Tonight on Impact on Pop TV:
* LAX vs. Cult of Lee
* Desmond Xavier vs. Petey Williams
* Moose vs. Kongo Kong w/Jimmy Jacobs
* oVe vs. Drago & Aerostar
* X-Division Championship: (C) Matt Sydal vs. El Hijo Del Fantasma
Author: John Bass
WWE Confirms New Start Time For Money In The Bank And All PPV Events On The WWE Network
WWE.com is now listing a new start time of 7:00 p.m. Eastern (6:00 CT) for the upcoming Money in the Bank PPV in four weeks on June 17.
This confirms a report this week stating the company planned to change up the start time of all PPV events by one hour earlier, with shows possibly running as long as four hours. WWE already started informing domestic and international PPV providers about the change.
A report by The Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online indicated that while all events going forward are planned to run four hours, they may not end up going that long. The big four (Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Survivor Series) will also begin at 7:00 p.m. ET, but are expected to run longer than normal PPV events like Money in the Bank.
The change comes following the Backlash PPV a few weeks ago, which was the first dual-branded PPV event featuring talent from both RAW and SmackDown Live. Kickoff Shows are also scheduled to continue and either air for an hour or 30 minutes prior to the PPV. WWE has yet to reveal the official timing schedule for June 17 on the network.
Source: WrestleView
Ronda Rousey To Make WWE Japan Debut
Ronda Rousey is set to make her WWE debut in Japan on Friday, August 31st with a big show at the Edison Arena in Osaka. Others advertised include RAW Women’s Champion Nia Jax, WWE Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins, RAW Tag Team Champion Bray Wyatt, Alexa Bliss, Roman Reigns, Sasha Banks, Finn Balor, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Natalya, Jinder Mahal, Bobby Roode and Braun Strowman.
Source: WrestlingINC
ESPN Outbids FOX To Secure UFC TV Rights With $1.5 Billion Deal
On the heels of FOX closing in on a five-year deal with WWE’s SmackDown Live brand worth over $1 billion, ESPN has reached a second agreement with UFC, Fortune reports.
Last October, the exclusive negotiating period between UFC and FOX expired, giving the brand an opportunity to shop their television rights package to other companies. WWE started talking with FOX around that time, as executives from both parties initially met at the close of 2017. For WWE, NBC Universal decided to retain their partnership with the Raw brand, while FOX commenced a billion-dollar five-year deal to acquire SmackDown.
Just a few weeks ago, Disney’s new Direct-To-Consumer & International segment along with ESPN reached a $150 million per year agreement to exclusively air 15 full-card events on their ESPN+ platform, effective January 2019. ESPN has now struck a second $150 million five-year deal with UFC to broadcast and stream more than 30 fights a year.
According to USA Today, the broadcast deal will include 10 full UFC cards along with the preliminary card for a dozen UFC pay-per-view shows. Combined with the April agreement, the deal is said to be worth $1.5 billion. Both deals begin on January 1st.
Source: WrestlingINC
WWE SmackDown Reportedly Moving To New Night With $1 Billion FOX Deal
As reported, FOX has reached an agreement to acquire SmackDown Live to join their programming. This comes off the heels of NBC Universal maintaining their partnership with WWE after their contract ended in September 2019, but only keeping Raw as a part of the deal.
According to The Wrap, the deal between WWE and FOX will also result in a change of day that SmackDown will be aired, which will be Fridays, according to a source with knowledge of the deal. In addition to FOX, SmackDown has also been aired since its series debut in 1999 on UPN, The CW, MyNetworkTV, and SyFy. Past incarnations of SmackDown have been aired on both Thursdays and Fridays.
For the first time ever, SmackDown moved exclusively to Tuesday nights on July 19, 2016 to help promote their move to USA at the beginning of the year, as well as the brand split. The name of the show was then changed to SmackDown Live.
The current FOX 2018 lineup for Friday has Last Man Standing airing from 8-8:30, The Cool Kids at 8:30-9, and Hell’s Kitchen from 9-10, so those shows would have to find a new night with the new deal.
For many years, WWE taped SmackDown on Tuesday nights to assist with their production scheduling, along with their WWE live event schedule. Per this report, there is no information on whether it will stay live. The SmackDown crew works live events from Saturday – Monday with television on Tuesday.
Regarding the terms of the deal, The Hollywood Reporter reports that it is a five-year agreement worth more than $1 billion, $205 million annually. This is a three-fold increase to what NBC Universal is currently paying for the blue brand on USA. There was even a bigger offer from another party, but WWE agreed to partner with FOX due to the company’s ability to heavily promote the product across a platform with other sports including NFL and MLB.
