Tonight’s episode of Impact at 10p.m. ET on PursuitChannel & Twitch.
* X-Division Championship Ladder Match Qualifying Match: Rohit Raju vs. Sabu
* Jake Crist vs. Chris Bey
* Michael Elgin vs. Fallah Bahh
* Josh Alexander vs. Rhino vs. Rich Swann
Month: October 2019
AEW Dynamite Tops WWE NXT In Viewership As Both Shows Viewership Drops
AEW Dynamite has topped WWE NXT in viewership for the third week in a row, but viewership for both has continued to drop since their TV debuts.
Wednesday’s Dynamite episode on TNT drew 1.014 million viewers while NXT drew 712,000 viewers on the USA Network, according to Showbuzz Daily. AEW topped NXT in total viewership by 42.4%.
AEW ranked #5 in the Cable Top 150, while NXT ranked #30. AEW ranked #25 in viewership, for the second week in a row, while NXT ranked #35 in viewership.
Last week’s Dynamite episode drew 1.018 million viewers and ranked #8 in the Cable Top 150, and #25 in viewership, so it dropped 0.4%, not including the airing on truTV last week. Last week’s NXT episode drew 790,000 viewers and ranked #27 in the Cable Top 150, and #33 in viewership, so it dropped 10%.
AEW drew a 0.44 rating in the 18-49 demographic, topping the 0.20 that NXT drew in the same demo by 120%. Last week’s AEW episode drew a 0.46 in that demographic while NXT drew a 0.22.
Last week’s Dynamite episode aired on truTV due to MLB coverage getting in the way of the regular schedule, and the show drew an additional 122,000 on trueTV. Dynamite did not air on truTV this week, just the regular timeslot on TNT.
Basketball Wives topped the night in the 18-49 demographic at #1 with a 0.54 rating, but just 1.208 million viewers. Tucker Carlson Tonight topped the night on cable in viewership with 4.068 million viewers, but ranking #11 on the Cable Top 150 with a 0.32 rating in the 18-49 demographic.
Chicago Med on NBC at 9pm topped the night in viewership on network TV with 8.934 million viewers. The Masked Singer on FOX at 8pm topped the night on network TV in the 18-49 demographic with a 2.2 rating.
To compare, Monday’s WWE Draft edition of RAW on the USA Network drew an average of 2.287 million viewers, down from last week’s 2.334 million viewers for the post-Hell In a Cell episode, and ranked #13 for the night in viewership on cable and #6 in the Cable Top 150 with a 0.74 rating in the 18-49 demographic. Tuesday’s WWE Backstage preview episode that aired on FS1 at 8:13pm drew 597,000 viewers and ranked #25 on the Cable Top 150 with a 0.20 cable rating in the 18-49 demographic.
Below is 2019 NXT Viewership Tracker:
September 18 Episode: 1.179 million viewers (one hour on the USA Network)
September 25 Episode: 1.006 million viewers (one hour on the USA Network)
October 2 Episode: 891,000 viewers (season premiere, both hours on the USA Network)
October 9 Episode: 790,000 viewers
October 16 Episode: 712,000 viewers
Below is 2019 AEW Dynamite Viewership Tracker:
October 2 Episode: 1.409 million viewers (premiere episode)
October 9 Episode: 1.018 million viewers (on TNT, 122k on truTV)
October 16 Episode: 1.014 million viewers
Source: Wrestling Inc.
WWE Announces Authors Of Pain Have Been Officially Signed To RAW
WWE announced that the Authors of Pain have been signed to RAW. WWE announced it with a video explaining the two powerhouse wrestlers have been signed to RAW after “extended negotiations with both USA Network and FOX amid rumors of their return to the MMA world.”
Seth Rollins Out Of Team Hogan Vs. Team Flair Match At Crown Jewel
Seth Rollins was slated to pull double duty at WWE’s upcoming Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia … but that’s no longer the case.
WWE announced on Thursday that Rollins will no longer be competing in the “Team Hogan vs. Team Flair” tag match, in which he was set to team with Rusev, Ricochet and two other teammates in a 5-on-5 match against Randy Orton, King Corbin, Bobby Lashley, Shinsuke Nakamura and one more unannounced Superstar.
The Universal Champion will instead defend his title as advertised against “The Fiend” in a Falls Count Anywhere match at the same event, which goes down in Riyadh on October 31.
WWE’s First Official Weekly Podcast Will Be Hosted By Corey Graves
Corey Graves will host WWE’s first official podcast called “After The Bell.”
The description for the show explains:
“After the Bell” is an official WWE podcast that gives you a provocative look at the latest in Raw, SmackDown and NXT. Featuring exclusive Superstar interviews, “ATB” examines the world of WWE both between and beyond the ropes in a way that’s as edgy and unpredictable as Graves himself.”
After The Bell will drop its first episode on October 30 with guest Triple H.
Corey jokingly tweeted after the announcement saying, “Hey [Conrad Thompson], we are at WAR now. Everyone MUST choose sides. There can ONLY be ONE! (Insert battle cliche here.) Nobody DARE enjoy everything. Text me later.”
CLICK HERE to subscribe to the show on iTunes.
Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet
NJPW Parent Company Bushiroad Purchases Stardom
New Japan Pro Wrestling’s parent company, Bushiroad, has purchased the all-woman’s Japanese promotion, Stardom.
Bushiroad’s Takaaki Kitani and Stardom’s Rossy Ogawa reportedly met back in April, but a deal between the two sides wasn’t completed until August.
Stardom’s Twitter account commented, “Stardom has been acquired by Bushiroad. More details to come shortly! A press conference will be held today at 2 pm JST (1 am EST in the US) on the official Bushiroad YouTube channel, addressing the Stardom acquisition. The Stardom roster will be on stage.”
