Latest news with #ChadGable
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
WWE's expanded wrestling universe is already opening doors once thought impossible
So in the end it was the boys from Los Garza who did what "The Master" Chad Gable couldn't: Triumph over the luchadores and bring an AAA championship back to WWE. Anyone who missed this weekend's AAA Triplemanía (don't worry, it's currently available free on YouTube) might not have seen the "WWE SmackDown" boys leave Mexico with the luchador promotion's world tag-team titles. It's true that Los Garza's victory is hardly the biggest story in professional wrestling. But it is an interesting example of how WWE's bold strategy of working with other promotions is slowly beginning to take shape. Advertisement Who would have guessed two years ago that we'd be in a world where the notoriously territorial WWE was partnering with the likes of TNA, AAA, Pro Wrestling Noah and even GCW to create an extended universe of pro-wrestling? As unlikely outcomes go, it blows the John Cena heel turn out the water. What I wouldn't give to know what old Vinnie Mac thinks of it all. In truth, it's still far too early to pass any kind of big-picture judgment on this whole experiment. But six months since WWE surprised us all by announcing a formal partnership with TNA, we're starting to get a picture of what it might mean for the average wrestling fan. And so far? I like what I see. Just look at what we've had over the past two months. Chad Gable delivering the match of a lifetime in an unsuccessful bid to become AAA world champion. TNA's Joe Hendry getting a huge moment at WrestleMania before losing his promotion's biggest prize to NXT's Trick Williams. Nattie Neidhart getting a Rage Against the Machine ring walk at GCW Bloodsport before slapping the crap out of Miyu Yamashita. Maybe it shouldn't be a surprise these partnerships are creating some fun moments. But what's interesting from this past weekend's Triplemanía event is how they're also opening up genuine opportunities for WWE mid-carders who might otherwise suffer from the wrestling behemoth's pivot away from house shows and general squeeze on getting decent TV time. Advertisement It isn't just that there are more chances to get booked and more titles to chase. It's the fact that the WWE working with promotions like GCW and AAA hugely expands the different ways you can build a name for yourself in the promotion. Take Bloodsport, for example. How many times has WWE toyed with the idea of some kind of combat sports/wrestling fusion only to end with egg on their face? Now they've taken the much smarter move of partnering with someone who actually knows how to do it. From a star-making perspective that's a serious benefit for someone like Charlie Dempsey in NXT, who can go throw hands in Bloodsport (as he did back in Las Vegas in April) and come away with an amazing package video that will make him look fearsome as hell when he goes to the WWE main roster. Not least since the average WWE casual fan probably hasn't seen a single Bloodsport match. It also opens the door for wrestlers who might not fit the typical WWE mold. Look at the positive backstage reaction to TNA's Mike Santana after his NXT appearance, for example. The heavy-set brawler is exactly the sort of rough-diamond type who wouldn't have gotten near Titan Towers a few years ago. Under this new working arrangement with TNA, he can prove himself on his own terms and end up with WWE interested in signing him. The same goes for those former WWE names who have gone on to have decent runs in TNA. We've already seen Elias/Elijah and Top Dolla/AJ Francis pop up in NXT, less than two years after being let go from the company. Hopefully that will open the door for someone like Mustafa Ali, who most people think should never have been released in the first place, or Matt Cardona, who has been tipped for a WWE return for ages now. Advertisement Again, it's still too early to judge what this all means for pro-wrestling in the long run. If WWE's long game is to turn the partner promotions into glorified developmental programs and snatch up all the best talent ... well, that sounds less positive. We'll also need to see how well the whole development path works out in practice. We saw how adept Karrion Kross was in terms of turning his Bloodsport match into a massive promotional boost earlier this year. But has it gotten him more TV time now he's back to the grind in WWE? Not yet. And what about those names who WWE was glad to see the back of but who might end up making a comeback elsewhere? Already there are reports that WWE wants nothing to do with Alberto del Rio/Alberto El Patrón, who has been working with AAA and appeared on this weekend's Triplemanía. If that's the case, does that mean TNA wouldn't sign someone like Matt Riddle, who Triple H regards as a troublemaker? All questions to keep in mind. But right now things are looking good for this whole extended universe thing. If it means more shows like Worlds Collide, we're all winners, right? Well, except Chad Gable, but that's another story.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
