DAILY UPDATE
Latest News:
WWE SmackDown again draws lowest ratings for FOX episode
WWE SmackDown video highlights: Vince McMahon appears
Two MITB qualifiers, Corbin vs. Bryan set for WWE SmackDown
Drew McIntyre-Seth Rollins contract signing announced for WWE Raw
Lacey Evans, Baron Corbin qualify for WWE Money in the Bank
UFC notes: Fight Island ready in June, three event week coming
WWE SmackDown live results: Triple H anniversary celebration begins
Latest Audio:
WOL: Triple H is a total winner 4/25
Portland Wrestlecast: Jimmy Snuka’s early career in the Pacific Northwest 4/25
WOR: UFC 249, WWE Q1 earnings call, AEW’s TV taping schedule 4/25
WON NEWSLETTER: April 27, 2020 Observer Newsletter: WWE schedule changes, layoffs, and quarterly financials
We’ve got one of our biggest news issues of the year out this week, a double-issue with a number of bios and history features, updates on all the major promotion moves when it comes to scheduling and WWE business notes.
The issue also covers:
Changes in the WWE schedule, why the company changed plans after just one week, who benefits the most, as well as AEW going back too taping and details of that. We also look at the next AEW PPV show, an employee complaints about WWE continuing, differences between what AEW, UFC and WWE are doing, what firing hurts the WWE perception and thoughts of people sitting it out, a doctor talks about what is needed to do these shows without a health risk and the WWE event schedule for the next few months.
A number of recent new WWE cuts, including some surprises, how the WWE dividend and Vince McMahon’s share fits into these cuts, projections for 2020 profitability if house shows don’t return for the rest of 2020, and why several people got cut.
The most in-depth coverage of WWE business, covering each department of the company, lots of Vince McMahon reaction to the numbers and the future, what McMahon said that is and isn’t true, the story behind the ratings and the story behind increases and declines across the board. Plus we examine the WWE network numbers.
Changes in the business going forward.
Joe Pedicino and pro wrestling, how he got in, his early innovative ideas, how Nigerian scram, his promotion of Global Wrestling, how it fell apart, stars who got breaks there and lie after wrestling.
Oliver Luck’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon, what is it all about and how much the XFL actually lost before it folded.
HHH’s thoughts on two-night WrestleManias going forward, A.J. Styles talks Gallows & Anderson losing their job, Roman Reigns update, Ronda Rousey update, Arn Anderson talks why Cesaro doesn’t get pushed, Canadian wrestling TV ratings, story on a surprise on Raw this past week who was canceled after the show started, update on Drake Maverick, the Smackdown announce team, and the most-watched shows on the WWE Network.
PFL closing down for the year, why what they said publicly was somewhat misleading and why they are still paying fighters, as well as thoughts on shutting down.
A number of new stories on Howard Finkel, both people who helped out and people who bullied him and looking back on those situations.
The first UFC fighter announced COVID-19 positive.
Brawl for All, going behind the scenes, a look at the Dark Side of the Ring coverage, examining the coverage and looking back at the entire scenario.
Look back at the Jimmy Snuka/Nancy Argentino death case, look at Dark Side coverage and add a lot more that wasn’t covered.
A back-of-the-book feature on Dick Steinborn, who was a big star in the 60s and 70s, and his father Milo, one of the strongest men in the world and a wrestling promoter. We look at Milo’s amazing feats of strength, as well as both the positive and negatives of the legacy of Dick in pro wrestling.
Full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.
In-depth looks at the 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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SATURDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
Donald Trump responded to a tweet from Vince McMahon about Triple H’s 25th anniversary with WWE. Trump wrote: “@TripleH is a total winner!”
Chris Jericho posted a video wishing Triple H a happy 25th anniversary.
Ahead of last night’s SmackDown, Triple H spoke to Sports Illustrated about his 25th anniversary: “It’s hard to even put into words, to express that thanks. Everything in my life, everything, is due to Vince, so I’ll never be able to thank him. To anybody I ever stepped in the ring with, or offered a piece of advice backstage, from Kowalski to [Terry] Taylor to Jody Hamilton to ‘Chief’ Jay Strongbow to Jack Lanza to George ‘The Animal’ Steele, the ones that carried it forward for me. To every performer I was ever in there with, the ones backstage, the people making video packages. People talk about my return at Madison Square Garden [in 2002], people like Adam Panucci that put together the video, things just change your career. None of those things happen by accident, and those people are part of my success and I can’t thank them enough. And for every fan that wanted to see me, or was paying to see someone else shut me up, I have thanks for all of it. I get a privilege to do the greatest form of entertainment in the world in WWE. When this is done right, there is nothing like it. It assaults all your senses, it’s the most adrenaline-packed thing. To me, there is nothing else like it. I’m blessed to still be here 25 years later.”
