Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.
Going against the Lakers-Nuggets game that did 8.21 million viewers, Raw was down in total viewers (to its lowest number since the end of football season), but was still healthy with the younger demos.
Raw was in a more familiar pattern with the first hour being the highest and a normal drop through the show, unlike the past few weeks where often the second hour has done significantly better than the first.
Raw averaged 1.64 million viewers with a 0.54 rating in 18-49 and a 0.40 rating in 18-34.
Raw was fifth on cable behind the NBA game and shows before and after the game on ESPN.
Raw beat the Carolina vs. Florida NHL playoff gave that did 1.54 million viewers and a 0.48 for the fifth spot.
Raw was fourth in women 18-49, fifth in men 18-49, fifth in people 18-34, fourth in women 12-34, and fifth in men 12-34. In each case the only thing beating it was ESPN coverage of the NBA and SportsCenter immediately after the game. Raw was 10th in total viewers behind three shows on ESPN and six news shows.
Raw was down five percent in viewers from last week, down seven percent in 18-49, and down two percent in 18-34.
From one year ago, it was down five percent, the first time in a long time the viewer number for Raw was lower than the same week one year ago. However, to show the change in the audience to much younger viewers, even though total audience was down, 18-49 was up 31 percent from one year ago and 18-34 was up 38 percent. And factoring in homes lost to USA Network, the real percentage changes were viewers basically even, 18-49 up 39 percent, and 18-34 up 46 percent.
So the key takeaway is that the year-to-year gains in the key demo, even with similar total viewers, are outstanding.
First-to-third hour changes saw women 18-49 down 15 percent, men 18-49 down four percent, women 12-34 down 19 percent, men 12-34 stayed even, and people over 50 dropped 15 percent.
A history of every Graham main event in Madison Square Garden
How the entire history of wrestling changes if there was no Billy Graham
Graham’s decades of health issues
Graham suing WWF
Graham losing the title and depression and why
Graham in football, boxing, bodybuilding, track, world’s strongest man competitions and more
The last week of Graham as WWWF champion
When Billy Graham was reported as dying 32 years ago in two major newspapers
His start of his career and first time he met Dr. Jerry Graham
His big break in the AWA when he became a big drawing card and his interviews
His changing the way top stars were paid in WWWF
His last run in WWF
His life after wrestling
Everything said and not said about AEW Collision
How CM Punk fits into the picture
Why Punk really was such an important character right now for AEW if things would have worked out
Thoughts on Collision and its time slot
How AEW’s fan base consumption has changed over the last year
The blow-by-blow story of how WWE and Endeavor made their merger, including other offers, how much the offers were, and how much Vince McMahon made through the different negotiations
Just how much money Endeavor gave up to keep Vince McMahon
UFC business notes
Francis Ngannou signs with PFL, his deal, his negotiations and different potential opponents
Update on the WWE brand split
Update on WWE Night of Champions
Update on AEW Double or Nothing
New Japan Best of the Super Juniors coverage
This week’s UFC show rundown
The most detailed look at the TV ratings of wrestling over the past week
What wrestler is getting a pickle ball court named after him
Build for what looks to be the biggest match of the year in Mexico
More on a major network negotiations for a new wrestling show and why the deal fell through
Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
Monday Update
Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw and the latest wrestling news. You can send questions for the show to [email protected]
Just to confirm since most know it but Mercedes Mone was supposed to win the New Japan Strong title last night in the match with Willow Nightingale. She called an audible when she was injured. There is no confirmation on the injury other than we’ve heard it was a foot or ankle injury.
Mone has said that she is a free agent and can go anywhere she wants. Obviously she became the one name that can build up excitement for Collision and with her now injured, at least for the short-term it would appear that she is out of the picture.
Katee Sackhoff and Emily Swallow from The Mandalorian series were at the show last night in Long Beach. Sackhoff had had many scenes with Mone.
There’s also no update on where the first episode of Collision will take place. The only thing we know is that as of two days ago it was still up in the air and we’ve heard nothing else but obviously they want to keep it quiet for Wednesday even if/when a decision was made. Tony Khan promised to reveal the location, which is expected to be either the United Center or Daily’s Place, on Wednesday’s show.
There is also still nothing on Collision in either Canada or the U.K.
Raw tonight is from Hershey, PA which is sold out with about 8,900. This show has been sold out for a long time. Imperium faces Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn and a mystery partner, plus a contract signing for Becky Lynch vs. Trish Stratus on Saturday in Saudi Arabia and Candice LeRae vs. Zoey Stark. Cody Rhodes and Brock Lesnar are also scheduled for a confrontation.
We’re looking for reports from this show with Main Event matches and anything else not on the live show to [email protected]
We’re also doing a poll on yesterday’s New Japan Resurgence show, thumbs up, down or middle, best and worst match to [email protected]
After the show tonight, most of the WWE crew is flying to Saudi Arabia for Saturday’s show. Expect a lot of publicity all week leading to the show.
The Lakers-Nuggets go head-to-head starting at 8:30 p.m. tonight. if Denver wins, the serious is over. If the Lakers win, then game five goes against AEW on Wednesday. The Celtics-Heat go against NXT on Friday. If the Lakers win tonight and Wednesday, gave six would go against Smackdown.
There is also Florida vs. Carolina in the NHL playoffs tonight and Wednesday against Dynamite. So that’s not good news for either show. If Florida sweeps, Rampage would be on Friday at 10 p.m. for the first time in its regular time slot. But we won’t know that until Wednesday night.
Right now Rampage for this weekend is scheduled for late Saturday night at midnight with the Countdown to Double or Nothing at 1 a.m. There is confusion as this is not late Friday night but late Saturday night.
Fast X, which features John Cena as the brother of Vin Diesel’s character in his second Fast & Furious movie, opened to $67 million at the weekend box office and $381.5 million worldwide.
Best of the Super Juniors at 5 a.m. Eastern from Osaka is the last night of A block:
Hiromu Takahashi (6-2) vs. Titan (5-3)
Lio Rush (6-2) vs,. Mike Bailey (6-2)
Douki (3-5) vs. Sho (3-5)
Ryusuke Taguchi (0-8) vs. Kushida (2-6)
The top two advance so Takahashi makes the final four with a win and the Rush-Bailey winner does as well. Titan is still alive for second place if he wins.
With the Peacock Documentary on Ric Flair nominated for a sports Emmy award, believe it or not, Flair will be at the awards show tonight.
As far as Google trends last week went, the UFC show on Saturday failed to crack the top 20. The only things from wrestling or MMA was Superstar Billy Graham was the No. 7 most searched topic on the Internet on Wednesday and Francis Ngannou was no. 19 on Tuesday, stemming from his signing with the PFL.
Dark Side of the Ring returns at 10 p.m. on 5/30, a week from tomorrow, with an episode of Chris Candido and Tammy Sytch. The 6/7 episode will be on Magnum T.A. and the 6/14 episode will be on Eddie & Mike Graham and the family’s history of suicide deaths.
Following a private viewing, a public funeral for Wayne Coleman/Superstar Billy Graham will take place at Noon local time on Thursday June 1st at the Full Life Church, 532 West Ray Road in Chandler, AZ, It will also be streamed.
I was told the family is hoping any fans in the area can come and it is open to the public.
Richard Holliday will be wrestling his first match after being cleared from cancer on 6/10 in Woodbridge, CT for the PAPW promotion, which is run by Paul Roma and Mario Mancini.
The St. Louis Cardinals have WWE Night on 8/17 in a game with the Mets.
