Monday Night Raw this week drew 1,790,000 viewers, down 31,000 viewers from last week’s broadcast. Since the show returned on the road, this was the least-watched broadcast and had less viewers without the Olympics going head-to-head.
Hourly numbers are not yet available. The show did a 0.49 in the 18-49 demo, also down from 0.51 of last week. Last week’s show was #1, #2, and #3 in the top 50 cable chart. This post will be updated once the hourly numbers are made public. (Ratings credit: Wrestlenomics)
Tonight’s NXT is back on USA Network after two weeks on Syfy and it is the first episode after the 13 layoffs from this past Friday and the subsequent news that the brand will eventually cease to exist as we know it right now.
The rumors are that NXT is going back to being a developmental territory so to speak, reverting to its original roots rather than a third WWE brand. NXT was pretty much that before it was forced to change thanks to the arrival of All Elite Wrestling and its Dynamite television broadcast.
But as well all know, the war between AEW and NXT is over and AEW was clearly the winner, with NXT moving nights and unlike AEW, it failed to increase on the audience they had while going head-to-head with Dynamite.
The @WrestleVotes Twitter account said that tensions backstage at the WWE Performance Center are running pretty high today, understandably considering the rough weekend the black and gold brand went through.
What happens to Superstars considered to be no longer developmental, such as Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, Kushida, Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Samoa Joe, Dakota Kai, Io Shirai, LA Knight, and many others, remains to be seen.
Despite not appearing on television, John Cena was at Monday Night Raw last night in Orlando and showed up after the cameras stopped rolling and the show went off the air.
Cena’s music kicked in while both Randy Orton and Riddle were still in the ring and Orton was shown on the big screen making the surprised hands-on-face gesture.
After Cena made his entrance to a thunderous ovation from the crowd, Cena invited Riddle and his long-time nemesis Orton for a group hug, to which they obviously obliged for another big pop from the crowd.
In the post-show dark match, Cena teamed up with Damian Priest to take on Jinder Mahal and Dilsher Shanky.
The United States title will be on the line at SummerSlam after Sheamus accepted Damian Priest’s challenge during Monday Night Raw.
Sheamus, who has been champion since WrestleMania 37, has barely defended the title ever since he beat Riddle in April.
This is the sixth title match in what is so far a seven-match card with the Universal, WWE, Smackdown Women’s, Raw Women’s, and Smackdown Tag Team titles all up for grabs in Las Vegas.
The Raw Tag Team titles are also looking like they are going to be defended on the show with AJ Styles and Omos versus Randy Orton and Riddle. Orton returned to Raw last night after an absence of over a month.
FITE TV has added the upcoming weekly Rampage television show to the AEW Plus service for non-U.S. fans.
Each episode of Rampage will be streamed live by FITE TV as part of your AEW subscription which costs $4.99 a month. Rampage will be available for fans in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and many other European countries were the service is available.
For those fans in Canada, Rampage will be available weekly live on the TSN streaming service TSN Direct but will not be available on normal television due to other programming on the station during that time.
Randy Orton is back on Monday Night Raw tonight and will be kicking off the show.
“Been away for a bit, but tonight, I’m back on #WWERaw … and I won’t keep you waiting, I’m kicking off the show,” Orton wrote on Twitter, adding the hash tag #ViperIsBack.
Orton was advertised locally to appear on last week’s broadcast but the former champion was not in Chicago for Raw. He has not appeared on television since end of June.
Tonight’s Raw is back in Orlando from the Amway Center, the same location which hosted the WWE ThunderDome from August to December last year.
Yesterday, former WWE Superstar Chelsea Green revealed that she was in a legal battle with WWE over a trademark of her birth name and promised to talk about it on the latest episode of her podcast Green With Envy.
But Green avoided the subject on the new episode of her podcast, titled My Secret Boob Job, because there was good news.
“Well, at 9pm last night I received a call saying they were withdrawing the trademark & the name is MINE,” Green wrote in an update on Twitter.
Fans were up in arms after Green spilled the beans that WWE were holding on to the trademark of her birth name despite releasing her from her contract. WWE filed for a trademark of the name on September 24, 2020 when Green was still part of the promotion and she gave WWE consent to register her name and the application was approved by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Green, through attorney Michael Dockins, filed for a trademark of her name on April 15, 2021, after she was released from WWE.
The newest episode of Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Sessions on the WWE Network will feature the current WWE champion Bobby Lashley as the guest.
Unless things change – and this has happened frequently lately – the episode will premiere on Sunday, August 15, just one week before the SummerSlam pay-per-view. This will be the 19th episode of Broken Skull Sessions and the first one for Lashley. The last episode featured nWo founding member and former WWE champion Kevin Nash.
Lashley will be defending his WWE title against Hall of Famer Goldberg at the SummerSlam PPV on August 21 live from Las Vegas.
The newest Suicide Squad movie featuring WWE Superstar John Cena as Peacemaker topped the box office charts this weekend but it was a big disappointment as the movie did just $26,500,000 in its first weekend according to BoxOfficeMojo.com.
