Daily Update: WWE investors call, Jorge Masvidal, Extreme Rules

DAILY UPDATE

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F4W NEWSLETTER: First Raw of the Paul Heyman Era

Before this week’s return to the norm, Joseph Currier looked at Heyman’s promising start in his new role.

Though it was only the beginning of him easing into the role, the first Raw of the Paul Heyman era showed promising signs for his future as executive director.

It was surprising that — during the build to a pay-per-view where the top of the card has already been announced — Heyman’s presence was so obvious. Even if WWE didn’t announce his executive director role, it still would have been easy to tell that something was different about the episode.

It started with a literal bang that doubled as a statement of intent. Braun Strowman and Bobby Lashley’s falls count anywhere match kicked off the show and ended in a no contest. Strowman charged at Lashley, with explosions going off as they crashed through the stage. The angle was treated with complete seriousness. Corey Graves even let out an uncensored “holy sh*t” on commentary.

WON NEWSLETTER: July 15, 2019 Observer Newsletter: Death of Paco Alonso, G1 Opening, more

A look at Paco Alonso and his role in running the most traditional of all pro wrestling promotions, and what happens next with CMLL, is the lead story i the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

We look at Alonso’s death, an update on who will be running the company, how things will stay the same, what could change, the 2008 Hall of Fame election,  and the career of Alonso as a promoter including the wrestlings wars he was in and the boom periods he presided over.  We also look at where things stand and why Alonso is the only promoter with so much tenure in the business who has never lost money promoting wrestling.

We look at the first show of the G-1 Climax tournament, including unique aspects of the crowd, the business notes and what was good and bad about the crowd, this week’s G-1 bouts, Dallas coverage with star ratings and poll results and will AEW and NJPW promote together any time soon.

We also look at a Saturday with five major shows, running down all of them and the story behind the change in WWE policy.

We also look at Dwayne Johnson and Conor McGregor earnings, Reigns winning award, new signings, Reigns talks why AEW isn’t competition, WWE’s latest network strategy, ideas that were nixed of late that were pitched, Eric Bischoff update, Stock price notes, new WWE television show, most-watched shows of the week on WWE Network as well as a rundown of all the arena events of the past week with results, highlights and business notes.

We’ve got full coverage of UFC 239, with all the different stories that came out of the show, the judging of Jones vs Santos, the future of several fighters, all of the business notes regarding the show as well as match-by-match coverage, fighter pay, and poll results.

We also look at the changes in All Japan Pro Wrestling and what it means going forward.

We also have coverage of the Impact PPV show, where Impact stands, how the PPV did, the crossover in buyers of Impact with other companies as well as match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.

We also run down the ratings of all the major TV shows, along with detailed demo info for the WWE shows.

We also have the results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week. 

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THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE’s next investors call is 7/25, which is when they will announce all the second quarter numbers.  The numbers are probably going to be looked at closer this quarter than most after the first quarter was such a disappointment when it came to the core business.

Jorge Masvidal, who is one of the hottest fighters in UFC coming off his win over Ben Askren, was on Dan LeBatard today and said that he wants to fight Conor McGregor and said it would be an easy paycheck for him.  He said that McGregor backs down and taps when he gets in trouble.

Weigh-ins for Bellator tomorrow night on both the Paramount Network and DAZN from Thackerville, OK:

  • Ed Ruth (170) vs. Kiichi Kunimoto (170.4)
  • Juliana Velasquez (124.9) vs. Kristina Williams (125.8)
  • Rafael Carvalho (189.9) vs. Chidi Njokuani (189.6)
  • Julia Budd (145) vs. Olga Rubin (143.5) for the featherweight title

At the latest booking meeting the decision was not to add any new matches to Sunday’s Extreme Rules show.  There were a number of bouts built up, but they’ve already got ten bouts announced and that is more than enough.

There are limited tickets available for Saturday night’s Evolve 10th anniversary show at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia which airs live on the WWE Network.  A dark match has been added with John Silver & Alex Reynolds vs. Milk Chocolate at 7:40 p.m.  This bout won’t be televised.  Shotzi Blackheart vs. Brandi Lauren has been added to the network broadcast.  Evolve also runs Sunday at 7 p.m. from the Melrose, MA Memorial Hall at www.WWNlive.com with Matt Riddle vs Curt Stallion, Austin Theory & Arturo Ruas vs. Josh Briggs & Orange Cassidy, JD Drake vs. AR Fox, Joe Gacy vs. Babatunde and more.

