Two title matches will take place on AEW Dynamite live tonight on TNT. Following last week’s big episode which got 1.2 million viewers, AEW is looking to keep up the momentum and keep the new viewers who tuned in last week.
The TNT and Women’s titles will both be up for grabs as Darby Allin defends the TNT title against Jungle Boy while Hikaru Shida defends the Women’s title against Tay Conti.
In addition, there are three other matches announced, including Ricky Starks vs Hangman Page, Penta El Zero M vs Trent, and Powerhouse Hobbs vs Christian Cage. Plus, Jim Ross will sit down with The Pinnacle for an interview ahead of their Blood & Guts match against The Inner Circle next month.
It’s going to be a while before we see Ronda Rousey back in a WWE ring as the former Raw Women’s champion today announced that she is four months pregnant.
In a video on her YouTube channel, Rousey said that she has been pregnant since January but now cannot hide it anymore. “It’s time to show it off,” Ronda said as her husband Travis Browne rubbed her belly.
“I just want share with you guys a little bit of a journey we’ve been on and there’s definitely much more to the story that we’ll be telling later,” Rousey said.
A video from the doctor’s office where she’s seeing the ultrasound is then played. “Baddest baby on the planet, coming to you soon, September 22nd,” Rousey then adds.
Rousey, who has not been on WWE television since WrestleMania 35, took a leave of absence from the promotion to start a family.
Episode 16 of season two of Miz & Mrs, titled Dating and Mating, did 663,000 viewers, down from last week’s 705,000 number. With a 0.24 in the 18-49 demo, the show was #15 on the top 50 cable chart. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
Gambling is one of the most popular entertainments among people. This is a favorite pastime of thrill-seekers. At first, the thrill-seekers played backgammon and dice, then there were card games and roulette. And only then slot machines joined this company. With the development of the Internet, people’s favorite pastimes have become online casinos.
It’s no secret that the Internet is an integral part of modern life. Everyone uses the Internet in different ways: some for work, some for social networking, and some for entertainment. Today, there are a huge number of sites that provide casino services, it is not necessary to list them, as everyone knows how to use search engines. Almost all of these sites offer the same services – games: poker, blackjack, pokies, roulette, etc.
There is nothing wrong with making a couple of bets. But you should control yourself, otherwise, you will quickly find yourself without money. Now it has become much easier to control your actions, as there are online casinos. Even with the possibility of betting in offline casinos players still choose Australian online casinos.
Offline casinos have a security service, a checkpoint, and video surveillance cameras. But they are responsible for visitors only inside the establishment, and what happens after he or she leaves the building – is unknown. Unfortunate situations often happened. For example, a visitor managed to win a large sum of money, but it was problematic to bring the cash to the bank. On the way, he or she was met by intruders.
Internet gaming has advantages in this regard because you can transfer your winnings, even very large amounts of money, instantly to the card. There is no need to worry about personal data. Special programs record suspicious activity on the account or log in from another device.
Why people play online casino in Australia?
Internet casinos are the gateway to the world of gambling. Quality casinos on the Internet are not just websites, they are entire companies that have the necessary licenses and certificates. To create a licensed resource, the company has to go through different checks and get documents for the right to accept bets from people. The ban on casinos is not in all countries, so it is quite realistic to get licenses. Now there are even sites where you can play backgammon for money.
For most gambling enthusiasts in Australia, online casinos are not a place for earning. They are not trying to make money and do not strive for millions, they enjoy the very process of the game. Of course, none of the players will give up a big win, but that is not the most important thing.
Online casinos spend much less money on their maintenance and therefore are ready to offer players more interesting conditions of the game. Well, where else will you be offered a 100% bonus when you make your first deposit? At a regular casino, you’ll be playing strictly on your own money.
In online casinos, you can find more interesting varieties of well-known games. For example, roulette can be found in many different variations. In offline Australian casinos, you are likely to find only European or American roulette. The latter is considered one of the most unprofitable roulettes. At the same time, on the Internet, you can come across French roulette. It is more interesting and profitable than European or American roulette.
Moreover, online casinos usually offer additional opportunities to get rich. We are talking about different tournaments and promotions. Taking all these reasons into account, it is not surprising that players like to bet more at online casinos than at offline casinos. Convenience, profit, wide opportunities – these are the keys to the success of virtual gambling clubs among Australians.
