MLW Fusion Preview 10/19/19

England’s Most Dangerous Man Jimmy Havoc will creep behind the camera as executive producer for a hell-raising Major League Wrestling special.

Havoc will bring his twisted vision to national television on beIN SPORTS Network this Saturday night, October 19th.

beIN SPORTS is available nationwide in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

“I am willing to bleed for my art,” said Havoc about his first foray into producing this project for Major League Wrestling.

The card features the debut of the legendary death match luchador Damian 666 as he unleashes carnage in a pentagram death match against Havoc and the brawling Boricua Savio Vega.

In a Tijuana Street Fight, the masked skeleton luchador El Hijo de LA Park will be out for bloodshed as he battles CONTRA Unit’s Josef Samael just 3 weeks before LA Park and Jacob Fatu battle at SuperFight.

Plus: a terrorizing trios bout from Tijuana, Mexico!

But that’s not all!

Will the World Tag Team Champions MJF & Richard Holliday continue to avoid a championship showdown with the Von Erichs?

Salina de la Renta is on the warpath!

An even more emboldened Austin Aries provokes Teddy Hart and more.

Tune in to the ultimate destination for sports: beIN SPORTS this Saturday night October 19 for Jimmy Havoc’s Slaughterhouse 9pm ET / 6pm PT.

MLW Announces New Women’s Division

MLW has announced that their first-ever women’s division match will take place at Blood & Thunder on Saturday, November 9 at the GILT Nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

MLW has announced that their first-ever women’s division match will take place at Blood & Thunder on Saturday, November 9 at the GILT Nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

Zeda Zhang will be in that first match to launch the MLW women’s division, but there’s no word yet on who her opponent will be. MLW noted that officials are “in talks with an undisclosed female fighter” to compete in the match.

Blood & Thunder will also be a MLW Fusion TV taping. The event will have a special matinee bell time of 4pm. Tickets are available now at MLWgo.com.

Below is the full announcement:

MLW Women’s division to launch November 9 in Orlando

Zeda Zhang will break new ground in Major League Wrestling as she ushers in the women’s division November 9 in Orlando, Florida.

MLW today announced Zeda Zhang will fight in the first women’s division match atMLW: Blood & Thunder at GILT Nightclub in Orlando, Florida on November 9. The event will be a MLW FUSION TV taping for beIN SPORTS.

The event has a special matinee bell time of 4:00pm with doors opening at 3:00pm to the general public.

Fans can buy tickets now at MLWgo.com.

Originally competing in MLW in 2018, the gifted Chinese American fighter has journeyed around the world over the last 16 months training in MMA and competing in China and throughout Asian in a quest to further enhance her skills.

Now the stage is set for Zeda Zhang’s return to Major League Wrestling with the first women’s match kicking off the division this fall in Orlando.

As for Zhang’s opponent, MLW can confirm league officials are in talks with an undisclosed female fighter to step into the MLW ring. More details are expected in the coming days.

See history made LIVE in Orlando on November 9.

Ticket prices range from $20-$50 with a limited number of Platinum Packages also available.

This event is an all ages event. 

There is no dress code for this event but bring your signs as cameras will be rolling for MLW FUSION on beIN SPORTS.

WWE Friday Night SmackDown Preview 10/18/19

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown and WWE 205 Live episodes will take place from the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana with fallout from the WWE Draft.

* Roman Reigns ready to take the Intercontinental Title from Shinsuke Nakamura

* Bayley joins “Miz TV” in the wake of reclaiming the SmackDown Women’s Championship in brash fashion

* SmackDown Women’s Championship opportunity on the line in Six-Pack Challenge Match – Carmella vs. Nikki Cross vs. Dana Brooke vs. Lacey Evans vs. Sonya Deville vs. Mandy Rose

* The New Day team up with Heavy Machinery against The Revival and Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode

Impact Wrestling Preview 10/18/19

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

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.