Stardom was founded in 2010 and has featured names like Io Shirai, Toni Storm, Bea Priestley, Hana Kimura, Kagetsu, and Mayu Iwatani.
Bushiroad’s Takaaki Kitani and Stardom’s Rossy Ogawa reportedly met back in April, but a deal between the two sides wasn’t completed until August. There was a joint press conference with Stardom talent involved following the news.
Starting December 1, 2019, the company name will be changed from Kix Road Co., Ltd. to Bushiroad Fight Co., Ltd. Hiroshi Ogawa will remain the CEO of Stardom, and while the name “Stardom” will be the same, World Wonder Ring Stardom will not exist. As a result of the different branding and TV promotions (NJPW is part-owned by TV-Asahi and the Stardom TV deal is with NTV), Dave Meltzer reported at F4WOnline that both New Japan and Stardom will be run and kept completely separate from one another. Meltzer added that if there was a need by New Japan for women’s matches during foreign shows, something may be able to work out.
Meltzer also noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that WWE had made an offer to purchase Stardom as well. WWE had recently tried to purchase NOAH as well, so they are serious about getting into the Japanese market.
Following the rebrand, advertising and global marketing strategies will be implemented starting in January 2020. This will be developed by BS Nippon Television, with programming on BS NTV every Thursday and a 30-minute program on TOKYO MX.
In regards to talent, Stardom women will be receiving full-time contracts. There are also plans to bring in wrestlers from all over the world.
“We will create contracts with each wrestler,” Bushiroad stated. “We want to create an environment where the wrestlers can concentrate on pro wrestling, and we are expecting to bring in excellent wrestlers from all over the world. We would like to listen to the thoughts of each wrestler and take those thoughts into account when creating this new work environment.”
The opportunities for big shows were announced during the press conference as well. Stardom will run Korakuen Hall 14 times in 2020, with consecutive shows on August 8th and 9th. The first major show for the brand will be on April 29, 2020 inside Tokyo’s Ota Ward Gym. In 2021, there will be a 10th Anniversary show. While a future in the United States is unclear, Stardom will take part in “CharaExpo USA 2019” on December 7th and 8th inside the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA. The featured bout for the promotion will be Mayu Iwatani and Tam Nakano v. Sumie Sakai and Nicole Savoy.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Impact Wrestling Signs Katie Forbes
Impact Wrestling has signed Katie Forbes to a deal.
Women’s Pro Wrestling Weekly sent word that the indie wrestler, actress and model revealed on their show that she has inked a deal with Impact.
“Yeah, so they let me be me, and I can embrace it. So, you all will see a lot more of that because starting today, I’ve just signed with Impact,” Forbes revealed on the show, which you can see below or download via iTunes at this link.
Forbes’ boyfriend Rob Van Dam is currently working with Impact as well.
Forbes has worked for several promotions, including ROH and WOW Women of Wrestling. She worked a WWE tryout in 2015 and has also worked as an enhancement talent.
After appearing earlier in the year, Forbes made her official Impact singles debut on last Friday’s show. She faced Jordynne Grace, as seen in the video below. Also below are a few more shots of Forbes, including her and RVD backstage at WWE RAW earlier in the summer:
Source: Wrestling Inc.
AEW Star Luchasaurus Injured
Luchasaurus did not compete on last night’s AEW Dynamite episode due to a hamstring injury.
Luchasaurus was scheduled to team with Jungleboy to face Rey Fenix and Pentagon in a first round match in the AEW Tag Team Titles tournament. Due to the injury, Jungleboy will now be teaming with Marko Stunt.
AEW officials reportedly decided to pull Luchasaurus from the match this afternoon, so he did not risk further injury.
There’s no word yet on when Luchasaurus will be back in action.
News On Scarlett Bordeaux And Shotzi Blackheart Signing With WWE
Scarlett Bordeaux and Shotzi Blackheart will be starting with WWE soon.
Bordeaux has cancelled her upcoming bookings, including the Fight Forever: Tribute to Bret “The Hitman” Hart event on November 23rd. NWA star Kamille Brickhouse will be replacing Bordeaux. Bordeaux will still be appearing at the Baltimore Comic Con this weekend, along with her boyfriend, Killer Kross. The Baltimore Comic Con will be Bordeaux’s final independent meet and greet before she starts with WWE.
Bordeaux spoke to Wrestling Inc. on their WINCLY podcast earlier this year. WWE has been moving in a more risqué direction this year, which Bordeaux was happy with.
“I think, for a while, there was a lot of limits on everything with women…” Bordeaux told Wrestling Inc. in January. “For a while they were pulling back the sexiness and placing a limit on what you could do. They are kinda loosening that and saying its okay to have a little bit [of sexiness] which is great.
“I’ve seen a few things the last few weeks which actually makes me really happy. They’re loosening up a little bit on the way they are stopping women being sexy.”
Blackheart, who was publicly offered an NXT developmental contract by William Regal at EVOLVE 137 this past weekend, will honor her independent dates through November 3rd. She was scheduled for others after that, however Wrestling Inc. has learned that Blackheart has cancelled those, telling promoters that she has “been informed that (she) must cancel all independent bookings past November 4th.”
Source: Wrestling Inc.
NWA Announces PPV “Into The Fire”
On Tuesday night’s NWA Powerrr it was announced Into The Fire will be the company’s next PPV on December 14. The show will begin at 6:05 pm ET from the GSB Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, currently the studio being used for its weekly show. Tickets will go on sale this Friday. TV tapings will then take place on December 15 and 16.
Below is Tuesday night’s episode of NWA Powerrr:
Wrestling News Blog 