THE ROUND-UP
THE LATEST NEWS
WWE Raw ratings shockingly fail to rebound much this week
Jury rules in favor of Punk, Cabana in Amann suit
Shawn Michaels open to one more match
WWE UK tournament to air a week after taking place
Amann seeking over $4 million in damages from Punk & Cabana
Oliver Luck named as XFL commissioner and CEO
Updated lineups for tonight’s WWE SmackDown and 205 Live
WWE Raw video highlights: Finn Balor vs. Kevin Owens
NJPW reveals full card for Dominion
Two fatal four-ways, Rousey-Jax segment set for next week’s Raw
WWE Raw live results: Money in the Bank build continues
THE LATEST AUDIO
WOL: Punk trial, NJPW BOSJ, Dominion, RAW, tons more! 6/5
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The Sheik, Crusher & wrestling in 1959 6/5
WOR: Best of the Super Juniors, Dominion, RAW, Money in the Bank, more! 6/5
Smackdown and 205 Live at tonight in Corpus Christi, TX with Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch and Jimmy Uso & Naomi vs. Aiden English & Lana as well as a contract signing for the A.J. Styles vs Shinsuke Nakamura last man standing match.
F4W NEWSLETTER: An early look at how April’s NXT call-ups have fared
Over a month removed from the days after WrestleMania and the Superstar Shakeup, the most recent round of NXT call-ups have been — at best — a mixed bag in their first few weeks on the main roster. As has become tradition, the post-WrestleMania episodes of Raw and SmackDown saw new arrivals from NXT: Ember Moon, No Way Jose, The Authors of Pain, and Peyton Royce & Billie Kay. The wave continued the next week, with Drew McIntyre joining Raw and Andrade “Cien” Almas & Zelina Vega and SAnitY (Eric Young, Alexander Wolfe & Killian Dain) being announced as the newest members of SmackDown.
WON NEWSLETTER: WON Preview (June 4, 2018): More details on Raw and Smackdown TV deals, more
An update on both the WWE & UFC television deals with how they went down and were intertwined in more details is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Look at actual finalization of the deals, how the contracts pay out, when the numbers figured and reported on actually come into play, and who negotiated the WWE’s deal. Also look at what UFC had offered for both shows and just how differently things worked out.
Look at what both deals mean for the long-term perception of WWE and UFC, and the difference in air time on television between the two properties.
Find out the new value of WWE, and one analyst talks about what he feels the stock value will be when the new deals come into play. Look at different estimates of WWE profit margins with the new deal, update UFC profit margins, and a look at the future.
This issue also has an update on news on both Money in the Bank, Extreme Rules and the return of Brock Lesnar.
Also, rundown week two of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament with match-by-match coverage, standings, schedule and star ratings for every show.
Have a look at the Dr. Christopher Amann lawsuit against C.M. Punk and Colt Cabana and early testimony, the Mauro Ranallo documentary, what was the key to Ranallo’s career, the U.K. tournament and slow ticket sales, and John Cena’s message to the locker room.
Look at what appears to be the final pro wrestling show at American Legion Post 308 in Reseda.
This issue runs down Io Shirai signing with WWE, the story behind it, her departure from Stardom, who she is, her link to Asuka, and two other Stardom women who are WWE-bound.
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 Dave Meltzer, or by using PayPal directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to [email protected]. For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52. If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.)
If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can choose one free classic issue or two free classic issues with a 40-issue subscription.
TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
WWE stock stayed above $60 per share and closed at $61.50 today.
Total Bellas posted its best ratings numbers of the season on Sunday night. The episode averaged 654,000 viewers, which is up pretty significantly from the 517,000 and 505,000 that the first two episodes of the season did. This week’s show had a 0.29 rating in the 18-49 demo.
David Otunga filled in for Jonathan Coachman on Raw last night due to Coachman having commitments with the World Long Drive Association on the Golf Channel. Coachman tweeted that this was the last Raw he’ll have to miss for a while.
The B-Team (Curtis Axel & Bo Dallas) won a shot at Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt’s Tag Team titles by winning a battle royal on Raw. WWE has yet to announce when that match will take place.
WWE Shop is selling T-shirts made to look like The B-Team’s handmade ones.
Curt Hawkins’ opponent “James Harden” from Raw was Will Lockhart, who is a student at Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling.
