Florida governor Ron DeSantis’ decision to deem “professional sports and media production with a national audience” as essential businesses, clearing the path for WWE, AEW, and UFC to run events, drew criticism Tuesday with Linda McMahon coming into focus.
WWE resumed their regular weekly TV schedule at the Orlando, FL, Performance Center Monday, just three days after Vince McMahon changed his mind on the doorstep of a multi-day taping that would have covered the company for weeks.
Questions were raised at how they were able to make that decision given the state’s previous order that only essential businesses remain open. On Monday, that was answered as it was revealed during a Monday press conference with Orange Country Mayor Jerry Demings that WWE was now considered essential per the governor’s office.
“With some conversation with the governor’s office regarding the governor’s order, they were deemed an essential business. And so, therefore, they were allowed to remain open,” he said.
The state government issued an executive order on April 9th that all professional sports could return to business if the location was closed to the public. Coverage of the decision was featured in a variety of news outlets that don’t normally cover wrestling like CNBC, The Guardian, USA Today, and more.
Stephanie Coueignoux and Jon Alba of Central Florida’s Spectrum News 13 performed a further investigation into the situation Tuesday, noting that the Orange County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to the PC in both March and April, advising WWE they were not in compliance with the previously existing order and would have to close down.
However, Spectrum News 13, providing a timeline, found that the change of heart came on the same day as a pro-President Donald Trump super PAC (political action committee) announced that they were going to spend $18.5 million in both the Tampa and Orlando markets. That super PAC is headed up by Linda McMahon, Vince McMahon’s wife, and the former head of Trump’s Small Business Administration. DeSantis has been known as an ally of Trump, a WWE Hall-of-Famer and friends with Vince.
Vince’s decision to resume live WWE programming at the PC happened the next day.
A spokesperson for the super PAC told ABC News that the connection was an example of “looking to connect some sort of dots that simply don’t exist” and that the $18.5 million ad buy was planned more than a week before the updated executive order was issues.
In a statement to Spectrum 13, DeSantis’ office said WWE was critical to Florida’s economy and the employees at those locations benefit. WWE was set to hold WrestleMania in Tampa this year, generating millions for the local economy, before having to move it to the PC. No return date was announced as next year’s event is scheduled for Los Angeles, CA.
On Tuesday afternoon, Trump said at a press conference that Vince and UFC president Dana White would join a group of sports commissioners and dozens of other business leaders in a variety of industries in helping figure out how to get things “re-opened” in the country.
We’re looking for reports on the non-Raw matches, dark or Main Event stuff from Everett, WA tonight as well as from the NXT shows in San Antonio, Houston and Oklahoma City and the Pro Wrestling Revolution show in San Francisco on Saturday to [email protected]
We’re also looking for your thoughts on Stomping Grounds last night, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]” target=”_blank”>[email protected]
Raw is Monday night from Everett, WA. Announced so far is Ricochet vs. A.J. Styles in a non-title match, plus Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre & Shane McMahon.
NEW JAPAN FROM SENDAI AT 5:30 A.M. EASTERN MONDAY ON NEW JAPAN WORLD
Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Yuji Nagata & Yota Tsuji
Ren Narita & Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe & Kota Ibushi vs. Tetsuya Naito & Evil & Sanada & Bushi & Shingo Takagi
Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa vs. Juice Robinson & Mikey Nicholls non-title
Sho & Yoh & Toa Henare & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jay White & Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens & Taiji Ishimori
More than two months removed from the first women’s WrestleMania main event, the WWE women’s division is struggling to regain the momentum it had earlier this year.
In a rematch from Money in the Bank, Becky Lynch will defend her Raw Women’s Championship against Lacey Evans at Stomping Grounds. Bayley and Alexa Bliss will look to improve upon their underwhelming feud from 2017 as they face off for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at the pay-per-view.
A look at what we can learn from the ticket sales to AEW’s All Out show, the ticket demand, how it compares with WrestleMania’s and major UFC events, details on the number, why the secondary market tickets are so limited, why ticket demand was so strong out of the block, reaction of the ticket industry, details on the process used for selling the ticket and what the number mean, and rate of sales for the biggest WrestleMania.