WWE's expanded wrestling universe is suddenly making its product much more interesting
So in the end it was the boys from Los Garza who did what "The Master" Chad Gable couldn't: Triumph over the luchadores and bring an AAA championship back to WWE. Anyone who missed this weekend's AAA Triplemanía (don't worry, it's currently available free on YouTube) might not have seen the "WWE SmackDown" boys leave Mexico with the luchador promotion's world tag-team titles. It's true that Los Garza's victory is hardly the biggest story in professional wrestling. But it is an interesting example of how WWE's bold strategy of working with other promotions is slowly beginning to take shape. Advertisement Who would have guessed two years ago that we'd be in a world where the notoriously territorial WWE was partnering with the likes of TNA, AAA, Pro Wrestling Noah and even GCW to create an extended universe of pro-wrestling? As unlikely outcomes go, it blows the John Cena heel turn out the water. What I wouldn't give to know what old Vinnie Mac thinks of it all. In truth, it's still far too early to pass any kind of big-picture judgment on this whole experiment. But six months since WWE surprised us all by announcing a formal partnership with TNA, we're starting to get a picture of what it might mean for the average wrestling fan. And so far? I like what I see. Just look at what we've had over the past two months. Chad Gable delivering the match of a lifetime in an unsuccessful bid to become AAA world champion. TNA's Joe Hendry getting a huge moment at WrestleMania before losing his promotion's biggest prize to NXT's Trick Williams. Nattie Neidhart getting a Rage Against the Machine ring walk at GCW Bloodsport before slapping the crap out of Miyu Yamashita. Maybe it shouldn't be a surprise these partnerships are creating some fun moments. But what's interesting from this past weekend's Triplemanía event is how they're also opening up genuine opportunities for WWE mid-carders who might otherwise suffer from the wrestling behemoth's pivot away from house shows and general squeeze on getting decent TV time. Advertisement It isn't just that there are more chances to get booked and more titles to chase. It's the fact that the WWE working with promotions like GCW and AAA hugely expands the different ways you can build a name for yourself in the promotion. Take Bloodsport, for example. How many times has WWE toyed with the idea of some kind of combat sports/wrestling fusion only to end with egg on their face? Now they've taken the much smarter move of partnering with someone who actually knows how to do it. From a star-making perspective that's a serious benefit for someone like Charlie Dempsey in NXT, who can go throw hands in Bloodsport (as he did back in Las Vegas in April) and come away with an amazing package video that will make him look fearsome as hell when he goes to the WWE main roster. Not least since the average WWE casual fan probably hasn't seen a single Bloodsport match. It also opens the door for wrestlers who might not fit the typical WWE mold. Look at the positive backstage reaction to TNA's Mike Santana after his NXT appearance, for example. The heavy-set brawler is exactly the sort of rough-diamond type who wouldn't have gotten near Titan Towers a few years ago. Under this new working arrangement with TNA, he can prove himself on his own terms and end up with WWE interested in signing him. The same goes for those former WWE names who have gone on to have decent runs in TNA. We've already seen Elias/Elijah and Top Dolla/AJ Francis pop up in NXT, less than two years after being let go from the company. Hopefully that will open the door for someone like Mustafa Ali, who most people think should never have been released in the first place, or Matt Cardona, who has been tipped for a WWE return for ages now. Advertisement Again, it's still too early to judge what this all means for pro-wrestling in the long run. If WWE's long game is to turn the partner promotions into glorified developmental programs and snatch up all the best talent ... well, that sounds less positive. We'll also need to see how well the whole development path works out in practice. We saw how adept Karrion Kross was in terms of turning his Bloodsport match into a massive promotional boost earlier this year. But has it gotten him more TV time now he's back to the grind in WWE? Not yet. And what about those names who WWE was glad to see the back of but who might end up making a comeback elsewhere? Already there are reports that WWE wants nothing to do with Alberto del Rio/Alberto El Patrón, who has been working with AAA and appeared on this weekend's Triplemanía. If that's the case, does that mean TNA wouldn't sign someone like Matt Riddle, who Triple H regards as a troublemaker? All questions to keep in mind. But right now things are looking good for this whole extended universe thing. If it means more shows like Worlds Collide, we're all winners, right? Well, except Chad Gable, but that's another story.