In an interview with Demetrious Johnson, the former UFC heavyweight Champion explained why there isn’t much of a chance of a potential pro wrestling match between himself and Lesnar at the moment.
“I mean, Brock is on a banned list right now,” he explained. “Brock got into so much trouble…I ain’t telling you on air what Brock did. Brock is in so much trouble.”
Cormier didn’t explain what the “banned list” was or what led to Lesnar being on it. The former WWE Champion hasn’t wrestled in WWE since SummerSlam 2023, where he lost to Cody Rhodes. Lesnar was implicated in Janel Grant’s lawsuit that was filed back in January 2024, alleging that Vince McMahon sent Lesnar explicit images and videos of Grant and also offered Lesnar sex with Grant as part of him signing a new contract.
Julius Creed of American Made will be part of Daniel Cormier’s coaching staff for the upcoming season of UFC reality show The Ultimate Fighter.
UFC Hall of Famer Cormier announced his staff in a social media post, including Creed, real name Jacob Kasper, is a former NCAA All-American in amateur wrestling at Duke University where he competed from 2013 to 2017.
Creed signed with WWE in 2020 along with his younger brother Brutus (Drew Kasper), and the duo made their televised debut as The Creed Brothers on NXT in 2021. The Creed Brothers held the NXT tag Team titles once.
Along with Chad Gable and Ivy Nile, the Creeds comprise the American Made stable as part of the WWE Raw roster.
The Ultimate Fighter Season 33 will stream beginning on May 27 on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass. Cormier will coach one team of competitors, while Chael Sonnen will coach the other. Cormier is a former UFC Heavyweight and UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.
In a new interview with ESPN’s Daniel Cormier, Brock Lesnar spoke on his WWE future, stating “I don’t know how long I’m gonna be around.”
In a video posted to ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Lesnar spoke with Cormier about his career, retiring from WWE in 2020, and his WrestleMania 39 bout against Omos.
With regard to his WWE future, Lesnar expressed uncertainty:
I don’t know. I don’t know how much more… I don’t know how long I’m gonna be around.
Lesnar also revealed that he considered himself retired from WWE following WrestleMania 36 in 2020:
In 2020, I retired and was gonna be just done. I had my 20 years, COVID hit, my ocntract was up. I had my first match in Hamel, Minnesota in an empty garage. Here I was 20 years later, fighting Drew McIntyre in front of no people for the WWE Championship. I was like, “You know what? It’s came full circle,” and I was truly done.
It did come full circle for me, but I didn’t really want it to end that way.
Lesnar says that a call from Vince McMahon brought him back in 2021:
I grew my beard out, grew my hair out. And then my birthday came around and the phone rang, and it was Vince. He was like ‘What are you doing?” And I was like, “I’m just chilling.””
We didn’t even have a gameplan. He was at SummerSlam, I said let’s do this. I flew down, if we can hash a deal out, I’d love to see you. So I flew down to Vegas, and we’re off to the races.
I was like, “I don’t want to cut my beard or cut my hair.” And he’s like, “I love it.” So here we are.
Lesnar continued:
This company’s been good to me. It’s been a fun ride.
Every time that I think I want to be done, I get to the ring, and I get to the building, and that’s the part of the business that I really love.
I left the business early because I just didn’t like the travel. I’m just a simple man, and it was just too much for me at the time.
On his WrestleMania 39 with Omos, Lesnar said that the match was proposed to him, and he saw it as a challenge and an opportunity to give back to wrestling. Lesnar defeated Omos in the opening match of WrestleMania Sunday:
I liked this matchup when it was proposed to me, because I just like the David and Goliath. Some people look at me like the Goliath, and just the sheer size difference in this human being. I approach this like it’s one of them things where it’s me giving back to the business now.
Giving back and wanting to intrigue these young men that want to become and do what I’ve done over the years. The roles have reversed a bit, and I’m enjoying it.
I’m excited for the match tonight. It’s a challenge. It’s a challenging match. This guy is big, he moves well, and I don’t know if I can even get him over my head.
It was just something that was proposed and I don’t make the calls around here.
Lesnar also praised Paul Heyman for his role in his career, and his contributions to WWE, especially over the last year:
Without Paul, this business wouldn’t be what it is today, especially in the last year. Paul, behind the scenes, wears a lot of hats for this company. He’s greatly respected and greatly appreciated.
