MLW Never Say Never takes place tonight from the Melrose Ballroom in New York City. This will be national television taping for MLW Fusion, with matches from tonight’s show airing over the next several weeks.

12 matches have been signed for MLW Never Say Never. Like most MLW shows, the card features a bit of everything. Up top, we’ll see MLW World Champion Jacob Fatu’s first defense against former champion, “Filthy” Tom Lawlor.

The Hart Foundation and The Dynasty’s war escalates, with two matches involving members of the rival factions. Teddy Hart defends the Middleweight Championship against MJF, while Brian Pillman Jr. faces Richard Holiday.

Puerto Rican wrestling legend Savio Vega will be in action, as will LA Park, Mance Warner and more of the league’s top competitors.

If you’re in the NYC area, a very limited number of tickets are still available at MLWTickets.com.

MLW Never Say Never 2019 Final Card

The following matches are signed for MLW Never Say Never:

WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Jacob Fatu (c) vs. “Filthy” Tom Lawlor

DREAM MATCH
LA Park vs. Jimmy Havoc

FIRST-TIME EVER
Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Timothy Thatcher

WORLD MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT
Teddy Hart (c) vs. MJF

MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT
Austin Aries vs. Ace Austin

¡LUCHA LIBRE!
Rey Horus vs. Bestia 666 (presented by Salina de la Renta)

NATIONAL OPENWEIGHT CHAMPION VS. CARIBBEAN CHAMPION
Alex Hammerstone vs. Savio Vega

Brian Pillman Jr. vs. Richard Holliday

MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT
Low Ki vs. Jimmy Yuta

3 ON 3 TRIOS MATCH
Gringo Loco, Zenshi & Air Wolf vs. Injustice (Myron Reed, Jordan Oliver & Kotto Brazil)

GRUDGE MATCH
Mance Warner vs. Ricky “El Sicario” Martinez (presented by Salina de la Renta)

MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT
Zenshi vs. Hijo de LA Park (presented by Salina de la Renta)

Plus, there will be appearances from Ross & Marshall Von Erich, Konnan and more.

https://twitter.com/MLW/status/1154451246746611712

On Thursday, WWE reported its Q2 2019 financial results. Visit SeeingAlpha.com to read the full report. Below you can find highlights from the results, including quotes from WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and WWE’s adjusted financial outlook for the remainder of fiscal 2019.

Second Quarter 2019 Highlights

• Revenues were $268.9 million as compared to $281.6 million in the prior year quarter
• Operating income was $17.1 million; Adjusted OIBDA¹ was $34.6 million, which exceeded the Company’s guidance
• Announced content distribution deals with BT Sport in the U.K., Fox Sports in Latin America and PP Sports in China, providing strong platforms for reaching WWE audiences
• WWE Network average paid subscribers² were 1.69 million paid subscribers, consistent with the Company’s guidance
• Digital video views increased 17% to 9.0 billion; hours consumed increased 22% to 324 million hours across digital platforms; and social media followers increased 10% to over 1.02 billion³

WWE Network

• The Company initiated the transition of WWE Network to a new platform on July 24, which will provide users with a better experience, a more intuitive interface, and enhanced search functionality
• The new platform enables the introduction of new features and experiences over time, including the addition of free and premium tiers as well as the localization of content in multiple languages
• Produced more than 90 hours of original network content, including live in-ring programs and talent documentaries, such as The Shield’s Final Chapter and WWE 24: The Year of Ronda Rousey, respectively

STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– WWE (NYSE: WWE) today announced financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2019.

“During the quarter, we made progress on key strategic initiatives,” stated Vince McMahon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We completed content distribution agreements in key international markets, prepared for the next phase of our WWE Network service, and achieved steady improvement in engagement metrics. As indicated previously, we remain excited about the future, particularly with our debut on Fox in October.”

George Barrios, Co-President, added “In the quarter, our earnings exceeded guidance, however we anticipate a portion of this to reverse and we continue to target full-year Adjusted OIBDA of at least $200 million. The guidance presupposes the staging of a second large scale international event and the completion of a media rights deal in the MENA region. As we optimize near-term results, we will continue to focus on content creation, localization and digitization, including the evolution of our direct-to-consumer network, to drive long-term growth.”

Second-Quarter Consolidated Results

Revenues declined 5% to $268.9 million from $281.6 million in the prior year quarter with lower revenue from the Company’s Media, Live Events and Consumer Products business segments.

Operating Income decreased to $17.1 million from $21.2 million in the prior year quarter, reflecting the decline in revenue and the impact of certain strategic investments, as increases in other fixed costs were partially offset by a year-over-year reduction in accrued management incentive compensation. The Company’s Operating income margin declined to 6% from 8% in the prior year quarter.

Adjusted OIBDA (which excludes stock compensation) was $34.6 million as compared to $43.5 million and the Company’s Adjusted OIBDA margin was 13% as compared to 15% in the prior year quarter, respectively. The current period results exceeded guidance primarily due to enhanced revenue recognized in conjunction with the Company’s recent event in Saudi Arabia, which is expected to reverse in connection with an anticipated fourth quarter event in that country.

Net Income increased slightly to $10.4 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, from $10.0 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2018, reflecting reduced losses on equity investments and a lower effective tax rate.

Effective Tax Rate declined to 25% from 31% in the prior year quarter.

Cash flows used in operating activities were $7.6 million as compared to $74.2 million of cash generated in the prior year quarter driven by unfavorable changes in working capital, which was primarily related to the timing of the Saudi event in June as the prior year event was held in April, as well as lower operating performance.

Free Cash Flow was a $27.5 million use of cash as compared to a $66.4 million source of cash in the second quarter of 2018 primarily driven by the change in operating cash flow and, to a lesser extent, a $12.1 million increase in capital expenditures primarily associated with the Company’s workspace plan.⁴

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $296 million as of June 30, 2019, and the Company estimates debt capacity under its revolving line of credit of approximately $200 million.

