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Daily Update: WWE Clash at the Castle, Michael Chandler, weekend preview

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6 months ago

June 14, 2024

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer:

Updating the situation with Ricochet, the WWE angle, his legacy, future, comments by Will Ospreay and a look at his pre-WWE career.
Preview of Clash at the Castle, the matches, thoughts on the bouts, attempt to set records and more.
Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler falls apart, the quietness of the last two weeks, replacement fights and other pull-outs.
Just how much money McGregor would have generated on this night
New Japan Dominion coverage, Hikuleo leaving for WWE, Super Juniors finals, Forbidden Door angles, G-1, this week’s big show and more.
NXT Battleground coverage, the Apex, the bouts, the timing of the show.
Final WrestleMania live business numbers from the Pennsylvania commission. What was the real attendance for both nights, Raw, Smackdown and NXT.
Huge story on part two of Who Killed WCW, company finances running a wrestling business then vs. now, what went wrong, Hogan vs. Goldberg and real story behind the lack of build, where the money was left on the table, Goldberg as champion, booking philosophy and more.
Why WCW lost top stars under Jim Herd
The most detailed look at the ratings for wrestling and MMA TV shows, including how close another MMA show came to UFC this past week, placings for the week, competition for the shows, segment-by-segment an more
More on who CMLL talent is allowed to work with
Lots of big matches coming to CMLL over the next week
El Hijo del Vikingo update
Notes on the movie about a current wrestling star released in Japan
Next Stardom PPV and Five Star Grand Prix notes
WWE & NOAH announcement coming
Big NOAH match this week
Despe Invitational show
Iyo Sky comes to Marigold and how ticket sales went
Mexican and Japanese group working together
Bloodsport notes
Sad Steve McMichael update
Passing of Larry Santo
One of pro wrestling’s all-time legends from way back is being honored in his home town next week
Celebrity Wrestling show earmarked
Lots of injury updates
Forbidden Door update
How the Arlington tapings for AEW are doing
Advance ticket sales for WWE & AEW shows
CMLL talent being booked for Dynamite at the last minute
International TV ratings and top streaming numer
Dana White asked to channel Andy Kaufman
Consideration to changing MMA rules
PFL tournament updates
Manny Pacquiao coming to Rizin
Drew McIntyre inducted into Scotland Hall of Fame
Update on Vince McMahon legal action
PPV updates
More Dwayne Johnson projects

This week’s Wresting Observer Newsletter back issue

Friday Update

Garrett and I just finished doing our look at the news in this week’s issue show, talking about Who Killed WCW Ricochet, Ratings, AEW issues, AEW comparisons with WCW and more. Bryan and I will be back tomorrow night covering Clash at the Castle and the rest of the news.

Clash at the Castle starts at 2 p.m. Eastern and 11 a.m. Pacific tomorrow on Peacock. The issue has a complete update but on paper the top three men’s matches all look to be excellent:

Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre for the World title with Judgment Day banned from ringside
Cody Rhodes vs. AJ Styles in an I Quit match for the WWE title
Sami Zayn vs. Chad Gable for the IC title
Bayley vs. Piper Niven for the WWE women’s title
Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill vs. Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark vs. Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn
Three of the five bouts have UK competitors challenging for the title and you have to think one of them should win. These five match PPV shows have been easy watching and the crowd should be hot. The expectation is McIntyre will be the superstar babyface. It’ll be interesting since Bayley, even as a heel, has been a UK favorite and now she’s a face, but is facing someone from Scotland.

The multi-promotion All Together Now show is tomorrow in Sapporo and then New Japan Soul from Sapporo starts at 1:30 a.m. Eastern late tomorrow night with Sho vs. Desperado in a cage match for the IWGP jr. title, David Finlay vs. Sanada for the Global title, Shingo Takagi vs. Henare for the Never title, Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney vs. Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita for the IWGP jr. tag title and Yota Tsuji & Hiromu Takahashi & Bushi vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano & Oleg Boltin for the trios titles.
A correction from the Observer when talking about the WWE deal with NOAH, which will be announced tomorrow night. We noted Charlie Dempsey going to NOAH early this year but he actually went to All Japan, not NOAH, so that wouldn’t at all be related to this.
The TKO Board of Directors ratified Deloitte & Touche LLP as their public accounting firm. The key board members include Ariel Emmanuel, Mark Shapiro, Dwayne Johnson, Nick Khan and Steven Koonin
Michael Chandler and sponsor MegaFit Meals released a statement saying that booking a fight with Conor McGregor was always “the highest risk.” It was also the highest reward and best opportunity. He said there is no right or wrong in business and you take risks to grow or remain comfortable. If it doesn’t go as planned, redirect the course to something even more great. There is still hope of the McGregor vs. Chandler fight happening later this year.

TNA Against All Odds is tonight at Cicero Stadium in Chicago:

Sami Callihan vs. Jonathan Gresham
Alisha Edwards & Masha Slamovich vs. Allysin Kay & Marti Belle for the Knockouts tag titles
Frankie Kazarian vs. Joe Hendry
Josh Alexander & Eric Young vs. Chris Bey & Ace Austin
Mike Santana & Steve Maclin vs. Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz
Jordynne Grace vs. ? for Knockouts title
Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers vs. Nic & Ryan Nemeth for TNA tag titles
Mustafa Ali vs. Trent Seven for X title
Moose vs. Matt Hardy for the TNA title
Jeff Hardy is expected to debut on tonight’s show.