What is the difference between online and offline casinos?
The most important difference between online and real casinos in Australia is that you do not have to leave home. You just go online and with a couple of clicks are connected to the game you want. You can play, both with real people and with the computer, both for real money and for virtual money.
Many newcomers enter the field of gambling in order to make extra money, but it is better not to try to beat the casino. If you want to make a profit from such sites, it is better to connect to affiliate programs and receive royalties for attracting active players. Each casino has an affiliate program and licenses to provide services. So, why people play online casinos in Australia and what are their benefits:
Always at your fingertips.
Save your money (for travel, accommodation, food).
You can play absolutely legally (applies only to officially registered online casinos).
You can play anywhere (at home, at work, on a trip).
The ability to play for free (demo mode).
A wide range of bonuses and promotions.
Online casinos use modern methods of encryption and data protection.
Online casinos in Australia have been operating for about fifteen years and are becoming increasingly popular. In 2020, there has been a huge increase in online gaming enthusiasts. This trend was influenced by a quarantine due to coronavirus infection. Most online casinos in Australia are multicurrency. You can use the currency that is convenient for you. You can play for dollars, euros, and even cryptocurrency. By the way, the latter is in increasing demand. The more popular the casino, the more options.
If you have won enough money and want to withdraw them to your online wallet, then you can easily do it. Another important advantage is that the casino is open 24/7, and you can play without taking your eyes off the screen. An obvious advantage is that you’ll know exactly how much money you have in store.
Don’t forget that the variety of games is so great that a real casino just can’t stand beside it. All games in Australian online casinos are made in the image and likeness of the famous Las Vegas games. Now you know why to play online casino in Australia.
WWE is up for a couple of Webby Awards this year, an awards show which will be held virtually on Tuesday, May 18.
The company is nominated in two categories: WWE social media is nominated in the General Social: Sports category and WrestleMania 36 is nominated in Social Content Series & Campaigns: Events & Livestreams.
The social media nomination has SportsCenter on Instagram, NBA 2K League, theScore on Instagram, and NBA on Instagram as challengers while WrestleMania 36 has Hamilton: Twitter Watch Party, Launch America: U.S. Astronauts Launch from U.S. Soil, Black Entrepreneurs Day, and Adobe’s CoCreate Series also fighting for the top spot.
The popular Undertaker: The Last Ride WWE Network five-part series got honoree status in the Video Series & Channels: Sports.
You can cast your vote now at WebbAwards.com. Registration is required to vote.
Former WWE Divas champion AJ Mendez, who wrestled under the name of AJ Lee, has been named one as one of the screenwriters for the upcoming untitled 47 Ronin sequel for Universal 1440 Entertainment according to Deadline.com.
Joining Mendez to write the script will be Aimee Garcia, better known for her on-screen roles on Dexter and Lucifer.
“As creators of color, we’re honored to be part of a modern, multicultural story with powerful female leads,” said Mendez.
“AJ and I are excited to write a diverse and inclusive action film,” said Garcia. “Director Ron Yuan’s vision to blend martial arts, horror, cyber-punk and action was inspiring and we’d like to thank the team at 1440 for being so supportive.”
The action-fantasy movie will follow the 2013 Universal Keanu Reeves movie which grossed over $151 million worldwide.
Garcia and Mendez are the co-authors of the comic book series GLOW, based on the popular Netflix show, and Dungeons and Dragons for IDW Publishing, as well as Wonder Woman for DC Comics coming out in July.
The duo recently launched Scrappy Heart Productions to create diverse stories with universal themes across all media. Currently, Scrappy Heart is adapting Crazy Is My Superpower based on Mendez’s bestselling memoir.
Monday Night Raw this week drew 1,907,000 viewers, down from last week’s post-Mania show which did 2,026,000 viewers. It was still above what the show normally does every week so the Mania rub was still in effect.
The first hour did 2,017,000 viewers, then went down to 1,981,000 viewers, before ending the night with 1,724,000 viewers.
Raw was #1, #2, and #3 in the top 50 cable chart among the 18-49 demographic with 0.63, 0.63, and 0.57 ratings respectively. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
Tonight’s NXT on USA Network has one advertised match so far with Dexter Lumis taking on LA Knight.