As for a potential future title reign, Lesnar was non-committal:
Of course it does, we all want to be a champion. But at this point in my career, I don’t know that I really need it. I would like another opportunity at it if things worked out that way, yeah.
UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier will be in Los Angeles for WWE WrestleMania 39 — but he won’t be involved in the ring.
Cormier told Sports Illustrated that he’s going to WrestleMania 39 to lead ESPN’s coverage of the event. Cormier works for ESPN as a mixed martial arts analyst.
“I’m going to WrestleMania,” Cormier told SI. “The first week of April for ESPN, I’ll be leading the coverage for WrestleMania. I’m so excited about it.”
Cormier appeared for WWE as the special guest referee for Matt Riddle and Seth Rollins’ Fight Pit match at Extreme Rules last October. In his interview with SI, Cormier said that — while he’s open to wrestling — his priority right now is his media job.
“I’m getting more opportunities for ESPN, and I’m so thankful for that,” Cormier said. “So I’ll be at WrestleMania, just in a different capacity, and we’ll see what the future holds down the line.”
SI noted that interviews with WWE talent may be part of Cormier’s WrestleMania media role. Cormier joked about smacking Brock Lesnar if Lesnar tries to step up to him.
“If Brock steps in my way?” Cormier said with a laugh. “I’ll smack him upside his head.”
WrestleMania 39 is taking place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2. Both nights will stream live on Peacock/WWE Network.
For the first time since being released on bail for attempted murder, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez spoke at length about his recent return for AAA, mentioning the potential for a future wrestling match with Daniel Cormier, and his time working with Brock Lesnar in WWE.
Making an appearance on Konnan’s Keepin’ It 100 podcast, Velasquez said going into his December match for AAA in Tempe, Arizona, it was “probably the worst I have ever felt physically, mentally doing something.”
“I felt like I was probably in the worst-case scenario for myself that I have ever been in. I put a lot of pressure on myself and I just wanna be ready when I go out there and, you know, compete…,” he explained.
In November, Velasquez was released on $1 million bail for attempted murder stemming from a February incident in California’s Santa Clara County after allegedly chasing down Harry Goularte in his truck and shooting at him, striking Goularte’s stepfather who was also in the vehicle. Goularte was accused of sexually assaulting one of Velasquez’s children in addition to one of a family relative.
After being eventually granted his request to be able to travel to Tempe to work for AAA’s U.S. return, Velasquez worked in a trios match that night. He was non-committal about a return date as he is unable to travel to Mexico but is keeping the door open.
“For me, it’s just doing what I can with it. I really do just have a great time out there. For me, it’s so fun, the whole thing. Working with the guys I have worked with, just doing all the stuff that we do out there. I really do love and enjoy it,” he said.
He also said that former UFC double-division champion, ardent pro wrestling fan and AKA teammate Daniel Cormier came over to his house recently and that they talked about doing a match for AAA which Konnan was all for, throwing in that they have been talking to a network about getting TV in the U.S.
While his wrestling future is up in the air, Velasquez said he may be able to do a competitive off-road race in Las Vegas in March — another passion of his.
He said he hasn’t been watching any fights since being let out and has been spending time with his family instead. They have been watching both AAA and WWE and he’s glad he is getting to bring his family into something other than fighting.
When asked about the Brock Lesnar match at WWE Crown Jewel after having previously fought him in UFC, Velasquez said it was “a little uncomfortable” but that they tried to be professional. He laughed and said, “It was interesting…very different.”
Daniel Cormier says he had the time of his life at WWE Extreme Rules.
After serving as special referee for the Fight Pit match between Matt Riddle and Seth Rollins on the show, Cormier spoke about his experience to ESPN MMA.
“I was nervous,” Cormier said. “I started forgetting the match. I was, like, oh my goodness I forgot the end. So, I kept having to ask questions. I was so nervous but once I walked out there, it was so fun. The energy of the crowd is like second to none. I fought in front of bigger crowds than I was in front of last weekend but ultimately that’s – it’s a shoot, right? – I’m going to just fight, it is going to be what it is going to be. But to remember all the points of what you’re supposed to do in the match, dude, it was amazing.”
“Then I got fans heckling me. They calling me “Carl Winslow” in there. They were messing with me,” he continued.