WWE

  • Tickets for the first TV tapings in Madison Square Garden in ten years, on 9/9 and 9/10, go on sale with a registration until 7/14 at 10 p.m. for a presale that starts on 7/16 at 10 a.m.  Raw is expected to sell out immediately and Smackdown is expected to do well.
  • Yahoo had an article on WWE business and stock.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Impact and AAA’s TripleMania are going head-to-head on 8/3 on Twitch.  Impact will have a show in Southern California.
  • Jim Ross and Conrad Thompson are doing live shows on Friday night in Jacksonville, Sunday in Philadelphia and 8/17 in Charlotte.
  • Aaron Haddad, better known as Damien Sandow and Aron Stevens, is returning to pro wrestling shortly.
  • Tickets go on sale Monday for the MLW PPV debut on 11/2 at Cicero Stadium at www.MLWtickets.com  Announced for the show are Jacob Fatu, Tom Lawlor, Teddy Hart, Davey Boy Smith Jr., Brian Pillman Jr., Salina de la Renta, Simon Gotch, Josef Samael, Marshall & Ross Von Erich, Alexander Hammertone, MJF, Richard Holliday, Mance Warner, Low Ki, L.A. Park, Konnan, El Hijo de L.A. Park, Gringo Loco, Myron Reed and Jordan Oliver.
  • MCW presents the Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup on 7/13 in Joppa, MD featuring Nick Aldis vs. Dirty Money for the NWA title and Dante Caballero vs. Drolix. 
  • Wrestling Revolver on 7/26 in West Des Moines IA at the Val Air Ballroom with Rhino & Tommy Dreamer & Jimmy Jacobs & Eddie Edwards vs. Sami Callihan & Jake & Dave Crist & Mad Man Fulton in an extreme rule tornado match, Larry D vs. Ace Romero for the Revolver title, Besties in the World vs. Rich Swann & Jason  Cade vs. Ethan Page & Josh Alexander for the tag titles, Caleb Konley vs. Andy Dalton 2/3 tables match, Killer Kross vs. JT Dunn, Ace Austin vs. Chuck Mambo and Jessicka Havok vs Dan Barry.
  • Rise on 9/1 at 5 p.m. in Berwyn, IL as part of All Out Weekend in the Chicago area has an eight-woman single elimination one night tournament.
  • Best of the West has a TV taping for Saturday at 6 p.m. in Fresno, CA at their studio.  They have another taping on 7/21 with Best in the West vs Easy Bay Pro Wrestling.  If you go to the 7/13 show you can get tickets for 7/21 for just $5.
  • Roberto Soldic defends his welterweight title at KSW 50 on 9/14 at SSE Wembley in London.
  • Rocky Mountain Pro will have a live show on Twitch, Right now Tv and Fite TV on 7/14, 8/8 and 8/11 all at the Elitsh Gardens in Denver.
  • Murphys Boxing has reached a deal with Fight Pass with the debut event tomorrow at 9 p.m. Eastern from Boston with Greg Vendetti (21-3-1, 12 knockouts) vs. Michael Anderson(17-2-1, 12 knockouts) for the vacant IBA junior middleweight world championship.
  • Bar Wrestling results from last night in Los Angeles at the Bootleg Theater:  Reno Scum b Luke Hawx & PJ Hawx, Heather Monroe & Jake Atlas b Jessicka Havok & Nevaeh, Daga won four-way over Eli Everfly, Teddy Hart and Dave Crist, Peter Avalon & Ray Rosas b Willie Mack & Rich Swann, Joey Ryan & Scorpio Sky & Luchasaurus b Eli Drake & Chris Dickinson & Mike Verna, Sami Callihan b Killer Kross, Tessa Blanchard & Keira Hogan & Su Yung & Scarlett Bordeaux b Brian Cage in a lap dance match (thanks to Jamie Hudson and Shannon Walsh)
  • Bar Wrestling tomorrow night in Baldwin Park, CA at the American Legion with a dollar dance with Melissa Santos plus Tessa Blanchard vs. Daga, Brian Cage vs. Rich Swann vs. Teddy Hart vs. Chris Dickinson, Joey Ryan vs. Keira Hogan and more.