Second-Quarter Key Operating Metrics

During the first quarter 2019 earnings call, the Company discussed the absence of several talent and the belief that these absences had a negative impact on the Company’s engagement metrics. Since the end of April, the Company has achieved steady improvement in key measures.

Domestic TV ratings for Raw declined 14% in the first quarter 2019 from the prior year quarter but improved to a year-over-year decline of 11% in June. The improvement in June occurred despite a tough comparison to game 5 of the NBA championship on Monday, June 10. Similarly, domestic TV ratings for SmackDown declined 13% in the first quarter 2019, but improved to a decline of 7% in June, consistent with the ratings performance of the top 25 cable networks, which declined 7% during the month. Consumption of WWE content across digital AVOD platforms rose from a year-over-year increase of 23% in the first quarter to growth of 28% in June. Finally, average attendance at the Company’s live events in North America, which declined 12% in the first quarter, improved to a decline of 4% for the June period (and was only down 2% for the second quarter 2019).

The Company believes the favorable trends in engagement metrics stem from the emergence of new storylines and Superstars following a successful WrestleMania. Management remains excited about the debut of SmackDown Live on Fox in October. The debut will mark the first time WWE will be available live 52 weeks a year on a premier broadcast platform.

Results by Operating Segment

Media

Revenues decreased 3% to $197.0 million from $202.6 million in the prior year quarter, primarily due to the performance of WWE Network and the timing of episodic series (i.e., fewer episodes delivered) for programs, such as Total Bellas, as reflected in “Other.” These factors were partially offset by the contractual escalation of core content rights fees.

WWE Network’s average paid subscribers decreased 6% to approximately 1.69 million, which was consistent with the Company’s guidance. For the third quarter 2019, the Company projects average paid subscribers of approximately 1.53 million, representing a year-over-year decline of 8%.^2,6Given the actual and projected subscriber declines, the Company does not expect to achieve record subscribers for the full year.

Operating income was $26.9 million as compared to $32.0 million in the prior year quarter primarily due to the reduction in revenue and the impact of certain strategic investments. Increases in other operating expenses were essentially offset by lower network programming expenses and a reduction in accrued management incentive compensation.

Adjusted OIBDA was $37.5 million as compared to $44.5 million in the prior year quarter.

Key Highlights: During the quarter, WWE made progress on critical strategic initiatives, completing content distribution agreements in key international markets and developing the foundation for the next iteration of its direct-to-consumer service, WWE Network. Specifically, the Company completed content distribution agreements with BT Sport in the U.K., Fox Sports in Latin America and PP Sports in China. Management believes these partners provide strong platforms for reaching WWE audiences. The Company also initiated the transition of WWE Network to a new platform on July 24, which will provide users with a better experience, a more intuitive interface, and enhanced search functionality. The new platform enables the introduction of new features and experiences over time, including the addition of free and premium tiers as well as the localization of content in multiple languages. The Company continued to produce the highest rated programs on USA Network, Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live, while developing other new original programs across platforms. These included developing new seasons of Miz & Mrs. and Total Bellas for USA network and E!, respectively, a new series, Fight Like a Girl, for the mobile platform, Quibi, and a live action family movie, The Main Event, to premiere on Netflix in 2020.

Live Events

Revenues declined 7% to $48.8 million due to lower ticket sales at the Company’s international events, which reflected both the staging of fewer events and weaker performance.

• There were 76 total events (excluding NXT) in the current quarter, consisting of 53 events in North America and 23 events in international markets, as compared to 90 events in the prior year quarter, including 61 events in North America and 29 in international markets.
• North American ticket sales of $33.6 million were essentially unchanged from the prior year quarter. The average ticket price at these events increased 16% to $94.56 primarily due to changes in the mix of venues, but was offset by the staging of eight fewer events as the Company worked to optimize the profitability of its touring schedule. Average attendance declined 2% to approximately 5,800.
• International live event revenue declined $4.0 million driven by the staging of six fewer events and a 14% reduction in average attendance to approximately 4,900. Partially offsetting these factors, the average ticket price increased 6% to $83.34.

Operating income declined to $12.4 million as compared to $13.4 million in the prior year quarter, primarily due to the reduction in international ticket sales (as described above).

Adjusted OIBDA was $13.3 million as compared to $14.7 million in the prior year quarter.

Key Highlights: During the quarter, WWE continued to demonstrate success in staging large-scale, action packed events for its fans, including WrestleMania, which attracted 82,265 fans to MetLife Stadium, and Super ShowDown in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Continuing efforts to strengthen WWE’s global talent base, the Company recently held its largest talent tryout in China with 40 athletes in attendance, and announced that it will return to China for a fourth straight year when WWE LIVE Shanghai comes to the Mercedes Benz Arena in September.

Consumer Products

Revenues decreased 13% to $23.1 million from $26.7 million in the prior year quarter primarily due to a decline in sales of merchandise at the Company’s e-commerce site, WWE Shop, lower royalties from the sale of toy products and, to a lesser extent, reduced sales of merchandise at live-event venues, where the latter can be attributed, in part, to the staging of fewer events (as described above).

Operating income increased 13% to $5.2 million from $4.6 million in the prior year quarter as the decline in revenue was more than offset by lower operating expenses, including a decrease in stock compensation expense.

Adjusted OIBDA was $6.2 million as compared to $6.9 million in the prior year quarter.

Key Highlights: During the quarter, the Company continued to expand its mobile game portfolio, launching WWE Universe with marquee publisher Glu Mobile, known for its popular Tap Sports Baseball game franchise. In addition to the launch of its new mobile game, WWE also continued to increase the penetration of its existing mobile games with nearly 115 million installs across its game portfolio, led by WWE Champions, as of quarter-end. In collaboration with Mattel, the Company secured premium merchandising space at Walmart and supported the placement with “Retailtainment” activities in 1,300 stores over a 4-week span. Additionally, the Company supported a Mattel social media influencer campaign generating kids-specific content on YouTube, that had a positive impact on the sell through of products featured in that content.