Also have a look at WWE Stomping Grounds, including ticket demand, lineup, thoughts on the matches, interest in Super Showdown and more.
Read a preview of the G-1 Climax tournament, with the lineups, who are the favorites, different storyline directions, what matches will air on television, live broadcast times of every show on the tour and more.
Take a look at Adrian “Lionheart” McCallum and his recovery from a broken neck to become a U.K. star, and the sad ending of his life.
Also look at cities being considered for WrestleMania, what city is a favorite for the next two years, value of WWE to FOX and FOX Friday numbers, WWE gets an Espy, full card for next Takeover, update on XFL, death of AAF and how they are related, more Ric Flair legal issues, funny stories on WWE names, new movie with WWE stars, new TV deal, WWE salaries and revenue, and a WWE star honored.
This issue has a complete rundown of Bellator in Madison Square Garden, the plight of Aaron Pico, notes on the new fighters, pushed fighters who lost and match-by-match coverage.
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MONDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back talking Raw, Seth Rollins, Will Ospreay, and whatever other news comes up tonight with Wrestling Observer Radio as wellas taking your e-mail questions to [email protected].
Expect some different ideas tonight for Raw to get around the new ban of wrestling during commercial breaks.
You know how this goes, but it’ll all go down tonight, but the planned main event as of this moment for Extreme Rules in Philadelphia on 7//14 is Baron Corbin & Lacey Evans vs. Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch. With three weeks of TV until the PPV, I’d expect more of the show than usual will be out for a day-after show. Tonight’s show should also get the post-PPV ratings bump so the rule of thumb is to not expect any record low level stuff this week.
New Japan has ordered buysumotickets.com to stop facilitating New Japan Fan Club memberships to people from outside Japan. The fan club is supposed to be for Japan, but fans had gone through sumotickets to join by using proxy Japanese addresses. New Japan has indicated they will be starting an International Fan Club. This avenue had been the best way for foreigners to get premium seats at the major shows. It’s a major blow to the super hardcore American fans that have been flying over for the big events.
Joey Janela should be good to go for Saturday’s Fyter Fest match with Jon Moxley. His hand was bruise and swelled up badly over the weekend in a match in Australia.
WWE
A lot of people have been talking about this document just released from 2016 when the Trump campaign was to research and vet Linda McMahon regarding being appointed to the cabinet. (thanks to Corey Lieb and Christpher Cruise)
Stomping Grounds got 200,000 Google searches yesterday. That’s usual B show numbers, ahead of Super Showdown. It was 7th yesterday. The update for Saturday is that The Paulie Malignaggi vs. Artem Lobov fight was 2nd with 200,000 and the UFC show was fifth with 50,000. The Women’s World Cup game had 5 million on Sunday and the India vs Afghanistan cricket game was first on Saturday.
UFC
A significant light heavyweight fight between ranked fighters between Jim Crute of Australia and Misha Cirkunov of Canada has been added to a 9/14 show in Vancouver, BC.
Melissa Gato has pulled out of her 7/6 fight in Las Vegas. She was to face Julia Avila, who wi9ll now face Pannie Kianzad, who had been released by UFC but is being brought back for this late replacement fight.
Martin Day pulled out of his 7/13 fight with Benito Lopez in Sacramento due to knee surgery. Vince Morales is the name going around as the replacement, although that is not confirmed.
Impact has announced a partnership with the MLS team FC Dallas with Brian Cage attending the 7/4 game at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX. Cage at halftime will attempt to score on a penalty kick against FC Dallas mascot Tex Hooper, the bull. He will be doing other promotion for the team. This will build Impact’s 7/7 PPV in Dallas at Gilley’s Dallas where Cage defends against Michael Elgin. Impact officials say that Cage,who suffered a hip injury in Australia over the weekend, is good to go for the PPV show.