“They said, ‘DC, climb up the cage.’ I’m standing at the bottom like, I’m not going up there with these dudes. They were up there actually wrestling on that little ledge.”
“Then when Riddle jumped off the top I was like, man, I couldn’t believe that I was actually in that moment. And I don’t know how much you pay attention but then Bray Wyatt returned right after so we were like the closer to a massive moment.”
“But my favorite part was I got to essentially be Herb Dean.”
Cormier was asked if he has more respect for the WWE athletes after his performance at Extreme Rules.
“Riddle and Rollins aren’t big guys but like some of these other guys, Drew McIntyre, Karrion Kross, all these guys that were performing earlier in the night, the things that they do at their size, it’s crazy, the amount of athleticism that these guys possess inside the wrestling ring.”
“I had the time of my life,” Cormier continued.
Cormier also says he spoke to WWE about working together again in the future.
“They were talking to me about doing future things in the WWE and I go, ‘I’ll do things but I got to get in shape first. Like, give your boy some time to get some of this baggage of this luggage.'”
“It was a good time and again, I’ve earned a new amount of respect for the performers inside the wrestling ring,” he continued.
At Saturday night’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view, UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier stepped into a WWE ring as the special guest referee for Matt Riddle and Seth Rollins’ Fight Pit match.
The appearance led to speculation that the 43-year-old Cormier could have a future with WWE past Extreme Rules. In an interview with the Associated Press following the PPV, Cormier said he has no future commitments with WWE at this point, but he isn’t closing the door on anything in his life right now.
The AP asked Cormier about potentially facing fellow former UFC champion Brock Lesnar in a WWE match.
“I’ve been retired for a couple of years and I look like it. But I’d have to get in shape if I ever want to do something like that,” Cormier said. “The door is not closed on anything right now in my life.”
Cormier added about possibly competing in a WWE ring: “I’m still at an age where there are some opportunities, but those opportunities need to start now if they’re going to be something I pursue.”
Cormier and Lesnar had a confrontation to set up a future UFC fight in 2018, but that matchup never came to fruition.
Riddle and Rollins’ Fight Pit match was the main event of Extreme Rules. Riddle defeated Rollins by submission to get the victory.
“Those guys are so talented,” Cormier told the AP. “They knew exactly what they were going to do and I was just trying to stay out of the way. I didn’t want to get in the way and mess something up.”
The AP’s story notes that Cormier is scheduled to start filming soon for an acting role on the Paramount+ series “Warrior.”
Daniel Cormier says his deal with WWE for Extreme Rules is a ‘one-time thing’ but could perhaps lead to something bigger.
Cormier will serve as the special guest referee in the Fight Pit match between Seth Rollins and Matt Riddle at Extreme Rules on Saturday. He spoke to Mark Raimondi recently and was asked about how the deal came together.
“It’s crazy, right, because for years we’ve spoken about this,” Cormier said. “How many times have I been at post-fight press conferences going ‘I’ve talked to Triple H, I’ve talked to these guys’? We never really could find a role that worked but this made sense.”
Cormier continued to say Rollins texted him about possibly refereeing his match with Riddle in Philadelphia.
“It wasn’t really from the people in charge, it was Seth Rollins who texted me, he goes, ‘Hey, real-life fighting in the Fight Pit and we may be in the market for a special guest referee, would you have an interest in it?'”
Cormier continued to say that he put WWE in contact with his agent, who just so happens to also be Becky Lynch’s agent.
“I have always wanted to do something with the WWE,” Cormier continued. “But it can be intimidating with all the people, the fans, but now my career has now groomed me for this moment.”
Cormier was asked about the potential of reaching a longer-term agreement with WWE in the future.
“As of right now, it’s a one-time thing,” Cormier responded. “We’ll see how it goes this weekend and we’ll kind of go forward from there.”
“Maybe it does lead to something bigger but right now, all eyes are on Extreme Rules.”
He would continue to say that he contacted UFC President Dana White and was granted permission to take part in Extreme Rules.
Cormier was also asked about the possibility of facing Brock Lesnar in WWE.
“No, I haven’t heard anything about that,” Cormier responded.
“It seems to make a lot of sense but, as you know, just because something makes sense doesn’t mean that it’s going to happen. So, no, there is no talk of me fighting Brock Lesnar.”
