DAILY UPDATE
Latest News:
Chris Jericho cruise postponed to October 2021
WWE announces Shotzi Blackheart vs. Aliyah for NXT
Impact video highlights: Motor City Machine Guns win Tag Team titles
Latest Audio:
WOL: RAW ratings, Jericho Cruise, AEW vs. NXT, Slammiversary fallout, more! 7/22
B&V&G&C: Retro Invasion RAW May 7, 2001, plus Granny! 7/21
JOB LISTING: Web/UI Developer(s)
Experience with OnLamp(Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP)
GITHUB and Linux command line experience while be helpful as well.
CMS – Drupal and WordPress. vBulletin
Possible experience with AWS(s3 specifically), Dreamhost, UI development
Cloud based hosting experience a plus
Javascript also a huge plus
While this is a diverse request this doesn’t have to be just one person! If you fit any part of this please feel free to inquire.
This is not just for projects related to F4WOnline.
Send all inquiries to [email protected] with title WEB DEVELOPER.
WON NEWSLETTER: July 20, 2020 Observer Newsletter: NJPW Dominion and the return of fans, more
The first pro wrestling shows in four months with major crowds took place this past week as New Japan Pro Wrestling ran two major events at Osaka Jo Hall. Our lead story talks about the rules in place for the show, the Weekend of Evil, how the crowd was told to behave and how different it was than a U.S. or Mexico crowd, as well as a look at New Japan booking, the next major shows along with match-by-match coverage, star ratings and poll results for both shows.
The new issue also covers:
UFC 251, the story behind all the changes to the show, match-by-match coverage, where the main event winners go next and all the business notes on the show, including what you were told and what wasn’t the case.
Reopening of Bellator and questions regarding its leading revenue stream.
Details on the WWE mask policy, the fines, the role of Kevin Owens in this and more.
Wednesday night ratings, looking at AEW, NXT, UFC and even how NASCAR figured in, where the viewers were gained and lost, as well as what every segment on the show did and some of the most staggering news imaginable when it comes to this past week’s NXT show.
WWE Extreme Rules and Impact’s Slammiversary shows coming up.
WWE and Peacock Network dealings, notes on SummerSlam this year, what numbers to look for at WWE Investors call, what factors play into the WWE Network numbers, Paul Levesque talks WWE handling of COVID, Edge talks his triceps injury, Why an angle on Raw nearly didn’t happen when one of the participants turned it down, update on Charlotte Flair, Canadian & U.K. ratings, how WWE relates to sports ratings, Matt Hardy talks Jeff Hardy angle, as well as the most watched shows of the past week on the WWE Network, WWE market value and next week’s top TV bouts.
A feature on the Wednesday night UFC show.
FITE TV bringing a Japanese wrestling doubleheader to the U.S. this coming week with Tokyo Joshi Pro and DDT.
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.
WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
Today’s episode of The Bump featured Bubba Ray Dudley, Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura, Tegan Nox, and Robert Stone.
Stephanie McMahon talked to AdAge about WWE operating during the pandemic and addressing systemic racism.
On his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T spoke about the #NaomiDeservesBetter hashtag that trended on Twitter after her match against Lacey Evans on SmackDown last week: “That Naomi deserves a chance… they can go to hell with all these hashtags as far as I’m concerned, but I’m tired of hearing about ‘em. Don’t nobody deserve a chance, alright? First and foremost, you gotta earn your chance, your spot on the roster. This is not some kind of movement just to pull somebody up just because and I hate to sit here and say this, to even talk this way because I like Naomi. But, as far as the business goes, you get it on your merit alone. That’s it. It’s no buddy systems and I know somebody’s gonna hear me and go, ‘Well such and such got a buddy and that’s why they’re doing it.’ Yeah that may be true, but life is not fair. Sometimes, you gotta make your own breaks. Sometimes you gotta go out there and rise to the occasion when no one else thought you could and the thing is, it may not happen overnight. It’s a consistency thing that goes with that. No one expected me, including myself, to become a six-time world champion, but my persistence as far as going out to the middle of that ring and performing better than all those suckers in the locker room and the suckers in the locker room, they knew it, and the fans, they saw something different and the signs were there for Booker T on a nightly basis. That’s why I say the hashtag Naomi Deserves A Chance, whatever deserves better, I just don’t think that will serve her any purpose. People advocating for her in that way. The way that needs to be put out there from a advocating perspective is her advocating for herself when she goes out to the ring and performs on a high level and the world sees it and that right there, when you do that Naomi, you can not be denied. No one will ever say someone gave you anything and if it happened right now, tomorrow, someone blessed Naomi with the world championship, trust me, it would not feel like she did it on her own. It would have to be a movement for something like that to happen. I would’ve never wanted the world title if it was given to me that way. Me personally I wouldn’t have and Naomi, I’ve said it once, I’ll say it a thousand times. Naomi is perhaps more athletic than every female in that locker room and perhaps 99 percent of females in this business. But psychology and working is two different things, and I just hope and wish that I had my hands on her for one month. Naomi would look at this business a totally different way, and that’s just my thoughts on that.”
