Daily Update: WWE notes, Hulk Hogan, new AEW trademark

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer:

  • Updating the situation with Ricochet, the WWE angle, his legacy, future, comments by Will Ospreay and a look at his pre-WWE career.
  • Preview of Clash at the Castle, the matches, thoughts on the bouts, attempt to set records and more.
  • Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler falls apart, the quietness of the last two weeks, replacement fights and other pull-outs.
  • Just how much money McGregor would have generated on this night
  • New Japan Dominion coverage, Hikuleo leaving for WWE, Super Juniors finals, Forbidden Door angles, G-1, this week’s big show and more.
  • NXT Battleground coverage, the Apex,  the bouts, the timing of the show.
  • Final WrestleMania live business numbers from the Pennsylvania commission.  What was the real attendance for both nights, Raw, Smackdown and NXT.
  • Huge story on part two of Who Killed WCW, company finances running a wrestling business then vs. now, what went wrong, Hogan vs. Goldberg and real story behind the lack of build, where the money was left on the table, Goldberg as champion, booking philosophy and more.
  • Why WCW lost top stars under Jim Herd
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for wrestling and MMA TV shows, including how close another MMA show came to UFC this past week, placings for the week, competition for the shows, segment-by-segment an more
  • More on who CMLL talent is allowed to work with
  • Lots of big matches coming to CMLL over the next week
  • El Hijo del Vikingo update
  • Notes on the movie about a current wrestling star released in Japan
  • Next Stardom PPV and Five Star Grand Prix notes
  • WWE & NOAH announcement coming
  • Big NOAH match this week
  • Despe Invitational show
  • Iyo Sky comes to Marigold and how ticket sales went
  • Mexican and Japanese group working together
  • Bloodsport notes
  • Sad Steve McMichael update
  • Passing of Larry Santo
  • One of pro wrestling’s all-time legends from way back is being honored in his home town next week
  • Celebrity Wrestling show earmarked
  • Lots of injury updates
  • Forbidden Door update
  • How the Arlington tapings for AEW are doing
  • Advance ticket sales for WWE & AEW shows
  • CMLL talent being booked for Dynamite at the last minute
  • International TV ratings and top streaming numer
  • Dana White asked to channel Andy Kaufman
  • Consideration to changing MMA rules
  • PFL tournament updates
  • Manny Pacquiao coming to Rizin
  • Drew McIntyre inducted into Scotland Hall of Fame
  • Update on Vince McMahon legal action
  • PPV updates
  • More Dwayne Johnson projects

