DAILY UPDATE
Latest News:
SmackDown Tag Team title match added to WWE Extreme Rules
WWE Raw ratings up for first episode of Paul Heyman era
WWE reveals lineup for EVOLVE’s 10th Anniversary Celebration
Six-man tag match confirmed for WWE 205 Live
Cain Velasquez’s debut, Fyter Fest rematch set for Triplemania XXVII
MLW announces card for Kings of Colosseum live special
WWE Raw video highlights: AJ Styles turns heel
Drake Maverick wins WWE 24/7 title on Raw
NXT Tag Team Champions The Street Profits debut on WWE Raw
Latest Audio:
Wrestling Weekly: Discussing the big changes in WWE 7/2
WOL: Paul Heyman’s first RAW and tons more! 7/2
Portland Wrestlecast: How Roddy Piper helped Rip Rogers 7/2
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The greatest wrestler you never heard of 7/2
WOR: RAW recap, Paul Heyman update, Yatsu, Max Muscle, more! 7/2
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Heyman, Bischoff named executive directors of WWE TV
It’s rare when professional wrestling news comes out of nowhere in this era, but a bombshell regarding WWE creative broke last week.
WWE announced via Sports Illustrated that Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff are joining the creative team in newly-created positions. Heyman will be the executive director of Raw, while Bischoff will be the executive director of SmackDown. Both will report directly to Vince McMahon.
While describing their roles, WWE stated that Heyman and Bischoff “will oversee the creative development of WWE’s flagship programming and ensure integration across all platforms and lines of business. The creation of these roles further establishes WWE’s ability to continuously reinvent its global brand while providing two distinct creative processes for its flagship shows.”
WON NEWSLETTER: July 1, 2019 Observer Newsletter: Paul Heyman & Eric Bischoff hired as WWE Executive Directors
A look at the WWE’s move to bring in Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff is the lead story in this week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The story talks about what led to the moves, the questions about the moves that aren’t answered, the Heyman-McMahon history, the Bischoff decision, and how Wall Street and AEW fit into this equation.
We also look at the end of the political career of Antonio Inoki, a look at plans for Extreme Rules, business notes on ticket sales for the summer’s biggest events, the business this past week of WWE, the reaction to Seth Rollins vs. Baron Corbin, full coverage of Stomping Grounds with match-by-match rundowns, star ratings and poll results.
We also look at the retirement of Riki Choshu, a look back at his heyday, his awards, his as a headliner and booker and as a creator as well as his retirement mach.
We also look at the July 13 night of wrestling that will be loaded as far as different offerings go, with ESPN+, AXS, WWE Network and B/R Live all offering shows at the same time. We look at how and why this happened.
We also look at changes to WWE television, why the Rollins vs. Bryan match went like it did, and what the internal feeling is about the changes. We also look at the rounds system, 24/7 title news, declines in Raw viewership over the past year in different demos, new WWE signings, WWE injury updates, Noam Dar talks Adrian McCallum, Lio Rush update, WWE canceling shows and why, television industry exec talks wrestling and television landscape and how the mentality of TV has changed, WWE name changes, first Smackdown on FOX news updates and the market value of WWE.
We also look at all the NXT and WWE main roster events over the past week with match results, highlights and other business notes.
We’ve got full coverage of this past week’s UFC show with business notes.
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TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE
by Joseph Currier and Bryan Rose
WWE
SmackDown tonight will be at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. The only thing announced for tonight’s show is a match between Daniel Bryan and Big E.
205 Live will have The Singh Brothers vs. Lucha House Party in a tornado tag team match and a six-man tag match pitting Tony Nese, Oney Lorcan and Jack Gallagher vs. Drew Gulak, Ariya Daivari and Mike Kanellis.
Seth Rollins apologized to Will Ospreay for the tweet Rollins sent last month about comparing bank accounts: “After a few days to sit on it, I’d like to apologize to @WillOspreay for the tweet I sent his way about comparing bank accounts. It was dumb of me & not in line with my values. The moment I pressed the send button I knew it was trash, but I’m too stubborn for my own good. I stand firm in my sentiments that @WWE is the best pro wrestling on the planet and that I’m the best of the best doing it right now. After a helluva week of travel, our crew didn’t waver for a second. Top level humans busting their asses for the love of the game. I couldn’t be more proud to be a champion with this company and represent @WWE and the entire industry in the way it deserves. No more garbage tweets. I can and will be better.”
Roman Reigns spoke to Sports Illustrated about his friendship with Jon Moxley: “I don’t think our working relationship is going to be what it used to be, but I’ll always love that guy, he’ll always be my close friend, and I wish the best for him. We have a brotherhood, so I’m always cheering for him. I’ve shared so many great moments with Ambrose, or Mox. We have love for each other well beyond the wrestling, and it will always be that way.”
Paige told Talksport that she thinks NXT UK is dropping the ball by not having her brothers Zak and Roy as part of the brand.
The Sun also has an interview with Paige.
Today is Bret Hart’s 62nd birthday.
WWE’s YouTube account uploaded Ronda Rousey & Kurt Angle vs. Stephanie McMahon & Triple H from WrestleMania 34.
A Raw event in Glasgow, Scotland on November 11 has been changed from a television taping to a house show.
Kevin Owens appeared on this week’s episode of Chasing Glory with Lilian Garcia.
Braun Strowman talked to 106.7 FAN about the Firefly Funhouse and his athletic ability.
Aleister Black took the Bottle Cap Challenge.
Pro Wrestling
On the post-Fyter Fest episode of Being the Elite, The Young Bucks offered Private Party full-time contracts with AEW after their match against Best Friends and SoCal Uncensored. Matt Jackson tweeted about the decision: “Literally right when Private Party stepped back through the curtain after their match at #FyterFest, Nick & I offered them full time contracts. Star making performances like that deserve to be rewarded.”
The Bouncers (Beer City Bruiser & Brawler Milonas) will challenge for the ROH Tag Team titles at ROH’s Mass Hysteria show in Lowell, Massachusetts on July 21. They’ll face the winners of the Guerrillas of Destiny vs. Briscoes title match from Manhattan Mayhem the previous night. Mass Hysteria will air live on HonorClub, and Rush vs. Dalton Castle has also been announced for the show.
Following an event in New Albany, Indiana that caused an HIV health alert, the New Albany city council is looking into a city ordinance banning extreme wrestling.
WALTER will defend his PROGRESS Unified World Championship against Eddie Kingston at PROGRESS’ show in Newcastle this Saturday.
Chris Van Vliet has an interview with Luchasaurus.
UFC/MMA
Khabib Nurmagomedov is warning Conor McGregor to not pull any tricks ahead of his match against Dustin Porier at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi. Dana White has said that McGregor is planning to come and watch the fights.
The UFC on ESPN 3 main card averaged 1.091 million viewers this past weekend.
Nohelin Hernandez is replacing Sean O’Malley against Marlon Vera at UFC 239 this Saturday.
Episodes one and two of Embedded for UFC 239 are now available.
Mickey Gall has earned a blackbelt in jiu jitsu.
Daily Pro Wrestling History: Kenny Omega becomes first IWGP US Champion
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