New Cruiserweight champion Kushida will also be in action a week after winning the title from Santos Escobar. “Tonight, I’m repaying the favor. I’m issuing an open challenge for MY Cruiserweight title,” Kushida wrote on Twitter.
NXT will also feature the debut of Sarray today, the artist formerly known as Sareee in Japan. Sarray has been given the nickname of The Warrior of the Sun.
WWE today announced that Chris Legentil has been named Senior Vice President & Head of Global Communications, and Scott Zanghellini has been named Head of Revenue Strategy and Development.
As part of WWE’s senior leadership team, Legentil will be responsible for the company’s communications strategy.
“Chris has phenomenal instincts. His experience working across the media and content landscape is tremendous,” said WWE President & Chief Revenue Officer Nick Khan.
Previously, Legentil was Senior Vice President of Global Communications at DAZN, where he oversaw consumer and corporate communications while working under then-Executive Chairman John Skipper. At DAZN, Legentil helped launch the sports streaming platform in the U.S. in 2018 and later the company’s global platform in 2020.
Legentil, a 2020 PRWeek 40 Under 40 honoree, previously worked at the National Basketball Association and Showtime Networks.
As the Head of Revenue Strategy and Development, Zanghellini will pursue new business, and identify innovative and creative new lines of revenue for WWE as a whole.
“Scott has a great eye for spotting trends and creating additional value for brands,” said Khan. “His track record identifying and securing new revenue streams is remarkable.”
Zanghellini joins WWE from Creative Artists Agency (CAA) where he most recently served as a Senior Talent Agent. In this role, he managed various deals for talent across commercial endorsements, motion pictures, music, television, business development and sports. Zanghellini was also responsible for the development and sale of some of the agency’s biggest clients’ consumer product brands.
Joining Zanghellini will be Alex Varga, who will serve as Vice President of Revenue Strategy and Development. Varga also brings experience as a CAA Agent, working with multi-hyphenate talent with a focus on new business development.
Both Legentil and Zanghellini will report directly to Khan.
Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics.com got his hands on the actual WrestleMania numbers through a request to the Tampa Sports Authority which paint a different picture than what WWE advertised.
Night one of WrestleMania had 18,328 fans physically inside the stadium. WWE officially sold 20,172 for that night and distributed a total of 21,854 tickets.
Night two had an attendance of 18,924 after the company sold 20,634 tickets. 22,113 tickets were distributed in total for the second night.
So for both nights, WWE had an attendance of 40,806, down from the inflated number of 51,350 which was announced for the two nights. WWE had announced that 25,675 fans attended each Mania night.
In total, WWE made $6.245 million in ticket revenue over the two nights.
WarnerMedia issued a press release touting last week’s Dynamite number which topped 1.2 million viewers for the first unopposed episode.
The episode, which was week 80, was the most-watched show among total viewers since the series premiere on October 2, 2019 and the best number in persons 25-54 since week 3 on October 16. Apart from that, in persons 18-49 and 18-34, it was also the most-watched since week 62 on December 9, 2020.
“We’re always grateful for the support of every wrestling fan who watches AEW,” said AEW CEO Tony Khan. “Last Wednesday’s audience of over 1.2 million viewers was an important milestone for our company and for every one of our fans, including the viewers who’ve been with us from the beginning, as well as the new fans who joined us for the first time.”
Khan added that it’s a great time to be a wrestling fans and urged everyone to join the revolution and join AEW every week on TNT.
Episode one of WWE’s Most Wanted Treasures on A&E Network on Sunday did 766,000 viewers. The show aired immediately following Biography: Stone Cold Steve Austin. The show did 0.29 in the 18-49 demo and placed #11 on the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
WWE Hall of Famer Gerald Brisco underwent successful knee replacement yesterday.
Brisco is still recovering at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, Florida, where surgeons performed the operation.
The 74-year-old noted that he has swelling after his first rehab session and controllable pain but woke up with an appetite for a great breakfast, hoping it’s a good sign he can go home very soon.
Brisco thanked the team at the hospital for taking care of him.
After a 36-year career with WWE, Brisco was released from the company last year due to coronavirus pandemic cost-cutting measures.
