Daily Update: WWE Raw, SmackDown, Dungeon Dolls

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up on the site right now:
  • WBD will split into two companies, what this means for the future of cable, for AEW, for the legacy of TBS, TNT and CNN, for TNT Sports and what and when this all goes into effect regarding AEW.
  • More on WrestleMania going back to Las Vegas
  • The story on Ron Killings being cut why they had to bring him back and all the ramifications regarding it
  • The story behind Gunther beating Jey Uso for the world tite and set up
  • Full King of the Ring coverage, as well as Saturday Night’s Main Event main event, Night of Champions, Evolution and future WWE major events.
  • Full UFC 316 coverage and Kayla Harrison garners one of the most impressive combat sports resumes in history
  • The story behind Worlds Collide, the history packages, behind the scenes, Mr. Iguana and his background, all the ratings numbers, TripleMania Regia and more.
  • Ben Askren fights for his life
  • Latest developments in the Janel Grant lawsuit
  • Mark Kerr goes into UFC Hall of  Fame meaning Dwayne Johnson will induct him
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the pro wrestling shows including comparing cable vs. network, cable vs. streaming, how Rw is really doing, four-hour AEW marathon shows, NBA competition and more
  • Arena Mexico has one of its best matches of the year
  • New Japan Dominion noes
  • Notes on the G-1 tournament
  • Why Greg Oliver was so valuable to pro wrestling
  • Bret Hart talks Vince McMahon
  • Final X notes
  • Former ROH star retires
  • Wrestler trading card auctioned off for more than $80,000
  • Wrestlers who had matches in seven different decades
  • Former WWF wrestler makes a grandstand challenge for Hulk Hogan
  • RAF signs Olympic gold medalist
  • Update on lawsuit against AEW
  • Grand Slam Mexico notes
  • All In notes
  • Komander injury
  • Dana White and Nick Khan back promoting the biggest fight of 2025 and how it looks to have gone down
  • BJ Penn arrested again
  • Notes on TKO stock and media rights talks
  • Lots of new WWE signings

This Week’s Back Issue

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Monday Update

  • Bryan and I will be back tonight covering Raw, a crazy week coming up, G-1, more on Dominion and the rest of the pro wrestling news with Wrestling Observer Radio tonight.
  • Raw tonight is from Green Bay, WI.  It’s supposed to be a big show although the U.S. numbers will be hurt badly by the Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder game.  Announced for a King of the Ring tournament match is Jey Uso  vs. Ruwev. vs. Sheamus vs. Bronson Reed and a Queen of the Ring tournament match with Asuka (first match back in a year) vs. Stephanie Vquer vs. Raquel Rodriguez vs. Ivy Nile.  Also Liv Morgan vs. Kairi Sane, Nick Aldis Bayley and  Nikki Bella are advertised.  Bill Goldberg is not advertised but with him main eventing the next SNME against Gunther, at one point last week this was scheduled as his return, but it hasn’t been announced.  It’s a smaller building and is sold out at 6,500 fans.  We’re also looking for live reports from the show with Main Event matches or Speed matches or anything else not on the live show to dave@wrestlingobserver.com
  • Smackdown on Friday did 1.40 million viewers and an 0.38 in 18-49.  It was among the lowest numbers the show has done, even loaded up with multiple John Cena segments.  But like every show against the NBA finals, that’s what happens.  The game did 9.41 million/2.66 in 18-49.  USA was second in almost all the key demos for the night.
  • We’re looking for your thoughts on yesterday’s New Japan Dominion show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along  with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com
  • Those at MLW have said that with the release of Brett Ryan Gosselin and Akira, releases are done for the time being.  Akira announced that he was officially a free agent and will be returning to the U.S. in July.  He’s currently working for Big Japan Pro Wrestling.
  • Peacock is offering a 90 days free subscription  if you sign up with the code PEAGZ7LNYFN44O3J6
  • Merchandise is being sold using the name Dungeon  Dolls for Natalya & Maxxine Dupri, who are scheduled to start being used as a tag team.  As we reported in the last issue, they are going through the process last week of finalizing that as the team’s ring name.
  • On last night’s show when talking about when Collision will air on the week of the 28th, it’s been confirmed it is airing on Thursday, 6/26, from 8-10 p.m.  TNT will be airing NASCAR that night.  The show will be taped the night before as part of a four-hour taping in Kent, WA.  Collision is also airing live from Kent ,WA this coming Saturday.