Other Notes
Impact has a press conference on Thursday for it s Under Siege show that takes place on Friday night in London, ONT. The press conference will be at 3 p.m. Eastern at the London Brewer co-op at 521 Bourbrook Place. Brian Myers, Santino Marella, John Skyler and Jason Hotch are scheduled to appear.
Eve tapes three episodes of its YouTube show Thursday Night Riot at the Yard Theater in Hackney Wick, London on Thursday. They also announced a show called No Money in the Bank on 7/2, the day after Money in the Bank, a 2 p.m. show at the Tufnell Park Dome in London with Miyu Yamashita, Billie Starkz and Millie McKenzie.
Laredo Kid will be working for Canadian Wrestling Elite on shows on 7/4 in Bradford, ONT, 7/5 in Sudbury, ONT, 7/6 in Elliot Lake, ON, 7/7 in Sault St Marie, ONT and 7/8 in Thunder Bay, ONT.
GCW from Saturday night in Detroit: Joey Janela b Karam, Breyer Wellington b Charles Mason-DQ, Jordan Oliver & Nick Wayne won three-way over Ciclope & Miedo Extremo and Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley, Mance Warner b Tommy Vendetta, John Wayne Murdoch b Crazy King, Cole Radrick won over Alec Price, August Matthews & Caleb Konley & Davey Bang, Blake Christian b Effy, Masha Slamovich b Allysin Kay, LuFisto and Maki Itoh to keep the GCW title, Rina Yamashita b Jimmy Lloyd to keep the Ultra Violent title (thanks to Leonard Brand)
UWC on 5/27 in New Egypt, NJ at the American Legion. Those dressed in red, white and blue can get a chance to win free tickets to upcoming events.
Pro Wrestling Phoenix has its 18th anniversary show on Wednesday night at the Waiting Room Lounge in Omaha.
Tito Santana will be the guest referee on an ISPW show on Saturday in Woodland Park, NJ for a match with Bull James vs Rick Recon. Also appearing as guest GM is Swoggle plus Snitsky vs. Afa Jr., and Maven and Dave LaGreca will both manage in the main event match.
What does Thema Gorimbo, a UFC fighter who scored his first win on Saturday have in common with a young Dwayne Johnson? Gorimbo after his fight at the press conference noted that he’s got $7 left in his bank account.
We have some updates from all the injuries over the past week plus since what was discussed on last night’s Wrestling Observer Radio.
– There is nothing confirmed on Mercedes Mone past it was either an ankle or a foot injury.
– Mark Davis of Aussie Open had arthroscopic surgery on his knee to repair a torn meniscus. Aussie Open vacated both the New Japan Strong and IWGP Tag Team titles because they would be unable to make their already advertised defense at the June 4 Dominion show in Osaka.
Both titles will be up for grabs at Dominion in a match with EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi vs. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI. Both teams were to face Aussie Open in a three-way for the IWGP Tag Team only. Because there was no timetable for Davis to return, they vacated the Strong titles as well.
But those close to Davis have said he’ll be back very soon, citing six weeks or perhaps even shorter.
– Dakota Kai’s injury was confirmed as a torn ACL. The injury took place in the same match on May 12 that Liv Morgan was injured in with Raquel Rodriguez & Morgan vs. Kai & Bayley for the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles. The word was that she was injured after Morgan suffered her shoulder injury and the knee injury came in a spot where she knew Morgan was hurt and was trying to protect her.
KaI is scheduled for surgery tomorrow.
– Will Ospreay appeared in great pain last night from his right shoulder after his win over Hiroshi Tanahashi in Long Beach, California. He had just returned from an injury to the A/C joint suffered in a match with Davis in the New Japan Cup.
We’ve heard nothing regarding being out of action, only that he was in pain and his actions at the end of the match weren’t selling but were legitimate.
On paper, the 22nd WWE WrestleMania did not appear to be a show worthy of the name, but due to the effort of those in the ring, the show greatly exceeded most expectations, even from people expecting the modern day WrestleMania effort and a good show.
I’m not sure exactly when to trace the change, but at some point in the late 90s, WrestleMania went from being everyone’s best payoff of the year and really, in many people’s eyes, only a little more, to the Super Bowl it was always billed as for the participants. The change was probably a slow deal where the generation who grew up watching WrestleMania on PPV became wrestlers, and all wanted to live up to their memories of things like Ricky Steamboat’s match with Randy Savage in 1987.
While many of the moments in early WrestleManias, due to the great hype job, have become probably the biggest parts of history to the general public, you really don’t find all that many great matches in first generation WrestleManias.
A history of every Graham main event in Madison Square Garden
How the entire history of wrestling changes if there was no Billy Graham
Graham’s decades of health issues
Graham suing WWF
Graham losing the title and depression and why
Graham in football, boxing, bodybuilding, track, world’s strongest man competitions and more
The last week of Graham as WWWF champion
When Billy Graham was reported as dying 32 years ago in two major newspapers
His start of his career and first time he met Dr. Jerry Graham
His big break in the AWA when he became a big drawing card and his interviews
His changing the way top stars were paid in WWWF
His last run in WWF
His life after wrestling
Everything said and not said about AEW Collision
How CM Punk fits into the picture
Why Punk really was such an important character right now for AEW if things would have worked out
Thoughts on Collision and its time slot
How AEW’s fan base consumption has changed over the last year
The blow-by-blow story of how WWE and Endeavor made their merger, including other offers, how much the offers were, and how much Vince McMahon made through the different negotiations
Just how much money Endeavor gave up to keep Vince McMahon
UFC business notes
Francis Ngannou signs with PFL, his deal, his negotiations and different potential opponents
Update on the WWE brand split
Update on WWE Night of Champions
Update on AEW Double or Nothing
New Japan Best of the Super Juniors coverage
This week’s UFC show rundown
The most detailed look at the TV ratings of wrestling over the past week
What wrestler is getting a pickle ball court named after him
Build for what looks to be the biggest match of the year in Mexico
More on a major network negotiations for a new wrestling show and why the deal fell through
Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
Friday Update
Garrett Gonzales and I just finished a show talking about all the news items in this week’s Observer, along with a lot of thoughts on different subjects including the nature of the WWE sale, the latest WBD deal and the legacy of Billy Graham. I also want to thank everyone for their comments on the lead story. This was a very difficult one to write, but I’m really glad I did that MSG retrospective because in many ways that really brought home how big he was in the heyday of his career.
AEW has had contact with Daily’s Place as a possible back-up location for the debut of Collision on 6/17. This is not an official change, but it does appear that the CM Punk situation has until Wednesday to go whichever way it goes and if he’s not appearing then they won’t go to the United Center. People involved with the proposed event said they were told yesterday about the show being possible and that a decision would be made over the next week. The feeling is, and I agree with this, that the United Center is not the right place for the debut unless Punk is going to be there because fans will expect him and be disappointed if he’s not there, whether he’s advertised or not. Also, without fans believing he will be there, I don’t see them being able to sell enough tickets on such short notice that it would be worth it since they already have a show a few days later at the Wintrust Arena.
There has been no other news regarding that situation since this afternoon.
WWE is taping two Smackdown episodes tonight in Columbia, SC, including for next Friday’s show since the crew will be in Saudi Arabia. Tonight is to have Rey Mysterio & Santos Escobar vs. The Usos, a face-to-face with Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, The Grayson Waller Effect with A.J. Styles, Street Profits vs. LA Knight & Rick Boogs and Butch & Ridge Holland vs. Pretty Deadly. They were at 10,200 this morning. They were up 49.9 percent over the last time they taped TV in the building and that doesn’t include any tickets sold today for the walkup.
