All these years later, Mike Tyson can still draw on pay-per-view.
Boxing Scene’s Dan Rafael reported that Saturday’s Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. exhibition match brought in 1.2 million buys on linear/satellite TV and through Fite.TV. MMA Fighting reported that number could end up being even higher — a massive win for Triller, a new social media platform that promoted the show.
The year’s biggest combat sports event in terms of PPV buys is July’s UFC 251, headlined by welterweight champion Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal topping an overall strong main card. The ESPN+ exclusive brought in a reported 1.3 million buys which means the Tyson-Jones Jr. fight is in striking distance of surpassing it.
It also would make it the biggest boxing PPV of the year ahead of Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder II that did in the range of 800,000-850,000 buys.
The fact the 54-year-old Tyson is still a draw decades after he routinely drew over 1 million buys with the likes of Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Frank Bruno, Bruce Seldon, and even Peter McNeeley in his first fight after getting out of prison is impressive. Following the draw with the 51-year-old Jones Jr. Saturday, he promised he would do more exhibitions and has frequently talked about a third fight with Holyfield. It was his first time in the ring since June 2005.
On the pro wrestling front, Tyson appeared to be building toward an AEW match with Chris Jericho as they got into a pull-apart brawl in May. Since then, the angle hasn’t been revived but AEW could be waiting until fans can be in attendance at shows again.
The $50 PPV also featured YouTube star Jake Paul vs. former NBA player Nate Robinson, additional boxing matches, and musical performances by Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa. Paul’s brother, Logan, was also part of a 1 million+ buy boxing pay-per-view when he faced musician KSI in 2018.
We’ve got a heavy-historical double-issue of the Wrestling Observer out this week. Our lead story looks at the career and final appearance of The Undertaker. We look at his famous matches, the WrestleMania streak, how long it’s been since he actually worked a full schedule, the dream match that did happen and why, and the one that never happened and why.
Also in this issue:
Survivor Series with match-by-match coverage, star ratings, poll results and interest level of the show.
The $39 million settlement of a lawsuit against WWE, the largest settlement of a lawsuit in pro wrestling history, why it was settled, testimony key witnesses were going to make, who sued, what the judge in the case said, crazy facts about the case, and testimony on what really happened in Saudi Arabia the day the WWE talent couldn’t get out of the country.
A story on the life of Bob Ryder, the start of TNA, the business numbers behind the start and how it got so deep in debt, what saved the company in 2005 and 2015 and Impact releases a statement on his death.
How Dana White is expecting a packed house for a UFC show sooner than you think and how that ties into what has been booked.
Major front office changes in WWE, and background of the decisions and people who are in and out, Xavier Woods and WWE negotiate a mainstream deal, NXT Takeover lineup notes, Lana documentary, Undertaker talks most famous matches and how Vince talked him into ending the streak, how WWE & AEW TV shows did this past week as compared to major sorts, U.K. Heritage Cup, former college football star has WWE interest, value of WWE stock right now and top ten most-watched shows on the WWE Network from last week.
Full coverage of UFC 255, details behind the show, match-by-match coverage and poll results.
The induction of Marc Ratner into the UFC Hall of Fame. We look at his background in boxing, his connection to pro wrestling, and his role in okaying an angle that literally changed the power structure of pro wrestling where Vince McMahon needed his approval. We look at why two different proposed dream match involving WWE stars didn’t happen as well as how Floyd Mayweather’s unbeaten streak stayed in tact due to a decision by Ratner as well as his role in making UFC treated as a sport, and how UFC was able to get Ratner to join the promotion.
2019 Business Year in review, with the biggest attendances, biggest PPV numbers, who headlined the most major shows, UFC business, WWE business and what Becky Lynch did in 2019 that no woman in the history of pro wrestling had ever come close to.
An updated list of the biggest drawing cards in pro wrestling history, comparing Jim Londos with Hulk Hogan, who Sam Muchnick said were the biggest draws ever, where Hogan ranked with Austin and Rock, and every annual attendance record from 1931 to the present and what record is likely never to be beaten.
NOAH’s Pro Wrestling Chronicle show and the Go Shiozaki ivs. Katsuhiko Nakajima main event.
A feature on the seven different Triple Crown award winners of the last 40 years, as well as those who came one step from doing so.
Stats for MVP, Most Outstanding, Best on interviews, Best Tag Team and others over the past 40 years as well as who seems to deserve more Hall of Fame consideration.
A feature on European villain Klaus Kauroff, who passed away this past week.
Television business, looking at stats not available elsewhere to get the deepest read into how shows are doing, what categories are doing well and how shows compare with previous weeks and one year ago.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE
Our weekend Observer radio is up on the site talking about last night’s UFC, Smackdown and several other subjects.
The Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. exhibition was gigantic mainstream-wise. The fight did 12 million Google searches, and there were another 5 million for Nate Robinson and 100,000 for Badou Jack. No card in a long time has hit numbers like this. The numbers were bigger than Conor McGregor UFC fights and even bigger than Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm was. It was multiples of WrestleMania.
Former WWE announcer Mauro Ranallo was doing the Tyson-Jones broadcast last night. Al Bernstein was supposed to be doing the show, but he contracted COVID-19.
The only other combat sport related stuff that made the top 20 this past week was the death of David Prowse, the actor who played the physical character of Darth Vader in Star Wars, at 550,000. And UFC’s show last night, as weak as it was, still charted with 100,000 searches. While not covered in any of the news stories on the death of David Prowse, he was a pro wrestler in the U.K. during the 60s and 70s. Even with his notable size and physique, he was not a major star which is why the connection has rarely been made.
The former girlfriend of Alberto Rodriguez (Alberto El Patron) has retracted her statements regarding his allegedly beating and sexually assaulting her in May. She offered an apology to the Rodriguez family. This pretty likely will end the criminal case against him. There is obviously a lot more to this. Rodriguez was scheduled to go to trial on this case on 1/25. The woman wrote, “I apologize to the Rodriguez Del Rio family for the damages caused by my errors.”
The New Japan tag team tournament continues at 4:30 a.m. Eastern tomorrow from Korakuen Hall:
Satoshi Kojima & Tomoaki Honma vs. Yota Tsuji & Yuji Nagata
Jeff Cobb & Great O’Khan vs. Evil & Yujiro Takahashi
Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi vs. Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare vs Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano
Sanada & Shingo Takagi vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi vs. Juice Robinson & David Finlay
WWE
There is a new book out called “Dwayne The Rock Johnson: The People’s Champion – From WWE to Hollywood” at Amazon and other book outlets.
UFC
Clay Guida vs. Michael Johnson is scheduled for the 2/6 show.
Ronaldo Jacare Souza vs. Kevin Holland has been added to the 12/12 PPV show. Holland was scheduled to headline this coming Saturday against Jack Hermansson, but tested positive for COVID-19 and Holland was moved back one week. Hermansson’s new main event opponent is Marvin Vettorl, who was scheduled to face Souza on 12/12 but agreed to take the fight as the main event for 12/5.
OTHER NOTES
Lots of people raving about today’s Hiromu Takahashi vs. Robbie Eagles match from Korakuen Hall as part of the Super Junior tournament, as well as Taiji Ishimori vs. Bushi.
A documentary called “Sweet Daddy Siki,” after the 60s and 70s star Reginald Siki, is now playing on Amazon Prime. Siki stars in the movie with Bret Hart, who grew up idolizing him, and Adam “Edge” Copeland. Siki later became a country-western singer. He was a major drawing card in his heyday.
CWE is scheduling a tour that will start with a New Year’ Eve show called the Super Jobber Cup in Winnipeg, plus shows 1/2 in Morden, Manitoba, 1/2 in Gladstone, Manitoba, 1/7 in Calgary, 1/8 in Red Deer, Alberta, 1/9 in Grande Prairie, Alberta and 1/10 in St. Albert, Alberta. Of course off of this is subject to change.
Wrestler/reporter Israel Velazquez aka Heavy Boy has a Go Fund Me to cover the costs of surgery to remove one of his kidneys which has a tumor. He also recently had COVID which has left his lungs badly damaged. He is a writer for the SuperLuchas magazine. More info here.
Kevin Nash is starring in a movie called “COVID-19 Invasion” according to IMDB that will be filmed in Longview, TX.
In an exhibition boxing match Saturday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. went to a draw.
While the result isn’t official because it was an exhibition, the bout was scored by three former WBC judges (Chad Dawson, Christy Martin, Vinny Pazienza) for entertainment purposes.
The 54-year-old Tyson hadn’t stepped into a ring since June 2005 while the 51-year-old Jones Jr. hadn’t fought since February 2018.
The fight was held over eight two minute rounds with 12 oz. gloves.
Asked afterward if he would entertain fighting in a non-exhibition format if he could get licensed, Tyson didn’t seem interested and would rather do exhibitions like this to raise money for charities and awareness. He did say he would definitely do this again.
Jones Jr. said he would have to talk to his family about whether to embark on another fighting endeavor but Tyson was fully in support of him keeping at it.
All things considered, Tyson looked good at points and was aggressive during the bout while Jones managed to sneak in some shots while showing none of the speed of his heyday.
The lead-up to the match was somewhat marred by how the California State Athletic Commission was going to handle the fight, laying out strict orders about not going for knockouts and immediate bout stoppages due to blood, causing the fight promoter to have to do damage control to maintain interest.