Tickets are now on sale for the first day of the New Japan Super J Cup on 8/22 in Tacoma, WA at the Temple Theater. Tickets are on sale at www.njpw1972.com/53769 Defy also has a show featuring some New Japan talent on 8/23 in the same building and tickets will go on sale on 7/5 at 10 a.m. Defy also runs 7/26 and 7/27 with the S8XGP tournament at Seattle’s Washington Hall with Tama Tonga, L.A. Park, Brian Cage, Joey Janela and Artemis Spencer with tickets at www.defywrestling.com
Nick Gage debuts with AAA on a 7/12 AAA/EMW show in Tijuana.
OTT from Sunday in Dublin, Ireland: Puma King b Justy, Jimmy Havoc & Raven Creed b CT Flexor & Valkyrie, Darren Kearney & LJ Cleary & Nathan Martin b Martina & Angel Cruz & B Cool, Scotty Davis b Darby Allin, Bandido b Rey Hours, Mark Haskins b Terry Thatcher via decision to win the gender neutral title, Charlie Sterling & Sha Samuels & Zack Gibson b Aidan Epic & Capt. Sexsea & Fabulous Nicky, Jordan Devlin b Sean Guinness to keep the OTT title, Walter b David Starr via referee decision (thanks to Paul Sosnowski)
PWA from Saturday night in Edmonton before 350 fans: Above Average Joe’s b The League in a submission match to win Canadian tag titles, Reid Matthews kept PWA Mayhem title in elimination tables match over Colton Kelly, fxBobby Sharp, Kenneth Anthony, Sky Flyer Jeff Tyler and Maxton Flexwell, Omen Gabriel & Mephisto b Space Mountain, Zoe Sager won four-way to become PWA women’s champ over Alex Zwicker, Kylie Morgan and Kat Von Heez, Shawn Spears b Shaun Moore to win PWA Commonwealth title, Original Marky won three-way over Sheik Shaz and Michael Allen Richard Clark to win PWA title, Teddy Hart b Michael Richard Blais in 40:00 in what was said to be an incredible match (thanks to Ross Hart)
Michael Elgin, Konnan and Lanny Poffo will all be at the CWE show on Friday in Winnipeg at Rookie’s Sports Bar.
WrestleCircus from last night in Austin, TX: Daga won four-way over Low Rider, Teddy Hart and Aerostar, Will Allday & Alex Gracia b Anthony Greene & Scarlett Bordeaux, Colin Delaney (who was doing the announcing and was a late in-ring replacement for injured Colt Cabana) b Jordan Len-X, Gentleman Jervis b Sami Callihan to keep the Sideshow title, Dezmond Xavier won three-way over JT Dunn and Jake Atlas, Zachary Wentz & Trey Miguel won three-way over Logan Riegel & Sterling Riegel and Private Party, Peter Avalon b Orange Cassidy (Leva Bates was at ringside and dressed and acted like Orange Cassidy), Scorpio Sky b Tessa Blanchard to keep the Ringmaster title in a very good match after outside interference. Fans were thanking Blanchard when Sami Callihan hit the ring and laid out Blanchard with a piledriver, and then Daga made the save (thanks to Shannon Walsh and wrestlingwithdemons.net)
Rise will be doing an all-women’s show on 9/1, the day after AEW All Out, at 5 p.m. at the Ealges Club in Berwyn, IL. There will be an eight-woman single elimination one-night tournament.
Sendai Girls vs. All Out from today i Tokyo: Akino b Sakura Hirota, Dash Chisako b Shunma Katsumata, Chihiro Hashimoto b Yuki Iino, Meiko Satomura d Konosuke Takeshita over 20:00, Takeshita & Katsumata & Iino b Chisako & Satomura & Hashimoto to win the KOD trios titles (thanks to Shannon Walsh)
Very interesting note is that Impact is sending Booker T to their media day on Wednesday for Press Pass on the Impact YouTube and Facebook page. Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling is working with Impact for a show on 7/6 in Houston on Twitch. It’s notable that Booker T was on the preshow panel for Stomping Grounds yesterday.