The Biography: Stone Cold Steve Austin episode on A&E Network this past Sunday did 1,062,000 viewers and a 0.38 rating in the 18-49 demographic. That was good enough to place the show in #6 for the night on the top 50 cable chart. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
Charlotte Flair received a storyline suspension and fine for her actions stemming from last night’s Raw.
Flair, who wrestled her first match in almost two months yesterday, lost to Asuka after Ripley interfered from ringside. Flair had Asuka locked in the Figure 8 but Ripley broke the move by pulling Flair’s hands. The referee did not see it and then Flair tried to drag Ripley in the ring, only for Asuka to kick her and pin her with a crucifix.
Following the match, Flair took her frustration on WWE referee Eddie Orengo, hip tossing him across the ring, kicking him and striking him from behind.
Other WWE referees tried to break up the fight but Charlotte continued her attack on Orengo, punishing him for not seeing Ripley breaking her Figure 8.
On Raw Talk after the show ended, Adam Pearce then announced that Flair has been indefinitely suspended and fined $100,000 for attacking the referee.
Two members, or better yet, former members of Retribution have been given a ticket to move to Smackdown according to POST Wrestling and PWInsider.
Both Mia Yim and Shane Thorne, who wrestled as Reckoning and Slapjack receptively in the group, are now members of the blue brand having been transferred from the Raw roster.
The two, along with Mustafa Ali, T-Bar, and Mace, formed Retribution, the faction which had a rocky start and never really managed to take off or left an impression in the ring. The group eventually disbanded when they turned on their leader Ali but this past Monday on Raw, T-Bar and Mace returned to attack Drew McIntyre.
It’s unclear if they will retain their respective Retribution gimmick on Smackdown or if they will be repackaged.
Wrestling is always on the lookout for new opportunities, and the rise of eSports presents just such a chance. But would the two work well together?
What are eSports?
New sports are created every now and then, but most are decades if not centuries old. An entire new sporting category is a rare beast indeed, but one that was born in recent years is eSports. Combining videogames with sports, this competitive strand of live, multiplayer, competitive videogames has proved a hit with viewers.
The leading eSports games are DOTA 2, League of Legends, and CS:GO, with the top players making literally millions of dollars. There are plenty of other games that offer an eSports angle, with one cultural highlight being the 2019 Fortnite World Cup, which turned a number of players into millionaires overnight.
Watching eSports was getting popular in Canada and around the world anyway, which is unsurprising given that videogames are bigger than Hollywood, but this was supercharged by the pandemic lockdowns imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. When traditional sports were curtailed, suspended, or even had seasons cancelled, eSports were able to keep on trucking with no problem at all, providing a novel distraction for millions of people who suddenly found they had a lot of time on their hands and that their usual distractions were off the menu.
Will eSports and Wrestling be a Match made in Heaven?
On the face of it, eSports and wrestling have some pretty big differences. The former involves a lot of videogame skill but is not exactly physically active, while the latter requires a huge amount of fitness and strength. However, it’s worth noting that there are plenty of wrestling videogames, and if the execution has occasionally been lacking the consumer interest is nonetheless present.
Back in 2019 speculation arose that the WWE might be about to form its own eSports league. Obviously, events in 2020 rather derailed a lot of projects, even those that are videogame in nature (the latest console launches weren’t exactly helped by the pandemic). Wrestling has a huge fanbase, and competitive videogames would seem a natural fit for the sport provided that the gaming quality is there (something that has been a bit iffy in recent years). However, the potential lucre offers a great incentive for the WWE to take their time and put in plenty of resources to ensure all goes well when it’s time for the league to launch (which is rumored to be called the Superstar Gaming League).
Cloud9 Partnership
This would not be the first time that eSports and wrestling have come into contact, however. Back in 2017, the WWE invested in Cloud9 (one of the leading eSports teams), which competes in a range of videogames including League of Legends, Rocket League, and CS:GO, with considerable success.
The years since have only seen eSports grow more popular, and with a front row seat to this success, it’s no surprise the WWE is now contemplating taking a more direct role and forming its own league.