Mercedes Mone noted that her younger brother was rushed to the hospital with a health issue Wednesday and that Tony Khan offered her use of his private jet to get back to Florida after the show in Des Moines. She said she called Khan when she found out what happened and he said he would help. He took her on his jet and stopped in Orlando. She praised him heavily saying AEW showed that they were family first. She noted that Samuray del Sol and Mojo Rawley also traveled to her home to help her with her brother.
Best wishes to Drew McIntyre, whose wife Kaitlyn was undergoing emergency surgery in the U.S. Apparently it was such that there was no way he could make it home on time as he’s been in Scotland several days .
Khamzat Chimaev’s manger , Majdi Shammas, on Istagram explained this about him pulling out of the show next week in Saudi Arabia where he was to face Robert Whittaker:
“It’s with great disappointment announced that Khamzat Chimaev (13-0) has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled fight against #3 ranked Robert Whittaker on June 22nd in Riyadh. The persistent illness that Khamzat has been battling for major parts of training camp could not be cured in time. He has been in and out of hospitals several times. The condition has been kept within the team, since everyone has been absolutely committed to finding a solution. Although all available options have been thoroughly considered, it has now come to a point where the team has mutually agreed that it is not possible to carry on like this. Stepping into the cage not properly prepared against such a formidable opponent as Robert is unfortunately impossible. This is a devastating turn of events for Khamzat, his coaches, training partners and other members of the team. Headlining UFC’s first ever visit to Saudi Arabia was a great honor and something that was very much looked forward to. Although the cause is far beyond anyone’s control, a sincere apology is extended to the UFC, Dana White, Mick Maynard, Sean Shelby , Hunter Campbell , His Highness Mr. Turki Alalshik, Robert Whittaker, and his team, and most importantly to the fans who were looking forward to the bout. “But everything happens for a reason and God has his own plans, the goals remain the same. Khamzat and team will now get to the bottom of the cause of the issues, and he will come back even stronger. This is unfortunately a part of the fight game and as soon as Khamzat is healthy, his much-anticipated return to the Octagon will be immediately rescheduled. #healthalwaysfirst”
Kyle Fletcher & Skye Blue were on TV in Chicago promoting the upcoming AEW show and talked about buying a home together and being a couple

We’re looking for reports on these events:

AEW tomorrow night in Youngstown, OH (anything not on the live Collision show such as ROH tapings)
TNA TV tapings tomorrow night in Chicago, IL
We’re looking for results, finishes and angles to dave@wrestlingobserver.com
We’ll be doing our weekend poll on WWE Clash at the Castle so you can leave a thumbs up, down or middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

Unimas, which debuts AAA on television at 3 p.m. Eastern and Pacific tomorrow with one hour shows, is on Ch. 402 and 408 on DirecTV with the East and West Coast feeds respectively and Ch 271 on Dish.
TripleMania is tomorrow night in Tijuana at Chevron Stadium on Triller at 9:30 p.m. Eastern as a PPV. Vampiro & Alberto El Patron & Dave the Clown & Murder Clown vs. Parker Boudreaux & Satnam Singh & QT Marshall & Sam Adonis, managed by Jeff Jarett, headlines plus Negro Casas & Psycho Clown & Brazo de Oro Jr. vs. Dr. Wagner Jr. & El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. & Galeno Del Mal are the top bouts.
An update on the value of Caitlin Clark. The WNBA, which was getting $60 million a year in rights fees, according to Front Office Sports, could be getting $240 million a year for its new deal.
Arena Mexico tonight has Mascara Dorada & Esfinge & Mistico vs Averno & Euforia & Soberano Jr., plus Michael Oku vs. Templario and Flip Gordon & Neon & Star Jr. vs. Bad Dude Tito & Che Cabrera & Zandokan Jr.
Atlantis Jr. said that he has a leg injury but didn’t indicate he would be out for a significant length of time on Informa this week.
Michael Oku faces Volador Jr. in the main event tomorrow night at Arena Coliseo plus Tito & Cabrera face Dragon Rojo Jr. & El Terrible.
Sunday is a seven team father-and-sons match for the Copa Dinastias with Octagon & El Hijo de Octagon, Euforia & Soberano Jr., Panterita del Ring & Mascara Dorada, Stuka Jr. & El Hijo de Stuka Jr, Blue Panther & El Hijo de Blue Panther, Felino & Felino Jr. and Valiente & Valiente Jr.
Starting Monday is the Mistico 20th anniversary week with him in singles main events all week at CMLL’s major Arenas.
New Japan announced these bouts for 7/13 in San Jose, CA at Mt. Pleasant High School for Fantastica Mania as Mistico & Douki vs. Rocky Romero & Volador Jr., Stephanie Vaquer vs. Lluvia, Zack Sabre Jr & Bad Dude Tito vs. Hechiceor & Virus and Adrian Quest vs. DKC vs. Viento vs Cucuy. The last two are regulars with Pro Wrestling Revolucion, a San Jose-based group that has brought in the top CMLL stars for years and drawn some big crowds.
Jeff Jarrett was at Tuesday’s AAA tapings in Ciudad Juarez as a manager for Sam Adonis & Satnam Singh & Cima, who beat Dave the Clown & Murder Clown & Octagon Jr., in the main event.
Robles Promotoins runs tonight at Arena Neza with Penta vs. Samuray del Sol and Laredo Kid & Marco Corleone & Metalik vs. Australian Suicide & Marty Scurll & Rey Horus as the top bouts.
(thanks to The Cubs Fan)