Daily Update: WWE Raw, SmackDown ratings, Bryan Danielson

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter: June 20, 2022 Observer Newsletter: Vince McMahon under investigation by WWE Board of Directors

One of the most important wrestling news stories in years is taking place right now and is the lead story in the new issue of the Observer out today. The issue has:

  • Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis, the alleged payouts, the key aspect of the story, how the story broke, notes on the investigation, the prior burial of Stephanie McMahon, the timing of her leaving, the firm handling the investigation, and what happens next.
  • Jeff Hardy arrested, more details, AEW response and more
  • Update on AEW Forbidden Door show and fan interest levels
  • The career of Keiji Muto with his retirement announcement
  • Report on the changes to the 2022 G1 Climax tournament
  • Issues with top AEW talent in G1 this year
  • Update on WWE Money in the Bank and ticket interest levels
  • UFC 275–coverage of one of the greatest fights in MMA history, business notes and poll coverage
  • New Japan Dominion coverage, match-by-match with star ratings, storylines, business notes and poll results
  • Cyberfight show
  • College athletes that WWE signed this week to NIL deals
  • How the death of Hana Kimura led to a change in Japanese laws on cyberbullying
  • Pro wrestling TV ratings over the past week
  • Notes on the oldest tradition in wrestling, now in its 89th year
  • The family tag team tournament update
  • News from this week’s Triplemania
  • Key Stardom rule
  • Dream trios match of Triple Crown champions
  • Early notes on N-1 tournament
  • Movie on famous pro wrestling family
  • NWA 74th anniversary show
  • 70s and 80s star doing autobiography
  • One of the year’s best independent matches
  • Ticket sale updates for all the major pro wrestling and UFC shows
  • AEW injury update and story
  • FTR managed by Bet Hart
  • Politics of Forbidden Door show
  • International TV ratings
  • AEW stars announcing MMA
  • New major UFC fights and this week’s card
  • Another major UFC retirement
  • News for those who get Peacock free
  • Notes on Paige being dropped by WWE
  • Roman Reigns schedule
  • Oliver Luck vs. Vince McMahon trial
  • Ronda Rousey talks the one MMA fight she would still do and how it almost happened years ago and why it didn’t

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter: May 9, 2005 Observer Newsletter: Death of Chris Candido

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.

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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.

Monday News Update

  • Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw, the Oliver Luck settlement and ratings on Wrestling Observer Radio tonight. If you have questions or comments regarding the topic of AEW ratings, which is now an official story with two straight low numbers, you can send to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com
  • Raw tonight is from Lincoln, NE. The only thing announced is Elias in concert and Becky Lynch vs. Asuka in a Money in the Bank qualifier. They had about 5,600 tickets out which by current standards is good for a market of that size. They are advertising locally Orton & Riddle vs. Street Profits which obviously won’t happen. They are going against game three of the Stanley Cup finals, with Colorado up 2-0 on Tampa Bay. This will hurt them bad in Canada and a little in the U.S. Game four is Wednesday and if there is a game five, it will be Friday. It’s on network so it’s likely if not a lock Raw is first tonight on cable. AEW would be expected to be battle for first on Wednesday but it’s been a bad week for them ratings-wise.
  • While the Vince McMahon interview likely was big in the opening minutes, it was very short, and that quarter did 2,326,000 viewers and 720,000 in 18-49. Roman Reigns vs. Riddle did 2,501,000 viewers and 890,000 in 18-49 (0.68) which are amazing numbers by modern standards. While most attribute the rating to Vince McMahon, and he definitely was part of it, don’t discount in the least the Reigns vs. Riddle value, and that’s hardly just Reigns and they should look at that number and realize the potential of Riddle. (thanks to Wrestlenomics). 
  • Bryan Danielson was announced for Dynamite Wednesday. Based on challenges and what was said on Rampage on Friday, one would suspect he talks about Zack Sabre Jr., and they said he will also talk the Blood and Guts match on 6/29. William Regal on Friday brought up the idea of Danielson vs. Sabre, pushing the idea it’s to see who is he best technical wrestler in the world and pushed Danielson. 
  • As noted on the front page, at the New Japan show at Korakuen Hall today, Clark Connors beat Tomoaki Honma and Tomohiro Ishii beat Yoshinobu Kanemaru. So Ishii faces Connors tomorrow at Korakuen Hall. TJP & Francesco Akira won the IWGP Jr. tag titles from Master Wato & Ryusuke Taguchi in the main event, and tomorrow’s main event has Taiji Ishimori vs. Hiromu Takahashi for the IWGP Jr. title.
  • In something I’d have never expected, the PFL show on Friday night on ESPN very slightly beat Rampage head-to-head (the numbers were basically identical) even though starting at 10:23 p.m. PFL had never even ranked top 50 previously.
  • We’re doing polls on TripleMania and Impact Slammiversary 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
  • AEW returns to the Target Center in Minneapolis on 8/10, which is the building WWE just ran Smackdown in on Friday. Tickets go on sale to the public Friday so there will probably be a presale a day or two earlier.
  • Slam Wrestling has an interview with Christina Von Eerie about her relationship years ago with Chris Dickinson after making posts about it a few months back. 
  • They also have an interview with Ranger Ross about his time in prison and being a preacher.
  • Thanks to Travis Frickel for notes from last night for the WWE show in Billings, MT. 