Ahead of Extreme Rules, UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier appeared via video on last night’s Raw.
Cormier will be the special guest referee for Matt Riddle and Seth Rollins’ Fight Pit match at Extreme Rules. Last night, Cormier interrupted a face-to-face segment with Riddle and Rollins so that he could lay down the law before they enter the Fight Pit on Saturday.
Cormier said he respects Riddle and has always admired Rollins, but he’s fed up with their behavior in recent months. Cormier said a match like the Fight Pit needs a stern third man as referee, so WWE called him to make sure Riddle and Rollins put an end to their rivalry at Extreme Rules.
Cormier told Riddle and Rollins that it’s time to stop yapping, train hard and train smart, and he’ll see them both on Saturday.
Though he’s facing Riddle at Extreme Rules, Rollins also has his eyes on the United States Championship. After Rollins ambushed Bobby Lashley last night, it was announced that Lashley will defend his US title against Rollins on Raw’s season premiere episode next Monday.
Also on last nights’ Raw, Bayley and Damage CTRL stood tall heading into Extreme Rules, AJ Styles & Rey Mysterio took on The Judgment Day, and more.
Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier will guest referee the Fight Pit match between Matt Riddle and Seth Rollins at Extreme Rules.
On Saturday evening, Ariel Helwani broke the news on Twitter that Cormier would be the guest referee at Extreme Rules, which takes place on October 8. Helwani also released a statement from Cormier.
“The Rollins-Riddle feud has gotten very intense and personal,” the statement reads. “There’s only one person qualified enough to oversee this brutal match at [Extreme] Rules and it’s me. I’ll see you guys in Philly next Saturday.”
WWE later commented on Twitter that more information would be revealed on Raw Monday.
A face-to-face between Rollins and Riddle is already scheduled for this Monday’s Raw. WWE in storyline has put in a no contact clause, meaning that neither can put their hands on one another or else they will be removed from the match at Extreme Rules.
Here is the lineup for this Monday’s Raw:
Contract signing for Bianca Belair and Bayley’s Raw Women’s Championship ladder match at Extreme Rules
Dave Meltzer and I are back on Wrestling Observer Radio talking all the latest news in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter including his story on the WWE business call.
We talk about the Canelo Alvarez vs. Dmitry Bivol fight, recap UFC 274, Daniel Cormier going into the UFC Hall of Fame, and the UFC 276 card.
We also talk about AEW ratings, who the jokers might be in the Owen Cup, trios belts, Forbidden Door ticket sales, Backlash, Under Siege, and Tammy Sytch.
Click below to listen.
Timestamps:
2:40: Canelo loses
9:35: UFC 274 recap
34:24: WWE financials
51:35: Ratings
55:28: AEW Rampage thoughts
1:03:10: AEW trios titles being made
1:08:01: AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door sells out
1:11:27: WWE WrestleMania Backlash preview
1:15:08: Impact Under Siege quick notes, Tammy Sytch arrested
Cormier (22-3-0-1) retired in August 2020 following his trilogy fight with Stipe Miocic where he lost the heavyweight title. That was his second straight loss (both to Miocic) and the only time in his career he lost consecutive fights.
The winner of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix as a reserve, Cormier made his UFC debut in April 2013 with a decision over Frank Mir. He moved to light heavyweight after a win over Roy Nelson and eventually took his first loss to then-light heavyweight champion Jon Jones at UFC 182.
After Jones was stripped of the belt, he won the vacant title in a fight with Anthony Johnson. He won his next three before fighting Jones again at UFC 214 in July 2017. He lost via third round KO that night, but retained the title after Jones tested positive for PEDs and the fight was made a no contest.
Cormier defeated Miocic for the heavyweight title at UFC 226 in July 2018 to become the company’s latest double champion at the time. He successfully defended the title against Derrick Lewis before the consecutive Miocic losses.
Cormier is one of the company’s primary color analysts and also hosts shows on ESPN+. He was linked to WWE at one point for a commentary role as recently as the fall of 2020, but nothing ever came of it.
🎥 @DC_MMA's legendary road to the UFC Hall of Fame 🏆
During the UFC 274 card Saturday, the card for the aforementioned UFC 276 pay-per-view in Las Vegas was revealed featuring two title fights.
Israel Adesanya will look for the fifth defense of the middleweight title as he faces Jared Cannonier while featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will defend against former champion Max Holloway in their rescheduled trilogy fight.
