Daily Update: WWE notes, Countdown to Double or Nothing, Will Ospreay

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up on the site today:

  • A feature on the first five years of AEW and its future.  
  • A look at both the successes and as well as things not as successful
  • A look at the past, present and future
  • Why this year will be the telling point for the success of the company or not
  • What was guaranteed when AEW started
  • AEW’s business and the perceptions
  • Looking at the value of the promotion
  • History of wrestling wars and how they went down
  • How AEW can take financial advantage of WWE’s move to Netflix
  • The decline of the 18-34 male audience
  • A look in depth at the last several weeks of AEW, NBA, NHL and cable in general
  • WWE expands SummerSlam to two dates
  • El Hijo del Santo talks retirement plans
  • Looking at King & Queen of the Ring and Double or Nothing and challenges for both companies coming off the previous big shows
  • A look at the debut of Marigold, already the No. 2 women’s promotion in the world, what hit and what didn’t hit
  • The life and times of John “Bad Bones” Klinger, a European independent star who passed away this past week
  • The most detailed look at the weekly television ratings, comparisons with other shows, age breakdowns, weekly placings and more
  • Fantastica Mania in the U.S., U.K. and Mexico notes
  • Stardom PPV coverage
  • NOAH has the match of the week
  • Why New Japan changed the Dominion main event
  • All Together Now coverage
  • Best of the Super Juniors coverage’
  • Rematch of a match last year that got worldwide mainstream publicity
  • Updated WWE, AEW, TNA  and boxing PPV notes including how many wrestling fans buy boxing PPVs
  • A look at what going live vs. tape means as far as wrestling ratings
  • One of the NFL’s all-time greats who was nearly became a German heel wrestler
  • Funeral of Tony Jones
  • Lots of notes on the final nail in the coffin of WCW and the questions still not fully answered
  • Lots of injury updates
  • WBD business and AEW negotiations
  • Advanced ticket sales for upcoming AEW & WWE shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • Lots more on payouts for UFC fighters after lawsuit settlement
  • PFL fires one of its best-known fighters for speaking out
  • Mark Shapiro talks the future of WWE & UFC business
  • Injury rates in WWE and AEW
  • SummerSlam and All In advances
  • Notes on NXT Battleground
  • Top WWE star sues famous boxing star

This week’s Wresting Observer Newsletter back issue

Saturday Update

WWE

  • It looks like WWE is building to Piper Niven challenging Bayley for the WWE Women’s Championship at Clash at the Castle. On SmackDown last night, Bayley defeated Chelsea Green but was laid out by Niven after the match. WWE then uploaded a post-show video where Niven said she can’t wait to “clash” with Bayley again. Clash at the Castle is taking place in Niven’s home country of Scotland on Saturday, June 15.
  • Though it was advertised that Solo Sikoa & Tonga Loa would face The Street Profits on SmackDown, the match didn’t end up happening. There was a segment where Paul Heyman told Sikoa that they couldn’t get Loa to clear customs and cross the border into Saudi Arabia. Heyman said there’s a reason why dangerous people like Loa and Tama Tonga weren’t in The Bloodline before now.
  • Kayla Braxton interviewed Randy Orton ahead of his match against Gunther in the King of the Ring finals.
  • Gunther spoke to The Metro about Orton being his opponent:
    • Obviously Randy’s a legend, and one of the biggest names that ever came out at the WWE. And those are the people I’m here to be in the ring with. I want to be in the ring with those kind of performers, and just to see where I belong, or where I don’t. It will be a fantastic challenge.
  • In December, Gunther and his wife Jinny welcomed their first child into the world. Gunther told The Metro that both Jinny and the baby are doing “very good.” He addressed how big of a change it’s been for their lives:
    • Especially for more Jinny because she’s with him all the time. She’s the mom. I’ve still got a good bit of traveling to do. But it’s definitely a challenge sometimes. But on the other hand, it’s a beautiful thing!
  • The pre-show for WWE King & Queen of the Ring can be watched here.
  • WWE announced that Saudi Arabian actor/comedian Ibrahim Al Hajjaj, who appeared at Crown Jewel last November, will be appearing again at King & Queen of the Ring today.
  • Bayley named Kris Statlander as the opponent she’d like to face if she could wrestle anyone who isn’t in WWE:
    • I really like Kris Statlander. I think she’s just freaking so athletic. She kind of reminds me of like Rhea Ripley. You know or like it seems like she can do everything so I’d be interested to get in the ring someday.
  • Roman Reigns turns 39 years old today.
  • Montez Ford will be releasing a new music album on his birthday next Friday (May 31).
  • Brian Gewirtz discussed the inner workings of the WrestleMania 40 main event during an interview on Busted Open Radio this week.
  • Mike Rotunda made an appearance on The Masked Man Show.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • AEW’s Countdown to Double or Nothing special has been uploaded to the promotion’s YouTube channel.
  • AEW also uploaded its Control Center video for tonight’s Collision.
  • In an interview with Denise Salcedo, Will Ospreay said he’s proud of himself for becoming better at promos:
    • Honestly, I would not put me down as a promo guy. I still don’t, in some ways, because I’m still learning. Where my ADHD’s been a constant thing, like I’ve always had a problem with eye contact. I really try and avoid eye contact quite a lot, so I’m really doing my best to try and work on that and really harness in on it and really focus in on it. But the fact that I’m doing ok, I wouldn’t say I’m doing incredible, but I would say that I’m doing better than what I expected.
    • So I am quite proud of myself for that, just because I’ve never been a promo guy. I’ve never even tried to hide that I’m a promo guy. But I feel like I’m getting a lot better at them.
  • AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland has been announced for House of Glory’s High Intensity show in Queens, New York on Friday, July 26.
  • The Young Bucks, Roderick Strong, and Serena Deeb appeared as guests on the Double or Nothing preview edition of AEW Unrestricted.
  • Chris Danger and Jesus Rodriguez are the latest entrants announced for MLW Battle Riot VI. The show takes place from Atlanta next Saturday (June 1).
  • Barbie Blank (Kelly Kelly) joined McKenzie Mitchell on the latest episode of Threads.