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Wrestling News & Rumors: Chairshot Daily (4/16/2020)
A look at your news for 4/16/2020 including WWE releases, NXT debuts, and much more!
A look at your news for 4/16/2020 including WWE releases, NXT debuts, and much more!
The Chairshot Daily is your look at wrestling news and rumors–with a hint of reality thrown in! We won’t hold back on you, we will let you know what we think regarding the validity of a rumor.
“Black Wednesday” in WWE
After the really dumb controversy around Ronda Rousey calling wrestling fake, things got really real on Wednesday when WWE advised talent and staff that cuts were coming.
Over 20 wrestlers and close to 10 producers were let go (or forloughed) on Wednesday, along with one announcer and one referee. Steven’s amazing report is linked above, but this list doesn’t include any staff members who were let go but not revealed to us by WWE or on social media.
Analysis: As I wrote in Wednesday’s newsletter article (free to subscribe!), this got really real, really fast. And it really sucks. Many fans were shocked or disgusted, but you have to remember that this isn’t just a business first, it’s a business first, second, third, and all areas in between. I feel for everyone who lost their job today.
Two Name Superstars Make Their NXT Debut
On tonight’s edition of WWE NXT, Karrion Kross (formerly Kevin “Killer” Kross) made his NXT debut, alongside Scarlett Bordeaux, in an attack on Tommaso Ciampa. Timothy Thatcher also made his debut as the partner of Matt Riddle.
Analysis: Kross and Thatcher have actually battled each other in the past, and match-up quite well. Thatcher couldn’t have asked for a better debut situation, and Kross has all the tools to be a star. Along as he stays out of his own way, he can be huge.
Female Creative Team Member Released From WWE
Andrea Listenberger was among today’s cuts, according to her own social media. It appears that the Otis and Mandy Rose lovestory was her brain child. She started with the company in December.
Lots of people getting let go at #WWE today and regrettably, I am one of them. But I'm proud of the work I've been able to do since starting in Dec., and glad that the storyline I worked on resonated with so many people. That's what writing is about for me. #OtisandMandyForever
— Andrea Listenberger (@andrea_ml) April 15, 2020
Analysis: I wasn’t familiar with Listenberger before this, but I honestly think someone should give her a shot.
Drew Gulak to join Corey Graves on After The Bell
Corey Graves podcast, titled After The Bell, has proven to be a great home to stories and more. This week, Corey is joined by Drew Gulak, for what promises to be an amazing interview.
Coach @DrewGulak will join @WWEGraves tomorrow on an all-new #AfterTheBell! https://t.co/Mtq9H9YggW
— WWEAfterTheBell (@AfterTheBellWWE) April 15, 2020
Analysis: Drew Gulak is outstanding, so this has my attention and my inner fan listening. As someone lucky enough to interview Drew Gulak in the past, I look forward to hearing this one.
Six news items for the day–what stands out to you? Leave a comment or hit me up on social media @ChairshotGreg.
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Did your picks win points?
The AEW Continental Classic is underway, with almost everyone competing. Check in here if you haven’t seen the winners and losers of week 1!
Here are your Gold League standings!
- Jon Moxley: 1-0, 3 points
- Swerve Strickland: 1-0, 3 points
- Jay White: 1-0, 3 points
- Rush: 0-1, 0 points
- Mark Briscoe: 0-1, 0 points.
- Jay Lethal: 0-1, 0 points
Here are your Blue League standings!
- Brody King: 1-0, 3 points
- Claudio Castagnoli: 1-0, 3 points
- Daniel Garcia: 0-1, 0 points
- Eddie Kingston: 0-1, 0 points
- Bryan Danielson: Yet to Compete
- Andrade El Idolo: Yet to Compete
My Thoughts:
Nothing too crazy, nothing too wild, this tournament only just got started. The only disappointing point is that they could not get Bryan “cleared to compete” Saturday night. Not sure how much of that is shoot given the bad eye, but this was kinda the problem of wanting him in the tournament over tons of other choices. Bryan wants to face Okada for WrestleKingdom 18, how is Bryan supposed to do that at his best if he’s also gonna be in a round robin, doing five top level matches in about as many weeks? And it takes away from Andrade being able to do something. Also a little surprised we didn’t even hear from Andrade on Saturday.
Now as we heard on Saturday, round two’s matches are set. Gold League will see Mark Briscoe VS Rush, White VS Swerve, and of course, Moxley VS Lethal. Nice variety there, a couple 0-1 guys facing off, as well as two 1-0 guys, and then 1-0 VS 0-1. No offense to Lethal, but he feels like an 0-2 going up against Moxley. Hard to call the other ones but that’s the fun of it. Meanwhile, Blue League sees Brody VS Claudio in a showdown to be 2-0, then Bryan and Andrade finally jump in, Bryan against Eddie and Andrade against Garcia. Sadly, feels like Eddie and Garcia are going 0-2, no way Tony Khan is booking Bryan and Andrade to lose their first shots.
In fact, that could be half the reason they did wait on those two, that’s almost too good for just a first round opener. But I still would’ve done it, same as NJPW does stuff like that for round robins, which this is all modeled after anyway.
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Tony Khan Reveals the Blue and Gold “Leagues!”
Originally livestreamed, Tony Khan and Tony Schiavone officially announced the twelve total entrants and divided them into the two round robin blocks known as the “Blue League” and “Gold League.” If you don’t feel like sifting through the almost 30 minute video, the groups are:
Blue League
- Bryan Danielson
- Andrade El Idolo
- Brody King
- Claudio Castagnoli
- Daniel Garcia
- Eddie Kingston
Gold League
- Jon Moxley
- Swerve Strickland
- Rush
- Mark Briscoe
- Jay Lethal
- Jay White
Tony Khan also explains the rules for the Continental Classic:
- Every match has a 20 minute time limit
- The winner of each match earns 3 points, losers earn 0, 1 point for a draw
- EVERYONE ELSE is banned from ringside for true 1v1 action
Eddie Kingston also joined the selection special as his “life’s work” is on the line in this tournament, both the ROH World Championship and NJPW Strong Openweight Championship on the line as part of the modern day North American Triple Crown Eddie, Tony Khan, AEW, ROH and NJPW are looking to create together. Gold League competes tonight on Dynamite while Blue League will have their start this Saturday on Collision. Look for more articles like this one to keep up with the Continental Classic standings over the next six weeks of tournament action!
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