This week’s Wresting Observer Newsletter back issue

Saturday Update

WWE

  • Drew McIntyre stars in the opening video for WWE Clash at the Castle.
  • CM Punk has been spotted in Scotland in advance of today’s event.
  • In an interview with Denise Salcedo, Piper Niven recalled going up to Paul “Triple H” Levesque and asking him about having a match at Clash at the Castle. Niven is challenging WWE Women’s Champion Bayley this afternoon:
    • Would you like to hear about how it went? So I knew Clash at the Castle was happening, but I didn’t hear anything, no whispers of any matches or anything like that. And I was like, ‘I need to be on that card.’ Honestly, I jazzed myself up for weeks. You can ask Chelsea [Green], Chelsea’s my hype woman on-screen and off-screen. She helps build my confidence because sometimes I’m not the most confident. She was backstage with me and I was like, ‘Okay, I think today’s the day. I think I’m gonna ask. I think I’m gonna go ask.’ She’s like, ‘Yeah, you’ve got this. Go and ask him. You should be on that show.’ I was like, ‘Okay, cool, cool, cool.’
    • I walked up to Triple H and I went, ‘I’m here to shoot my shot,’ and he just went, ‘Let me guess, it’s about Clash.’ I went, ‘Yeah.’ ‘Anyway, we’re working on it.’ I was like, ‘Oh, this went well. Okay great, thanks.’ [laughs]
  • Last night, a QR code appeared on SmackDown leading to a countdown clock. It teases that Uncle Howdy and his faction will debut on Monday’s Raw. “You refused salvation. The reckoning is inevitable,” the web page says. 
  • The Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital shared the following story of how Roman Reigns helped their patient Emma attend Bad Bunny’s concert in Miami. Reigns got Emma VIP tickets and arranged for her to meet Bad Bunny:
    • Grab the tissues for a feel good, happy tears moment
    • @WWE Tribal Chief, @romanreigns, recently surprised our adorable patient, Emma, with VIP suite tickets and a private ‘meet and greet’ with her favorite artist, @BadBunnyPR, at his concert in Miami. Roman Reigns remembered her telling him how much she loved the superstar singer when he visited our Child Life Zone over the holidays, and with the help of some good friends, he made her dreams come true.
    • Thanks to the incredible generosity of #LarrysPrivateCarandLimoWorldwide and the support of Sergeant Robinson from the Miami Dade Police Department, Emma’s experience was nothing short of magical as she arrived to meet ‘el conejo malo’ in style. This unforgettable gesture created beautiful memories for our sweet girl and left a beaming smile on her face!
    • Thank you to @badbunnypr, @romanreigns and the @miamidadepd, for making Emma’s dreams a reality!
  • Tatum Paxley cut a social media promo after losing to Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace in an open challenge at TNA Against All Odds last night:
    • Jordynne Grace might have gotten the best of me, but there is no doubt that I will do anything and everything in my power until I become champion. I’m not done yet [laughs].
  • Hulk Hogan responded when Fox & Friends asked him if he would consider running for political office:
    • We need somebody in there that’s got some common sense. So, if you need a president or vice president, I’ll volunteer and take this country over, and I’ll rule with an iron fist, a flat tax – nothing but common sense. I know right from wrong, brother.
  • Gorilla Position has interviews with Nick Aldis and Chad Gable.
  • Bayley is celebrating her 35th birthday today.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • AEW filed a trademark for “Fairway to Hell” on June 14. The trademark is listed as being for:
    • Bandanas; Hats; Headwear; Pants; Shirts; Shorts; Socks; Sweatshirts; Undergarments; Clothing jackets; T-shirts; Tank tops
    • Organizing, arranging, and conducting golf events; Organizing, conducting and operating golf tournaments
  • Bryan Danielson told Sports Illustrated that he wants to see Claudio Castagnoli get a run as AEW World Champion:
    • I would love to see Claudio as world champion. He’s one of the best I’ve ever been in the ring with.
    • I thought his Ring of Honor world title run was really special. I watched all of his matches, and I was in awe of it–as many people often are when they watch Claudio wrestle.
    • I sincerely hope that Claudio gets a run as AEW world champion before he hangs it up. He would make the most of that opportunity.
  • In an interview with Daily DDT, Deonna Purrazzo gave her thoughts on being part of the pre-show for Double or Nothing instead of the main card. Purrazzo defeated Thunder Rosa in the opening match of the night:
    • I think for us, it’s one whole show. I saw a lot of the similar feedback [about being on the main show], but I think personally as women, we are the first thing that you saw as a fan coming out for Double or Nothing. We set the tone for the show. The audience was amazing. They loved our match. They loved the energy that we brought. So no, I think…it’s either that or we’re not part of Double or Nothing. So I was very, very fortunate to be a part of my first Double or Nothing and also be the first thing you saw as a fan in the arena that night.
  • SHAK Wrestling also interviewed Purrazzo.
  • Kris Statlander was the guest on AEW Unrestricted this week.
  • LuFisto was admitted into intensive care on Wednesday and is battling against flesh-eating bacteria. She tweeted on Thursday: “Long story short, I’ve been in intensive care since yesterday and looks like I’ll be there for a few days. Now fighting against some flesh-eating bacteria. I’m tired. I’d like to have a break, please.”