Daily Update: WWE talent meeting, Ric Flair, AAA

DAILY UPDATE

Latest News

Latest Audio

We’re doing a weekend poll for Money in the Bank, 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.

We’re looking for reports from tonight’s NXT show in Asbury Park, NJ to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

WWE MONEY IN THE BANK FROM THE XL CENTER IN HARTFORD, CT, ON SUNDAY AT 6 P.M. EASTERN ON THE WWE NETWORK

Seth Rollins vs. A.J. Styles for Universal title – On paper, this should be one of WWE’s best main events in a long time. You have two of the company’s best three main roster performers in their first meeting since about 15 years ago on the indie scene. The over-under is ****1/4.  Rollins is at -530 to win, which are strong odds.

Kofi Kingston vs. Kevin Owens for WWE title – The over/under here is ***1/2. Logically it’s too early for Kingston to lose the title. Figures to be a good match.

Men’s Money in the Bank match: Randy Orton, Drew McIntyre, Ricochet Baron Corbin, Sami Zayn, Ali, Finn Balor and Andrade – On paper, this looks fantastic. The over/under on Kambi is **** and Drew McIntyre remains the betting favorite to win.

Women’s Money in the Bank match: Natalya, Dana Broke, Naomi, Nikki Cross, Bayley, Mandy Rose, Ember Moon and Carmella – The over/under is ***1/2 which is pretty high but we’ll see. Bayley has gotten money bet on her today and is now the favorite at +100, ahead of Mandy Rose at +250.

Becky Lynch vs. Lacey Evans for Raw women’s title – This is the biggest match on the show for a specific person, which is Evans. Either she sinks or swims in a high profile match. The over/under is **1/2 and Lynch is a -460 favorite to win the match. 

Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair for Smackdown women’s title – The over/under is ***1/4, which sound low considering how great their Evolution match was. Flair has had late betting to make her the favorite by only slightly at -115. Lynch had been the favorite all week.

Roman Reigns vs. Elias – The over/under here is *** and Reigns it the heavy favorite to win. Shane could get involved here since there was talk of Reigns vs. Elias & Shane handicap matches.

Shane McMahon vs. The Miz cage match – Miz is favored based on the 50/50 rule. The over/under is **1/2. It will probably be either really good or really bad. I don’t see an in between. It just depends on stunts and how they get over.

Samoa Joe vs. Rey Mysterio U.S. title – This match on paper is great but it’s been treated as an afterthought. The over/under is only ***1/4.

Tony Nese vs. Ariya Daivari cruiserweight title – The over/under here is ***, which is much lower than the expectations when Buddy Murphy was the star of the division..

Daniel Bryan & Rowan vs. Usos non-title – The over/under is ***1/4, which seems way low given the talent involved, but preshow matches are usually hurt by lack of crowd caring and time constraints. Non-title means anyone can win and they could have them win a non-title to set up a title program. 

Raw will be Monday night in Albany, NY.

Smackdown and 205 Live will be Tuesday night in Providence, RI. The only match announced is Lucha House Party vs. Singhs.

NEW JAPAN BEST OF THE SUPER JUNIORS WEDNESDAY AT 5:30 A.M. EASTERN AT TOKYO KORAKUEN HALL ON NEW JAPAN WORLD

  • Taiji Ishimori vs. Taka Michinoku
  • Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Robbie Eagles
  • Titan vs. Jonathan Gresham
  • Rocky Romero vs. Yoh
  • Tiger Mask vs. Dragon Lee
  • Bushi vs. Douki
  • Sho vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Bandido vs. Ren Narita
  • Marty Scurll vs. Shingo Takagi
  • Will Ospreay vs. Phantasmo

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Goldberg vs. Undertaker set for WWE’s return to Saudi Arabia

With less than a month until the show, WWE has revealed the name and announced the first three matches for their return to Saudi Arabia.

The third show in WWE’s controversy-filled 10-year deal with the Saudi General Sports Authority will take place at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah on Friday, June 7. It will air live on the WWE Network and is titled “WWE Super ShowDown,” which is the same name the company used for their event in Melbourne, Australia last October.

WON NEWSLETTER: May 20, 2019 Observer Newsletter: AEW announces TV deal with TNT

A look at the new AEW television deal with TNT and other aspects of starting up is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Look at the detail of the two nights being considered and the arguments for each night, international television, streaming, why the price is what it is, and how long talks have been going on for the TNT deal.

Read a lengthy bio on Silver King, a breakdown of what happened in the ring when he passed away and what lessons can be learned by it. Look at the start of his career, and his going to All Japan as a teenager.

Read the updates on the next two WWE PPV shows.

Read a detailed article on Lars Sullivan, from his background, to his fine, to the questions asked, to what got him in trouble, why he was fined now, why he wasn’t before and a lot of the questions regarding all this.

Also look at changes to WWE Network, Vince McMahon talks the move to FOX, WWE gets award nominations, tons of new news on the XFL, what happens to Vince McMahon when the XFL starts, why Percy Watson left the company, and an update on the Mauro Ranallo’s situation.