Third Quarter 2019 Business Outlook

For the third quarter 2019, the Company estimates Adjusted OIBDA of $17 million to $22 million.⁶ This range of results represents a year-over-year decline in Adjusted OIBDA primarily due to increases in fixed costs, including the impact of investment, as well as lower WWE Network subscription revenue, which more than offset the escalation of core content rights fees.

Financial Outlook 2019

The Company reiterated its full year guidance, which targets revenue of approximately $1 billion and Adjusted OIBDA of at least $200 million.⁶ This guidance assumes continued improvement in WWE’s engagement metrics, a second large scale event in the MENA region, and the completion of a media rights deal in the MENA region. The Company believes it has agreements in principle with the Saudi General Sports Authority on the broad terms for the latter two items; however, this understanding is nonbinding. It is possible that either or both of these business developments do not occur on expected terms and/ or that engagement does not improve as assumed. The Company has evaluated these potential outcomes and currently believes that the most likely downside to its Adjusted OIBDA would be approximately $10 million to $20 million below its current outlook.

The Company’s full year guidance reflects strong fourth quarter results with substantial revenue growth from both the Company’s new content distribution agreements in the U.S., which become effective in that period, and the aforementioned media rights deal in the MENA region.

WWE is unable to provide a reconciliation of third quarter or full year guidance to GAAP measures as, at this time, WWE cannot accurately determine all of the adjustments that would be required.

All Elite Wrestling had a panel at Wednesday’s Television Critics Association media event. AEW members who participated include Cody and Brandi Rhodes, Awesome Kong, Jungle Boy and Nyla Rose. Here are some highlights from the AEW panel:

Of course, the big news of the AEW on TNT show starting Wednesday, October 2nd. They acknowledged the show does not have an official title yet, but Turner executive Brett Weitz said we can expect the name to be revealed over the next week or two.

Cody Rhodes says AEW on TNT will be quite different from what wrestling fans have been exposed to on WWE television. “The thing we have to do is not focus on WWE. The thing we’re providing is very different. WWE coins themselves ‘sports entertainment.’ We coin ourselves ‘pro wrestling.’ I don’t think the shows will look or sound like one another.”

When asked if AEW on TNT will feature gratuitous violence like weapons and blood, Cody said the more intense physicality will be probably be reserved for pay-per-view events.

Cody says the wrestling industry has been run by corporate interests in recent years. AEW on TNT is run by wrestlers and is geared towards wrestling fans

Brandi Rhodes said AEW’s talent roster is diverse because they’re going for the best talent out there, not cookie cutter performers to fill specific roles. “We’re not just looking for a blonde that’s 5’4″. We’re looking for Kia Stevens (Awesome Kong).”

Brandi said because AEW is only doing one show per week, the wrestlers won’t be driving themselves from town to town or working while injured. The well-being of talent is very important to them.

Awesome Kong says she’s “very happy” with what she’s seen from AEW thus far and feels “heard.” She added that AEW is a collaborative effort with no egos .”We put the product and the fans first.”

Jungle boy said AEW is the first big promotion he’s worked for and he loves how everyone has been so open to input. Talent is encouraged to speak up and contribute. “I can’t ask for anything better.”

Cody Rhodes said the tag team tournament will be a big fixture of AEW’s early shows. However, he added that you need to listen to the audience, because you can’t predict their reactions. They have storyline arcs planned out, but Brandi said “everything is shiftable” and they’ll respond to what fans are asking for.

This ain’t no cookie cutter wrestling. This is pro wrestling! @AEWonTNT live weekly matches premiere October 2 on @tntdrama 🤼‍♀️ #TCA19 @CodyRhodes pic.twitter.com/7raiz2tgCe

— WarnerMedia (@WarnerMedia) July 24, 2019

This recap was compiled from tweets by media members who were in attendance for the TCA ’19 AEW Panel. Thanks to Eric Goldman, Chuck Barney,Meghan O’Keefe and Diane Gordon.

WWE’s stock price has taken a significant hit from the all-time high of $99.25 per share back on April 23rd. The stock has been trading around $68 per share this week, which means’ the company’s value (market capitalization) is down several billion dollars in just a matter of months.

On Thursday, WWE is expected* to report earnings before market open. The report will be for the fiscal quarter ending Jun 2019. According to Zacks Investment Research, based on 2 analysts’ forecasts, the consensus EPS forecast for the quarter is $-0.03. The reported EPS for the same quarter last year was $0.14.

With WWE stock way down, it’s “interesting” to note that several WWE executives recently cashed out millions of dollars in WWE stock. According to recent SEC filings, the following trades were made earlier this week (July 22nd):

• Vince McMahon sold 12,627 shares at $70.23 (value: $886,794.21).

• George Barrios sold 139,175 shares at between $69.46 to $70.62 (value: $9,828,538).

• Kevin Dunn sold 68,628 shares at $70.23 (value: $4,820,430.72).

• Mark Kowal sold 3,845 shares at $70.23 (value: $270,034.35).

• Paul Levesque sold 17,563 shares at $70.23 (value: $1,233,449.49).

• Stephanie McMahon sold 17,681 shares at $70.23 (value: $1,241,736.63).

• Michelle Wilson sold 65,318 shares at $70.23 (value: $4,612,757.16).

Former WWE Superstars Kenn Doane and Mike Mondo, formerly known as the Spirit Squad in WWE, are coming to Major League Wrestling.

MLW has announced Kenn and Mike will participate in an open-to-the-public-workout Thursday at the Melrose Ballroom in New York City. The talented team will showcase their “athleticism, grappling, stamina, speed, endurance and strength” for the lucky fans in attendance.

The spectacle will take place prior to MLW Never Say Never, which will be a national television taping for MLW FUSION.

If you’re in the NYC area, limited tickets for MLW Never Say Never are available at MLWTickets.com.

“I was surprised they insisted on this public workout as opposed to quickly getting in the mix in a very competitive tag team division,” said MLW CEO Court Bauer. “Mondo and Doane are a little different.”

A press release sent in to SEScoops implies the Squad might be there to do more than show off their athletic prowess. “Is the Spirt Squad all hype? Do they have the muscle to back the hustle?”

