Daily Update: WWE Speed, Carmelo Hayes, new AEW Dynamite match

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered in this huge issue:

  • The life and times of Sika Anoa’i, from moving to San Francisco, being a fan at the Cow Palace watching Peter Maivia, to running through territories, going all over the world, to being one of the most legendary tag team champions in WWF history, along with his role in the most famous modern pro wrestling family today as the father of Roman Reigns and uncle of the Usos, Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu.  We look at the legends, realities and more.
  • A look at WWE’s deal in Indiana and the news behind the scenes on it.
  • We look at the life and career of Jamie Kellner and the death of  WCW, including the last two months of WCW and the strange questions that to this day haven’t been answered.
  • A detailed look at Forbidden Door, the unique match on the undercard, business notes, stories behind the matches and an update on how Double or Nothing ended up doing.
  • A look at the final episode of  Who Killed WCW, why it ultimately was such a major disappointment and a timeline of faulty memories
  • An updated look at WWE coming to Toronto for Money in the Bank and NXT Heatwave, lineups and business.
  • A look at the biggest Fantastica Mania show to date, last week’s show at Arena Mexico
  • A look at the life and career of Taylor Wily, also known as Teila Tuli, the first man to walk the aisle at the first UFC PPV, and the fight that remains etched in history. We look at a life that includes sumo, and being a regular on Hawaii Five-O.
  • The continued drop in homes that air WWE, AEW, and all pro wrestling and MMA programming.
  • The most detailed look at the ratings over the past week, including how wrestling shows did in the weekly standings, how each show did and its placing, comparisons to last year, competition and audience makeup.
  • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Hechicero and why it’s a must-see match.
  • A look at one of the biggest weeks of the year in CMLL
  • Notes on the last TripleMania show of the year
  • Breakup of a legendary Stardom faction
  • G1 qualifying tournament and who will miss G1 for the first time since 2007
  • Former WCW wrestler and Japanese Lucha star about to retire
  • One year celebration of the death of Terry Funk talked about for August
  • Death of Louie Tillet, a well known wrestler and booker
  • Very detailed look at the arrest of 2 Cold Scorpio
  • Nick Bollea sentenced for drunk driving arrest last year
  • MLW hiring new name people for production
  • Tony Khan press conference and keys things he talked about
  • Khan again discusses media rights talks
  • Khan talks Shane McMahon
  • Death of German announcer Gunter Zapf, the voice of WWE for a generation, AEW, Lucha Underground and the NFL with notes from those who worked with him.
  • AEW’s first TV taping outside North America
  • Details on AEW expenses broken down for a PPV as well as the percentage of revenue that the talent makes and how it compares with WWE, UFC and other sports.
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • Advanced ticket sales for WWE & AEW events
  • Update on the Cung Le lawsuit
  • Update on Conor McGregor’s fighting again
  • Why UFC is only running one show and never again at The Sphere and why WWE & AEW are unlikely to ever run it.
  • ONE financial breakdown
  • A look at a number of people leaving WWE for different reasons
  • New head writer for SmackDown
  • Daughter of major WWE star trying to make the Olympic team this year
  • WWE house show reports