Have a look at the legend of Tom Magee, the match with Bret Hart and the WWE documentary.

Read complete coverage of UFC 237 with match-by-match coverage and poll results.

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.

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

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.

SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I have a show up right now talking about Ric Flair, Ashley Massaro, AEW’s situation with Pac and last night’s UFC show. We will be back tonight talking Money in the Bank and the rest of today’s news. You can send e-mail questions to tonight’s show to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com.

Ric Flair will be undergoing heart surgery tomorrow morning unless something changes.  

A Young Bucks vs. Pentagon Jr. & Fenix rematch from Double or Nothing will be on AAA’s Verano de Escandalo show (their version of SummerSlam) on 6/16 from Merida. The AAA tag titles will be at stake in the match.  

Bobby Fish was kicked in the head on Friday night in his NXT match in Philadelphia which is why he didn’t wrestle on last night’s show in Belair, MD.

There was a WWE talent meeting earlier today headed by Stephanie McMahon. It was mostly the same rah-rah type speech they do from time-to-time. The only thing notable is that they directly addressed AEW as their competition. They were pushing the WWE brand hard, the same social media and YouTube stats they always talk about with the idea of having 1 billion followers (adding every form of social media for every performer related to the company), and then said that they are having to compete with video games, movies, other streaming services as well as now AEW. In giving this speech, at no time have they ever mentioned a competing wrestling company.

Chris Brookes is not the mystery guy who will debut in New Japan on 6/5 at Sumo Hall and work against Juice Robinson. Brookes was instead announced today as coming to DDT and DDT even did a video as a complete spoof of the New Japan video for the Robinson opponent but listing it as Brookes starting with DDT on 6/15.

WWE

  • The NHL released the Stanley Cup finals schedule. Game one goes head-to-head with the 5/27 Raw and Game four goes against the 6/3 Raw. The NHL rarely hurts Raw like the NBA. The Warriors-Trail Blazers go head-to-head with Raw tomorrow, so they’re going to need a hell of a PPV bump or ratings will be really bad. Smackdown goes against the Bucks-Raptors and Smackdown usually isn’t helped as much by PPV. As noted, it’s likely an all hands on deck Raw tomorrow for that reason, to the point they canceled the Smackdown house show in Lowell for tomorrow.
  • Dasha Fuentes talks being let go by WWE. (thanks to Stephen Lyon)

MISCELLANEOUS

  • PW Insider reported that Scarlett Bordeaux has asked for her release from her Impact contract.
  • Tessa Blanchard debuted last night for AAA.
  • Regarding weekend talk, the biggest thing was last night’s Deontay Wilder title defense on Showtime which was the second most searched for item on Google yesterday with 500,000, behind the Golden State Warriors at 2 million. Arnold Schwarzenegger taking that dropkick got 200,000 searches as did the FA Cup. Yesterday’s UFC show didn’t even have 50,000 to crack the top 20.
  • Melbourne Championship Wrestling from last night in Melbourne: Ritchie Taylor b Kane Khan for the Intercommonwealth title tournament, Lochy Hendricks b Fun Time Phil-DQ in another tournament match, Danny Psycho b DCT, Brat Pack b The Parea to keep the tag title, TD b Jett in the IC tournament, Steph DeLander b Avary, Slex & Seb Costello b Gino Gambino & Sebastian Walker. Tome & Stevie Filip returned after going to New Zealand for the Fale Dojo. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • Top results from last night’s KSW show from Gdansk, Poland:
    Erko Jun (3-0) b Akio Szostak (3-3) via KO in :36. Jun is a Polish celebrity heavyweight
    Norman Parke (27-6-1) b Artur Sowinski (19-11) via straight 30-27 scores at 163 pounds
    Damian Grabowski (22-5) b Karol Bedorf (15-5) via TKO in 3:56 of the second round in a heavyweight fight
    Robero Soldic (16-3) b Krystian Kaszubowski (7-1) with KO in 1:25 to keep the welterweight title
    Scott Askham (17-4) b Michal Materla (27-6) via TKO at 1:23 of the third round to win the vacant middleweight title
  • Travis Banks is working the 7/13 Southern Rumble show for SPW/MCW in Invercargill, New Zealand.
  • Trent Baretta was at last night’s UFC show in Rochester, NY.
  • A story about old Mid Atlantic Wrestling in Fayetteville, NC. (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)

Daily Pro Wrestling History: WCW SuperBrawl 1

F4W Empire Convention Info:

  • Ed in San Antonio presents PODER~! at the FSW arena on Friday 5/24 – Showtime is at noon – Main event: Bryan Alvarez vs. Logan Stunt
  • Empire dinner on Friday 5/24 at 8:30 p.m. at Texas de Brazil – Price is $82 – All you can eat meat and salad, sodas, tea, and coffee, plus dessert included
  • Empire suite party on Friday 5/24 for those who were not able to get the Q&A package – Price is $25

Purchase tickets here. 

CONTACT INFORMATION