver Luck vs. Vince McMahon trial
  • Ronda Rousey talks the one MMA fight she would still do and how it almost happened years ago and why it didn’t

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter: May 4, 2005 Observer Newsletter: WrestleMania 21 breaks records, TNA Lockdown review

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.

In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

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.

Friday News Update

  • Garrett and I will be back tonight covering Vince McMahon stepping down as CEO, Stephanie McMahon back with the company, AEW ratings, TripleMania and more with Wrestling Observer Radio.
  • Very sorry to hear the news of the death of Dave Hebner, a longtime referee, agent and promoter who worked for Crockett Promotions, WWF/WWE, and TNA He is the twin brother of Earl Hebner. He had battled depression after being fired by WWE as well as Parkinson’s Disease.
  • Not a lot of major news regarding the WWE show tonight in Minneapolis John Laurinaitis isn’t there, but he was never scheduled to be there so it’s really not a story. The belief is he will be at Raw on Monday. Nobody has any answers what the changes in structure mean. Basically talent is in the same position as fans sitting back and seeing how the game ends up being played. We have a major feature on all this in the new issue but it was prior to Vince McMahon stepping down. I was on CNN today talking about Stephanie taking over as CEO.
  • SmackDown tonight has a segment with Vince McMahon, plus Roman Reigns defends he WWE title against Riddle, Madcap Moss vs. Happy Corbin in a last laugh match and Max Dupri debuts his new client. This is expected to be the highest rated SmackDown in some time with all the WWE publicity this week and Vince appearing.
  • Rampage tonight at 10 p.m. on TNT has Jon Moxley vs. Dante Martin, Max Caster & Gunn Club vs. Bear Country & Leon Ruff, Jade Cargill vs. Willow Nightingale for the TBS title and Darby Allin vs. Bobby Fish.
  • AAA’s second Triplemania show is tomorrow night at Caliente Stadium in Tijuana starting at 10 p.m. Eastern and 7 p.m. Pacific on FITE. The main event will be Matt Hardy and a mystery partner facing Dragon Lee & Dralistico. They also have Psycho Clown vs. Villano V and Pentagon Jr. vs. Blue Demon Jr., in the mask tournament where the loser advances. Dr. Wagner Jr., who was announced for the Copa TripleMania Rumble, has said he will be working a show tomorrow in Brownville, TX and not this show.
  • AEW Dynamite has pushed to get an Emmy nomination (it would be a shock as no wrestling show has ever gotten a nomination) for Outstanding Structured Reality Program for this years awards show.
  • PFL airs tonight at 7 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+ and at 10 p.m. Eastern on both ESPN and ESPN Deportes. The ESPN fights as part of the lightweight and light heavyweight tournaments are:
  • Jeremy Stephens (156) vs. Myles Price (155.2)
  • Raush Manfio (155.8) vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier (155.8)
  • Antonio Carlos Jr. (205.8) vs. Bruce Souto (205.2)
  • Clay Collard (155.2) vs. Alexander Martinez (155.8)
  • The ESPN+ fights tonight are:
  • Jake Childress (155) vs. Nate Jennerman (155)
  • Marthin Hamlet (205.6) vs. Josh Silveira (205.6)
  • Robert Wilkinson (206) vs. Viktor Pesta (205.8)
  • Emiliano Sordi (204.6) vs. Delan Monte (205.6)
  • Natan Schulte (156) vs. Marcin Held (155.6)
  • Omari Akhmedov (203.2) vs. Teodoras Aukstuolis (204)
  • UFC tomorrow night will be split between ESPN 2 and ESPN:
  • ESPN 2 fight at 4 p.m. Eastern
  • Roman Dolidze (185.5) vs. Kyle Daukaus (185.5)
  • Phil Hawes (185) vs. Deron Winn (186)
  • Eddie Wineland (135) vs. Cody Stamann (135.5)
  • Maria Oliveira (115) vs. Gloria de Paula (115)
  • Ricardo Ramos (146) vs. Daniel Chavez (145)
  • Court McGee (170) vs. Jeremiah Wells (171)
  • Jasmine Jasudavicius (124.75) vs,. Natalia Silva (125.5)
  • Adrian Yanez (135.5) vs. Tony Kelly (137.5) – Kelly had to forfeit 20 percent of his purse for missing weight.
  • ESPN at 7 p.m. Eastern
  • Julian Marquez (185.5) vs. Gregory Rodrigues (185.5)
  • Damir Ismagulov (155) vs. Guram Kutateladze (155.5)
  • Joaquin Buckley (184) vs. Albert Duraev (185.5)
  • Kevin Holland (170) vs. Tim Means (170.5)
  • Donald Cerrone (155) vs. Joe Lauzon (154.75)
  • Calvin Kattar (146) vs. Josh Emmett (145.5)