MLW Never Say Never Card

Once again, MLW has built a loaded card that will make for some very interesting programming in the weeks ahead. The show will feature a bit of everything, including Tom Lawlor’s MLW World Title rematch against Jacob Fatu, multiple title matches, lucha libre action and Puerto Rican legend Savio Vega in action.

The following matches are signed for MLW Never Say Never 2019:

WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Jacob Fatu (c) vs. “Filthy” Tom Lawlor

DREAM MATCH
LA Park vs. Jimmy Havoc

FIRST-TIME EVER
Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Timothy Thatcher

WORLD MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT
Teddy Hart (c) vs. MJF

MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT
Austin Aries vs. Ace Austin

¡LUCHA LIBRE!
Rey Horus vs. Bestia 666 (presented by Salina de la Renta)

NATIONAL OPENWEIGHT CHAMPION VS. CARIBBEAN CHAMPION
Alex Hammerstone vs. Savio Vega

Brian Pillman Jr. vs. Richard Holliday

MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT
Low Ki vs. Jimmy Yuta

3 ON 3 TRIOS MATCH
Gringo Loco, Zenshi & Air Wolf vs. Injustice (Myron Reed, Jordan Oliver & Kotto Brazil)

GRUDGE MATCH
Mance Warner vs. Ricky “El Sicario” Martinez (presented by Salina de la Renta)

MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT
Zenshi vs. Hijo de LA Park (presented by Salina de la Renta)

Plus, appearances from Ross & Marshall Von Erich, Konnan and more!.

A new match has been signed for AEW: All Out involving three of AEW’s most dangerous competitors.

AEW released Episode 2 of ‘The Road To AEW All Out’ YouTube series, which you can view below. The video featured backstage footage from Fight for the Fallen. More specifically, we saw what happened behind the scenes after Joey Janela, Jimmy Havoc and Darby Allin arrived backstage after losing a 6-man tag match to Maxwell J. Friedman (MJF), Shawn Spears and Sammy Guevara.

Janela, Havoc and Allin brawled as they argued who was responsible for the loss. As a result, AEW officials have signed a triple threat match involving the three men for next month’s All Out event from Chicago, IL.

The Road To AEW All Out (Episode 2)

Shawn Spears’ new advisor provides some insight into his intentions for his new protégé, and we return to the AEW Control Center for an exclusive update on the co-main event for All Out.

AEW All Out: Updated Card

The following matches are now signed for AEW All Out:

• Chris Jericho vs. Hangman Page to crown the first AEW World Heavyweight Champion
• Kenny Omega vs. Jon Moxley
• Cody Rhodes vs. Shawn Spears w/Tully Blanchard
• Ladder Match: Young Bucks vs. Lucha Brothers for the AAA World Tag Team titles
• Joey Janela vs. Darby Allin vs. Jimmy Havoc
• Best Friends vs. The Dark Order (Winners receive First Round Bye in the tournament to crown AEW’s first World Tag Team Champions)

AEW All Out takes place Saturday, August 31st from Chicago, IL at the Sears Center. The show will be available for pay-per-view streaming via B/R LIVE in the United States and FITE.TV internationally.

WWE veteran Dolph Ziggler is the latest high-profile Superstar to speak with entertainment reporter Chris Van Vliet.

Check out Chris Van Vliet’s YouTube Channel for more of his recent interviews with wrestlers such as Hornswoggle, Darby Allin, Jim Ross, The Young Bucks, Luchasaurus and more.

During the discussion, Ziggler spoke about why his recent WWE hiatus was shorter than expected, his jealousy of WWE Champion Kofi Kingston, who he wants to feud with and more. Check out the highlights below, plus embedded video of the whole interview.

His Recent WWE Hiatus

I was hoping for six months … and then I was like ‘well, three months would be great’ and a couple of weeks in I was asked [to return] and I said I can’t do it. With a little bit of Royal Rumble in there, we had a couple of weeks but [it was] a solid two and a half months [off] which is more time than I had off in 14 years combined.

Being Jealous of Kofi Kingston

“I’m genuinely jealous that Kofi got this, he has everyone behind him, he has the locker room behind him but then he went above and beyond to get that Kofi Mania a real-life thing happen to where people in the back are cheering … I was out and to get behind that and still be rooting for someone else, it’s weird because we’re all wanting ourselves to be the champion.”

Losing to Kevin Owens in 17 Seconds at Extreme Rules

“I think that helps him and he was in a position the last couple of months [that] he wasn’t doing too much. He was just being Kevin Owens and being around. I know a lot of people are rooting for me or against me or don’t care and that’s fine but to be part of a catalyst that sent him into a different direction, as much as it kills me, I was happy to be a part of it.

We could have done a 15-minute match, two-thirds of the way through that pay-per-view, where people were exploding through walls and going through tables and it would have been okay and fine. That was a special moment for Kevin Owens so I think that’s better for the business and the company and the show.”

Who He Wants To Feud With

“I would like to do something long-term with AJ Styles because we got to do a couple of live events and a couple of shows to where him and I said at the beginning ‘We’re just going to go amateur wrestling at the beginning.’ So we just got to roll around to test each other out and feel it out.”

Check out Dolph Ziggler’s full interview with Chris Van Vliet:

WWE has released two members of the creative team last week. According to Pro Wrestling Sheet, the company let go SmackDown co-lead writer Stephen Guerreri and RAW in-office lead writer Steve Oppenheim.

Guerreri had been with WWE 2012, while Oppenheim started in 2011. There’s no word yet on what led to the departures.

The timing of these writers leaving coincides with Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff assuming the roles of Executive Director of Raw and SmackDown, respectively. However, the initial report states that Heyman and Bischoff were not responsible for this latest shakeup.

