Amazon/MGM reportedly uninterested in selling Lucha Underground library

A recent report has now emerged suggesting that Amazon/MGM is not interested in selling its Lucha Underground library.

A few weeks ago, Lucha Underground’s social media account posted a teaser that became a talking point. Their website indicated that live events could arrive in the future. Fightful Select has now reported on the details of those teasers.

MGM and Amazon have a controlling interest in Lucha Underground. Fightful Select reported that one of their close sources in AEW felt there could have been WWE’s involvement, although nothing has been confirmed. Their sources stated that Amazon/MGM is happy with Lucha Underground’s library with them. And, while there have been inquiries about purchasing the library in the past, Amazon/MGM has not been particularly interested in selling it.

As per the new report, the “recent buzz” on social media was to get “people talking ahead of a YouTube channel going live with Lucha Underground content.”

Daily Update: Natalya, Amazon-WrestleDream, Walker Stewart

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Wednesday Update

WWE

  • WWE uploaded the full Kelani Jordan vs. Jordynne Grace TNA Knockouts Championship match that headlined NXT last night.
  • WWE’s YouTube channel did a free live stream today broadcasting both nights of WrestleMania 41 from earlier this year. The separate videos for night one and night two are both available.
  • In an interview with Fox News Digital, Natalya named Bayley and Liv Morgan as two wrestlers she sees some of herself in:
    • There’s bits and pieces I see of myself in certain women. I think Bayley is very selfless. She’s all about giving back. She loves helping men and women. She’s somebody that just loves to give to the business. Even if she’s in a rut about something, she’s quick to pull herself out of it. She’s very grateful. She’s very grateful for all she has.
    • I gave her a book the other day, and an hour later she’s posting about it and sharing it. She celebrates her friends and I love that. She’s somebody that the locker room looks up to. If it’s somebody’s birthday, she’ll get them a cake.
    • I see a lot of grit in Liv Morgan. I take a lot of pride in the grit that I have because you can go far in the industry, but you can’t get your furthest without the grit. And so, I see Liv Morgan as somebody who has a lot of grit. She is so tough and she loves the industry. (Monday) she posted on her social media. She’s like, ‘It’s my 11th year in WWE.’ We were talking backstage once when she won the title her last time, I said, ‘Just remember you’re not an overnight success story.’ I said, ‘You are somebody that worked really, really hard to get everything that you have today – and that’s why you’re still here.’
    • People will just see us sometimes and think this just happened overnight. Liv is a really great example of somebody that hasn’t given up, has a lot of grit, doesn’t take no for an answer. She’s just gonna keep on growing and building and also giving back.
  • TJ Wilson (Tyson Kidd) praised his wife Natalya’s new book:
    • I’ve known Nattie for over 30 years — we met when I was just 12 years old. When she told me she was going to write a book, I thought, ‘I already know this story.’ But I quickly realized I only knew it from my perspective. What I hadn’t fully understood was her perspective of her own story — until now. And it’s so different than anything I ever expected from her, in the best way. As I read each page, I felt myself drawn in closer and closer. By the time I reached the last chapter, I found myself wishing it wouldn’t end. 
    • I’m so proud of you, Nattie. And all of what is about to come- from you having the courage to tell your story.
  • David Otunga told MuscleManMalcolm that the documentary WWE produced on the Nexus a few years ago will never see the light of day:
    • We recorded that. It was completed… I talked to the guy, one of the producers, and literally like the next day, two days later, he got fired. They all got fired. They got let go in COVID. But I had just talked to him. Man, this guy was telling me, he was like, ‘Yo, the documentary was so good.’ He’s like, ‘It was long, they made us edit it down.
    • He said he spent a whole day doing this, got it to where they wanted it. He was telling me how fire my part was. He told me my interview was so good they were saving me for last. I know I smoked it, I’ll be honest with you. But I was just happy that they appreciated it too. They put me on last. I was the main event of the documentary, if you will. But anyway, now it’s not going to see the light of day. I think we should figure out how to get there. But it’s completed. The guy told me, it’s completed.
  • R-Truth is performing a concert in New York City on November 16.
  • New Order Coffee in Michigan has released a new blend in collaboration with Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin).

