DAILY UPDATE
Latest News:
WWE announces Cruiserweight title match for NXT TakeOver 31
WWE Raw ratings up big despite tough competition
Joey Ryan files $15+ million lawsuit against three #SpeakingOut accusers
Jon Moxley vs. Kingston selected opponent set for AEW Dynamite
AXS TV announces ‘Impact Week’ programming for October
Women’s tournament set for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport
NJPW G1 Climax 30 night six results: Naito vs Goto
WWE Raw video highlights: Randy Orton invades the Legends’ Lounge
Harold Meij resigns as NJPW president/CEO
Latest Audio:
FREE TODAY! RAW fallout and news, plus the debut of DENISE SALCEDO to F4W! 9/29
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WON NEWSLETTER: September 28, 2020 Observer Newsletter: Death of Road Warrior Animal
A look at the Road Warriors, the biggest drawing tag team in pro wrestling history, is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. We talk about the birth of the team, the background of Joe Laurinaitis, the early days of Hawk, Animal and Rick Rude in pro wrestling, the role of Ole Anderson and Eddy Sharkey in the story, why the Road Warriors did and didn’t work certain territories, why they rarely worked with Bruiser Brody, why they ended up in AWA, JCP, and how they wound up with WWE. We also look at their departure from WWE, Animal leaving wrestling, and their return.
Also in this issue:
COVID in WWE, AEW and CMLL, changes that were made, why AEW and WWE had a breakout in the same week, how AEW is changing its procedures, the belief of how this all started and much more.
G-1 Climax tournament, with an overview of the first shows, this week’s lineups, standings, poll results, star ratings and more covering all the first week shows.
Sports news that affects WWE’s next television deal as well as shakeups at NBCU that also do. We look at a new WWE marketing idea, Stephanie McMahon’s stock sale, why WWE stock fell, Undertaker talks the end of his documentary, changes at NXT UK, What NXT UK talent were told at meeting this week, NXT UK Heritage Cup tournament, former WWE star talked about returning, more on the Retribution storyline, who is doing the rules and the story behind the finish of the Raw match. We also have international ratings notes, WWE up for awards, new WWE marketing ventures, Roman Reigns talks changes in his presentation, Dwayne Johnson talks, why Kane is in the news again, WWE market value as well as a look at the most-watched shows on the WWE Network.
Saturday’s UFC show and more thoughts on Colby Covington and the line between playing bad guy wrestler and being offensive is.
WWE’s next two major shows with the cards and backgrounds.
Dragon Gate Dangerous Gate show from this past week.
Ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
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TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
While announcing that Santos Escobar will defend his NXT Cruiserweight Championship against Isaiah “Swerve” Scott at TakeOver 31 this Sunday, WWE wrote that we’ll hear from both Escobar and Scott on tomorrow’s episode of NXT.
Escobar, Triple H, Hiram Garcia, and Kyle O’Reilly have been announced as guests for tomorrow morning’s edition of WWE’s The Bump.
During an appearance on Complex’s Load Management podcast, Roman Reigns spoke about potentially facing CM Punk if Punk ever returns to WWE: “All the way from someone as big as The Rock to someone like a CM Punk for instance, you know what I mean? Like someone who really hits home with our home audience, our hardcore fans. If you’ve watched wrestling for the last 10-15 years and it’s in your blood, then you probably have some kind of feelings about that guy. I know I do. Just by doing one of these things, he made my job a lot harder five, ten years ago. If it’s something the fans can get behind and sink their teeth into the product and dive into the creative with us, I’m willing to do it. I don’t like the guy, I don’t know many people that do, but I’m willing to put business first and make really good content if that’s the case. He’d probably have to be slapped around a few times in order to get his mind right. But, if the fans are going to like it, most likely I’m going to do it.”
The final number for last Friday’s SmackDown was 2.110 million viewers, up from the overnight average of 2.032 million viewers.
Tattoo artist Catherine Alexander’s lawsuit against WWE and Take-Two Interactive is headed to trial. Alexander is asserting that WWE and Take-Two committed copyright infringement by featuring tattoos she did for Randy Orton in WWE 2K.