We’re looking for reports from these weekend shows
Smackdown in Columbia, SC tonight (dark matches and second show)
NXT tonight in Tampa, FL
WWE house show Saturday in Fayetteville, NC
NXT house show Saturday in Orlando, FL
WWE house show Sunday in Hampton, VA
We’re looking for results, finishes and highlights to [email protected]
For this weekend, our only poll will be Sunday’s NJPW PPV for Long Beach CA with the women’s title tournament with first round of Mercedes Mone vs Stephanie Vaquer and Willow Nightingale vs. Momo Kohgo, Will Ospreay vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii & Rocky Romero vs. Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta & Shota Umino.
Tyson Fury was mad that Joe Rogan said that if both men were locked in a room together, Jon Jones would beat Fury. After Fury got mad, Jones said that Fury should fight him and to call Dana White to make it happen. Of course Fury then challenged back, but only under boxing rules.
The New Japan Super Juniors tournament is back on Sunday at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo at 5:30 a.m. The final round-robin days are Tuesday and Wednesday.
AEW put tickets on sale for Collision tapings in Toronto, Hamilton and Newark, NJ. Newark is moving but Hamilton sold very few tickets Toronto didn’t sell much either.
The A&E Sunday night block at 9 p.m. features Most Wanted Treasures on Bill Goldberg. Steve Austin’s Take on America show is at 10 p.m.
Trish Stratus was given the key to the city of Niagara Falls ONT on Monday night, which is why she wasn’t at Raw.
Ingrid Isley of Impact noted on Twitter that Mercedes Varnado (Mone) was the person who got the glow sticks for the fans to use in Trinity’s ring entrance at the taping in Chicago.
UFC has a pure ESPN+ show tomorrow starting at 4 p.m. Eastern —
Takashi Sato (170.5) vs. Themba Gorimbo (170)
Natalia Silva (124.5) vs. Victoria Leonardo (124.5)
Chase Hooper (156) vs. Nick Fiore (154)
Orion Cosce (172.5) vs. Gilbert Urbina (170) – Cosce was fined 20 percent of his purse for missing weight
Karolina Kowalkiewicz (115.5) vs. Vanessa Demopoulos (117.5) – Demopoulos was fined 20 percent of her purse for missing weight
Maheshate (155.5) vs. Vlacheslav Borshchev (154.5)
Diego Ferreira (154.5) vs. Michael Johnson (155)
Andre Fialho (169.5) vs. Joaquin Buckley (170.5)
Emily Ducote (119.5) vs. Loopy Godinez (119.5)
Edmen Shahbazyan (185.5) vs. Anthony Hernandez (186)
Jeff Cobb returns to West Coast Pro Wrestling on 7/8 in San Francisco at the Irish Cultural Center.
The Nogueira Brothers have been named the 2023 recipients of the Forrest Griffin Community Award. The award is for community service and the brothers will receive a $25,000 donation to a charity of their choice by Toyo Tires. They will be honored at the UFC Hall of Fame ceremony on 7/6 at the T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The legendary brothers started a charity in 2010 to provide opportunities in teaching children and adults in MMA as well as the elderly.
Fallah Bahh, who formerly wrestled for Impact, has a role on he Hulu comedy series “Wreck,” under his real name of Francis Flores.
Randy Couture had a guest role on NCIS Los Angeles this past Sunday. He played a an ATF agent that went missing. (thanks to Grant Zwarych)
Combate Global announced David Martinez (9-1) defends his bantamweight title against Jose Zarauz (23-9-1) on the 5/28 show that airs at 10 p.m. Eastern on Paramount + and Univision.
T-Mart Promotions presents The Gathering in Charlotte, NC at the University Hilton from 8/4 to 8/6 wit stars from the past including a CWF panel of Kevin Sullivan, Steve Keirn, Brian Blair, Gerald Brisco and Bob Roop, and a Starrcade 85 panel of Manny Fernandez, Baby Doll, and Big Mama. There will be a live show on 8/5 featuring the Rock & Roll Express vs. The Headbangers.
ESPN News will air a 30 minute preview of the next season of The Ultimate Fighter with Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler as coaches. It will air at Noon Eastern on Sunday.
Defy on 10/13 in Yakima, WA features El Hijo del Vikingo, Ultimo Dragon and Juventud Guerrera.
Eldridge Wayne Coleman, better known as Superstar Billy Graham, seemingly lived multiple lives, and nearly died multiple deaths.
The wrestler whose influence changed the business completely, had been suffering health issues on and off for decades. There were near-death experiences from drug overdoses, health ailments that he had believed were linked to his heavy usage of steroids, liver failure that he survived with a 2002 transplant, and multiple later issues, and there was even a period in 1981 when rumors spread and were reported in two major newspapers of his death, and speculated on in both bodybuilding and wrestling magazines.
It was a strange paradox. I don’t think anyone would have expected that Graham would live to be one month short of his 80th birthday. Yet, he had survived so many near-death experiences, that even as the reports got worse and worse in recent months during his hospitalization, those who followed him had seen it so many times that it was almost like this was just another incident. There was the feeling that somehow, like all the other incidents, no matter how they read, the end result would be the same and he’d survive once again.
Raw last night averaged 1.72 million viewers and drew a 0.58 rating in 18-49.
The key takes were again the lower first hour, big increase in hour two, and then a fall in hour three, which is an exaggerated version of previous years’ patterns as summer approaches. The other thing from last night was a huge increase in 18-34 viewers, doing a 0.41.
The increase shows how hot WWE is with younger viewers, but in comparison to recent weeks, this had less competition, with the only major sports event being Seattle vs. Dallas in the NHL playoffs on ESPN that did 2.75 million viewers (0.97 rating in 18-49).
Raw was second to the NHL game in 18-49 and second in every key demo. In total viewers, it was was seventh behind the game and five news shows. Raw also beat everything on network TV in 18-49 except Jeopardy! Masters on ABC, and a 0.62 on cable in hour one is far better than the 0.66 than Jeopardy! Masters did, given the reach of homes.
Raw was down four percent in viewers from last week, but up 11 percent in 18-49 and up 14 percent in 18-34. Last week was the stronger marquee episode but the competition last week was tougher with the NBA playoffs.
From one year ago, Raw was down one percent in viewers, but up 29 percent in 18-49 and up 37 percent in 18-34, and that’s not even factoring in that USA Network is in far less homes than a year ago.
The first-to-third hour changes saw women 18-49 decrease eight percent, men 18-49 increase three percent, women 12-34 decrease 20 percent, and men 12-34 decrease 11 percent.
Tomorrow could be among the most important days in AEW history, particularly if rumors and speculation is to believed.
What we do know is that at the WBD Upfronts, they are expected to announce the new television show, AEW Collision, believed to be airing 8-10 p.m. on Saturday nights on TNT. The belief is the show debuts on June 17 at the United Center in Chicago, which would also be the return of CM Punk.
At least some, if not all of that, would be announced tomorrow at the upfronts, evidently on TNT based on the hint last week by Tony Khan on Dynamite when he mentioned TNT and not TBS. It will also be announced later that night on Dynamite.
The idea is a brand split of sorts, although the actual make up of what that means is in question and one higher-up in the company said they believe the final format and ideas will change until the debut, and probably will be tweaked after as well. One source at WBD said more than a week ago that the top women would be appearing on both shows because they felt they didn’t have enough star power depth to do a split.
As far as the rest of the story, there have been rumored figures of the length and the terms, but a lot of that has been people making predictions or hearing people look at the value and extrapolating a time frame and money figure.
Multiple sources within the company have indicated Khan has been tight-lipped about everything. To us, Khan has not even officially said there is a Collision show, although the top talent in the company is aware of that much. He did point to this week and being able to discuss much more after it comes out, noting legal reasons for being unable to talk on a number of subjects that everyone is questioning.
