DAILY UPDATE
Latest News:
UFC 249 live results: Ferguson vs. Gaethje, Cejudo vs. Cruz
Two matches added to WWE Money in the Bank
WWE SmackDown back over two million viewers for final MITB build
Jeremy Borash makes WWE TV debut on 205 Live
Luther vs. Havoc, several returns announced for AEW Dark
WWE SmackDown video highlights: Money in the Bank go-home show
UFC 249’s Jacare Souza tests positive for COVID-19, event still on
WWE SmackDown live results: Final build to Money in the Bank
Latest Audio:
WOL: WWE MITB preview, UFC finances, why the UWF failed 5/9
Portland Wrestlecast: Growing up as Rip Oliver’s son 5/9
WOR: UFC 249, Jacare, Roman Reigns, Ken Shamrock book 5/9
WON NEWSLETTER: May 11, 2020 Observer Newsletter: UFC 249 and WWE MITB previews, more
The return of major shows in the U.S. and how the different companies are dong them is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
We look at UFC’s plans, how the PBR handled their first event which was the first sports event back, what UFC’s plans are for May 23, lineups for the UFC shows, Dana White, doctors and others talk about UFC going back, the shows AEW and WWE is putting on, how the fighters are preparing differently, how UFC is handling backstage, how all three companies are handling testing, plus comments from other promoters.
The new issue also covers:
Click Here: United Kingdom Rugby Jerseys
Preview Money in the bank, AEW Double or Nothing II, and update New Japan’s plans and cancellations. We also look at the AEW PPV scene, Big Japan needing crowd funding and going through all of the WWE released talent and look at their future prospects.
How COVID-19 has affected the ratings of every show, the variations and what lessons can be learned by the ratings drops.
Risks involving Roman Reigns, FOX airing a special head-to-head with UFC PPV, update on how WWE financials look with new information and stock value, Becky Lynch acting, New WWE TV show, WWE injury updates, wrestler who left the promotion apologizes for behavior, U.K. ratings, Matt Riddle talks heat and his meeting with Vince McMahon, Mike Bennett talks leaving WWE, When WWE tried to work with CMLL, Orlando Colon talks leaving and certain naievete, most watched sports on television, Paul Levesque selling stock, Next week’s TV, and most watched shows of the past week on WWE Network.
Supreme, the Southern California indie star who was one of the top stars of XPW, including looking back at his career, his FMW tag title run, and the famous ECW/XPW brawl at a PPV show.
Maryland commission ruling regarding the Kenny Omega match with Jon Moxley in Baltimore.
What happened to Hiroshi Hase.
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
In an interview with ESPN to promote his “The Last Ride” docuseries that premieres after Money in the Bank tomorrow, The Undertaker spoke about being disgusted with his match against Roman Reigns from WrestleMania 33: “That was one of those times it was tough having the cameras there. That was the first time that I watched that match back. I was so disgusted with it that I didn’t want to watch it back.” Undertaker discussed watching the match: “[Watching that match], I’m battling with it. I was so disappointed for Roman. Even after Brock Lesnar beat the streak, for guys coming up to have a match against The Undertaker at WrestleMania — especially where Roman was at — it was important for his career. Especially because he was going over. For me, in that role, I wanted to do the very best that I could do for Roman. I think the world of him. You want to be able to do the best you can for him, and you know you have no business being in the ring. Yes, I could have mailed it in. Protected myself. Only done a couple of things that I knew that I could do. But that’s just not the way I work. And it wouldn’t have been fair to him. So I just tried to do the best I could. The harder I tried, the more I did — at least in my perception — it was not a good night. It was really disappointing. Watching it back finally, and watching it back in front of a film crew, it was like … I didn’t have to say much. You could just tell from the expression on my face that I wasn’t really pleased with it.”
Undertaker spoke to Variety about searching for a great final match: “You have to be honest with yourself. It just may not happen the way you want it to. I think that’s part of the intrigue of this. Do I have the opportunity to have that match? Are my skills still at a level that will allow me to have that match? That’s me being as open and honest as I can be right there. I’ve got some pretty good matches that I have to grade things against. I have to grade on a curve now…Those are things that I have to struggle with. I have to look at things in a very realistic manner in terms of where I’m at with my age and my injuries.”
WWE Network News reported that episode two of Undertaker: The Last Ride, which will be uploaded to the WWE Network on May 17, is titled “Chapter 2: The Redemption.” Here’s the description for the episode: “The Undertaker’s greatest fear is realized as his disappointing performance against Roman Reigns fuels the Dead Man to rebuild and redeem himself in a match against John Cena at WrestleMania 34.”
WWE Network News also wrote that episode one of Undertaker: The Last Ride is 55 minutes long.