LFA on 8/2 in Dallas at The Bomb Factory on AXS TVG live features Levi Mowles (11-4) vs. Adrian Yanez (8-3) and Hailey Cowan (3-1), a former Acrobatics and tumbling All-American at Baylor faces Lisa Mauldin (3-1).
In what was a formality given how the process had gone up until this point, Linda McMahon was confirmed as administrator of President Donald Trump’s Small Business Administration on Tuesday morning.
The United States Senate voted on McMahon’s nomination and confirmed her by a vote of 81-19. She was previously approved out of the Senate’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee by an 18-1 vote.
McMahon received a healthy amount of bipartisan support, though all 19 of the votes cast against her came from the left. Independent Vermont Senator and former Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders joined 18 Democrats in opposing her nomination.
In the committee hearing that took place last month, McMahon largely faced cordial questions about her view of the role of the SBA and how she would work with members of the Senate in her position. WWE’s business practices were only brought up briefly, with recently elected Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth noting that she discussed her concerns with McMahon when meeting with her.
McMahon was chosen to lead the SBA by then President-elect Trump last December. The McMahon family have been longtime friends and occasional business associates of Trump, including donating $7 million to political action committees supporting his presidential campaign.
ormer WWE CEO Linda McMahon was named by president-elect Donald Trump to his cabinet as the administrator of the Small Business Administration on 12/7.
“Linda has a tremendous background and is widely recognized as one of the country’s top female executives advising businesses around the globe,” Trump said. “She helped grow the WWE from a modest 13-person operation to a publicly traded global enterprise with more than 800 employees in offices worldwide. Linda is going to be a phenomenal leader and champion for small businesses and unleash America’s entrepreneurial spirit across the country.”
McMahon, 68, had donated $6.5 million to Rebuilding America Now, a super PAC that supported Trump’s presidential bid.
President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Linda McMahon for a role in his administration.
Trump’s transition team confirmed on Wednesday that they have tapped McMahon to head the country’s Small Business Administration.
“Our small businesses are the largest source of job creation in our country,” McMahon said in a statement. “I am honored to join the incredibly impressive economic team that President-elect Trump has assembled to ensure that we promote our country’s small businesses and help them grow and thrive.”
“Linda has a tremendous background and is widely recognized as one of the country’s top female executives advising businesses around the globe,” Trump said. “She helped grow WWE from a modest 13-person operation to a publicly traded global enterprise with more than 800 employees in offices worldwide.”
Shortly after Trump was elected, reports surfaced that McMahon was under consideration for a job in his administration. Initial reports suggested that she could be appointed as Secretary of Commerce, but that appointment went to billionaire Wilbur Ross.
Trump and the McMahon family have long had a relationship, with the McMahons contributing significantly to his Presidential campaign. Trump has also been involved with WWE and is a member of the company’s Hall of Fame. Trump and Vince McMahon were involved in an angle against each other that led to WrestleMania 23 drawing a record buy rate.
Linda McMahon was previously unsuccessful in two US Senate bids in Connecticut earlier this decade.
Linda McMahon, the wife of Vince McMahon and a former President of WWE, is under strong consideration for the role of Secretary of Commerce it was reported today by NBC Connecticut.
The story listed sources both close to McMahon and the transition team of President-elect Donald Trump.
Trump on Friday had announced a transition team that would include future Vice President Mike Pence, Newt Gingrich, and Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama. Trump has already announced Reince Priebus as Chief of Staff and Breitbart’s Stephen Bannon as Chief Strategist and senior counselor.
The McMahons were major contributors to Trump’s campaign, although Linda McMahon heavily campaigned at first for Chris Christie to win the nomination, but later switched her allegiances to Trump when Christie bowed out and supported Trump.
The McMahons have a long history of working with Trump, dating back to the fourth and fifth WrestleMania, and later Trump did appearances on Raw and was the key figure in drawing a pro wrestling record PPV number in 2007 with his hair up against Vince McMahon’s hair in the Battle of the Billionaires at WrestleMania with Bobby Lashley representing Trump and Umaga representing McMahon.
