DAILY UPDATE
Latest News
WWE Raw ratings up for taped show from London
WWE SmackDown & 205 Live TV taping spoilers from London
Lars Sullivan fined by WWE, will complete sensitivity training
DJZ officially reports to WWE Performance Center
Von Erichs to team with Tom Lawlor at MLW TV tapings
NJPW Best of the Super Juniors night two results: Taguchi vs. YOH
WWE Raw video highlights: Raw’s final build to Money in the Bank
Bret Hart vs. Tom Magee ‘Holy Grail’ results and recap
Sami Zayn replacing Braun Strowman at WWE Money in the Bank
Report: Max Holloway-Frankie Edgar title fight on tap for UFC 240
Latest Audio
WOL: Lars Sullivan fine, RAW, Bray Wyatt, more! 5/14
WOR: Hart vs. Magee, Money in the Bank, AEW, Saudi Arabia, more! 5/14
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: WWE introduces Wild Card rule
Coming off of an underwhelming first quarter financial report and a week of record-low ratings, this Monday’s Raw offered WWE the chance to show they understand how to fix the problem.
WWE did acknowledge that the problem exists. Hoping to help out the ratings and counter two NBA playoff games, WWE hyped that SmackDown’s Roman Reigns would be appearing on Raw. His appearance was made apparent but not actually officially announced in advance, with WWE playing up that Reigns was defying a statement they put out claiming that he couldn’t be on the show due to his obligations as a SmackDown wrestler.
WON NEWSLETTER: May 13, 2019 Observer Newsletter: AEW UK PPV details, WWE wild card rule, more
An update on AEW distribution, PPV, television and streaming, is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Look at the full distribution around the world for Double or Nothing, as well as updating where things stand when it comes to television.
Look at pricing, preshow, who is carrying it, how strong ITV 4 is, how this compares with WWE’s distribution and probable viewership, where things stand with U.K. television, details on Casino Battle Royale plans, the main championship, updating the show and lots of new signings.
Go in-depth on not just the XFL television deal and finances, but the lessons of the deal and how the deal is a 180 from the UFC deal.
Also look at the changes in Raw and Smackdown this past week, why they were made, where NBC Universal and FOX stand, WWE star power, how the European tour affected this week’s television, how it affects touring, plus updates on the Money In The Bank show.
Also look at the 2019 Best of the Super Juniors tournament, including what matches to watch out for, the schedule, the positioning of Will Ospreay, and the schedule.
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Look at the two New Japan Dontaku events, what the events say about both Japan and U.S. popularity, the story behind Okada vs. Sanada, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
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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TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE
Additional notes by Joseph Currier
WWE
SmackDown tonight is a taped show from the O2 London in England. A fatal four-way match between Finn Balor, Ali, Randy Orton and Andrade is the featured match. Kevin Owens has also invited Kofi Kingston to be part of the Kevin Owens Show and the team of Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose will take on Asuka and Kairi Sane.
205 Live will see the cruiserweights collide with the NXT UK brand. Cruiserweight Champion Tony Nese will face Ligero in a non-title match, while Jack Gallagher, Humberto Carrillo, Mark Andrews and James Drake will face one another in a fatal four-way match.
Vince McMahon, along with other key WWE executives, talked to Variety for a cover story about WWE’s move to FOX this fall, the Last Week Tonight segment on WWE, and their momentum. McMahon said wrestlers can get time off without repercussions: “Anybody who wants time off can get time off. That’s easy. In addition to that, it’s easy to weave a talent in and out of a storyline. If they get injured, you’re not expecting that. Or if they have a family matter. Our characters are real people with real problems. It’s a revolving situation where this talent will work these dates, that talent will work those dates.”
Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Shayna Baszler and Matt Riddle are being advertised for next month’s’ Download Festival.
Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins officially confirmed that they’re dating each other.
WALTER retained the WWE United Kingdom Championship against R-Truth at yesterday’s SmackDown house show in Bournemouth, England.