WWE paid tribute to music icon Little Richard, who passed away at 87 years old today: “WWE is saddened to learn that Little Richard, The Founding Father of Rock and one of the most influential musicians of all time, passed away today at age 87. With a catalog of classics to his credit, including ‘Good Golly Miss Molly,’ ‘Long Tall Sally’ and ‘Tutti Frutti’ — memorably covered by Hall of Famer ‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund on ‘The Wrestling Album’ — Little Richard made an indelible mark on the WWE Universe with a stirring performance of ‘America the Beautiful’ at WrestleMania X in Madison Square Garden. WWE extends its condolences to Little Richard’s family, friends and fans.”
In Shayna Baszler’s WWE Chronicle episode that premiered today, it’s revealed that Ronda Rousey was backstage for Baszler’s official Raw debut in Ontario, California this February.
Becky Lynch has surpassed Alexa Bliss and is now the wrestler with the most total days as Raw Women’s Champion.
Total Bellas averaged 415,000 viewers on E! on Thursday night, which is the lowest viewership total of the season. It was down from last week’s 600,000 viewers. The rating in the 18-49 demo was a season-low 0.18.
The IIconics will be the guests on Monday’s episode of The New Day’s Feel the Power podcast.
WWE’s YouTube channel uploaded the 2017 Money in the Bank ladder match.
Other Wrestling
Impact Wrestling has announced that they’ll be airing a weekly Impact post-show called After Shock on their social media and digital channels starting on Tuesday. It will feature Don Callis and Jimmy Jacobs and will air on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. Eastern time.
Kenny Omega told Sports Illustrated that the time where he’ll remind people why he’s the best in the world is coming sooner than people think: “When it’s time, which is sooner than people think, I’ll remind people why I’m the best in the world. And it’s coming. It’s not a matter of if it’s going to happen, it’s just a matter of when.”
TVInsider has an interview with Marty Scurll.
Jesse Ventura announced that he isn’t running for president this year. Ventura had previously teased that he was testing the waters and considering running as the Green Party’s candidate.
MMA
Ariel Helwani wrote about the procedures for UFC 249 tonight: “Each fighter will have a designated waiting area at the hotel today. The plan is to have 2 fighters in the cage and two fighters warming up at the arena. Once the fight is over, a new group will leave the hotel to go to the arena. The arena is a mile away from the hotel. Once the fight is over, the 2 fighters who were warming up will then head out to the cage and then the 2 new fighters will warm up. And that system will flow for the entire card to ensure the least amount of people are at the arena. This is much different than usual. Usually, the fighters are at the arena at least 2-3 hours before they compete and they can wait in a VIP area in the back until the card is over. Not the case this time.”
The UFC uploaded the final episode of Embedded for tonight’s PPV.
Uriah Hall, who was supposed to face Jacare Souza tonight, tweeted a message to Souza after it was revealed that Souza had tested positive for COVID-19: “Brother I know it sucks I’m sorry you have to go through this I am beyond devastated for the missed opportunity I wish you nothing but recovery for you and your family.”
Dana White said he takes responsibility for Khabib Nurmagomedov getting stuck in Russia and not being able to fight at UFC 249: “I’m sure you saw today, Khabib posted, ‘Hey, as soon as Ramadan is over, I’m ready to roll.’ There was a lot of questioning Khabib, people were saying ‘Oh he got trapped in Russia’ or whatever; what he said is absolutely true. None of us saw coming what happened and how fast it was rapidly changing and the world was literally changing by the day. We all made some bad decisions that got him stuck in Moscow. It wasn’t just him, we all did. I take responsibility for that too. It happened, and you know what we get out of that? We get Gaethje versus Ferguson, which is gonna be absolutely ridiculous.”
Daniel Cormier met Jake “The Snake” Roberts during his morning workout this morning.
White was asked about Conor McGregor potentially fighting on a closed set PPV: “It’s tough to give up a Conor McGregor gate. It’s tough to do. I talked to him yesterday and he wants to fight. He’s excited about tomorrow too, he was like, ‘This is so awesome. Good luck tomorrow, I hope this goes off well.’ He doesn’t like the idea of fighting without a crowd either, but he wants to fight. So I don’t know, we’ll have to see how this thing plays out. You do a Conor McGregor fight in the right place, you can do an $18 million gate. That’s a big number to give up. Even giving up five million, I mean this [UFC 249 main event] was supposed to be [Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson], sold out in minutes, and was like a five-and-a-half million dollar gate.”
Scott Coker told Fansided that Bellator is planning to return in mid-July: “We’re shooting for a mid-July start date, and that could be flexed one way or the other. We could go early-July or maybe even a week later, but we expect to be fully operational. It will look different. I will tell you; it will probably be in a South state somewhere in a closed environment and we’ll do our shows closed to the public, made for TV. So, we’ll have a nice set design and made for a TV show, more so than a live audience and a TV show.”
Daily Pro Wrestling History: Jerry Lawler wins AWA World title
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