One key executive noted to us a few times that what they had been told regarding television was far different from rumors, but that at this point they and the top talent past the point of the brand split, the return of Punk, and the Collision show, people have not been told anything.
On the WBD side, those who have inside contacts with the company also confirmed the same things, but had no idea of any terms regarding the new contract.
WBD would have to ink a new deal at least for Collision. The deal for Dynamite and Rampage expires at the end of September, but WBD has the option to renew that deal with a raise in money, although at nowhere near the level speculated, through the end of September 2024.
A look at AEW’s changes coming up that will be announced over the next week with the debut of Collision, as well as a business analysis of rights fees as compared to WWE, different scenarios and different things that could be part of the new deal.
Full coverage of Backlash, including the booking, the show, Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia, Roman Reigns, business notes on the show, interest levels for the different events in a giant weekend of sports, PPV numbers, crossover between WWE and Alvarez fight, and the paradox of government money bringing WWE to cities and how that affects future hows in San Juan.
A full look at the AEW event at Wembley Stadium. We look at ticket sales, records, scalpers, the biggest shows ever in Europe, the biggest non-WWE shows in history, how viable is it regarding the all-time paid attendance records, and the three shows it has to beat, U.K. attendance records, differences in AEW & WWE ticket sale patterns, possible attractions for the show as well as opponents for he biggest matches and other London shows that weekend.
Full coverage of UFC 288, main event decision, what’s next for the top stars, business notes and match-by-match coverage.
A look at Dragon Gate’s Dead or Alive show
A look at the longest lasting U.K. headliners and Hall of Fame comments
The most detailed look at the ratings from the past week, with weekly placings, competition, and comparisons to one year ago, a well as how segments did
Wrestler goes for world title in two very different groups over a few week period
Konnan talks AAA U.S. TV negotiations
The politics behind the upcoming champion vs. champion match
Champion Carnival finals
How many tickets has Mercedes Mone moved for her next show
Early notes on All Together Now
Best of Super Juniors shows for this week
The most famous feud in Canadian football history, Angelo Mosca vs. Joe Kapp, and a detailed rundown
Former TNA & WWE star retires
Double or Nothing update
AEW booking team detailed
Crazy AEW PPV stat
Upcoming ticket sales to WWE & AEW shows
International TV numbers and streaming numbers
Aftermath of Omega vs. Moxley
Retired wrestler mentions being open to work Wembley Stadium as a farewell
Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
Monday Update
Bryan and I will be up tonight talking Raw and all the latest wrestling and MMA news with Wrestling Observer Radio.
Very sad news today with the doctors advising Valerie Coleman, the wife of Superstar Billy Graham (Wayne Coleman) that they believe he needs to be taken off life support. I just want to send whatever good wishes and prayers to Valerie today. She and Wayne have been together since she was 19 years old and through the good and the bad, he has been her life. So I can understand her asking that the life support stay on, but this was the first time it really feels like we have to face the inevitable.
Having been in the position with family and friends when the doctors say that, it’s just heartbreaking memories this brings up. Superstar Graham was one of the two top drawing heel wrestlers of the 1970s (the other being The Sheik). But he was probably the single most influential wrestler of that era, as everyone copied him, even people like Dusty Rhodes who readily would admit to it even though most wouldn’t see it because they looked so completely different. Obviously people like Hulk Hogan and Jesse Ventura top the list of the Graham copycats who went on to become giants both in and out of the wrestling industry. Yo have no idea how many people, myself included, Paul Heyman included, DDP included, Hogan included, had their lives changed by Graham because he was so instrumental in talking through your television set and making you a fan of this business when people were very young. Graham faced death so many times that you while you probably never thought he’d live to be 79, once he did, you probably didn’t ever face the reality that one day this could happen. Vince McMahon had a love/hate relationship with him but in the end he would readily speak of Graham’s influence on him and the creation of the Hogan character which blew up his company. We all know that Billy was born ten years too soon for his own fame but had he not been born at all, it’s hard to say where the business as we know it would be. That’s how strong his influence at the time was. Billy absolutely had his dark side and no fair portrayal of him can ignore that as well. But this is really a devastating day.
Vice Media declared bankruptcy today, a prelim to a sale of the company to Soros Fund Management and Fortress Investment group. For those who have asked, we don’t believe this will directly effect the airing of Dark Side of the Ring, which debuts on Tuesday 5/30y for a new season. (thanks to Chuck Langerman)
Raw tonight is from Greensboro, NC featuring Becky Lynch doing a promo talking Trish Stratus, Cody Rhodes building up his match with Brock Lesnar, Gunther debuts, a Battle Royal will be held to determine the top contender for Gunther’s IC title (Johnny Gargano was the surprise opponent at the weekend house shows) , Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez defend the tag titles against Chelsea Green & Sonya Deville and Shinsuke Nakamura vs. The Miz. The advance as of this morning was more than 9,500 tickets so another big crowd.
Looking for reports on this show with Main Event matches and anything else not on the TV show to [email protected]
Thanks to David Devoti for the report from the Saturday WWE show in Augusta, GA.
Raw gets a break this week as there is no NBA playoff game tonight. The Lakers vs Denver goes against NXT tomorrow Boston vs. Miami game one goes against Dynamite on Wednesday. Raw does go against game seven of Seattle vs. Dallas in the NHL playoffs which should hurt a little. They are lucky because last week they had the world title tournament and were coming off the PPV show, while this week they could have been hurt a lot worse by the NBA playoffs.
Roman Reigns is doing a rare house how in Fayetteville, NC on Saturday night. The building is pushing it as the first time Reigns is in Fayetteville in more than four years.
Best of the Super Juniors at 5:30 a.m. tomorrow in Akita:
Yoh vs. Clark Connors
Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Titan
Bushi vs. Robbie Eagles
TJP vs. Douki
Dan Moloney vs. Francesco Akira
Mike Bailey vs. Kushida
Desperado vs. Kevin Knight
Hiromu Takahashi vs. Sho
Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Master Wato
Lio Rush vs Taiji Ishimori
There are also tournament shows Wednesday in Sendai and Thursday in Iwate.
There wasn’t much mention of WWE at the FOX in its release today or NBCU upfronts today. There wasn’t going to be with FOX because it was the entertainment division that made the release and FOX considers Smackdown part of the sports division.
Nick Khan will be part of the SBC Moffett Nathanson Technology, Media and Telecom Conference on Thursday at 1 p.m. in New York talking the merger and company business.
John Cena taped an episode of Josh Horowitz’s Happy, Sad, Confused podcast today.
HighspotsAuctions.com is doing private signings with The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, Bill Goldberg and Excalibur.
Clash Wrestling from Saturday night in Allen Park, MI: Dean Hendrix NC Thomas Bailey, James Alexander b Forever Young, Marti Belle b Heather Blue, Elk & The Power Ranges b Cameron Sky & tommy Teeznik & Dr. Wrecking Ball, Juntai b Jason Hotch, Allysin Kay b Jody Threat, Ren Jones b Rickey Shane Page (thanks to Leonard Brand)
MCW on Saturday night in Joppa,MD at the RJ Meyer Arena with Robert Locke & Brandon Scott vs Jay Lethal Alex Divine. on a show called Tribute to Legends.