WWE is sending the Tampa Bay Lighting a custom title belt for winning the Stanley Cup. Triple H tweeted: “After 16 years, the #StanleyCup is coming back to the Sunshine state… with THIS @WWE Championship. Congratulations to @RealStamkos91 and the @TBLightning on an amazing postseason run nobody will ever forget. #GoBolts”
WWE has filed trademarks for “Dominik Mysterio” and “Chelsea Green.”
Denise Salcedo interviewed Candice LeRae ahead of her upcoming match against NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai at TakeOver 31.
Today is LeRae’s 35th birthday.
Sami Zayn appeared on this week’s episode of The New Day’s Feel the Power podcast.
Drew McIntyre, Mustafa Ali, Lacey Evans, Zelina Vega, and Xavier Woods will appear on the Americares Airlift Benefit Livestream this Saturday. The one-hour broadcast starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time and will air on americares.org/Airlift2020, Americares’ Facebook page, and Americares’ YouTube channel.
WWE’s YouTube channel uploaded a fatal five-way elimination match (Rey Mysterio vs. AJ Styles vs. Ricochet vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Robert Roode) from the September 23, 2019 episode of Raw, Team PCB vs. Team Bella from Live From Madison Square Garden, and Daniel Bryan vs. John Morrison vs. The Miz in a submissions count anywhere match from Hell in a Cell 2010.
Other Wrestling
In an interview with GameSpot, Kenny Omega gave an update on AEW’s video game: “The status of the video game is that it is currently in development. I can’t say too much more other than I am working very closely creatively with a team. And every few weeks, they have very exciting new things to show us. And I believe that we’re on the right track because I think we have a good team backing us with a lot of very, very good hands that are very capable. And when I can more, I certainly will. And I’m really excited to show the first little bit of footage that we have. So it’s a little ways away. We’re not going to be competing head to head against WWE Battlegrounds anytime soon. But when the game is ready, and when it will release, I think it has a very good chance of standing alone [as] probably the best wrestling product as a video game that you could probably find on the market. That’s the hope anyway.”
Thunder Rosa spoke to Wrestling Inc and was asked if she’d want to be signed to both the NWA and AEW in the future: “Who wouldn’t want to do that? It’s like having two girlfriends,. It would be perfect, but I am living in the moment. I am, right now, in Jacksonville. I just had a match yesterday, a tag match [that] I enjoyed very much. In the future, I know, like I said, Tony’s been very open. He likes my work, and again, I’m here to work. I’m here to elevate my opponents as much as possible and to make it fun and to make people talk about the women’s division not in a negative connotation [but] in a positive way. At the end of the day, we want to be competition to the big dogs because AEW are in the big dog league. Me being here and them allowing me to work and give my little grain of salt to the women’s division, to elevate it, it’s great. I am blessed. I am humbled, and I’m very thankful for this opportunity.”
Kris Statlander posted an update on her recovery from ACL surgery: “Yesterday was 2 months post surgery and today I did squats with a super light weight but still I did squats so hopefully puny leg will be puny no more soon. That is all for today.”
Chris Van Vliet has an interview with Miro.
Eddie Kingston cut a promo about being able to choose Jon Moxley’s opponent for tomorrow’s Dynamite.
Ethan Page spoke to Sports Illustrated about improving his physique: “Someone tweeted me recently and said, Ethan Page finally looks like the way he’s always thought about himself. It made me laugh, but that’s totally true. I’ve always thought of myself as a top-level talent. I’ve always carried myself as a top-level talent. There was one hole in my game, so I made sure to eliminate that. Now I truly believe I’m on another level and one of the best professional wrestlers in the world when it comes to every aspect of the game.”
Page also discussed his contract with Impact Wrestling expiring at the end of this year: “Truthfully, I’ve been getting a lot of flack for posting so many shirtless photos online. I’m trying to change the perception of Ethan Page. I’m looking to convince Impact Wrestling to sign me to a new house. I’m tired of stepping on toys in my living room. My kid needs a playroom in a new house, so I’m trying to change my home life through my professional life. I’m trying to convince the world to stop looking at me as the charismatic, handsome, somewhat pudgy Ethan Page, and start looking at me as model-actor–world-renowned-superstar Ethan Page. Impact has been amazing. They’re allowing me the opportunity to chat with other companies, and they’re handling this in an extremely professional manner. I’m open to chatting with other people, but my interest is hearing how Impact values me and what they’re willing to offer.”
Daily Pro Wrestling History: Anderson & Blanchard win NWA Tag Team titles
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