WWE

  • There will be a WWE Night at Busch Stadium in St. Louis for the Cardinals vs. Colorado Rockies on 8/16.

UFC

  • Cory Sandhagen vs. Song Yadong is planned to headline a 9/17 show according to MMA Fighting.
  • MMA Fighting also listed Jose Aldo vs. Merab Dvalishvili for 8/20 in Salt Lake City as a fight being worked on.

Other Notes

  • Maki Itoh debuts for GCW in shows on 8/13 and 8/14 at the Showboat in Atlantic City, NJ.
  • CFFC, the promotion C.M. Punk announces for, has two title fights on 7/14 from the Seminole Hard Rock in Tampa. Welterweight champion Eric Alqeuin (7-0) defends against CharelsRadtke (5-3) and former flyweight champion Santo Curatolo (6-2) faces Lloyd McKinney (15-8). The show will air on UFC Fight Pass.
  • Levels Fight league on 6/26 at www.LFLMMA.com has Tom Breese(13-3) defending his middleweight title against Ahmed Sami (7-1) and they will crown a lightweight champion with Manuel Gaxhja (7-0) vs. Akonne Wantliss (5-2).
  • NFC has Augusta Fight Night tomorrow night at Bell Auditorium, the former home of weekly Georgia Championship Wrestling shows.
  • MCW tomorrow night at Tall Cedars Hall in Parkville,MD with Ken Dixon vs. Demarcus Kane for the MCW title plus Moses, Kaun, Fuego del Sol, Dante Caballero, Ray Lyn and more.
  • Empire State Wrestling tomorrow night in Niagara Falls, NY at the Frontier Fire Hall with champion Kevin Blackwood defending against Jay Freddie.
  • Pro Wrestling Phoenix from Wednesday night in Omaha, NE: Duke Cornell b Kit Sackett, Jack Darling b Xander McIntosh, Joey Daniels b Angus Keyser, Omar Pachecco b Moonshine Russell, Willy Sweet b Nino Hatchet, Luke Luna b Purple & Austin Fouts, Preston Maxwell b Pat Powers. Next show is 7/22 at the Waiting Room Lounge in Omaha.
  • AIW tonight at the Odeon Concert Club in Cleveland, OH featuring a meet and greet with Kevin Sullivan. They also run 7/7 at the Winchester Music Tavern in Lakewood, OH featuring Shark Boy and 7/23 in Akron, OH at the Tadmor Shrine.
  • Seaway Valley Wrestling has a free charity show tomorrow night in Cornwall, ONT at the Minor Baseball Legion Ballpark.
  • Courage Pro Wrestling has an all-women’s tournament on 8/7 at the Hamilton Convention Centre in Hamilton, ONT.
  • Taya Valkyire vs. Brittany Blake for the MLW featherweight title was announced for the 6/23 MLW show at the Melrose Ballroom in New York.
  • Negro Casas, who is 62, has a singles match with Fuerza Guerrera, who is 68, on Monday night’s CMLL show in Puebla.