Daily Update: WWE NXT notes, Tony Khan, Eddie Edwards
Daily Update
Latest News
- Shawn Michaels on Jordynne Grace in WWE NXT: Triple H ‘owed me one’
- The Young Bucks to address future of TNT title on AEW Dynamite
- Tony Khan donating $100k to charity for NFL Draft neck brace
- AEW Collision viewership down, 18-49 demo rating steady
- Chris Jericho on heel turn: You have to know when people hate you
- New number one contender’s tournament begins on WWE Speed
- The Young Bucks gift AEW title belts to Inside the NBA hosts
- Chris Jericho: It’s ‘very important’ for AEW to keep adding big stars
Latest Audio
- Wrestling Observer Live: Dynamite tonight, AEW vs. WWE stories clarification, NXT
- Bryan & Vinny Show: Vegas fallout, Bryan vs. Vinny II, Granny, plus WWF Challenge S1:E14
- We’re Live, Pal: AEW Double or Nothing aftermath, WBD & AEW negotiations
Latest Free YouTube Video
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
Wednesday Update
WWE
- PWInsider reports that the word backstage at NXT last night was that Jordynne Grace challenging Roxanne Perez at Battleground won’t be the only crossover between WWE and TNA:
- The word backstage at tonight’s WWE NXT taping was that Jordynne Grace appearing on WWE NXT Battleground will not be the only WWE-TNA collaboration in the days ahead.
- The belief among those we’ve spoken with is that there will be some sort of NXT representation on future TNA events and programming as well, although we haven’t heard how much that could be and whether it could be anyone beyond Roxanne Perez.
- Grace’s husband Jonathan Gresham reacted to her NXT appearance: “Wow lady. Do you remember when we moved to York PA with little to no money and a dream. Your exact dream has come true, I’m so proud of you. Xoxo”
- Mia Yim praised Tatum Paxley following their match on NXT: “I gotta give @TatumPaxley props. She’s going to be a huge star and I hope I get to get spooky with her again in the ring. Michin & Crazy, they can’t fix us.”
- After NXT, Rapper Sexxy Red posted a video of herself and Shawn Michaels singing “Sexy Boy” together.
- WWE shared a close-up look at the new NXT Women’s North American Championship belt.
- Claiming to not be under contract with anyone, Ethan Page cut a social media promo after making his WWE NXT debut. Page said the ball is in NXT’s court if Trick Williams wants revenge on him for last night’s attack.
- Sami Zayn expressed that performing in the Middle East is one of the proudest things he’s accomplished in his career:
- I’ve had a brilliant career. And while it won’t show up on a list of titles I’ve won, great matches I’ve had, or dramatic stories I’ve told, one of my proudest achievements is representing, at the highest level, my Arab brothers & sisters in the Middle East & Muslims worldwide.
- Nia Jax is celebrating her 40th birthday today.
- The Babyfaces Podcast interviewed Tiffany Stratton.
- Baron Corbin was a guest on the Johnny Dare Morning Show in Kansas City.
- The trailer for “Moana 2,” starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, was released today.
AEW/Other Wrestling
- On the Rich Eisen Show, Tony Khan was asked about Becky Lynch’s WWE contract being set to expire later this week. Khan called Lynch a “great star” but didn’t comment further because it would be tampering.
- Khan said about tampering in wrestling:
- I think it’s the same mindset [as the NFL] where it’s like, I don’t want to try to tamper and do those things. I try to keep it classy. And I really have a reputation for honesty and I really want to be a fair businessman. The wrestling business is a really cutthroat business.
- Khan noted that it’s been a long week for him doing re-writes on Dynamite because Adam Copeland, who suffered a fractured leg at Double or Nothing, was supposed to be a big part of the show.
- Will Ospreay told Unlikely with Adrian Hernandez that he would like to see AEW hire Scott D’Amore:
- I can’t tell you how much respect I have for Scott D’Amore. If there was anything that I would want to put out there, if there was a way that AEW could hire Scott D’Amore in any type of fashion. Like, have that guy run Ring of Honor or something. Because the passion he had for TNA and just how he completely, single-handedly transformed that company.
- AEW wished happy birthday to Konosuke Takeshita (29) and Zak Knight (33).
- Sports Illustrated spoke with Eddie Edwards ahead of his Tag Team title defense against Nic & Ryan Nemeth at TNA Against All Odds on June 14. Edwards said he’s been wanting to test himself against Nic Nemeth for a long time:
- I’ve wanted to test myself against Nic for a long time, and now me and Brian [Myers] get to do it against Nic and Ryan. It’s a fresh matchup for us, Cicero Stadium in Chicago always has a hot crowd, and it’s the start of a new rivalry.
- Ric Flair was interviewed on Busted Open Radio.
- Former WWE broadcaster Matt Camp shared a 39-minute video discussing backstage WWE politics and how the digital and television sides were pitted against each other.
- CMLL wrestler Rudigo will be an entrant in MLW Battle Riot VI this Saturday.