DAILY UPDATE
Latest News
PAC vs. Page off Double or Nothing due to creative differences
JoJo & Bray Wyatt welcome birth of Knash Sixx Rotunda
Hangman Page answers PAC open challenge at UK indie show
UFC on ESPN+ 10 live results: Rafael Dos Anjos vs. Kevin Lee
Strowman vs. Lashley added to WWE Super Showdown in Saudi Arabia
PC Combine special, new Untold episode to air on WWE Network
NXT Philadelphia live results: Velveteen Dream vs. Cole vs. Riddle
Matt Riddle vs. Drew Gulak set for EVOLVE 10th anniversary show
NJPW Best of the Super Juniors night five results: Shingo vs. Kanemaru
Impact Wrestling results: Rich Swann vs. Michael Elgin
Latest Audio
Portland Wrestlecast: 1986 with Ricky Santana 5/18
F4D: Lance Storm on Ashley Massaro, AEW TV, Bret vs. Magee, more! 5/17
WOL: Ric Flair health, Ashley Massaro death, AEW, WWE, more! 5/17
B&V&G: Granny, NXT, WWF Superstars of Wrestling from 1992! 5/17
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.
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SATURDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
WWE has announced that Pac McAfee will be hosting another Watch Along on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter during tomorrow’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view. The Usos, Peyton Royce & Billie Kay, Liv Morgan, R-Truth, Cathy Kelley, Eric Bugenhagen, Vanessa Borne, Aliyah, and ESPN’s Field Yates are advertised to appear on the Watch Along.
Cathy Kelley and Mike Rome will host the WWE Now preview show for Money in the Bank on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter at 2 p.m. Eastern time tomorrow. It will include appearances by Becky Lynch, Seth Rollins, and Kofi Kingston.
WWE uploaded the trailer and a bonus clip for the WWE 24 episode on Becky Lynch that’s premiering after Money in the Bank.
The Usos rewatched their match against the Wyatt Family from Money in the Bank 2014.
WWE streamed 10 Money in the Bank ladder matches on YouTube.
WWE stock closed the week at $80.08 per share yesterday, which was down about two percent from Thursday.
Titus O’Neil appeared on this week’s episode of the Edge & Christian podcast.
Pro Wrestling
Chris Jericho posted a video of him training with former MMA fighter Josh Rafferty and working on a new spinning elbow strike to the face finishing move. The move is named “The Judas Effect.”
AEW uploaded a new video hyping Cody vs. Dustin Rhodes at Double or Nothing.
Bleacher Report ran a feature story on AEW yesterday. Nick Jackson told them about how ROH and NJPW could have kept The Young Bucks: “You know what’s sad? New Japan and ROH could have easily come together and offered us the contracts they wanted, but they just didn’t do it. New Japan never saw the value in Matt and I. They never paid us good. We would have had to work with New Japan for another two decades to even get close to retiring, and the style they demand is backbreaking. Ring of Honor paid us a lot better than New Japan. We could have probably retired there, but we would have to work probably another decade with them. We pitched it to both of them: Why don’t you guys get us a dual contract? And they just didn’t get it done. We would have easily stayed, and there would have never been an All Elite Wrestling if they would have met what we wanted, but it didn’t get done.”
While the main event was airing, last night’s episode of Impact on the Pursuit Channel ended 24 minutes early and never returned. The show aired in full on Twitch. Impact apologized to those who weren’t able to watch the Michael Elgin vs. Rich Swann main event on Pursuit due to a technical issue and noted that they’re making this week’s episode available immediately on Impact Plus for users in the United States.
Wednesday’s season one finale of Dark Side of the Ring averaged 200,000 total viewers on Viceland and drew a 0.07 rating in the 18-49 demo. The episode was focused on the Fabulous Moolah. Here are the viewership numbers for season one:
Episode one (Macho Man & Ms. Elizabeth): 154,000
Episode two (Montreal Screwjob): 181,000
Episode three (Bruiser Brody): 214,000
Episode four (Von Erichs): 234,000
Episode five (Gino Hernandez): 225,000
Episode six (Fabulous Moolah): 200,000
Davey Boy Smith Jr. paid tribute to his father on the 17th anniversary of his death: “ Thank you to everyone for the posts and thoughts regarding the 17 year anniversary of my Fathers passing. Although it feels like yesterday, time sure does fly, and not a day goes by where he’s not thought of and missed dearly. Thanks for all the great memories!”
The NWA uploaded Allysin Kay’s Women’s World Championship defense against Marti Belle from last weekend’s ROH tapings.
UFC/MMA
Jon Jones responded to Thiago Santos after Santos said Jones will be remembered as a doper and someone who drives while intoxicated: “I’ve shown my opponent nothing but respect yet today’s headlines are of him talking sh*t. 95% of my opponents insult my personal life before the fight, 100% of them end up losing the fight. Who’s ready for July 6?”
Tyron Woodley addressed the hand injury that’s preventing him from fighting Robbie Lawler next month: “A lot of questions about my hand and me not fighting June 29. I don’t know if they’re going to reschedule me and Robbie for a different date or if they’re going to actually get him a new opponent, but I got to make sure I protect my hand. That’s where I make the money with. I have to be confident throwing my moneymaker, my right hand. I toughed it through the last fight, guys, a lot of (expletive) tape. This time around I’ve got to be honest with myself. The gripping, the grabbing, the posting, the pushing off, the strength, the snapping — all of the above was a little bit more difficult. I’m going to make sure I put myself in position to be successful. At the end of the day, I got to get that belt back. I’ve got to put myself in the best position.”
Sage Northcutt was knocked out in 29 seconds in his ONE FC debut. Northcutt faced Cosmo Alexandre in the fight.
Daily Pro Wrestling History: WCW Slamboree 1997
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.
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