Our latest edition of Deep Insider, the column where we take a close look at the trials and tribulations of membership at PWInsider looks at Mike Johnson’s rapid descent into poor journalistic tendencies, and a general lack of integrity. Much of the piece looks at his recent Twitter Tantrum defending his utter misuse of the word “update” when reporting for the first time on the story regarding Alberto El Patron being missing.
Hugh’s latest Hugh’s Views is up on the site, too, as he documents his subscribing to New Japan World, breaks down what he loves about Karl Stern’s July Marathon, shouts out some of the people who helped him find cool new stuff this week and more.
We also have the latest edition of our podcast Talking Sheet up on the site talking the big weekend for wrestling news sites, the WWE injury situation getting out of control, and the departure of two key executives.
Interestingly, from the “small world” files, during this week’s episode, during the Rear View segment where we look back on past Wrestling Observers, Hugh and I looked at the March 16, 1987 issue. In it, there was reader letter from Bill and Debbie Moffitt, who had recently met and married due to their love of wrestling, and for the Observer itself. Debbie moved across country to be with Bill, and the two were very happy. They even requested issues of the Observer from the previous September to reminisce about how they’d met. But here’s the weird part… Just this past April, Bryan Alvarez on his After Dark Radio Show had a Deborah Moffitt on the show to talk a DEMONIC HAUNTING by a mysterious, nasty presence dubbed “Mr. Entity” which was the subject of a recent book called A Deadly Haunting. It was confirmed to me earlier today that this was, indeed, the very same woman who had written in to the Observer all those years ago. Must have been before Mr. Entity had shown up.
And now, here’s your Monday digest of wrestling news…
Monday News Update
** According to PWInsider’s Mike Johnson, “WWE management was absolutely thrilled with how the Divas segment went down tonight on Raw. The feeling was that the company’s division turned a corner tonight. The initial plan had been to do this closer to Summerslam but the U.S. Women’s soccer team winning this past week and all the attention they received led to the company moving plans up.”
** WrestlingInc has a collection to tweets between Nikki Bella, Paige and Sasha Banks commenting on the Divas Raw angle
** In case you missed it: NXT Divas Charlotte, Becky Lynch, and Sasha Banks all appeared on WWE Raw Monday night squaring off against Divas the Bellas, Alicia Fox, Naomi and Tamina (ProWrestling.net)
** WrestleZone is reporting that, according to a WWE email today advertising the on-sale date for the NXT Takeover show next month in Brooklyn, Sasha Banks, Samoa Joe, Charlotte, and Tyler Breeze are announced as appearing in addition to the Finn Balor vs Kevin Owens match
** PWInsider also reports that Jake Roberts and the Godfather were backstage at the WWE Raw show
** John de Mol Jr., of Talpha Media Holdings, has acquired a 6% ownership stake in WWE PWInsider reports
** Tammy Sytch, the former Sunny in WWE, was arrested on DUI charges back in May (PWInsider)
** Global Force has announced that it will have four divisional titles, Global Title, Tag Titles, Women’s Title and Nex*Gen title. (PWTorch)
** Ring of Honor will be running shows on April 1st and 2nd, WrestleMania weekend, in Dallas from the Hyatt Regency Hotel Ballroom according to PW Torch and F4Wonline
** This is how the Undertaker is looking these days
The #Undertaker finishes 2days wkout w/ a "gun show". Lookin forward to seeing his progress on our program. @CamJosse pic.twitter.com/T9YWvsI4bP
— Joe DeFranco (@DeFrancosGym) July 14, 2015
** WrestleZone has a recap of Roddy Piper giving his side of the Steve Austin story that led to him asking out of his PodcastOne contract.
** Weirdly, the story also notes that Piper lost his Legends contract, but according to Dave Meltzer on Sunday, WWE has said that part is not true, and he has not been released from his Legends deal.
** Jim Melby’s daughter penned an article for Slam Wrestling on Wade Keller, who just this past weekend was honored with the award for which her father is its namesake
** PJ Black (formerly known as Justin Gabriel in WWE) recently did an interview at Cult of Whatever talking his time in WWE, ideas of his that weren’t used, and what he’s up to presently
