Daily Update: WWE SmackDown notes, Kyle O’Reilly, TNA TV taping matches

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Some of the highlights in this issue:

  • Thoughts on the Cung Le lawsuit settlement, and meaningful changes in business and what this closes the door on in MMA
  • Why TKO paid $335 million and considered this as a win
  • Why the stock market thought the same
  • UFC & WWE financials
  • Changes in television and Smackdown plans going forward
  • The crazy story of WWE losing more money in this quarter than they made in virtually any year of its existence and multiples of the total losses of AEW since its inception and why there is nothing to worry about
  • How the interest on loans for TKO alone is more than WWE ever made  until the Austin era
  • Complete coverage of WWE Backlash
  • The business numbers both good and bad
  • Notes from the French crowd
  • Next year’s WrestleMania
  • A look at the departures of Gable Steveson and Drew Gulak Ric Flair talks heart attack
  • Saudi Arabia getting more traction in WWE & UFC business
  • New Japan Dontaku coverage
  • UFC 301 coverage
  • Final Dark Side of the Ring episode on Black Saturday looked at
  • Coverage of three other major shows this week
  • Next TripleMania show
  • Arena Mexico heats up
  • Champion Carnival coverage
  • International Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame
  • Ric Flair incident
  • MLW looking at expanding into new markets
  • Wrestler song makes U.K. charts
  • NBA rights and how this affects AEW
  • Chuck Taylor career legit in jeopardy
  • Update on Double or Nothing
  • Advance ticket sales for AEW & WWE upcoming shows
  • Art Jimmerson remembered
  • Canelo Alvarez along with WWE, AEW  and TNA PPV number updates
  • Janel Grant lawsuit update
  • More WWE notes from Ronda Rousey
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers

Saturday Update

WWE

  • It appears that WWE has made a slight adjustment to Tanga Loa’s name. He was identified as “Tonga Loa” on SmackDown last night, and WWE’s website also refers to Loa with that spelling of his name. WWE filed trademarks for both “Tanga Loa” and “Tonga Loa” earlier this month.
  • There was a segment on SmackDown where Solo Sikoa claimed that Roman Reigns has left him in charge of The Bloodline until Reigns comes back.
  • After SmackDown, WWE uploaded a post-show interview with ring announcer Alicia Taylor reacting to her debut. Taylor, who was recently called up from NXT, said last night felt incredible.
  • Paul “Triple H” Levesque tweeted before SmackDown:
    • If you’re part of the #NXTUniverse, you know what an absolute powerhouse @AliciaTaylorNXT is. She was meant to have a @WWE microphone in her hand, and tonight she makes her debut as an official member of the #SmackDown team. 
    • Thrilled to be working together again, rockstar.
  • With “The Iron Claw” being added to the streaming service yesterday, Max was the sponsor of Carmelo Hayes and Baron Corbin’s King of the Ring tournament match on SmackDown. There was branding for Max and “The Iron Claw” on the video screen and in the arena during the match.
  • A new QR code tease for the return of Bo Dallas popped up on SmackDown. The code leads to this video.
  • During an interview on the Battleground Podcast, Jade Cargill reflected on how far she’s come since the pandemic era:
    • It doesn’t seem that far away. I think it’s harder performing in front of your co-workers with the pandemic days. If anything, everybody knows everything, so it’s more nerve-racking for me to perform in front of my co-workers than in front of fans. I love fans. I welcome fans. The European crowd was, wow, it was crazy. If anything went off the rails, they were like, ‘Yay! Yeah!’ It’s crazy. With the Daily’s Place days, I wouldn’t think I would be here right now. I would think I would still be where I was, but I knew I was destined for great things. I know that I am the unicorn of wrestling right now. Would I think I would be in this position? No, but I knew I was destined for great things.
  • Wendy Choo, who had been out of action for nearly a year due to injury, commented after her return aired on NXT Level Up: “This crowd was INCREDIBLE! I was holding back my tears behind that big smile. Truly a moment I will never forget. It feels great to be back!”
  • Carmelo Hayes was a guest on The Ringer Wrestling Show.
  • Hayes, Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill, and Nia Jax were interviewed on The SmackDown LowDown.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • AEW uploaded its Control Center video for tonight’s Collision and Rampage from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
  • In advance of challenging Adam Copeland for the TNT Championship on Collision, Kyle O’Reilly tweeted:
    • The most important and personal match of my career is tonight in my hometown. Heading to the building and it’s not lost on me how special this is—returning to wrestle @RogersArena 25 years after my first live wrestling experience. This is the stuff dreams are made of.
  • The Acclaimed have been announced for Defy Wrestling’s show at Washington Hall in Seattle on Friday, July 19.
  • Dr. David Reiss, Chris Manzione, and Jimanekia Eborn from AEW’s Team Psych were guests on AEW Unrestricted.
  • TNA Wrestling is holding two nights of television tapings in Newport, Kentucky later this month. The following matches have been confirmed:
  • Saturday, May 18 –
    • X-Division title number one contender’s match: Mike Bailey vs. Trent Seven
    • Eddie Edwards vs. Joe Hendry
  • Sunday, May 19 –
    • Matt Hardy & Ryan Nemeth vs. Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers
    • Jordynne Grace vs. Marti Belle
    • Digital Media Champion Laredo Kid defends against AJ Francis
  • The NWA announced the return of the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship. The new champion will be crowned at the NWA’s TV taping in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday June 1.