Daily Update: WWE notes, FS1 schedule, COVID-19

DAILY UPDATE

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WON NEWSLETTER: April 27, 2020 Observer Newsletter: WWE schedule changes, layoffs, and quarterly financials

We’ve got one of our biggest news issues of the year out this week, a double-issue with a number of bios and history features, updates on all the major promotion moves when it comes to scheduling and WWE business notes.

The issue also covers:

Changes in the WWE schedule, why the company changed plans after just one week, who benefits the most, as well as AEW going back too taping and details of that.  We also look at the next AEW PPV show, an employee complaints about WWE continuing, differences between what AEW, UFC and WWE are doing, what firing hurts the WWE perception and thoughts of people sitting it out, a doctor talks about what is needed to do these shows without a health risk and the WWE event schedule for the next few months.

A number of recent new WWE cuts, including some surprises, how the WWE dividend and Vince McMahon’s share fits into these cuts, projections for 2020 profitability if house shows don’t return for the rest of 2020, and why several people got cut.

The most in-depth coverage of WWE business, covering each department of the company, lots of Vince McMahon reaction to the numbers and the future, what McMahon said that is and isn’t true, the story behind the ratings and the story behind increases and declines across the board.  Plus we examine the WWE network numbers.

Changes in the business going forward.

Joe Pedicino and pro wrestling, how he got in, his early innovative ideas, how Nigerian scram, his promotion of Global Wrestling, how it fell apart, stars who got breaks there and lie after wrestling.

Oliver Luck’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon, what is it all about and how much the XFL actually lost before it folded.

HHH’s thoughts on two-night WrestleManias going forward, A.J. Styles talks Gallows & Anderson losing their job, Roman Reigns update, Ronda Rousey update, Arn Anderson talks why Cesaro doesn’t get pushed, Canadian wrestling TV ratings, story on a surprise on Raw this past week who was canceled after the show started, update on Drake Maverick, the Smackdown announce team, and the most-watched shows on the WWE Network.

PFL closing down for the year, why what they said publicly was somewhat misleading and why they are still paying fighters, as well as thoughts on shutting down.

A number of new stories on Howard Finkel, both people who helped out and people who bullied him and looking back on those situations.

The first UFC fighter announced COVID-19 positive.

Brawl for All, going behind the scenes, a look at the Dark Side of the Ring coverage, examining the coverage and looking back at the entire scenario.

Look back at the Jimmy Snuka/Nancy Argentino death case, look at Dark Side coverage and add a lot more that wasn’t covered.

A back-of-the-book feature on Dick Steinborn, who was a big star in the 60s and 70s, and his father Milo, one of the strongest men in the world and a wrestling promoter.  We look at Milo’s amazing feats of strength, as well as both the positive and negatives of the legacy of Dick in pro wrestling.

Full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.

In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.

Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week. 

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.

SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer Radio talking the latest pro wrestling and MMA news.  You can send questions to the show to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com  We also have a show with Garrett Gonzalez and myself.

The only thing that has cracked the Google searches the past several days was Velveteen Dream with 50,000 searches on Friday putting him at No. 20.

The wrestler Cosmos (Rafael de la Torre), who was 52, and a longtime Southern California independent wrestler, was the second pro wrestler that we are aware of who has passed away from COVID-19.  He passed away on Friday. (thanks to Kurt Brown)

WWE

  • Raw on Monday has the Drew McIntyre vs. Seth Rollins contract signing.  
  • An article on the Smackdown TV debut of Daniel Vidot of Australia (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • The FS1 shows that will air this coming Tuesday has a special on John Cena at 7 p.m., HHH at 8 p.m., Undertaker at 9 p.m. and Shawn Michaels at 10 p.m.  What we had previously listed for Tuesday is actually the 5/5 show with Ric Flair’s Best WrestleMania matches at 7 p.m., Edge’s Best WrestleMania matches at 8 p.m., Brock Lesnar’s Most Dominant Matches at 99 p.m. and Roman Reigns’ Beat WrestleMania matches at 10 p.m.    
  • Just to clear something up regarding WWE wrestlers pay–talent when they sign can choose to be paid two different ways
    Biweekly based on Downside Guarantee
    Biweekly based on what they would normally draw between live event pay and merchandise and other royalties.  If that figure at the end of one year is lower than downside, they get the difference made up in a check at the end of the year.
  • A story on Bray Wyatt from when he was a college football player at Troy University.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Royce Chambers was the first competitor announced for the Colosseum show son 10/15 and 10/16 in Sydney, Australia (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • The Mastermind Australia series has had four contestants choose pro wrestling-based topics. The topics chosen were Jim Barnett’s World Championship Wrestling, WrestleMania 2010-2019, New Japan Pro Wrestling and WWF: The Attitude Era (thanks to Graeme Cameron)

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Edge defeats John Cena to win WWE World title

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