• Seth Rollins Shares What He Believes Paul Heyman Will Bring To RAW As Executive Director

A Look At WWE’s Creative Process

Earlier this year, WWE published a video on YouTube providing a first-hand look at the company’s creative process. The video’s description reads:

“Peel back the curtain and take an exclusive, never-before-seen look at WWE’s Creative Writing Team as they give you a sneak peek into their journey from script to screen.”

https://youtu.be/J9vO7QpHpeg

Things appear to be getting serious between Finn Balor and girlfriend Veronica Rodriguez. The former WWE Universal Champion and the FOX Sports Mexico broadcaster have been dating since last year.

Balor and Rodriguez went public with their relationship earlier this summer after she interviewed him in Madrid during the 2019 UEFA Champions League Finals. As seen below, Balor appeared to be in a merry state when making the announcement live on the air.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1q1UvZiXu0

On Monday, Finn Balor posted a photo on Instagram revealing that he and Rodrigeuz recently got matching tattoos. As seen below, the tattoos show a date (July 21st, 2018) and coordinates for a location, 310°30W, 2°32N.

Balor was previously romantically linked to WWE broadcaster Cathy Kelley.

Below, you can check out photos of the matching tattoos as well as a few other shots of the happy couple together.

Rodriguez’ Instagram page can be found here.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0M-ZqmBXLc/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzwcqtNHy_e/

https://www.instagram.com/p/By5ry8Qn5Rp/

https://www.instagram.com/p/ByROmVjHRV1/

All Elite Wrestling and TNT want to know, are you elite?

We are about 10 weeks out from the premiere of AEW’s weekly television series on TNT. Based on statements from AEW executives, trademark filings, and other clues, the prevailing theory is that AEW’s ‘Wednesday Night Dynamite’ is set to premiere Wednesday, October 2nd.

• AEW Trademarks “Wednesday Night Dynamite”

AEW has launched new social media accounts under the name @AEWonTNT for the new show. @AEWonTNT is teasing “big news coming VERY soon.” Since then, AEW’s top stars have made it clear that fans won’t want to miss what’s in store.

AEW’s TV series will be a live, 2-hour show each week. During a recent media scrum, AEW President Tony Khan revealed the company will announce an early TV taping schedule for AEW TV prior to All Out on August 31st.

• Updated Card for AEW ALL OUT

SEScoops will provide an update on this developing story as soon as the announcement is made.

The calm before the storm… Tomorrow! #AreYouElite pic.twitter.com/nOoGrPnaBz

— AEW on TV (@AEWonTV) July 23, 2019

Major League Wrestling’s weekly television show is coming to ten countries Africa.

MLW sent in a press release on Tuesday announcing a deal that will see MLW FUSION airing on the StarTimes channel starting this summer.

MLW CEO Court Bauer said, “The African region is extremely important to Major League Wrestling, and we are thrilled to begin this partnership with StarTimes to bring MLW to our fans in Africa.”

Here is some additional information about StarTimes via the MLW press release:

StarTimes Media, a well-recognized pay TV provider with over 9 million subscribers worldwide, has facilitated the transmission of more than 80 local and international channels over the StarTimes platform.

StarTimes has seven of their own original channels, with content covering news, sports, music, movies, TV series, entertainment and documentaries.

StarTimes services are available in over ten African countries, including Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Sudan, as well as two broadcasting centers in Dar es Salaam & Abuja.

MLW Fusion airs weekly in the United States Saturday nights on beIN SPORTS. Each week’s episode is then uploaded to MLW’s official YouTube channel two days later, Monday nights.

Mickie James underwent successful knee surgery on Tuesday.

The 5-time WWE Women’s Champion thanked everyone for their support during this career setback. She wrote on Twitter, “Thank you all for your love, prayers, and well wishes. I am grateful! I’ll be just fine… if I come back… I’m coming back bionic!”

Several of her past and present co-workers wished her well ahead of the procedure, including Sasha Banks, Dixie Carter and Jeremy Borash.

James’ husband, NWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Aldis, let everyone know the surgery was a “complete success.” We should get a further update from Mickie James herself later this week. No word yet on how long she’ll be out of action.

UPDATE: Surgery was a complete success. I'm sure when she's feeling up to it she'll share more. Thank you all! ? https://t.co/RxCHyko2UQ

— Nick Aldis (@RealNickAldis) July 16, 2019

Mickie James’ Knee Injury

It is believed Mickie James’ injury took place in a match against Carmela at a WWE live event from Waco, TX at the Extraco Events Center. Fans in attendance noted on social media that it appeared her knee was bothering her.

A later report by F4WOnline confirmed that James was listed on WWE’s internal ‘injury report’ after the Waco, TX show. She has not wrestled since and later told fans she would be out of action for a while.

During her time away from the ring, Mickie James has been active with her country music career. Last week, she performed at the All-Star Country Music Jam in Richmond, Virginia.

She was AWESOME!

She brought the energy to the stage here just like she’s done in the ring. pic.twitter.com/uHiBQEeL12

— Virginia Credit Union LIVE! (@VACULIVE) July 9, 2019

.@MickieJames is here on the red carpet with husband @RealNickAldis and little Donovan before going on stage tonight.

She’s got a special message for all these amazing #AllStarRVA fans! pic.twitter.com/aL2vjXgupR

— Virginia Credit Union LIVE! (@VACULIVE) July 8, 2019

Next Monday the @GoSquirrels will host the All-Star Country Music Jam @RichmondRaceway and @VACULIVE @WWE Superstar and Hanover native @MickieJames will open for @bigandrich and told us how wrestling has helped her music career. @CBS6 @PatriotsPhhs @HanoverVa pic.twitter.com/6UGsVGGWjr

— Lane Casadonte (@LaneCtvsports) July 1, 2019

Alexa Bliss is not happy with the crowd reaction for her match on this week’s Raw.

WWE held a 4-way elimination match to determine who will face Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch at SummerSlam. The participants were Bliss, Natalya, Naomi and Carmela. Natalya earned the title shot by making Alexa Bliss tap out to the Sharpshooter well past the 20-minute mark.

The match had a lot of rest holds, stalling and transitions. A good portion of the audience was not into it and let the women know they were dissatisfied. Several rebellious chants broke out, including “This is awful” and “Boring.” There were also chants for Becky Lynch and John Cena.

