Daily Update: Americano auction, MJF, Tessa Blanchard

Tessa Blanchard
TNA photo of Tessa Blanchard. (Image credit: TNA Wrestling)

Daily Update

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered:

  • The story behind the settlement of the shareholders lawsuit against Vince McMahon and the WWE Board
  • Janel Grant’s lawyers agree to go to arbitration in lawsuit against WWE and McMahon
  • The whys behind all of this happening
  • What we have learned in these cases about WWE’s deal with Ari Emanuel
  • Arguments in wrestling that Paul Levesque was not responsible for the boom period
  • The reversal of the WWE decline and stopping the AEW ascent
  • The first time Dynamite beat Raw in total viewers during the same week not even including MAX numbers
  • The McMahon fake resignation story
  • The content of the letters from a still unknown person that led to the end of McMahon in WWE and Endeavor taking over
  • Grant comments on the letters
  • What the letters seem to indicate
  • Nick Khan talks about his thoughts when the company got those letters
  • Michelle McKenna talks who should thought contacted the Wall Street Journal while others say differently
  • Frank Riddick talks his reaction to the letters
  • The time frame and ramification of the sale
  • McMahon’s side responds to the settlement
  • Why Nick Khan’s reputation was hurt based on evidence
  • Why the judge was likely to side against McMahon
  • A look at the politics of UFC at the White House.
  • Realities of White House show vs. Rousey/Carano
  • Biggest UFC number to date on Paramount
  • Insanity of comparison with the Super Bowl audience
  • A look at the show itself
  • The court fight to try and get the show stopped
  • New York Times story on Conor McGregor’s alleged PED usage and how that led to the downfall of UFC drug testing with USADA
  • A look at the big shows in two weeks, Night of Champions, Forbidden Door, Great American Bash and Slammiversary, with lineups, and business notes
  • The most detailed look at the ratings and there was a ton of news between record low for Raw and high mark for Collision
  • Ticket notes for the big shows in August and September in Mexico City
  • Mistico returns and Komander week in CMLL
  • Big shows coming up with CMLL
  • AAA TripleMania notes
  • Notes on NJPW Dominion and end of the Super Juniors tournament
  • Another gold medalist signs with RAF
  • Advance ticket sales for WWE an dAEW shows
  • Movie being prepared for UK wrestling star of the past
  • New promotional concept for pro wrestling being tired with some big names involved
  • Update on new AEW streaming ventures and MyAEW
  • Dustin Rhodes talks about his return
  • Omega talks anniversary of legendary match
  • Carano vs. Rousey hits more high-water marks
  • Why big WWE shows changed dates
  • What is next for Punk
  • WWE star being talked of for doing shoot bouts
  • Rey Mystrerio talks daughter becoming a wrestler

This Week’s Back Issue

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Thursday Update

El Grande Americano
Ludwig Kaiser as El Grande Americano. (Image credit: WWE)

WWE

Other Wrestling

  • On the Shut Up and Wrestle podcast, MJF explained why having a competitive title defense against Rush benefitted everyone involved:
    • I knew going into my match against Rush, I was going to get my f***ing sh*t kicked in, but I knew I wasn’t going to lose, I’m MJF. But am I worse for wear because I have a f***ing competitive match up with this psychopath? I don’t think so.
    • And you know what? Now, when you put Rush on TV the next time you see him, you believe in him more because he put me to the limit. He did. He pushed me. He’s one sick bastard, and he’s got one nasty f***ing corner drop kick that almost took my head off. So now the next time you put him on TV, you’re going, ‘This guy could beat 1B, 1C, 1D, 1F, 1E guy on the AEW roster. I gotta tune in.‘
  • MJF praised Lio Rush for being willing to try new things with his “Blackheart” character:
    • I’m gonna put a guy over real quick – Lio Rush. And I’ll tell you why. Me and him both got signed very young, me to AEW, him to WWE. And it would have been very easy for him to rest on his laurels. But that dude trains all the time. That dude then realized, ‘Okay, this thing I’ve been doing for a decade since I was a young guy, it’s not working anymore. I’m gonna switch sh*t up.’
    • Now, again, as we discussed, his flavor of ice cream that he’s doing now might not be your flavor of ice cream that you’re interested in, but it’s gotten him on television. And it’s gotten him opportunities. And he’s going on the indies and he’s doing this Blackheart thing on a weekly basis on the independents as well. So you can’t look me in the face and tell me that this guy isn’t earning his television time. I respect that immensely. And I wish there were more guys like him in our age group.
  • Tessa Blanchard uploaded a video addressing her TNA departure, reiterating that she chose CMLL after being forced to pick between TNA and CMLL. Blanchard said she “completely” understands TNA’s position and, though TNA originally allowed her to wrestle for both, things change in business. The TNA management team was great to her and made her an offer to stay, but Blanchard’s heart is in Mexico. She has built a life there, feels like she is thriving in CMLL, and still has goals like wanting to hold the CMLL Women’s World Championship.
  • On No-Contest Wrestling, AJ Francis issued a challenge to Elijah (former WWE wrestler Elias) for Slammiversary in Boston on June 28.
  • TNA has filed a trademark for “Wicked Garden,” which is the name of the stipulation match The Hardys and The Righteous had earlier this month on Impact. It included “a first-ever green ring canvas and evil flowers surrounded by vicious and dangerous vines.”
  • For AJPW in Tokyo today, Thrillbilly Silas Mason retained the NWA World title over Shotaro Ashino.
  • Kerry Morton vs. Colby Corino is set for the NWA’s 78th anniversary show in Philadelphia on July 25.
  • WTVA News in Tupelo, Mississippi posted a 34-minute interview with Jimmy Valiant.
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Joseph Currier
Joseph Currier

Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.

In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.