A couple of changes for the AEW week in Mexico.  Tomorrow night’s show at Arena Mexi

  • Red Velvet vs.  Persephone
  • Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja vs. Action Andretti & Lio Rush for CMLL tag titles
  • Neon vs. Hologram
  • Atlantis Jr. vs Josh Alexander’
  • Averno & Euforia & Gran Guerrero & Ultimo Guerrero vs. Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher & Rocky Romero & Hechicero
  • Bandido vs. Mascara Dorada for the ROH title

The 2 1/2 hour Dynamite on Wednesday has:

  • Mistico vs. MJF
  • Zeuxis vs. Mercedes Mone for the CMLL women’s title
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Mark Briscoe non-title
  • Mascara Dorada vs. Ricochet vs.  Hologram vs. Lio Rush
  • Samoa Joe & Katsuyori Shibata & Powerhouse Hobbs & Swerve Strickland & Will Ospreay vs. Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta & Young Bucks
  • Atlantis Jr. & Brody King & Adam Cole & Daniel Garcia & Bandido & Templario vs. FTR & Hechicero & Josh Alexander & Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher

Plus ROH taped after has

  • Thunder Rosa & Persephone vs. Athena & Billie Starkz
  • Lee Moriarty vs. Blue Panther for ROH Pure title

On Friday, with Komander injured, the main event is now Mistico & Mascara Dorada vs. Hologram & Bandido.  They’ve also added Neon vs. Kevin Knight.  Eight matches is a lot for a Friday show and they have to do the shows in two hours and 30 minute, and there is literally too much to do full justice to the matches in that time limit.  They also announced the Mistico & Dorada & Neon vs. Komander & Bandido & Hologram CMLL trios title match will take place when Komander is able to wrestle.

  • AEW announced a 9/17 Dynamite show in London, Ontario, which is the Wednesday before All Out in Toronto.
  • Athena announced an all women’s show on 8/9 with Abadon, VertVixen, Hyan and Masha Slamovich.
  • MJF will be coming to Cannonball Fest on 9/14.  Joey Janela is doing a benefit show for Jeff Cannonball, who is battling ALS and MJF agreed to do the show.
  • TNA returns to Pittsburgh with a live TV show on Thursday night as the company’s 23rd anniversary show with Trick Williams & Nic & Ryan Nemeth & Moose & Steve Maclin vs. Joe Hendry & Elijah & Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz & Mike Santana,  Ash & Heather by Elegance vs. Masha Slamovich & Lei Ying Lee, Matt Cardona & ? vs. Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers, and  Eric Young vs. Sami Callihan.  They announced Mark Madden on the Friday show as an announcer.  The Thursday show has 995 tickets out and the Friday show has 1,093 tickets out per Wrestletix..
  • The NWA announced its 77th anniversary show on 8/16 in Huntington, NY at The Paramount.
  • NXT tomorrow has Trick Williams &  AJ Francis & KC Navarro vs. Elijah & Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura, Lash Legend vs. Kelani Jordan, Thea Hail vs. Jaida Parker, Zaria vs. Izzy Dame and Jordynne Grace vs. Lola  Vice.  The women’s bouts are in a tournament with the winner facing Jacy Jayne at the Evolution PPV on 7/13.
  • Carlito wrestled over the weekend for Appalachian Mountain Wrestling.
  • Michael Oku &  Amir have working visas for the U.S.
  • Pro Wrestling Revolution has Queen of Indies on 7/13 in Denver with Mara Sade (akara Jackson, Karissa Rivera (Elektra Lopez), Lluvia, Karisma,Jarochoita, Hyan,Jazmin Allure and Shazze McKenzie.
  • Pro Wrestling Symphony on 7/6 in Nashville, TN at the Brooklyn Bowl with Kevin Ku & Dominic Garrini appearing,