While Raw was still on the air, Alexa Bliss tweeted:

Just Disrespectful.

— Lexi (Kaufman) Cabrera (@AlexaBliss_WWE) July 16, 2019

Alexa Bliss did not stop there. She retweeted a message from one of her followers that stated, “They ask for the women to be taken seriously and then they begin to chant that. Disappointing from the crowd.”

Another fan wrote that it was unnecessary for fans to “outright sh*t” on the performers who are putting their bodies on the line in the ring. Bliss agreed, writing that WWE encourages fans to be vocal, but there’s no need for anybody to be rude.

Yes we encourage reactions, cheering & booing & chants . We don’t encourage people to be rude https://t.co/LP85C4F3wm

— Lexi (Kaufman) Cabrera (@AlexaBliss_WWE) July 16, 2019

Crossing The Line

Alexa Bliss’ comments tap into an ongoing conversation about fan conduct at live events. People are encouraged to cheer and boo the matches. Good heels will get a strong negative reaction. That’s a big part of wrestling and something that promoters aim for. If a match is boring, fans will probably let the wrestlers know about it.

However, some conduct is clearly off limits. There have been a few recent incidents that cross the line, such as an Impact Wrestling fan spitting on Taya Valkyrie and a AAA fan groping Scarlett Bordeaux.

Thankfully, the crowd on Raw did not get anywhere near those levels of inappropriate behavior. The reactions on social media to Alexa Bliss’ comments are mixed. Some are defending the athletes, while others say the match stunk and paid fans are allowed to give feedback.

Watch: Alexa Bliss vs. Natalya vs. Naomi vs. Carmella

Daniel Bryan is set to make a “career-altering” announcement on this week’s episode of SmackDown Live.

This past Sunday at Extreme Rules, Bryan and Erik Rowan lost the SmackDown tag team championships to the New Day. WWE caught up with Bryan for a post-match reaction and he was livid. He had a dream to elevate the tag team division to excellence, but he failed. He followed his dream, but it was a lost cause.

Bryan then declared that if he wants to change the planet, he has to aim higher. “I have to go where Daniel Bryan has not gone before,” he said cryptically. “I know exactly what i have to do.”

The WWE.com SmackDown preview states Daniel Bryan has a big announcement that will change the course of his career. In the aftermath of his championship loss and subsequent meltdown, Bryan has snapped. The preview reads, “Bryan has promised that this will change the course of his career and shake SmackDown Live to its core. Just what exactly does Bryan have planned?”

Bryan’s promo Sunday night indicates he is moving on from tag team wrestling. We will get a definitive answer in a matter of hours.

Check back at SEScoops.com later tonight for the reveal of Daniel Bryan’s big announcement and our weekly SmackDown Takeaways feature.

Daniel Bryan was initially advertised as one of the 10 competitors in the #1 contender’s Battle Royal on Raw. Sami Zayn replaced him and WWE never explained why. Seth Rollins won the Battle Royal and will challenge Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam. Bryan did not appear on the Raw broadcast, but he was backstage.

Daniel Bryan Reacts To Loss At Extreme Rules

Next Monday night, WWE presents a star-studded Raw Reunion special live from Tampa, FL. Some of the biggest names in pro wrestling history will be on hand for the show.

Top names advertised for RAW Reunion include “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and many more. One legend who won’t be at Raw Reunion is AEW executive Jim Ross.

Although the idea of JR appearing on WWE TV seems far fetched at this point, JR says he was actually invited to attend.

Jim Ross Declines RAW Reunion Invite

JR was in Jacksonville, FL over the weekend for Saturday night’s AEW Fight for the Fallen pay-per-view.

• 8 Takeaways From AEW Fight For The Fallen

The night before the event, Jim Ross and his podcast co-host, Conrad Thompson, held a live ‘Grilling With JR’ stage show. According to on-site correspondent Dominic DeAngelo of WrestleZone, Ross told the audience that Vince McMahon recently reached out to him and extended an invitation to Raw Reunion. JR spoke to AEW President Tony Khan about the invitation. Khan was fine with JR appearing at RAW Reunion, but he ultimately decided against it.

• Listen to the Grilling With JR Podcast

Even though Jim Ross won’t be appearing at Raw Reunion, it’s nice to see there are no hard feelings between JR and the WWE Chairman.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MIQdHNYPI0

Sasha Banks has checked in with another update regarding her recent trip to Japan.

The 4-time Raw Women’s Champion was last seen at WrestleMania 35. She and Bayley dropped the WWE Women’s tag team championships to the IIconics. During her hiatus, there were reports that Banks was unhappy with WWE creative. This led to speculation that her time away might be more than just a vacation.

Over the past week, Sasha Banks has been in Japan training in the ring. She is also sporting her signature purple hair once again, took part in a WWE 2K20 video game shoot, is advertised for an upcoming RAW TV taping and is featured on the promotional artwork for SummerSlam.

Taken together, these factors indicate her return to WWE is imminent.

Sasha Banks’ Statement

Sasha Banks wrote the following on Instagram about her experience in Japan:

“In life, there are a lot of things I’ve always wanted to accomplish. Not for the sake of telling the world I did it, but for me, and only me. Things that feed this hunger inside me. Things that, when everything else in the world disappears, still brings me a heartfelt of joy that makes me remember why I am who I am.

This past week I was lucky enough to travel to japan and train with some of the best wrestlers in the world. I walked in with an open mind, and open heart, and became a student once again. To say that this was a dream come true is an understatement.

Thank you @meiko_satomura@sendaigirlspro_official@dicktogo for allowing me to become a part of your world. One day I will return, and we will make good on the magic we have between us. Thank you.”

Don’t be surprised to see Sasha Banks back on WWE TV as soon as Sunday’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view (Predictions).

This Saturday, All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Fight for the Fallen from Jacksonville, FL at Daily’s Place Amphitheater.

The show streams streams live for free on B/R Live. Proceeds from the show will be donated to Jacksonville’s Victim Assistance Advisory Council, which benefits local victims of gun violence.