  • I Believe in Wrestling on 8/2 at Team Vision Dojo in Orlando.
  • Pro Wrestling Eve on 7/13 in London at the Resistance Gallery with a tournament to determine the No. 1 contender to champion Rhia O’Reilly.  On the show is Yuu, Kasey, Charlie Evans, Kanji, Laura Di Matteo, Millie McKenzie, Mercedes Blaze, Roxxy and Raven Creed.
  • Alpha-1 Wrestling on 7/21 in Hamilton, ONT at 222 Queenston, Rd.
  • FAN on 9/13 in Hamburg, Germany has Tenille Dashwood, Faye Jackson, Holidead, Chris Brooks and Aussie Open (thanks to Markus Gronemann)
  • AAW tomorrow night in Milwaukee at the Turner Hall Ballroom has Sami Callihan vs. Jacob Fatu for the AAW title, Jessicka Havok vs. Taya Valkyrie for the women’s title, John Morrison vs. Juventud Guerrera, Penta 0M & Rey Fenix vs. Myron Reed & AR Fox, Josh Briggs vs. Josh Alexander, Curt Stallion vs. Air Wolf, Davey Vega & Mat Fitchett vs Ace Austin & Clayton Gainz and more.
  • The first six names announced in the Jim Lyman Memorial tournament that AAW is putting on 8/29 and 8/30 at the Logan Square Auditorium in Chicago is Eddie Kingston, Josh Briggs, Laredo Kid, Jake Atlas, Colt Cabana and Curt Stallion.
  • Kyle Niblett is selling four ticket to Fight for the Fallen at below face value in Section 106 at KyleNiblett@gmail.com
  • Combate Americas has announced an 8/2 show in Fresno, CA at the Save Mart Center airing on Univision and DAZN. 
  • Great North Wrestling on 8/10 in Petawawa, ONT at the Petawawa Civic Centre headline by Hannibal vs. Teddy Hart.  Rene Dupree and Brian Pillman Jr. are also on the show.
  • There is a Comic Con/Pop Culture event this weekend in Knoxville, TN called the Fanboy Expo with Harley Race, Mick Foley, Sgt. Slaughter, Iron Sheik, Jim Cornette, Bobby Eaton, Dennis Condrey, Stan Lane, Brutus Beefcake, Jimmy Valiant, Jordynne Grace, Angelina Love and Velvet Sky all appearing.  There will be a wrestling show as part of the weekend tomorrow night.  For more info go to www.fanboyexpo.com
  • PWA on 7/27 in Guelph, ONT at  the Red Chevron Club.
  • A huge kickboxing heavyweight battle with Rico Verhoeven vs. Badr Hari takes place on 12/21 in Arnhem, Holland at the GeireDome.   The first bout between the two, in 2016, was gigantic with Hari losing in the second round due to an arm injury.
  • AXS will be re-airing the Affliction:  Banned show with Fedor Emelianenko vs. Tim Sylvia on the 11th anniversary of the show, on 7/10.  Donald Trump was there doing publicity for the show and that was a trip.  Trump, in promoting the show, which actually had a very low number of tickets sold (it was papered heavily at the end) talked about how it was all sold out at the press conference, and seconds later, Jimmy Lennon Jr. was pushing all the different ticket outlets where you could get tickets. 
  • Legacy Fighting Alliance tomorrow night from Coca-Cola Roxy in Atlanta on AXS TV has Jason Jackson (9-3) vs. Hemerson Souza (7-4) for the welterweight title.  Former WWE Tough Enough contestant Tanner Saraceno (7-3) will be fighting on the show.  He was the guy who won almost all the athletic drills but still got cut because they thought he was too small and didn’t like his facial expressions.
  • Andrea Hangst of Fansided wrote an article on the Thomas Santell persona covering his career, character change, and resurgence.

Daily Pro Wrestling History:Daily Pro Wrestling History (07/11): Lex Luger wins NWA United States title

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