This Week’s Wresting Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • Xavier Woods defeated Nathan Frazer on today’s WWE Speed episode to earn a title shot against Andrade. This Friday, Andrade vs. Woods for the WWE Speed Championship will premiere on X/Twitter at noon Eastern time.
  • Woods cut a promo putting over how much winning the WWE Speed Championship would mean to him:
    • You know your boy does not lose in tournaments. I just became the number one contender for the Speed Championship. Some of you might be wondering what that even means. The Speed Championship is another championship that WWE has to offer. You become champion, you make more money. You become champion, that is how you build your legacy.
    • Yes, I am a tag team specialist. Yes, I am a member of the greatest tag team to ever exist in this industry. Yes – but the problem that I’ve had for years, for 11 years – the 11 years since I’ve been on the main roster, to be exact – is that I have been unable to hold a singles championship.
    • So, for me, this is just not a championship to parade around on Twitter, to parade around in the back and show everybody how cool I am. This is a championship that will help me begin to define my legacy. It’s soon about to be the era of Xavier Woods.
  • On The Pivot podcast, Cody Rhodes was asked about the possibility of turning heel in the future:
    • Being a heel in wrestling, it’s very hard to be a heel today. What is a heel? If a heel is trying to actively take something away that you like, You’ll hear people in wrestling say there is a wrong type of heat. There is truly no such thing as the wrong type of heat, as long as you can manage it. As long as you can take it. Today, people get canceled for everything. Every hour, somebody is getting canceled and uncanceled. A heel’s job is to get canceled. A heel’s job is to not be cool and not sell merch. In wrestling, the term has gotten more identified with The Rock types that aren’t really heels. He’s just The Rock. He’s in a Disney movie. He’s beloved. Watching him is a prime example. You have to really go to lengths to upset people and do something. In this case, he upset them greatly because he was taking away a spot. He was smart enough to know, ‘That’s a good spot to be in.’ Most people are uncomfortable in that spot. Most people don’t want to explore being hated. John Bradshaw Layfield, you couldn’t sell his merch, even in his hometown. If there were JBL shirts, he would go up to the stands personally and make sure they were not there. He was meant to be hated. He wanted you cheering for John (Cena) and Eddie Guerrero. That is a hard ask. There is beauty if you can commit to being a bad guy. It’s a unique space creatively. You have to be really vulnerable, open, and open and blood-hungry in terms of how you are on the microphone. There is a growing sect of fans that want to see that happen for me at some point. If you’re really wishing for that, it’s scorched earth. Then you might be, ‘We don’t like that.’ You have to really go scorched earth, and in 2024, that is hard for anyone to understand. You’re not meant to be cool. You’re not meant to be the next Rock. You’re meant to be a bad guy.
  • In an interview with CBS Sports, Carmelo Hayes said he’s embracing all the opportunities he’s gotten on the main roster so soon after being called up from NXT:
    • I’d be lying if I said it felt new because I feel like they did the same thing when I got to NXT. They immediately put me up against Kushida for the cruiserweight championship, put me against Adam Cole, and put me in the Breakout Tournament.
    • I’ve been put in these high-pressure and sink-or-swim situations for as long as I can remember. I’ve proven every time that I’m a swimmer and I’m worth the opportunities.
  • Boxer Amanda Serrano told Sports Illustrated that she wants to compete in a WWE ring in the future:
    • I’ve always wanted to step into WWE. My nephew’s dream is to become a WWE wrestler, and he’s the one who really got me into this.
    • Testing myself in WWE, that’s something I really want to do. I have so much respect for all the pro wrestlers, especially the women on their roster.
  • Chelsea Green was a guest on Wrestling With Freddie.
  • The Masked Man Show has an interview with Bron Breakker.
  • The Toronto Sun interviewed Sami Zayn.
  • Kevin Owens & Cathy Kelley hosted episode three of The OK Show.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • A trios match with Samoa Joe, Katsuyori Shibata & Hook facing Brian Cage & The Gates of Agony has been added to tonight’s Dynamite.
  • Tony Khan also announced that Dynamite will have an overrun tonight.
  • Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson spoke to Sports Illustrated about the passion Khan has for AEW: “Tony is very passionate about AEW. We saw that passion during the draft, and the blows in the ring he’s willing to take.”
  • Pederson discussed working with Khan on the Jaguars: “Tony and I work closely together, and he does a lot of the analytical stuff. I’ve learned a lot from him. He’s very passionate about the Jaguars, and he’s a very good resource for our team. I know he’s excited about AEW, but he’s also very excited about Jacksonville, the direction we’re going, and putting us on a winning path.”
  • Willow Nightingale made an appearance on WGN News in Chicago to promote tonight’s Dynamite.
  • After winning the ROH TV title from Kyle Fletcher, CMLL wrestler Atlantis Jr. is now featured on the poster for ROH Death Before Dishonor. The pay-per-view is taking place from Arlington, Texas on Friday, July 26.
  • A Proving Ground match with Wheeler Yuta facing Lee Moriarty will air on ROH television this Thursday night. If Moriarty wins, he earns a future shot at Yuta’s ROH Pure Championship.
  • ROH Tag Team Champions Matt Taven & Mike Bennett vs. Metalik & Komander in a Proving Ground match is also set for Thursday’s ROH TV episode. Plus, we’ll hear from Athena & Billie Starkz.
  • MLW announced that Janai Kai will defend her Women’s Featherweight Championship against Gigi Rey at their Blood & Thunder event in St. Petersburg, Florida on Friday, July 12.
  • Violence X Suffering Wrestling promoter Isaac Rodriguez posted a thread on social media alleging that he’s been given “runaround after runaround” while waiting on being paid by Triller TV (the former Fite TV)
    • It’s been MONTHS since our last show & the promotions who make your platform thrive are still waiting on payments. We’re constantly given runaround after runaround w/ zero support team & they dont realize some people depend on iPPV revenue to continue. This is not okay, @FiteTV
    • And it’s not just VxS. I’ve confirmed w/ multiple promoters about not receiving any form of payout since January. This is why companies are moving away to build their own platforms. I feel insulted as a long time creator, user, & hope all creators are eventually taken cared of.