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
WWE-AAA Worlds Collide Sets Record For Live Streaming Broadcast On YouTube
WWE says its Worlds Collide crossover event shattered a company record for live-streaming on YouTube. WWE and AAA presented Worlds Collide in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon. The event featured El Hijo del Vikingo defending the AAA Mega Championship against Chad Gable, as well as Ethan Page putting up his NXT North American Championship in a four-way match. Advertisement On Monday, the company claimed that the event set a record for the 'largest live audience in company history for a YouTube broadcast.' According to the promotion, the event peaked at 764,389 live concurrent viewers across the WWE and WWE Espańol YouTube channels. The figure was observed during the main event between El Hijo del Vikingo and Chad Gable. In addition, the event was also: Watched by more than 4.1 million viewers on YouTube in the first 24 hours. The No. 1 trending topic globally on Saturday on Twitter/X Generated more than 32 million social views across all platforms in the first 24 hours Worlds Collide can be watched back on WWE's YouTube channel, with Spanish commentary here. Catch up on full results from the event here. This weekend also featured the 2025 edition of Money In The Bank, capped off by R-Truth's surprise return to WWE. Check out everything that went down at Money In The Bank here. The post WWE-AAA Worlds Collide Sets Record For Live Streaming Broadcast On YouTube appeared first on Wrestlezone.
Forbes
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
WWE Raw Results, Winners And Grades On June 9, 2025
Ron "R-Truth" Killings returned on WWE Raw. WWE Raw advertised the return of R-Truth/Ron Killings, as well as first-round action for the King and Queen of the Ring. Raw also advertised John Cena's final appearance in Phoenix as part of his farewell tour and WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella also made her return. In the main event, Jey Uso lost the WWE World Heavyweight Championship to Gunther. John Cena addressed R-Truth, after the return of Ron Killings last night, calling Truth a gimmick and saying nobody will care about him in a year. Cena also called Truth a 'sideshow' whose greatest accomplishment is trying to be him. Of note, Cena referred to him as R-Truth. Cena revealed he has just 19 dates left. Cena was then interrupted by CM Punk. Punk called back to Cena beating him with the STF at Elimination Chamber, but not before apologizing. CM Punk told Cena he's coming after his Undisputed WWE Championship, and Cena said he'd rather defend it at Night of Champions. Punk will have to follow Cena to Saudi Arabia, where Punk would be working for the first time. Seth Rollins stared down John Cena on his way to the ring before the segment ended. Chad Gable/El Grande Americano—at the very least—deserves a championship soon. This man has worked three high-quality matches in the course of three days, and it feels like he can work three more. Wrestling (and losing) his third match in 48 hours, Michael Cole mentioned Gable's hellacious match against El Hijo del Vikingo, but made no mention of his Money in the Bank match as El Grande Americano. After Gable's loss, Cole did suggest he should have dressed up as El Grande Americano. Before the match, Roxanne Perez once again tried to convince Liv Morgan to work together, only to be rebuffed by Liv. Despite Liv being cold to Perez, the two worked together to neutralize Rhea Ripley. This opened the door for Kairi Sane to hit a comeback on Perez and Morgan. Ripley reentered the match with a great dropkick. Just when it seemed like Rhea had the match won, Raquel Rodriguez pulled her out. Sane hit an Insane Elbow on Liv Morgan, but Perez stole the win with a rollup. While on her way to the ring, A-Town Down Under was aggressively bickering. The argument ended with Grayson Waller storming off. Wouldn't it be hilarious if after building their split for a year, the payoff was a backstage argument. Backstage, Nikki Bella shared pleasantries with Natalya, Maxxine Dupri and Iyo Sky. Becky then walked out with her new IC Title, once again shouting out her hot husband. Lynch sold a shoulder injury due to Lyra Valkyria raising her hand too hard. ("She tried to kill me!") Becky Lynch invited Lyra to the ring to raise her arm again, but this time, 'raise it right.' Before Lyra could get into the ring, Bayley jumped Lynch from behind. Lyra looked a bit miffed at being upstaged, and I'd love to see Lyra join Becky as a heel. R-Truth cut an impromptu promo on the announce table. 