Tonight’s WWE NXT episode on the USA Network will see the 2020 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament kick off.
Io Shirai is said to be “not necessarily happy” with how she’s used in WWE NXT, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.
The Stardom women’s wrestling promotion in Japan currently has a goal of bringing back Shirai and WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Kairi Sane, but WWE may bring Shirai to the main roster to try and prevent that from happening.
This year is expected to be a big year for Stardom as New Japan Pro Wrestling parent company Bushiroad purchased them last fall and will put a lot of resources and marketing into the promotion moving forward. Meltzer noted that Stardom is looking to try and run bigger shows this year, but they recognize how it’s important for them to try and sign real stars, like Shirai and Sane. They both are already stars in Japan, but their runs with WWE will add to that.
Bushiroad reportedly wants to offer a lot of money to Sane and Shirai to stop them from re-signing with WWE. WWE may move Shirai to the main roster as her pay will then go way up. Meltzer noted that Shirai’s NXT pay is “nothing special” but she was making more money in Japan and working less dates, but because of her merchandise pay.
There was no further details revealed on why Shirai is unhappy in NXT, but besides that she has her fiancé back in Japan. Shirai and NJPW star Evil are engaged to be married, but there’s no word yet on when they will tie the knot.
There’s also no official word yet on when Sane and Shirai will see their WWE contracts expire. Sane reportedly signed a three-year deal back in March 2017. Shirai signed with WWE around the summer of 2018.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
After last week’s tie, Week 12 of the Wednesday Night Wars saw WWE NXT top AEW Dynamite in viewership and the key demographic.
Wednesday’s NXT drew 795,000 viewers on the USA Network, beating the 683,000 viewers garnered by Dynamite on TNT by 16%, according to Showbuzz Daily.
This is the second-lowest AEW viewership since the show began airing back in October. The November 27 episode drew 663,000 viewers.
NXT opened with a strong commercial-free opener this week, which saw NXT Champion Adam Cole retain over Finn Balor, and closed just as strong as Rhea Ripley defeated Shayna Baszler in the main event to become the new NXT Women’s Champion.
NXT beat AEW in the prime 18-49 demo for the first time ever by 8%. AEW drew a 0.25 rating in the 18-49 demographic while NXT drew a 0.27 in the same demo this week. It was the lowest rating for Dynamite in the demo yet. Last week’s AEW episode drew a 0.28 in that demographic while NXT drew a 0.24.
AEW ranked #30 in the Cable Top 150 for the prime 18-49 demo, while NXT ranked slightly above it at #27. AEW ranked #43 in overall viewership, while NXT ranked #37 in viewership.
Last week’s Dynamite episode drew 778,000 viewers and ranked #11 in the Cable Top 150, and #34 in viewership. Last week’s NXT episode drew 778,000 viewers and ranked #21 in the Cable Top 150, and #34 in viewership.
CNN’s impeachment coverage at 9pm topped the night in the 18-49 demographic on the Cable Top 150 with a 0.77 rating, drawing 3.340 million viewers. Tucker Carlson Tonight on FOX News topped the night on cable in viewership with 5.032 million viewers, ranking at #5 on the Cable Top 150 with a 0.57 rating in the key demo. The cable news channels dominated the night due to the impeachment coverage.
The Masked Singer on FOX topped the night on network TV in the 18-49 demographic with a 2.2 rating, and in viewership with 8.359 million viewers.
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
October 23 Episode: 698,000 viewers
October 30 Episode: 580,000 viewers with a 0.18 demographic in the 18-49 demographic
November 6 Episode: 813,000 viewers with a 0.30 demographic in the 18-49 demographic
November 13 Episode: 750,000 viewers with a 0.25 demographic in the 18-49 demographic
November 20 Episode: 916,000 viewers with a 0.30 demographic in the 18-49 demographic
November 27 Episode: 810,000 viewers with a 0.24 demographic in the 18-49 demographic (post-Survivor Series episode)
December 4 Episode: 845,000 viewers with a 0.29 demographic in the 18-49 demographic
December 11 Episode: 778,000 viewers with a 0.24 demographic in the 18-49 demographic
December 18 Episode: 795,000 viewers with a 0.27 demographic in the 18-49 demographi
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
October 23 Episode: 963,000 viewers
October 30 Episode: 789,000 viewers with a 0.33 rating in the 18-49 demographic
November 6 Episode: 822,000 viewers with a 0.35 rating in the 18-49 demographic
November 13 Episode: 957,000 viewers with a 0.43 rating in the 18-49 demographic (post-Full Gear episode)
November 20 Episode: 893,000 viewers with a 0.39 demographic in the 18-49 demographic
November 27 Episode: 663,000 viewers with a 0.26 demographic in the 18-49 demographic
December 4 Episode: 851,000 viewers with a 0.32 demographic in the 18-49 demographic
December 11 Episode: 778,000 viewers with a 0.28 demographic in the 18-49 demographic
December 18 Episode: 683,000 viewers with a 0.25 demographic in the 18-49 demographic
Source: Wrestling Inc.
The final live WWE NXT episode of 2019 will take place tonight from the NXT Arena at Full Sail University in Winter Park, FL.
Tonight’s WWE NXT episode will air live from the NXT Arena at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida.