Naomi responded to Booker T’s comments on Twitter. Sasha Banks posted in support of Naomi: “Don’t feed into useless opinions, no matter who they come from. Keep glowing and shining like you always do. You aint got nothing to prove to anyone #teambad”
Today is Shawn Michaels’ 55th birthday. WWE uploaded a Playlist video of his showstopping matches.
Matches added to WWE’s YouTube channel today include Randy Orton vs. Cesaro from the February 14, 2014 edition of SmackDown and Dolph Ziggler vs. Rey Mysterio from SummerSlam 2009.
William Regal on tonight’s NXT announcement: ”Serving as the General Manager or #WWENXT has been an incredible honor. To see the men and women of this brand over the last couple of months has been inspiring and invigorating. Tonight’s major announcement will be yet another step forward for @WWENXT.”
Lita will be Corey Grave’s guest on After The Bell this week.
Becky Lynch spoke to the Bella Twins about her pregnancy.
The FOCO Edge bobblehead is now available for pre-order.
Other Wrestling
Eric Young made his first podcast appearance post-WWE on Busted Open Radio. Young acknowledged creative problems within the company, saying “It’s hard to get a word in. Even when you’re doing nothing, it feels like you’re just trying to fix people’s mistakes all day, there is no creativity. They want everyone to do things the same, be the same and bump the same and sell the same. And there’s millions of rules, which I’m sure you guys have all heard and talked about on the show at length, and people talk about on the internet and the secret rules. Those change daily and it’s just really hard to understand what’s going on and why it’s going on. The system is flawed.”
Bobby Fulton’s son posted a medical update from his father: “MEDICAL UPDATE FROM DAD: Please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers! Two powerful words IS and WAS. On Sunday morning I woke up and was spitting a large amount of blood out of my mouth. It really scared me, I called Ed Wilson and Josh Hines and they took me to the James Emergency Room. Upon getting back to the room, they gave me a CT Scan, when we got back to the emergency room, I was laying in the bed, and 5-6 people were surrounding me and they said we found the problem. There is an artery in your throat near your nose that the radiation that kind of messed up, and it is finally blown and that’s what’s bleeding, it IS right by where your tumor IS. I asked one of the people standing there does that mean I have cancer, one shook their head up and down yes. They said the artery IS where the tumor IS. They began discussing a plan to take care of this artery, they were going to destroy it and close it down. So I go, and as we’re going the artery IS where the tumor IS. So finally I asked, do I have cancer to another person, and they said we didn’t see any evidence of it (PRAISE GOD!). So I said to another person that they’ve been telling me the artery was near where the tumor IS. That person told me they should have used the word WAS and not IS. And I said, yes it makes a big difference. I’m thankful that at this time, I can say I’m cancer free. I’m thankful for all the prayers and all the love you all continue to show me. That’s why it is always important to choose your words wisely. There’s a big difference between IS and WAS.”
PWInsider is reporting that Cody’s open challenge will open tonight’s Dynamite, while Chris Jericho & Jake Hager vs. The Jurassic Express will be the main event.
Orange Cassidy spoke to ESPN about his start in the business, the Orange Cassidy character, and his current run with AEW.
Sky Sports Italy announced that All Elite Wrestling will be airing on the station.
Sports Illustrated talked to Cody about his open challenge segment: “We need to always be aware of the world around us. One of the charming things about what we’ve been doing is we’ve been real and we’ve been transparent. Wrestling exists outside of AEW, we are aware of that. We try to be the best wrestling, and I really think we are, but there is great wrestling outside of us, too. It’s important for us to acknowledge that.”
AEW is collaborating with Capcom for two new limited edition t-shirt designs from the Street Fighter video game series.
Here are the updated AEW rankings as of July 22.
Stu Bennett talked to Chris Van Vilet on the NWA’s future and his movie career.
MMA
The Irene Aldana/Holly Holm main event that was set for August 1 if off after Aldana tested positive for COVID-19. Derek Brunson vs. Edmen Shahbazyan will be the new main event, and will stay at three rounds as opposed to the usual five round main event.
Combate Americas, which was supposed to return with shows in Miami on August 28, September 11, and September 25, has postponed those plans. Combates Americas CEO Campbell McLaren said in a statement: “This is not a decision we took lightly, and is based entirely on our focus to prioritize the safety of our employees, broadcast partners, fighters and the broader MMA community. We explored many alternatives to avoid this measure, including the possibility of moving our in-studio fights to Los Angeles. Unfortunately, the state of is in a similarly precarious situation with COVID outbreaks, and it seems untenable to proceed without taking into consideration the health of those we love.”
Holm’s manager Lenny Fresquez told MMA Fighting that they were looking for another fighter for Holm to face, but the plan didn’t come together in time.
Nadia Kassem is out of her August 8 fight against Miranda Granger. Granger posted a video on Facebook saying she was pulling out of the match.
Daily Pro Wrestling History: WWF Invasion
CONTACT INFORMATION
Poll opinions: [email protected]
Feedback: [email protected]
Show results and news tips: [email protected]
Wrestling Observer Radio questions: [email protected]
Support the Empire~! with F4W shirts. Grab yours today