'Don't let nobody tell you that you don't matter. Don't let nobody tell you that your voice doesn't matter. They heard, they listened, they felt and they understood! I am back, because of y'all!" Truth said he was back because of the fans, but also for himself. Truth said we all love R-Truth, but R-Truth can be too funny, too nice and he's too forgiving. Truth said he felt alive. In response to anybody who thinks he's a sideshow act, he cut his hair off. Fans chanted 'holy shit!' Truth said the Truth has set him free and he is Ron Killings. Bron Breakker was highlighted early and often with a cavalcade of spears and impressively athletic spots. The more he dominated, the less likely it felt like he was being booked to win. Fans were really into Dirty Dom, who should turn babyface soon, but at the same time, Dom probably has another heel run in him alongside Roxanne Perez. As Breakker approached God Mode, LA Knight hit the ring and took out Bron Breakker as revenge for spearing Knight at Money in the Bank. This opened the door for Sami Zayn to pin Dominik after a Helluva Kick. Backstage, Karrion Kross sarcastically congratulated Zayn. Nikki Bella seemed a bit nervous in her first promo in a while, but she received a warm reception in her hometown. Nikki (who mispronounced Stephanie Vaquer's last name) acknowledged the evolution of the women's division, as well as the upcoming Evolution pay-per-view. Nikki was interrupted by Liv Morgan. This was a women's segment in WWE, so Morgan taunted Bella over her recent divorce. Nikki fired back by telling Morgan she was going to lose her man to Roxanne Perez. Liv laid Nikki out with an Oblivion, teasing one of the key matches for Evolution. Jey Uso Yeeted to the ring flanked by his son for his biggest world title defense yet. Gunther mauled a hobbled Jey Uso after a quick start from Jey. Gunther ripped Uso's t-shirt off to reveal Jey's heavily taped ribs. Throughout the match, the announcers expressed concern for Jey Uso, saying his speed was a little bit off after taking so many beatings in recent weeks. Uso continued to sell his ribs after a suplex on Gunther. Gunther trapped Jey Uso into a rear-naked choke for so long, at one point they all furiously rallied behind Jey thinking he might lose. Uso eventually reversed the move to a huge pop for the WrestleMania callback. Gunther trapped Jey Uso in the Rear-naked Choke yet again, and Jey finally passed out. Gunther won.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
WWE's First Crossover With AAA Locks Down 4.1M Viewers In 24 Hours As Company's First Full In-Ring YouTube Broadcast
The WWE set a new audience record with its first AAA crossover event since acquiring the leading Mexican lucha libre promotion in April. Worlds Collide drew the largest live audience on a YouTube broadcast in WWE history, per the company. Advertisement More from Deadline The average live viewership wasn't disclosed, though the company did say that the June 7 event at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles peaked at 764,389 live concurrent viewers across the WWE and WWE Espańol YouTube channels during the main event between El Hijo del Vikingo and Chad Gable. Additionally, Saturday's broadcast has raked in more than 4.1M viewers on YouTube in the first 24 hours. Worlds Collide marked the first full in-ring show that the WWE has streamed live on YouTube. The company's main channel boasts more than 109M subscribers, making it one of the most powerful on the platform. Advertisement This is a strong start for the collaboration between the WWE and AAA. It also illustrates the power of YouTube. YouTube consistently ranks as the top streamer in the U.S., far outpacing its competitors, including Netflix, in terms of monthly average usage time. It is also on pace to surpass even Disney's revenue by the end of the year to become the top global player in media, per one veteran Wall Street Analyst. The positive performance here potentially opens the door for more YouTube broadcasting opportunities within the WWE as it continues to expand its brand and leverage a vast array of properties from its main events to weekly offerings. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