Other Wrestling

  • Amazon Prime Video is issuing refunds to those who had technical issues with AEW’s WrestleDream pay-per-view on the service.
  • SHAK Wrestling interviewed Willow Nightingale & Harley Cameron.
  • “Speedball” Mike Bailey uploaded a new episode of his vlog.
  • Commentator Walker Stewart celebrated yesterday being the two-year anniversary of his NJPW debut:
    • It’s October 28 in America, and that means it has officially been 2 years since I made my debut with @njpwglobal. 
    • I have very few undying loves in this life. My love for my beautiful Yvette, my love for my family, and my love for professional wrestling. 
    • The combination of these 3 things inspire me daily, not only to be a better broadcaster and orator, but to be a better human being. To leave the world better than I have found it. To paint it with vibrant colors.
    • I have done so much in my short time in professional wrestling. I don’t take any of it for granted, nor do I take for granted a single soul who has supported me or the brand I represent. I’m thankful every single day that the hard work has paid off and brought me to my second home of Japan.
    • I’m beyond grateful for all of the fans, all of my peers, and all who have paved the way to make pro wrestling what it is today! 
    • When all is said and done, I sincerely hope I have colored professional wrestling in a way that sets a new standard. 
    • Until then, I will continue to love deeper and feel every second passionately (on and off the broadcast).
    • It’s been a great 2 years, and I’m happy to have signed a contract for my third. Thank you for following the journey, and thank you for supporting New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
  • Chris Bey shared a video of himself lifting weights one year removed from his broken neck.
  • Detroit Lions star running back Jahmyr Gibbs dressed up as Jeff Hardy for Halloween.
  • The Stunner interviewed former WCW wrestler Crowbar.

WWE & Amazon file lawsuit against counterfeit title belt merchants

WWE and Amazon have announced a joint lawsuit against merchants of counterfeit championship belts. 

The suit names 13 defendants who allegedly attempted to “market and sell inauthentic replicas of WWE-branded championship title belts in Amazon’s store.” 

WWE has been working with Amazon’s Project Zero and Brand Registry protection tools to detect listings for counterfeit title belts sold in Amazon’s store. Amazon removed the listings and WWE then worked with the company’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit to identify those responsible. 

WWE’s press release makes specific mention of one defendant found to be operating out of New Jersey. In addition to the civil lawsuit, two connected individuals are also facing felony counterfeiting charges for the sale of inauthentic WWE title belts. WWE also worked with Middlesex County law enforcement to identify those individuals. 

“Amazon is the benchmark for collaboration with respect to brand infringement online,” said Vice President of Intellectual Property at WWE, Matthew Winterroth. “Official and licensed WWE products, branded by our IP, are trusted by our fans around the world and we go to great lengths to protect consumers from counterfeits and other types of infringements. It’s our hope that other companies look at Amazon’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit as a model of how to partner with companies of any size to help combat this relentless threat.”

“Amazon is committed to the authenticity of products in our store and protecting our customers from all forms of counterfeits, including those impacting fans of iconic entertainment brand WWE,” said Kebharu Smith, director of Amazon’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit. “We will continue to work with WWE and Middlesex County law enforcement to bring these bad actors to justice.”

WWE’s Pat McAfee in talks with Amazon for Thursday Night Football role

WWE commentator Pat McAfee is reportedly in talks with Amazon for a role on Thursday Night Football.

The New York Post reported on Wednesday that McAfee and Amazon “have been in discussions about the former NFL punter contributing to their Thursday Night Football coverage.” Amazon is now the exclusive home of Thursday Night Football starting with the 2022 NFL season.

The role that McAfee is in talks for hasn’t been disclosed. The New York Post reported that there have also been conversations about McAfee’s talk show (The Pat McAfee Show) potentially airing on Amazon Prime Video.

“There have also been conversations about potentially airing ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ — his weekday talk show, sponsored by FanDuel, which airs on YouTube and SiriusXM — on Prime Video,” the New York Post wrote.

The New York Post added that a source told them that nothing has been finalized.

Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit have been hired to do commentary for Thursday Night Football on Amazon.

McAfee is a color commentator for WWE Friday Night SmackDown, calling the show alongside Michael Cole. At WrestleMania 38 night two earlier this month, McAfee stepped into the ring for two matches. He defeated Austin Theory but then lost to Vince McMahon. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin appeared after McAfee vs. McMahon and dished out stunners to Theory, McMahon, and McAfee.

McAfee also wrestled for NXT twice in 2020.