Wrestling and eSports on Game+
In October 2020 it was announced that hour-long wrestling series OVW Overdrive and OVW TV were both going to be aired on sports network Game+ (exclusive national cable broadcaster of OVW TV). OVW acts as the leading training ground for up and coming wrestlers, and now their entertainment in the ring will be aired alongside live action sports, poker, and eSports. The common channel viewership between a series that helped launch both John Cena and Dave Bautista and eSports is just one more indication that wrestling and eSports are a good fit.
eSports during the Pandemic
Touched on briefly above, another major asset of eSports compared to more traditional sporting entertainment has been its resilience during the COVID-19 global healthcare crisis. This has been a great boon for both players and viewers alike, but in some ways it’s been even more important than that.
Multiplayer videogames can foster a great sense of teamwork between players, and eSports fans can experience some of that mingled with the usual passion that all sports fans enjoy. The family feeling between the fanbase of Team Liquid, one of eSports’ top teams, has helped to make coping with the stress and worries of the pandemic easier. Steve Arhancet, co-CEO of Team Liquid, explained that handwritten letters and chatting with fans over the phone helped to foster a sense of community.
Other Successful eSports Collaborations
As technologically advanced series, it’s perhaps no surprise that eSports have already been seamlessly integrated into both Formula 1 and Formula E (the all electric category). Both of these top tier motorsports have eSports opportunities, with Formula E’s Accelerate contest featuring two dozen top drivers, six races, and a prize pool of €100,000. Meanwhile, in addition to its regular gaming, Formula 1 has recently teamed up with Rocket League, joining the eSport in May 2021 alongside NASCAR.
Online betting on eSports has also risen alongside audience numbers in recent years, with many casinos and sportsbooks featuring markets on game and tournament winners, scorelines, and more. Online casinos also have plenty of promotions they are now offering for existing players as well as newcomers, providing a great, and safe, way for cautious players to dip their toe into the betting pool.
Other sports are already getting in on the eSports action, and it seems eminently possible that wrestling will follow suit before too long.
WWE 24: The Miz will premiere this Sunday on the WWE Network, the latest episode from the highly-regarded series and the first one focusing solely on the only two-time Grand Slam winner.
This is the second WWE 24 episode of 2021 following the one on Big E which was released at the end of February.
WWE 24: The Miz will explore Mike Mizanin’s unbelievable ascent from reality show standout to one of the most decorated Superstars of all time. The A-Lister recounts his WrestleMania main event, juggling his success both in the ring and on his hit reality show, Miz & Mrs., and becoming the man the WWE Universe loves to loathe. The Miz also addresses his tumultuous early years in sports-entertainment, including his struggle to earn the respect of veterans in the locker room.
WWE has produced 31 episodes of the 24 series and last year dished out seven new episodes from the series.
Former NXT champion Aleister Black is inching closer to a WWE return after the Dutch Superstar filmed several vignettes to promote his comeback according to PWInsider.com.
Black has been absent from WWE television since mid-October and has not wrestled for the past six months. His main roster career so far has pretty much hit rock bottom after so much potential coming from NXT.
But it looks like WWE has not given up on Black and the vignettes should start airing soon on WWE television. Black was drafted to Smackdown in October although it remains to be seen on which brand he’ll ultimately land on after he returns.
Black posted a video on his Instagram titled Chapter 0: Forgive me, father. Using clips from a few WWE matches, he says, “Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. It’s been four years since my last confession. Four years of perpetuating this lie about who I am and who I am not. But I seem to have stumbled into your woods once again, and this time I will heed the call. It’s time…to cull the herd.”
During the latest episode of After The Bell, host Corey Graves defended Michael Cole for the main event call botch during night one of WrestleMania.
After Bianca Belair pinned Sasha Banks for the Smackdown Women’s title, Cole thought Banks kicked out, only to correct himself afterward.
“Cole felt bad,” Graves said. “He felt terrible but I can relate. I almost thought the same thing, from our vantage point, it was not crystal clear.”
Ringside commentators have monitors to see what fans at home are watching and are supposed to call the action from that. “It was a very genuine real reaction. Take into consideration, yes we have the monitor, yes we have audio in our headphones, but we’re also in a stadium full of 20,000 people,” Graves continued, adding that the sound travels differently in a stadium and takes longer to register.
Graves said that at WrestleMania, different wrestlers kick out of their opponent’s finishers multiple times and while he’s not making any excuses, Cole’s botch did not take anything away from the moment.
“It was a genuine shock after that, so everyone, leave Michael Cole alone,” Graves concluded.