The event will include a middleweight contender fight between Sean Strickland and Alex Pereira, Miesha Tate vs. Lauren Murphy, “Sugar” Sean O’Malley vs. Pedro Munhoz, Robbie Lawler vs. Bryan Barberena and more.
We have a loaded issue of the Wrestling Observer this week, with business and history features.
We update WWE financials, with comments from Nick Khan, Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon and Kristina Salen talking about the state of the company, the state of sports business, what media companies are looking at right now, AEW, plus a look at WWE revenue and profits. We also look behind the numbers at what they mean, how every category is doing and what categories the company is no longer reporting on. We also look at the decline of WWE ratings as compared to that of cable television and network television.
Also in this issue:
The new attempt at a unique concept PPV with the Triller promotion and Ben Askren vs. Jake Paul, the show, the match, the blitzed announcers, Ric Flair, comparisons to other similar things and long-term sustainability.
Kenny Omega vs Rich Swann match, followed by a story on famous title unification matches throughout pro wrestling history. We look at some of the biggest and most important matches of all-time that were two champions unifying a world title from 1920 to the present.
WrestleMania business numbers when it came to the two live shows, with real attendance, real gates and what it means.
New Smackdown announcing team, Pat McAfee talks his debut, Daniel Bryan talks his current situation and contract, thoughts on Daniel Bryan’s future, new hires and departures at WWE, change in show distribution, former star talks coming out of retirement, how the WWE & AEW shows rank among sports programming, WWE star bio released, Damien Priest talks Bad Bunny, more on Kalisto being let go, Dr. Wagner Jr. talks WWE, political reason for a winning streak, and most-watched YouTube segments on his week’s WWE programming.
A major feature on the career of Steve Austin and the A&E special, his background, how he got into wrestling, the WCW years, the Stone Cold name, life after wrestling, and what were key things not talked about on the documentary.
Mickie James garbage bag situation and the firing of Mark Carrano.
MLW’s new television deal, who else was in talks about that deal, MLW returning to shows with fans and a spinoff planned.
Coverage of this past week’s UFC show, business notes, where the top fighters are headed plus match-by-match coverage.
More detail on ratings than any other source, we have how every segment on NXT and AEW did as well as how it did with different age groups, genders and more, plus a look at all other wrestling shows of the past week.
Results of the major pro wrestling events of the past week.
ORDERING INFO: 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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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 NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw, New Japan, what the NHL deal means as far as pro wrestling goes and much more. You can send questions for the show to [email protected]
The second NHL contract looks like it will end up with Turner Broadcasting, a seven-year deal at $225 million per year. This has a ton of ramifications when it comes to both pro wrestling rights fees, as well as time slots. We’ll talk a lot more about that tonight and there is an article already written in the Observer regarding what this means for wrestling and MMA. Fox & FS 1 were thought to be the frontrunners, while NBC/USA pulled out officially today. WWE President Nick Khan on Thursday said that he thought NBCU would not be getting the NHL deal. When NBC dropped NBC Sports Network, part of the deal was to add sports programming, with the key being the NHL and NASCAR, to USA, but evidently they didn’t want to bid as high as the numbers got for a partial package.
We’re looking for your thoughts on last night’s UFC show as well as tonight’s Impact Rebellion, you can leave a thumbs up, down or middle, best and worst match for each show to [email protected]
Daniel Cormier, on his show with Ariel Helwani, said that he wanted to smash Jake Paul on Saturday but he can’t do that at work and would have gotten into trouble. He challenged Paul to an MMA fight, saying he has no interest in boxing him but if he wants to fight him, fight in mixed rules. He said he would cut to 205 and would come out of retirement for such a fight. That is not going to happen.
Raw tonight has Drew McIntyre & Braun Strowman vs. T-Bar & Mace, Miz & Elias & Jaxson Ryker vs. Damien Priest & Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods and Nia Jax & Shyana Baszler & Rhea Ripley vs Asuka & Lana & Naomi. Bobby Lashley is also scheduled for an interview.
Tickets for AEW’s Blood and Guts went on sale this morning. We don’t know how many tickets were put on sale. It was not 2,500 but they will open up to 2,500 if they have the demand. They put about 1,500 tickets on sale, or that could be off by 100 or so in either direction, and the last time I checked they were 353 tickets shy of a sellout.