The WrestleMania main event between Ronda Rousey, Charlotte and Becky Lynch has been nominated for a MTV Movie/TV award for Best Fight. Roman Reigns is nominated for Best Real-Life Hero.
Big Show is joining season 4 of SYFY’s Van Helsing in an undisclosed role.
Ali talks about performing during Ramadan.
Former WWE star Zach Gowen told Wrestling News.co in an interview that Vince McMahon paid for both of his prosthetic legs and drug rehab.
Xavier Woods, Baron Corbin, Asuka and Tyler Breeze play Monster Hunter: World on Up Up Down Down.
Pro Wrestling
Referee Paul Turner has joined AEW. Turner was formerly with ROH. Rick Knox and Bryce Remsburg are also referees for AEW.
Tickets for Slammiversary will go on sale starting on May 17 at 10:00 a.m. ET on Impact’s website. The show will be held at Gilley’s Dallas.
NJPW will hold a ten bell ceremony on May 22 in remembrance of Silver King, who wrestled there as Black Tiger III.
Tony Khan spoke to ITV about Double or Nothing and the partnership between AEW and ITV.
UFC/MMA
Anderson Silva did not suffer any serious leg injury after his loss this weekend to Jared Cannonier. No ligaments were damaged but will need physical therapy before getting back to training.
Silva also commented on the loss, saying (translation by MMAJunkie): “Until the limit. Pain is your friend. It shows you are not dead yet. They say that great symbols become great targets, perhaps. But the most important thing is to not victimize yourself. If you fell, get up. If it’s broken, fix it. No giving up or thinking that you can’t because you lost a battle. There is one saying, I will go until the end and the more they pressure me, the more I will want to go until the end. There’s nothing wild that feels sorry for itself. An old lion surrounded by hungry [hyenas], crazy to devour him and he still fights to the death without ever feeling sorry for himself. And it won’t be different with me. Strength and honor.”
Neil Magny is out of UFC Rochester on May 18, where he was supposed to face Vicente Luque. He wrote on Instagram: On Saturday, May 11, 2019, I [received] an email from USADA stating that I have failed an “out of competition drug test” due to the banned substance “Di-Hydroxy-LGD-4033”. I am fully cooperating with USADA to determine how this substance was found in the sample I provided them on May 5, 2019. I have always been an advocate for the strict drug testing in the UFC, even to the extent of opting for my collected samples to be used for research purposes by USADA. I know without a doubt that I have done everything according to the standards set by USADA. I have faith in USADA that this situation will resolved in a timely manner and that I will be cleared of any [wrongdoing]. To all of my fans and supporters, thank you. I assure you that I have not let you down.
Luque will now face Derrick Krantz on the show.
Alex Volkanovski is in a Chilean hospital being treated for a blood infection. He’s currently waiting for test results.
Yoel Romero vs. Paulo Costa has been made official for UFC 241.
Frankie Edgar talked to MMA Fighting about his next fight against Max Holloway. He also said that Volkanovski, who is on a 17 fight winning streak, will get his time.
The UFC 237 prelims averaged 813k on ESPN this past Saturday.
Johnny Walker told TMZ Sports that he feels great after shoulder surgery and wants to face Jon Jones.
Cody Garbrandt’s manager Ali Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie that he turned down a UFC on ESPN+ 13 fight to let him recover more from a knockout loss a few months ago. He also wants the two TJ Dillashaw wins vacated following Dillashaw’s suspension.
According to Brett Okamoto, Kron Gracie is looking to fight at UFC 241 in Anaheim.
Daily Pro Wrestling History: Giant Baba won 2nd All Japan Carnival Tournament
F4W Empire Convention Info:
Ed in San Antonio presents PODER~! at the FSW arena on Friday 5/24 – Showtime is at noon – Main event: Bryan Alvarez vs. Logan Stunt
Empire dinner on Friday 5/24 at 8:30 p.m. at Texas de Brazil – Price is $82 – All you can eat meat and salad, sodas, tea, and coffee, plus dessert included
Empire suite party on Friday 5/24 for those who were not able to get the Q&A package – Price is $25
Purchase tickets here.
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