Daily Update: WWE WrestleMania 40 Sunday, CM Punk/Jack Perry

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the highlights in this issue:

  • WrestleMania weekend preview, the matches, the plans for the matches, favorites in every match, where things can go next and how we got there
  • How plans changed throughout the period
  • Dwayne Johnson’s preparation to get into ring shape
  • How Johnson’s return came about
  • Stand & Deliver preview
  • Business notes on all the shows including the insane scalper market setting a new all-time pro wrestling record
  • The lawyers grapple in Janel Grant lawsuit against Vince McMahon.
  • What we’ve learned new and the strategy McMahon’s side is taking
  • AEW cuts and the current realities of AEW business
  • CM Punk’s interview on the Ariel Helwani show in detail and each subject covered
  • The most heated pro wrestling show in decades from last week at Arena Mexico featuring top AAA talent, and how the crowd makeup was different, and exactly what happened at WrestleMania 30 that led to this show taking place
  • The most detailed look at the the ratings from the past week, weekly rankings, competition, segment-by-segment, analysis, how it compares with one year ago
  • Notes from three Stardom PPV shows this past week
  • Preview of two major New Japan events
  • Lots of Mania week shows talked about
  • Main event for RevPro’s biggest show of the year
  • Bloodsport coverage
  • How Kingston vs. Briscoe came about
  • Ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • Streaming numbers and international TV ratings
  • AEW PPV updates
  • McGregor sets record
  • Dana White talks about blowing off a sponsor
  • PFL signs boxing champion
  • Nick Khan talks Vince McMahon, Netflix deal and bringing in Dwayne Johnson
  • Details behind Vince McMahon’s most recent stock sale
  • WWE numbers in quarter one
  • Martha Hart talks Vince McMahon
  • Ronda Rousey and Drew Gulak controversy
  • WWE star likely returning
  • Merchandise sale updates
  • Update on amateur wrestlers in WWE system
  • Notes from all the house shows

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Sunday Update

– Bryan and I will be back tonight talking about day two of Mania, ROH Supercard of Honor, and other stuff.

– On last night’s show, we got into the C.M. Punk footage story and the Jon Jones story. We’ll probably talk more about that tonight. The main thing is probably to wait until Wednesday night to see how it’s done. I lean toward the negative but let’s wait to see how it looks and where it goes. It is likely a storyline leading in some form. What we have seen is that Jack Perry did Young Bucks moves in his match at Sakura Genesis and that Matt Jackson made a reference to “scapegoat,” the name Perry is using, on Dynamite Wednesday. This is right out of the late 90s and under the same circumstance, I’m positive Vince McMahon would have released the footage if he believed what was said wasn’t true. I don’t know that he’d put it on TV, but he would definitely release it in some form. I do know most just want all that stuff put behind them. If it’s just a ratings ploy and isn’t a build to an angle down the line, then maybe they get a good quarter but otherwise, it doesn’t change anything because a one week number doesn’t matter. It’s the long-term pattern.

– Jon Jones on Twitter noted that he was not arrested. He was questioned by police over the incident that took place last Saturday involving things he allegedly said to drug testers, but he said he was not arrested and was in Texas with his daughters at a volleyball tournament.

– This was the match order for tonight’s Mania as of a week ago. Last night’s match order didn’t change, but I can’t guarantee that this one won’t:

1) Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre for the World title

2) Bobby Lashley & Street Profits vs. Karrion Kross & Authors of Pain

3) AJ Styles vs. LA Knight

4) Logan Paul vs. Randy Orton vs Kevin Owens for the US title

5) Iyo Sky vs. Bayley for the WWE women’s title

6) Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes Bloodline rules for the Universal title

The belief is there will be tons of interference in the main event. Lots of stuff speculated but one would at least think Rock would be a major part of the presentation. Last night’s main event was 43:40 and tonight’s match is supposed to go 45 minutes but that time clock is from the start of ring intros until the end of the presentation. Of course that can vary based on a lot of things, such as the way everyone feels because they’ll get to do what they want. Last night was much longer than originally timed because they were going to do largely what they wanted once they were out there to get the story told in the way they wanted.

– Michael Monteforte, Vince McMahon’s personal trainer, noted this being the first Mania that Vince didn’t attend (Stephanie was there for the Hall of Fame and last night, and Shane wasn’t there last night but we don’t know about today). “Vince McMahon was unable to attend his first WrestleMania. How quickly people forget that without his vision, there would be no Wrestling or WrestleMania. Sadly, when a person is down, the people who they say love you, turn their backs on you. ” He also said, “Don’t judge a Man, without getting all the facts. Things aren’t always as they appear..”

– Paul Levesque said that last night broke the all-time single-night gate record, which was $17.3 million at the 2016 WrestleMania at AT&T Stadium. Tonight will do a similar gate, so that would make a two-night total of an amazing $34+ million.

– There was some controversy regarding the press conference last night as many press were not allowed in. Brandon Thurston was, but John Pollock and Mike Johnson were not. The WWE said that they only had limited space.

– We’re looking for your thoughts on these shows:

  • Night one of Mania
  • Night two of Mania
  • NXT Stand & Deliver
  • NJPW Sakura Genesis
  • ROH Stand & Deliver

We’re looking for a thumbs up, thumbs down, or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

– The Iowa-Connecticut Final Four game on Friday was the most-watched basketball game ever on ESPN, including the NBA and men’s college basketball.

– Arya Winter estimated 450 to 600 people in line for Sting for autographs at WrestleCon.

– When the commercial for the Bray Wyatt documentary played, the whole stadium saw people light up the building with lights.

– A lot of people were talking of last night’s UFC main event with Chris Curtis vs. Brendan Allen as the fight of the year. It was a split decision for Allin who also had 77 percent of the media scores for him. Judge Michael Bell gave Allen rounds one and five in the dissenting 48-47 score for Curtis. Derek Cleary had rounds one, four, and five for Allan, and Eric Cohen had one, three, four, and five for Allen. Almost all media scores had it 3-2 in one way or another with round four as the deciding round.

– Al Zinck, the NWA promoter in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia from 1969 to 1977, passed away earlier today at the age of 91. Greg Oliver did a great job in a bio of him.

– The BBC has a story on Jack Morris, a former soccer player who is now a star in Pro Wrestling NOAH (thanks to Stephen Lyon)

– The next Saudi Arabia show was at last word scheduled for 5/25, the day before Double or Nothing, and would have King & Queen of the Ring tournaments.