Triller filed a lawsuit against 11 streaming companies and 100 individuals (not named) claiming piracy in both offering and selling their PPV. They claimed there were two million people at least who streamed it illegally and that cost them $100 million.
The company released a statement saying:
It’s shocking to think a theft so grand can be done so blatantly and brazenly and with no remorse. There is zero difference between what they did and walking into a market stealing tons of a product and selling it at a discount in the parking lot. It’s neither civilly nor criminally any different, and we are prosecuting to the fullest extent of the law. There were more than two million illegal streams, akin to hundreds of millions of dollars. Sites, mostly using Google’s YouTube, such as FILMDAILY.COM, ACCESSTVPRO.CO, enONLINE2LIVESTREAM.US, CRACKSTREAMSLIVE.COM, SPORTS-TODAY.CLUB, MY-SPORTS.CLUB, BILASPORT.COM, TRENDY CLIPS, MIKE, YOUR EXTRA, ECLIPT GAMING, ITSLILBRANDON, and others are causing significant damage not just to Triller Fight Club but content creators overall. People put a lot of hard work, time and money into creating a product for the consumer, and having it stolen and resold is terribly damaging. The good news is they are not protected by VPN masking or other firewalls as their activities are criminal and grand theft, so we will ultimately find them and prevail not just for us but for content creators in general.
Ryan Kavanaugh, co-controlling shareholder, Triller
Vice announced that the trailer for the 5/6 two-hour Dark Side of the ring season premiere on Brian Pillman will be out tomorrow.
WWE
Next week’s A&E biography will be about Randy Savage. The A&E Biography website has both the Steve Austin and Roddy Piper documentaries up.
Mickie James will be doing an interview on her Grown Ass Women podcast on YouTube on Wednesday at 5 p.m.talking about her being let go and the garbage bag story.
OTHER NOTES
A sad story about two brothers who won the New Jersey state high school tournament and their grandmother dying right after is at (thanks to Barry Werner)
Memphis Wrestling from Saturday’s TV show: Bam Bam Malone NC Action Jackson, Diana Taylor b Paris Kelly, Da Russell Twins b Ryan Rembrandt & Precious, Norman Meklakov b Justin Cole, Chris Lexx b Carter Matthews, Austin Lane b Van Vicious. They are building the 5/15 television show called the Grind City Rumble. They are doing a taping with Jerry Jarrett as a guest. The show airs at Noon every Saturday on CW 30 and on YouTube. The Twitch review show with longtime Observer subscriber Brian Tramel and RynoJB is at 1 p.m. every Saturday called Rollin Into Mempho.
Combate Global announced an all women’s show on Univision this coming Friday night called Combate Latina starting at 12:30 a.m. late Friday night. The show takes place at the Univision studios in Miami. It airs on Televisa In Mexico at 5 p.m. local time Saturday. The main event has Criszaida Adames (4-0) vs. Karen Cedillo (4-1). In the co-feature, Dulce Garcia (2-0) faces Claudia Diaz (0-2). Dulce Garcia is much better known as pro wrestler Sexy Star of AAA and Lucha Underground fame.
El Hijo de L.A. Park vs. Bu Ku Dao was announced for MLW Fusion on Wednesday night.
AAW results from Saturday night in Villa Park, IL: Ace Perry b Jake Lander, Skye Blue b Katie Arquette, Mat Fitchett b Thomas Shire, Schaff b Davey Vega, Myron Reed b Brayden Lee to keep the Heritage title, Hyan b Skye Blue 2/3 falls, Fred Yehi b Matt Justice. Next show is 5/7 at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park, IL with Mance Warner vs. Fred Yehi for the AAW heavyweight title, Myron Reed vs. Mat Fitchett for the Heritage title, Davey Vega vs. ACH, Skye Blue vs. Allysin Kay plus Ace Austin, Mad Man Fulton, Lio Rush, Laredo Kid, Jake Something, Manders, Bryden Lee, Ace Perry, Matt Justice and more.
ONE will air after Dynamite at 10 p.m. Wednesday night on TNT with Aung L N Sang (26-11) vs. Reinier de Ridder (13-0) for the light heavyweight title, Eddie Alvarez (30-8) vs. Rae Yoon Ok (14-3) and Kirill Grishenko (3-0) vs. Oumar Kane (3-0). Notable is that Shinya Aoki’s fight with Eduard Folayang will be airing on B/R Live, and not on TNT.