Herb Simmons’ Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling had a fan fest on Saturday bringing in JJ Dillon, Ted DiBiase, Brian Knobs, Gerald Brisco, Bob Orton, Barbara Goodish, Lisa “Victoria” Varon, Greg Gagne, Bushwhacker Luke, The Grappler,Brutus Beefcake,Barry Horowitz, Bobby Fulton, Buff Bagwell, Haku, Barbarian, Ken Patera, Rip Rogers, Enzo, JBL, Teddy Long, jimmy Hart, John Nord, Earl Hebner, Steve Lombardi, Fred Ottman, Stan Hansen, James Beard, Wes Brisco, Spike Huber, Ross Hart, 2 Cold Scorpio and Baron Von Raschke.
Winnipeg Pro Wrestling from Friday night: James Roth b AJ Sanchez,. Tyler Colton b Carter Mason, Michael Allen Richard Clark b Marcus Muncherson, Jody Threat b Heather Reckless to keep the WPW women’s title, Red Hot Summer b Technical Difficulties to win the tag titles, Chad Daniels b Warhorse, Tootie Lynn b Aminah Belmont, Bobby Schink b Tommy Lee Curtis to keep the WPW title. The July show sold out in 20 minutes (thanks to Blair Pacheco)
Sorry to report the death of MMA judge Michael De Pasquale Jr. He passed awa this past week due to complications from a 2020 back injury that he never recovered from. (thanks to Nick Mahmood)
A look at AEW’s changes coming up that will be announced over the next week with the debut of Collision, as well as a business analysis of rights fees as compared to WWE, different scenarios and different things that could be part of the new deal.
Full coverage of Backlash, including the booking, the show, Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia, Roman Reigns, business notes on the show, interest levels for the different events in a giant weekend of sports, PPV numbers, crossover between WWE and Alvarez fight, and the paradox of government money bringing WWE to cities and how that affects future hows in San Juan.
A full look at the AEW event at Wembley Stadium. We look at ticket sales, records, scalpers, the biggest shows ever in Europe, the biggest non-WWE shows in history, how viable is it regarding the all-time paid attendance records, and the three shows it has to beat, U.K. attendance records, differences in AEW & WWE ticket sale patterns, possible attractions for the show as well as opponents for he biggest matches and other London shows that weekend.
Full coverage of UFC 288, main event decision, what’s next for the top stars, business notes and match-by-match coverage.
A look at Dragon Gate’s Dead or Alive show
A look at the longest lasting U.K. headliners and Hall of Fame comments
The most detailed look at the ratings from the past week, with weekly placings, competition, and comparisons to one year ago, a well as how segments did
Wrestler goes for world title in two very different groups over a few week period
Konnan talks AAA U.S. TV negotiations
The politics behind the upcoming champion vs. champion match
Champion Carnival finals
How many tickets has Mercedes Mone moved for her next show
Early notes on All Together Now
Best of Super Juniors shows for this week
The most famous feud in Canadian football history, Angelo Mosca vs. Joe Kapp, and a detailed rundown
Former TNA & WWE star retires
Double or Nothing update
AEW booking team detailed
Crazy AEW PPV stat
Upcoming ticket sales to WWE & AEW shows
International TV numbers and streaming numbers
Aftermath of Omega vs. Moxley
Retired wrestler mentions being open to work Wembley Stadium as a farewell
Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
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Sunday Update
Garrett Gonzales and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer Radio talking news of the past week, Smackdown and taking questions that you can send to [email protected] Bryan and I will be back tomorrow with Raw and all the news coverage.
Monday is one of the few off-days for Best of the Super Juniors in the condensed format. They are back with a Tuesday morning at 5:30 a.m. show in Akita for day four.
WWE’s block on A&E tonight has last week’s Most Wanted Treasures with DX at 8 p.m. and then the new stuff is Most Wanted Treasures covering Randy Savage at 9 p.m. with DDP, Molly Holly and the late Lanny Poffo on the show. At 10 p.m., is Stone Cold Takes on America.
Vince McMahon has agreed to pay attorney fees of $1.65 million for two class action suits against him for how he forced his way back into power in WWE. McMahon had put into place a new bylaw that would have restricted the power of the Board of Directors. Once McMahon was put into power and the two lawsuits were filed, he repealed the new bylaw that they were suing about so basically there is nothing left to sue over, but he is paying the costs of the plaintiffs attorneys.
Rich & Shameless, the TNT series that is among the highest rated shows on cable, with be airing the episode on Hulk Hogan vs. Gawker on Wednesday at midnight. This episode has been promoted for months.
We’re looking for reports from these weekend shows:
NXT in Davenport, FL and Sebring, FL on Friday and Saturday night
WWE in North Charleston, SC tonight
We’re looking for results, finishes and highlights.
For Raw tomorrow from Greensboro, NC, the matches announced are Raquel Rodriguez & Liv Morgan defending the women’s tag titles against Chelsea Green & Sonya Deville, a Battle Royal to determine who faces Gunther in Saudi Arabia for the IC title, Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Miz, plus Becky Lynch responds to Trish Stratus and Cody Rhodes will be there to talk Brock Lesnar. Lesnar is not advertised to be there.
The 5/27 episode of Rampage won’t air on TNT until midnight, after NBA coverage. The Countdown show for Double or Nothing airs after Rampage.
WWE from last night in Augusta, GA:
Bianca Belair b Asuka to keep the Raw women’s title
Omos b Dolph Ziggler
A.J. Styles b Austin Theory via DQ for a low blow Right in front of the referee. Crowd was very into this match
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn won a three-way over The Street Profits and Ludvig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci when Zayn pinned Vinci after a helluva kick
Rhea Ripley b Tegan Nox to keep the Smackdown women’s title
Gunther b Johnny Gargano to keep the IC title
Cody Rhodes b Finn Balor in a street fight This was Gargano’s first match back from a shoulder injury (thanks to Shannon Walsh)
Thanks to Drake Kizer and J.T. Elliott for reports from the AEW show on Friday night in Corbin, KY.
Chris Jericho as filed a trademark for terms Fozzyfest and Fozzfest..
This was not a week with a lot of combat sports interest. The only thing with any relation to wrestling, boxing or MMA that cracked the Google top 20 all week was the XFL championship game which was No. 4 with 200,000 searches, which is a lot more interest than I would have expected. Even though UFC was on ABC for the afternoon time slot, it didn’t crack the top 20, nor did the celebrity boxing match with KSI, who was part of WrestleMania.
Matt Hardy’s twitter account was hacked and Reby Hardy said not to interact with it until they have it back. Twitter can be a nightmare when it comes to hacked accounts.
It’s been noted that Dwayne Johnson has a cameo as Luke Hobbs post-credits in Fast X, which premiered over the weekend in Italy. Apparently that is the signal that he’ll be back with the franchise and may mean the next Fast & Furious movie could have both Johnson & John Cena.
The trailer for the Conor McGregor-Michael Chandler season of The Ultimate Fighter is out right now. The season will air on ESPN on Tuesday nights starting on 5/30. As far as we know, McGregor has still not put himself back in the USADA testing pool meaning that in theory he can’t fight for at least six months. That is in theory because rules are changed for stars.
There was a front page article in the Washington Post on concussions talking about the effect that Chris Nowinski has had on sports and a lot about his Harvard football reunion and players with issues from football and his own issues in wrestling and football. (thanks to Matt Wexler)
Francis Ngannou said he will have an announcement about his future on Tuesday. Both Dan Hardy and Chael Sonnen have said it will be an announcement of his signing with the PFL. ONE claimed they are out of talks with him because they said he asked for a $20 million guarantee.
Other Notes
Dan Henderson, the MMA legend, is releasing an autobiography on 10/24 called “Hendo: The American Athlete.”