The Suicide Squad was also available for free to HBO Max subscribers so that, along with the current COVID-19 problems, surely affected the low turnout in theaters.
The movie, which also stars Margot Robbie, Irdis Elba, Joel Kinnaman, cost a whopping $185 million to produce so it’s a long way to go for the movie to be in the black.
The Suicide Squad also did $45,700,000 in international sales sending its worldwide total to $72,200,000.
Dwayne Johnson’s movie The Jungle Cruise for Disney dropped to #2 on the charts in its second week. Just like The Suicide Squad, Johnson’s Jungle Cruise was available on Disney+ but for an additional $30.
Many people still believe that gambling is a complicated and hard to win game. And the main reason behind it is that the rules of several games are different in different casinos. And for the same reason, blackjack is one of the favourite games of gamblers worldwide. The blackjack rules are the same everywhere, and there are not many differences between online blackjack and land casino games. So if you are someone who has stayed away from gambling due to confusing rules, you should try a blackjack online casino. Here are some tips for you to win the game.
Blackjack
Blackjack is a card game, and it is one of the most played banking casino games. With a bit of grasp on rules and the right strategies, you can win the game quickly and earn a massive amount of money. And the great thing about strategically planned games is that your loss won’t go beyond your initial amount. And you can gain back the money quickly by winning two or three games if you plan the game wisely.
Strategies to win the match
Here is a list of tips that you can follow to increase your profit from the game.
Learn the rules by heart: This is the golden rule number one; you should know the rules inside out. Blackjack is not a game of luck; you might win a game or two even without knowing the rules. But trust us on this, you will lose more matches if you don’t.
Pay attention: Blackjack is a game of probability, and if you do your math right, you can win the game easily. Pay attention throughout the match; keep an eye on the game, other players and the dealer’s hand. You will understand a lot about the game and its tactics from that.
Quit at the right time: Quitting at the right time is as vital as making moves at the right time. And by the proper time, we mean, when you win a game, you shouldn’t continue the game if you win the match. Quit the game, demand to withdraw money and start the game afresh when you are ready.
Bet wisely: There is no such rule as more the investment more the earning; instead, it is wiser the investment, more significant the gain. Keep your bet affordable; that is, even if you lose, that should affect your financial stability. Increase the bet by one point the next game after winning. And you shouldn’t increase the bet amount the next round after a loss; keep the amount the same as the previous game.
Try to avoid side bets: Side bets may sound attractive as the loss is comparatively lesser and there are more chances of winning. But if we take a more comprehensive picture of the game, side bets bring you more upset. So focus on your main game and avoid side bets as much as possible.
Avoid distractions: For land-based casinos, experts suggest avoiding alcohol while playing, and the same is applicable for online gambling. Don’t take advantage of home’s comfort for drunk gambling; you will lose your money. And this is not just for drinking; anything that distracts you while the match is a big NO-NO.
Play wise, earn more!
Blackjack is a game that can bring you good fortune if you play it wise; pay close attention, and make precise moves. Always keep in mind that this is a game of mathematics, and odds and probability are the only things that can help you. So learn the rules, plan a strategy, make affordable bets and win the game.
A few days after he got his shock release from WWE, former NXT North American champion Bronson Reed addressed his fans on Twitter in a video.
The Australian said that he was very shocked and upset at getting cut because this does not just affect him, but his wife as well. Being a foreigner, a working visa is required and that visa goes if you get terminated from your employment which is why he mentioned that it affects his wife as well.
Reed said that he is very thankful for the support and love he received online and it means a lot to him.
The former champ thanked Triple H and Shawn Michaels for believing in him and also mentioned coaches Terry Taylor, Scotty 2 Hotty, Norman Smiley, and Steve Corino as he learned a lot from them throughout his stay in WWE.
“I am staying positive and I do believe, I am bar none the best super heavyweight in the world. And I will continue to prove that,” Reed continued.
Reed was one of the few NXT stars who were given dark matches prior to TV shows in anticipation of a main roster call up.
Funeral service for “Beautify” Bobby Eaton, who passed away last week at the age of 62, will be held on August 24 at 2PM.
The service will take place at the New Generation Funeral Home located at 2930, Murfreesboro Pike, Antioch, Tennessee.
A GoFundMe campaign was launched to cover the funeral costs as Eaton did not have insurance or money to pay for it and in just 24 hours, wrestling fans pitched in to raise a total of $21,708, double the amount originally listed as a target.
Former WWE Superstar Chelsea Green revealed on her Twitter that she is currently in a legal battle with WWE over the trademark of the name Chelsea Green…which happens to be her birth name as well.
“I never thought I’d be in a legal battle for my BIRTH GIVEN name,” she wrote, adding a rolling eyes emoji. She added that she would be discussing this on her next episode of her podcast Green With Envy.