The Brady Roberts podcast MINT CONDITION MUSCLE has a new interview with NXT’s Franky Monet, talking about her background in fitness competitions, training under Lance Storm, being discovered by Shad Gaspard and marrying John Morrison.
During an interview with Sports Illustrated, former UFC champion Daniel Cormier spoke about whether or not a role with WWE is in his career plans now that he’s retired from the Octagon.
“We’ve been talking,” Cormier told Sports Illustrated. “We’ve spoken to some of the people over there in very, very early conversations. WWE is a company I’ve watched and loved my entire life.”
“Put me at the commentary table,” Cormier said about a potential role with WWE. “Let me call the matches for six months and tell you how great these wrestlers are in the ring. I would love that, and I wouldn’t be faking it. WWE is something I’ve loved my entire life.”
“Then, after those six months, what if I’m sitting next to Michael Cole, and Roman [Reigns] comes over and smacks the microphone out of my hand?” Cormier said. “But I’m an announcer. Will I hit him back? Then you’re asking if this will happen or not. That’s what I want, that slow build, the type of story you want to see, and your heart feels like it’s going to explode while you’re waiting for it. Give me the slow build, let it simmer.”
In the final fight of his MMA career, Cormier completed his trilogy against Stipe Miocic by losing via unanimous decision at UFC 252 last month. Prior to the fight, Cormier spoke about his post-retirement options:
When you start thinking about retirement as a whole, it’s like easy for me, especially with the job that I have to look to what’s next. I just got an offer from ESPN to work full time, not for the UFC, but for ESPN the company. I haven’t signed it yet, but we got an offer. I’ve got a ton of interest from the WWE and a lot of other things outside of mixed martial arts in the broadcast field. So that makes it very easy to look for what’s next. I try to stay in the moment, focus on what I’m doing right now. Obviously, it’s there, but I want to try to not look forward to what comes next, because what comes next for me is not like most people. I’ve got a good job and a good future.
“I’m a fan of the product, I have a tremendous amount of respect for it,” Cormier said about pro wrestling during his interview with Sports Illustrated. “So that’s where I’m at, trying to figure out where my life is after competition.”
A look at the life of James “Kamala” Harris, one of pro wrestling’s biggest stars of the 80s, and Daniel Cormier, one of the biggest MMA stars of all-time, are the lead stories in the current issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
The Kamala story goes through how he got the Kamala gimmick, who came up with the idea, the story around the video that instantly made him a star, how Kamala worked in that time but wouldn’t now, how he was as a draw against Hulk Hogan, his late life health issues, his original meeting with Bobo Brazil, how he started watching wrestling, his pre-Kamala career, going to Europe, how J.J. Dillon was a key in getting him over and a look weekly at the first Memphis run that made him a big star.
His rivalry with Andre the Giant and how it was ugly early on, the feud with Bruiser Brody and every WWF run. We look at his career peak in 1986-87 and the gates and payoffs he got, his working Mexico, his last big WWF run, and the declines of his health.
Daniel Cormier’s quest for the storybook ending, others who tried to have that ending, the greatest heavyweight of all-time, his tragic upbringing, growing up as a wrestler, competing with Cael Sanderson, his Olympic dream crushed, his MMA beginnings, his word title wins, and more building the fight with Stipe Miocic.
Also in this issue:
Return of ROH to action, what the new TV will be about, the creative involved, testing and more.
How Kevin Reilly is one of the key people who fell into place and without him there would be no AEW. We look at the changes in TNT management including a unique note about Reilly’s successor.
A scary scene at NXT tapings, Dwayne Johnson’s earnings for the year, New contracts signed in WWE, Sports ratings, U.K. ratings and Canadian ratings, Lawler 50th anniversary sow, WWE market value, and most-watched shows on WWE Network.
WWE moving TV into the Amway Center, Takeover and SummerSlam news updates and creative.
COVID updates from Japan, with many shows canceled this past week, why they were, and what this says about Japan in comparison with the U.S.
New Japan’s Jingu Stadium show for the end of the month.
WWE Network featuring independents.
Saturday’s UFC show with a complete rundown and match-by-match coverage.
