Daily Update: SmackDown, Forbidden Door, Anthony Bowens

Daily Update

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Women's Tag Team title match official for WWE Money in the BankImpact Friday TV taping spoilers: Former WWE NXT wrestler returnsUFC on ABC 5 live results: Josh Emmett vs. Ilia TopuriaWWE SmackDown video highlights: The Usos lay out Solo Sikoa

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Wrestling Observer Live: Dismantling age-old stereotypesWrestling Observer Radio: CM Punk's return to AEW, Forbidden Door preview

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This Week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

June 26, 2023 Observer Newsletter: CM Punk returns on AEW Collision debut, Forbidden Door preview

In this issue:

The Punk interview and 1 Bill PhilTony Khan talks about the 1 Bill Phil commentThe business of AEW and profit/lossThe different ways this all could go in detailPositives and negatives about working for AEW and WWEThe Collision announce teamThe most detailed look at Collision ratings and what category was it tops among sports during the weekWhat TNT was doing in the time slot, what should be expected and what would be considered goodHow each segment didThe Marc Raimondi ESPN piece Punk talks Adam PageContradictory storiesOriginal idea for Collision that changedFull rundown of both Chicago shows with business notesPreview of Forbidden Door and what business mark for AEW may be set and where it ranks all-time among Canadian gatesNotes on Danielson vs. Okada and Omega vs. OspreayNotes on PPVThe rest of the cardThe Owen Hart tournamentUpdate on Wembley StadiumRickson Gracie battles Parkinson's and a look back at a fighting legend in the underground days as well as his battles with a famous pro wrestler in BrazilMoney in the Bank updateNotes on Saturday's UFC showTons of new major matches announced by UFC for the summer and fallThe most detailed look at the ratings for all the wrestling and MMA shows over the past week, how they do with different age groups, segment-by-segment and what WWE stars moved numbers big this past weekFirst wrestling company in history to hit 90 years consecutively in businessMultiple cities doing a 40th anniversary celebration for a Hall of FamerKonnan talks heavily about Bandido and RushAn issue with women's wrestling fans in JapanHow the women's wrestling fan base in Japan has changed multiple timesWhat happened to the key young Dragon Gate talent that was let goTwo wrestlers who started together, became big stars in different companies, have a dream match that sold out instantlyN-1 tournament including surprise entrantsNew Japan Strong shows in JapanA bill introduced in New York regarding regulating pro wrestlingLots of injury updatesMore on the MLW lawsuit against WWEImpact stars on major television show in CanadaMore on B.J. Whitmer caseTony Khan talks working with Gedo and where AEW stands among start-ups in the sports brand spaceTony Khan talks Bill GoldbergUpdate on BandidoInternational TV ratings and streaming numbers for WWE and AEWTicket sale updates for all the major shows for WWE & AEWTalks regarding the sale of Bellator, rumors about Tony Khan being interested and he shoots them downTons of drug suspensions handed out this weekGable Steveson debuts on TV and what his goals for 2024 are

This Week's Retro Observer Newsletter:

May 1, 2006 Observer Newsletter: WWE/ECW, Brock Lesnar

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Saturday Update

WWE

Last night’s SmackDown averaged 2.25 million viewers in the fast national ratings, down slightly from last week’s fast national average of 2.278 million. The rating in the 18-49 demo was a 0.6.Three matches that had been announced for SmackDown didn’t take place. Bayley vs. Shotzi, LA Knight vs. Santos Escobar vs. Butch, and Cameron Grimes vs. Baron Corbin were set for last night’s show but removed from advertising before it started. The triple threat was changed to a singles match with Knight defeating Rey Mysterio.Bayley’s women’s Money in the Bank ladder match spot was supposed to be on the line against Shotzi. Bayley tweeted today: “Card subject to change..Sorry. Sorry you couldn’t watch me beat dat ass”Bianca Belair and Montez Ford renewed their wedding vows in Las Vegas: “Happy 5 Years! We renewed our vows on our 5 Year Anniversary! Even though we meant our vows the 1st time we said them! And I’ll marry you over and over and over again. @montezfordwwe was suppose to propose at the Grand Canyon 5 years ago but got too excited and proposed in the parking lot on the way to the airport! Lol so we took it back to Vegas 5 years later to renew our vows!”Less than a month after undergoing neck fusion surgery, Braun Strowman noted that he’s gotten the green light to resume light weight training: “Just got the green light to start light weight training again!!!! Time to rebuild the #Monster”LA Knight challenged King Charles to a fight when WWE comes to London: “I gotta go to the top man and run for King Charles. I know he's old and beaten down and you know busted up, but I've got to take the crown.”In celebration of the 25th anniversary of his debut, Edge reacted to the greatest moments from his career.Charlotte Flair, Grayson Waller, and Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler were interviewed on The SmackDown LowDown.Becky Lynch was the guest on the latest episode of WWE After the Bell.

AEW/Other Wrestling

AEW uploaded its Countdown special for Forbidden Door.Our Josh Nason previewed Forbidden Door for Sports Illustrated.Hiroshi Tanahashi named some opponents he’d like to face if he wins the AEW World Championship:[Claudio] Castagnoli is a great wrestler. I know that he used to team with Shinsuke Nakamura, and that was an emotional link for me. I’d love to have a singles match against him.And I want to wrestle CM Punk since I couldn’t do it last year. I have wrestled Bryan Danielson once before when I was younger. But with him being one of the top wrestlers in the U.S. and the world right now, I’d love for us to go again.Anthony Bowens responded to the positive “he’s gay” chants he received from the crowd while interacting with Harley Cameron on Rampage: “If ya told me years ago, I’d have an arena chanting HE’S GAY at me in the most POSITIVE of ways, I’d say you’re crazy. It’s pretty cool to see how far we’ve come. Still more work to do. Happy Pride #AEWRampage”Tony Khan was interviewed on CNBC this weekAubrey Edwards was a guest on the Battleground Podcast.Rocky Romero appeared on AEW Unrestricted.Click Here: Marco Verratti Jersey Sale