Defy from last night in Seattle: Joey Janela b Miles Deville, Bryan Keith b Evan Rivers, Mance Warner & Matthew Justice b Judas Icarus & Travis Williams to keep the tag titles, Nick Gage b Artemis Spencer, Schaff b Black Taurus Vert Vixen b Trish Adora to keep the women’s title, Nick Wayne b El Phantasmo to keep the Defy title. Gage & Spencer announced that GCW and Defy will be presenting joint shows in Seattle on 11/17 and 11/18. Next show is 6/3 in Seattle at Washington Hall with KENTA, and then 6/24 in Portland at the Wonder Ballroom has El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Komander.
Queen of Indies from last night in San Francisco: The first round was singles matches with a 20 minute time limit. The four winners will go into a tag team match where the two winners face each other in the finals. Promise Braxton won five-way over J-Rod, Amira, Gigi Rey and Jordan Blade, Lady Frost b Dulce Tormenta, Masha Slamovich b Hyan, Mio Momono b Maria, Unagi Sayaka b Billie Starkz, Sandra Moone & Takumi Iroha & Chigusa Nagayo b Karisma & Nicole Savoy & Lady Apache, Masha Slamovich & Mio Momono b Lady Frost & Unagi Sayaka to advance to the finals, Johnnie Robbie & Brooke Havok b Rachelle Riveter & Mac Daddy Mylo, Masha Slamovich b Mio Momono to win the first Queen of Indies tournament. It was announced that the second Queen of Indies will take place in Japan next year while King of Indie would remain in San Francisco. (thanks to Shannon Walsh and Wrestling with Demons)
Former promoter Rick Bassman, who years ago was promoting his autobiography, let us know it’s coming out soon and called “Little Big Man,” talking about a life that included battling stage 4 cancer, battling drug addiction and deaths of friends and his interactions with the biggest names in pro wrestling and MMA history.
Kirk White’s Big Time Wrestling from Friday night in Newark, CA before a sellout 500 fans: Dave Dutra b Jacob Fatu in a great match, True X b Eddie Cuervo, Black wan b Eliza Hammer (Black Swan does a ballerina gimmick) Big Fonz b Drake Frost, Viva Van b Alex Gracia, Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley b The Freaks, Shane Kody & Jinxx b Kaka Meng & El Guerrero in Kody’s retirement mach. Next show is 7/28 with Chris Masters (thanks to Jim Davis)
At last night’s Misfits boxing shoe at the Ovo Arena in London, there was a brawl in the crowd between two Love Island stars, Tommy Fury, best know for his fight with Jake Paul where he won, and Idris Viorgo.
It took 15 years for WWE to return to NBC for Saturday Night’s Main Event, but it took only one night for the people involved in negotiating the deal to be embarrassed.
A good show, promoted like hell, featuring every big name in the company as well as the returns of Steve Austin and Jim Ross (admittedly only touched on and not hyped at all) drew a 3.11 final rating and 5.15 million viewers (combination live and same-day video/Tivo watching) on 3/18 from 8-10 p.m.
To put this number into perspective, that is slightly lower than the XFL (considered one of the biggest TV flops in history) averaged for the season in the same time slot five years ago. And, the XFL came before the ratings included same day recording device viewing.
The show led to NBC finishing dead last among the four networks that program on Saturdays, even though Fox and ABC aired repeat programming.
Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
Friday Update
– Due to Garrett Gonzales’ son graduating college, we don’t have a show today but my next show will be Sunday night either with Garrett or Bryan with Wrestling Observer Radio because this was a giant week of news across the board as noted by the new issue which is loaded with news and history.
In the current issue:
Match of the week and performer of the week
A look at AEW’s changes coming up that will be announced over the next week with the debut of Collision, as well as a business analysis of rights fees as compared to WWE, different scenarios and different things that could be part of the new deal.
Full coverage of Backlash, including the booking, the show, Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia, Roman Reigns, business notes on the show, interest levels for the different events in a giant weekend of sports, PPV numbers, crossover between WWE and Alvarez fight, and the paradox of government money bringing WWE to cities and how that affects future hows in San Juan.
A full look at the AEW event at Wembley Stadium. We look at ticket sales, records, scalpers, the biggest shows ever in Europe, the biggest non-WWE shows in history, how viable is it regarding the all-time paid attendance records, and the three shows it has to beat, U.K. attendance records, differences in AEW & WWE ticket sale patterns, possible attractions for the show as well as opponents for he biggest matches and other London shows that weekend.
Full coverage of UFC 288, main event decision, what’s next for the top stars, business notes and match-by-match coverage.
A look at Dragon Gate’s Dead or Alive show
A look at the longest lasting U.K. headliners and Hall of Fame comments
The most detailed look at the ratings from the past week, with weekly placings, competition, and comparisons to one year ago, a well as how segments did
Wrestler goes for world title in two very different groups over a few week period
Konnan talks AAA U.S. TV negotiations
The politics behind the upcoming champion vs. champion match
Champion Carnival finals
How many tickets has Mercedes Mone moved for her next show
Early notes on All Together Now
Best of Super Juniors shows for this week
The most famous feud in Canadian football history, Angelo Mosca vs. Joe Kapp, and a detailed rundown
Former TNA & WWE star retires
Double or Nothing update
AEW booking team detailed
Crazy AEW PPV stat
Upcoming ticket sales to WWE & AEW shows
International TV numbers and streaming numbers
Aftermath of Omega vs. Moxley
Retired wrestler mentions being open to work Wembley Stadium as a farewell
Notes on the upcoming ROH shows
UFC business updates
Lots of new UFC fights
MMA legend talks retirement
PFL hit with rash of suspensions
Pat McAfee negotiations
Top merchandise sellers
– SmackDown is tonight in Knoxville, TN. It should be a big show as there are three World title tournament matches with Edge vs. Rey Mysterio vs. A.J. Styles and Bobby Lashley vs. Sheamus vs. Austin Theory. The winners meet and the winner of that match faces Seth Rollins for the title at Night of Champions on 5/27 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Roman Reigns is also on the show so they will likely start the ball rolling on his Saudi Arabia match. In addition, Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez defend the women’s tag titles against Bayley & Dakota Kai, and there may be a Cameron Grimes vs. Baron Corbin match as Grimes hinted at his debut. There were 9,500 tickets out as of this morning. As of this morning and before walkup, they were up 66 percent in ticket sales from the last time they did television in that building.
– For opposition tonight, SmackDown goes against game six of the Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks and Miami can win the series tonight. On the West Coast, they go against a monster Warriors-Lakers game and the Lakers can win the series tonight as well. The NHL has Toronto vs. Florida and Florida could knock the Maple Leafs out with a win. On the West Coast it goes against Las Vegas vs. Edmonton. The Maple Leafs will hurt SmackDown badly in Canada but because of the World title matches, they may hold up well since Raw & Dynamite put on loaded shows and held up well.
– Will Ospreay vs. Shingo Takagi takes place on 8/26 on the RevPro show at the Copper Box in London. Ospreay and Takagi have already had one match of the year winner and other contenders in a rivalry that dates back many years. They have never wrestled outside of Japan.
– Rampage, which has The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn vs. Butcher & Blade & Kip Sabian, Toni Storm vs Allysin Kay, Kyle Fletcher vs. Action Andretti and Swerve Strickland & Brian Cage vs. Alex Reynolds & John Silver, will air at 10 p.m. tomorrow night on TNT.
– After scoring poor ratings on Friday night’s head-to-head with SmackDown, Young Rock is not on NBC’s new fall schedule. NBC did not indicate anything about the future of the show.