Averaging at 2.59 million viewers a week, SmackDown Live is still the sixth most watched original program on cable television.
Source: WrestlingINC
John Morrison Confirmed For “Survivor” Season 37 In First Official Trailer
A trailer for the latest season of CBS’s award-winning reality series Survivor revealed Impact Wrestling/Lucha Underground star John Morrison has slingshot his way into the cast.
The theme for season 37 is “David vs. Goliath.” As you can imagine, Morrison will be on Team Goliath.
“I’m as fast as a Corvette and as big as a Hummer,” Morrison says in the trailer. “Millions of wrestling fans know me as Johnny Mundo, the mayor of Slamtown. I’ve been a champion of every organization that I’ve worked for. I’m something extraordinary.”
Team Goliath is described as competitors who come from privilege and have capitalized on their advantages to crush the competition — including in the professional wrestling ring. Naturally, that leaves Team David to be like the rest of us who don’t have an 8-pack and luscious, flowing hair.
Earlier this month, we reported Morrison had been rumored to be part of the latest Survivor taping.
Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet
XFL Has Already Launched An Online Store For Merch
It may be two years away from returning, but XFL is already back in the merch game … as the company opened a new online store this week selling everything from shirts to phone cases.
Some of the items available on XFL Shop:
- Zip-up hoodie; $50
- Embroidered Polo shirt; $30
- League logo shirts varying in price
- Drawstring bag; $23
- Phones cases; $20
In an effort to promote the store, the company is selecting a random Twitter follower who retweets the announcement to receive a surprise pack of merchandise.
Browse the full website to check out their selection.
Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet
SmackDown Live Preview 5/22/18
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts as the road to Money In the Bank continues.
* Daniel Bryan and Jeff Hardy to battle in a match with WWE Money in the Bank implications tonight on SmackDown LIVE
* The New Day to join The Miz on “Miz TV” during SmackDown LIVE
* Lana and Billie Kay to clash in Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match tonight on SmackDown LIVE
* Naomi to face Sonya Deville in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match tonight on SmackDown LIVE
WWE 205 Live Preview 5/22/18
Tonight’s WWE 205 Live will take place from the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.
* Is Buddy Murphy ready for Cedric Alexander?
* Hideo Itami vs. Akira Tozawa
Chris Jericho Cuts Foul-Mouthed Tirade Against Tetsuya Naito At NJPW BOTSJ
Over the past couple months, Chris Jericho has attacked Tetsuya Naito twice from behind, first at New Year Dash and then at Wrestling Dontaku. Earlier today at NJPW BOTSJ (Night 4) IWGP Intercontinental Championship Tetsuya Naito and BUSHI defeated Tiger Mask and Toa Henare in a tag match. Afterwards, the lights went out and Chris Jericho popped up on the screen to cut a promo on his upcoming opponent at Dominion. Just a note, the video above is not safe for work.
“Naito, I read all of the things you’re saying about me,” Jericho said. “I know how you really feel and listen, you are one of the greatest performers in the world today. One of the biggest stars in NJPW, but to me you mean as much as this turtle.”
Jericho was outside and actually showed a turtle that he came across. He then continued on about taking Naito’s title away from him.
“Naito, I’m gonna f— you up! I’m going to take your Intercontinental Championship from you, not because you wanted it, you don’t want it, you’re too tranquilo. I’m not tranquilo,” Jericho scoffed. “I’m f—— crazy! I’m gonna show you just how crazy I can be at Dominion on June 9. I’ve been waiting for six months to get my hands on your stupid filthy head. Yeah, Los Ingobernables de Japon. Kiss my f—– ass!”
Naito had recently said in an interview he was, “superior” to Jericho, aside from name recognition, Jericho responded to that as well.
“You’re the best New Japan has to offer, but I’ve seen pieces of s— like you come and go, year after year, and guess what? Chris Jericho is still here,” Jericho continued. “The Alpha is still here. … I’m gonna make your famous Naito, when I beat your f—– ass at Dominion, take the Intercontinental Championship away from you, away from those filthy animals in Japan and take it back to the United States where it belongs. Be careful what you wish for junior because it’s going to come true. I’ll see you on June 9th at Dominion, f— face!”
When cameras cut back to Naito in the ring, he was relaxing on the mat (seemingly taking a nap) and cut a promo (translation by Chris Charlton).
https://twitter.com/reasonjp/status/998875727503097857
Source: WrestlingINC