Triple H also responded to a question from Sports Illustrated about last week’s WWE releases: “It’s really tough. I’ve never seen anything like this. These are unprecedented times. You think about what has happened in a very short amount of time to all these sports and businesses across the world, the effects won’t be seen for some time. The next few months are unprecedented, there’s never been anything like it. It’s a really tough spot for everybody, and hard decisions have to be made. They’re uncomfortable, and you can second guess this till the end, but it was a difficult couple of weeks and hard decisions were made. I wish everybody well. I look forward to when this is all behind us and over, and hopefully we can all be back in the same place making magic together again. Hopefully I’ll never see anything like this again.”
WWE Shop released a signature series replica title belt commemorating Triple H’s 25th anniversary.
Taynara Conti uploaded a video to YouTube today discussing her release from WWE. Conti said she fell in love with pro wrestling and wants to learn more by wrestling in other places. She also said she was taking care of some personal and visa stuff and making sure everything was good before coming out with the video.
Sportskeeda interviewed Deonna Purrazzo about her release.
After the angle where he was removed from the main event of last week’s NXT, William Regal posted a storyline update on Finn Balor: “Still looking into the events that transpired before #WWENXT on Wednesday evening. I can confirm that @FinnBalor was attacked and left the premises. He’s received medical attention but is fine. @WWENXT”
Total Bellas averaged 527,000 total viewers and drew a 0.24 rating in the 18-49 demo on Thursday night. That’s up from last week’s 461,000 viewers and 0.22 rating.
WWE’s YouTube channel added the 2016 Royal Rumble match, the Sheamus vs. John Morrison ladder match from TLC 2010, and the Intercontinental title ladder match from WrestleMania 31.
Other Wrestling
The Rock tweeted about this coming Tuesday’s Dark Side of the Ring episode on David Schultz and the incident where Schultz slapped 20/20’s John Stossel: “This man was one of my all time fav heels (bad guys) in pro wrestling and an influence on me when I first shook his hand in Hawaii when I was 12. I’ve seen an early cut of this episode and highly recommend you watch, if you have any squared circle DNA in your blood. #DrD”
The Revival/The Revolt released a T-shirt that has the concept art that WWE reportedly came up with for a planned comedy gimmick for them. The former No Way Jose also has an “I’m Just Here So I Won’t Get Fired” shirt with the picture he posted traveling to Raw the week of his release.
Shop AEW put out their first T-shirt for referee Aubrey Edwards.
ROH’s YouTube channel uploaded CM Punk and Raven’s Clockwork Orange House of Fun match from 2003.
The full release of the TEW 2020 video game has been pushed back an estimated two weeks.
MMA
The UFC is looking to add a heavyweight fight between Ovince Saint Preux and Ben Rothwell to their May 13 show.
Mackenzie Dern vs. Hannah Cifers is planned for the UFC’s show on May 23.
The UFC is targeting Cody Garbrandt vs. Raphael Assuncao for June 6.
Dana White spoke about Dominick Cruz getting a bantamweight title shot against Henry Cejudo at UFC 249: “He’s still one of the best in the world. He’s one of the best in the world. He’s a guy who has been incredibly plagued with injuries throughout his career. But, he’s still looked at as one of the best in the world.”
White said Khabib Nurmagomedov will return in September or October and face the winner of Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje from UFC 249.
Bellator’s Scott Coker discussed the UFC running UFC 249 on May 9: “That’s pretty ambitious. I don’t know what’s their protocol. That’s the one thing I would say: Let’s all be sensible because at the end of the day, if you don’t figure it out and you don’t have all the answers, there could be something bad that happens. And then everybody is backtracking, everybody is going to be in a defensive position, and it’s going to affect everybody. Not just them, but us as well.”
Daily Pro Wrestling History: WWF Backlash 1999
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