WWE

  • NXT tomorrow night was taped previously with these matches:
  • Solo Sikoa vs. Grayson Waller
  • Kayden Carter & Katana Chance vs. Valentina Feroz & Yulisa Leon
  • Roderick Strong & Damon Kemp vs. Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro
  • Cameron Grimes vs. Edris Enofe
  • Brooks Jensen vs. Von Wagner
  • Alba Fyre vs. Lash Legend
  • Carmelo Hayes vs. Tony D’Angelo for North American title
  • This is the last of the taped shows and they’ll go back live next Tuesday.

AEW

  • Bet Online has these odds for Forbidden Door:

Jon Moxley -250
Hiroshi Tanahashi +170

Thunder Rosa -500
Toni Storm +300

Malakai Black +125
Miro +125
Pac +400
Tomohiro Ishii +800
Notable they have odds already listing Black and Ishii who have not yet qualified but are generally expected to be in

Will Ospreay -800
Orange Cassidy +400

FTR -150
Roppongi Vice +200
Jeff Cobb & Great O’Khan +275

Jericho & Suzuki & Guevara -150
Umino & Kingston & Yuta +100

UFC

  • Phil Hawes apologized to Daniel Cormier for his comments on Saturday Hawes seemed like he was picking a fight with Cormier after he beat Deron Winn. Winn is one of Cormier’s good friends and in fact the two coach high school wrestling together at Gilroy High. Cormier was just doing his job interviewing Hawes after Hawes brutalized Winn in the fight. “Yeah, it was just a misunderstanding on my behalf,” Hawes said. “DC is such a role model to me, a two-weight world champion, just a stellar dude. So it was just a miscommunication. Wrong place, wrong time. I apologize, DC. Don’t beat me up.”

Other Notes

  • St.. Louis Anarchy from Saturday night in Alton, IL: Sean Orleans & Anakin Murphy & Victor Analog b Evan Gelistico & Nick King & Connor Hopkins, ACH b Kenny Alfonso, Davey Vega b Billie Starkz, Derek Neal b Camaro Jackson, Mat Fitchett b Christian Rose, Thomas Shire b Warhorse, Gary Jay b Adrian Surge, ACH b Davey Vega, Derek Neal b Mat Fitchett, Thomas Shire b Gary Jay, Derek Neal won three-way over ACH and Thomas Shire to win the tournament (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
  • Manny Fernandez brought Terry Funk his Hall of Fame ring from the International Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in Albany, NY. Funk was unable to travel but they did an induction ceremony recently with Mick Foley.
  • Real 1 (Enzo Amore) vs. Jacob Fatu was announced for the 6/23 MLW show at the Melrose Ballroom in New York.