In the co-main event, YouTube celebrity Jake Paul knocked out former NBA player Nate Robinson cold in the second round in what became a viral moment of sorts. The card also featured other boxing bouts and performances by Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa.
The broadcast team included former WWE/NXT announcer Mauro Ranallo, UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, “Sugar” Ray Leonard, and Snoop Dogg himself.
The reasons behind Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia and Gerry Cardinale buying the XFL in bankruptcy court, the new WWE President and how television viewership of all the major pro wrestling shows has changed since the pandemic started are the lead stories in this week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer. Newsletter.
We look at the timeline of the XFL purchase, financials behind it, the goals, can the goals be achieved, why Dwayne Johnson is key, what Johnson is trying to do with the league that Vince McMahon couldn’t, and why this is such a difficult time to do so and why the interest level was what it was.
The new issue also covers:
WWE’s hiring of Nick Khan as President and Chief Revenue Officer, where he comes from, his connection with wrsetling, his connections in sports, the value of his contract, and the specific strongest value he brings.
We go through every wrestling show with notes on viewership overall and in demos, who is losing and at what pace. We look at what is turning viewers away, what is keeping viewers, and what show actually has increased viewers in an age group and what this says, the key takes from the patterns of gains and losses.
The return of pro wrestling to Mexico City and the restrictions that have been put in place.
The issues with unionizing wrestlers as well as Equity on treatmet of women in U.K. pro wrestling.
Updates on the major U.S. pro wrestling shows over the next month.
The NBA playoffs affecting the AEW schedule in August and September.
Rey Mysterio and contract talks.
Notes on furloughed WWE employees, chaos backstage at WWE tapings, WWE developmental and NXT talent and training, News from the Saudi Arabia lawsuit, behind Raw Underground, update on WWE draft, NXT writers update, Canadian ratings, Ali talks his situation, new WWE sigings, upcoming TV matches, and the most-watched shows on WWE Network.
A feature on Rollerball Mark Rocco, the best U.K. wrestler of his era.
This past week’s UFC show.
The migration of the audience and what days they watch wrestling, and the one demo that is holding firm to Friday in a big way.
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.
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].
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 NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight taking the death of James “Kamala” Harris, Raw, more business trends and taking your questions that can be sent to [email protected].
UFC fighter Geoff Neal revealed this past week had a major health scare and almost died, and spent a week in the hospital and needed dialysis. He’s home and doing better, but he’s out of his 8/29 scheduled fight with Neil Magny. Robbie Lawler will be facing Magny instead.
The Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. exhibition fight and PPV show scheduled for 9/12 and it now looks to be taking place on 11/28 according to a story in MMA Fighting. I wonder how that works out for AEW as they are looking at a late November PPV date.
Not a lot promoted ahead of time for Raw. This show was taped last Monday. Ric Flair is there for the Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens match. Bayley vs. Asuka will face and if Asuka wins, she faces Sasha Banks at SummerSlam. There will be a contract signing opening the show with Seth Rollins vs. Dominik Mysterio. And Mickie James returns. She’s been out of action 14 months after knee reconstruction surgery. She’s been ready for months to return. There will no doubt be a bunch of Redemption fun and Raw Underground as they try to keep the teenager ratings gains from last week.
There has been a GoFundMe set up for funeral expenses and family help for the family of James “Kamala Harrris. For more information you can check out the page here.
The Seadlinnng promotion announced that tomorrow’s show has been canceled. A number of women on the show worked a weekend Pro Wrestling WAVE show in Japan where one of the wrestlers who was on the show later tested positive for COVID.
WWE
NXT on Wednesday has Karrion Kross vs. Danny Burch, and Kushida vs. Cameron Grimes vs. ? with the winner going to the North American title ladder match at Takeover and the person who doesn’t get pinned going into a singles match the following Wednesday for another spot in the five-man ladder match.
FS1 will be airing the 2019 SummerSlam show with Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins, Kofi Kingston vs. Randy Orton, Shane McMahon vs. Kevin Owens, Becky Lynch vs. Natalya, A.J. Styles vs. Ricochet, Bayley vs. Ember Moon, Finn Balor vs. Bray Wyatt, Bill Goldberg vs. Dolph Ziggler and Charlotte Flair vs. Trish Stratus.
The WWE Network has added Kamala content from a number of different promotions including WWF, Mid South, Mid Atlantic, Mid Atlantic, World Class and other promotions.
Bret Hart will be on The Bump this week.
UFC
Zabit Magomedsharipov, who was scheduled to headline the 8/29 show against Yair Rodriguez, is now off the show. Rodriguez pulled out due to a injury and Magomedsharipov has returned to Russia. By returning, he won’t be able to come back for a fight by that date.
