Daily Update: WWE stock and TV rights, Ronda Rousey, BOSJ

THE ROUND-UP

THE LATEST NEWS

THE LATEST AUDIO

IMPACT TONIGHT AT 8 P.M. ON POP TV

  • Austin Aries & Matt Sydal vs. Pentagon Jr. & El Hijo del Fantasma
  • Kiera Hogan vs. Tessa Blanchard
  • Eli Drake & Scott Steiner vs. Andrew Everett & DJZ for the tag team titles

NEW JAPAN BEST OF THE SUPER JUNIORS TOURNAMENT STARTS FRIDAY MORNING AT 5:30 A.M. EASTERN ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • Kushida & Shota Umino vs. Chris Sabin & Ren Narita
  • Yoshi-Hashi & Sho vs. Dragon Lee & Tomoyuki Oka
  • Minoru Suzuki & Desperado vs. Ryusuke Taguchi & Toa Henare
  • Evil & Hiromu Takahashi vs. Chase Owens & Marty Scurll
  • Tiger Mask vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • ACH vs. Flip Gordon
  • Yoh vs. Bushi
  • Will Ospreay vs. Taiji Ishimori

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: All In sells out within 30 minutes

For all of the hype and expectations ahead of tickets going on sale, Sunday was going to be when the unknown became known for Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks. And with tickets for their Labor Day weekend All In show selling out in 29 minutes and 36 seconds, the Bullet Club’s success could be a landmark moment for professional wrestling. What began as Cody taking a Dave Meltzer tweet as a bet, where Meltzer responded to someone last May and tweeted that he didn’t think ROH could sell out a 10,000-plus seat building anytime soon, has now become the first show in the United States to do so in almost 20 years.

WON NEWSLETTER: May 21, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: USA potentially paying big money for Raw, more

A look at how the new WWE television contract situation will change the game once again is the lead story in the new issue of the Observer. Look at why the stock price is up, what analysts thought WWE would get with its deal, what kind of level we’re talking about now, interest level, where Smackdown may end up, the value of an episode of Raw and how that relates to PPV and where the key events should take place, and the long-term value of both UFC and WWE.

This issue also has a big feature on the All In show and weekend, with notes on the business, what questions were answered and what weren’t, who is on the show, ticket breakdown, secondary market numbers, how it compares with big WWE shows, as well as the largest crowds other non-WWE companies have done and other groups in the last 32 years to have drawn 10,000 for a live show. Also look at how unique this really is and the business of the Starrcast event.

Look at the new President of New Japan, Harold Meij, what his hiring means, what he brings to the table, one of his ideas that has already been used, just how much of a success he was in the toy business and his goals for New Japan’s future.

Also, look at NXT business numbers for the first three months of the year and compare it with last year at the same time.

There is an update on Money in the Bank, matches announced, other directions and look at the Ronda Rousey vs. Nia Jax direction.

Read about the lawsuit against C.M. Punk that is coming to the wire, thoughts on the John Cena/Nikki Bella storyline, NXT Takeover Chicago news, WWE wrestler media appearances, a list of new WWE signees from the U.K. and details of the contracts.

This issue has more on Amy “Lita” Dumas breaking ranks on Greatest Royal rumble, update on movies with big WWE names, a unique world class athlete WWE has just signed, why Cass is in trouble, who hasn’t won in 2018, and new matches and new injury updates.

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 Meltzer, or by using PayPal directing funds to Dave@WrestlingObserver.com. 

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If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can choose one free classic issue or two free classic issues with a 40-issue subscription.

THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE

We’ve got a new interview done today with Cody talking All In on the site right now.

Variety said that the leading candidates for landing Smackdown are Fox, Facebook and Amazon. WWE stock had a giant day off yesterday’s news of how high bidding for Raw had gotten, closing at $50.31 per share, its all-time record.

WWE shows today were pretty much the same as yesterday. Ronda Rousey worked another six-woman tag match rather than the advertised singles match. The reports we’ve gotten on her were positive but they aren’t trying to rush her into doing too much on these shows. Then again, the booking for Money in the Bank tells a different story.

