Security people in the venue for Raw on Monday acting “on orders from the top” were confiscating Karrion Kross signs during the show. (WO)
MJF will defend his CMLL World Light Heavyweight Title against Zandokan Jr. at CMLL Viernes Espectacular on August 15th. (CMLL)
A new promotion called Global League Wrestling is being launched in India with former WWE star The Great Khali involved as the figurehead commissioner. Cam Vale, owner of Melbourne City Wrestling and Oceania Pro Wrestling, is behind the new group. AdiGroupe’s AEx SPORT is also involved as is broadcaster Prasar Bharati. Their first show is Sept. 17th in New Delhi. (PWI)
If you weren’t already cynical about the WWE PLEs moving to ESPN, chairman Jimmy Pitaro says they want to use them to minimize “churn” (people unsubscribing): “Without commenting on the financials of the deal, one of the things that we are focused on from a direct-to-consumer perspective is churn, and minimizing churn. When we first started to look at these premium-level events, we immediately thought of the calendar and the fact that these events could help us plug in some holes and gaps we might have in our schedule, and thereby minimize churn. The executives at WWE have been very clear with us that they are willing to work with us in terms of scheduling. They are producing these events, but I would expect that if I call Nick Khan and say, ‘Hey, can you work with me, we have a particular gap here in our schedule,’ I expect he will. I would emphasize the word premium. The fact that we’re getting WrestleMania for our direct-to-consumer platform is incredibly exciting for us.”
Matt Menard has signed a new deal with AEW that will keep him there until 2030. (FF)
Naomi was backstage at Raw even though she wasn’t “medically cleared” to compete. (PWI) Without discussing specifics, Bryan Alvarez said on Wrestling Observer Live that whatever the situation is, it could wind up leading to Naomi being off TV for a long time. (WO)
Last week’s episode of Raw did 3.0 million views. (Netflix)
Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling is back September 5th with Sacred Ground at the Six Nations Sports & Cultural Centre in Ohsweken, Ontario, Canada. (MLP)
- PWA Champions Grail Championship Match: Rohan Raja (c) vs. Bishop Dyer
- The Good Brothers vs. The Flatliners
- MLP Canadian Women’s Champion Gisele Shaw in action
- Shotzi Blackheart in action
- Priscilla Kelly in action
Bret Hart was invited to SummerSlam and then WWE didn’t have a seat for him: “I went to SummerSlam. They invited me down this year and told me that they wanted me to be in the crowd. Then they told me once I got there that they didn’t have any seats. I noticed Kevin Nash got a seat. I don’t feel like WWE, maybe I finally realized that they I don’t think they ever really fully appreciated me, even after Hulk’s passing. There is no certain appreciation for anything I did. Someone told me there are only three wrestlers alive who main evented one of the first ten WrestleManias. Sgt. Slaughter is one and Million Dollar Man is the other one. I don’t plan on going anywhere for at least another 30 years.” This reportedly happened to Noelle Foley too. (WO)
John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar is reportedly in the works for the WWE PLE in Indianapolis that will go head to head with AEW All Out. (WO)
Alexa Bliss talks about her relationship with Charlotte Flair: “It came about very randomly, but it has been so much fun. It’s fun to see a different side of both of us. We’re just out there having fun and trying what works and seeing what doesn’t. It has just been showing a side of Charlotte that people don’t normally get to see.”
Samoa Joe fractured his ankle filming season two of Twisted Metal: “Halfway through the season, I fractured my ankle. Nothing crazy – we had done a series of pretty crazy driving stunts and some dangerous things here and there. Then it was just parking, and I had to hop out the back on some really rocky, busted-up asphalt. I turned my ankle and spent the rest of the season taping it up and limping through it. Twisted Metal is incredibly physical – fighting scenes, driving scenes. Anytime that car is driving, you see me in it, it’s me. It’s a demanding role, but spending enough time in the ring as I have, it’s no new territory.”
KC Navarro is having surgery on his torn ACL. Best wishes to him for a full recovery!
Here’s the card for NXT next week. (WWE)
- NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Trick Williams vs. Je’Von Evans
- Street Fight: Josh Briggs vs. Yoshiki Inamura
- Jasper Troy vs. Ricky Saints
- Fatal Instinct vs. The Elegance Brand
- Jordynne Grace & Blake Monroe face-to-face
- Ethan Page & Chelsea Green seek a peace treaty with Tavion Heights & Tyra Mae Steele
Taiji Ishimori is doing another self-produced show on Oct. 7th at Korakuen Hall.
The last Collision did a 0.08 18-49 demo and 523,000 viewers, down from 0.10 and up from 409,000 for an episode that aired on Thursday. (Wrestlenomics)
Here’s the updated card for NXT Heatwave on Aug. 24th. (WWE)
- NXT Championship Match: Oba Femi vs. Je’Von Evans OR Trick Williams
- NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Hank Walker & Tank Ledger vs. DarkState
- TNA Knockouts Championship Match: Jacy Jayne vs. Masha Slamovich vs. Ash by Elegance
- Jordynne Grace vs. Blake Monroe