– We’re looking for reports form these weekend shows:
GCW from last night in New York
WWE SmackDown in Knoxville tonight (dark matches and off TV only)
AEW house show tonight in Corbin, KY
NXT house show tonight in Davenport, FL
AEW house show tomorrow night in Salem, VA
NXT house house show tomorrow night in Sebring, FL
WWE house show tomorrow night in Augusta, GA
WWE house show Sunday in North Charleston, SC
We’re looking for results, finishes and other highlights from these shows to [email protected]
– AEW announced Claudio Castagnoli vs. Brian Pillman Jr. for tonight’s show in Corbin, KY.
– UFC is in Charlotte tomorrow including a main card on ABC
Prelims on ESPN at 11:30 a.m. Eastern
Jessica-Rose Clark (135.5) vs. Tainara Lisboa (134)
Bryan Battle (173) vs. Gabe Green (170.5) – Battle missed weight by two pounds
Ji Yeon Kim (126) vs. Mandy Bohm (126)
Cody Stamann (139) vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade (139.5) – they agreed to fight at 140
Karl Williams (239.5) vs. Chase Sherman (254)
Matt Brown (170) vs. Court McGee (170.5)
ABC at 3 .p.m. Eastern
Tim Means (170.5) vs Alex Morono (169.5)
Carlos Ulberg (204.5) vs Ihor Potieria (204.5)
Daniel Rodriguez (1700) vs. Ian Machado Garry (170.5)
Anthony Smith (205.5) vs. Johnny Walker (205.5)
Jairzinho Rozenstriuk (265) vs Jailton Almeida (231)
The scheduled Natan Levy vs. Pete Rodriguez fight is off due to weight cutting issues involving Rodriguez.
— Day two of Best of the Super Junior tournament is at 4 a.m. Eastern early tomorrow morning from Nagano
Hiromu Takahashi vs. Douki
Taiji Ishimori vs. Titan
Mike Bailey vs. Sho
Lio Rush vs. Ryusuke Taguchi
TJP vs. Kushida
Master Wato vs. Yoh
Desperado vs. Bushi
Francesco Akira vs. Kevin Knight
Clark Connors vs. Robbie Eagles
Dan Moloney vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
– People have been raving about day one, which is up on the New Japan World site for free, in particular Bailey vs. Takahashi in the main event.
-Michael Blais is doing his Infinity gauntlet match tomorrow in Edmonton. He will wrestle against rotating opponents for eight hours starting at 2 p.m. Eastern to raise money for the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton. It will stream live on YouTube and it’s for a good cause.
– James Roday Rodriguez, best known for the TV show “Psych” on USA, is producing a fictional play about pro wrestling called “Masters of Puppets” at the Connecticut Legacy Theater. Those involved say it is fiction but it is very much based on the McMahon family and features a cast that includes Kurt Fuller, Dana Ashbrook, Amanda Detmer and Michael Hogan. The play will run 5/25 to 6/11.
– Bet Online has made MJF a ridiculous 50-1 favorite to win the four-way at Double or Nothing. Darby Allin is +500, Sammy Guevara is +600 and Jack Perry is +800.
– The XFL championship game between the Arlington Renegades vs. D.C. Defenders takes pale at 8 p.m. Eastern tomorrow night on ABC.
– The entire family of Kevin Von Erich, including wrestlers Ross & Marshall, will be moving from Hawaii to Boerne, TX, a city that used to be the home of both Bruiser Body and Steve Austin. Marshall Von Erich noted to us that he and Ross decided to relocate to the continental U.S. to pursue pro wrestling, and Kevin decided he wanted the family to stay together so they purchased a 60 acre ranch and all 14 family members, Kevin and wife Pam, all the children and their grandchildren, will move together. They will be keeping their place in Kauai. There were other reasons as well, including the local high school football program for one of the grandkids.
Other Notes
– WWE producer TJ Wilson has a seminar on 6/4 in New Port Richey, FL at the WWN training center.
– Combate Global which airs on Paramount+ and Univision at midnight Eastern time has an atomweight fight with Ana Palacios (7-1-1) of Mexico City vs. Chihiro Sawada (4-0-1), a former college wrestling champion fro Brazil, and Victor Valenzela (9-3) of Chile against Shinsho Anzai (9-4) of Japan.
– Tommy Dreamer faces Crowbar Devon Storm for the first time in each’s career tonight for ISPW in Wayne, NJ at the Wayne PAL. Bull James also faces Dirty Dango and Tina San Antonio faces Vicious Vicki.
– Ultimo Dragon will wrestle on 5/20 for TCW in Aberdeen Township, NJ in a three-way match with Sonny Onoo as his manager.
– Queen of Indies takes place tomorrow night in San Francisco. Nicole Savoy comes out of retirement for the show. Hall of Famer Chigusa Nagayo, perhaps the most popular woman wrestler ever in Japan, also wrestles on the show.
– The Bellas, now the Garcia Twins, were on E!’s Celebrity Prank War show last night.
– The LFA announced its July schedule. They run on 7/7 in Caraguatatuba, Sao Paulo, Brazil and 7/21 in Belton, TX. Both shows air live on UFC Fight Pass.
A number of announcements will take place on 5/17 regarding the future of AEW.
WBD will have its upfronts for advertisers that day at the Hulu Theater adjacent to Madison Square Garden which is expected to include the announcement of the new Collision show on Saturday night.
With that show will come a new deal with WBD, the announcement of the 6/17 debut date, believed to be at the United Center in Chicago, and the return of C.M. Punk on a show called “The Second Coming.”
Tony Khan already mentioned a big announcement and said it would be made next week “on TNT,” meaning that the announcement, besides at the Upfronts, will be on TNT, prior to Dynamite that night on TBS.
There are a lot of rumors going around regarding the new deal, from its length and its monetary value. Obviously, if this is not just a deal for a second show at a similar rate and picking up the option year by WBD, which would end at the end of September 2024, it would be among the biggest news stories in wrestling of this decade.
Monday’s WWE Raw did 1.79 million viewers and an 0.51 in the 18-49 demo.
Once again, the show had a strong second hour and while the viewership was down in the third hour slightly overall, the number has to be considered good when you consider that the Golden State Warriors vs. LA Lakers NBA playoff game did 7.52 million viewers against the third hour.
The hour-by-hour breakdowns:
8 PM: 1.78 million viewers
9 PM: 1.91 million viewers
10 PM: 1.67 million viewers
Raw was fourth for the night on cable, beating everything except the NBA playoffs on TNT. The New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat game against the first two hours did 4.56 million viewers and a 1.53 in 18-49 while the Warriors vs. Lakers game did a 2.71 in 18-49.
The Inside The NBA show after the end of the Warriors game did 2.33 million viewers and a 0.93 in 18-49. The Edmonton Oilers vs. Las Vegas Golden Knights NHL playoff game did 1.18 million viewers and a 0.39 in 18-49, finishing fifth behind Raw.
Raw was fourth across the board and second in the time slot in every key demo behind the three NBA-related shows. Raw also beat everything on network TV except Jeopardy! Masters in hour one on ABC that did 5.78 million viewers and a 0.63 in 18-49.
It was ninth for the night in total viewers, trailing the three NBA-related shows and five news shows.
**********
The major story is that the World Heavyweight tournament worked very well at keeping the audience against the highly-rated game. The boost from Backlash would show up earlier rather than later.
Raw was helped by coming off the PPV and the three World title tournament matches. But, with the tougher competition, it was only a tiny rise in total viewers, a relatively small drop in 18-49, and a bigger drop in 18-34.
It was up less than one percent from last week in viewers, but that would be considered a win. In 18-49, it was down four percent and in 18-34, it was down 10 percent.