Bryan Barbarena vs. Anthony Ivy has been added to the 9/12 show in Las Vegas.
Tomorrow night’s Dana White Contenders Series lineup. The show airs at 8 p.m. Eastern every Tuesday night on ESPN+
Dustin Stoltzfus vs. Joe Pyfer – middleweight
Adrian Yanez vs. Brady Huang – bantamweight
Vanessa Demopoulos vs Cory McKenna – strawweight
TJ Laramie vs. Daniel Swain – featherweight
Anthony Adams vs. Impa Kasanganay – middleweights
AEW
The AEW women’s tag team tournament has two matches tonight as Dasha Kuret (Dasha Gonzalez) & Rachael Ellering face Ivelisse & Diamante plus one other match.
It will also be interesting to gauge the ratings this week on Wednesday. AEW did its best mark since March last week and beat both Raw and Smackdown in 18-34, the first time it beat either show in the same week let alone both, which is more amazing because of the huge edge Smackdown has been having on a network.
This week’s show has Chris Jericho vs Orange Cassidy as the likely main event, plus Kenny Omega & Adam Page defend the tag titles against Luchasaurus & Jungle Boy,Young Bucks vs. Stu Grayson & Evil Uno, the FTR tag team celebration with Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson, and Cody vs. Scorpio Sky for the TV title.
Dark for tomorrow night:
Private Party vs. Brian Pillman Jr. & Griff Garrison
Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian vs. Butcher & Blade
Alex Chamberlain vs. Shawn Spears
Rey Fenix vs. Lee Johnson
Michael Stevens. vs. Kip Sabian
Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus & Marko Stunt vs. Aaron Solow & Pineapple Pete & Corey Hollis
Austin & Billy Gunn vs. M-BAdu & Shawn Dean
Dustin Rhodes & QT Marshall vs. Jack Evans & Angelico
MISCELLANEOUS
Abema.TV has a special free airing of today’s NOAH 20th anniversary show that featured a 60:00 draw with Go Shiozaki vs. Kenou in a title vs. title match plus Keiji Muto vs. Kaito Kiyomiya. (thanks to Jose Gonzalez)
RevPro has the first major show back in the U.K. scheduled for 8/23 at 8 p.m. BST on FITE TV with a women’s main event of Gisele Shaw vs. Jamie Hayter for the British women’s title plus Will Ospreay & Michael Oku vs. Ricky Knight Jr.(who has great potential) & Kyle Fletcher.
The final episode of this season of Titan Games with Dwayne Johnson airs tonight at 8 p.m. on NBC.
The documentary “You Cannot Kill David Arquette” is being released on 8/28. The movie is about Arquette’s recent return to pro wrestling doing independent shows around the country. He will be doing media this month to promote the release.
Dave Bautista was on Friday night’s episode of Room 104 on HBO playing a troubled retired pro wrestler (thanks to Joe Puccio)
Very interesting story on the former Mad Maxine, Jeannie Mjoseth, and her new book which is a novel about pro wrestling based on her career, and her thoughts on Fabulous Moolah, her trainer. (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)
It appears the expected AEW in-ring debut of Mike Tyson won’t be happening prior to Labor Day as as the boxing great and mainstream sports star will instead be returning to the ring against another former great.
Yahoo’s Kevin Iole reported Thursday that the 54-year-old will return to action after retiring in 2005 against multi-division champion Roy Jones Jr. in an eight-round exhibition match set for September 12th at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
The TV distribution platform is unknown at this time, but is likely set for pay-per-view given the names involved.
Iole said he heard some MMA vs. boxing fights will be on the undercard but James Toney vs. Tito Ortiz is not one of them as Ortiz told California athletic commissioner Andy Foster there’s no truth to that rumor.
Foster said both men will likely wear 12 oz. gloves and won’t be looking to “take each other’s heads off.”
Rumors of a Tyson return started earlier this year when clips of an in-shape Tyson training surfaced on social media. In doing media for an event earlier this year, UFC president Dana White said he heard Tyson was definitely coming back against a big name even though he wished he would stay retired.
After back-to-back losses to Evander Holyfield, including one where he infamously bit par of Holyfield’s ear off, Tyson’s final six years of his career were a bizarre mix of wins, losses, and no contests to no names and a eighth round knockout defeat at the hands of Lennox Lewis. Tyson ended on a two fight losing streak to Danny Williams and Kevin McBride.
The 51-year-old Jones Jr. hasn’t fought in two years after racking up a 66-9 career record with much of the last decade against no names.
Tyson had appeared at AEW Double or Nothing this May, presenting the first-ever TNT title to Cody Rhodes. The Wednesday afterward on Dynamite, he and an entourage got in a pull apart brawl with Chris Jericho and the Inner Circle which was expected to lead to a singles match at some point.
