Daily Update: WWE notes, NBA/WBD, Darby Allin

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • The new issue of the Wrestling Observer is up on the site right now:
  • The updated details of the biggest lawsuit that ever faced TKO
  • Build to SummerSlam and All In
  • Updated PPV numbers on Forbidden Door, Money in the Bank and Diaz vs. Masvidal
  • G-1 is starting and a look at the first week of the tournament
  • The first Fantastica Mania show in the U.S.
  • The latest moves by Janel Grant’s legal team regarding Vince McMaahon’s doctor, the motion, why they are doing this and more on Vince’s doctor including bigger celebrities than Vince that he’s worked with along with legendary fighters
  • Pro Wrestling NOAH runs Budokan Hall with A.J. Styles
  • A look at the N-1 tournament
  • Longtime NOAH star retires
  • NOAH star joining New Japan and Bullet Club
  • A look at Marigold’s biggest show in its history with Iyo Sky plus Sareee vs Giulia
  • Giulia timeline updated of going to WWE
  • Upcoming Marigold PPV shows
  • A look at the Category A Observer awards and favorites after six months of 2024, who should win MVP in pro wrestling and MMA, match & fight of the year
  • The closing months of  WCW looked at as Lenita Erickson says she played a part in killing Eric Bischoff’s TV deal that would have kept the company alive
  • Lots of talk regarding different negotiations to get the company
  • The most detailed look at the ratings from the past week
  • What place did the pro wrestling and MMA shows finish in the ratings
  • How the different shows did  with ratings, segment-by-segment, competition and placings as well as other notes on viewership
  • Lots of big things coming to Arena Mexico
  • Leyenda de Plata tournament
  • 11 companies join together with a united front to government
  • Death of Ken Hoffman and the major title change that happened because of what he wrote in the newspaper
  • Notes on a number of wrestling movies and documentaries
  • MLW with big show with lots of CMLL talent
  • More on Bloodsport with WWE talent
  • TNA looking at biggest crowd in years
  • As AEW talks with WBD about  a new deal, lots of things are going on in that world
  • International ratings and streaming numbers
  • Advance ticket sales for all upcoming AEW & WWE shows
  • More on Nate Diaz lawsuit against promoter
  • Peacock raising prices
  • WWE Survivor Series notes
  • Lots of new WWE dates
  • Cody Rhodes talks AEW

This Week’s Wresting Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • In an interview with the New York Post, Damian Priest expressed how excited he is that Rhea Ripley is back from injury:
    • I don’t think there is one person around that’s not happy to have her back, maybe Liv [Morgan].
    • We just got back from the gym and we were riding in the car and I literally told [Ripley], ‘Man, it’s really good to have you back.’ I’ve felt like I’ve been missing something and it was my friend. It’s my road buddy. It’s my backstage buddy. Besides our TV dynamic, it’s everything else. I missed having that person next to me that also pushes me.
  • A video package aired on NXT last night promoting Joe Hendry’s concert for next week’s episode.
  • For fans who attended last night’s NXT, Hendry autographed concert posters that were left on every car in the parking lot.
  • WWE uploaded the full Rascalz vs. Je’Von Evans, Axiom & Nathan Frazer six-man tag main event from NXT.
  • PWInsider reports that there’s been internal talk within WWE of Raquel Rodriguez returning to action “in the near future.” Rodriguez has been away due to mast cell activation syndrome.
  • Dakota Kai reflected on getting to wrestle in Japan again ahead of WWE’s house shows this week: “The last time I was in Japan was start of 2016, working as a freelance wrestler with promotions like Stardom and Sendai Girls. Just landed in Tokyo and about to do shows with WWE. What is life”
  • WWE Raw commentator Pat McAfee announced that he’ll be returning to ESPN’s College GameDay this season. McAfee didn’t say if this will impact his WWE role.
  • Lexis King (Brian Pillman Jr.) was a guest on Busted Open Radio.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • The NBA announced its new media rights deal with ESPN/ABC, NBC, and Amazon Prime today, saying that Warner Bros. Discovery’s proposal did not truly match the offer that was made by Amazon.
  • TNT Sports issued a statement vowing to take “appropriate action” over the situation. WBD does not believe that the NBA can reject its attempt to match Amazon’s offer:
    • We have matched the Amazon offer, as we have a contractual right to do, and do not believe the NBA can reject it. In doing so, they are rejecting the many fans who continue to show their unwavering support for our best-in-class coverage, delivered through the full combined reach of WBD’s video-first distribution platforms including TNT, home to our four-decade partnership with the league, and Max, our leading streaming service. We think they have grossly misinterpreted our contractual rights with respect to the 2025-26 season and beyond, and we will take appropriate action. We look forward, however, to another great season of the NBA on TNT and Max including our iconic Inside the NBA.
  • AEW uploaded a Road To video hyping up tonight’s Blood & Guts episode of Dynamite.
  • Darby Allin confirmed to Uproxx that Martha Hart gave her blessing for the spot where he entered from the rafters on Dynamite last week. Allin said Martha told AEW “absolutely, I trust your team, you guys are super professional.”
  • Allin said his one goal in AEW is to become the face of the company:
    • Becoming the face of this company. That’s literally the whole goal. It’s fun to put your head down and get to work. That’s what excites me, to get more eyes on AEW and just build this whole brand up. It’s so awesome to be there from the ground level and see what we’ve done in six years.
  • The Battleground Podcast has an interview with Allin.
  • During a virtual signing for K&S WrestleFest, Raj Dhesi (Jinder Mahal) had a lot of praise for Hook. Dhesi spoke about the X/Twitter controversy that Tony Khan started this January:
    • Tony just said, ‘Where’s the backlash when Jinder’s getting a championship match? When Hook is 28-0 or 28-1 or something.’ That was the thing and I just said, ‘Who the —- is Hook?’ That was it… Yeah, I’m a former WWE Champion (so I should be able to get a title shot). But then I actually started watching Hook and I really like his style. I like his demeanor, his style, everything about him. He’s like the next generation, right? The next generation, the next evolution of pro wrestling. Hook is one of the best… We’re just having fun on Twitter. It’s just wrestling.
  • New TNA World Champion Nic Nemeth thanked everyone who attended TNA’s events in Montreal during Slammiversary weekend: “Congratulations to [TNA] on an incredible weekend! #Slammiversary was sold out &  Impact was amazing, as well. Huge thank you to the fans in Montreal. This company is making monumental gains in & out of the ring! I’m excited to be one of the many ambassadors, #LFG #TNA”
  • Brian Johnson vs. Heddi Karaoui has been added to the card for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XI in Brooklyn this Sunday.
  • Aja Kong is making her GCW return at the promotion’s event in Japan on Tuesday, August 13.