Tomorrow morning’s first day of the New Japan Best of the Super Juniors tournament will air free on New Japan World.

The press conference held earlier today is also free. Marty Scurll had a travel issue getting to Tokyo but managed to arrive in time. He had joked that if he couldn’t make it, just put up a cardboard cutout of himself and play a tape of him calling everyone “numptees.” He cut a promo on Will Ospreay among others.

Brian Stann was announced today as a new hire by he PFL to lead the company’s Fighter and Competition Rules Committee. One of their mottos is “Fighters First,” and Stann is supposed to be there to be part of that vision. The PFL’s first major show on NBC Sports Network is 6/7 from the Hulu Theater in Madison Square Garden.

HBO announced that the new season of “Ballers” starring Dwayne Johnson would debut on 6/12 in the 10 p.m. Eastern time slot.

WWE

  • The WWE Network has uploaded the 1983 collection of Mid South Wrestling television. That’s some good stuff. It was maybe the best TV show of 1983. 
  • Former WWE head of security Jimmy Noonan has started a podcast.
  • More on the John Cena/Nikki Bella storyline.

UFC

  • Tickets for the 7/14 show in Boise, ID headlined by Junior Dos Santos vs. Blagoy Ivanov and James Vick vs. Paul Felder go on sale tomorrow, priced from $162 down to $67.
  • The World MMA Awards will take place on 7/3 in Las Vegas at the Pearl at the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas. 