On the latest episode of Being The Elite (seen below), AEW announced a new tag team match for the card. The Lucha Bros. (Pentagon and Fenix) will team up against SoCal Uncensored’s Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky.

• AEW Win/Loss Records Following Fyter Fest?

Updated Fight For The Fallen Lineup

With the addition of Lucha Bros vs. SCU, we now have six matches signed for AEW Fight for the Fallen:

• Cody & Dustin Rhodes vs The Young Bucks
• Kenny Omega vs. CIMA
• Adam “Hangman” Page vs Kip Sabian
• Allie vs Brandi Rhodes
• Joey Janela, Darby Allin, & Jimmy Havoc vs Maxwell Jacob Friedman, Shawn Spears, & Sammy Guevara
• Lucha Bros. vs. SCU

There will also be a ‘special appearance’ by Chris Jericho. The Fozzy frontman says he’s pissed off and will be taking advantage of a live mic at the show. “Let’s just say you won’t believe what Im gonna say….”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzrFnQwhEng/

Watch: Being The Elite Ep. 160 (“Go Away Heat”)

Major League Wrestling held Kings of Colosseum Saturday night from Chicago, IL at Cicero Stadium. Click here for results of the matches that aired as part of the live broadcast on beIN SPORTS.

The following matches will air over the next several weeks on future episodes of MLW FUSION:

• MLW National Openweight Champion Alex Hammerstone defeated Davey Boy Smith Jr. by DQ. The finish came after Smith used a (Canadian) flag as a weapon and the referee caught it.

• Gringo Loco defeated Zenshi.

• Ace Austin defeated Air Wolf.

• The Von Erichs (Ross and Marshall) defeated CONTRA Unit’s Josef Samael and Simon Gotch. This was a wild brawl that involved a fireball and chairshots.

• Bestia 666 defeated Mance Warner in a Mexican Death Match after Salina de la Renta got involved

• Jordan Oliver defeated Gringo Loco with help from Myron Reed.

• The Dynasty (MJF and Richard Holliday) defeated The Hart Foundation (Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Brian Pillman Jr.) in a Ladder Match to win the MLW Tag Titles. This was described as the best match of the night.

• Low Ki beat Ricky Martinez.
  

• Los Parks defeated Dr. Wagner Jr. and Hijo de Wager when LA Park pinned Hijo de Wagner.

Below, you can see some photos and videos from the tapings:

https://twitter.com/MLW/status/1147702356089409538

https://twitter.com/MLW/status/1147710705048666113

https://twitter.com/MLW/status/1147713813766123522

New Japan Pro Wrestling has released a series of reaction videos from Saturday’s G1 Climax 29 opening show from Dallas, TX.

Check out our G1 Climax 29 Dallas Results to get up to speed on the standings following the first show.

Okada’s Post-Match Address: “This is the first time, but not the last time!”

Zack Sabre Jr. says, “Showing technical wrestling to Americans is like reading Shakespeare to a dog!”

Post-match comments from Jay White & Chase Owens vs. YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto

Block A competitor Bad Luck Fale: “They all look like maggots to me”

Jeff Cobb: “Tonight, I made a statement. Don’t sleep on Jeff Cobb.”

Will Ospreay comes up short, Lance Archer makes a statement

IWGP’s Tag Team Champions put in the work and deliver

KENTA victorious in his NJPW debut

Kazuchika Okada says, “I don’t have time to party”

Visit NJPW’s official YouTube Channel for more of these videos.

Sasha Banks is currently on vacation in Japan and is sporting here signature purple hair once again. The return to her ‘WWE look’ has fans excited that her inevitable return to the company will be happening in the near future.

As seen below, several Japanese wrestlers have tweeted photos with Sasha Banks in Japan this weekend, includingPro Wrestling Noah’s Naomichi Marufuji, Joshi Pro Wrestling’s Reika Saiki and Mina Shirakawa.

I think I might love wrestling a little too much! 🤷🏾‍♀️🥰

— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) July 7, 2019

Sasha Banks’ Rocky 2019

The 4-time RAW Women’s Champion has been off WWE television since WrestleMania 35, when she and Bayley lost the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships to the IIconics. She was reportedly frustrated with WWE creative and has been given time off.

Despite speculation about the possibility of Sasha Banks leaving WWE, company sources have repeatedly told us her return has been an a question of “when” and not “if.” She was recently in Orlando, FL working with WWE on footage for the upcoming WWE 2K20 video game.

Check out these photos of Sasha Banks with wrestlers in Japan:

今日は日本に来ていたサーシャ・バンクスとご飯♪

Thank you ! @SashaBanksWWE Have a good time !!#noah_ghc #丸藤見たけりゃNOAHに来い #サーシャバンクス #sashabanks pic.twitter.com/UxxFuEKrbd

— 丸藤 正道 (@noah_marufuji_) July 7, 2019

can you believe it?

i worked out with Sasha Banks at GOLD’S GYM💪😆✨
and after that,we ate sushi🍣
good protein and carbohydrates💪💪💪

i had a great time with her.
she is awesome!!thank you so much🙏✨#w_1 #筋肉アイドル #ムキカワ pic.twitter.com/yYElAx3gym

— 才木 玲佳 Reika Saiki (@saikireika) July 7, 2019

Last night, it was soooo much fun!
She is very kind and wonderful woman💜

サシャと焼肉食べに牛恋へ❣️
超楽しかったぁあああ〜〜！！

今日も試合頑張る！！💪#tjpw pic.twitter.com/361jrAAhHe

— 白川未奈　Mina Shirakawa (@MinaShirakawa) July 6, 2019

Jacob Fatu is your new MLW World Heavyweight championship.

The Samoan Werewolf scored a decisive victory over “Filthy” Tom Lawlor in the main event of Saturday night’s MLW Kings of Colosseum event. The match lasted around 12 minutes and ended with Fatu connecting with a top rope moonsault.