Tonight’s WWE NXT episode will air on the USA Network, live from the NXT Arena at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida.
Kushida suffered a hairline wrist fracture in mid-September, but continued feuding with WWE UK Champion WALTER and Imperium into mid-October. He has been out of action since then.
It’s believed that tonight’s episode will also see Mauro Ranallo return to the announce table.
Tonight’s WWE NXT episode will take place from the NXT Arena at Full Sail University in Winter Park, FL with fallout from TakeOver: WarGames and Survivor Series.
Mauro Ranallo will not be calling this week’s WWE NXT episode, according to a new report from John Pollock of POST Wrestling.
Mauro was set to call some of the NXT matches at Sunday’s WWE Survivor Series pay-per-view, but he apparently took the day off after deleting his Twitter account over a pair of tweets made by WWE SmackDown announcer Corey Graves. It was reported that sources close to WWE and close to Mauro all believed that he would be back to work for Wednesday’s NXT TV taping from the NXT Arena at Full Sail Live in Winter Park, FL. It was also said that things were alright between Mauro and WWE. Now, word is that Ranallo will not be working this week’s episode.
It was noted that there has been communication over the past few days between Mauro and WWE officials, but the decision was made that he would not be returning to work this week. There’s still no word yet on if Mauro will return to the show next week.
For those who missed it, Graves took to Twitter on Saturday night and referenced how Mauro was talking over Nigel McGuinness and WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix during “Takeover: WarGames 2019” commentary, something some fans were also saying on Twitter.
He wrote, “Just for the record guys, I know you wouldn’t know it, but there’s actually a WWE Hall of Famer AND a former Ring of Honor Champion on commentary. I’d imagine they have a lot to offer. #NXTTakeoverWarGames”
Another fan commented on the number of Chicago hip-hop references Mauro made. Graves responded, “Far, far too many.”
Mauro, who has been open about his mental health issues, deleted his Twitter account the next day. It was reported by Bryan Alvarez of F4Wonline.com that Mauro did show up to the Allstate Arena on Survivor Series Sunday, along with friend Frank Shamrock, who stood up for him on Twitter in a tweet to Graves. There’s no word yet on what happened at the arena on Sunday, but Mauro did not work the Survivor Series pay-per-view. Michael Cole noted on commentary that Mauro was so excited and passionate at Takeover the night before, that he blew his voice out. It was also noted that Mauro would be back for NXT TV.
Stay tuned for updates on Mauro’s WWE status and when he might return to work.
Below are the original tweets from Graves:
https://twitter.com/WWEGraves/status/1198414519556562944
Source: Wrestling Inc.
(Pre-show) Isaiah “Swerve” Scott vs. Angel Garza –
Winner: Angel Garza
Women’s WarGames Match: Rhea Ripley (Captain), Tegan Nox, Dakota Kai, and Candice LeRae vs. Shayna Baszler (Captain), Io Shirai, Bianca Belair, and Kay Lee Ray –
Dakota Kai turned on her friend and teammate Tegan Nox, attacking her when the ref open the holding cage to let one of them out to enter the WarGames cage. Kai was forced out the arena by officials and William Regal. Nox was unable to compete, so the WarGames match was officially under way with Team Baszler with a 4 to 2 advantage.
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1198398538071232512
https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1198400394923147264
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1198400950915878912
Rhea Ripley handcuffed herself to Shayna Baszler and slammed her through a couple of chairs and got the pin for the win.
Winners: Team Ripley
https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1198401616279289856
Pete Dunne vs. Damian Priest vs. Killian Dain
Winner faces NXT Champion Adam Cole at Survivor Series.
Winner: Pete Dunne
Finn Balor vs. Matt Riddle –
Winner: Finn Balor
Mens’ WarGames Match: The Undisputed ERA (Adam Cole (Captain), Roderick Strong, Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly) vs. Tommaso Ciampa (Captain), Keith Lee, Dominik Dijakovic, and TBA
Kevin Owens was the 4th member for team Ciampa.
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1198424649299742720
https://twitter.com/WWEUniverse/status/1198424987016683521
https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1198426508148146176
https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1198427967816257536
https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1198429026127233024
Winners: Team Ciampa
There was an injury angle on tonight’s WWE NXT “Takeover: WarGames 2019” Pre-show that saw Mia Yim suffer an injury after a backstage attack by a mystery attacker. Team Captain Rhea Ripley later talked Dakota Kai into replacing Yim.
Yim legitimately suffered a broken nose during her Ladder Match loss to Io Shirai last Wednesday, so that could be why she was pulled.
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1198390359019028480
Below is the updated Takeover card for tonight:
Mens’ WarGames Match: The Undisputed ERA (Adam Cole (Captain), Roderick Strong, Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly) vs. Tommaso Ciampa (Captain), Keith Lee, Dominik Dijakovic, and TBA
Women’s WarGames Match: Rhea Ripley (Captain), Tegan Nox, Dakota Kai, and Candice LeRae vs. Shayna Baszler (Captain), Io Shirai, Bianca Belair, and Kay Lee Ray
Finn Balor vs. Matt Riddle
Pete Dunne vs. Damian Priest vs. Killian Dain
Winner faces NXT Champion Adam Cole at Survivor Series.
Pre-show
Isaiah “Swerve” Scott vs. Angel Garza
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