Kenny Omega and Michael Nakazawa doing a lecture for students at Tokai University on sports entertainment during the COVID era, with notes on AEW profitability, ad spending, how COVID has changed the world, how the AEW audience has changed, A.J. Styles, personal goals and New Japan Pro Wrestling.
New Japan, All Japan and NOAH have their biggest tournaments of the year at the same time.
CMLL’s planned return.
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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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE
We have two weekend shows up. Last night’s show has Bryan and I talking UFC 252, Smackdown, Wednesday & Friday ratings, and other topics. We also had an afternoon discussion with Lance Storm regarding a number of different subjects.
Regarding Daria Berenato (Sonya Deville), she is said to be doing okay all things considered.
Ariel Helwani of ESPN reported that Daniel Cormier suffered a torn cornea in round three from an eye poke. Cormier fought the last two rounds of the fight without any vision in his left eye, and even won round four under those circumstances. Realistically the fight should have been stopped and medical checks and balances should be a lot better than fans at home and announcers making it clear he can’t see and the fight still not ending. Cormier won’t immediately need surgery but the situation is being monitored.
As far as the judging went, 88% of media scores went to Miocic and 12% for Cormier. Most were 48-47, however the actual judges had 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47. Derek Clearly had Cormier only winning round one. Sal D’Amato had Cormier only winning round four. Junichiro Kamijo had Cormier winning rounds one and four.
UFC 252 had about 2.35 million searches, which is the level of a pretty major show, but not a 1 million buy show. UFC 252 was the second most searched term on the Internet yesterday at 2 million, trailing only Robert Trump’s death. This number would cover searches for Daniel Cormier and Stipe Miocic. Other top searches were Sean O’Malley at No. 5 with 200,000, Jared Rozenstruik at No. 7 with 100,000 and Merab Dvalishvili at No. 18 with 50,000. During the past week, there were no other boxing, wrestling or MMA searches. My gut says that Kamala searches on Sunday that were near the top were at least some for Kamala, as opposed to Kamala Harris, that they were credited to.
Jon Jones last night was tweeting about how he wanted Stipe Miocic. Really Francis Ngannou deserves the next shot at Miocic, but if Jones beats Dominick Reyes in a rematch, he should be able to then face the champion should he want that fight. Jones is clearly goading for another Daniel Cormier fight, saying that you can’t go out with a loss in a show with no fans.
Based on what we’re told, the 8/22 Dynamite show will be airing at 6 p.m. on TSN 3 and midnight on TSN 1 that night.
WWE
Independent content from Evolve, wXw and Progress debuted yesterday on the WWE Network.
The Miz on Instagram noted that he and his wife have a new television series in development which would be a joint venture of Mad Rose Productions, their company and WWE Studios.
The Miz’s TV show Cannonball airs tonight on NBC at 6 p.m. Eastern. They will also air another episode next Sunday.
A WWE Timeline special on the Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart feud is on the WWE Network.
WWE Network News reported that the WWE Network will be adding Superstars shows from 3/20/93 to 5/22/93 tomorrow.
UFC
Sportsbetting.ag has released these prospective odds:
Stipe Miocic +180 vs. Francis Ngannou -210
Stipe Miocic +130 vs. Jon Jones -150
Jon Jones +125 vs. Francis Ngannou -145
BetOnline.ag:
Stipe Miocic +190 vs. Francis Ngannou -225
Stipe Miocic +155 vs. Jon Jones -180
Jon Jones +105 vs. Francis Ngannou -125
CWE from Friday night in St. Albert, Alberta: Gabriel Lestat b Travis Cole, Alix Zwicker b Kylie Morgan, Shaun Martens b Lumberjack Larry-DQ to keep the HIW Grand Championship, Bobby Sharp b Kevy Chevy, Chris Perish b Danny Duggan, Marky & Jude Hawkins b AJ Sanchez & Kevin O’Doyle. Next show in St Albert is 10/24.
The Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling Facebook has an interview with Gerald Brisco talking about The Funks, Hulk Hogan and St. Louis Wrestling.
Championship Wrestling from Hollywood will be taping at the Oceanview Pavilion with safety measures in place including mandatory COVID-19 testing for talent and staff. Fans are not allowed in. Multiple episodes are being filmed for distribution starting in September. They will be doing similar procedures as New Japan did for its U.S. tapings.