Jacob Fatu has ushered in a new era for for the promotion. As announcer Rich Bocchini put it, Fatu and his group CONTRA Unit have effectively hijacked Major League Wrestling.

https://twitter.com/MLW/status/1147691588182843393

Fatu’s victory spells the end of Tom Lawlor’s 5-month reign. He captured the gold from Low Ki back in February at MLW SuperFight.

As announced this week, the next ‘SuperFight’ event will be MLW’s first-ever pay-per-view event. MLW Saturday Night SuperFight takes place November 2nd from this same venue.

https://twitter.com/MLW/status/1147700142168059906

Major League Wrestling (MLW) held its latest live event, Kings of Colosseum, Saturday night from Chicago, IL at Cicero Stadium.

The following are results from Saturday night’s broadcast on beIN SPORTS, including the crowning of a new MLW World Heavyweight Champion:

• Alexander Hammerstone defeated Kotto Brazil to retain the MLW National Openweight championship

• Myron Reed defeated Rey Horus

• Jim Cornette interviewed Salina de la Renta in the ring. Salina was trash taking Konnan, who made his return to MLW and came out to a big pop. Konnan said he’s been scouting lucha talent for decades and has some new young blood to challenge Salina’s stable of fighters. Salina says she knows a dark secret about Konnan that could ruin him.

• Jacob Fatu defeated “Filthy” Tom Lawlor to become the new MLW Heavyweight champion.

Here are some live videos from the matches above. We will follow up soon with full results from the tapings, which will air over the next several weeks on MLW FUSION.

https://twitter.com/MLW/status/1147680742698356736

https://twitter.com/MLW/status/1147683379674079232

https://twitter.com/MLW/status/1147691588182843393

WWE isn’t just sitting around while its upstart competition gains traction.

The company is well-aware of All Elite Wrestling’s early success. AEW is selling out arenas in record time, landed a big television deal on TNT and has already positioned itself as an alternative place to work for disgruntled talent.

WWE made headlines late last month with the announcement that EVOLVE’s 100th live event will air on the WWE Network head-to-head against AEW’s next show, Fight for the Fallen. This move got under the skin of Kenny Omega, who said it makes him sick that WWE ‘lines their pockets with [Saudi] blood money’ and felt the need to undermine AEW’s event, which benefits victims of gun violence in Jacksonville, FL.

According to Dave Meltzer at F4wonline, WWE has plans to jam up yet another AEW show. Meltzer says we should expect “another major counter by WWE” on August 31st, the night of AEW ALL OUT. It’s worth noting that WWE is holding an NXT UK TakeOver event that day from Cardiff, England.

• Triple H Comments On WWE Booking NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff the same day as AEW ALL OUT

This latest development shows that the ‘cold war’ between WWE and AEW is heating up. The tension began at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, when Triple H referenced AEW as a “piss-ant” company that Vince McMahon could purchase and shut down if he really wanted to.

WWE forced The Undertaker and Kurt Angle to pull out of Starrcast II during Double or Nothing weekend, which also saw Cody Rhodes destroy a throne with a sledge hammer – a clear sign that AEW isn’t shying down from this confrontation.

WWE is locking in talent to longterm contracts, with pay increasing and mid-card performers scoring lucrative 5-year deals. WWE is shaking up its product in hopes of recapturing the coveted 18-34 demographic ahead of AEW’s premiere on TNT this fall.

WWE Hall of Famer Booker T was scheduled to appear at the next Starrcast convention, which takes place during ALL OUT weekend. According to Meltzer, Booker T pulled out of that appearance because he realized the the WWE vs. AEW situation is “very real” and decided it was best to not get caught in the middle. We’ve reached out to Booker T for comment.

Update: Starrcast III promoter Conrad Thompson wrote the following on Friday in response to Meltzer’s report about Booker T:

Meltzer’s report below is inaccurate. I don’t work for AEW and have no power to “book” anyone. STARRCAST is independent and we enjoyed Booker’s appearance in Las Vegas. I will miss him this time in Chicago but look forward to working with him again sometime in the future. pic.twitter.com/FfXtIX4wME

— Conrad the Mortgage Guy (@HeyHeyItsConrad) July 5, 2019

Major League Wrestling will hold its first pay-per-view event later this year. The news was first reported by Sports Illustrated.

MLW Saturday Night SuperFight will be held on Saturday, November 2nd from Cicero Stadium outside Chicago, IL. The venue has proven to be a stronghold for MLW and will host MLW Kings of Colosseum this Saturday night.

In an effort to make Saturday Night SuperFight as accessible as possible, MLW is offering the show for only $19.95 across all major cable and dish carriers in the United States and Canada. Negotiations are underway to stream the event worldwide.

Court Bauer told Sports Illustrated, “This year has been about expanding into live programming,” said Bauer. “The evolution of a promotion is to produce more live content, and another milestone for us is pay-per-view. And now, we’re going to get there with Saturday Night SuperFight on November 2.”

League officials are working diligently to craft a fight card that is worthy of fans’ hard earned money.

“Watch carefully this summer,” said Bauer. “This card isn’t going to be thrown together in late October. All the seeds will be planted. And all of the championships will be on the line.”

Visit SI.com for more on this huge story.

Impact Wrestling has reportedly settled on a date and location for this year’s Bound For Glory pay-per-view.

This year’s Bound for Glory is scheduled for Sunday, October 20th. According to PWInsider, the show will be held at the Odeum Sports and Convention Expo Center in Villa Park, IL.

The Odeum has a capacity of approximately 5,500 people. The venue played host to ECW’s Anarchy Rulz PPV back in 1999, as well as numerous ECW and Ring of Honor events throughout the years.

Bound for Glory is one of Impact Wrestling’s signature events each year. This will be the 15th installment of Bound for Glory, which was held in the Chicago area at the Sears Center back in 2008.

The next Impact Wrestling pay-per-view, Slammiversary XVII, takes place this Sunday, July 7th from Gilley’s in Dallas, TX. The main event will see Impact World Champion Brian Cage defending against Michael Elgin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNp2iZ6JWkA