DAILY UPDATE
Latest News:
NXT UK results: WALTER vs. Travis Banks for WWE UK title
EVOLVE 10th anniversary show to air live on WWE Network
Two more title defenses set for NJPW Southern Showdown
WWE SmackDown video highlights: Kofi Kingston vs. Dolph ZIggler
Nese to challenge for Cruiserweight title at WWE Extreme Rules
Bayley vs. Alexa Bliss title match confirmed for WWE Extreme Rules
WWE SmackDown live results: Kofi Kingston responds to Samoa Joe
Latest Audio:
WOL: Thoughts on WWE TV changes, Extreme Rules, Choshu, more 6/26
B&V&C: Retro Raw and Nitro from 19 years ago this week! 6/25
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: WWE’s women’s division since WrestleMania 35
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.
WON NEWSLETTER: June 24, 2019 Observer Newsletter: AEW does another sell out, Stomping Grounds struggles
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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WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
New episodes of Miz & Mrs. will begin airing on Tuesdays after SmackDown starting on August 6. This set of episodes will round out season one, with season two set to premiere in 2020.
Guide Live asked Becky Lynch about Seth Rollins’ recent tweets and if their in-ring styles have started to rub off on one another: “No, to be honest with you, neither. None in either way. I’ve seen what he’s been doing. That’s completely him. He rightfully exposes the fact that we are the premiere wrestling show. We’re constantly putting on matches, five-star matches time after time. I think that he just wants that to be noticed and appreciated. But that’s got absolutely nothing to do with me, I don’t know that I’ve rubbed off on him in that way. And in-ring, no. My style is my style. His style is his style. We’re our own people, and then we can just fight side by side.”
Shinsuke Nakamura appears to be the next challenger for Finn Balor’s Intercontinental title. Nakamura interrupted Balor during an interview and had a staredown with him on last night’s SmackDown.
After Abby the Witch and Mercy the Buzzard from Bray Wyatt’s Firefly Fun House were in the background of backstage segments on Raw, Huskus the Pig and Ramblin’ Rabbit also appeared on SmackDown.
The fan who was involved in the Bully Ray incident at ROH State of the Art: Portland earlier this month attended SmackDown after Kevin Owens invited him to be his guest at a show the next time Owens was in town: “I had more fun tonight at the show than I have in a very long time. I’m humbled and grateful by the generosity of an absolute stranger. Never stop being there for each other. Never stop taking the high road. Never stop being the better man. Thank you @FightOwensFight”
The Lucha House Party will face The Singh Brothers in a tornado tag match on next week’s 205 Live.
The WWE Performance Center’s YouTube account posted a video of Joaquin Wilde (DJZ) discussing his life-threatening injury from 2017.
Pro Wrestling
After it was announced that EVOLVE’s 10th anniversary show will stream live on the WWE Network and go head-to-head with Fight for the Fallen on July 13, Kenny Omega tweeted: “If lining your pockets with blood money is okay, then what’s wrong with trying to undermine a charity show for victims of gun violence? I hear that healthy competition is supposed to be a good thing and yet I can’t help but feel like I’m gonna be sick.” After deleting the tweet, Omega wrote: “I’ve said my piece and it opened the door to a very toxic environment. It wasn’t a message to fans, or the boys, just the decision makers. I wish everyone wrestling on any show that day all the best. That is all.”
AEW uploaded episode one of the Road to Fight for the Fallen.
In a video on DDP Yoga’s YouTube channel, Big Cass opened up on battling depression, anxiety, and alcohol issues and working to improve his life.
Riki Choshu’s retirement show took place at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo today. Choshu, Shiro Koshinaka & Tomohiro Ishii lost to Togi Makabe, Keiji Muto & Tatsumi Fujinami in the main event, with Makabe pinning Choshu.
The NWA announced that the person who will be teaming with Nick Aldis against The Briscoes at ROH’s Best in the World pay-per-view this Friday has also signed with the NWA. The identity of Aldis’ partner will be revealed on the Best in the World pre-show.
Jeff Cobb is the guest on today’s episode of Talk is Jericho.
Sports Illustrated interviewed ROH World Champion Matt Taven ahead of his title defense against Cobb at Best in the World.
NJPW’s English-language website has an interview with Mikey Nicholls.
UFC/MMA
The UFC’s Desmond Green is facing DUI manslaughter charges after a five-vehicle crash that killed two people in August 2018. Green pleaded not guilty and posted a $194,000 bond.
Former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington wrote about his fight against Robbie Lawler: “I have agreed to defend my title in my first defense against the last real champion this division has had. A bigger man and name than Marty Fakenewsman, The man Ben Asscream is terrified of and couldn’t beat. Living legend of combat sports @RuthlessRL. He’s a Former @ufc Champion, Hodge Trophy recipient and the only name big enough for me to face in a Primetime @espn Main Event Title Fight. America’s Champ always answers the call. See you in Newark.
Amanda Nunes spoke about why she believes she’s the greatest women’s MMA fighter of all time: “A lot of people have been saying (it),” Nunes said. “All the things– everybody sends a message for me, a lot of letters at the gym. I have a bunch of letters that I have to send back to the fans. … Every time I sign them, I sit back. Everybody tells me now (I’m the greatest). I have to say I am, because people tell me, everybody tells me. I believe them and now I say I am. I deserve everything that I have in my life. I proved it. I’m the best – I proved it. I’ve been doing everything people like to see: knock people out, and submissions, and go in there to fight. Don’t run. Put (on) a show. I feel like the fans like that and they respect me for that. And I feel good — I feel happy when they tell me I’m the best. I’m too happy.”
Nunes thinks a rematch against Cris Cyborg makes sense sooner than later: “I think this is the fight to make. 145 is bad right now — nobody in that division. Cyborg is always the most dominating woman on the planet if (she didn’t lose to me). That’s how it was, and she think she wants to prove something, but she knows she’s going to lose again. But I feel like she should make (the rematch).”
Dana White said they’re trying to get Jon Jones’ disqualification loss against Matt Hamill from 2009 overturned.
White admitted that the UFC may have pushed Darren Till too soon: “I think Till went back to the drawing board. He’s a young guy. After the win over (Donald Cerrone), we may have pushed him too soon. It happens sometimes when a guy gets that much steam behind him. Pump the breaks a little here. Let him get back and work on the things he needs to work on. He’s going to be around.”
Last Saturday’s UFC prelims averaged 413,000 viewers on ESPN.
Daily Pro Wrestling History: Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki
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