Paramount Pictures released the teaser trailer for “Bumblebee,” which John Cena has a significant role in as Agent Burns. Cena is only briefly seen in this teaser. Hailee Steinfeld plays the lead character.
In an interview with Pro Wrestling Sheet, Glenn Jacobs (Kane) said he wouldn’t rule out wrestling as mayor if he gets elected and wants a WWE PPV in Knoxville.
No Way Jose defeated Mike Kanellis and Drew Gulak defeated Akira Tozawa on last night’s Main Event tapings. Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins & Bobby Lashley also won a post-show dark match against Jinder Mahal, Elias & Sami Zayn.
Asuka kicked Lana’s weave off during a house show match.
Pro Wrestling
WrestleZone interviewed CM Punk after the jury ruled in favor of him and Colt Cabana in Dr. Chris Amann’s defamation suit against them. Punk said it’s a gigantic weight that’s been lifted off his shoulders and that he’s happy for Cabana because he was dragged into it for silly reasons. Punk also said that he isn’t “All In.”
Cabana tweeted after the verdict, “The jury decides unanimously in my favor.” He then called it a “small victory for the little guy.”
WrestleZone and Fightful have interviews with Cabana from today.
With Pentagon Jr. and LA Park returning, Psycho Clown vs. El Hijo Del Fantasma vs. Pentagon Jr. vs. LA Park in a match where whoever takes the fall loses their mask will headline AAA’s Triplemania 26 on August 25th. Pentagon said that he’ll still be going by Penta El Zero M on the indies. Park looks likely to headline AAA and CMLL’s biggest show of the year within a few weeks of each other.
Flip Gordon vs. Bully Ray and Hangman Page vs. Punishment Martinez have been added to the card for ROH’s June 29th Best in the World PPV in Baltimore.
Shane Helms will be making his ROH debut on June 15th in San Antonio. He’s also set to wrestle for ROH in Dallas the next night and at their TV tapings in Virginia on June 30th.
ROH has uploaded their debut show, The Era of Honor Begins, from 2002 to their HonorClub streaming service. The promotion noted that all of their events from 2002 will be coming to HonorClub.
NJPW has sit-down interviews with Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega ahead of their IWGP Heavyweight Championship match..
Chris Brookes cut a promo for Revolution Pro Wrestling about why he’s staying independent and not signing with WWE.
Impact Wrestling will be part of Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager at Sea cruise this October.
Austin Aries reflected on yesterday being the one-year anniversary of his last WWE PPV match and wrote that he’d love to face Neville again when he’s available: “And life was never the same…Dejected, almost amused at my repeated failure, who’d have known this moment here would be the catalyst for so much future success. And to my victorious opponent…I’d love to do it again, shackles off, whenever you’re done serving your time…”
UFC/MMA
With all of the weight-cutting problems that have been going on, Dana White said that the UFC is going to get rid of early weigh-ins and return to the old format.
The UFC has uploaded episode one of Embedded for UFC 225.
Jimmy Smith previewed CM Punk vs. Mike Jackson ahead of Saturday.
Michael Bisping will be a commentator on Dana White’s Contender Series this summer.
Daily Professional Wrestling History: Tenryu wins Triple Crown from Jumbo Tsuruta
12th Annual F4W Empire Vegas Convention
Greetings friends and fans of the F4W / Wrestling Observer website. It’s time to announce the details of the 12th annual F4W / Wrestling Observer Empire Las Vegas Convention~!
This year’s event will be taking place in Las Vegas from August 16th to the 20th and will again be in conjunction with WWE’s SummerSlam weekend a.k.a. Super China Buffet Day~! There will still be the usual events, but our big draw will be WWE’s summer blockbuster PPV, SummerSlam. As per tradition, we will all gorge ourselves at a Las Vegas buffet, and then watch SummerSlam in a rented out movie theater. All information and ticketing prices are available now. Sign up ASAP as spots are limited for some events.
This year will also feature a Future Stars Wrestling show which will include the first ever Gladys Gibson Doubles Match Classic! Already booked for the show are the teams Mia Yim & Leva Bates, Hudson Envy & Shotzi Blackheart, Samantha Heights & Brittany Blake, and Miranda Alize & Kylie Rae. Kris Wolf will also be appearing along with many more future stars. There may even be a classic star or two making an appearance. You won’t want to miss this show! Check out the convention’s Facebook page for all additional information.
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!