Year over year, it was up eight percent in viewers, up 17 percent in 18-49, and up 20 percent in 18-34. Keeping in mind that USA Network is down in potential homes, those increases are even more impressive than those figures indicate.
The pattern across the board was a lower than usual first hour, a very strong second hour and, considering the opposition, a strong third hour. In the key demos, hour three (featuring Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor in the tournament) did roughly the same in key demos as hour one, which is a big win.
First-to-third hour movement saw women 18-49 down three percent, men 18-49 up three percent (usually down closer to ten percent), women 12-34 up ten percent, and men 12-34 down five percent while over 50 was down nine percent.
*AEW All In sets records, and looking at the biggest crowds in pro wrestling history and how this compares, what we’ve earned about ticketing, what records are within reach and what records are not, as well as the biggest crowds ever in Europe and a man named Jim Londos.
*Evaluating the WWE draft. We look at the depth charts of both brands, questions being asked, will the brand split really be what they say (of course it won’t long run), looking at the NXT talent brought up and more.
*A look at WWE business including heavy quotes from Nick Khan and Paul Levesque on the current state of the business, how much WWE is looking a cutting with the merger with UFC, Khan talks about working under Endeavor.
*Levesque talks the booking of talent
*WrestleMania business notes
*How many people watch Raw or Smackdown on a weekly basis, and the number is far more than you think
*Plans for another major overseas event on hold
*WWE Backlash notes
*Looking at the last three months of wrestling numbers and how it compares with television as a whole
*New Japan Dontaku full coverage as well as the next month of New Japan major shows
*Gable Steveson and others who have done pro wrestling and then gone back to amateur wrestling including the top worker of the 80s who the Olympics banned from competing due to an archaic rule
*Full Saturday UFC coverage
*Pro Wrestling NOAH runs Sumo Hall and the matches and angles
*The most detailed look at pro wrestling ratings, as well s where the changes were, competition and what can be learned from them
*CMLL Champion of Champions tournament
*Major League baseball players go to Arena Mexico
*Unique new idea for running pro wrestling shows explained and talks of it going t the U.S.
*Why a world title recently changed hands
*A new jump that hasn’t happened but essentially is about to
*Champion Carnival tournament goes to the finals
*Will Ospreay’s future
*70s and 80s star returning to the ring
*Vikingo goes to Australia
*Lots of changes coming to AEW
*Update on plans for the new and revamped AEW television plans
*Hire of Will Washington
*Update on Double or Nothing show
*Lots of competition of AEW next week
*DVR viewership of AEW
*Advance ticket sales for WWE and AEW shows
*Jon Jones talks future
*Lots of new UFC fights
*Bare Knuckle Boxing business notes
*Bare Knuckle MMA shows coming
*More on gold medalist signing with WWE
*Other gold medalists WWE has signed over the years
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Monday Update
Bryan and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer Radio. Among the topic we’ll talk about is more on Backlash, as well as Raw, Wembley Stadium and more big matches from the weekend.
Raw is tonight in Jacksonville, FL. They’ve announced Trish Stratus plus two three-way matches in the world title tournament. There are two three-way matches with Damien Priest vs. Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and Cody Rhodes vs. Finn Balor vs. The Miz. The winners will meet likely in the main event. Brock Lesnar is in Jacksonville as well. Don’t know but I could see the idea of him costing Rhodes a shot at the title based on it being a late call for him to be there. There were 8,100 tickets out for the show as of this morning.
The sports competition tonight is New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat NBA playoffs against the first two hours and Warriors vs. Lakers against hour three. The tournament being tonight and the finals likely in hour three would be an attempt to avert what otherwise could be one of the biggest third hour drops in history. The only NHL playoff game tonight is Edmonton vs. Las Vegas, which will hurt Raw in Canada in particular. But if tonight’s rating or Wednesday’s AEW ratings are low, it is the competition. WWE also may start high coming off a successful PPV show on Saturday.
We’re looking for your thoughts on Backlash so you can leave a thumbs up, down or middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]
On Twitter today we asked people who had seen all the big PPV events of the year what was the best one. First night of Mania, Evolution, Wrestle Kingdom and even Saturday’s show got mentions, but the 4/27 Stardom show got far more mentions than anything else. Considering how high quality WWE, AEW and NJPW big shows have been this year, that’s saying a lot.
The UFC Mackenzie Dern vs. Angela Hill fight that was supposed to take place this coming Saturday on ABC television in an afternoon time slot, was moved back a week to main event the 5/20 show. The 5/20 show was to have Raquel Pennington vs. Irene Aldana as the main event, but Aldana was pulled from that show to headline the 6/10 PPV show challenging Amanda Nunes for the bantamweight title. Julianna Pena, who was to face Nunes, had to pull out due to rib injuries. One would think Nunes vs. Aldana on top could be among the lowest PPV numbers in years.
New Japan’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament starts on Friday. This is the most intense tournament for talent as everyone has nine hard singles matches in a 13 day period. Almost every matchup looks good to great on paper.
Mike Tenay noted that a sports story to watch which is just starting to happen is that several Western teams are pulling out of their deals with the dying RSN’s and trying to get television deals for all games with their local market regular television over the air stations. The idea is that with RSN’s dying and people cutting back on signing up for cable, that the teams will get more viewers and more local exposure on traditional television. The move to streaming that everyone predicted hasn’t materialized because all the money from streaming hasn’t been there like they expected with so many streaming platforms so deep in the red to begin with. Since television sports migration and news has to do with the most important pro wrestling and MMA stories as far as the money end goes, this is something to watch out for.
Food for thought. What kind of meltdowns will we see if the Wembley show draws 80,710 or more fans?
Paul Craig, a UFC fighter who just lost in January to Johnny “I’m not Wrestling II” Walker, will make his pro wrestling over this coming weekend for ICW in Glasgow, Scotland. Craig teams with Chris Bungard of Bellator to challenge KOE for the ICW tag team titles.
Mark Long of MTV’s The Challenge did a match on 5/7 beating Matt Cardona for Boca Raton Championship Wrestling and Scott Yager’s Challenge Mania podcast. Several members of the Challenge cast including Cara Maria, Sorbello, Paulie Calafiore, Tina Bridges, Jonna Mannion and Rachel Robinson were not only at the show but also interfered in the match. Derrick Kosinski of the show stopped Cardona from using a chair and kicked him low. Kosinski was in a Battle Royal earlier in the show.
Other Notes
A correction from yesterday, the Eve tag title change we reported didn’t happen. They did a Dusty finish where there was an apparent title change but the match was restarted and the champions retained the titles.
Lucha Detroit from Friday night in Detroit: El Dragon b N8 Mattson, Mark Wheeler won three-way over Jody Threat and Dickie Bronson, Aero Boy b Alex Shelley, Karam b Gavin Quinn-DQ, Zach Gowen & Gregory Iron b Shane Sabre & Joe Demaro, Mil Muertes b Ren Jones (thanks to Leonard Brand)
Combat 1 Wrestling from Friday night in Waterford Township, MI: Sodapop Hendrix b Bret the Threat, KJ Reynolds & Matthew Grant b Dread King Logan & Zach Thomas-DQ, Jason Hotch b Nate Bock, Jackson Stone b Hernandez, Su Yung b Krystal Moo, Laredo Kid b Black Taurus (thanks to Leonard Brand)
CJ Perry (Lana) was at Backlash but she was just there visiting friends.
Both Abdullah the Butcher an Larry Zbyszko will be making appearances on the 5/20 AIW show in Eastlake, OH at Force Sports.
Roderick Strong vs. Mike Bailey was announced for the 7/1 Pro Wrestling Revolver Cage of Horrors show that will air on FITE +.
