DAILY UPDATE
Latest News:
Fans approved to attend NXT taping with negative COVID-19 test
Tracy Smothers passes away following significant health issues
Impact reveals start date for Knockouts Tag title tournament
Latest Audio:
WOL: Tracy Smothers, WWE COVID, Halloween Havoc vs. AEW, Raw ratings, more! 10/28
B&V&C&G: Halloween Song Contest, Granny, KOTR highlights, June 25, 2001 RAW! 10/27
WON NEWSLETTER: October 26, 2020 Observer Newsletter: Ibushi wins NJPW G1 Climax 30
We’ve got a G1 special on the Observer with the deepest look at the tournament anywhere. G1 MVP, G1 best match, G1 history notes, polls on the last three nights, the story behind Kota Ibushi’s win and much more in a new double issue of the Observer.
The business decline that was unavoidable, the difference in wrestling with fans who are not supposed to cheer and boo and who does the best with it, the ups and downs of the different wrestlers, who improved the most from last year, lots of G1 records, Power Struggle notes, a breakdown of every wrestler in the tournament and how they did in the ring this year as compared to last year, who were the best at carrying opponents, who had the best matches, how this year’s match quality compared to last year, just how great this year’s A block shows were, New Japan’s U.S. popularity and which wrestlers have had the best in-ring tournaments in recent years.
Also in this issue:
Harold Meij’s final day in charge of New Japan and key issues with his legacy, Tokyo Dome updates, and how the last days went down.
Things going on behind-the-scenes with President Trump that may be done that would help Vince McMahon and Dana White, Andrew Yang talks wrestlers as independent contractors and what he plans to do about it, Orange County Department of Health looking at COVID spreading in buildings that house WWE and MLW, and WWE’s statement.
What is and isn’t misleading and looking at WWE COVID numbers, we preview Hell in a Cell, note a mandatory conference all WWE talent has to attend this week, WWE getting an award looked at, WWE signing, why the plight of independent wrestlers is so different from before, WWE Network November theme, WWE star nominated for a movie award and new WWE Network deals.
Wrestling ratings compared to other sports, Canadian & U.K. ratings, Mike Bennett talks the problems in communication in WWE, Sami Zayn talks the ladder match, WWE market value and the most watched shows last week on the WWE Network.
Brian Ortega vs. The Korean Zombie with full coverage of Saturday’s UFC event,.
The surprising thing that matters far more than most gave it credit for when it comes to viewing wrestling shows.
Ratings breakdowns in every segment for Wednesdays and every category for other shows, looking at stats not available elsewhere to get the deepest read into how shows are doing, what categories are doing well and how shows compare with previous weeks and one year ago.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
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WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
WWE on FOX has posted a video of the setup for tonight’s NXT Halloween Havoc show.
This week’s episode of The Bump features Rey Mysterio, Michelle McCool, Shotzi Blackheart, and William Shatner.
Elias and former Tough Enough star Maven will be the guests on next week’s The Bump.
Chad Gable will be the guest on Corey Graves’ After the Bell podcast tomorrow.
WWE released a statement on Tracy Smothers, who passed away early this morning at the age of 58. WWE stars commented on Smothers’ passing, including Edge and Sami Zayn.
‘Meeting Mark Calaway’, a show where WWE stars recall their first time meeting The Undertaker, will be available this Sunday on the WWE Network.
Season 7 of mobile game WWE Supercard has been announced. It will feature Styles & Techniques for deck building, super moves, new card tiers, a WarGames event, and much more. It will be released in November.
Gopher Sports has an interview with Gable Stevenson, an amateur wrestling star who has aspirations to make it to WWE.
Sports Illustrated has an interview with Shotzi Blackheart regarding tonight’s Halloween Havoc show. Blackheart also spoke to Stephanie Chase on joining WWE and Halloween Havoc.
Raquel Gonzalez spoke to TVInsider about her Halloween Havoc match against Rhea Ripley.
Wade Barrett spoke to Metro on his run as the Nexus leader and feuding with John Cena.
Big E talked to Sportskeeda on his backstage chats with The Undertaker and Roman Reigns.
Ilja Dragunov was interviewed by Inside the Ropes.
Free matches added to WWE’s YouTube today include Undertaker vs. Batista in a no DQ match for the World Heavyweight title from the April 25, 2008 edition of SmackDown and Hulk Hogan vs. The Giant for the WCW title from Halloween Havoc 1995, as well as the monster truck sumo match that preceded it.
Alexa Bliss spoke to WWE Now India.
MVP turns 47 years old today.
Other Wrestling
During a virtual meet and greet with Pro Wrestling Junkies, Alex Reynolds spoke about the incident that took place on last week’s Dynamite where he was knocked out, defending AEW’s safety protocols. “No, I think our team does a fantastic job,” he said (h/t Post Wrestling). “I think they took care of me, right away when we all realized I was hurt. They got me out of there nice and safe, so it’s a contact sport, you know? Injuries are gonna happen and I think they’ve shown that they can handle those situations so yeah, I don’t think those safety concerns are validated, as somebody who’s kinda just lived through it. I’ve put my trust fully in our staff”. Reynolds said that he would meet with AEW’s doctor when they tape next week and believed he would be cleared to return.
The Young Bucks are teasing an announcement during their sit down interview with Excalibur tonight on Dynamite.
Highspots posted a Tracy Smothers tribute video.
CM Punk on Twitter shared thoughts on Tracy Smothers. Others have shared their thoughts as well, including AEW, Eddie Kingston, Scott D’Amore, Chris Hero, Jim Ross, Taz, and The Blue Meanie.
MLW announced that they have re-signed with the BeIN Sports Network. MLW: FUSION, the company’s flagship show, has aired on BeIN since April 2018.
AEW have started to release their PPV events on DVD.
AEW has also trademarked the term ‘AEW Games’.
The latest Aces High column with Hiroshi Tanahashi talks about Tanahashi’s run as the U-30 champion and challenging the MMA style that was popular at the time within the company.
Daily Pro Wrestling History: WWE Evolution
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