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Evolve is running iPPVs on Saturday night from Summit, IL and Sunday from Livonia, MI. They also announced Darby Allin vs. Walter on 6/23 in Queens, NY and Allin vs. Jarek 1:20 on 6/24 in Melrose, MA. 
  • Jake Hager vs. Tom Lawlor for the MLW title and Brody King vs. Shane Strickland has been announced for the 6/7 MLW Fusion TV tapings in Orlando at Gilt Nightclub.
  • MLW TV tomorrow night at 8 p.m. on Bein Sports features Team TBD vs. Dirty Blondes managed by Col. Robert Parker, Trey Miguel vs. Kotto Brazil and Pentagon Jr. vs. Rey Fenix. The show also replays at 11 p.m.
  • AAW on 5/25 in Chicago at the Logan Square Arena with Jessicka Havok vs. Kimber Lee for the women’s title, Darby Allin vs. Brody King, Penta 0M & Rey Fenix vs. AR Fox & Myron Reed, Eddie Kingston vs. Fred Yehi, Sami Callihan & Jake & Dave Crist vs. Shane Strickland & Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz plus Besties in the World, Zema Ion, Juice Robinson, Jake Something and Colt Cabana.
  • Jay Lethal pulled out of the AWF tour in Australia this week due to his concussion. He was supposed to face Ryback earlier today. There were said to be less than 100 fans at the show which included Christopher Daniels, Ryback and Cima, as well as Lethal being advertised. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • Unholy Warfare on 6/30 in Reidsville, NC at the National Guard Armory with Josh Crane vs Colt 45 in an ultraviolent boards death match.
  • MCW Spring Fever on Saturday night in Hampstead, MD at the North Carroll High School with Adam Rose and Rosa Mendes.
  • Rise on 6/29 in South Gate, CA has Delilah Doom defending her title against Shotzi Blackheart, Mia Yim vs. Andrew Everett, Madison Eagles & Nicole Matthews vs Kylie Rae & Miranda Alize and Dust & Raven Ash vs. Taya Valkyrie & Rachael Ellering.
  • Metro Pro Wrestling on Saturday night in Southgate, MI.
  • Ground Zero announced a partnership with FITE airing its events on their iPPV service.
  • Rey Fenix is off the Saturday CWA show in Hot Springs, AR. The promotion tried to contact him for three weeks and couldn’t get in touch with him. From what we understand, he will be working in Mexico that night. D-Lo Brown has been added to the show as a replacement on a show that includes appearances by Ric Flair, Jerry Lawler, J.J. Dillon, Bill Dundee and Matt Riviera.
  • Lions Pride Sports on Saturday night in Navasota, TX with Mike Dell vs. Danny Ramos with Shane Douglas as referee, plus Billy Gunn vs. Johnny Swole in a hair vs. hair match and Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs Big Daddy Yum Yum & Nobe Bryant, plus MVP Gangrel, Crimson, Jax Dane and Rikishi (not wrestling but appearing).
  • Soap Opera digest has a story on Jessie Godderz in the newest issue.
  • Tomorrow night’s Combate Americas show will air live at 11 p.m. Eastern on Univision Deportes from Auditorio Municipal in Tijuana headlined by Marco Antonio Elpidio of Mexico City (7-2-1) vs. Anders Quintana (13-2) as part of a Mexico vs. The World themed show.
  • Former UFC star George Sotiropolous is opening the Omega Jiu Jitsu and MMA Academy at 6 Down St., Collingwood, Victoria, Australia. 
  • Young Bucks, Adam Page, Cody & Brandi Rhodes and Marty Scurll will be appearing on 8/25 at the Boardwalk Beatdown event in Atlantic City at the Claridge Hotel. Previously announced for that event are Sting, Bill Goldberg, Ken Shamrock, Taryn Terrell, Brooke Adams, Shane Douglas, Gillberg, Brian Cage, Melissa Santos, James Ellsworth, Matt Tremont, Su Yung and Diamante.
  • Cross Body Pro Wrestling Academy on 6/2 in Kitchener, ONT at 69 Agnes St. with Psycho Mike vs. Josh Alexander as the main event.
  • Battlarts Pro Wrestling on 6/9 at the Don Kolov Arena in Mississauga, ONT.
  • Destiny Wrestling on 7/15 in Vaughan ONT at Pizza Fest on Commerce St.
  • Walter will headline a Smash vs. CZW show on 7/15 in Toronto at the Phoenix Concert Theater. Also on the show is MJF and Matt Cross.
  • House of Hardcore runs tomorrow night in Hanover, MA at the Starland Sportsplex with Sami Callihan vs. Eddie Edwards in a Boston street fight plus Willie Mack, Joey Mercury, Tommy Dreamer, Bull James, Alex Reynolds, MJF, The Squad and Brian Cage. They also run the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia on Saturday with Dreamer, Eli Drake, Moose, LAX, OVE, Joey Mercury Callihan, Edwards, Mack, and Cage.
  • Jeff Cobb debuts for New Horizons Pro Wrestling in Australia on 5/25 against Jarrad Slate and King Shahil and also works for the promotion on 5/26.
  • World Series Wrestling announced Abyss vs. Jimmy Havoc vs. Robbie Eagles plus Marty Scurll vs. Slex for 6/23 in Melbourne, Scurll vs. Brian Cage for 6/24 in Adelaide and John Hennigan vs. Austin Aries on 6/25 in Sydney for the WSW title.
  • Underworld Wrestling is doing a 6/15 taping in Melbourne for Amazon Prime Video.
  • Innovate Wrestling on 5/26 in Kingsport, TN at the Civic Auditorium.
  • Blackheart Wrestling on 8/24 has announced Johnny Blackheart (John Hennigan) vs. Brody King vs. Jimmy Havoc as its main event.
  • H20 Wrestling on 6/8 in Williamstown, NJ at 1041 Glassboro Rd. Building C.
  • Tommy Dreamer spoke to The Wrestling Estate ahead of House of Hardcore 43 this Saturday in Philly, explaining his relationship with Impact Wrestling and why they’re working together. 
  • Some crazy Roller Derby bumps that historian Curtis Minato sent. Another bump here, and here.
  • Bas Rutten talks his favorite moments on AXS Fights.
  • A Sammy Guevara interview is up.

Daily Professional Wrestling History: Bruno Sammartino wins WWWF title from Buddy Rogers

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