WWE filed for a trademark of the name on September 24, 2020 when Green was still part of the promotion. Green gave WWE consent to register her name and the application was approved by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Signing off on the name is a common practice, although not every chooses to give WWE permission.
Green, through attorney Michael Dockins, filed for a trademark of her name on April 15, 2021, after she was released from WWE. Considering this is her real name and she no longer works with WWE, common sense would indicate that this will be resolved in Chelsea’s favor.
Impact Wrestling on AXS TV drew 103,000 viewers this week, down 10,000 viewers from last week’s broadcast. This was the second least-watched episode of Impact of 2021 so far. The show did 0.04 in the 18-49 demo. (Ratings credit: Wrestlenomics)
There are rumors flying around that even more cuts are on the horizon and mass layoffs will be the thing running through this year, with many expecting dozens and dozens of more WWE Superstars getting cut over the next few months.
2021 has been the “deadliest” so far when it comes to releases with WWE using “cost-cutting” as an excuse despite the company making more profit this year than ever before thanks to their lucrative television deals.
Several WWE Superstars expressed their sadness on Twitter this weekend when reacting to the releases of their fellow colleagues. Some of those released chose to thank WWE while others mentioned that they’re going to hit the ground running when their 30-day notice is up.
NXT stars are on 30-days notice rather than like those on the main roster who are on 90-days. During that month, they will still get paid regularly and then are free to work for anyone after that.
This week’s episode of Smackdown on FOX drew an overnight audience of 2,046,000 viewers, up 137,000 viewers from last week’s overnight. Last week’s show ended up doing 2,043,000 viewers when the final number came in.
Smackdown started with 2,043,000 viewers and then increased its audience slightly to 2,050,000 viewers. It did a 0.55 in the 18-49 demo and beat everything except the Olympics. (Ratings credit: SpoilerTV.com)
The former leader of The Undisputed Era, Adam Cole, was backstage at Friday Night Smackdown last night for a meeting with Vince McMahon according to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Wrestling.
Cole’s contract will be expiring after SummerSlam and it’s believed the meeting with McMahon was to work out a potential new deal.
His contract originally expired after the NXT episode of The Great American Bash but the former NXT champ extended his deal by a couple of months. The news of his contract expiring this quickly caught many by surprise and while WWE’s new mindset is not to throw big money at anyone anymore to stay, Cole is considered one of the leaders in NXT and is well-liked by the powers that be.
AEW President Tony Khan, through a tweet by Dave Meltzer of the Observer, said that the rumors that AEW offered Cole a contract are incorrect and there has not been a move made yet from AEW to bring him over.
At this point, Cole remains under a WWE deal, at least for the next two weeks or so, although his future could end up being anywhere.
Two more matches were made official for SummerSlam last night on Friday Night Smackdown on FOX.
Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks, who main evented night one of WrestleMania 37, will be meeting again for the Smackdown Women’s title in Vegas. Banks returned last week on Smackdown after an absence of four months and saved Belair from a two-on-one attack by Zelina Vega and Carmella but later in the broadcast following a win in a tag team match, Banks quickly turned on Belair.
Seth Rollins and Edge will also go one-on-one for the first time ever at SummerSlam. The two had been building up this encounter for over a month now and Rollins was not happy that Edge got a Universal title shot against Reigns at Money In The Bank. Rollins interfered in their match during the pay-per-view, costing Edge the title.
With these two additions, the SummerSlam card has six matches so far, with more surely to be added over the next week.
PWInsider.com is reporting that the releases appear to be a part of a rumored change coming to NXT. Dave Scherer and Mike Johnson said that there have been talks that there will be a complete overhaul of NXT, including new logo, lighting, and a different television show that would focus on the younger talent that are truly considered developmental.
The NXT cuts, revealed during Smackdown last night, were a surprise to many, especially Bronson Reed as he had some tryouts a few weeks ago to move to the main roster. But the former NXT North American champion found himself on the unemployed list and now has 30-days to recharge and find a new job.
“This monster is back on the loose … you don’t know WHAT you’ve just done,” Reed wrote on Twitter, tagging AEW, Impact, ROH, and New Japan in his tweet.
Chris Jericho, considered to be a WWE-lifer but now works for the successful AEW promotion, took a dig at WWE in a tweet after the releases. “I think now more than ever it’s obvious, – @AEW is the best pro wrestling company in the world today,” Jericho said. “Both for fans…and especially for performers. Nothing can stop us now!”
13 NXT stars were released from the company yesterday as the clean up continues at an unprecedented pace.
Among those released are former NXT North American champion Bronson Reed, former NXT Tag Team champion Bobby Fish, and former NXT North American champion Leon Ruff.
Also getting the pink slip were Ari Sterling, Asher Hale, Denzel Dejournette, Giant Zanjeer, Jake Atlas, Kona Reeves, Mercedes Martinez, Stephon Smith, Tyler Rust, and Zechariah Smith.
WWE has taken a different approach at talent and rather than trying to keep them from going to other promotions, they have been cutting everyone left, right, and center.
